So Scott, would you recommend paying to watch Wrestlemania this year? Surely you wouldn't advocate watching it by any other means, but what do you think - worth the buy?
Here is the full card as it stands and well, it's a STACKED card.
Rock/Cena
Taker/Punk
Brock/HHH
Del Rio/Swagger
The Shield/Sheamus, Show, Orton
Ryback/Henry
Team Hell No/Ziggler & Langston
Jericho/Fandango
Wade Barrett/Miz
Brodus,Tensai & the girls/Rhodes Scholars & the girls
So that's 10 matches, only 3 of which I don't want to see (Rio/Swagger, Barrett/Miz, mixed tag). Every other match imo has the potential to be good - great or at least interesting. Rock/Cena, Taker/Punk, Brock/HHH and the Shield 6 man I am hyped for, Ryback/Henry I am curious to see, and I have a feeling Jericho/Fandango might be a nice surprise.
Your thoughts? Buy or no buys?
Time management isn't really their strong suit lately so a bunch of those are getting shafted, but my non-purchase this year is due to work and not lack of interest in actually watching the show. I think that as long as the top 3 or 4 matches deliver and Jericho/Fandango or Henry/Ryback is good, then it's worth the purchase. Although at $70 for HD, those three matches better be AMAZING for my money.
I'm amazed they booked Miz/Barrett after those "boring" chants on RAW. "Go out there and try again guys, this time, at Wrestlemania!"
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling Jericho will be putting Fandango through his paces, no doubt.
I look forward to Henry-Ryback for the crowd reactions as much as if Henry can carry Ryback to something decent.
ReplyDeleteBut will there be an 18 second match again this year?
ReplyDeleteMania is four hours right? Theyll have time
ReplyDeleteThey should definitely tease it at the start of Bryan's match...
ReplyDeleteMiz/Barrett on the preshow maybe, where's Cesaro :/
ReplyDeletePoor Jericho, getting the shaft again.
ReplyDeleteIt seems hard to get a "boring" chant heard in an open air stadium. I attended WM24 and one of the three sections mustered up a "Boring" chant during
ReplyDeleteYou have to work during Mania? That sucks. Mania is one of those shows that I would always make sure I have off, no matter how iffy the card looks.
ReplyDeleteEven if you aren't feeling the ADR/Swagger angle, the match itself should at least be
ReplyDeletegood.
I think an interesting discussion would be what order would you run the matches if you were in charge?
I'd go:
Shield/Sheamus, Show, Orton
Jericho/Fandango
Wade/Miz
Ryback/Henry
Hell No/Dolph and E
ADR/Swagger
HHH/Brock
mixed tag
Punk/Taker
Rock/Cena
This year's WM definitely needs Otto Hackman Meyer's "what it's worth" treatment.
ReplyDeleteFOUL.
ReplyDeleteImproper use of meme.
Hell No v. Dolph/E
ReplyDeleteWade v. Miz
Rynack v. Henry
Swagger v. Del Rio
6-man tag
Y2J v. Fandango
Punk v. Taker
mixed tag
HHH v. Brock
Cena v. Rock
I'm predicting that the Tag-Titles go on first - "Hell No" fires up the crowd, and Ziggler is "forgotten" until he cashes in later that night.
ReplyDeleteHaving some buddies over, and with low expectations, I will probably end up very happy with the show.
ReplyDeleteYeah, for $70, I want to see at least four ****+ matches. I don't think they can deliver on it though.
ReplyDeleteWM has been four hours for a while, and they ALWAYS short-shift one or two matches. There's either going to be a big squash for storyline reasons (like Sheamus/Bryan or JBL/Rey), or just cut a match to ninety seconds so that they can show more backstage skits (like the two multi-person tag matches at "WM27").
ReplyDeleteYeah WM has actually been four hours for most of it's run, hasn't it? It was a four hour show for WM 4, 5, 6, and 7 and then from 17 on, right?
ReplyDeleteWell, I ditched cable but I guess I can purchase off wwe.com for about ten bucks less and still have the HD feed. I'm definitely 50/50 on ordering at this point.
