Despite the accusations that professional wrestling is “fake” or “scripted,” wrestling is an art that has existed for around a century. It is a form of storytelling in the same vein as Game of Thrones or Succession, as everyone is fueled by motivation and has a purpose.
However, wrestling is different in that it’s always live, and a large part of carrying out those motivations is throwing oneself at the ground off of something high.
WrestleMania, which is professional wrestling’s biggest event of the year, is this weekend, and it has a chance to be one of the best shows in its history. Under the assumption that the majority of people who take the time to read The Lafayette do not watch wrestling, I will attempt to give a summary of some of the major storylines and why you should care.
The Bloodline vs. Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns has been the undisputed champion since July 2020, and he and his faction christened “The Bloodline” have ruled the WWE for over 1,000 days. He is flanked by his cousins Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, Special Council Paul Heyman and international megastar and former WWE champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Reigns has beaten everyone on the roster and his incredible dominance has turned him into a final boss character for the challenger, Cody Rhodes.
After winning the Royal Rumble last year but failing to knock off Reigns in the main event due to external interference, Cody is back to finish the story in the main event. He first must compete against The Rock and Roman Reigns in a tag team match alongside the other title holder in the company, Seth Rollins. This match has become incredibly personal, with evocations of dead parents and people putting their careers on the line. Will it be Cody Rhodes’ career or Roman Reign’s 1,315-day title reign that comes to an end Sunday night?
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
Rollins will have his hands full this weekend. Not only is he competing in the tag team match, but he is also putting his title on the line the next night against 6-foot-7-inch former champion and Scotsman Drew McIntyre. McIntyre won the belt back in 2020 with no fans in attendance in what was supposed to be his crowning moment. He has been just begging for that moment again since.
Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso
Jey Uso was so close to being the person to finally knock off Roman Reigns at Summerslam back in August, but his twin brother Jimmy cost him the match by refusing to break his allegiance to Reigns. The storyline has been building since the two joined the WWE as a tag team back in 2009 but this past year has showcased the emotional conflict within the family and culminated in dramatic confrontations between the brothers in the ring.
Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley
The anticipation for this showdown has been meticulously crafted over the past year. Despite her numerous accomplishments, Becky remains undervalued, adding to the intrigue. Ripley, on the other hand, has skyrocketed to become a bona fide megastar. Their clash epitomizes a collision between the division’s titans, with both wrestlers boasting undeniable charisma and skill.
