WWE likes to describe WrestleMania as its version of the Super Bowl, and just like the Super Bowl, some years are better than others. When it comes to football, there's no way to control the flow of the game, but WWE can with ‘Mania.
Booking the right matches and finding the right order to put them in is important, but WrestleMania is a variety show with a lot of moving parts. WWE also has to book the right celebrity and musical guests, pick the best venue and create some entertaining surprises.
The last two WrestleManias also took place on the same weekend as NXT TakeOver events, and many would argue that the TakeOvers were more exciting shows. While it's great to see the developmental system doing so well, the main roster shouldn't have any problem blowing them out of the water when WrestleMania is concerned.
This year's event is coming at a crossroads for WWE. Most of the old guard has retired or transitioned to backstage roles, and the few veterans left are working minimal schedules. While the new generation is filled with incredible talents, very few have connected with the audience the same way guys like The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels did, at the top of their game.
WWE needs to make this year's event extra special. This slideshow will look at five ways this can be accomplished.
#5 Invite the right celebrities
WWE always makes sure WrestleMania features a few celebrity guests, but the company hasn't always used the best judgement when it comes to choosing the right famous people to appear on its programs. Remember the time Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb showed up on Monday Night Raw?
It was a travesty, and that's a much kinder assessment than most fans gave on social media.
More recently, WWE brought in Sophia Grace, who is a child singer. The Bella Twins were in one of her music videos, so it was a cross-promotional appearance, but fans were still scratching their heads in wonder as to why this little girl appeared on a show where the main form of entertainment is men beating the stuffing out of each other.
However, sometimes WWE hits it out of the park. Ronda Rousey's WrestleMania appearance garnered huge press for the company. Going back a couple of decades, Lawrence Taylor made headlines when he battled Bam Bam Bigelow.
Stephen Amell was the perfect choice for a SummerSlam match because he is a noted fan of pro wrestling, has the physicality needed to put on a believable performance in the ring and comes from the world of comic book television, which shares a large number of fans with pro wrestling.
Shaquille O'Neal is the only big name WWE has mentioned for an appearance, but he isn't enough. WWE needs someone who the fans want to see, not someone with the most name recognition at that particular moment.
The fifth season of Arrow will end close to WrestleMania, so perhaps Mr Amell would be willing to make time in his schedule for another appearance, even if it's just in a backstage segment.
#4 Get the best musical guests
When WrestleMania first got started, WWE brought in names like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Last year, WWE brought in Fifth Harmony. While those women have incredible talent, they are not on the same level as the aforementioned legends.
WrestleMania is supposed to be the biggest night of the year, and it should be treated as such by getting the biggest possible names to perform the National Anthem or a musical number later in the show.
Certain performers can appeal to every generation because of their talent and longevity. Vince McMahon should be trying to get people like Stevie Wonder or The Rolling Stones, not people who only appeal to the younger generation.
There's nothing wrong with having Flo Rida perform, as long as there is also someone who will entertain people of all ages playing during the show, too. WrestleMania only has one or two songs each year, so there needs to be the right balance to please everyone.
#3 Make every title feel important
WrestleMania is naturally going to put more emphasis on the WWE and Universal Championships, but there are seven other titles WWE needs to make sure look important, and unfortunately, this isn't always accomplished.
Between the two-hour pre-show and five-hour main show, there is more than enough time to give every title a proper match in addition to any special attractions WWE decides to add like celebrity bouts or The Undertaker's yearly contest.
The United States and Intercontinental Championships are held by Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose respectively. Both men are main event talents, so they and their titles need to be given the proper attention.
In order to continue making the women's division a bigger part of the show, the Raw and SmackDown Champions not only need to be treated as equals but need big matches against opponents who can produce high-quality performances.
The tag titles are often a sideshow at WrestleMania, and the champions didn't even defend the belts last year. With the tag team division being more competitive than it has been in years, both sets of titles should get real storylines heading into the pay-per-view.
Then there's the Cruiserweight Championship. 205 Live has had trouble getting off the ground following the Cruiserweight Classic, so a standout match at WrestleMania could be what it takes to give the division a boost. Considering the CWC produced several Match of the Year candidates, we know it can be done.
#2 Make the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal more important
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is a great concept, but the execution hasn't lived up to the legacy of its namesake. The winner gets a small push initially, but the glory of the win fades quickly.
There needs to be more on the line than a giant trophy. Giving the winner a shot at a title would make things much more interesting, even if it was for the US or IC Championship. WWE could even have the winner of the match face the Champion later in the evening, so they can immediately capitalise on the momentum gained from the Battle Royal.
Baron Corbin won last year's match, and it took several months for a real push to kick in. Big Show won the previous year and has barely wrestled since, and Cesaro got almost nothing out of his win three years ago.
Andre was an epic figure in the world of pro wrestling, and any match named after him has to have more prestige. A big trophy is great, but an actual push for the winner would be even better.
#1 Make this The Undertaker's last WrestleMania
The Undertaker has been almost as important to WrestleMania as Vince McMahon, but it's clear his time in the ring is coming to an end. What better way to make this year's show a big deal than to announce it as The Undertaker's last match?
If we look at things honestly, ‘Taker's performances have been slowly declining in recent years. His Hell in a Cell bout at last year's Mania is only memorable because of Shane McMahon's insane dive off the top of the cage.
His match against Bray Wyatt the year before had absolutely no importance, and Brock Lesnar breaking his undefeated streak at WrestleMania 30 took a lot of the fun out of his yearly appearances.
‘Taker's hip is in bad shape, and he will likely be relying on his opponent to carry most of the weight this year. His career has been unmatched, and he deserves to go out before he can no longer perform at a high level.
The Undertaker is like the last of the cowboys during western expansion of the United States. He can either ride off into the sunset or be left in a ditch for the vultures to feast on.
If we knew going into WrestleMania 33 that it would be the final time we see The Deadman step into the ring, it would give the evening a whole new level of importance. He has given enough to this business. It's time for him to let someone else rule the dark corner of the WWE Universe.
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