Wrestlemania Ends an Era.

Well last night was the biggest night of the year for Wrestling fans across the globe in what was one of the most hyped Wrestlemanias in history.

Unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations as it was one of the most poorly booked Wrestlemania’s ever, and it all started with the opening match being the World Title contest between Daniel Bryan and Sheamus.

Not only was this match first but it also only lasted 18 seconds. Bryan kissed AJ for good luck, turned and got a face full of Sheamus boot followed by the 1-2-3. We was not happy, epically as Tommy was super excited for the match and he was most looking forward to that contest, to then basically be slapped in the face. It wasn’t a good start and disappointed many across the world.

It did line up a joke for the rest of the night of what lasts longer than Bryans match, Daniels Entrance lasted longer than his match. The slim jim promo lasted longer than Bryans match. The gags were endless.

Things didn’t improve much from there as the opening hour was slow and unexciting.

A mediocre match between Kane and Randy with Kane winning after a top rope Choke Slam, Big Show then got his Wrestlemania moment by beating Cody Rhodes for the Intercontinental Title in a less than brilliant contest and to end the hour we had the Divas tag team match. A lot of this time was filled with overly long promo videos miss placed in entrances and sponsor ads that just got in the way.

It was at the 1 hour mark when we were shocked to have Triple H vs. Undertaker next. This was still early on the card and as shown as being a co main event why is it happing at the 1 hour mark of a 4 hour show? It really makes you question what a Main Event is in the WWE.

Luckily though this match was a breath of fresh air although it wasn’t the end of an era we were hoping for, but sill showed great storytelling and emotion throughout. Best match of the night by far and a truly epic confrontation.

It started slow and use of the Cell was minimal but did add a nice flavour to the match.

It went back and forth with the Steel steps coming into play which saw Taker land across after an amazing spine buster. There was blood on Triple H’s head but this was not a planned bleeding but WWE didn’t really have an issue with showing it which was a good thing.

It turned into a beating of sorts though once Trips got hold of chair and went to town on the back of the bald Undertaker. Trips hit the man so hard so many times he left cringe worthy welts and bruises on Takers back.

Triple H kept asking Shawn the guest Ref to end it as Taker kept kicking out of pins. Undertaker asked Shawn not to end it.

Sledge Hammer followed the chair as the beating continued but Shawn’s interference saved Taker from a hammer blow to the head.

The match came close to ending when Shawn was going to just call for the bell but it didn’t happen.

To stop Shawn calling for the bell Taker locked in Hells Gate on Shawn incapacitating him and continuing the match.

Trips saved Shawn with a Sledge to Takers head. Things then turned as Taker locked in Hells Gate on Trips and it looked like an image of last year.

With Shawn still out nothing could be done as another official enters the cell.

A Choke Slam followed but Trips kicks out of the pin. Taker, in anger, then Choke Slams the replacement Ref.

Sweet Chin Music to Taker followed by the Pedigree and it looked like it was all over for the Deadman but he shocked the world and still kicked out.

A chant of “this is awesome” filled the Stadium, as the men come back to life and things continue.

Triple H removes Shawn from the ring in anger and we get some Vintage Taker, ending it on a Tombstone. Shawn slides back in and counts but once again kick out at 2!

Things slow again as the men turn things into a boxing match exchanging blows and falling into a clinch like position.

Pedigree! 2 count. Shock again; edge of your seat is the location of most people watching at this point.

It was now Takers turn with the Steel Chair as he gets revenge for the shots he received earlier, smacking Trips across the back just as hard, if not harder, than when Trips hit him.

Things get tough for Trips as he struggles to stand, leaning against the corner turnbuckle. He tells Taker to “Suck it” and then receives a Sledge Shot to the head, followed by the Tombstone that did end the match.

Emotion and respect was shown as the Undertaker struggled to stand, Shawn offers his hand and brings Taker to his feet and holds his arm up in Victory to the cheers and applause of the crowd.