ReplyDeletehhhhmmmm... Think I'd go:
ReplyDeleteOne Hour pre-show:
1) BONUS! Cesaro vs... Ryder? (Cesaro)
2) Rhodes Scholars/Bellas vs Brodus/Tensai/Dactles (Rhodes Scholars)
3) Barrett vs Miz (Miz)
PPV:
1) Hell No vs Dolph/E (Hell No)
2) Ryback vs Henry (Ryback)
3) ADR vs Swagger (ADR)
4) Dolph cashes in on ADR! Dolph wins WHC
5) Sheamus/Orton/Show vs Shield (Shield via Orton heel turn)
6) Punk vs Taker (ugggh... Taker wins this)
7) Hall of Famers wave to the crowd
8) HHH vs Brock (Brock wins! HHH retires)
9) Jericho vs Fandango (Jericho 1-minute squash)
10) Cena vs Rock (Cena)
I agree. Dolph absolutely has to cash in at Mania, or the next night on Raw. But I agree, I think he gets the honor of the first Mania cash-in as a way of regaining heat from all the jobs he's done since TLC.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else actually going to the show? First Mania ever, and as much shit as I'll give WWE for booking decisions... well, I'm still insanely looking forward to it. Wish it was a different card (specifically one that didn't have HHH anywhere on it), but like the emailer said: in the end there's still a lot of stuff here that has potential to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Miz jobbing.
ReplyDeleteAs predictable as the card is, if the matches are really good -- and they have the potential to be -- I won't complain in the end.
ReplyDeleteManias just one of those things where its sort of an event first and a show second for me. Me & a buddy watch it at his house every year as a tradition, so even a dogshit Mania I still watch. Usually I'm drunk enough by the main event not to care about quality anyway.
ReplyDeletewas it?
ReplyDeleteI will be there...also going to ROH and HOF...looking forward to the whole weekend for sure.
ReplyDeleteI can't stand it when they have 4 hours, but most matches are only like 5 minutes. Way too much filler backstage stuff for that much money.
ReplyDelete1. ADR/Swagger 15 minutes
2. Henry/Ryback 12
3. Shield vs Orton/Sheamus/Big Show 20
4. Hell No vs Big E/Ziggler 10
5. Taker/Punk 20
6. Fandango/Jericho 8
7. Miz/Barrett 10
8. HHH/Brock 25
9. 8 man mixed tag 5
10. Rock/Cena 30
That is a reasonable amount of ring time for each match give or take, and without entrances. It comes 2 hours and 35 minutes. And I was being conservative. Leaves them plenty of time for all the bullshit.
Same here! Never been to an ROH show at all before, and haven't even paid attention to it in years, so really curious to see what it's like. It's their PPV, so I'd imagine they'll put on a good show.
ReplyDeleteAnd we're going to Raw the night after Mania too, because, well might as well be all in. Wonder if there's any big returns planned for that. (Batista, John Morrison, RVD, etc)
I just started watching regularly this year...pretty interesting card lined up and I am sure that will be a lot of fun. We are having Kevin Kelly on the podcast Monday to preview the show.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't going to Raw but I am sure they will have something big planned.
Well, for anyone who didn't think Mania was worth the money, this should change your mind: I just read that DIDDY is performing a medley of his hits at Mania.
ReplyDeleteUGGHHHH.
I mean, I realize they're booking a spectacle moreso than a wrestling card. FINE. But why do they insist on booking spectacle segments that nobody in their crowd wants to see? Like, shouldn't the basic question have been: "So, do you think that anybody in the paid crowd or at home actually wants to watch Diddy?" It's like they book these things for an audience that will NEVER order a fucking wrestling show no matter what they do. They book these things for people who aren't watching anyway.
Well, hopefully Diddy is just the gaga that they use to lead into the Rock/Cena entrances, which I guess replaces the MGK/Flo-rida stuff from last year.
Also, maybe the crowd gets a "You killed Tupac" chant going, just to be dicks.
Couldn't get Jay-Z. Maybe WWE should beg him even more on twitter.
ReplyDeleteNice! I'll check out the podcast for sure.
ReplyDeleteA "You Killed Tupac" chant would be worth the $70.
ReplyDeleteHAhaha is that what they've been doing? Oh jeeez.
ReplyDeleteSo, does 3MB get the honor of being beat up by Diddy to show how tough he is?
