Quick Links

WrestleMania is the biggest professional wrestling event in the world and has been since its inception all the way back in 1985. Every year since, WWE goes all out during WrestleMania season, promoting the show of shows as the biggest thing to ever happen. Promotion is ramped up, part-time superstars are brought back, and the biggest matches possible are made for the event, but having said all that, WrestleMania isn’t always a guaranteed smash hit. In fact, some installments are so bad that they end up as the worst event of the year.

RELATED: 10 Worst WrestleMania Main Events: What Match Should Have Headlined Instead?

WrestleMania 27 was bad. WrestleMania 9 was awful. WrestleMania 11 was uniquely terrible, but where is the hate for WrestleMania 32? Back in those days, WWE was on a vile mission and WrestleMania 32 was the culmination point. 2016 was the year of Roman Reigns, and his ascension to the position of the top babyface highlighted the event but in addition to that, the entire show was booked to make the fans angry.

The biggest (using that somewhat loosely) storyline heading into the event was the feud between Roman Reigns, corporate favorite yet disgruntled antihero, and Triple H, the man in charge of the company. Roman Reigns was the champion but the corrupt owners, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, forced him to defend his championship in the Royal Rumble match itself. Reigns was the first entrant, and he lasted all the way to the end before being eliminated by a returning Triple H.

The company was desperately trying to replicate the magic of Steve Austin versus McMahon but there was this one small problem: Fans back then just did not care for Roman Reigns. This was the main event absolutely no one wanted and when it was officially announced, fans were hoping that Triple H would retain his title at WrestleMania. Imagine that. The Roman Reigns character was so terrible back then that fans were hoping Triple H would remain champion.

Triple H vs Roman Reigns

It Wasn't Just The Main Event Of WrestleMania 32 That Was Bad

That’s the biggest blight out of the way, but the overall show was lacking. In another featured storyline, Shane McMahon was set to face the Undertaker in Hell in a Cell. Shane had made his return to WWE after 7 years, and he intended to take control of RAW from Vince McMahon and Stephanie. In response to this demand, Vince McMahon announced his son versus the Undertaker. If Shane won, he would be the general manager of Monday Night RAW.

This match made no sense and the execution was terrible. Shane McMahon was not a professional wrestler, and he had been away for 7 years. Meanwhile, the Undertaker, despite losing his WrestleMania streak was still a monster, and he should have squashed Shane within minutes. Unfortunately, Shane McMahon lasted a total of 30 minutes against the Deadman and it was a drag from start to finish. The next night on RAW, Vince McMahon gave him control of RAW anyway, so the match at WrestleMania was pointless.

RELATED: 10 Worst Performances From Wrestlers Over 50 At WrestleMania, Ranked

The most popular superstar of the past few years, Brock Lesnar, was stuck in the middle of the show, working a disappointing match with Dean Ambrose. There were some highlights, such as Zack Ryder winning the Intercontinental Championship and AJ Styles and Chris Jericho putting on the best match of the show, but a good wrestling match alone cannot save a card. WrestleMania thrives on legendary moments and this WrestleMania did not deliver a single one.

Vince McMahon Was Probably The Only One Clapping At The End Of WrestleMania 32

Via WWE.com

The little good that the show did deliver was overshadowed by poor booking decisions. The two featured matches were awful, but it wouldn’t be a Vince McMahon show without the burial of a fan favorite. During the middle of the show, The Rock made his return and the Wyatt family, of course, became his victims.

The Rock defeated Eric Rowan in the quickest WrestleMania match of all time. After that, his old buddy, John Cena, came along to finish the Wyatt family once and for all. That was supposed to be THE moment in the show, but it was for Vince McMahon only. That is a good way to sum up this debacle. WrestleMania 32 was a show made by Vince McMahon for Vince McMahon. And he was the only guy in the wrestling world who actually enjoyed the show that night. It had little to nothing for the fans. WrestleMania 32 was a war against fans. That is what this event the worst WrestleMania ever.