The Biggest Issue WrestleMania 40 Must Avoid, Blood Use in WWE, More Quick Takes

Anticipation is at an all-time high heading into WrestleMania 40 this weekend and coming off one of the strongest shows WWE Raw has produced in years.

For as eventful of an episode as it was, it managed to sell viewers on two marquee matches that aren't slated for Philadelphia on Saturday or Sunday.

WWE must avoid using this year's Show of Shows to build toward future installments and instead ensure several storylines have definitive finality.

Another top takeaway from the March 25 edition of Raw was the return of blood in the show-closing segment in which The Rock busted open Cody Rhodes outside of his tour bus.

WWE TV's PG rating has prevented the company from intentionally using blood in the last 16 years and largely shying away from it, but if used sparingly, it can be a tremendous touch to important angles as it was for Rock vs. Rhodes.

This final Quick Takes before WrestleMania will examine blood being a difference-maker in wrestling, why Mercedes Moné's first All Elite Wrestling match doesn't need to be saved for the Dynasty pay-per-view, Jade Cargill's direction for the foreseeable future, and more.

WrestleMania 40 Should Not Be Designed Solely to Further Feuds

One of the greatest selling points of WrestleMania since its inception has been that it marks the end of one year for WWE and the beginning of another.

More often than not, it marks the blowoff to several storylines that have been building for months and even years on end. Certain installments are best remembered as being "setup shows" of sorts for future feuds and events, and that's what WWE must avoid with WrestleMania 40 more than anything.

A significant factor behind the excitement surrounding this year's event is the potential to have an endgame-esque vibe to it, with many moments fans have been waiting patiently for finally coming to fruition.

Last Monday's Raw saw The Rock and Cody Rhodes take their bad blood to another level while CM Punk planted the seeds for eventual matchups with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.

Rock and Punk will both be present in Philadelphia this weekend, but their involvement shouldn't be the focal point.

Rather, they should only add to whatever epic moments WrestleMania 40 has in store. It can go down as an all-time event with the correct execution and not having to rely on teases of what more is to come.

Mercedes Moné's First AEW Match Doesn't Need to Be Saved for Dynasty

As has been made quite clear by this point, Mercedes Moné will be an outstanding asset in the loaded AEW women's division. That said, the company has yet to follow up on her hot arrival in any meaningful way.

Consistency is key and it's been wise of AEW to feature her on every episode of Dynamite since debuting, but she hasn't done much of note other than cutting generic promos, having limited physicality and sitting on commentary.

Her first feud appeared to be with TBS champion Julia Hart upon her arrival, but it has since been confirmed that Willow Nightingale will challenge Hart for the title at Dynasty. That leaves Nightingale's tag team partner, Kris Statlander, as the next-best possible opponent for Moné

Although that's a PPV-worthy match and deserves to be built up in advance, it isn't necessary for it to be Moné's first match as a member of the roster. That can come prior to the PPV on April 21, provided it's against a somewhat notable name.

AEW runs the risk of ruining Moné's mystique by having her do anything but wrestle ahead of Dynasty, and making her feel like any average star on the roster so early into her stint would be a waste of her value.

Jade Cargill Can Be Properly Showcased and Limited Through Long-Term Belair Story

WWE has waited over six months to announce which brand Jade Cargill will be joining, and she officially took her talents to SmackDown on Friday night.

The 31-year-old came across like an absolute star during her short-but-sweet introduction early in the episode before sending the message that she won't be one to mess with when she sided with Bianca Belair and Naomi at the end of the night.

Although the newly announced six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania may not be anything overly special, it simultaneously gives Cargill a chance to shine on WWE's grandest stage while also kicking off what should be a long-term storyline with Belair.

Rushing Cargill to championship contention anytime soon would be egregious. A post-WrestleMania alliance with The EST of WWE keeps both megastars busy, carefully limits what the former TBS champ does in the ring and gradually builds toward them facing off one-on-one down the road.

Cargill vs. Belair will be a blockbuster bout when it eventually happens, but in the meantime, them joining forces is a logical way to introduce The Storm to the WWE audience and get her involved in something significant from the start.

Swerve Strickland's Crowning Moment at Dynasty Is Undeniable

With his win over Konosuke Takeshita on last Wednesday's Dynamite, Swerve Strickland is firmly the No. 1 contender to Samoa Joe's AEW World Championship at Dynasty.

That must be where he takes the title and gets his long-awaited crowning moment.

Strickland has been building a groundswell of support in the last six months since scoring back-to-back wins over Adam Page at WrestleDream and Full Gear. He was justifiably featured in the AEW title three-way at Revolution, but it was too soon for Joe to lose the belt and Sting's swan song was the highlight of the night anyway.

Come Dynasty, there will be no excuse for Strickland not to walk away with the prestigious prize. Waiting any longer would be a primary example of AEW failing to strike while the iron is hot.

Will Ospreay recently arrived on the scene and is bound to be positioned as the top babyface before long. Strickland should be crowned as soon as Dynasty in case the Englishman continues to catch fire and is in line for his own run at All In London on Aug. 25.

WWE's Rare Use of Blood Gives It More Meaning

The Rock's intense beatdown of Cody Rhodes to close last Monday's edition of Raw would have been an exceptional angle regardless, but The American Nightmare sporting a bloody face courtesy of The Great One put the segment in a league of its own.

Accidental bloodshed is commonplace in wrestling, but intentional blood is often frowned upon and strongly discouraged in WWE due to the company's strict PG guidelines. It was unknown if blood would ever make a comeback, but Rock's influence as a higher-up within WWE surely played a role in why it was utilized in that specific segment.

Per Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com (h/t NoDQ.com), blood will be allowed in WWE "very rarely" going forward, which is the best-case scenario.

AEW using blood more often is what makes it an exciting alternative to WWE. But it can have far more effect in a match or a segment if it's used sparingly and in high-profile angles as opposed to matches and segments that won't be remembered.

It also illustrates that it is indeed a new era in WWE and compelling storytelling is paramount. Blood can be a crucial component in any program, and the changing of the company's stance on that is an encouraging sign for the future.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.