Big Mark has come a long way.
ReplyDeleteThey've got Cena begging for RTs from celebs. It's embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteDiddy got booed in Miami, what do they think is going to happen in New York/New Jersey?
ReplyDeleteOnly speaking for myself, but as someone still itching for years for WWE to give me a reason to give them my money, this ain't it, especially at that price tag.
ReplyDeleteI think the dream is for the rap music world, the MTV, Jersey Shore etc crowd to think wrestling is "cool". And who more relevant these days than Diddy, right? Lulz
ReplyDeleteThats why I'm thinking they are going to pipe in Cena cheers HARD at this show to cut off the boos at the end. because even watching football everyone has to be in unison for it really to pick up. I really didnt detect nuclear heat on Cena at last years show, and I'm damn sure ppl were booing him hard.
ReplyDeleteWho works on Sunday nights besides Bartenders and strippers??
ReplyDeleteHe's from NY, and brought up Biggie. Being from NJ I can tell you we respect Diddy, and BIggie was way more "over" than Tupac was on these parts. So, no Diddy wouldnt get bood unless 75% of the crowd is tourists (which is possible).
ReplyDeletePriests that do a Sunday evening service.
ReplyDeleteAnd hookers.
I'm debating on it. A guy I know put two tickets up on eBay, and they're like front and center floor seats on the TV side. I'm just debating if it's worth spending $1,200.
ReplyDeleteVince is literally trying to make this the Superbowl of wrestling, which I could understand if WM was free like the Superbowl. I'll sit through Beyonce trotting on stage for a while to see if the 49ers secondary can step up and not get beat by Boldin... but that's because it's free. If I'm paying $70 for this, I want none of that nonsense, and I wouldn't pay any amount of money to watch the Superbowl either. I'd rather watch the NFC or AFC championship games honestly.
ReplyDeleteI think hookers are a little too old for priests.
ReplyDeleteFandango couldn't ask for a better match to debut and become an instant star in. Well, he could ask but he wouldn't get it. Just look at Jericho's matches, especially when he gets the time to work "his" match, and it's fool-proof. I just hope Fandango can hold his own in the ring, or as I call it, be "carryable".
ReplyDeleteStop with the piped in stuff, there's no piped in stuff. Not for Cena, not for Ryback... nobody.
ReplyDeleteEh, Diddy is sooooo far removed from his days glomming heat off of Biggie, I can't imagine anyone gives a shit about that connection anymore. At this point, I'd wager that 99% of the people in that crowd A) Know him as the annoying guy who hangs out with Kardashian-level celebs and talks about his clothing lines, and B) Doesn't like a single one of his songs.
ReplyDeleteSo if that's the case, nobody in that crowd will want him there.
And Beyonce's halftime show doesn't mean that the third quarter gets less time. That's the difference.
ReplyDeleteThe fans in that crowd are paying to see the matches, so when Machine Gun Kelly gets 10 minutes and Bryan/Sheamus goes 18 seconds, WWE is actively booking against what people are paying for.
Plus if they're resigned to putting on the spectacle segments, they need to have a better feel for what the people in the crowd would actually want. They just have such a tin ear for their fanbase.
That ROH PPV has a pretty stacked card, should be a good show.
ReplyDeleteI don't think hookers are the priests type ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching on my website in full HD hopefully I'll make a few hundred dollars on top from subscribers, so basically I don't have the right to complain how shitty the card or the show itself is. However if I was a law abiding citizen buying it by conventional means I'd probably give it a miss.
ReplyDeleteHell No/Zig E
ReplyDeleteJericho/Fandango
Ryback/Henry
ADR/Swagger
Punk/Taker
Miz/Barrett
HHH/Brock
8 person tag
Shield/Orton, Sheamus, Show
Rock/Cena
...is what you'd be saying if you were the kind of guy that did these things... FIFY
ReplyDeleteRock/Cena
ReplyDeleteTaker/Punk
Brock/HHH
The Shield/Sheamus, Show, Orton
Ryback/Henry
Team Hell No/Ziggler & Langston
All of these matches interest me to a point. I'll buy. Not the HD feed though, I don't do HD.
