If you frequent this blog, I’m sure you’re aware that I wasn’t a big fan of this year’s WrestleMania. My distaste for the show doesn’t mean, however, that it wasn’t historically significant.
For the first time in the 27 year history of WrestleMania, no titles switched hands on the show. I think that this does wonders for making WrestleMania less predictable, but it simultaneously strips it of some of its “biggest event of the year” feel. It was also the first WrestleMania in the brand extension era to feature only two title matches.
For just the second time in history, a heel won the WrestleMania main event. The Miz made history by defeating John Cena, becoming the first bad guy in eleven years to be victorious in the show’s closing contest. Triple H was the first, winning a fatal 4-way match against The Big Show, The Rock, and Mick Foley at WrestleMania 2000. Stone Cold Steve Austin turned heel at the conclusion of the WrestleMania X7 main event, but he was a fan favorite heading into the match.
WrestleMania 27 was the first WrestleMania to be opened by a World Title match. To Alberto Del Rio’s dismay, it was also the fourth consecutive year that the Royal Rumble winner failed to capture the title at WrestleMania. The Undertaker was the last Rumble winner to accomplish the feat with a win over Batista at WrestleMania 23.
Speaking of the Undertaker, Triple H was the third repeat customer he’s had in the defense of the streak. He defeated Kane at WrestleManias 14 & 20, Shawn Michaels at WrestleManias 25 & 26, and now Triple H at WrestleManias 17 & 27. WWE is running out of viable threats to throw at him.
Snooki joined Mr. T, Lawrence Taylor, Butterbean, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Akebono on the list of celebrities to have their hands raised at WrestleMania. Donald Trump and Cyndi Lauper have also been victorious at WrestleMania vicariously when their representative wrestler won their match. No celebrity has ever suffered a loss on the big event, save for the NFL stars that fell victim to Andre the Giant in a WrestleMania 2 battle royal.
WrestleMania 27 was the first since WrestleMania 12 to not showcase a match pitting more than two sides against each other. Every WrestleMania from 13 and forward has had either a triple threat, 4-way match, money in the bank, or battle royal broadcast live on the pay-per-view. With the exception of the untelevised pre-show battle royal, WrestleMania 27 featured matches that were strictly one wrestler or team versus another.
And of course, WrestleMania 27 was the first WrestleMania to have a guest host. On Monday night, that guest host made WrestleMania 28 the first WrestleMania to have its main event announced a year ahead of time.
