WWE Documentaries and director Kieran Bent have finally premiered “WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain” just three months after WWE’s flagship premium live event took place. Fans have anxiously awaited this behind-the-scenes look at the most successful WrestleMania in the company’s storied history.
The “Showcase of the Immortals,” as it has come to be known, is the biggest event in professional wrestling. Months of storytelling culminate in a Super Bowl-esque extravaganza for hundreds of thousands of fans who pack out the largest football stadiums, two nights in a row. the documentary chronicles every moment leading up to the main event in Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, following Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Seth “Freakin’” Rollins, movie megastar/wrestling legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and WWE creative head Paul “Triple H” Levesque as they intricately weave their way through the chaos of building one of professional wrestling’s greatest storylines of all time.
In April 2023, one year before WrestleMania XL, the WWE merged with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to form TKO Group Holdings. During this, Triple H was spearheading WWE’s creative direction to the adoration of wrestling diehards. Not a single beat was skipped creatively.
The Return of The Rock, Cody's Come Up, Raining Roman Wins
By January 2024, Johnson would be appointed to TKO’s board of directors along with being the new holder for the trademark rights of his in-ring character, “The Rock.”
After a failed attempt to secure a main event in 2023’s WrestleMania with Roman Reigns, Johnson’s real-life cousin, the stage was set for Rock to return to the ring to face Reigns in Philly.
There was just one problem… a nightmare, if you will: Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes was on the verge of finishing a story decades in the making. His father, wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes, had never once held a world title with the organization despite being a prominent name in the business. Cody had promised his father that he would one day hold that very title.
While the story is simple, Rhodes’ journey was anything but.
Cody struggled to get over with WWE audiences and the creative team, leading to numerous character changes during his initial tenure with the company.
After leaving in 2016, Rhodes wrestled in independent circuits worldwide, helping to start rival wrestling promotion All-Elite Wrestling.
When Rhodes returned to the WWE in 2022, he was the “American Nightmare,” a slick play on his father’s persona, “The American Dream.”
But as has been seen with many big-fish independent wrestlers jumping into the ocean that is World Wrestling Entertainment, Rhodes had to get over in a big way if he wanted the richest prize in the game, the WWE Undisputed Championship held by Roman Reigns.
And get over, he did.
Rhodes successfully earned a title shot at WrestleMania 39 in Inglewood, CA, against Reigns but ultimately lost, becoming another notch in the bedpost tracking Reigns’ unprecedented 1,316-day run as WWE Undisputed Champion.
Nothing about Reigns should be taken for granted here. Holding the title for over three and a half years is a feat that hasn’t been touched since the 80s in the WWE. He also happens to be part of one of wrestling’s royal families, aka The Bloodline, which also includes The Rock.
The writing was on the wall for Reigns and Rock to eventually square off and provide the biggest main event in sports entertainment history, and the time was WrestleMania XL.
Rhodes, meanwhile, would secure a world title shot of his choosing after winning his second Royal Rumble match in a row.
This was quite the predicament for Triple H and the WWE creative team. To go with the clear blockbuster matchup of Rock vs Reigns or appease the diehard fans ready to finally see Rhodes live his and his father’s dream.
If there’s anything that's been learned about the game… it’s how one plays it.
WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain Review and Takeaways
Viewers come into any WWE-produced documentary understanding there will be a layer of protection for all parties involved. Add in that The Rock is a gigantic public figure, and an actual board member of the company who possibly holds political aspirations, he simply can’t be made out to be a control freak who doesn’t care about some jabroni’s title shot.
That said, I frankly didn’t care about Cody’s title shot at the time, personally.
“The Great One has returned! Move aside you Homelander-cosplaying daddy’s boy,” I thought at the time. I even hoped Rock would return at the Royal Rumble and then challenge Reigns for the belt at ‘Mania.
But if Blue-tista taught us anything, it is that no matter how beloved a personality is, wrestling fans will make their presence felt, for better or worse.
Here is where The Rock, Seven Bucks Productions’ Brian Gerwirtz, Levesque, and the WWE writing staff deserve extreme due credit. They chose to listen to the fans and fly by the seat of their pants to deliver a storyline unlike any ever seen before. If that doesn’t warrant the official title of “People’s Champion,” then why even create an entire belt specifically for it?
It’s symbolic of seeing the bigger picture and being able to deliver what the people wanted; Cody Rhodes. And by the end of it, even disapprovers like this author wanted it, too.
THAT. IS. STORYTELLING.
*slaps forearm violently*
I enjoyed the honest commentary from all the major players here. Even if it kills kayfabe, the documentary feels like it will live on for generations to come. The storyline became an instant classic and was genuinely loved by both the “marks” and “smarks” of the world.
A beautifully edited montage of the Rhodes-vs-Reigns main event on Night 2 skillfully puts the viewer right back into reliving moment after glorious moment before faith in the promotion is rewarded. Rhodes finishes his story and kisses the center of the ring.
I can feel the adrenaline in my soul… woah-ohh!
That montage is reason for paying the price of admission, but in all honestly fans would’ve five-starred an hour-long procedural about the production design of The Rock’s “Final Boss” entrance theme.
Now… do you really wanna boo The Rock?
Rodriguez’ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
