Russo goes on to say that if today’s style of professional wrestling is so popular, Undertaker, Triple H, Shane McMahon, Kurt Angle, and all these other iconic performers wouldn’t be headlining the bill at WrestleMania each year. If this new style was so popular, guys like Nakamura and Finn Balor would be the top stars in the industry and they’d be headlining WrestleMania without hesitation. Instead, Stephanie McMahon is putting her wrestling boots back on and working an angle with Ronda Rousey because that’s what draws.
Vito agrees entirely and points out that if Hulk Hogan was still working for WWE, we’d probably see Hogan challenge John Cena at WrestleMania. Even though Hogan can’t move like he used to, this match would draw huge numbers and everyone would tune in to see that WrestleMania moment. The same could be said for a potential Undertaker/Sting match.
Iconic characters who the fans invest in through captivating storylines will always draw more than two guys who are just fake fighting for the sake of it. This is the reason that new stars are never at the top of the bill for WrestleMania each year, and it’s the reason that WWE relies on the old guard to put asses in seats at WrestleMania each year.
Russo points out that during the attitude era, WWE was never forced to bring in talents from the past in order to sell tickets because the roster at that time was absolutely stacked with talents who were over. The bottom line is Vince McMahon has zero confidence in this new generation of performers in Russo’s opinion.
