Wrestlemania 27
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© Max Waltham, April 2011
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| No One could Deny the stage was spectacular |
So Wrestlemania was produced to enhance superstars that were in spots for growth or becoming ever more established and strengthened in main events as well as the company’s invested future. Did 'Mania 27 achieve this?
Having booked a card almost full of nostalgia opened the debate.
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| Were YOU Stratusfied? |
With ol' favourites such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, good ol' JR, Jim Ross, Trish Stratus and The Rock (as your host), along with Booker T on guest commentary also, many expected a great PPV whether the “old” stars were booked on it regardless.
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The Rock Says...
After a beautiful rendition on America the beautiful by Keri Hilson, Wrestlemania 27 began. The Rock makes his way out for his belated and well received return. This is how promos are done. Gone for so many years, and with a roster full of people who have scalled or failed to up the ladder, The Great One is still the man in wrestling that owns the stage, audience and microphone. The Rock owned Wrestlemania tonight. Something WWE's current “contractors' have tried to achieve forever. Enhancing the fact that Wrestling belongs to the people, after commenting on Mr Fruity Pebbles Cena, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment set the tone for Mania to begin on a highnote. If you smelll.... |
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| Alberto Del Rio arrives |
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| However dressed up, an Armbar can still be very lethal, thanks to Del Rio |
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| Edge applies the submission |
Kicking off with our first match, Rey v Cody? Bryan V Sheamus perhaps? No. The World Heavyweight title was on first! That's right, one of the 2 biggest matches in terms of titles was on first. Everybody instantly knew but was hoping it wouldn't be the case. WWE pushed for months Del Rio's route to stardom which would culminate here in a World title victory. (see later blog entry as to why this occurred) , which he would not gain. Alberto Del Rio failed to grasp the big moment and take the title to match his underwear. Gold would've looked exceptional around that waist, to be honest.
World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio w/ Brodus Clay V Edge (c) w/ Christian
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| Going over... Or not.. |
With the addition of the bit parts, namely Christian and Brodus Clay, managers were at ringside in corners of a world title match that went on first, everybody knew Del Rio was dropping the ball to their anger, surprise and disgust. They, myself included, felt the months of build up for Alberto was a complete waste, and cheating the viewer, This is one of any reasons they don't choose to pay for the WWE product. Invest in the future and they will invest in your product, and merchandise sales follow too, or does the John Cena effect not apply to anyone else?
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| Wasn't washing the windows.. |
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| Dismayed, Alb's gunna have to walk it.. |
Alas, after a good title match to be fair, Edge retained the victory and World title, to which viewers seeing the start of Mania 27 were already peeved and uninterested. To embarrass Del Rio further, Edge smashes his rental car up before leaving the arena. Not a good start..
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| Beautiful :) and nice legs too.. |
Onto the second match
Cody Rhodes V Rey Mysterio.
This match was booked WAY too long and lost fans interest by dragging it's heels for 2 stars they weren't fully connected too. People cheered and got behind Cody, but eventually became tired. By match 2 they were tired, bored and uninterested in the biggest PPV of all time.
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| Capt America V The face mask of beauty.. |
Dressed as Captain America in the usual gimmick, Mysterio at Mania to sell mechandise attire, Cody surprisingly , and fulfillingly wrapped this up and won. His new push begins a year or two later. Rey was clearly only there to sell some merchandise/masks over the Wrestlemania period.
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| America lost this bout :( |
Snoop Dogg made a shock appearance and then followed a host of future endeavour stars doing an American Idol – Got Talent skit , some of the highlights included Great Khali and Beth Phoenix doing a slow number from grease, and Zack “hotness” Ryder charming us all. The shock was Hornswoggle, as a rapper, with his gals the Bellas, finding his actual voice and speaking! (rapping technically). Khali and Glami In My Opinon were top of this needless cool down period to give jobbers a place at Mania 27.
Third match, the WWE Universe needed to be uplifted, interested and brought back into mania spirit. The irony of mania perhaps. Did WWE do it? Unforgivably the answer was No.
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| Aerial Kingston :O |
Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kinston & Santino Marella V The Corre (Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater & Ezekiel Jackson)
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| Knocked Out and rendered obsolete.. |
It booked the sloppy, substandard team of Kane, Big Show, Kofi (in Kozlov's place, but was actually the logical choice who fitted the match – Barrett IS WEARING Kofi's IC TITLE) along with comedy booked Santino Marella. Taking on The Corre, Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater and the unknown, (oops) Ezekiel Jackson, WWE managed to end this in quick succession with Big Show landing a KO punch on Mr Wendys himself (Slater). Barely even a minute or two match and it was over.
