My Take On 4.15.13: The Top 10 Matches From The WrestleMania 29 Weekend

WELCOME!
Welcome back to another edition of My Take On! With all of the big WrestleMania week shows over and life getting back to normal, I thought that one last look back on the big weekend was in order. The weekend was of course about WrestleMania, but thanks to WrestleMania we got WrestleCon and a ton of other iPPV events in New York and New Jersey as well as Japan all in the same weekend. With so much good wrestling happening that weekend, I feel that the matches that stood out should be rewarded. And there was a lot of good wrestling. BUT HOW IT WILL WORK?: It’s quite simple really since I watched a lot of PPV and iPPV during WrestleMania weekend. That includes TNA, ROH, EVOLVE, Dragon Gate USA and New Japan. What I thought I would do is look through my reviews and ratings for those shows, pick out the very best matches and highlight them here. I will be going by my personal star ratings, so of course, your list may be very different. It’s not new, it’s not groundbreaking; just something I thought would be fun to showcase what happened in the wrestling world last weekend. It’s completely ordinary and there is no special formula, but hopefully it will be a fun look back. Enjoy.

AND NOW….

My Top 10 Matches From The WrestleMania 29 Weekend

Honorable Mention: From NJPW Invasion Attack iPPV – IWGP Jr Tag Team Title Match: Alex Shelley & Kushida vs. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi [****]

Honorable Mention: From NJPW Invasion Attack iPPV – Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma [****]

Honorable Mention: From ROH Supercard of Honor VII iPPV – ROH Tag Team Title Match: Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. The American Wolves [****]

#10. From TNA’s One Night Only: X-Travaganza: Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries [****]

First up is the main event of TNA’s One Night Only: X-Travaganza PPV, Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries. Aries was one of the best PPV performers of 2012, and during that run had a good PPV match with Joe. I thought that they could certainly top that match, and they did that with this one. They did all of their stuff, everything you’d expect really, and Aries won at about 18-minutes with a roll up and stacking Joe up in that wacky way he does. This was certainly a fitting main event for an X-Division themed PPV, as these guys were two of the division’s most recognizable and or successful champions. Overall this was a very good match, one that I think anyone would have been happy with as a main event on just about any TNA PPV. TNA’s addition to the list comes from a taped PPV, but it aired on the weekend, so it makes the cut. That PPV was a really solid outing for $15, and if you like the X-Division guys, it’s worth a watch. I loved some of the tag matches I mentioned in the honorable mentions section, but Joe and Aries have been favorites of mine for so long they got the nod. Personal preference and all.

#9. From ROH Supercard of Honor VII iPPV – ROH Title Match: Kevin Steen vs. Jay Briscoe [****]

Going into the Supercard of Honor VII iPPV, most felt that ROH was simply throwing out a good match with a predictable finish. Need a main event that feels fresh, give Jay Briscoe his title shot to excite the people. He’ll put on a good effort, and we’ll get a great match. And with the history of him challenging for the ROH Title, you can’t blame people for those thoughts. But there was hope during the show, the intermission videos chronicling the Briscoe title shots, reports that the whole Briscoe family was there were the big things. The match went about as expected, both guys working really hard, but smart as they had a hot crowd to play off of. They did a tease of Jacobs doing a run in, but Mark Briscoe cut him off and they brawled to the back. Steen didn’t look happy about Jacobs’ appearance, which follows the whole SCUM angle well. They worked a hot ending as they did the big SCUM run in, but the ROH roster ran them off before they were a real factor. It was all part of the package, all part of the drama including Steen getting rid of Matt Hardy. They ran a great near fall tease as Jay hit the driller after that, but only got 2 due to the ref being slow. He then hit the move again and we had a new champion. The crowd went wild, Nigel (who was on commentary) went insane and most importantly it felt like a great moment. The boyhood dream has come true; a chicken farmer from Sandy Fork Delaware became the ROH Champion on the biggest weekend of the year. Day One, Murphy Rec Center, Man Up Son.

#8. From NJPW Invasion Attack iPPV – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr [****]

Davey Boy Smith Jr (formerly DH Smith in WWE) was someone that got cut, but he really didn’t bitch and moan about it. The guy eventually made his way to NJPW, and with Lance Hoyt, has had a successful run as part of the IWGP tag team champions. But with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura during the New Japan Cup Tournament, he earned a shot at Nakamura’s IWGP IC Title. This was the biggest singles match for Davey Boy Smith Jr and the man delivered here. He looks great from a physique standpoint, and is working with a new confidence in the ring; basically he is a completely different wrestler than he was in WWE. The match had awesome heat, and Smith’s style (submission work and being a monster power guy) is working so, so well for him. Smith got a great near submission off of a jackhammer into the sharp shooter spot, but Nakamura survived. Then more near falls off of a powerbomb and tiger suplex also worked and helped build to the climax. Smith, who was already hated by the crowd, flipped off the fans and decided to look for one last powerbomb. Nakamura escaped, and after a few knees hit the boma ye for the pin. Nakamura has been one of the guys helping to carry the top of the NJPW card, and Smith is turning into a legit star for them. Even though he lost the big rematch, this was a star making performance for Smith, who is proving each and every month that he belongs.