Shawn returns to Trips still lying on the mat as Taker poses sending off fireworks and the 20 – 0 is shown to the purple lit crowd.

Shawn and Taker together pull Triple H to his feet and carry him together away from the ring in strong show of respect, friendship, and the end of an amazing Generation of superstars.

This should have been the last match, and it’s a giant disrespect to the 3 men in my opinion putting them so early in the card. But either way still a brilliant match.

Next was a quick look at the Hall of Fame group with an amazing ovation for the Rated R Superstar, Edge.

We did notice how ever that Ric Flair, never got a close up, or much of a showing in the Hall of Fame promo video most probably due to his current employer being TNA.

The sillier match of the night, Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny came next. It was your typical 6 aside Tag match with only a couple special moments. One big highlight being when the match broke down and Kofi, Truth and Ryder all jumped over the top rope to 3 or 4 members of Team Johnny who they had just thrown out.

It came to an end with Ryder going for the Broskie Boot on Miz but as he pumped the crowd Eve stepped in and did it with him. This caused the Ref to ignore the action and remove Eve along with the help of Ryder whose back is now turned. Miz pounced with a Skull Crushing Finale and took the win placing Johnny as GM of Raw and SmackDown. A result which I believe a lot of people should have seen coming.

Next was the WWE Championship match which had the added stipulation that if Punk gets disqualified he loses the Championship.

This added an interesting aspect to the match as Jericho continued to make remarks about Punks family to hopefully fuel Punks anger and force him to get DQ’d.

The match was good and saw a number of Walls of Jericho’s and Anaconda Vice’s, back and forth between the two best in the world.

It came to an end with an Anaconda Vice, and the two men collapse in the ring after Jericho tapped.

If you had a sharp eye you would have seen Jericho rustle Punks hair, most probably a way of saying well done after the matches’ conclusion.

After that match we lead into a pathetic, unneeded promo from the Funkasaurus Brodus Clay, and a load of women dressed as his “momma”.

Finally it was time for the Main event, the match we had all been waiting for, The Rock vs. John Cena.

Intros included Machine Gun Kelly for John Cena and Flo Rider for The Rock in special performances for the entrances.

The two men stood in the ring as they are announced followed by a stare down, before the bell rang and it kicked off.

Unfortunately the match was slow and didn’t have the spark we expected. In comparison to other great matches such as, Rock vs. Stone Cold (WMXIX, WMXV), Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (WMXIX) as well as many others it just didn’t seem to live up to it.

It was all hype no pizzazz, and just didn’t quite have what it takes to go down as “great” and the year build seemed too much for what we got.

All that being said it was still Rock vs. Cena, once in a lifetime (apparently), and it was a sight to see.

It contained a lot of old school style moves, long headlocks, arm drags and DDTs as well as a classic pass out moment with the Ref lifting the hand of Rock to check for consciousness during the STF for Rocks hand to stay up at the third drop.

The match was filled with Attitude Adjustments, Rock Bottoms, Sharp Shooters and the Peoples elbow and no doubt these guys get A+ for effort. B+ for execution.

It was very back and forth and had close calls but it all came to an end as Cena went for his own version of the Peoples Elbow to be Rock Bottomed mid-way through it ending it with a pin.

Rock celebrates as the show comes to close marking the end of the show, and an era.

Overall this event was poor, but if you strip away the issues we are left with a great event.

The Hell in Cell wasn’t like the Cell’s of the old days, and it didn’t compare to WM25 Shawn vs. Taker. But it was still a great contest.

Rock vs. Cena a lot of hype that didn’t come through but still a good match to see.

Overall I give this Werstlermania, 3 out 5.

Questions for you.

Good or bad Wrestlemania?

What was your favourite moment?

Do you agree that it was poorly booked?

Now I am going to be taking a break for a few months from blogging and try and focus on other things.

I will not be gone for good though, I will most probably return on the road to SummerSlam!

Writing this blog took longer than Bryans match.

Matty.D signing off!