Can you imagine how the Universe felt after this?
Seeing Mae Young is always a highlight. This woman still has everything needed in place for WWE segments.
Next match we had some sense of purpose.
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| The Viper's Vice (Grip)? |
CM Punk took on Randy Orton. The Viper, as predicted, being WWE's star worker for every year, crafting the best performances out of new workers gained his receival of appreciation with a win at the biggest PPV of all meaning.
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| DDT A-coming, will you kiss him afterwards? Aww :( |
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| Eyeing up the Prey |
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| Viper goes for the unmentioned Anaconda |
Punk and Orton, as expected put on a very good show, but slightly diluted to make way for the other 2 BIG ones. Shame. This was a red hot feud that could have become explosive in this final match meeting. And the viewers needed it. All the same both star workers delivered on the night and gave the best match so far and a thrilling conclusion all the same.
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| It's a hard slog.. but it's over.. |
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| The Viper strikes with a deadly but gorgeous hotted RKO. Look at them fly. |
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| WWE's star turn, Retro Love <3 |
After we got a good match to get the ball rolling, WWE stopped the action to produced the
Hall Of Fame Ceremony. Shawn Michaels, Sunny, The Road Warriors – Hawk, Animal and Manager Paul Ellering, Bullet Bob Armstrong, Abdullah The Butcher, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Drew Carey.
This Ceremony, had the 'stars' whom have contributed to wrestling in a grander way over a numerous amount of years be rewarded. As the came out to a brief name introduction, and placed on their star spot, their names were rushed and didn't mean a single thing to their appreciation. Call your name, stand there, wave, leave. Of course everyone was waiting for it's star turn, and even HBK didn't get a good build up. The Original Diva, First Ever Royal Rumble Winner (1988), and Greatest Tag Team of all time fitted well with the rest of the inductees for this year.
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| Hoooooooo! |
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| The Great Tag Team known to man, What A Rush! |
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| What's for dinner? I'm not about to eat, fool! |
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| Lock n Load |
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| The Original Diva, Sunny |
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| Drew Carey... Celebrity Wing.. |
Notable mention, because you cannot ignore the irony that was Drew Carey, a man who 10 years ago, entered the Royal Rumble match, and then subsequently decided NOT to do any move/s wait in the ring, and climb over the top ropes eliminating himself when Kane entered. Not one bump taken, and costing someone their spot. Ironically again he took a spot that could have been filled by someone else. Being the anniversary of WCW.. as well as Scream 4 hitting cinemas/theatres (and recently on WWE RAW at the end of the year), David Arquette would have been the most logical and credible choice. He had contributed more than Carey, regardless of the WCW booking days.
Finally we get back to the action, and the highly pushed bout of Wrestlemania was to begin, which just happened to be the comedy/spoof match.
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| Special Referee? |
Michael Cole w/ Trainer Jack Swagger V Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Run in central written all over it, Cole came out in some wonderful orange leotard resembling a tangerine. (Funny, due to the fact that he was in an actual WRESTLING apparel).
This match featured Stone Cold ' I quit and only ever come back for another paycheck' Austin, as special referee.
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| Mmm, Heelish and Suave :) |
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| Almost had the win... |
Stone Cold decided that he wouldn't wear the black and white stripes and 'Zebra up'. He looked a state and that was a huge insult to all of the industry to not physically wear the shirt. Do Us a favour, leave and don't come back, or at least not until you are serious about something and actually give a care in the world to commit to it.
Eventually Lawler won, but the good old GM of RAW (still anonymous) declared Cole the victor after a Disqualification. We didn't get an explanation as to why. We just got the decision.
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| 1 Year ago, and still repairable |
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| Boomer Sooner! Great to see JR again |
Jack Swagger, former World Champion all set last year, and the rightful choice to be 'made' had a role tonight. His involvement was to allow Michael Cole to hid behind him, take a beating from Jerry Lawler and throw in the towel for Cole. Amusing us by training him with the 'An-Cole lock', he eventually steps up to Stone Cold 'Biased Referrer' to receive an ever predicted Stone Cold Stunner. Austin, who attacked Cole with punches and biased opinion, mocked him when Jerry had submission holds on, before calling Cole the loser officially by declaring Lawler victor. Crowd chants of boring throughout should have told WWE Creative how this, the heavily produced match on the card, was received. Swagger's carrying of Cole was very officer and a gentleman. :) Booker T also made an appearance at the Austin beer party that 10 years ago was interesting, 10 years on, it was drab and long even when cut short. Booker thought he would be safe, but the fool took a Stunner after a spinaroonie!
