The Lapsed Fan: Dave Meltzer on WrestleMania 30

As part of The Lapsed Fan's 30-week WrestleMania journey, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer weighed in with his recollections of each event. Here, Meltzer discusses WrestleMania 30 in 2014.
Follow The Lapsed Fan on Twitter @thelapsedfan

[@justinroark88]

Wrestlemania 30 was my first Wrestlemania I watched live, thanks to the WWE network. Wrestlemania 38 was my first Wrestlemania I attended.

[@DreamWeave288]

This has been one of my favorite series on KZbin. Not just wrestling-related but overall.

[@ademola1]

Goddamn Meltzer is a prophet for predicting a $100 PPV price

[@irishock]

Did every bit of that 2 million buys.. Twice as much. Lmao

[@kc7068]

Can you do Wrestlemania 31-35 around wrestlemania next year?

[@hawk494edward]

I agree with Dave, if I was stuck on deserted Island that had a working T.V, I would have the Original DVD of Wrestlemania 17 with me to view.

[@MattSingh1]

*In case anyone is interested- WWE predicted 3 million subscriptions within the first year of the WWE Network. In the entire existence of the Network, they've never even topped 2 million.*

[@borednow5838]

Mania 30 was truly one of the great ever Manias. It was a fitting card from top to bottom to mark such a big landmark. Better than both 10 and 20 I'd say. Was thrilled for Daniel Bryan. They told that story really well and I thought he was well worth that title win in the main event. Great way to close a great show.

[@justinhamilton3570]

It all sucks these days. Daniel Bryan is a soap star on total divas

[@kandyperez9917]

One of the greatest Manias ever, but different not better than 20. It would've been if they had Naomi beat AJ for the Divas Title.

[@JeroenZM]

Thorougly enjoyed this retrospective series. Lots of interesting trivia as well!

[@CeemPlay]

One of the greatest Manias

[@vampirascoffin870]

facts since wm 20 least to me

[@shane-irish]

Second time listening to all 30 might try the starcade soon

[@1sportsfan]

so, you've had a year... how'd it turn out with you and the Starrcades?

[@josephstrings7413]

Xd same

[@zackreynolds21]

It’s more than just eerie how Warrior died...

[@LouisBee]

Having Daniel Bryan get squashed by Lesnar, and only a couple months into his run, would have completely buried his character. Infact, WWE did exactly that to Kofi: He got the same push as Daniel Bryan, with the same kind of Wrestlemania moment, only to be completely jobbed out by Lesnar and then promptly forgotten by everyone. By being injured, Daniel Bryan (now Bryan Danielson) has dodged a bullet since he now sits at the very top of AEW, frequently Main Eventing shows. Kofi Kingston, on the otherhand, has returned to developmental in NXT, which yes, did give him and Xavier a brief tag title reign, but still very much in the mid-card. It is so sad to see.

[@Aj6711]

WWE network is doing good now just few years later I have it and love it

[@toddbrown242]

KingOfStrongStyle it's always been a good deal. Doesn't mean it was a good decision for WWE financially

[@MattSingh1]

*It was doing so good, they had to sell it.* 😆 *WWE smark alert*

[@markmenning1804]

Cable TV is dying. Doing this online network is the future.

[@christianshipman5918]

Well they kinda did have a new Goldberg streak. Her name is Asuka. And it was very believable

[@anselmopat4985]

Yes!Fan 25 Et look where she is now

[@TheChadTI]

Funniest wrestling or wrestling adject podcast in the history of the multiverse and all timelines.

[@gkgyver]

We all know Brock beat Taker to give the rub to Roman Reigns 12 months later. And look how that turned out.

[@bossrush459]

I would pay big money for 31-40.

[@50_shadesof_green88]

Even if they had charged $5/10for a non big 4 ppv and £15/20 for a big 4 ppv IF you had a Network subscription they could have brought in a lot of extra cash - Not that I am complaining but looking at it from a business standpoint….

[@SlickMoneyXL]

Is there a clip where Dave has an updated opinion on the Network? Cuz obviously since 2015, it's exceeded expectations

[@88smjls]

4 years later Lesnar was already over and ending the streak made him no bigger a star. So they ended the streak literally for nothing Undertaker is still wrestling.

[@justanaverageperson544]

As far as the Network goes. Ppv is going to die in 5 to 10 years. Whether or not it was a success it doesn't seem as crazy and it seems like it was a ultimately a necessity because cable is going to die eventually.

