From the Bowery: WrestleMania XXVII

Posted by Robert Leighty Jr. on 04.24.2011

HHH and Taker steal the show and Rock sends a message to John Cena. Oh, and I was there again!

From the Bowery: WrestleMania XXVII
-Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
-April 3, 2011

-For the 3rd straight year I was in attendance for WrestleMania, and I’m always curious to see how the show comes across on TV after being there live. Before getting to the review I will mention that this stage set-up was best one of the 3 I have been to. I loved the pyramid from last year in Arizona, but the massive screen this year made for some great visuals. Also with all the talk of WWE removing wrestling from their name, it was kind of funny seeing “WRESTLEMANIA” in huge letters front and center.

-Atlanta’s own Keri Hilson gets the honors of doing “America the Beautiful.”

-The Rock gets a “Late Show” style video package, and then hits the ring. Live I was rather pissed as I thought we weren’t getting the always bad ass, reflective WrestleMania opening. Thankfully, WWE had a “true” opening after the Rock was done getting the crowd primed. The Rock opening was a good call since he was the host, and might as well let him be first one to interact with the fans (especially considering he was the main drawing point). The Rock gets a massive reaction and after a few tries, finally hits the catchphrases. He welcomes everyone to WrestleMania, and promises the most memorable show of all time (can’t say he wasn’t hyping the shit out of this). The crowd starts a Cena Sucks chant, and Rock cracks a smile. He then starts playing chanting games with the crowd (including “Yabba” and “Dabba”), and that leads to a “Fruity Pebbles” chant. The folks at Post Cereals must love the free publicity they are getting from the Rock. Hopefully makes up for when Hogan sued them for using his likeness in a commercial. Typical, geeked up Rock promo here to get the crowd jacked for the show.

-Now we get the proper WrestleMania video package entrance and great job as always by the WWE production department. Videos like this always give me goose bumps and chills when they tie it in with historic WrestleMania moments. Always nice little call back as they bring back the “Bigger, Better, Badder” tagline (though they had them out of order).

Commentary Team: Michael Cole (via Cole Mine), Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Josh Matthews

World Heavyweight Title: Edge © (w/ Christian) vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/ Brodus Clay)

-As always Ricardo Rodriguez does ADR’s entrance, and it’s a spectacular one considering the Mansion background on the video screen. We were absolutely stunned to see this was the opener, and had us thinking something was up, but didn’t happen. Christian gets his own entrance which is always nice to hear because his pimp entrance music always gets the crowd singing along (at least in section I was sitting). Edge gets a great reaction, and still shaking my head that this for all intent and purposes is going to be his last match. This is the 4th straight year that Edge is involved in a World Championship Match at Mania, and since starting 5-0, he’s lost his last 4 matches at the biggest show of the year. They lock up to start, and jockey for position in Edge’s corner. Del Rio gets the taste slapped out of his mouth and gets caught with a backdrop. ADR immediately goes to the injured arm, and focuses his attack on that limb. Del Rio gets a little too aggressive and gets backdropped to the floor, but Edge makes mistake of taking fight to the floor. He ends up getting rammed into the security wall and gets his shoulder posted into the steel ring post. They head back into the ring and Alberto continues to attack the arm in vicious fashion. A small “Del Rio” chant breaks out, and I will say that the man was more over than I figured. There were a lot of Del Rio fans that I ran into that weekend in Atlanta. The guy should be a big deal, and will probably be given every chance possible to make sure that happens. Del Rio makes mistake of charging again and gets sent through the ropes to the floor. Edge goes lucha as he flips outside to the floor onto Del Rio. He takes too long to get up top though and Del Rio brings him down with an armdrag. Del Rio gets a little too cocky again, and eats a spinwheel kick. These bumps by Edge are kind of scary considering what we know now. Once again ADR charges wildly and ends up eating a boot. Edge gets a quick flurry of offense and that leads to a two count, but Del Rio gets basically a Code Breaker on the injured arm. He sets up the cross arm breaker, but Edge counters for two. They do a pin fall reversal sequence and it ends with Alberto locking in the cross arm breaker. Luckily for Edge he is close enough to get his bottom foot on the ropes. He looks to capitalize, but Edge hangs him in the top rope. He heads up top for a second time, and Del Rio runs up the ropes to deliver a fantastic looking enziguiri. Rodriguez makes sure to knock Edge’s foot off the bottom rope, but he is still able to kick out. Christian gives chase, but gets dropped by a fall away slam from Clay. Back in the ring, Edge preps for the spear and the crowd erupts. Del Rio side steps, and Clay drags Edge shoulder first into the post. ADR hooks in the cross arm breaker, and the crowd really starts buying into this match. Edge counters to a pin attempt, and once Del Rio kicks out, Edge hooks in the Edgecator. Christian comes back to take out Clay with a tornado DDT to the floor. Del Rio fights out of the submission hold, but Edge gets to his feet first and delivers the Spear to retain the title at 11:20. After the match Edge kicks at the door of Del Rio’s car, and then goes Ric Flair as he drops an elbow on the roof. Christian holds Del Rio back with a lead pipe, and hands Edge a crowbar. Edge does a number of the car with the crowbar as Del Rio cries.

