Welcome to a new section of THN looking at World Wrestling Entertainment. This section will feature DVD and Blu-ray reviews, Pay-per-View build-up and reviews, opinion pieces and loads of other stuff.
To kick off this section we thought we’d look back on Wrestlemania 29 from April 7th. Below is a piece written the day after the show reviewing the show, and looking ahead. Whilst some of the information is out-of-date it is a mere snippet of the exciting coverage you can expect to read:
THNs Wrestlemania 29 Review
Following two months of slow, disappointing build Wrestlemania 29, the biggest WWE show of the year, took place last night. What happened I hear you scream, well read on but please be aware SPOILERS are included.
The pre-show Intercontinental Title Match was won by The Miz who made Wade Barrett tap to the figure-four.
Booking: Perfect sense to take the belt off Barrett and put it on The Miz.
What next? Barrett’s career is in a spiral and WWE may not know what to do with him now. He needs a good feud to peak interest with Sheamus possibly the guy to push him up the roster. The Miz will need to look strong in this title run to get him over with the crowd so a feud with Mark Henry would help, or a title-merging match with Cesaro could help raise the stars of both and give the IC Title some prestige again.
Randy Orton, Sheamus & The Big Show Vs. The Shield
For the second year in a row Sheamus’ is the first mans music to hit on the main show, but whilst his 18-second match last year was an insult this six-man Tag Team match was anything but.
Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose have been the hottest thing in WWE over the last few months (spare a few mic mishaps) and they delivered a big showing in their Wrestlemania debut. Going against three of WWE’s biggest names it was assumed a heel turn would take place, but such was the quality of the action this would have been an unnecessary add-on.
The Shield are a genuine faction with three extremely talented parts: Reigns offers the power – backed up by a huge spear on Big Show; Ambrose is the psycho of the group with hard-hitting flurries of offense, and Rollins is the complete package unafraid to take risks – see his suicide dive through the ropes in this match, how he didn’t break his face is anyones guess.
During the match Big Show takes the inevitable big-man beating before Orton and Sheamus get hot-tags on different occasions. Towards the end Sheamus looks to tag Show when Orton slaps Sheamus’s back, tagging himself in. The camera focusses on Big Show long enough that you know some shit is going down, but not before The Shield claim the victory as Ambrose pins Orton following a Reigns spear.
Result: The Shield win by pinfall.
Booking: Excellent from WWE Creative. The right team won and Big Show’s WMD strikes to Orton and Sheamus after the match ensure he returns to Raw/Smackdown as a heel. As for The Shield they remain the top faction in WWE and look very impressive.
What next? Logically, given Big Show’s reaction, an Orton/Show program looks likely. Whilst not the most attractive prospect it will keep them both busy and should offer some decent matches. Sheamus will likely continue his quest to beat The Shield, who will in turn continue to beat him, and everyone else up, or he’ll feud with Wade Barrett and put him over.
Mark Henry Vs. Ryback
Wisely positioned after a tremendous, athletic opener, the battle of the big guys was never going to be a classic. On paper the job of the match was to push Ryback to the next level with Henry the perfect size, and quality to put him over. What transpired was predictably slow-paced, full of power moves and awash with Mark Henry’s sweat.
As expected Ryback attempted to hit Shellshock on Henry a couple of times in the match. The second attempt sees Henry land on Ryback and cover him for the three.
Following the match Ryback, peeved at the result, gets his Wrestlemania moment when he legitimately Shellshocks Henry, holding him for 10-15 seconds on his shoulders. Henry sells it like a pro and the crowd are happy.
Result: Mark Henry wins by pinfall.
Booking: Sensible as Henry gets his Wrestlemania singles win, and Ryback gets to leave as the man who Shellshocked the World’s Strongest Man. Both look good on the back of this and can go into new feuds easily.
What next? Ryback will likely be pushed to the next level, but who he faces is tough to answer as there are few heel contenders. As for Henry maybe a run at the WWE Title as he’s the only legitimate heel who hasn’t had a run, or perhaps an Intercontinental Title challenge in a bid to get The Miz over.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan) (c) Vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston
Harking back to Wrestlemania 28 A.J. gives Dolph a good luck kiss before he turns into a kick from Bryan. Luckily this is merely a nod and, unlike Bryan against Sheamus, Dolph kicks out. Following the start the action settles and a textbook Tag match plays out with each combatant getting their time and Ziggler selling a chokeslam like no other. Big E. is wisely used sparingly with a few power-moves only, and Ziggler and Bryan are allowed to steal the show.
