Robbie’s Top 20 WrestleMania Moments – 6. The Heist Of The Century

Robbie Fox3/28/2017 6:00 PM

Sup yo? If you’re unaware, I’ve been doing a blog per day leading up to WrestleMania where I talk about my personal favorite 20 Mania moments of all time. Keep in mind I’m 18, so a lot of my picks will be on the more recent side.

6. The Heist Of The Century

Seth Rollins Cashes his Money in the bank WM31 by JNoLimits

Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns was one of the worst built WrestleMania main events there’s ever been. When Roman won the Royal Rumble, and not Daniel Bryan, fans were filled with abhorrence towards him that still rings to this day. Brock Lesnar’s title reign was growing old as he’d only show up to defend his championship once every few months, but with Reigns being so despised and white bread as a character, he just wasn’t the one to dethrone the Beast.

In the weeks leading up to the match, segments were few and far between. Brock wouldn’t show up, and when he did, he was only there as eye candy next to Paul Heyman, who tried so desperately to make fans love Reigns. While Roman was carrying the feud on the mic, he was crashing and burning. His promo skills are the opposite of his in ring skills: bad. He’s gotten better recently, but back in 2015, the crowd was hijacking every segment and he had no idea how to deal with it.

The placement of this blog became very timely last night, because of the bad send off to RAW. That was nothing compared to the sendoff to the RAW before WrestleMania 31, dubbed, “Gimmie dat belt!”

I flew out to San Francisco for my first FULL WrestleMania weekend (my second Mania), and the talk of the town was how the crowd would ruin the main event. Everyone was brainstorming these elaborate chants to take over, and “show Vince” what we really wanted (Daniel Bryan). Brock vs Roman was met with indifference and boos for the days leading up to the show, but at some point on Sunday, that changed.

I think it may have been because WrestleMania 31 was such a great show and got the fans to want just one more great match, but there was no longer apathy in the crowd. There was hostility. I’ve never been in a wrestling crowd that wanted one man to win and another to lose more than this one. Roman had to have a ridiculous security escort because fans were shoving him, throwing beers at him, and just being rowdy. Brock Lesnar, on the other hand, was treated like a GOD. Every move he threw was cheered wildly. Every move he was hit with was booed into oblivion. The match was a stiff brawl, and it was fucking awesome. Then, just went it was at it’s peak, Seth Rollins’ music hit, and it was the loudest pop I have ever heard in my life.

Mr. Money in the Bank was cashing in his contract in the main event of WrestleMania. I can’t even type this without getting chills. The match became a triple threat, Rollins hit a pair of curb stomps, and pinned Reigns. It kept Brock strong, kept Roman strong, and left everyone with a happy ending. Everyone except these guys…