Winner and Still World Heavyweight Champion: Edge via pin at 11:20
-Very strong match, and though I question having World Title Match open the show, it certainly got the crowd rocking. They were seemingly hitting their groove as they went to the finish, but certainly a good match. Del Rio looked good here and a good way for Edge to head into retirement. ***1/4

Rey Mysterio vs. “Dashing” Cody Rhodes

-Rey’s superhero of choice this year is Captain America, and better than the Avatar tribute from previous year. Cody immediately goes for Rey’s knee brace and uses his protective mask as a weapon whenever possible. Cody’s disfigured gimmick is a thing of beauty as it gives him a way of getting cheap heat with the crowd. Rey gets his feet up to block a charge, but gets killed with an Alabama Slam when Cody blocks a head scissors attempt. Rey fires back and heads up top, but gets caught by Cody and he delivers a beautiful delayed super-plex. Sure, it’s Rey he’s holding up there for that long, but still a pretty sweet visual and the crowd popped for it. Rey counters Cross Rhodes and sends Cody to the floor. They battle on the floor as Cody gets sent first face into the ring apron off a head scissors. Rey comes off the top with a seated senton, and gets a two count off a pinning sequence. Mysterio gets caught coming out of the corner and gets tossed on the back of his head. Rey stays in control and sets up the 6-1-9, but Cody blocks and catapults Mysterio throat first into the middle rope for 2. Finally Cody goes back to the knee and removes the knee brace. He tosses it to the floor, but Rey comes back with a moonsault press off the top for two. Rey is able to rip off Cody’s mask and hits the 6-1-9 to a good pop. He misses the splash off the top, but does deliver a sick kick to the head for two. Rey applies Cody’s mask and starts firing off headbutts to the objections of Cole. A flying headbutt follows, but Rey is out the back door at two. Cody rolls to the floor, grabs the knee brace, and kills a diving Rey with it. The Cross Rhodes finishes things at 12:00. Cody immediately covers his face and makes sure to get his mask back on before leaving the ring.

Winner: Cody Rhodes via pin at 12:00
-Good showing from Rhodes here as they two have some decent chemistry. Cody going over was also the right decision; even if I was shocked the WWE actually pulled the trigger. Clearly this feud isn’t over and I hope they can build off this match like Punk and Mysterio did a year ago. ***

-Snoop Dogg meets Teddy Long backstage as they look for talent for Snoop’s upcoming tour. William Regal steals the show with his awesome freestyle. Things go down a bit as Beth Phoenix and Khali sing summer loving. Zach Ryder sings and fist punts to a nice reaction from the crowd, but Piper ends his night with a coconut shot. Next we get Yoshi singing “We Will Rock” you as Chris Masters flexes his pecs in rhythm. The joke ends with Hornswoggle playing like he can’t talk and then pulling off a freestyle with the Bella Twins. Hearing him talk kind of ruined things for me, but the crowd actually enjoyed this live.

The Corre vs. The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Kane, and Santino Marella

-The Corre consists of your IC Champ and your Unified Tag Champions for those wondering why those titles aren’t being defended. Santino gets a big reaction, and is a nice reward for the guy to finally get a proper WrestleMania match. Kozlov was originally part of Team Big Show, but was taken out by the Corre at Axxess, and Kofi gets a WrestleMania spot instead. Santino starts and immediately gets punched in the mouth by Slater. Santino does a split to avoid a clothesline, delivers a hiptoss, and then tags to the Big Show. Slater gets killed as one would expect, but Big Zeke drops Show with a clothesline. Things break down as everyone starts hitting their signature moves in a sign that things are wrapping up. Sure enough Santino delivers The Cobra to Slater and Big Show knocks him out for the pin at 1:35.

