Anticipation was built throughout Raw Monday night for the showdown between The Rock and John Cena. There was a sense throughout the show that something MAJOR was going to go down.
Major and unprecedented to boot is how I would categorize their confrontation. John Cena challenged Rock to a match, but "The Great One" said that a match of this magnitude could only happen on "the grandest stage of them all." It can only happen at Wrestlemania 28.
A main event set for Wrestlemania set one year ahead is awesome, and a dream match of Cena-Rock deserves all the build-up, but the challenge WWE has will be how they can keep the buzz on this match for a whole year without fans getting nauseous.
It will be interesting what involvement both these charasmatic superstars have with eachother going forward til April 1, 2012.
Other thoughts on the show:
Triple H cut a great promo about his epic match with Undertaker on Sunday. He said that he hit Taker harder than he has hit anybody in his life, but Taker found a way to prevail in the end. "The Game" didn't believe that it was Taker's last match, and said that when he comes back, he will be waiting for him. Like Cena-Rock for Mania 28, the seeds were planted for a rematch for next year's Wrestlemania.
The debut of Sin Cara was not bad, as the masked luchador gave us a glimpse of what the WWE Universe has to look forward to. He came to the aid of Daniel Bryan after Bryan lost his match to Sheamus. He proceeded to hurricarana Sheamus over the top rope and then did a high body splash onto the U.S. Champ. It seems Cara is getting pushed right out of the gate with a U.S. Title program against Sheamus. It will be interesting to see how their two styles mesh.
I was befuddled by Sheamus' red, white, and blue gear eventhough he is Irish, but I guess it's just to play up he's the champion of the United States.
The Randy Orton/Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk/Cody Rhodes tag team match was a good 20 minute bout. I'm glad that the Orton/Punk feud will be continue.
Alberto Del Rio and Evan Bourne had a nice five minute matchup that was designed to get Del Rio back on track after losing his championship match against Edge at Mania. I'm curious to see how he goes forward.
It was awesome WWE teased Jim Ross being back in the announce booth full-time. After Jerry Lawler's match with Jack Swagger, Cole threw BBQ sauce onto JR and JR chased him up the ramp, albeit in slow motion. Cole's voice was heard after Raw came back from commercial, and I could imagine the angry venom fans felt realizing JR was not back after all. I have a feeling a tag team match will be set up at Extreme Rules between Jerry Lawler/Jim Ross vs Michael Cole/Jack Swagger.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wrestlemania XXVII thoughts
Contrary to what everyone thought about this year's Wrestlemania, I thought it was an entertaining show. Were there some things on the show that could have gone better, yes possibly, but all in all I was satisfied with the presentation WWE gave last night and every match was good. Here are my thoughts on each match
John Cena vs WWE Champion The Miz- The Miz retained his championship after a 15-minute bout with Cena after Rock restarted the match when the bout was originally called a draw with both men not answering the 10 count. This wasn't the greatest of Wrestlemania main events, but it was decent. Everybody was waiting for the Rock to come out, and I thought his involvement in the match was anti-climatic. Rock costs Cena the match by giving him the Rock Bottom and Miz capitalizing with the pin just the way I predicited it. I can't wait to see what the fallout is tonight on Raw and how WWE builds to an eventual Cena-Rock match.
Undertaker vs Triple H- This match was the best match on the show. These two future hall of famers put on a 30-minute classic that had fans actually thinking the streak was going to end. I cringed when Triple H delivered the chair shot to Taker's cranium. "The Dead Man" got the win via "The Hell's Gate" and while this match wasn't Taker/Michaels, when I think of top 5 Taker Wrestlemania matches, this one ranks 3rd behind the two matches with HBK. For these two warriors ages, they told a hell of a story and now i'm curious to see which direction they both go in the coming months
World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs Alberto Del Rio- I was aghast that this match was put first, but I understand that they needed a match that would set the tone for the rest of the card. They battled for 15 minutes before Edge defeated Del Rio with the Spear. I thought WWE would put the belt on Del Rio, but i'm guessing that they don't want to hot push him right away. The match was good but was surprised that there was no Christian heel turn.
Randy Orton vs CM Punk- This match was the 2nd best match on the show. It went on for nearly 20 minutes, and it was a nice old school bout where it was just two competitors beating the snot out of eachother. Punk's facials throughout the match, and in my opinion, he is the best heel in wrestling right now. Orton won with a mid-air RKO after Punk came down from the top rope. Would love to see this feud extended.
Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole- This grudge match didn't have the heat that I thought it would with the match dragging when Cole on offense for the majority of the match. King won the match after applying the ankle lock on Cole. After the match, the anonymous Raw GM chimed and reversed the decision because of Referee Stone Cold Steve Austin's bias involvement in the match. I agree with the WWE booking Cole to have the last laugh, and I will tell you why. In wrestling, a heel, especially heel managers, never gets their full comeuppance. If Lawler just beat the hell out of Cole throughout the match, fans would not pay to see him get it again because the comeuppance was already delivered. With Cole getting the last laugh, it will leave fans salivating for King to get his hands on him again or perhaps a superstar giving him his just desserts if the company decides to make Cole a full-time manager.
Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes- I was happy Rhodes won the match, as it was the right decision going forward. This match was a good 10 minutes, and Rhodes will now hopefully get a bigger push going forward. Thought Rey Mysterio's Captain America outfit was awesome.
Corre vs Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, and Santino Marella- Match only lasted 90 seconds after Show gave the KO to Heath Slater. It was a disappointing debut for the Corre, as they should have won the match because it would elevate them more into serious players in the WWE. It was also a disappointing Wrestlemania debut for Wade Barrett who a couple of months ago was the top heel in the company and feuding with John Cena.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus, and Snooki vs Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler. Disappointed that Morrison and Ziggler didn't have enough time to shine in this match and show what they could do. The match served its purpose by having Snooki get the win with a mini-moonsault over Michelle McCool. She was decent in the match.
Side notes- I was in a good mood for the majority of the show til I found out that U.S. Champion Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan was bumped into the dark match before the show. I was looking forward to that match and wanted to see how Bryan would perfom on the big stage after competing for many years in Ring of Honor and being labeled the "best wrestler not to be in WWE or TNA" before he signed last year. The Sheamus/Bryan match was turned into a lumberjack match and then a battle royal after the lumberjacks brawled. Khali won the battle royal by elminating Sheamus. I'm shaking my head that Sheamus and Bryan got relegated to the pre-show in favor of useless vignettes involving Snoop Dogg, Mae Young, and Pee Wee Herman.
The Rock did a good job as host of Wrestlemania, but I said GOOD not Great. Most of his participation throughout the show was serviceable and not as entertaining as I would expect coming from "The Great One."
John Cena vs WWE Champion The Miz- The Miz retained his championship after a 15-minute bout with Cena after Rock restarted the match when the bout was originally called a draw with both men not answering the 10 count. This wasn't the greatest of Wrestlemania main events, but it was decent. Everybody was waiting for the Rock to come out, and I thought his involvement in the match was anti-climatic. Rock costs Cena the match by giving him the Rock Bottom and Miz capitalizing with the pin just the way I predicited it. I can't wait to see what the fallout is tonight on Raw and how WWE builds to an eventual Cena-Rock match.
Undertaker vs Triple H- This match was the best match on the show. These two future hall of famers put on a 30-minute classic that had fans actually thinking the streak was going to end. I cringed when Triple H delivered the chair shot to Taker's cranium. "The Dead Man" got the win via "The Hell's Gate" and while this match wasn't Taker/Michaels, when I think of top 5 Taker Wrestlemania matches, this one ranks 3rd behind the two matches with HBK. For these two warriors ages, they told a hell of a story and now i'm curious to see which direction they both go in the coming months
World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs Alberto Del Rio- I was aghast that this match was put first, but I understand that they needed a match that would set the tone for the rest of the card. They battled for 15 minutes before Edge defeated Del Rio with the Spear. I thought WWE would put the belt on Del Rio, but i'm guessing that they don't want to hot push him right away. The match was good but was surprised that there was no Christian heel turn.
Randy Orton vs CM Punk- This match was the 2nd best match on the show. It went on for nearly 20 minutes, and it was a nice old school bout where it was just two competitors beating the snot out of eachother. Punk's facials throughout the match, and in my opinion, he is the best heel in wrestling right now. Orton won with a mid-air RKO after Punk came down from the top rope. Would love to see this feud extended.
Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole- This grudge match didn't have the heat that I thought it would with the match dragging when Cole on offense for the majority of the match. King won the match after applying the ankle lock on Cole. After the match, the anonymous Raw GM chimed and reversed the decision because of Referee Stone Cold Steve Austin's bias involvement in the match. I agree with the WWE booking Cole to have the last laugh, and I will tell you why. In wrestling, a heel, especially heel managers, never gets their full comeuppance. If Lawler just beat the hell out of Cole throughout the match, fans would not pay to see him get it again because the comeuppance was already delivered. With Cole getting the last laugh, it will leave fans salivating for King to get his hands on him again or perhaps a superstar giving him his just desserts if the company decides to make Cole a full-time manager.
Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes- I was happy Rhodes won the match, as it was the right decision going forward. This match was a good 10 minutes, and Rhodes will now hopefully get a bigger push going forward. Thought Rey Mysterio's Captain America outfit was awesome.
Corre vs Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, and Santino Marella- Match only lasted 90 seconds after Show gave the KO to Heath Slater. It was a disappointing debut for the Corre, as they should have won the match because it would elevate them more into serious players in the WWE. It was also a disappointing Wrestlemania debut for Wade Barrett who a couple of months ago was the top heel in the company and feuding with John Cena.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus, and Snooki vs Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler. Disappointed that Morrison and Ziggler didn't have enough time to shine in this match and show what they could do. The match served its purpose by having Snooki get the win with a mini-moonsault over Michelle McCool. She was decent in the match.
Side notes- I was in a good mood for the majority of the show til I found out that U.S. Champion Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan was bumped into the dark match before the show. I was looking forward to that match and wanted to see how Bryan would perfom on the big stage after competing for many years in Ring of Honor and being labeled the "best wrestler not to be in WWE or TNA" before he signed last year. The Sheamus/Bryan match was turned into a lumberjack match and then a battle royal after the lumberjacks brawled. Khali won the battle royal by elminating Sheamus. I'm shaking my head that Sheamus and Bryan got relegated to the pre-show in favor of useless vignettes involving Snoop Dogg, Mae Young, and Pee Wee Herman.
The Rock did a good job as host of Wrestlemania, but I said GOOD not Great. Most of his participation throughout the show was serviceable and not as entertaining as I would expect coming from "The Great One."
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Wrestlemania predictions
Here are my predictions for every match on the pay-per-view Sunday John Cena vs WWE Champion The Miz- I woulda said a couple weeks of ago that Cena would regain the WWE championship almost a year after losing it. However, The Rock's involvement in the match has me wondering. Miz had gotten the better of Cena over the past couple weeks, so it was a natural lock for Cena to have his moment at Wrestlemania. With the tension between Cena and Rock brewing from Monday til tonight, I am betting that a ref bump happens and Rock gives Cena a just receipt in the form of a Rock Bottom after Cena gave him the Attitude Adjustment on Monday. Miz will proceed to knock Rock outta the ring and then hit Cena with the Skull Crushing Finale and retain the WWE Championship. Seeds will be planted for an eventual Cena-Rock showdown either at Summerslam this year or Wrestlemania 28 in Miami. Undertaker vs Triple H- WWE did a great job planting seeds of doubt in fans minds about the Undertaker finally losing at Wrestlemania. However, I don't see that happening and Taker will be 19-o. The kicker will be how will Shawn Michaels get involved. I see him superkicking Undertaker first then superkicking his best friend Triple H selling conflict that he wants revenge on Taker for ending his career last year but not wanting to see his best friend end the streak when he couldn't. This match should be great but not Taker-Michaels great. World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs Alberto Del Rio- This will be Del Rio's time to shine. WWE has big plans for him, and I see them giving the championship to Del Rio to set up potential challengers leading into the summer with rematches against Edge, a title program with his old nemesis Rey Mysterio, and possibly the Undertaker. I see Christian costing his pal Edge the championship to lead to a big program between the two for the next few months. Randy Orton vs CM Punk- Punk got the better of Orton on Monday, so I see "The Viper" overcoming an injured ankle and getting his comeuppance against Punk. I wouldn't be surprised if Punk had something up his sleeve in the form of a new Nexus member in his corner. This match has the potential to steal the show if given the time allowed. Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole- Lawler gets the win plain and simple. Fans have been waiting for Cole to get his just desserts and when Lawler gets that first punch in the fans in the Georgia Dome will explode. Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes- Mysterio will get the win here, but I think Cody should get the win, as it will legitimize him as a potential main event player in the coming year, and a lost to Mysterio wouldn't hurt in the least. Another show-stealer if given the time. Corre vs Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella, and Kofi Kingston- Kingston is a last minute replacement for Vladamir Kozlov after WWE shot an injury angle over the weekend at WWE Axxess where the Corre injured Kozlov. I see the young Corre getting the win here with Barrett possibly going over Kane or even Big Show, as WWE sees big things in Barrett. Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler vs Snooki, Trish Stratus, and John Morrison. The babyfaces go over in this one, as I don't see WWE bringing Snooki in only for her to lose. This match should be a great showcase of Ziggler and Morrison's talent, and I believe they will show why there are main event players for years to come in this match with their athleticism. U.S. Champion Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan- Another potential show stealer. It will be interesting how they mesh given the time they are allotted. Sheamus retains the US championship after a hard fought match.
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