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WrestleMania is WWE's biggest event of the year. Its season finale. As a rule, most of the matches featured on WrestleMania are fresh match-ups that WWE has built up specifically for the Show of Shows.
Naturally, after investing considerable time in promoting these rivalries on RAW and SmackDown before WrestleMania, WWE typically likes to get maximum mileage from them by booking immediate rematches.
These second bouts have tended to land on the first pay-per-view show post-WrestleMania - and 2021 is no exception.
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WWE WrestleMania Backlash takes place next month. The name of the pay-per-view indicates that the event will feature a number of WrestleMania 37 rematches. However, already confirmed for the show is a WWE Championship rematch for Drew McIntyre following his loss to Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania.
There have been a few occasions over the years, though, where the losers of WrestleMania championship matches have not received a shot at redemption. Whether due to injury, retirement or a change in creative direction, certain WWE Superstars have been denied the opportunity for a title rematch. Here are five of the most notable from WrestleMania's past.
#5 Brock Lesnar never received a rematch after losing the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36
Brock Lesnar lost the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre in the main event of WrestleMania last year. Not only did the Beast Incarnate not receive a rematch, but he has not been seen in a WWE ring since.
One of WWE's highest-paid performers, the company chose not to use Lesnar in the months that followed WrestleMania 36. This was likely because it could not justify his costs during a period where COVID-19 meant it was forced to record all of its shows at the Performance Center, without any ticket revenue coming in.
It then emerged in late August of 2020 that Lesnar was no longer under WWE contract after his previous deal expired. Rumors have swirled ever since that he could return but - at the time of writing - Lesnar's WrestleMania defeat to McIntyre remains his final WWE match.
Although Lesnar did not receive a direct rematch with McIntyre after losing the WWE Championship, a feud between the pair should Lesnar ever make a WWE comeback is inevitable.
We may yet see a rematch of the WrestleMania 36 main event.
#4 Injury meant Shawn Michaels did not get a rematch after he lost to Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14
WrestleMania 14 marked a watershed moment for WWE.
Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels in the main event - with assistance from Mike Tyson - to become WWE Champion for the first time.
However, while Austin's run as a headliner was just beginning, Michaels was dealing with injuries that were thought to be career-ending.
A botched back body drop during a Casket Match with The Undertaker at Royal Rumble 1998 left Michaels with two herniated discs in his back, as well as another that was completely crushed.
There was even speculation that the then-reigning WWE Champion Michaels would be unable to defend the title against Austin at WrestleMania 14 because of his injuries.
The Heartbreak Kid did compete, dropping the belt to Austin. However, it was widely known backstage that the match was likely to be Michaels' last due to his physical health status.
This, of course, meant no title rematch for Michaels.
It took more than four years for Michaels' back issues to heal enough that he could compete again in a WWE ring. By the time Shawn made his comeback against Triple H at SummerSlam 2002, Austin was only a few months away from his own retirement.
The pair never faced each other again after WrestleMania 14.
#3 Goldberg has lost a championship at WrestleMania on two occasions - and didn't receive a rematch either time
Goldberg has entered two out of the last five WrestleMania events as the WWE Universal Champion.
Title defenses against Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33) and Braun Strowman (WrestleMania 36) both ended in defeat for Goldberg - and the WCW icon was not granted a rematch in either case.
Having lost to Goldberg twice before in his career, the WrestleMania 33 bout was built around The Beast Incarnate finally getting the better of his rival. Once Lesnar had his victory over Goldberg, the feud reached its natural conclusion. There was no need for a return match.
Things were slightly different at last year's WrestleMania 36 event. Originally, Goldberg was due to face Roman Reigns for the championship.
However, when Reigns withdrew from the show over COVID-19 concerns, Strowman was handed the opportunity to challenge Goldberg.
Reportedly, WWE wanted Goldberg to retain the title and move forward as Universal Champion. The WWE Hall of Famer, though, had no interest in working past WrestleMania - and would later refer to his match on the show as a "miserable" experience.
With Goldberg intent on leaving after WrestleMania, Strowman won the bout to become a world champion for the first time. Given the circumstances, there was no rematch.
#2 Chris Jericho never got a direct rematch after losing the WWE Undisputed Championship to Triple H at WrestleMania 18
The final match of the night at WrestleMania 18 saw Triple H defeat Chris Jericho for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
If you ask long-time WWE fans about their memories of that pay-per-view, though, most will point you to the 'Icon vs Icon' match between The Rock and Hulk Hogan that took place earlier in the evening.
Trying to top a dream match featuring two legends of the industry, Jericho and Triple H were always facing a tall task. Their match was fine. It just didn't compare to The Rock against Hulk Hogan, particularly as fans in attendance that night couldn't get enough of The Hulkster.
By the time WrestleMania was over, the company had already decided that Hogan would be Triple H's challenger for the title at the following month's Backlash pay-per-view.
This meant no direct rematch for Jericho. Instead, the former champion was forced to accept a Triple Threat title opportunity eight days after WrestleMania on RAW - in a match that also featured Stephanie McMahon.
Even worse for Jericho, the story of that bout revolved around the stipulation that Stephanie would leave WWE if she lost, rather than the former champion's quest for redemption.
In a 2020 interview, Jericho revealed he had wanted his match with Triple H to go on before Rock vs Hogan but was denied.
The rebirth of Hulkamania at WrestleMania 18 did Jericho no favors.
#1 The Rock was defeated by John Cena at WrestleMania 29 and never challenged for the WWE Championship again
WrestleMania 29 saw the final chapter in the epic rivalry between The Rock and John Cena.
The two superstars had a genuine dislike for each other at one time - as Cena had accused The Rock of "selling out" by ditching WWE to move to Hollywood. Eventually, all involved decided they could capitalize on the issue by bringing it on to WWE programming.
Their feud spanned three editions of WWE's biggest show of the year, beginning at WrestleMania 27 where The Rock - serving as Guest Host for the evening - cost Cena victory in his WWE Championship match with The Miz.
Just one day later on RAW, it was confirmed that The Rock and Cena would settle their differences in the ring at the following year's WrestleMania event.
After a year-long build, The Rock defeated Cena at WrestleMania 28 - in a match billed as 'Once in a Lifetime'. As it turned out, though, that tagline wasn't accurate.
The Rock entered WrestleMania 29 as the WWE Champion and so - as luck would have it - defended his title against Royal Rumble winner John Cena.
This time, though, Cena emerged victorious and claimed the WWE Championship. The two legends paid respect to each other following the match, ending their storyline. There was no rubber match.
Save for a six-second win over Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32, The Rock has not competed inside a WWE ring since.
