To say Wrestlemania XL was explosive is an understatement. Despite having a lukewarm first night time, night time two raised the bar significantly to provide us one in every of the greatest Wrestlemanias of all time, from Drew McIntyre successful the WWE Heavyweight title after which shedding it instantly after Damien Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to Bayley and Iyo Sky giving us one in every of the greatest matches of their careers, there was a way that the firm was transferring in direction of a clear conclusion to years of story and controversy.
Turns out it wasn’t simply Cody Rhodes on the market attempting to complete his story. It was the WWE as nicely. And as the second night time’s fundamental occasion confirmed, a brand new era has begun. With a brand new Undisputed champion additionally comes a brand new chapter to the story, one with Cody as the face of the firm and a definitive transition of energy with Triple H at the helm.
In an try to acknowledge all this, right here’s a listing of issues to return, issues which are, and issues to want for in the post-Wrestlemania XL universe.
- Rhea Ripley will proceed to be the face of the ladies’s division.
In her post-Beck Lynch match press convention, Rhea advised reporters that the 4 Horsewomen of the ladies’s division will stay on without end, however that “they will have to move over, because we are taking over at the same time.” It was a agency assertion on the future of ladies’s wrestling in the WWE, through which we’ve got to significantly take into account naming 4 new Horsewomen. At the prime of that checklist is Rhea, no query. Her dominance, charisma, on-line presence, and persistently nice fights are field workplace in each regard.
Who’ll be a part of her at the prime is the place issues get attention-grabbing. Bianca Belair has earned her spot, however the different two positions have respectable candidates that may lay declare to them. Iyo Sky was a terrific champion, and her reign was marked by a deep story and matches that lived as much as it. She went from star to famous person in lower than a 12 months after changing into champion. She’ll proceed to rise. So, who else? Can Liv Morgan be thought-about a Horsewoman of the type that may turn out to be the face of the division? Can Zelina Vega accomplish that if she grows as an unbiased wrestler? Asuka is definitely a fundamental draw and has a dependable fanbase. Zoey Stark? Of course, all eyes are on the second entry on this checklist.
- How huge will Jade Cargill be in Rhea’s and Bianca’s division?
There’s no denying Cargill’s star energy. She has the viewers on her aspect, she’s chiseled like a Greek goddess, and she or he simply received her first WWE match at Wrestlemania XL. As far as debuts go, she’s had one in every of the most hyped in latest historical past and she or he’s been thrust into the fundamental stage from the get-go to nice success to this point. Obviously, there’s confidence in her means to go over rather well.
So, what does she need to show going ahead? In-ring spectacle. The WWE’s ladies’s division has been on a roll with superior shows of ability and momentum from athletes which have confirmed to have the mandatory instruments to again up their discuss. Cargill’s Royal Rumble efficiency was really one thing to behold primarily based on bodily prowess alone, however her Wrestlemania match didn’t significantly showcase what she’s able to. Questions stay as as to whether she will maintain a fundamental occasion match at the stage of a Rhea Ripley or an Asuka. Time will inform if she will earn her spot as a Horsewoman or if she’ll observe in the footsteps of previous wrestlers such Ultimate Warrior or Goldberg, robust athletes which are remembered extra for his or her muscle mass relatively than their wrestling talents.
- The Hunter era will mark the finish of Vince McMahon’s worst reserving tendencies.
The Devil himself, Vince McMahon, was recognized for increase Babyfaces to then have them fall spectacularly on their faces on PPV occasions. There was a sinister glee in the observe, denying followers the satisfaction of seeing Heels get their asses handed to them in the squared circle after months of buildup. McMahon was additionally recognized for having native favorites lose of their hometowns and for ridiculing wrestlers primarily based on petty disagreements and outdated expressions of poisonous masculinity.
