Wrestlemanias Lacking "The Big Feel" Atmosphere

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

With all the Wrestlemanias there been, I think it is safe to say that MOST of them have been successful in setting themselves apart from the week to week product that the WWF/WWE was producing at the time. However, I think there has been a few times where the company has slipped up, leaving Wrestlemania to feel like just another show.

What Wrestlemanias do you think were guilty of this and what do you think caused it?

Also, its important to note that this is not just a "What's the Worst ofWrestlemania?" thread. For instance, IX and XI are both regarded as horrible Wrestlemanias, but I think they emphasized enough spectacle to create a "big feel." I would say the ones that come to mind are:

Wrestlemania VII: Had the excellent Savage vs. Warrior match as well as the Hogan/Slaughter blowoff. Still when you compare the arena to that of Wrestlemania VI just a year before it looks quite weak in comparison. There was definately some memorable stuff on this card (or at least Savage. Warrior), but compared to the rest of the Wrestlemanias of the time, it lacked a big feel.

Wrestlemania 15: Seriously this just seemed like another episode of Raw. Austin vs. Rock was nice, but a lot of the card seems really thrown together.

Yeah, those are the only two offenders that I would say for sure, but maybe you think differently.

[fw91]

Wrestlemania 11-2000, with maybee the exception if 14, felt like they were just another ppv for me. Maybee it was the small arenas.
Wrestlemania 22: The allstate arena seriously? Why not the United Center?

[Deleted]

25 is the first example to jump to mind for me, being the most recent and all. Wasn't really a single match that hadn't been done before, and while Michaels / Taker was awesome I wasn't at all interested in it heading into the show. The rest of the card, other than Money in the Bank (which was quite possibly the worst Money in the Bank match), felt like it could take place on a throwaway PPV like Judgment Day or something.

[longdogga]

i know back in the day it was huge but looking back on it wrestlemania one very down to earth

also best big fight feel wrestlemania twenty

[Bub (BLM)]

Definitely WrestleManias 21 and 22, in recent memory. Holding WrestleMania in the same arena you'd hold a random episode of RAW or SmackDown just doesn't work for me.

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2009 4:52:26 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Definitely WrestleManias 21 and 22, in recent memory. Holding WrestleMania in the same arena you'd hold a random episode of RAW or SmackDown just doesn't work for me.

Those two I think had the Mania feel, though of course part of that comes from the fact that I personally know and care nothing about arenas. 23's one that I don't think did, though - in fact, it was a show I was strongly considering skipping out on until the last minute.

[Bub (BLM)]

Nov 1, 2009 5:00:05 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Nov 1, 2009 4:52:26 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Definitely WrestleManias 21 and 22, in recent memory. Holding WrestleMania in the same arena you'd hold a random episode of RAW or SmackDown just doesn't work for me.

Those two I think had the Mania feel, though of course part of that comes from the fact that I personally know and care nothing about arenas. 23's one that I don't think did, though - in fact, it was a show I was strongly considering skipping out on until the last minute.

You're right about 23. That felt like a random PPV that just happened to be in a big football stadium.

[DavidArquette]

Wrestlemania 13. That was just like watching an In Your House show.

[spagett]

I thought that whilst Wrestlemania 25 ended up being held in a huge arena and so looked really impressive and cool the build up to it was terrible.

Matches thrown together a week before the event, stale main events and then the event itself was pretty bad.

So all in all that is my pick.

[hbk4ever09]

Recently WM 25 was def underwhelming to me. Every match seemed like an obvious outcome really, except maybe Punk winning MITB for the 2nd time. Tag match doesn't even make the show, a raw like joke of a diva battle royal. Taker/HBK was amazing but predictable. Do we really need the faces to win BOTH main events.

[Christianv2]

I think what makes it have the big feel isn't always the atmosphere but of course that helps. I think its the booking leading up to the show and when its not as strong as it could have been or feels thrown together, then it hurts the Big feel. For me, I'd say WM 13, 15, 16, 23, lacked the big feel.

Someone mentioned WM 21 not having the Big feel, i actually felt like that was a really good atmosphere with the celebs and the hollywood thing, although the main events were piss breaks with JBL/Cena, Batista/HHH, and a few awkward segments, I thought it had a really good feel to it.

[spagett]

Nov 1, 2009 8:53:01 GMT -5 Christianv2 said:

I think what makes it have the big feel isn't always the atmosphere but of course that helps. I think its the booking leading up to the show and when its not as strong as it could have been or feels thrown together, then it hurts the Big feel. For me, I'd say WM 13, 15, 16, 23, lacked the big feel.

Someone mentioned WM 21 not having the Big feel, i actually felt like that was a really good atmosphere with the celebs and the hollywood thing, although the main events were piss breaks with JBL/Cena, Batista/HHH, and a few awkward segments, I thought it had a really good feel to it.

Yeah I think Wrestlemania 21 is the best built Wrestlemania since 17.

You had a fantastic feud between Batista and Triple H which was slow burning had loads of lovely little touches, like the rarity of Triple H being outsmarted and looing vulnerable, and Batista was incredibly over. It was also a fresh main event,

You had JBL who had been Champion for months facing a guy who was also hugely over in Cena in a first time ever match. I know the match itself was not very good but the build up between two vastly different characters was great.

You had Orton/Undertaker in another first time match, a running theme at Wrestlemania, which turned out great you had the first ever MITB and of course the best Wrestlemania match this decade in HBK/Angle.

I think in hindsight, because we had a lot of good to great matches and the birth of 2 new stars in Cena and Batista Wrestlemania 21 was a great Wrestlemania.

[Ryushinku]

Most recently, I'd say Wrestlemania 23 just a couple years ago.

I don't mean so much in terms of build, but it was such a big stadium it really kinda sucked the atmosphere out because so many people were so far from the actual ring. Reactions sounded subdued even when people were yelling their hearts out.

Sometimes it's the smaller stadiums or arenas that are much more suitable...what you lack in terms of big numbers & gate (WM 23 had 80,000+) you gain in terms of sheer acoustics.

[bob]

I've felt that it's been lacking for the past few years

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

For me, any WM held in MSG has lacked the big time atmosphere. I know the history, but the Garden has always felt more like a SummerSlam or Royal Rumble arena.

[Christianv2]

Nov 1, 2009 9:38:16 GMT -5 bob said:

I've felt that it's been lacking for the past few years

I thought WM24 had a huge feel to it, WM25.. not so much.

[boomhauer20055]

25 seemed lacking

The one with Lawrence Taylor was very weak also

[phoenixsosa]

Wrestlemania: 15, 16, 22, 23, 25

[BorneAgain]

23 felt big to me. Maybe it was the look, the colors, the ring, it really felt like it worked.


No so much with 22, though.

[The Verdict]

Nov 1, 2009 17:06:17 GMT -5 boomhauer20055 said:

25 seemed lacking

The one with Lawrence Taylor was very weak also

I trey to forget Wrestlemania 11 ever happened...