Wrestlemania XXVIII this Sunday!

Its Wrestlemania week and we are only days away from the biggest event of the year for wrestling fans across the world.

This could possibly be the biggest Wrestlemania since Wrestlemania X8 when The Rock went against Hulk Hogan, or Wrestlemania XIX with Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle.

This year has two huge matches headlining it and a great set of matches to support them.

We are in for an epic 4 hour spectacular, so let’s have a look at the matches on the card for this Sunday.

Kane vs. Randy Orton

After the flop story between Kane and John Cena, Kane set his sights on a new target, The Viper Randy Orton. The reason behind this is due to one of Kane’s final matches before he put his mask back on.

Back when Kane was slowly turning more “human” and after losing to Orton in a street fight last summer, Kane shook Randy’s hand in a show of respect. Kane doesn’t like that side of him and his show of weakness and is now determined to prove a point and get vengeance by beating Orton at Wrestlemania.

Not the most exciting match on the card and the build-up hasn’t been spectacular but it’s a chance to see Randy Orton in action, Kane on the other hand will need to step up his game or his side of things could flop like his last storyline.

Intercontinental Championship

Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show

Over recent weeks Cody has put a spotlight on Big Shows past Wrestlemania losses. Using old footage Cody showed clips of Big Shows matches from past Mania’s. His loss to Floyd Mayweather (WMXXIV) and Akebono (WM21) was shown as well as a clip of him not even at the event for WMX8.

The story pushes Show down further and further and it was obvious where it was going. In a later week Show vs. Cody was booked for a championship match at Mania, knowing that he would be facing the giant didn’t stop Cody from mocking the big man as he continues to ridicule him.

I like Big Show but I think he could be better and personally I prefer Cody as a Champ than Show. That being said though it would be really mean and a big low blow to have Big Show lose again at Mania. After having his past losses spotlighted and now holding the record for shortest World Title reign in history it would just be over doing it having him lose again. He might as well give up now if that’s the direction they are sending him down.

Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos vs. Eve & Beth Phoenix

A waste of a Divas match. Pointless. Unneeded. This will be the toilet break.

Originally the divas match was meant to be Beth vs. Kharma but most probably due to her new baby Kharma will not be performing at Mania. This tag match is a backup.

The story behind it is Maria Menounos, host of NBC’s The Extras, had been interviewing Kelly. Eve and Beth became jealous from this and the two divas turned up on the Extras to confront Maria and Kelly and that’s when the challenge was made.

Maria is no stranger to the ring as she performed at Tribute to the Troops and scored the pin on current Divas Champ Beth. But she is no pro either, this could have been a lot better match if Natalya was involved in Maria’s place and had the right back story to support it.

Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny

Over the past weeks Teddy Long GM of SmackDown and John Laurinaitis Interim GM of Raw have been fighting over full control of both Raw and SmackDown. The board of Directors have decided that there will be just one GM for both shows.

To decide this Teddy and Johnny spent the last few weeks putting together a 6 man team each for a 12 man tag match at Mania that will decide total control.

Team Captains are David Otunga for Johnny and current US Champ Santino Marella for Teddy.

Johnny quickly acquired Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler which obviously came with Vicki Guerrero. In response Teddy took R-Truth and Kofi Kingston.

Johnny then took on the big man Mark Henry and in response Teddy took The Great Khali.

Christian also joined Team Johnny but due to an attack from CM Punk he was injured on last night’s Raw.  He was quickly replaced by Drew McIntyre.

Zack Ryder was recruited to team Teddy as well as mascot Hornswoggle.

Lastly there was the Miz who was trying to prove why he should be involved in this match but kept coming up with losses that was not helping his case, but last night he was added to Team Johnny once he saved him from a pending Cobra strike.

Teddy just needed one more member by this point, and after a match between Mark Henry and Khali last night, Teddy ended up in the firing line of a Worlds Strongest Slam. Booker T jumped from the announcers table and laid out Mark with a scissor kick to the back of the head. Teddy then added Booker as the last man on the team.

