Did the Boneyard Match Really Save WWE WrestleMania 36?

WrestleMania 36 was supposed to fail.
In 2020, the world shut down. Fans disappeared. Arenas went silent. And for the first time ever, WWE had to answer an uncomfortable question: what is pro wrestling without a crowd?
This episode breaks down why The Boneyard Match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles didn’t just work — it saved WrestleMania 36. At a moment when traditional matches felt empty and exposed, WWE leaned into cinematic storytelling, myth, and character in a way wrestling had never fully embraced before.
We revisit the match through the lens of hindsight, including newly revealed stories from The Undertaker himself — injuries, production challenges, and the physical toll that made this feel less like a movie and more like a war. What emerges isn’t a gimmick, but a solution: wrestling adapting in real time to survive.
This isn’t just a recap of the Boneyard Match.
It’s an exploration of why it mattered, why it connected emotionally during the pandemic, and how it reshaped what wrestling could be when the ring was no longer enough.
Because when the world went quiet, wrestling didn’t get louder.
It got smarter.
#undertaker #ajstyles #wwe
---
🛠️ Independent Media — All in One Place
🎙️ Podcasts, digital content, merchandise, and newsletters
830 Media Group is the parent company behind multiple content brands, including 830 Wrestling Network.
👉 https://830mg.com
Explore the network:
🎧 Watch & listen to episodes across platforms (Spotify, Apple & more)
👕 Shop official merchandise
📬 Join the newsletter for updates, releases, and features
✉️ Business, media, and partnership inquiries
📞 CALL THE PROMO HOTLINE
Want to be heard on a show? Send a voicemail:
📱 973-826-0101
📅 New content released regularly.
Non scripted and fan-driven conversations covering the stories, personalities, and business of pro wrestling.
📲 Follow the 830 Wrestling Network for clips, announcements, and update
👉   / tristenlawshow  
👉 https://www.threads.com/@tristenlawshow