WrestleMania...The Movie?
Recent comments from Triple H lead me to believe we are watching a two-part movie this weekend.
A startling revelation about this weekend’s WrestleMania shows, which I believe are going to be even more unique than we think.
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It’s startling revelation time!
WrestleMania...The Movie?
We’ve been talking like crazy about this weekend’s WrestleMania shows, and for good reason! They are the most unlikely of shows, including the fact that they are “shows” at all! WrestleMania 2 was a three-city affair, but it all happened in succession on the same night (in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles).
This WrestleMania is different on so many levels, including:
Being held over two nights.
Being filmed on a “closed set” at the WWE Performance Center (and other locations) in front of NO FANS.
Featuring unique atmosphere matches like the Boneyard Match and the Firefly Fun House Match.
Being hosted by Rob Gronkowski.
Not airing live.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuut, it gets even crazier than that! It’s easy to assume the Firefly Fun House, Boneyard, and even Last Man Standing Matches will feature some theatrics and post-production (the Last Man Standing Match might also be held in an alternate location). And we know the matches themselves will feel different thanks to the overall environment of the event, along with the world climate in the midst of the COVID-19 fight.
But recent comments from Triple H (appearing on ESPN MMA) seem to indicate that this will be even more different than we’ve imagined:
"I say this a lot, we're more akin to the Rocky movie than we are actual boxing. Once the event takes place live in boxing, you're kind of done with it. With us, the Rocky movie, you'll watch it over and over again because it's the story and the characters and the emotion that you feel. You'll go back and relive those epic moments of Andre [The Giant] and [Hulk Hogan] and Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3 or whatever connects with you from the past. You can go back and watch those and relive them.”
The phrase “we make movies” has been a Vince McMahon mantra for a long time, but this weekend it’s going to come to life more than ever. And Triple H wasn’t done, as he discussed the manner in which Roman Reigns will be removed from the show:
"You can watch our business in multiple different ways. One of them is the storyline aspect of it and to follow the storyline. Another way is the online component of it and the reality of it behind it. Roman has his situation and his reasons for doing the things he's doing, but I will say from our standpoint and the storyline standpoint, it's going to play out in a unique manner and we want it to play out that way. I don't want to give away the ending of the movie before the movie takes place. Everybody just has to watch and see how this unfolds. It will unfold in a unique way and I think it will be meaningful for everybody.”
Side note: I love that he’s acknowledging that Roman Reigns is off the card, but keeping things “as is” until they have the chance to tell their story. Because they are selling pay-per-views, it’s a slippery slope to continue to advertise Roman Reigns. But as you can read in that quote, this isn’t like a UFC card advertising a fighter that won’t be fighting, this is a movie with unexpected twists and turns.
“I don't want to give away the ending of the movie before the movie takes place. Everybody just has to watch and see how this unfolds.”
Have you ever heard a wrestling personality talk about WrestleMania in this manner? It made me realize that this truly will be the most unique thing we’ve ever seen. Maybe it opens up the possibility for more unique content from WWE, on the Network or otherwise. They are holding out, and telling the story in the best way they know how to. “Sport” be damned, this is all about “Entertainment.” People will be critical, yes, but it’s because they are entering WrestleMania with the wrong expectations.
Don’t tune in waiting for a wrestling show. Professional wrestling is simply the backdrop for “WrestleMania: The Movie.”
This is going to be a polarizing weekend. What are your thoughts? Reply and let me know!
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