So to Sum up-

Team Johnny – (C) David Otunga, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, Drew McIntyre and The Miz

Team Teddy – (C) Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, The Great Khali, Zack Ryder and Booker T

This match might be a bit silly in places but is going to line up a big change in storylines, we could see the longest GM to ever be on WWE Teddy Long disappear, or we could lose Johnny back to the WWE offices where he belongs leaving us with one man as the onscreen GM of both shows.

My money is on Johnny winning but I will be supporting Team Teddy.

World Heavyweight Championship

Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus

This was a match we was meant to have last year at Wrestlemania XXVII but it was bumped to a dark match and then removed all together.

This year though we are getting it and there is a bigger prize in the middle.

D Bryan won the World Title off Big Show late last year by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase and handing Show the record of Shortest World Title Reign.

From that point onwards Bryan went on a slow decline into a Heel character that he has bought forward very well.

Early this year Sheamus won the Royal Rumble allowing him a title match at Mania. At the time he had a choice between Bryan and CM Punk but wouldn’t revile his choice till Elimination Chamber but it was obvious who he would go for. At the Chamber event Sheamus came to the ring at the end of the Smackdown match and laid out its winner D Bryan signalling what title he will be going for at Mania.

The rivalry has continued to heat up and we should be in for a good match, but that being said there is a wild card in play.

Bryan has got an on screen girlfriend, AJ, who he is using to his advantage as well as pushing his Heel character more by playing an overly pushy and bossy boyfriend belittling his girlfriend AJ. AJ continues to play the innocent one, even with the way he treats her saying she still “loves” him.

Yes this is very soap opera like story, but it could put an interesting aspect to the Title match this Sunday.

WWE Championship

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho

This match has been building ever since Jericho returned to WWE in what could only be one of the biggest disappointments in WWE history. The end of the world as we know it never came, there was no big revile or change and his cryptic messages lead to nothing but his return.

In the end Jericho won a number one contender Battle Royal after Elimination Chamber lining up the match we knew was coming.

A feud was already high before this point but as soon as the match was booked it was spot lighted.

To add extra heat to the match Jericho recently started talking about Punks parents and sister’s apparent problems, such as the fact that his dad was a drunk.

These verbal attacks lead to Punk breaking PG and using the word shit 3 times. Even though he swore it was muted for us at home. Last night on Raw after another verbal attack from Jericho, Punk locked Christian in the Cobra Clutch in rage and this is what sparked the apparent injury mentioned earlier.

This should put some serious heat on the match and it has done what Jericho is best at doing and that is being hated.

We should have a strong Punk crowd at Mania but there will still be Jericho support out there to.

Hell in a Cell End of an Era

Undertaker vs. Triple H guest Ref. Shawn Michaels

Since Mania last year we have been wondering when Undertaker would be coming back and who he would face and most likely be his last Wrestlemania opponent. They decided to go with Triple H in what is looking to be the most exciting match of the Undertaker streak.

This year the match has been stuck in a Hell in a Cell, a place which Taker and Trips are no strangers two. It’s their home away from home as they have been in the most Hell in Cell matches out of all superstars. In fact up until the first Hell in a Cell PPV there hadn’t been a Cell match that didn’t involve one of these men in one way or another.

Not only is it in a Cell, but the referee will be the legend Shawn Michaels, best friend to Trips and a loser to Undertakers streak two years running. He holds the fate of the streak and an era in his hands.

Over the past month we have had a lot of confrontation that is really heating up the match and emphasising the end of an era headline.

But a big question is what era is ending? Is it the end of an era because these 3 men are the last of the old days, they were here before the PG era, the Invasion era, and the Attitude era.

Or is it the end of PG or something along them lines? As you may have noticed WWE have been pushing boundaries, harsher language as mentioned earlier and matches that are rougher as well as more close edged stories, it does look like they are spacing themselves from the PG rating.