The info that’s been filtering out from backstage through podcasts and interviews with present wrestlers all level to Triple H being a extra level-headed inventive, along with his sights firmly set on elevating wrestling through story and good matchups relatively than controversy. Evidence of this lies in the narrative pivot from the close to catastrophe that was going to be The Rock v. Roman Reigns as the fundamental occasion at Wrestlemania XL. Upon fan backlash, issues had been reshuffled and out got here one in every of the greatest heel performances in the historical past of the sport curtesy of The Brahma Bull which culminated in a tag match for the ages.
To put it extra plainly, Vince would’ve had Cody lose a second time at Wrestlemania. Now, who’s champion as of the time of this writing?
- Damien Priest has an opportunity to turn out to be a megastar.
In one in every of the most superbly chaotic moments of night time two, Damien Priest cashed in his title shot briefcase and took the belt proper from beneath Drew McIntyre minutes after he took it from Seth Rollins. Priest is now the WWE World Heavyweight champion, and he ought to stay as such for some time.
As the first Puerto Rican heavyweight champion since Pedro Morales beat Ivan Koloff at Madison Square Garden in 1971, Priest has an opportunity to carve out an area fully for himself in the firm that can permit him to maintain himself ought to the Judgment Day ever disband. He’s confirmed to have the mic expertise and the means to hold a match all on his personal as seen final 12 months in opposition to Bad Bunny. He could be a fundamental draw, but it surely all hinges on how spectacular his title reign finally ends up being. If Drew recaptures his title in a month’s time, then it’s a chance wasted.
- In the absence of Roman Reigns, the WWE should discover the subsequent nice heel to throw at Cody.
As thrilling and well-earned as Cody’s win was, one can’t keep away from pondering what the WWE can be with out the towering affect of Reigns and the Bloodline. For Cody to stay related he’ll want a terrific villain. An actual risk. The subsequent few months are vital in growing this.
The way forward for the Bloodline is equally essential. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso had been depending on Roman by way of storytelling. Where do they go from right here. Is there nonetheless an opportunity the Bloodline can stay as a faction? If there is, then it needs to be pursued as long as it doesn’t immediately intervene with Cody’s title reign. They had a great run. Let’s see new challengers step up for fundamental occasions.
- Keep Drew McIntyire as a heel so he can proceed giving us the greatest tweets in wrestling.
This one’s a no brainer. Drew constructed up his rivalry with Rollins with a masterful show of storytelling that included pointed pictures at CM Punk and an intense fixation on the World Heavyweight title. On the RAW after Wrestlemania, addressing how he misplaced his belt, he referred to as Damien Priest a “bondage Undertaker.” The man is a gold mine and he ought to proceed to insult his opponents to his coronary heart’s content material.
- Reserve the Final Boss for particular events solely.
Credit the place credit score’s due, The Rock turned an already essential Wrestlemania into one thing particular. His tag match with Roman in opposition to Cody and Rollins delivered on a number of fronts (I’ll always remember him telling the ref he’d be fired if he stored counting out these outdoors the ring).
The following RAW, he advised Cody that although his story was completed, theirs had simply begun. I hope this is however a seed of one thing that’ll come manner additional down the line. But for now, let’s put The Rock again in the field and take him out when it is sensible once more in the future.
8. Where does CM Punk fall in all this?
CM Punk got here again to the WWE. Then he bought injured. With new champions arising, a brand new era beginning with a bang, and Drew McIntyre as a fan favourite heel…is Punk even a precedence proper now? Crowds nonetheless love him and he is a draw, however it may be a bit troublesome seeing how he could make a case for himself in the grand scheme of issues. This is maybe the largest thriller we’re left with after Wrestlemania XL closed. Let’s take pleasure in him whereas we’ve got him, although. It is likely to be that we get a Drew vs. Punk match, and that needs to be good. Though should you ask me, a three-way match between Punk, Drew, and Damien for the belt (through which Priest retains) is sounds manner higher.
What did you consider Wrestlemania XL? Where do you assume the WWE is heading beneath Triple H? Sound off in the feedback!
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