So, How Much Different Would Wrestlemania XXX Have Been...

[The GOAT]

...if The Rock wrestled that night?

I was thinking about this last night. As everyone might know, The Rock was originally supposed to face off with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXX. And when people heard that The Rock wasn't going to be there, they were thrilled since it meant a spot was opened up and the spotlight would be on one less part-timer. However, closer examination might show that the card as a whole might have been better if he was present since it would lead to the re-booking of other matches, too.

For one, if Rock/Brock had happened, then Lesnar couldn't have challenged (and ended) the Undertaker's streak. In that case, who does the Undertaker compete with? It's the historical 30th Wrestlemania, so they're obviously gonna book him against a big name, and the biggest name other than Brock Lesnar is John Cena. (I realize you could make an argument that Wyatt may have gotten the honor, but I'll ignore that for the moment) But that would leave Wyatt in need of a new opponent, and that's where The Shield come in. It's possible and likely that they would have saved the big clash between the two stables for Wrestlemania (as I felt they should have anyway) instead of Elimination Chamber.

Provided that my assumptions here are correct, tell me this wouldn't have been a stronger overall card:

Bryan/Orton/Batista for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Bryan/Hunter
Undertaker/John Cena
The Rock/Brock Lesnar
The Shield/The Wyatt Family
Andre Memorial Battle Royal
Diva's Invitational
WWE Tag Team Title Match (pre-show)

Not that I thought Wrestlemania XXX was horrible or anything. It was actually quite a good Wrestlemania that really signified a new era in many ways. it's just funny how Rock's involvement might have provided us with a stronger Wrestlemania overall.

 

[Nick]

I think we should have seen an Ambrose vs Rollins vs Reigns US title match instead of them facing Kane/NAO. That's the only change I would've made to the card

 

[Leo C]

I don't know, I feel like they may have wanted to do Rock/Brock for the belt, so there's a chance Bryan wouldn't have gotten his big win in the ME for the strap.

 

[The GOAT]

I don't know, I feel like they may have wanted to do Rock/Brock for the belt, so there's a chance Bryan wouldn't have gotten his big win in the ME for the strap.

How would that have worked? Rock wasn't winning the title again and they wouldn't want to end the show with a heel like Lesnar winning the strap. Wrestlemania rarely has ended with a heel on top, and certainly none of their anniversary shows that come along only once every decade have. (It was a large reason why there was never any doubt in my mind that Daniel Bryan was winning the championship this year, because him doing so would have provided them - and did - with that big happy moment to close out the show with.) Plus, The Rock mentioned in an interview about 3-4 months ago that he was originally scheduled to fight Brock this year, and mentioned nothing about it being for the world title.

 

[Leo C]

How would that have worked? Rock wasn't winning the title again and they wouldn't want to end the show with a heel like Lesnar winning the strap. Wrestlemania rarely has ended with a heel on top, and certainly none of their anniversary shows that come along only once every decade have. (It was a large reason why there was never any doubt in my mind that Daniel Bryan was winning the championship this year, because him doing so would have provided them - and did - with that big happy moment to close out the show with.) Plus, The Rock mentioned in an interview about 3-4 months ago that he was originally scheduled to fight Brock this year, and mentioned nothing about it being for the world title.

Well, I can't say I'm aware of what their plans were since I didn't keep up with interviews or anything, but you do have a point there when you say Rock probably wouldn't win the strap again. Doesn't really make a lot of sense for him to walk out champ AGAIN and Lesnar just beating him doesn't feel like it'd happen either, you're right. And even though Lesnar/Rock doesn't seem like great match quality, a card with Taker/Cena and Shield/Wyatts would've probably been better in retrospect.

 

[Brad.]

I think we should have seen an Ambrose vs Rollins vs Reigns US title match instead of them facing Kane/NAO. That's the only change I would've made to the card

How does Rock have any impact whatsoever on those matches?

 

[Roadster]

Seth Rollins vs Big E for the IC title
Their NXT title match was pretty dope.

 

[Just Kevin]

It was 20 days ago... let's talk about Extreme Rules now :jbl:

 

[Dat Girl]

Sounds alright. Cena ending the streak though would be interesting.

 

[Snowman1]

That's a much better card! But... would that mean Cena would have ended the Streak?

 

[Aids Johnson]

That wouldn't have been as strong of an overall card.

 

[Roadster]

It was 20 days ago... let's talk about Extreme Rules now :jbl:

It's to early

 

[Just Kevin]

It's to early

Yeah it's not like the entire show isn't already set up lol.... and it's 8 days away!

 

[Swift]

That's a much better card! But... would that mean Cena would have ended the Streak?

The butthurt that would have occurred is unimaginable.

 

[The GOAT]

That's a much better card! But... would that mean Cena would have ended the Streak?

It's up in the air, but I seriously doubt it. I don't think it was ever planned for Cena to end it because he's publicly stated that he doesn't think he's worthy of such an accolade (Randy Orton felt the same way in 2005, and that was back when he was an arrogant and supercilious asshole in real life... shows how much respect Taker has from all the boys), and because the company wouldn't want to tack on to the already huge negative reception that Cena gets.

Most likely, Taker lasts till WM31 before laying down. Supposedly, Taker wanted Lesnar to end the streak even back when Lesnar was to wrestle only a one-time return match back in 2011, which shows that Lesnar may have simply ended the streak next year instead (provided that he signed an extension past WM31, of course.)