Hmmmm Diddy is at Wrestlemania? I think this calls for the epic return of Buff Bagwell. Puff Daddy vs Buff Daddy!
ReplyDeleteI think if we all watch Mania live and have to suffer through it, then Scott has to track down the PPV version (and not the DVD release) for review, and suffer with us.
ReplyDeletealso going to ROH
ReplyDeleteDon't let Fuj hear you.
I wondered if the website version is cheaper, so I guess so. But here's the thing... how much money do they not make ("lose" doesn't really sound right) by people buying the cheaper feed and just hooking their computer to the TV?
ReplyDeleteDo we know for sure that Scott isn't a stripper on the side?
ReplyDeleteIt's Saskatchewan, so standards can't be all that high.
They really fucked up not landing 50 for Mayweathers entrance at 24 and almost having the 50/ Fat Joe showdown on their ppv. People would pay for that shit.
ReplyDeleteIm honestly just going to not order it and snatch up the torrent after its over, then watch it Monday
ReplyDeleteThis card is just NOT worth $70 of my money
Speaking of Mayweather, in an alternate universe he became a pro wrestler and became the greatest heel cruiserweight of all time.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a good card for a filler title defense from Steen, there is enough else ware on the card that it's not riding on the main event for sales all by itself (like at say, Boiling Point last year were Steen vs Kingston was the ONLY match I bought that show for)
ReplyDeleteCAPZ PREDICTIONZ
ReplyDeleteRock/Cena - GONNA GO WITH CENA ON THIS ONE
Taker/Punk - TAKER DURH
Brock/HHH - HHH
Del Rio/Swagger - DEL RIO VIA DUI
The Shield/Sheamus, Show, Orton - THE SHIELD BITCHEZ
Ryback/Henry - RYBACK. HE NEEDS IT MORE THAN ANYONE
Team Hell No/Ziggler & Langston - TEAM HELL NO
Jericho/Fandango - JERICHO. HAS TO BE JERICHO
Wade Barrett/Miz - PROBABLY THE MIZ SO HE CAN CONTINUE HIS UNDEFEATED STREAK
Brodus,Tensai & the girls/Rhodes Scholars & the girls - THE FUNKADORKS
Trust me you dont want to see undertaker in hd. His face died 8 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI wanted Kane vs Bryan so Bryan could WIN in 17 seconds (with a submission it would be easier to time, lock in the move wait for the cue and tap)
ReplyDeleteBullshit their isn't, have you EVER watched Smackdown, the crowd goes wild!!! no one is even standing
ReplyDeleteFor $40, you can buy the taped TNA (X-Division themed) PPV and the NJPW iPPV that weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe TNA PPV is headlined by Austin Aries VS Samoa Joe. The undercard features both Ultimate X and Xscape. RVD VS Jerry Lynn and Bad Influence VS Petey & Sonjay are also on that show (plus 2 other matches that probably won't be very good). That PPV was taped in January (along with the one for May, which is basically TNA's version of Battlebowl).
Even after you buy both of those shows, you can probably buy 2 indy iPPVs for $30 (unless ROH or DGUSA has raised their prices recently) and you'd get 4 shows for the price of Wrestlemania. This just goes to show how overpriced Wrestlemania is. Vince will still get around a million buys even though this PPV is not going to be worth the price. At that price, Wrestlemania should be great matches top to bottom and around half that card looks bad or mediocre. Of the other half, about half of it is definitely going to be good and the other half might be good. I don't think a show that is maybe 2 hours of 2 matches and 2 hours of crap is worth $70.
As good as many of the matches could be from a star-ratings point of view, there's very little to keep me interested in this card.
ReplyDeleteAs a mark, I might be curious about whether Punk can beat the streak, or if HHH can avenge his SS defeat, but when I watch WWE the only intrigue over who wins is based around "which direction are they taking the company" or "what storyline are they setting up next" or "who are they going to push next".
The top of the card is so, so predictable that it's going to be hard to put false finishes in the matches or suspend any kind of disbelief. Cena's winning. Taker's winning. HHH is winning. Del Rio's winning (they won't dare let the racist win on the big mainstream show).
Movie theater managers.
ReplyDeleteI know from experience... nothing like missing Christmas with your family and having smug assholes come in and tell you "I'm so sorry you have to work on Christmas...". Probably the closest I ever came to smacking an old lady.