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| Speedos would've been more pleasing for your gay community, just a thought |
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| Hiding in the Cole-Mine, Hoping Stone Cold would leave us all alone forever. |
Undertaker V Triple H
After 10 years of meeting HHH previously being wiped from our minds ( Until mentioned after the match), could someone, who meet Undertaker at the same event 10 years ago and could not defeat his streak, feasibly end it now? And to tell us that HHH was Undertakers only challenge left ever? So next year, we can clearly assume the winner will be Undie again?
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| I WILL steal your move! |
No, he shouldn't be defeated, but he should always have a challenger that looks strong enough on the night to destroy Taker's Streak. Bear in mind this was No Holds Barred, by the way. So it was plausible, technically in name.
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| 10 Years ago, has much changed? |
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| I Will win, even in defeat.. |
So when it came the match was a standard one for a while, then HHH ventured outside for a chair. No hold barred, after taking a while to get going, was about to start. The WWE Universe were starting to gain something from Wrestlemania (with it's biggest draw in the match no less) to have the chair shot thwarted, diluted and become slightly irrelevant. The chair, was the only weapon in the match, until later a second one entered. It was an ordinary match with a chair that was barely used. False advertising anyone? Triple H revealed his signature weapon, the sledgehammer, after a long while, cutting a long story short, tripper couldn't stop the Deadman after 4 pedigrees, yes Four. And only HHH could, to do a tombstone piledriver, taking it away from The Undertaker and still not completing the challenge. Triple H managed to steal Undie's move, give 4 pedigrees, use weapons and still lose. Undertaker ended HHH via a submission hold. Undertaker wasn't allowed a Tombstone pinfall. At the end of the match Undertaker couldn't get to his feet. Triple H didn't help, nor hand shake etc and just stared as he walked on. The Cerebral Assassin had his head screwed on. He managed to bury the Undertaker at HIS biggest event and match. Undie wasn't allowed his own move to win, or to even walk out of the arena as he usually does.
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| 1 Pedigree, 2, 3 4, why?? |
Yes Undertaker has injuries, but Undertaker ALWAYS works through them, and would gladly have walked out to the back for his celebration. Vince should have allowed this. Instead Taker was removed from the building on a stretcher by EMT's. Triple H made sure he won once again by losing. Charming.
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| Time to sleep, but you'll wake up soon, I'll be sent out though, Thanks.. |
SnookiMania!
Snooki, Trish Stratus & John Morrison V LayCool & Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero
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| Should've been me in Snooki's place. Woo Woo Woo! He knows it, Bro :) |
Yes the skank of Jersey Shore blagged her way to Wrestlemania with Trish Stratus and John 'Moody' Morrison V LayCool and Dolph Ziggler, with Vickie Guerrero at ringside.
John Morrison, xcast in a supporting role once again, rightly so, and not for the Trish/spot/upset scenario (see later blog entry), was a background character in a match were indeed the celebrity spot of Snooki was undeserved and Trish was credible. Albeit the same, this match was a disaster from start to finsih and a c omplete waste of time.
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| Girl Power! Trish 'n' Snook got their game on. |
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| Supporting cast again.. JoMo has nothing to offer, that's why. |
A match featuring Phoenix/Maryse/Gail Kim or Natalya involved with Trish/Laycool would've added weight and depth pardon the pun's of WWE's gimmick team scripters. John Morrison needs to get his own feuds, instead of poking into others. His 'performances' at Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber were classed by the marks as 'incredible'. They were sloppy, childish and uninteresting by taking away from what the matches stood for. It looked as though he wasn't serious about his craft or why he was in those matches. Being a performing duck was foolish. When he gets his own persona maybe he will becoming something huge. Until then he has no stock value and has future endeavours written all over him.
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| WWE's #1 Heel, Vickie Guerrero, looking 10 ties better than Morrison |
John Cena V The Miz (c) w/ Alex Riley - WWE Championship
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| Dapper Dudes! |
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| Rileylicious! |
The WWE Championship was on the line here. Miz defending. Cena challenging. Cena was in charge of working match layout. No could disagree with that when he made the biggest blunder ever by pushing Miz into the corner with hand over his mouth, leaving a gap open and clearly shouting instructions to The Miz ON CAMERA! It didn't stop there. During the match Miz punched Cena, in the middle of the ring to which Cena stopped for a second or two, lost his bearings, then slowly lowered himself and his ass backwards to 'fall' down. This match was an absolute shambles. And it was ALL Cena's fault.
