The JMS Renew Review: WrestleMania XXXIV

The Undertaker defeats John Cena

While this match was not previously announced, it was heavily anticipated. It… didn’t totally live up to the hype? I mean, the match was under three minutes after a 26 minute entrance from the Deadman. John Cena has entered a weird space as a performer, given he’s not quite a movie star but is also clearly not not a movie star, all while having perhaps the most sustained success in the history of another industry.

It’s impossible to tell what this match means for either, and in that way the match is a hinderance to the show — it doesn’t ask “Does the Undertaker still have it?” as much as “How much can we make it not matter?” — which is presumably beneficial for his wellbeing, but not for whatever story this was trying to tell.

I won’t say I’d skip over this, but I certainly wouldn’t seek it out separately unless someone I knew wanted to see it and I definitely would fast forward during Taker’s way-too-long entrance.

Match: +.3

Show: 3.5

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