They ONLY intrigue for this show is if they'll do something with Ziggler cashing in.
ReplyDeleteWhat has Diddy done for us lately? He should be hanged for Machine Gun Kelly alone.
ReplyDeleteSo in one of the more interesting Hall of Fame news stories, Maria Menounous is inducting Bob Backlund:
ReplyDelete"Menounos, a lifelong WWE fan, "It is an honor to induct my good friend Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame," said Maria Menounos. "Watching him carry the title for a since unmatched five years and then stage such an incredible comeback with a reinvented persona puts him in a class all his own. Add in his incredible work ethic and high moral caliber, and you have everything that defines the word champion. And astonishingly, he can still wrestle with guys a third his age! He's my hero and my friend. I can't wait for the ceremony on April 6."
“I am truly humbled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame,” Backlund explained. “Maria has been a friend for years and I can’t think of someone I would rather have induct me at Madison Square Garden.”
As one of the longest-reigning WWE Champions of all time, Backlund inspired millions of fans around the world and it is only fitting that one of those fans inducts him into the WWE Hall of Fame."
How does that friendship even start?
ReplyDeleteNo clue, but I envy Bob.
ReplyDeleteAlso, am I crazy or do I distinctly remember her wearing a Bob Backlund shirt at Wrestlemania or during some other appearance?
Shieky Baby should have done the induction.
ReplyDeleteFucking hell. Getting Arnold to induct Bruno makes some kind of sense, I can believe they're really friends from back in the day. But how stupid do they think people are to buy that thsese two are actually friends? She couldn't induct Trish Stratus? That would make a lot more sense. That's your legacy, Bob: getting into the HOF by a not-particularly-famous TV gossip host that has nothing to do with you.
ReplyDeleteI bet HHH wants 40min
ReplyDeletePlace to be nation representing!
ReplyDeleteThe ppv companies take more than 50percent of the cut, hence their issue with leaving that model. I bet they prefer u hooking up your computer purchase to the TV.
ReplyDeleteBuy the dvd
ReplyDeletethe difference is SmackDown is taped, WrestleMania is live, & they can't pipe in crowd noise during the live show without it sounding ridiculous. hell, it sounds ridiculous as it is.
ReplyDeleteHHH isn't that stupid.
ReplyDeleteI believe wrestlemania 2000 was the first one to go back to the 3+ hour format.
ReplyDeleteif only i could record the live stream in HD quality...
ReplyDeleteShe was one of the first names rumored to induct him when he was announced. I think they actually are friends, strange as it seems.
ReplyDeletemy gut says no, since you'll spend much, much more than that once you include travel to and from the NYC area, where everything is already more expensive than usual.
ReplyDeleteThey guy that Floyd is fighting in May just got picked up for gun possession.
ReplyDeleteit'll probably be closer to 40 once you include video package, interview(s) & entrances.
ReplyDeleteLol Scott Steiner begs to differ. The dude always books his matches too long, especially ppvs. Remember that hell in a cell with Michaels?? We should all take bets for the time of his match with Brock lol.
ReplyDeletecan't be less relevant than Ice-T was for wrestlemania 2000
ReplyDeleteuh...she didn't watch him carry the title for 5 years. she was born in 1978. maybe her parents did, however. i respect that she's a fan, but that's just silly.
ReplyDeleteHHH has been in the ring with Lesnar, he knows what they can and can't do.
ReplyDeleteI'm going - second year in a row. Passing on the HOF ceremony though. It was pretty cool last year when we were in time but we're just driving up for the show on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteJust lackluster to what it could have been. Far too late for any of this but... You can tell no one wants Lesnar/HHH part III. Why not built on the Heyman associations and build off last years HHH/Taker with Brock&Punk vs Taker&HHH.
ReplyDeleteThe worst is Del Rio/Swagger. Swagger's return may have been doing ok if he wasn't thrust so fast into this spot and shouldn't even be on the main card. Del Rio never should have beat Big Show for the WHC in the first place. Ryback vs Big Show for the title would have been a far more interesting match... And saved Mark Henry to be a fresh challenger for Cena or Ryback after Wrestlemania. Del Rio's face turn could have been more of a slow burn with him perhaps joining up against Mark Henry (maybe after Henry puts Ricardo in the House of Pain, along with the other latinos Rey & Cara), or teaming against the Shield (instead of Big Show's 800th turn), or tagging with Ricardo against...