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| Still WWE Champion, despite the odds of Supercena. |
This is why people dislike John Cena, added with the fact that these performances continue to happen, and though Cena remarks he loves this business, he doesn't bother to work to change his wrestling to become better. It's a sloppy disgrace and pitiful laziness. The Miz worked his backside off.
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| Here comes the 5 Knuckle Sh*t Fall... |
Later the match took a different stance. A ref bump and Alex Riley predicatbly made a beeline for Cena, to which a textbook duck and Miz dive into him sent Riley flying played their paprts. Cena lands an FU on Miz to a 2 fall kickout, rolling to the outside Cena gives chase to the Awesome one, and stupidly decides to clothesline him over the barricade. Both Cena and Miz were over the barricade in the audience outside and neither could make it to the ring before a count of 10.
Yes. The main event, for the WWE Title, ended on a countout.
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| 'I love you Miz'.. oops i mean shhh stay here for 10 seconds. |
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| Could The Great One BE the GM? Hmmmm... |
Someone was NOT happy about this, and I don't meant the WWE Universe, obviously. The great one returned. The Rock returned! Ordering a restart because, after-all, this was Wrerstlemania. (someone actually realised that then?), This restart was a “no rules” involved match ironically, to which Miz and Cena went at it. But The Rock who was ambushed previously on RAW by Miz AND John 'cheap shot' Cena, received The Rock Bottom and The People's Elbow. The end saw The Miz manage to clamber over Cena and gain the 3 fall that some, but most did not expect, and delightfully cheered as The Miz retained the WWE Championship which drew Wrestlemania to a close.
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| PAYBACK! One for you... |
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| and here's your receipt, Champ.. |
There were a lot of holes in this PPV, The booking of Snooki, casting men into the Diva's match when neither did anything mentionable, no hold barred that was n't what was suggested, Bryan V Sheamus cut, long matches on Cody/Rey and short squashes for The Corre, Hall Of Fame amounting to nothing, and the audience tuning in to see Alberto Del Rio claiming the gold.
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| There's No Time for us... |
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| Blessed be the WWE Cameraman with Daniel Bryans mat presence, Keep up the sterling work :) |
The only highlight was The Rock. That's what drew the audience to Mania. Undertaker/Triple H, Punk/Orton and Edge/Del Rio were the ones they wanted to witness. Those were also the strongest matches. Seeing how Cena/Miz/Rock played out was the added bonus. But it all let down those expectancies. Diluted, Stale, abysmal and poor decisions in the matches cost Wrestlmania dearly.
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| Mizalicious! Rileylicious! Time to switch the title over to Riley soon WWE.. |
Open Note to WWE – booking Sheamus, Bryan, Del Rio, DiBiase, Swagger, Ziggler, Riley and The Corre in derogatory or lower down roles ruins the growth for the company as well as new faces to evolve and become what you need. No new stars have been maintained. Where does the product go from here?
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| Build on me.. |
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| Need someone to clock your time underneath? |
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| Gold would have suited this man's waist, and added a whole new dimension.. |
Jack Swagger, Alex Riley, Alberto Del Rio and Daniel Bryan are your starting points. Though you may not think it, these 3 are the ones that need to go forward first. Then the rest can slot in and follow. DiBiase can easily feud with Bryan, Del Rio or Christian. Swagger needs to go to RAW and NOT be booked with Evan Bourne! Among the main title picture Swagger has development there. Riley can easily be bumped up to first class also. It's just giving the green light. Scared of how they play out is the concern, and rightly so. But this is the SECOND Wrestlemania that has peeked. (number 25 was the first brick to fall). Should it continue, the greatest PPV ever created for the Wrestling industry will lose it's foundation. And more to the point, no one will care. As just another PPV, that is a dangerous thought.
Not one Heavyweight Title changed hands on the show where at least one is supposed to in order to interest fans further. Heading into Extreme Rules, the just another PPV concept is continuing for the next few months till Money In The Bank, which understandable left, should have been booked here also, and there would also be 3 briefcase holders than 2 coming up. Knowing the Kane cash in situation may loom, WWE should preserve it's future willingly.
Overall - 4/10
Man/Woman of their matches -
Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes, Justin Gabriel, CM Punk, Michael Cole, Undertaker, Michelle McCool, The Miz
Person of the PPV - Undeniably,
The Undertaker
© Max Waltham, 16th April 2011