VS.

#7. From Dragon Gate USA Mercury Rising iPPV – CIMA, EITA & CIMA’s Secret Weapon (Tomahawk TT) vs. Johnny Gargano, Rich Swann & Ricochet [****¼]
One of the highlights of the past few years during the WrestleMania weekend has been the Dragon Gate six-man tag team matches. Many people feel that these have been some of the best matches during the WM weekend for years, and while I cannot say I have watched every single one, this one in particular was very good. One thing that they did this year to make the match more important (instead of just giving the hopes of a great match) was to have a special stipulation. The winner of the fall will be entitled to a future title shot of his choice. This can include the new EVOLVE Title, the DGUSA Open The Freedom Gate Title or the DGUSA Open The United Gate Titles. This is not a MITB scenario; the match has to be signed in advance. I really liked that and felt that it added nicely to the match. They had a very good multi-man match, with EITA and Tomahawk cementing themselves as a must see team for the DGUSA fans, which I felt was the MOST important thing they had to do. This was just filled with excellent action from all involved, with a very responsive crowd. The end saw Gargano hit the hurts don’t it on EITA, followed by Swann getting a standing 450 and Ricochet closing it out with the 630 for the spectacular finish, and Ricochet teasing that he would go after Gargano’s title. Gargano and CIMA also had interaction, setting up that anticipated bout. This was a match that was billed as something that always delivers, and they did again this year. This was an excellent six-man tag, with the added booking after the match that made it feel even more important.

#6. From Dragon Gate USA Mercury Rising iPPV –Shingo vs. Akira Tozawa [****¼]

The above-mentioned Dragon Gate six-man was the semi main event of the show, but the main event also delivered. Shingo and Tozawa was billed as a DGUSA dream match, as Shnigo was returning to DGUSA after a two-year absence. The thing is that this match had to deliver, because it was placed after the famed six-man. Thankfully for the company, it did. While the six-man was an action packed match with lots of high flying, this match was a completely different style, focusing on Shingo’s power game and Tozawa worked the more action filled stuff. At about 15-minutes in they did a spot where Tozawa did a suicide dive, but Shingo caught him and then powerbombed him onto the ring apron, which was a turning point and ignited the live crowd. They then went into an insane session of suplexes, counters and Shingo put an end to that noise with the bomber and both men were finally down. They traded shots again, leading to Tozawa hitting the dead lift German for a near fall. Shingo fired up and hit a pair of made in Japan’s, which were both kicked out of. He finally nailed the bomber clothesline, taking Tozawa out of his boots, and scored the victory. It was a very good main event with both guys bringing it, but it had that feeling that they were trying for that “epic match feel,” but it didn’t quite get there. But as part of a double main event, both matches are recommended viewing.

#5 From ROH Supercard of Honor VII iPPV – Jay Lethal vs. Michael Elgin [****½]

As matches for the ROH Supercard of Honor VII iPPV were announced, the Jay Lethal vs. Michael Elgin caught my eye. It had nothing to do with the fact that the winner got a title shot; instead it was simply due to the competitors involved. While I do not see Jay Lethal as a top guy in ROH, he has been performing very well in his latest ROH run. Also, Michael Elgin has been awesome. While followers of Independent wrestling know about Michael Elgin, I still feel that he is a guy that doesn’t get as much attention as he should. This was the first match of the weekend that really wowed me, and was a match I felt that people should see. They performed at a main event level, they had a hot crowd and they threw everything at each other. The finish saw Elgin hit a superbomb, back fist, buckle bomb, and another Elgin bomb for the win to conclude what was portrayed as an epic battle for the right to fight for the ROH Title. This was a match that could be placed as a main event on any show that happened over weekend and I would have been perfectly fine with that. It has incredible near falls, the crowd buying into things big time and both guys just busting their asses to steal the show.

#4. From Dragon Gate USA Open The Ultimate Gate iPPV – Akira Tozowa vs. Riccochet [****½]

Another heavily hyped match for the weekend was Akira Tozowa vs. Riccochet. Riccochet made my list of top PPV performers last year, and coincidentally, his best match was in a tag match with Akira Tozowa. They have history, and butting a match like this on the show was a great call. The company placed the bout right before intermission, which ended up being the perfect call because the crowd needed a break when all was said and done. They guys work very well together, and a lot of their work seemed simply effortless. Christina Von Eerie was at ringside with Tozawa, and while she got involved, never took away from the match. The match had the traditional quick, back and forth stuff to get the crowd really into things. From there, the crowd stayed with them and reacted to all of the near falls. Highlights were Tozowa about killing Ricochet with a German suplex while both were standing on the ring apron. That was followed with what could have been a great finish, as Tozowa did the electric chair into a German and then hit a dead lift German for a near fall. But they were actually able to build off of that, and the finish saw Ricochet counter the dead lift German, hit the back slide driver and then the 630 for the victory. Simply put this was a match filled with amazing work and sweet back and forth action, and the crowd got hotter as the match went on. This was a great match and another very good addition to the DGUSA weekend.

