I actually think last years Mania build was worse than what we have now. Seeing as they have booked less matches in the lead up , they have less to fuck up.
Consider this time last year we had
- IC belt stealing, making the title an utter joke, burying Barrett even further, produced the "your a turd" line and a meaningless, dangerous multiman match. At least we have some semblance of story this year with Zayn/KO
- Rollins/Orton which was heatless seeing as they pulled Randy off the program when he was getting really hot to do a movie, then cooled his huge babyface return down by immediately having him turn heel only to turn on Rollins two weeks later because
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- Bray Wyatt cutting promos to no-one, burning a casket or something and then losing a match that he 100% had to win to remain credible in the main event. Fuck you Wyatt, we'll bring in the Undertaker to build matches with real stars that can carry this company into the future like SHANE MCMAHON.
- The Miz/Mizdow feud, which took the New Day position of carrying a portion of the show each week with characters that people actually gave a fuck about in a competent storyline. As Mania drew closer it was clear that the longest running and best built feud on the entire roster was not getting a singles match that could have launched Sandow as a big babyface.
- Divas ??? storyline that kept the title being defended off the show. AJ's most unceremonious last match.
- HHH/Sting which was serviceable but shifted around so much, Sting vs Authority to WWE vs WCW. The match...well we all know how that went.
- And finally, the main event singlehandedly saved by Paul Heyman and a snowed in Raw where they had to do something different. Otherwise hilariously terrible, birthing many awful moments, including beanstalk promo, the Roman enters the Rumble promo and please may I borrow your belt Mr. Lesnar among others.