WrestleMania Review: TKO has zero respect for WWE, Legacy, or the fans that built it
WrestleMania Review — Grade: F
WrestleMania was once the crown jewel of professional wrestling — a spectacle that rewarded fans for a year of investment. What we got instead was a bloated, over-commercialized, creatively hollow event that felt more like a corporate showcase than a celebration of wrestling.
Final Grade: F.
A Company That’s Forgotten the Fans
It’s become painfully clear that TKO is operating without any real respect for the wrestling business — and it shows in every aspect of the product.
- Sky-high ticket prices
- Overpriced merchandise
- Relentless, constant advertising
This wasn’t about delivering a great show. It was about monetizing decades of goodwill built over 40+ years and squeezing every possible dollar out of the audience.
WrestleMania has always had sponsors — but this felt different. This felt invasive. This felt like the fan experience was no longer a priority.
Matches vs. Commercials — A Losing Battle
The pacing of the event was one of its biggest failures.
- Average match runtime: 8–12 minutes
- Commercial/ad segments: 3–6 minutes repeatedly
- Total wrestling vs. ads: heavily skewed toward advertisements
There were extended stretches where commercials and sponsorship integrations outweighed actual in-ring action. Even worse, there were zero meaningful backstage segments to help build story or give the audience a breather.
Everything that once made WrestleMania feel alive — character moments, storytelling, pacing — was stripped away.
Main Event Breakdown: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
This should have been a generational classic. Instead, it was one of the most disappointing WrestleMania main events in recent memory.
1. The Match Was Flat-Out Bad
For two of the most experienced performers in the industry, this was shockingly underwhelming. The energy wasn’t there, the execution wasn’t sharp, and the match never reached the level it needed to.
2. Forced “Cheap Heat” Fell Flat
An attempt to inject energy into the match came across as awkward and forced. Instead of enhancing the moment, it took viewers out of it entirely.
3. Broken Psychology and Confusing Storytelling
The match relied heavily on long-term storytelling elements that were never clearly presented during the show itself.
Cody Rhodes hinting at a darker side could have been compelling — but without clear context, it went completely over the heads of casual viewers. If you hadn’t followed fragmented promos and storylines leading into the event, none of it made sense.
4. Illogical and Poorly Executed Spots
Moments like the “blind RKO on the referee” felt unnatural due to poor positioning and timing. Instead of creating drama, they came across as awkward and unconvincing.
5. The “Bad Back” Storyline Made No Sense
The sudden focus on Randy Orton’s back injury lacked any meaningful buildup.
- No clear storyline foundation
- No visual storytelling to support it
- No explanation for casual viewers
Without commentary, the audience would have no idea why Cody was targeting the back — a fundamental storytelling failure.
Night 1 — Overbooked and Underwhelming (Grade: D)
Night 1 suffered from a classic case of “too many cooks in the kitchen.” The result was a disjointed show that never found its footing.
What makes it worse is the missed opportunity. With two generational talents tied to wrestling legacies, this could have been a deeply personal, emotionally driven rivalry.
Instead, it felt directionless — a collection of ideas rather than a cohesive story.
Night 2 — Too Little, Too Late
To its credit, Night 2 delivered better in-ring action:
- High-quality main event performances
- Strong ladder match
- Solid overall wrestling
But by that point, the damage had already been done.
Fans had already endured hours of ads and filler just to get to the good content. What used to be a premium experience now feels like a chore.
You’re paying more — and getting less.
The Bigger Issue: Profit Over Passion
This event highlighted a deeper problem:
- Focus on shareholders over fans
- Revenue prioritized over storytelling
- Brand deals prioritized over immersion
Wrestling thrives on emotion, connection, and narrative. This WrestleMania delivered none of those consistently.
Final Verdict
WrestleMania has lost sight of what made it special. What was once a must-watch event has become an overproduced, ad-heavy product that struggles to justify its own existence.
- Creative Direction: Disjointed
- Match Quality: Inconsistent
- Pacing: Poor
- Fan Experience: Severely Diminished
Final Grade: F
This wasn’t just disappointing — it was avoidable. And that’s what makes it worse.