Post Wrestlemania 35 - Rise and Fall Superstars

The months that follow after Wrestlemania are always eye opening and revealing. It’s a time where we can see new stars arise and top spots filled with new names, but it can also see the downfall of superstars who spent the first few months of the year at the very top of their game. In todays blog post we are going to be looking at the WWE superstars who either had a massive rise or unfortunate fall post-Wrestlemania thirty-five and what sparked their change in position and momentum.

Chad Gable – Rise

One of the biggest rising stars since Wrestlemania thirty-five is of course, Chad Gable. The King of the Ring tournament saw Gable given a surprise push no one could have predicted. This was exactly what he needed and while the former tag team champion didn’t take home the big last win and go on to be crowned King of the Ring his place in the finals, performance throughout the tournament and attention he got has reshaped his place on the roster. Considering he was used in the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal in a forgettable role and has just competed in the finals of a major tournament means he really does deserve a spot on this list.

Kofi Kingston – Fall

He may still be the WWE Champion, but something has changed for Kofi Kingston since his performance at Wrestlemania. He remains a big fan favourite and has taken part in some genuine great storylines, but the magic touch has been fading for quite some time. Kingston has been overshadowed by stars both on RAW and Smackdown LIVE and there has been a decrease in focus and the same drive and passion he had that worked for him at the start of the year has begun to fade and fans don’t have as strong of an interest as they did say four month ago.

Bayley – Rise

Bayley walked out of Wrestlemania thirty-five without gold around her waist after dropping the women’s tag team championships to The IIconics but since losing those titles Bayley has gone from strength to strength. We have seen her capture the Smackdown LIVE women’s championship and turn heel moving into a whole new chapter of her career. We see more fans talking about Bayley, more opportunities and genuinely more entertaining content from her. The former NXT star no longer feels stale and boring but instead a dark horse with potential to be a lengthy reigning champion and an array of huge potential storylines awaiting her.

The IIConics – Fall

When the IIConics walked out of Wrestlemania thirty-five the new Women’s tag team champions I was genuinely excited for what the future held for them. Billy Kay and Peyton Royce were destined to be tag team champions long before the titles were introduced to the division and their win on the grandest stage of them all was fitting and deserving; however, it didn’t take long for the WWE to turn what could have been special into something terrible. The company failed to book Royce and Kay as the champions they should have been booked as. The tag team title seen among the women’s division became forgotten about and as a result, the IIConics lost momentum and never had the spotlight they truly deserved.

Erick Rowan - Rise 

There is nobody on this list I am happier for than Erick Rowan. This is a man who really has come so far since Wrestlemania several months back. His alliance with Daniel Bryan around the time of Mania Season could not have been predicted as an angle that would result in a huge push for him but that is exactly what we have seen. Revealed as Roman Reigns mystery attacker the WWE has handled pushing him incredibly well. Now, this may not be a push that lasts an incredibly long time but for now, we can most certainly appreciate that Rowan is finally getting the attention he deserves, and a new monster of a star has truly been established.

The Miz - Fall

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, one of my favourite matches on this year’s Wrestlemania card was The Miz vs Shane McMahon. I did actually really enjoy their rivarly and this match was in fact one of my favourites not only on the night but of the year so far. Now, Miz has always made for a better heel and since Mania and since his rivarly with Shane that really has been proven. We haven’t seen as much of the former IC champion and he hasn’t been involved in those standout segments, storylines and promos we usually see from him when in the role of a heel. It’s a shame Miz did go from a top Mania angle to doing next to nothing notable now but he is such an incredible talent and it wouldn’t take all too much to turn things around for him.

Nikki Cross – rise  

Another superstar I have been a big fan of from the get-go is Nikki Cross. A massively charismatic star Cross has always had so much potential and since Wrestlemania, we really have seen her come a long way. From a sport in the Battle Royal to one-half of the women’s tag team champions Cross has come a long way in a very short space of time. We see her booked regularly competing in great singles matches against the likes of Sasha Banks and her alliance with Alexa Bliss has given her an amazing spotlight and opportunity to work awesome angles and bouts. Nikki is becoming a big-time fan favourite and its clear there are plenty of creative booking options for her in the coming months.

Buddy Murphy - Fall

He walked into Wrestlemania thirty-five the Cruiserweight champion, however, now fans are rarely seen him booked on WWE TV. Despite being called up to the main roster and joining Smackdown LIVE things have gone south for the Australian star. Instead of the huge main roster push, he deserved Murphy wasn’t used at all on WWE TV for a while and hasn’t been given the chance to show what he can do on the bigger stage. Murphy is an incredible talent with so much to offer as he proved during his time on 205LIVE but it's no secret that WWE don’t have any intentions on giving him the chance he needs and the spotlight he deserves any time soon and his career and direction has changed massively since Mania season.

Baron Corbin

And the final superstar I want to talk about in terms of who has had a rise since Wrestlemania is, of course, Baron Corbin. Now, it was Corbin who walked away with arguably the most surprising and possibly disappointing win of the night back at Wrestlemania thirty-five when he defeated Kurt Angle. The big Mania win was the start of great things for Corbin who has seriously gone from strength to strength. From challenging Seth Rollins and competing in a standout mixed tag team match sure to go down as one of the best bouts of the year to becoming the twenty nineteen King of the Ring Corbin has grown to become one of the best heels on the roster today and his direction has truly been incredible. Love him or hate him Baron Corbin is at the very top of his game right now and momentum is very high!

Tony Nese - Fall

And to conclude, we have the former Cruiserweight champion in the shape of Tony Nese. I’ll admit that I haven’t ever really been the biggest Nese fan but no one can deny his talents and the fact he most certainly deserved his Wrestlemania win and moment. However, since Mania things haven’t been all too great for Nese. He didn’t have the best or most memorable of championship reigns and he became quite a forgettable face on the roster. His character went stale and there was a lack of interest in Nese. Failing to get as over as previous champions the title change made sense and since Nese has struggled even more and continues to be overshadowed by other talents on the 205LIVE roster.

As we have seen throughout today’s blog post that the months following Wrestlemania really can see things turn around for WWE superstars. It’s a chance to sink or swim and the landscape has seen its changes but can any of the fallen stars rise back to the top and will the new names currently full of momentum maintain it? Only time will tell.

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