WWE WrestleMania XXX: So Far, Why It’s The Road Less Traveled

The Showcase Of The Immortals…

The Granddaddy Of Them All…

The Super Bowl Of The WWE Universe…

These are the terms used to describe the biggest and most prestigious event of the professional wrestling calendar year. It is the one day where no expense is spared, and where the biggest stars in the WWE Universe, and at times from popular culture as well, come together to perform for and to celebrate their beloved industry. All eyes are on the WWE come the first Sunday in April every year. From the economic boost that is served to the annual event’s host city, to the “pushes” that follow for those wrestlers who “steal the show” at the big event, WrestleMania’s annual showcase always has something for nearly everyone.

Except for this year. Wrestlemania this year, on its coveted 30th anniversary, feels like a fish out of water; a not-so-true arrow that will certainly miss its mark. And there is no one to blame but the WWE itself.

Time and again over the past year we have seen it again and again, something we call “booking on the fly.” I’d rather like to think of it as throwing various items against the wall and waiting to see what sticks. However they are making these creative decisions behind the scenes, not only has it affected the quality of the majority of the pay per views since the last Wrestlemania, but now it will affect their biggest event of not only the year, but also one of the most significant milestones in WWE’s history: the 30th anniversary of Wrestlemania.

At the time of this writing, we are just over a week away from the big event, and we are also just putting words to paper just days prior to the final RAW broadcast that will lead us into Wrestlemania 30. And the WWE has more work to do than they can possibly realize: there’s not one single match on the WMXXX card that is intriguing:

The Uso’s defending the Tag Team Championship in a Fatal 4Way? – Sounds like a weekly Smackdown! main event match.

An all-inclusive Divas Championship match – That’s a train wreck waiting to happen on live pay per view television. The Bellas and AJ Lee deserve better.

John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – at this point, who cares? Are you invested? Do you really think John Cena is afraid of Bray Wyatt?

The Shield vs. The New Age Outlaws and Kane – what is this, the pre-show, or 1998?

The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar – as if The Streak will finally snap after 2 decades?!

The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal – to what end is this supposed to be important to us, or the performers?

Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H – Finally! But we know who wins already.

Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – only if Daniel Bryan wins is this match the only reputable entry on the Wrestlemania 30 card. If Batista goes over and we have to suffer through more of the same from the past 4 weeks and wait for a rematch at Extreme Rules for Daniel Bryan, or worse yet Summerslam, the WWE will lose everything the fans have invested in the Yes Movement.

It is truly unbelievable that we are mere days away from the Showcase Of The Immortals, and the Wrestlemania 30 card itself is not only completely uncompelling, it’s not even fully rounded out yet. There is still room for another match or two to be added this week, and I am certain it will. WWE has done nothing in the past to prove otherwise, and they have treated this year’s Wrestlemania like another passing pay per view.

But they have a week or so to make things right. More has been done in less time before, but right now this Road to Wrestlemania is one that is less traveled – and so it should be, for the fans and the talent alike. We all deserve better.

Fans, let’s continue the discussion in the COMMENTS section below, and with me personally on Twitter: @davyshrader.