Rhodes Scholars should have won the titles at the Rumble. Both Cody and Sandow are now floundering, and could have been in a strong tag team fatal four way to get more guys on the card. Ricardo & Del Rio could have been a new face team, with Ricardo helping to turn Del Rio. Also could have got the Cody vs Goldust match done by throwing Booker & Goldie into the mix, a newly face PTP or Tensai/Brodus could easily fit into the match too. Bryan and Kane should have spilt, had their Wrestlemania match, but made up at the conclusion with a thunderous hug and return to tag team prominence, over again, unlike the stale state they are in now (really wish the 'team friendship' name would stuck instead, the t-shirts would have sold far better).
Still not sure what to do with Ziggler or Cesaro, they were booked strong at the end of 2012, but are really lost right now.
Raw was the one thing we regretted not staying for last year. I can't see a Lesnar type surprise though this year. Looking forward to another KK card. I love ROH's DVD comps but don't follow the live product. Wouldn't mind getting into it though.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the summer slam match...kinda plodding. Did u?
ReplyDeleteI remember that too. She was in the crowd for a RAW and had on a Backlund shirt that the announce team completely failed to point out. Shocking, I know.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking Big Dave may return the night after RAW. I don't have any logic behind it, I just hope for it
ReplyDeleteHe made sense though. He recorded Godfather's song on Ruthless Aggression CD.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Wrestlemania hasn't truly been about the wrestling since roughly 2002-2003. Not since the "stadium era" really kicked in. The show feels cheap and shallow in terms of story. Almost like a glorified house show. Its something for all the casual fans to watch.
ReplyDeleteI miss the days when WM was the culmination of a year's worth of the *best* storylines. It was the end of the road on long simmering feuds where payoffs were promised. Back then, it really did feel like the Super Bowl because you were getting many weeks and months of payoff finally. Would the heel finally gets his competence? Will the big face finally get the title? Will monster face finally get his hands on cowardly heel? Will we finally get that big showdown between two guys who never ever face each other? Etc etc etc. WM 2000 was crappy, but it did feel like one of the last times a show felt like it was built up for months and months.
It was good enough for two inactive guys who've never been in the ring with each other before.
ReplyDeleteMysterio vs Mayweather man. Shit'd been crazy.
ReplyDeleteThis is where alcohol comes into play.
ReplyDeleteI'm talking just straight ring time.
ReplyDeletewell, the stadium era didn't really kick in until mania 23, 2007. however, i agree with you. At least with 20, 21, 22, you had a lot of great wrestling. oh, and they were in arenas, not stadiums. the stadiums just take so much life out of the show for me.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of build up and potential of the matches on the card, this WrestleMania does nothing for me. I'd love to be surprised by it but I'm not going to pay $70 to find out.
ReplyDeleteThat just makes me think of JBL in the One Night Stand alternate commentary. "Someone get the beer girl up here, I'm far too sober to be watching this."
ReplyDeleteThe ending was pretty great, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteBrock no selling the Pedigree was shocking. I'm setting the amount of Pedigrees Brock takes at Mania at 5. And I'd probably take the over.
ReplyDeleteI love Hawk's "I'm here to do color dysentery..."
ReplyDeleteAgreed, the booking of this year's card has been atrocious. The card itself is okay but it doesn't scream Wrestlemania. Del Rio in Big Show's spot would have done a better job in building him as a long-term face. Turning Del Rio when they did but having Sheamus and Orton still not sure about trusting him is more compelling than Big Show's annual turn. Earlier in the year it seems like they were leaning toward Big Show vs. Booker T with Big Show constantly complaining about how Booker T was making decisions against him and favoring his opponents (remember Big Show wondering how Del Rio knew where he was staying). Heck it even looked like Team Hell No was poised to break up with the Rhodes Scholars winning the tag belts due to miscommunication among the champs leading to the break up. I'm still wondering why Ziggler would even want the tag belts when he's still waiting to cash in Money in the Bank. Heck, have Ziggler in a throwaway match (against Zack Ryder so they could keep their little promise to each other) while watching the World Heavyweight Champion match so he could take advantage for a cash-in. The IC and US title scenes are a mess or non-existant (hey, Miz, which title do you want?). Other than Cena vs. the Rock II and maybe the Shield vs. the Smackdown faces (at least there was a build to that), none of the other matches feel like Wrestlemania.
