“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
Oprah Winfrey
It has been a while since I have written anything of substance, and I have wanted to write about my experience being there at WrestleMania 40, but the more I thought about it, I realized what I was feeling was more than just Mania hype. Wrestling is giving me back a passion that I haven’t felt since I became a fan 26 years ago.
Don’t get me wrong I have felt a passion for this business the whole time, otherwise I would have gotten off this train a long time ago like so many of my friends have, but this industry right now is delivering in a way that I haven’t felt since that era of the Big Three and Monday Night War era. This is absolutely a truly special time to be a fan, where there has never been more accessible wrestling content and from so many companies across the world.
As fans we have all dealt with the negative stigmatism of being a fan, because we have all gotten these two comments at some point, “how can you watch that you know it’s fake right?”. They make this statement as if we don’t know that these two people wrestling don’t really hate each other. I usually respond to this statement with you know that show that you love they are actors too and it’s fake.
There is so much negativity in the world and we turn to wrestling as an escape because we enjoy it, but for some reason people don’t get it. It doesn’t matter though; they don’t have to get it because your fellow wrestling fans get it. Being around fellow fans is the one place that you are surrounded by people with the same love and passion for the same thing.
WrestleMania Passion:
A perfect example that I witnessed firsthand, and I told this story on a Throwback Thursday edition of the Wrestling Republic Daily Broadcast, but for those that didn’t see it I’ll relay the story here. I was at WWE World, where they had a mini entrance stage setup so you could do any entrance you wanted to do. It was a long line that took about an hour to get through, while I was in line a young fan in a motorized wheelchair decided to do a Cody Rhodes entrance and no one had to ask us to do it, every single person there sang the song and cheered this kid on. It is one of my favorite moments of that incredible weekend that was full of incredible moments. The guy working the stage came over to us after and said guys that was incredible.
It is impossible to be there with fans from all over the world and despite whatever cultural difference we may have the love for this business unites us and feel that passion especially during a Mania weekend. I’ve been incredibly lucky and fortunate to get to experience it for the past two years. Last year at WrestleMania 39, for the first time ever the Wrestling Republic crew got together in person which was captured by the Take It To The Table vlog and we had the time of our lives. Just six guys from all different ages, locations and backgrounds that found each other through Wrestling Republic and our shared love for wrestling.
I’ve said this before, but I literally had the worst possible year in my life in 2022 and I can honestly say my faith, my family both blood and those that have been like brothers to me helped get me through it and those reading this, you know who you are, you know what you did and you know how grateful I am for it, thanks again Watch Dawgs. That trip helped me in so many ways, a special thanks to CT for making it happen and for everything else.
Then this year I got to go in my hometown with someone that I’ve known a long time and is definitely someone that I consider my brother, CO and had an amazing experience getting to witness Cody Finish the Story in person. Thanks CO for being there for me in 22 and sharing this amazing experience with me.
I’ve written and talked about it endlessly on how much I wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish the story. Seeing Cody finish the story meant more to me than any other story as a fan because that father/son aspect to it made a connection to me like no other. Not seeing Cody finish it at 39 was the one sour note of the trip for me, but that was erased at 40, when they delivered arguably the greatest WrestleMania of all time.
It was a surreal experience for me to see the Rock main event another WrestleMania in Philly when 25 years prior I saw him main event his first against Austin. The Rock back as a heel in his greatest incarnation as the Final Boss has been nothing short of magical. The fact that he willingly pivoted away from his own match with Roman, when he heard the fans no being happy, he was taking Cody’s moment away from him and pivoted to give the people what they wanted and some more. He truly is the people’s champ and created magic. I know not everyone loved this match, but I think it delivered everything that it needed to and set the stage for WWE’s equivalent of Marvel’s Endgame finish.
As confident as I was writing or talking about this match leading into this that Cody would finally finish the story, I would be lying if I said that just like last year, I was on my feet the entire time in full and total mark mode not 100% sure. Just like last year I wasn’t alone as 70K plus other fans were all standing as well especially when things started kicking into overdrive. When the portals opened up with the sins of the bloodline’s past came in for revenge in Jey Uso and John Cena and the gatekeeper of that yard, the Undertaker made a WrestleMania appearance to show the Rock that there is only one true final boss. Watching Cody hitting those crossrhodes on Roman, you could literally feel it from the crowd they wanted this and were ready for the conclusion. The pop and celebration from the crowd is without a doubt for me as a fan my favorite moment to ever witness live. This was a moment for me that lived up to the hype and meant the world to me being there for it.
Seth Rollins who is a true MVP working two matches and run in with an injury. When you talk about passion and heart for this business, he is the epitome of it. Thank you, Seth, for giving us a Mania performance that will stand the test of time. Also, if anyone from Mattel is reading this, I really need an Ultimate Mummers Seth figure for Clark and me to cover on Sold Separately.
