Not only is the Attitude Era among fans' favorite periods in WWE history, but it also happened to host arguably the company's greatest pay-per-view of all time in WrestleMania X-Seven...
WWE Rumors: Future Plans for 2-Night WrestleMania Events After WrestleMania 36
Apr 25, 2020
Fans watch the WWE Wrestlemania 29 wrestling event, Sunday, April 7, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
This year's WrestleMania was a two-night event out of necessity, but WWE reportedly has no plans to go back to that format in the near future.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), WWE is currently planning for next year's WrestleMania 37 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to be a one-night show on March 28.
This year's WrestleMania had been scheduled to be a one-night affair at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the company to move it to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, with no fans in attendance.
WWE also made WrestleMania 36 two nights instead of one, and it was fairly well received since it broke up the action and allowed everyone on the card to get more shine than they normally would on a show that lasts seven or eight hours in a single day.
With WrestleMania getting longer and longer in recent years because of the amount of talent WWE wants to get on the card, a two-night 'Mania is something that has gained traction in recent years. The whispers grew louder in January when New Japan Pro-Wrestling made Wrestle Kingdom a two-night event.
WWE Hall of Famer and executive Triple H is among those who liked the two-night format and would like to see it return in the future. During an appearance on After the Bell with Corey Graves (h/t WrestlingInc's Jason Ounpraseuth), The Game said the following about his hope for WrestleMania moving forward:
"Well, I mean my opinion is my opinion, but I think it was much more enjoyable than the eight-hour extravaganza. I think at some point that is probably what it should be. It's just become so big. When you think about it, in a way, it started out as a concert that ended up being a festival, and it's this week-long thing. When you think about it in that manner now, you know, the Thursday would have been Hall of Fame, Friday was SmackDown, Saturday was going to be Takeover, Sunday would have been WrestleMania [and] Monday would have been RAW. It's a week-long festival, and I think that big main-stage attraction needs to be those two nights and it'd be this weekend of events.
"I do think that's probably a change that that out of chaos comes the genius and maybe that is the genius of it. And I know there's been people saying that for a period of time, but that's a major shift, and it doesn't come easy. I think people in the world look at stuff like that. They go, 'Why don't they just make it two nights?' Yeah, because that's really easy. There you go two nights."
While two-night WrestleManias may be ideal in the future, it becomes more difficult logistically when fans are in attendance. That is a factor WWE didn't have to worry about this year.
For future WrestleManias, WWE would have to book a huge venue for two nights instead of one and also sell thousands of tickets for two events rather than one. WWE has consistently been running WrestleMania at venues that hold 70,000 or more fans over the past several years, and selling that many tickets twice could prove difficult.
There are many things WWE must take into account before switching to that format on a regular basis, but all signs currently point toward WrestleMania 37 in L.A. going back to the traditional setup.
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WWE WrestleMania 36 was a ride unlike any other. No one could have predicted the events that surrounded the show. It was the first and possibly only 'Mania to take place without a crowd...
Triple H: Rhea Ripley's 'Path to Greatness Has Not Changed' After Loss to Flair
Apr 5, 2020
Triple H doesn't believe a loss to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 will derail the career path of now-former NXT women's champion Rhea Ripley.
Ripley's title reign ended Sunday when she tapped out to the Figure-Eight Leglock. Triple H provided words of support to the NXT star:
.@RheaRipley_WWE went toe to toe with one of the absolute best women to ever step in the ring...her path to greatness has not changed one bit.#ProudOfYouBoth
At WrestleMania 34, Flair defeated Asuka to end The Empress of Tomorrow's unbeaten streak, which she carried over from NXT.
Many thought at the time it would only be a momentary setback for Asuka before she ran roughshod over the WWE women's division. Instead, she has yet to rebuild the momentum she enjoyed in the weeks leading up to that WrestleMania.
Age is unquestionably on Ripley's side, though. She only turned 23 in October. For a comparison, Flair was 28 when she captured the NXT Women's Championship.
Sunday shouldn't be Ripley's only chance to create her own WrestleMania moment.
WWE WrestleMania 36 Live Stream, WWE Network Start Time and Match Card
Apr 5, 2020
The first night of WrestleMania 36 gave us one of the most unique and interesting pay-per-views we have seen in years. In fact, there has never been anything like it.
The company has continued to operate out of its Performance Center during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and many doubted this show would even take place.