#3. From Dragon Gate USA Open The Ultimate Gate iPPV – Johnny Gargano vs. Shingo [****½]

Johnny Gargano defending the Open the Freedom Gate Title against Shingo was one of Dragon Gate USA’s most heavily hyped matches of the weekend. You had Gargano as the champion, who has held the title for over 500 days defending against Shingo, returning to the promotion for the first time in two years. The match went nearly 40-minutes, ending after midnight, but even after the long day of wrestling, these men were able to whip the crowd into an insane frenzy through out the match. They did an excellent job of building the story, which was that Shingo may be the guy that could survive everything the champion had. They did some crazy spots on the floor, and the near falls then started to come fast and furiously; and the crowd got louder and louder with each and everyone. It had the feeling that you were watching something truly special, but as we all know, it isn’t how you start, it comes down to the finish. The crowd was standing, they were so into this thing, but then the booking got in the way. The promotion decided to pull the trigger on a Johnny Gargano heel turn. Some times bookers need to know when enough is enough, and sometimes they need to know when to just let wrestling be wrestling. I feel that they could have waited to do the turn the next night, and it really hurt the end of the match. After this absolute war in the ring, the story was that Gargano had thrown everything at Shingo, so when the ref was bumped, Gargano kicked Shingo in the balls and choked him out with a rope for the anticlimactic victory. The crowd went from red hot to shitting all over it; which unfortunately took what could have been an epic match for the promotion, and relegated it to just excellent. It felt like one of those great TNA main events that would end in the same bullshit finish and leave you upset. But it was excellent, and deserves such a high spot on the list, even with the finish. For the record, I don’t think the Gargano heel turn is a bad idea, it just ended up being the worst time to pull the trigger.

#2. From WWE WrestleMania 29 – CM Punk vs. Undertaker [****½]

While there was a lot of competition to be sure, the CM Punk vs. Undertaker will be the only match from WrestleMania making this list. Here’s the thing about this match, we all knew that the Undertaker was going to win the match. That didn’t bother me, because this match was all about the story to get there. Would they be able to get the fans to buy into a near fall? Would the story being told in the ring allow the crowd to become emotionally invested? Yes they did. I have discussed this, we knew that Taker was winning, that Triple H was 99% winning and that Cena was 99% winning. That isn’t what bothered me at all, because if the story and work to get there is good then the predictable outcome doesn’t really matter to me. Punk and Undertaker took you on an adventure; they worked a match that invited you to be a part of the story, it had drama, emotion, a good story in the ring, the right ending and it all worked better than I had hoped for. This was the true bright spot of WrestleMania 29. This match also proved some other things. The Undertaker match has been the best match (or second best match) to many people for the last seven years. Also, the Undertaker is the star of WrestleMania now, and when you consider both statements, it is going to be a sad day when he finally decides to hang it up.

#1. From NJPW Invasion Attack iPPV – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada [****¾]

A few years ago I said that Hiroshi Tanahashi was a favorite of mine. And then that tune changed to the fact that Hiroshi Tanahashi is one of the best wrestlers in the business. Well now, I say without hesitation that Hiroshi Tanahashi is the best professional wrestler on the planet Earth at this time. And I take nothing away from Okada, because that kid (he’s 25, so that is a kid) is doing great; and together, they have helped rejuvenate NJPW. Their feud is the new hotness, they can do nothing wrong for the most part when they wrestle, but when you put them together, it is magic. Back at the NJPW WrestleKingdom 7 iPPV in January (basically their WrestleMania) they had a match that jumped out as the top contender for MOTY just four days into the year, and they went out there again, and they simply delivered that kind of performance once again. I know the people that do not follow the product will scoff at this, but these guys are doing in 2013 what Flair and Steamboat did in 1989. Excellent matches each and every time out, and this is a feud that will make for one hell of a compellation DVD in the future. These guys are even in their PPV main event series (2-2), and the general feeling is that Tanahashi has been the guy to lead the company back into the position that they are in. If I were booking things, I would have Okada run on top until January. During that time, I would have Tanahashi win the G1, run through the gambit of top guys and then do the big title rematch to kick off the year. Tanahashi chasing and pulling the same path as Okada took this year I think would work very well.

As for this match, it was simply awesome in a series of awesome matches from two talented guys. Everyone has different tastes, but I have to tell you that if you just want some great wrestling, the NJPW product is delivering right now. This again was simply an amazing 32-minute match that is required viewing when you’re discussing not only the best of the weekend, but also the best of 2013…

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