ReplyDeleteThat's not piped in... that's post production... and that's happened for as long as wrestling has been on TV.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying they're not enhancing crowd reactions during post production even if it's been a staple of pre-taped wrestling forever?
ReplyDelete"Turning Del Rio when they did but having Sheamus and Orton still not sure about trusting him is more compelling than Big Show's annual turn"
ReplyDeleteSo by default would that give us face Swagger vs heel Show. Honestly, I don't think I'd complain too much about that.
I vaguely remember that, what show was it from?
ReplyDeleteI wish I could post that back in time to 1998 and watch the internet explode.
ReplyDeleteBringing Swagger back in as a face wouldn't have been a bad idea, although honestly I would have had Mark Henry or even Jericho win the Elimination Chamber to get the title shot. I like Swagger's gimmick but it would have worked better if it was a slow burn angle built up over time. Heck, it might have been a good idea to get the US title on a face (maybe Miz since he was feuding for the title around the time Swagger came back) and have Swagger chase after that as a symbol of what America ought to be. It might have had the effect of building Miz as a face and Swagger as a heel with the eventual goal of facing Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Title later in the year (after he wins it from Ziggler who cashes in his contract at Wrestlemania).
ReplyDeleteNot big on fantasy booking but I like long-term booking.
5 seems a bit high, I'd say 3.
ReplyDeleteNah, don't give Del Rio the title at all, turn him slowly, keep it on Show. It wouldn't be Swagger vs Show... Ryback vs Show or maybe a face turned Ziggler using his briefcase at Wrestlemania?
ReplyDeleteZiggler vs Jericho rematch to steal the show? For the title of the NEW Mr. Wrestlemania with HBK somehow involved. Returning Swagger against foreigner Cesaro holding the US title?
Well I mean, Big Show's run wasn't exactly setting the world on fire either. But the change was just so random that they should of kept it on Show.
ReplyDeleteMedley of Hits? So like one song then?
ReplyDeleteP. Diddy is booked to perform I'll Be Missing You once Rock loses, and then they play a mooooorntaaaarge over the screens.
ReplyDeleteTurn Cesaro face.
ReplyDeleteWith the shit he's been pulling off in the ring, especially against guys like Miz and Khali, it was inevitable.
It was a random Raw in early 1999, where they started the "Hawk is an alcoholic" angle.
ReplyDelete1. ADR/Swagger
ReplyDelete2. Ryback/Henry
3. Sheamus/Show/Orton vs Shield
4. Punk/Taker
5. Jericho/Fandango
6. HHH/Brock
7. Hell No vs Dolph/E
8. Rock/Cena
Barrett/Miz and Mixed Tag are on the pre-show, it wouldn't surprise me if an impromptu match happens before Rock/Cena as well.
That angle was terrible. At least Drunk Scott Hall was funny, Drunk Hawk was just sad.
ReplyDeleteTaker ate...3? And Punk took 3 too, right?
ReplyDeleteIf he's winning, 4, if he's losing, 3.
Ice-T is a respected retired vet rapper, and was both incredibly influential and popular.
ReplyDeleteP-Diddy...did anybody ever like him?
That's what I'm doing...allegedly.
ReplyDeleteI can easily see Brock taking 2 quick ones (and basically no-selling them) earlier on, and HHH hitting one at the end for 2.9, and a fourth one to finish. Yeah, I'm changing my prediction to 4.
ReplyDeleteCause...hot women can't be wrestling fans?
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic friend to have, and she clearly loves wrestling, but I call bullshit on her watching him carry the title the first time. She's a year younger than me (34), and would've been four when he lost the title to the Iron Sheik. Even if her family had wrestling on, she'd have no memories of watching Bob as champion. That all said, she could friendzone me anytime.