[@justEvan63]

Looking back 5 years later I personally dont think breaking the streak was a good idea but having him lose to Roman at Wm33 was worse BY FAR.

[@jacob4690]

YOU KNOW

[@AnArchyRulzz]

We all have our crutches while speaking. I don't know why people get on him for saying you know. He isn't a professional broadcaster, he is a journalist. The reason he stutters and says you know is to think about what he is saying instead of just having mouth diarrhea.

[@williammcguire130]

The Network still does not break even

[@dinosharkrobopope8111]

man at 33:00 you can hear the emotion in dave's voice

[@MattSingh1]

*No, you can't. No whatsoever. No idea what you're babbling about.*

[@ronniebobbyedition993]

Meltzer is wrong on The WWE's strategy. If the WWE can get 30 million subscribers, the revenue raised thru subscribers will end up being greater than ppv buys. He's looking at the ppv buy rate of $50+. He's not looking at the total collected overall.

[@MattSingh1]

*This is massively absurd: 30 million subscribers?! What planet do you live on? What babbling nonsense.*

[@franklinmillard2424]

In spite of Dave's remarks, I personally think the Montreal Screwjob was a bigger moment in wrestling history (in retrospect) than the Undertaker's streak ending, although I guess the difference is that the Screwjob had to be "explained" (in non-kayfabe terms) for fans to fully appreciate its significance (and hence be persuaded to order the replay!)

[@hawk494edward]

+Franklin Millard But no one thought that the Streak would end, that's why people were shocked and up in arms over it.

[@brianedwards4813]

Baseball is actually more popular and making more money than it has in years.

[@redfield1007]

I like Dave Meltzer but a lot of his stuff is either " I....I.......I.......I don't know. " or just really obvious information. I do like the really good inside scoop when it arrives eventually which I why I listen. Any voice is better than Vince Russo : o

[@markmenning1804]

Yes I can't listening to Russo

[@junegiovanni6475]

It's 2017 and wwe gets 4 million subscribers now lol so he talked before he even new, I bet he is kicking his own ass, now that wwe has 4 million subscribers now and continuing to grow.

[@81irs]

June giovani they did the conference call yesterday, and they aren't even at 2 million subs. They're just below 2 million, and at a little over 1.6 paying subscribers.

[@willt8848]

June giovani Thanks for exposing yourself as a bullshitter.

[@AntiPopLTD]

I don't get it.. Had Meltzer not put it together at this point that Brock beating Takers streak was about making Roman Reigns? Brock was already a huge star, Taker being beaten was about making a new star out of the guy who beat the guy who beat Taker's streak. You don't sacrifice something as huge as Takers streak for a guy who doesn't need the rub.Something as big as that is used to make a new face of the company.

[@spaceghostp6672]

AntiPopLTD Roman never even beat Lesnar tho lol

[@djpaul8705]

Add then Vince sold the network for 1 billion dollars. Fed is still ded I guess

[@MattSingh1]

*1 billion? HAHAAHAHA, what a clueless mark you are.*

[@KINGCHAMPHHH]

#DANIEL-BRYAN BEATING 3/4TH OF #EVOLUTION!!! TO BECOME THE #WWE-UNDISPUTED-WORLDS-HEAVYWEIGHT-WRESTLING-CHAMPION-OF-CHAMPIONS!!! WAS AN #AMAZING #GOD-GIVEN-GIFT BY #GOD-JESUS-CHRIST & #US-FANS!!! #BATISTA WAS NOT WORTHY OF WINNING THE #2014-ROYAL-RUMBLE MUCH-LESS BECOMING THE #WWE-UNDISPUTED-WORLDS-HEAVYWEIGHT-WRESTLING-CHAMPION-OF-CHAMPIONS!!! WHAT KIND OF #BULL-CRAP WAS THAT!!?? #THNK-GOD HE CHANGED THE MAIN.EVENT OF #WMXXX

[@KINGCHAMPHHH]

***** IT'S NOT #HASHTAGS-JACKASS!!!

[@misterdoctor8234]

"God given" lol

[@redfield1007]

Stop st....st....stuttering Dave!! It's killing my soul!!

[@JPFRANCHISE87]

Um ya know!!!! Ya know, um ya know!!!!

[@AnArchyRulzz]

I'm sure you would speak perfectly on a professional broadcast. We all have crutches that we use while we speak. He uses that stuff so he has time to think about what he is saying and not have silence. He's also a journalist, not a professional broadcaster.