Speculation predicts that this match will be like the old days and that there will be blood. Another clue of that is in the promo videos for the match. Usually if they show old footage with blood they would black and white the shot, or cut it out of the shot altogether, but this time it is shown quite clearly.

The whole thing is exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing these two legends but heads for what should be the final time.

Also on top of all this Undertaker still has not reviled his new hairdo, or should I say lack of hair, nor has he reviled a new look.

What waits at the end of the line for these men?

John Cena vs. The Rock

The biggest match ever in WWE, the biggest name of the past vs. the biggest name of today, The Rock vs. John Cena.

This is a match that has been a year in the making and it is finally just days away. The real build for it has been within the past month but hasn’t sat right some people.

To avoid the two fighting each other it’s been week after week of promos, some have been bad, some good. But it has got quite samey and boring and we wanted something different to happen, regardless though it hasn’t taken away from the match at all, the two names alone is the selling point.

One promo that sticks in peoples mind though was old school Cena. One week Cena came out to classic world life music and dressed in his classic gear and performed a John Cena rap.

Later in the show The Rock performed a “Rock” Concert, reminiscent of the days around Wrestlemania XIX when he used to play the guitar a lot.

His promo didn’t quite wow us like Cenas but was still good to see some old school Rock all the same.

Both these promos made us think about how it isn’t a PG era promo and its old school, is this further clue to the end of PG?

The next thing on peoples mind is the result of the match; people are thinking Cena will win and it will lead to a rematch on Raw or at the next PPV.

I personally want it to go the other way, I would prefer to see The Rock win, just because I’m old school and I’m obviously going to support the old school character, even if it is for just one night.

Either way this should the most epic match in history, and hopefully it won’t be the last.

So that’s it, big names, big card a BIG Wrestlemania, and I couldn’t be more excited! This is going to be a brilliant weekend, and I hope you all enjoy it.

Questions for you.

Predictions?

Team Teddy or Team Johnny?

Team Bring it or Team Cenation?

What will happen in the Cell?

That’s it for now Matty.D signing off.

Elimination Chamber This Sunday!

So the last PPV stop on the Road to Wrestlemania is creeping upon us as Elimination Chamber is just under one week away.

So with that let’s have a look at the matches announced so far.

Divas Championship

Beth Phoenix vs. Tamina Snuka

For once this is a Divas match that actually includes two women who can actually perform and wrestle well.

We should be in for a pretty decent contest for once as both of them are among the top Divas in the WWE alongside, Natalya and Kharma.

Unfortunately the result is predictable, over recent weeks Beth has been saying how she is the most dominant Diva in WWE and that she will never lose the Divas Title. All this is an obvious build up to a Wrestlemania match between Beth and recently returned Diva, Kharma (Awesome Kong).

For once we are in a period of Divas wrestling that may be half way decent.

With that being said though the other top Diva in the Company, Natalya, has been knocked in to a fart joke storyline.

It’s terrible to see such great talent, a 2^nd Generation Diva, pull down to a fart gag.

I don’t know what WWE are thinking with this but it’s absolutely terrible.

Kane vs. John Cena

Ambulance Match

This will be the final encounter between these two in this storyline that really has resulted in nothing. John Cena will not lose, and will not embrace the hate, no matter how much we want him to.

It’s obvious that they are going to pack this story in and start to focus on the John Cena, Rock build up.

The story has basically fallen apart anyway, and the whole Kane messing around with Zack and Eve has become too much and just needs to come to an end.

Last night on Raw, Kane tried to kidnap Eve in an Ambulance, failed and Eve kissed Cena in front of Zack.

Zack then obviously blamed Cena and faced him in the ring later, (watching Zack “Hobble” down the ramp on his crunches was painful.) Zack slapped Cena and it looked like Cena was going to retaliate, but all he did though was push him to the ground. Zack then returned to his wheel chair at the top of the ramp to then have Kane appear and shove Zack and chair off the staging.

Cena then ran to his aide and called in the EMT’s who just so happen to be standing behind the Titantron about 2 feet away.

