Analysis of WrestleMania 2023: Pros, Cons, and Highlights

The Watch

There are few moments in professional wrestling where the entire world comes together to witness the culmination of months of build, anticipation, and excitement. WrestleMania is that singular event, and in 2023, despite a few hiccups and challenges, the show delivered. The only cons for me included the lack of build-up for a few matches, Gronk's booking decision for the Charlotte/Rhea Orbius match, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Other than that, it was a very solid show.

Pros

Two-Night Spectacle
Being two nights made it a lot easier to view. One could go to sleep and wake up to continue the viewing the following day, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

Boneyard/Firefly Funhouse Matches
The Firefly Funhouse matches were a bright spot in an otherwise strange time. These matches offered a fresh and dynamic element that kept the audience engaged. Overall camerawork was also pretty good, if not for the ability to edit the show in post-production.

Notable Wins
Match night two saw some standout performances. Despite the weaker second day, strong performances like those seen in the ladder match by McIntyre were a highlight.

Legacy Matches
Highlights included the signature wins by McIntyre for his big match, the exhilarating ladder match, and the intense conclusion to the main event between Edge and Orton. The second night, while weaker, still featured standout moments like the Boneyard match.

Cons

Edge vs. Orton
Despite being a good match, the Edge vs. Orton match stretched for 38 minutes, which feels interminable, akin to some NJPW matches. It lacked the intrigue and unpredictability of other matches.

Goldberg vs. Strowman
The Goldberg vs. Strowman match didn't quite live up to the hype, though both stars were present. The match felt somewhat predictable and unexciting, in contrast to the Lesnar/McIntyre match which had a bit more suspense.

Women’s Matches
Women's matches generally didn't impress as much, with the exception of the undercard Women's Tag Title match. None of the matches were bad, but they were just average, which is a letdown considering the expectation and build-up.

Raw Tag Team Matchbr> The Raw Tag Team match wasn’t as exciting as expected. Darius Reynolds' injury made it difficult to match, but even throwing another team together would have been an interesting choice. The inclusion of Austin Theory in the match was intriguing.

Other Notes

Gronk’s Performance
While Gronk's performance was not a standout, it was hardly a major detractor. The hype surrounding his identity being a mystery was overdone, and the Super Bowl victories weren’t enough to elevate the show.

Feuds and Matches
The Black vs. Lashley and Otis vs. Ziggler feuds were passable but not enough to elevate the event. The Otis/Ziggler feud is very fun, and that's something to look forward to.

Lack of Audience
The absence of a live audience didn’t bother me much. It offered an opportunity for more depth and storytelling. The absence of the roar and excitement creates a different dynamic that still works within the context of the event.