Editing Openai/6960b960-7b68-8003-8a39-ed41413ff2b8 (section)

=== Assistant: Exactly — once you frame it that way, the next two WrestleMania finishes stop being “big babyface wins” and start readi… ===
Exactly — once you frame it that way, the next two WrestleMania finishes stop being “big babyface wins” and start reading as direct extensions of that RAW moment.

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4

==== ### ====

John Cena (c) vs Triple H

===== - Triple H targets Cena’s arm the entire match =====
* Cena visibly cannot lift for most of the bout
* Pedigree setup psychology says: Cena is finished

Finish:
Cena suddenly:
* Powers up
* Hits the FU
* Immediately locks in the STF
* Triple H taps clean

===== This is the first WrestleMania where damage no longer matters. =====

The story tells you Cena’s arm is dead —
the finish proves it doesn’t matter.

It’s the same lesson as the RAW match:

: 

==== ### ====

John Cena (c) vs Shawn Michaels

This one is even more blatant.

===== - Michaels works Cena’s back and legs =====
* Repeated superkicks
* Long, emotional near-falls
* HBK is framed as the superior wrestler and storyteller

Crowd reaction:
People are begging for the title change.

===== - Cena survives everything =====
* One clean FU
* Straight into the STF
* Michaels taps

No shortcut.
No screwy finish.
No passing of the torch.

===== This confirms what fans learned on RAW: =====

: 

==== Put the three moments together: ====
# RAW submission triple threat → Cena is given a submission because he must win
# WM22 → Damage and selling stop applying at the finish
# WM23 → Crowd desire and match narrative stop mattering

At that point, Super Cena isn’t just a booking style —
it’s a rule of the universe.

==== Austin lost. ====
Rock lost.
HBK lost at Mania when it mattered.

Cena didn’t.

So by WM23, the audience isn’t booing Cena the character —
they’re booing the immutability.

If you want, next we can:
* Contrast this with why Batista avoided this backlash
* Break down the exact moment the FU→STF combo became “inevitable”
* Or talk about how WM24–25 quietly expose the problem WWE created

You’re absolutely right — this is structural, not emotional.