Whether you agree with the decision to push forward or not, it was nice to get a great night of wrestling on Saturday. Let's look at what you need to know about night two.
The one-hour Kickoff will be available through most social media platforms, Fite TV, YouTube and WWE Network.
A select few cable and satellite providers still carry WWE PPVs, but for the most part, people will be watching night two of WrestleMania on WWE Network. Here is a list of the devices that support the streaming service, according to WWE.com:
Apple TV
Amazon Fire TV
PlayStation 4
Roku
Xbox One
Android devices with the WWE app
iOS devices with the WWE app
WWE.com
Select Panasonic, LG, Sony and Samsung Smart TVs
TiVo
Supported browsers
Bleacher Report Writers' Thoughts and Predictions
The writing staff at Bleacher Report has been sharing its analysis and predictions heading into Sunday's show.
Anthony Mango offered his final picks for the card.
Erik Beaston ranked the hype level for each match.
A panel of writers gave their predictions for every match on the card.
Other WrestleMania Thoughts
Night one managed to surprise a lot of fans by delivering some PPV-quality action without any fans in attendance. Some bouts even thrived under the circumstances.
The Boneyard match between The Undertaker and Styles was totally unexpected. The high production value and cinematic presentation was a breath of fresh air.
The Firefly Fun House needs to employ a similar strategy if it hopes to live up to what we saw on Saturday. Cena has been acting for a few years now, so he may be able to bring some of those skills into this bout.
McIntyre seems poised to win his first WWE Championship, Edge and Orton will have one of the most violent matches of the night and the rest of the card has great potential.
WWE filmed all of this ahead of time, so let's hope they saved all of the best stuff for night two.
WWE WrestleMania 36 Results: What Fans Are Marking Out for from Saturday's Card
Apr 5, 2020
Saturday was night one of the two-day WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view. Nobody had any idea what to expect when the show began, but by the end of the night, it's safe to say many fans were pleasantly surprised by how good it was.
In total, WWE aired nine matches Saturday, including one on the Kickoff between Drew Gulak and Cesaro that was not previously advertised.
The taped PPV had a few moments when you could see how it was edited together, but the first night of the show managed to surpass most people's expectations.
Many took a cynical approach heading into the PPV, which probably made it that much more exciting when almost every match ended up being a lot of fun. Here is a quick rundown of the results:
Cesaro defeated Drew Gulak.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defeated The Kabuki Warriors.
Elias defeated King Corbin.
Becky Lynch defeated Shayna Baszler.
Sami Zayn defeated Daniel Bryan.
John Morrison defeated Jimmy Uso and Kofi Kingston.
Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins.
Braun Strowman defeated Goldberg.
The Undertaker defeated AJ Styles.
Let's take a look at what fans are marking out for the most on Twitter.
The Boneyard Match
Nobody knew what a Boneyard match would be until it started, but a lot of people were right when they assumed it would involve a graveyard in some way.
WWE has done matches in other locations before like Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt and The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family, but The Undertaker vs. Styles was on a different level.
The production included a lot of practical effects, creative editing, sound effects, stuntmen, dialogue and a soundtrack. They even had film-like opening credits for the Superstars' intros.
This was the best Taker has looked in years, and fans online were going wild over how much fun this encounter was and how surprising it was to see WWE pull off something like this so perfectly.
Make no mistake about it: This was not a traditional match. Therefore, it should not be judged by traditional means. This was more like a short film, and it succeeded where past main events have failed.
The Phenomenal One was the perfect foe for The Deadman, and he will easily bounce back from this loss when he returns from the shallow grave in which Taker buried him at the end of the night.
The Ladder Match
Because of The Miz missing the PPV, WWE made the SmackDown tag titles ladder match into a Triple Threat with Jimmy Uso, John Morrison and Kofi Kingston representing their teams.
It's a shame we didn't get to see Jey Uso or Big E in some capacity. However, keeping this to a three-man contest ended up making it one of the most exciting bouts of the night. All three of the Superstars involved are comfortable flying through the air, and they hit some unique spots that WWE edited together to make an entertaining match.
Fans were praising them for specific spots and the overall performance. The ending was dramatic and kept fans guessing until JoMo fell from the ladder with both belts to claim victory.
KO’s dive. Ladder match nuttiness. Boneyard brawl.