Another unbelievable match and moment was Sami Zayn overcoming the odds and ending Gunter’s reign as arguably the greatest IC champion in history. Sami and Gunter delivered an absolute masterpiece in that ring. Bayley finally getting her moment as well was another amazing moment in a weekend full of amazing WrestleMania moments.
Raw After Mania had a lot to make up for after the cluster mess of last years. It had its moments, but I don’t think it was the greatest post mania Raw, but one of the coolest moments to be there live for was to witness Cody making his first appearance as finally WWE Champion and you can feel how over he is during his entrance.
Tribalism Isn’t Needed – Just Enjoy The Ride:
One of biggest problems is this negative cloud over this industry where fans feel it is okay to put down other fans because the wrestler or show or brand that they support. I’m a professional wrestling fan and I watch as much as I can find the time to watch. A typical week I watch WWE, TNA and AEW and if I hear about a match or segment worth checking out elsewhere, I try to check it out.
No wrestling show is perfect, but seriously watch whatever wrestling show you enjoy and don’t worry about what other fans are watching. Just enjoy what you want to enjoy. Wrestling is a special artform and not everything is for everyone. I’ve said before the Fiend character wasn’t my thing, but a lot of people loved it, and I can respect that. Closing yourself off by being loyal to just one company means you are missing so much content, I’m not saying you have to watch everything but just try to be open to other content us vs them is such a toxic mind set.
WWE delivered a spectacle with WrestleMania, but AEW delivered something special at Dynasty as well. Seeing the dream match that no one thought was a possibility a few years ago as Bryan Danielson, who at one time was considered the best in the world and was trained by the GOAT, HBK, took on someone that many consider the best in the world today and someone that I think could be the HBK of his generation in Will Ospreay. Although there was no real story going into this match other than it is a dream match, these men painted a masterpiece in that ring.
At Dynasty we also got to see Swerve Strickland finally become AEW World Champion. Easily one of the biggest mistakes when it comes to releases WWE made and to AEW’s gain. Swerve totally deserved this moment and has truly come into his own. Swerve becomes the first black man to become AEW World champion. The AEW World, TNA World (Moose), NXT (Trick Williams), NXT North American (Oba Femi) champions are all black men and the AEW TBS (Willow Nightengale), ROH Women’s World (Athena) and WWE Women’s tag champions (Bianca & Jade) are all black women, it is a very cool moment in time to see that there is representation throughout the industry.
Many fans may have missed this gem, but Josh Alexander, who has been the heart and soul of TNA has been delivering classics no matter who he is in the ring with and his series of three matches with Hammerstone was one of the best feuds of the year so far. Mustafa Ali, another talent that WWE dropped the ball on is finding new life in TNA as the X-Division champion and on the indies. WrestleMania weekend, Ali defended the X-Division championship against OG of the X-Division, Amazing Red challenged for the title in a CHURCH…like how wild of a location to have a wrestling show? Then we also saw the return of the broken one Matt Hardy making his stunning return to TNA while he is a free agent.
AEW may actually be on the verge of making money off of all the controversy when they screwed up them having CM Punk and not taking advantage of the real life heat. Jack Perry is playing a scapegoat and the Bucks are evil EVPs that have taken out Tony Khan. This may be the most compelling thing they have done in a long time there is certainly enough evil authority figure material to give them ideas.
Speaking of CM Punk, the man who was painted as dangerous and making people fear for their lives certainly seems to be making himself feel welcomed back home in WWE. Despite his injury he is creating compelling tv on camera and off camera there appears to be no drama at all. AJ Styles is someone that had a bad past with him and said he’d never work with him again said the complete opposite at WWE World when he was asked about Punk. This is a new CM Punk that looks legitimately happy to be there and his peers seem to be happy to have him there.
Lastly, we have to talk about WWE being on fire now with sold out show after sold out show, under the direction of Nick Khan and Triple H they have not only sparked new life into the WWE product but genuine interest in the industry across the board. The audience can feel the electricity of the arenas whether it is in a stadium with 70K fans at WrestleMania or perhaps the loudest 11K fans in recent memory at Backlash France this weekend.
Final Thoughts:
I haven’t seen or felt an electricity or passion from the fanbase like this since the Attitude era and I cannot tell you happy I am to see this level again. This era that is being ushered in maybe the greatest ever and I cannot wait to see where the industry goes. We have the Rock back for one final run on top of all of this and one thing is certain the industry has moved away from the Vince McMahon and the black cloud he brought onto WWE and Triple H has cruised us flawless to clear skies. Whatever you want to call this new era in the industry, all I can say is appreciate it and savor every moment because this is a special time to be a fan.
ITTMP