They were followed by Eve who once again knelt down next to the downed Zack with forced tears.

Same shit different day, and it’s about time it came to an end.

SmackDown Elimination Chamber

World Heavyweight Chamionship

Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Big Show, Cody Rhodes, The Great Khali and Wade Barrett.

Daniel Bryan continues his slow turn to the Heel side, trying to dodge matches and escape by the skin of his teeth by using excuses or pitching other members of the Elimination Chamber match  against each other.

Really Bryan shouldn’t be able to walk out of the Chamber with the belt but in all likelihood he will escape still holding the gold.

Not that I would complain as it would be good to see the match that was removed last year’s Mania of Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan.

On the other hand I wouldn’t have a problem with Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes or Randy Orton epically if Cody gets to hold both Intercontinental and World Titles at the same time.

There is no chance that Khali will win, he is filler for the injured Mark Henry, and Big Show just isn’t a favoured Superstar.

Raw Elimination Chamber

WWE Championship

CM Punk, Chris Jericho, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler

On the Raw side of things the big focus is on CM Punk and Chris Jericho. Yes the big build up to the end of the world as we know it did end up leading to nothing and the world as we know it still exesits, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t going to get the match we deserve.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk, Best in the World vs. Best in the World at Wrestlemania is where all this should be leading. I guess the question is whether there will be a Championship between them?

Either Jericho or Punk will win at Elimination Chamber making the obvious co-main event for Mania, or on the other hand someone else could take the WWE Title, and after a rematch on Raw which Punk would lose, maybe due to inference from Jericho, the rivalry between Punk and Jericho could really kick off with the main aspect being who is the Best in the World?

I think I would prefer that as it would make a more personal rivalry. So if that is to happen who would be the perfect person to take the WWE Title? My money would be on Miz or Ziggler. But then who would they face, who is big enough to make a main event match? Maybe Truth vs. Ziggler, or Miz? Maybe if he gets pushed Kofi Kingston?

I guess only time will tell.

So those are all the announced matches, for some fillers we should see some back stage promos and maybe an impromptu Tag team bout with Champs Primo and Epico or Jack Swagger may come along to defend his US Title.

Undertaker Message.

Last night on Raw Shawn Michaels made his return to try and convince Triple H to accept the Mania match against Undertaker.

The promo was brilliant but it did all lead to the eventual refusal once again but with great reasoning. Triple H pointed out that him and Undertaker is all that’s left of their era, and if he takes Taker out that would signal the end of that great time. If you didn’t see the promo go watch it, it was a great segment between the two Legends and its making the build-up to Mania quite interesting.

Shawn left after the refusal followed by Triple H. Just as he was about to leave the ring though the Gong sounded and a promo video played.

The video showed clips form Undertakers last match 1 year ago, then Taker sitting in a throne watching it projected onto a wall in front of him.

Undertaker then stands and approaches a wall covered in pictures and newspaper clippings related to last year.

Taker then removes his hat and his voice sounds saying, “This is not over, Vengeance, I will get what I want.”

He then begins to cut his hair, we see the hair fall to the ground and a close up of his eye.

The video cuts there and we see Triple H staring up at the screen, a stern look on his face.

The promo ends and we cut to an ad break.

What does this mean then? Cutting the hair? Getting what he wants? Vengeance? Is he reverting back to a more human character such as the days of Bad Ass Undertaker, Dead Man Inc.?

In my opinion that does make some sense. Something I’ve said for the last 3 or 4 years when questioning whether or not Undertaker will end it is the fact that it would be best done in a more human state, a state that allows him to acknowledge and thank his fans without having to act like death.

Hopefully he will revile his new or maybe old look next week on Raw when hopefully he will confront Triple H again.

This has got me very interested and I am looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.

Questions for you.

Looking forward to Elimination Chamber, or is it looking to predictable?

What are your thoughts on the Undertaker promo?

Well that’s all for now Matty.D signing off.