The match ends following A.J. passing the Money In The Bank briefcase to Ziggler how misses a shot at Kane, eats a big boot, then a top-rope headbutt from Bryan who covers for three. What follows is an 80,000+ crowd all chanting ‘Yes, Yes, Yes’ in unison, a tremendous moment for Bryan following last years insulting loss.
Result: Team Hell No retain by pinfall.
Booking: This match really booked itself: Ziggler and Langston should never win as it would have restricted Ziggler, whilst Bryan and Kane are so over with the crowd it would be pointless to have them lose.
What next? Dolph should enter into a championship feud with the winner of Del Rio/Swagger. He’s good enough to pull off face or heel so the transition (if needed) would prove no issue. Langston will continue to be his ‘heavy’ for the time being until the WWE feel enough confidence in him to go solo. Bryan and Kane need to part to give Bryan the push to the top of the card needed. If Punk is to take time off they have a ready made replacement in Bryan who offers the same in-ring skills. It would be a struggle and a mistake to turn him heel, but this is the likely direction.
Chris Jericho Vs. Fandango
Welcomed into the stadium by a group of dancers, Fandango danced his way to the ring for his first television match. Jericho’s usual entrance is met with approval from the crowd, and rightly so.
This was arguably the most difficult match on the card to predict, perhaps not in result but in layout: Jericho is famed for putting over up-and-comers, but with Fandango debuting how can both be made to look good? The answer is to have Jericho dish out a beating, Fandango hit a modicum of offense and win with a small package of course.
Result: Fandango wins by pinfall.
Booking: Whilst Fandango’s win was met with derision by some I feel it was perfectly done. To ask Jericho to take a shedload of offense from a man debuting would have been a mistake; firstly it would have put Fandango on a pedestal with the only logical step a big title feud, for which it is far too soon, and secondly, Jericho can’t be shown to be weak or he loses his aura and ability to put others over. Sure it would have been nice to see a few more moves from Fandango’s set, but the promise he showed leads to intrigue and a want to see more. We live in an age of instant gratification so why not, for a change, let something play slowly?
What next? Fully expect a rematch at Extreme Rules with the seeds planted on Raw tonight. Jericho’s off on tour so Fandango will need a few matches before then to keep him topical with the usual suspects – Ryder, Santino – set for some squashing.
World Heavyweight Championship Match Alberto Del Rio (c) Vs. Jack Swagger
Before the match Zeb Coulter grabs a mic and preaches about ‘their’ America. It doesn’t get heat from the crowd and wastes a few minutes before Del Rio gets his entrance from Ricardo Rodriguez, crutches an’all.
As expected this was an excellent match with near-falls, submissions and a fair bit of hard-hitting. Sadly the crowd took an age to get into it but it didn’t detract from a main event quality match which culminate with Del Rio locking in the Cross Arm Breaker for the tap and a surprisingly vocal acceptance from the audience.
Result: Del Rio retains by submission.
Booking: Top quality match layout which drew the crowd in. It could have run for another ten minutes comfortably, but given this won’t be the last of the feud it’s nice to be left wanting more. Swagger looked excellent in the ring with heel tactics utilised fully, which begs the question why they felt the need to lumber him with the racism gimmick in the first place. Del Rio is also on top of his game here and the two would have stolen the show were it not for what followed.
What next? Extreme Rules rematch to end the feud. Would be lovely to see Coulter cast aside by Swagger and he and Del Rio to swap face and heel roles. Not likely though in spite of how easy it would be.
CM Punk Vs. The Undertaker
Brilliantly, Living Colour play Punk to the ring who, once you can hear it, gets a tremendous ovation from the crowd. ‘Taker follows with an equally spectacular entrance as arms reach up from below the floor trying to grab him as he walks to the ring. Match begins with Punk slapping ‘Taker and gets better and better from there.
It’s fact that CM Punk is in the top two workers in WWE, but the concern in this match was ‘Taker – could he still deliver after a year away? Well, yes and how.