ReplyDelete4 if he wins. If Brock is getting the pin, he'll probably counter out of the 4th one into the F-5 (which you could pretty easily do if you're as strong as Brock).
ReplyDeleteBut...it wasn't all in caps.
ReplyDeleteHere's a concept: if they feel the need to have a mini-concert at WrestleMania, why not create some sort of pre-show concert in the ring to serve as a warm-up to the show? I could think of worse ways to do a ratings grab than to air a few hours of music and cannon-fodder matches on a Sunday afternoon for the USA network.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty good time-out. The only thing I'd change is shaving 4 minutes off of Henry Ryback and giving it to Fandango/Jericho, since I don't think Ryback/Henry for 12 minutes would be any good, while I think that Jericho/Fandango actually have the potential to have a really good match. Johnny Curtis is unspectacular in his moveset, but he's a solid hand in the ring, with really crisp delivery, and if the goal is to get Fandango over (even if he somehow loses), a bit of a longer match would serve better. I also imagine they'll need the extra time for Fandango's entrance, since it's going to take north of forever for him to dance all the way down the (what I imagine will be an) obscenely long entrance ramp.
ReplyDeleteBrock is taking three pedigrees, and then HHH will redo the finish from the DX Vs. Big Show/McMahons HIAC match and break the sledgehammer across Brock's back for the pin.
ReplyDeleteFace swagger returning to face Antonio would of been a nice match and a decent dynamic. I would of turned randy heel for a match vs Alberto, those would of been 2 fresh matchups
ReplyDeleteWonder if their is a chance Ziggler taps in 15 seconds, after a kiss from AJ. Then AJ and DBry reunite
ReplyDeleteYou really think Brock has a chance of going over?
ReplyDeleteGimmickry sledgehammer smashed over Brock's stomach
ReplyDeleteWrestleMania really hasn't been the conclusion of the years storylines since the Attitude Era began. Since then WrestleMania hasn't been the grand finale of the year's storylines but rather the genesis of the years storylines.
ReplyDelete2007: Batista and Undertaker had a feud that lasted most of the year with some break during summer.
2008: Edge and Taker dominated the rest of the year on SmackDown while Triple H and Orton dominated the Raw scene.
2009: Orton, Triple H, and Cena dominated Raw in 2009 while Hardy and Punk ran SmackDown through Summer.
That's how we have to look at WrestleMania now. It really isn't the grand finale so much as it is the grand beginning.
WWE has done an amazing job of taking someone I like in Cesaro and making me not care about him at all. His character does nothing for me, and so far he really hasn't had any good matches.
ReplyDeleteTHEY ARE FRIENDS. MAYBE IF RYAN MURPHY DID A LITTLE RESEARCH THEN HE WOULD KNOW THAT MARIA AND BACKLUND HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS.
ReplyDeleteMARIA SAW BACKLUND ON MTV SINGLED OUT AND IMMEDIATELY CASTED HIM IN A MOVIE THAT SHE PRODUCED. SO SUCK ON THAT, MURPHY!
Ice T Body Count Motherfucka
ReplyDeleteSomeone please post Hawk falling off the Tron.
ReplyDeleteJericho will do a clean as a sheet job to Fandango.
ReplyDeleteMake the Hall of Fame humble.
ReplyDeleteumm No
ReplyDeleteOr just have bands perform live versions of the wrestlers' themes? "Motorhead" played Trips down to the ring a few times, and it ADDED to the shows instead of subtracting.
ReplyDeleteDamn you for making me thing of that!
ReplyDeleteWere I to be someone who would do something like that...I also would do that. But alas I am not that type of person, not that I would admit if I were.
ReplyDeleteI figure I just write this down.
ReplyDeleteThen I realized that I don't really care.
I'll give 7:3 on them breaking the sledgehammer...if Trips wins.
Yep.
ReplyDeleteBrock's resigning, and Punk's taking time off post mania. They need a top heel.
I forgot that he was one of the 3 good rap-metal acts.
ReplyDeleteThe others being RATM and Faith No More.
Do you see the Punk fangirls?
ReplyDeleteYou are either picky or oblivious.
...allegedly.
ReplyDeleteVince just got around to seeing the video for "Big Poppa" and thought Puffy was a rising star
ReplyDelete