The feud between Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins has been going on for months and feels like it's lasted even longer. They have been going at it since the night after Survivor Series in November.
There is a reason WWE has kept this program going for so long: They have such good chemistry.
KO has been the perfect rival for Rollins as he has transformed himself into the Monday Night Messiah because he is great at calling out people when they are being ridiculous.
The fake-out DQ ending led to this bout becoming a No Disqualification match. They used plenty of weapons thereafter and even used the WrestleMania sign for a table spot.
Their insults throughout the match were easy to hear without the crowd and made for a more personal encounter.
Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins are two of the best wrestlers in the world. This match proved even more #WrestleMania
The first night of WrestleMania 36 was a lot better than it had any right to be, but WWE has always been capable of delivering great programming. It just doesn't always follow through.
If night two is just as good, this could go down in history as one of the most important WrestleManias of all time.
49ers' George Kittle Talks Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens at WWE WrestleMania 36
Apr 4, 2020
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball after catching a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
While disappointed with the outcome, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle enjoyed Kevin Owens' win over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36 on Saturday.
The Undertaker' Boneyard match with AJ Styles stole the show, but Owens and Rollins put together arguably the best encounter from the WWE Performance Center.
The biggest moment came when Owens jumped off the WrestleMania sign for an elbow drop:
After a solid opening night, Kittle and WWE fans everywhere are likely eager to see what the promotion has in store Sunday.
Video: Mick Foley Asks to Be in Boneyard Match at WWE WrestleMania 37
Apr 4, 2020
INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 29: WWE superstar Mick Foley is seen in attendance during the UFC 232 event inside The Forum on December 29, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
After watching The Undertaker beat AJ Styles in a Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36 on Saturday, Hall of Famer Mick Foley wants in on the action.
Foley shared a video directed to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in which he asked to be involved next year:
Moderation is the key for an attraction like this because the entertainment factor will begin to wane if WWE does highly cinematic events more frequently.
But the logic behind the concept held true. The Undertaker, who has become limited in the ring at 55, basically got to do his greatest hits without putting his body through the wringer again.
A match against Foley at WrestleMania 37 wouldn't be the best follow-up, but throwing in a retired legend or two for a supporting role would be a sensible way to add something different in the future.
Rob Gronkowski at WWE WrestleMania 36: Twitter Reacts to NFL Legend as Host
Apr 4, 2020
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski reacts during a Super Bowl LIII championship ceremony before the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Former New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski kicked off WrestleMania 36 on Saturday, serving as the host for WWE's biggest event of the year.
In terms of his wardrobe, Gronkowski didn't disappoint.
Gronk's role was generally limited as he served up The Kabuki Warriors' tag team title match against Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Still, he had social media buzzing with his appearance:
Did anyone predict the Pats dynasty would end with a Round 1 loss to Ryan Tannehill, Brady leaving for the Bucs and moving into Jeter’s house in Tampa, and Gronk hosting a no-fan WrestleMania?
Gronkowski will likely maintain a heavy on-screen presence throughout WrestleMania's two nights, and he probably won't be done with WWE after this weekend either.
The Wrap's Tony Maglio reported his duties as the WrestleMania 36 host could lay the groundwork for a longer storyline to unfold.
WWE WrestleMania 36 Sunday Night Match Card Announced
Apr 4, 2020
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE logos are shown on screens before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
WWE has finally answered one of the biggest questions for WrestleMania 36 by telling fans which matches will be featured Sunday night.
Per WWE on Fox, the second night of WrestleMania will feature eight matches including the last-man-standing bout between Randy Orton and Edge, and Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre.
Leading up to the show, WWE has kept quiet about how the 16-match card would be split up. The most obvious way would be to have eight matches Saturday and eight Sunday, which is how things ended up working out.
In terms of star power, both nights are loaded with main events and marquee matches. Saturday features five championship matches, led by Becky Lynch defending the Raw women's title against Shayna Baszler and Braun Strowman challenging Goldberg for the universal title.
Sunday has four title bouts, including Rhea Ripley making her WrestleMania debut by defending the NXT crown against 10-time women's champion Charlotte Flair. It will also feature the in-ring return of John Cena in a "Firefly Fun House" match against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt.
This year's show marks the first time WWE has held WrestleMania over two nights. It's an experiment for the company that has the chance to pay huge dividends for the future of the grand spectacle if these matches live up to their potential.