The magnificence of ‘Taker’s recent Wrestlemania past (other than 27) has been in the storytelling and this match is no different. The trio, including Paul Heyman, work with each other to create tension, drama, excitement and belief that the streak could end. There is a point in this match where the crowd and plenty of people at my home succumb to the fact the streak will end. With perfect pacing and placement of near-falls they have us placed firmly in their sweaty mitts, but what a wonderful place to be.
This is the best Wrestlemania match since ‘Taker/HBK at Wrestlemania 25, which is arguably the greatest ‘Mania match of all-time. To see Punk and ‘Taker put on a clinic for 20-odd minutes is a privilege. Following the win ‘Taker’s eyes say it all; welling up as he looks at Paul Bearer’s urn, you also wonder if he’s done, knowing he won’t be able to top this match.
Winner: Undertaker by pinfall.
Booking: The build was poor but the match exceeded all expectations. Punk and ‘Taker will likely have laid this out themselves and it’s peerless. For Punk to get Money In The Bank 2011 out of Cena was incredible, but to get this match out of a 48 year old man who has wrestled once in a year is unbelievable. The two deserve all the credit in the world.
What next? ‘Taker will appear on Raw this evening and talk about his streak and Paul Bearer. Punk is rumoured to be taking time off but don’t be surprised to see him appear as well. Following tonight it would be a surprise to see them regularly for the next month or so though.
Triple H Vs. Brock Lesnar
Predicting this match I used the term car crash, I was wrong in the best kind of way. Triple H and Brock put on a tremendous show of physicality and storytelling in which Brock showed glimpses of his earlier WWE years and gave everything.
The addition of HBK to Triple H’s corner was pointless with his only involvement being a superkick to Heyman (pulling double duty), but importantly he did nothing to distract from the match.
Beginning brutally and continuing in the same vein the pair weren’t going to be overawed by the majesty of the previous match, instead playing to their strengths. Early on the Spanish announce table suffers from the pairs brutality, then the ring post and finally the ring steps as Lesnar’s face is forced into it as a result of The Pedigree.
Result: Triple H wins by pinfall and saves his career.
Booking: When the match began it was important to differentiate from Punk/’Taker and the pair do that straight from the bell. The career-ending stipulation didn’t truly mean anything given Triple H is COO of WWE but the booking of the match made us believe it was all on the line. Lesnar takes a lot of hardway hits, as does Triple H which add to the tension and enjoyment. It won’t be winning match of the year but unlike their Summerslam effort it satisfied greatly.
Where now? Anyone’s guess. Lesnar is a part-timer but he could make a run for the title at Extreme Rules. Failing this expectations are that the pair will both slip off for a bit and come back for Summerslam.
WWE Championship Match The Rock (c) Vs. John Cena
It may have been the most bankable match in Wrestling history, but hands up who enjoyed Rock/Cena I? Thought so. With a second outing the pair had a chance to right the wrongs of their plodding, lifeless effort in Miami. But they didn’t, they had the same match one year on.
John Cena is THE guy in WWE. Like him or loathe him he has carried the company for many years and headlined or fought for a world title at eight Wrestlemania’s. The Rock is a WWE legend who happens to be the current Champ. But what the pair can’t muster is any semblance of story or life out of a match that has effectively been building for a year, whilst the one positive aspect, Cena’s heelish mannerisms, is put in the shade by a horribly staged show of respect between the two at the end.
With seven ‘finishing’ moves utilised during the bout it is little wonder any tension was lacking, or that no one really cared come the end, which plays out as you’d expect with an AA from Cena and the three count followed by the staged show of respect.
Result: John Cena wins by pinfall.
Booking: Questionable is the term. The match layout was lifted from last year – a reflection on the pairs in-ring talents – and the build was, for all the conjecture, almost identical so it’s little surprise it didn’t really work. Sure it will make the company lots of money but as a mark I couldn’t care about that, I’ve got a high-horse to sit on!
What next? Cena heads into a feud with Brock or possibly Mark Henry. We’ll likely see The Rock next in July leading up to Summerslam.
Despite a very lacklustre main event Wrestlemania 29 managed to be better that the previous two, and could even be described as the best since 24. With good showings from new talent, and some old heads delivering it has something for every wrestling fan, and isn’t that what ‘Mania is about, getting Wrestling fans together?
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