Absolutely incredible Wrestlemania. Probably second only to X7 in my eyes, and only because that one was the pinnacle and culmination of the hottest era in wrestling history. That said, I get the feeling that when all is said and done and the dust settles, this one is also going to leave a hugely significant mark in said history. You need only look at the prevalent theme in all of the matches and results—and heck, even in the very first segment—for evidence: the future was put over the past.
The type of story they gave Bryan, and its ending, almost guarantees him a permanent spot as a top guy. Props to Evolution because they busted their asses to make him. It was amazing just how much they stacked the odds against him and how convincingly he overcame them all. Great stuff.
I can't believe the streak's over, but it makes perfect sense considering the kind of shift they're going for. Streak matches had no place in future WMs, and it was the right time to go. Now that that's taken care of, Taker can either retire in peace or start the build to his final match tonight by coming out to give a retirement speech and getting interrupted by Sting. That is the one match that stands to gain most from the breaking of the streak: there's no longer an inevitable outcome or an anti-WWE agenda. Just two guys who have nothing left to give but one final dance, and that's a dream match-calibre story. Sure, the match itself will suck all kinds of balls, but boy will it ever be a spectacle.
As for Brock, the thing that sets him apart from the other top 'heels' in this era is that he's not a heel due to circumstance (Batista) or storyline (HHH, Punk last year, etc). He's just a right **** and people love to hate him even if they appreciate him as a performer. That is what makes him the perfect choice to end the streak because, let's face it, it had gotten too big for its own good and the feat would've only shackled any up-and-comer who could've been considered big enough to take on Taker and win. And I mean that in terms of both the character and his popularity. Lesnar and Heyman, though, have nothing to lose from it, and it'll only give them absolutely nuclear heat. Most importantly, it'll be the right kind of heat you'd want for a streak breaker.
Where do we go from here? Well, if you think back to Lesnar's return two years ago, we were all hoping for him to be this all-conquering monster heel, but in reality he jobbed to Cena, HHH, and was pushed to the brink by Punk. I assume that was all done to 'punish' him for leaving the E high and dry when they'd pushed him to the moon, or simply because they didn't trust him not to leave again. He had to pay his proverbial dues in a way he could, huge star that he is. But now that they've given him this rub, you can bet your bottom dollar that that monster, monster heel run is coming. He'll win the title at Summerslam and carry it through fall and winter, all while having great programs with the likes of Bryan and Cesaro. Finally, he'll use all the heat that generates to make a new star at WM XXXI—the guy the E see as their next man, Roman Reigns.
Could Reigns have ended the streak himself? Maybe, but he wasn't ready this year. People are currently going crazy for the idea of Reigns, but his singles matches just aren't there yet. And one look at Taker this year should've told you that he was on his last legs and couldn't wait around for someone to be ready. So he passed the torch, and that heat will indirectly make a new star in the near future. I find it hilarious that people are up in arms about Lesnar because he's the perfect middleman for all of this.
Or maybe I'm just being too optimistic. There's a chance that the E could mess it all up again, and they very well may. But the way they handled WM XXX has left me with a sense of optimism I haven't felt in a long time. Heck, I almost feel embarrassed to be posting such a long rant, and yet here I am, about to click post anyway.