Winners: Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Kane, and Santino Marella via Show pin on Slater at 1:35
-The Corre looks like nothing more than jobbers, but the crowd was happy to see Santino. 1/2*

-The Rock talks with Eve backstage and promises to make a magical moment for whoever comes around the corner. Enter Mae Young, and The Rock calls her a Divasaurus. She asks for the People’s Strudel, and Rock tells her she should be craving strudel from Moses. Rock cracks a few more jokes before Eve escorts Mae away. Things get interesting when Rock turns around and runs into “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and the reaction from the crowd is what you would expect. They shake hands, and the crowd pops huge. Seriously, they could wrestle 1 match a year against each other at WrestleMania until the Earth explodes and I wouldn’t complain. I want Rock/Austin IV (especially if Austin is feeling as good as he has been claiming).

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

-This was set up at the Rumble when Punk and the New Nexus cost Orton his chance at the WWE Title. In a great nod to continuity Punk mentions holding onto his grudge from 2 years ago when Orton punted him out of the World Title Scramble Match at Unforgiven when Punk was the reigning Champion. The build to this was great, and there were high expectations for this match as most claimed it could steal the show. Orton starts quick as he delivers a thunderous clothesline and then sends Punk to the floor with another one. Punk avoids being tossed into the steps, but stepping over them and then kicking the stairs into Orton’s damaged knee. Fucking sweet! Punk gets a two count off a top rope cross body, and then limps around the ring to mock Orton. Ha! He stomps away at Orton and then mocks his pose. Double H! That seemingly pisses Orton off though as he hits his backbreaker, but Punk smartly goes right back to the knee. In the corner we go as Punk abuses the knee and for good measure delivers his charging knee to Orton’s head. Orton gets hung upside down in the tree of woe by his bad knee, and Punk’s facial reactions have been fantastic. Punk climbs up top and stands on Orton’s bad knee. That forces Orton to sit up, so Punk comes off with a knee for two. That was pretty fucking fantastic right there. Punk tells the crowd it’s time for Orton to go to sleep, and I can’t help by smile at Punk’s dickhead behavior. Orton elbows out of the GTS, and looks for the RKO, but a kick to the head gets two for Punk. He heads back up top again, but Orton rushes in and crotches Punk on the top rope. Orton heads up to meet him and brings him down with a top rope superplex for two. Punk is still the fresher of the two and immediately goes right back to the damaged wheel. He abuses the knee on the ring post and then locks in Bret Hart’s ring post assisted figure four. I didn’t see Bret bitching about someone stealing his moves on Twitter. They head back into the ring as the crowd starts a dueling “RKO”, “GTS,“ chant. Orton fights out of a submission move and pounds away on Punk following a Thesz Press. I guess Austin could complain, but Thesz would have the bigger gripe. Although I can’t see Lou Thesz tweeting, but stranger things have happened. Orton hits the much talked about Angle Slam as someone in Pittsburgh loses his mind. To be fair though I did think it was genius of Angle to use the RKO at Lock Down as a nod to the whole controversy. Orton gets caught in the Anaconda Vice, but is able to roll to the bottom rope to break. Punk is getting frustrated and gets sent into the ring post. That sets up the elevated DDT, and Orton starts pounding the mat. The facial expressions between these two have been a thing of beauty. These two men know how to tell a story in a match, and thus don’t need to do crazy spots that involve 1080 twists and multiple cartwheels. Save the cartwheels for Snookie! Orton opts to try for the punt, and that’s a no go as his knee gives out. Punk cracks a smile as he realizes Orton is quite fucked. Punk nearly gets caught with a RKO out of nowhere, but he’s able to slide to the ring apron. The smile and laugh from Punk is a thing of beauty. Speaking of a thing of beauty, Punk springboards into a RKO and that clearly is enough to get the pin at 14:47.

Winner: Randy Orton via pin at 14:47
-I enjoyed this match much more after viewing than seeing it live. The facial expressions from both men added to the match, and Punk was a glorious bastard in the way he attacked the knee and generally acted like a dick. Good stuff from this two, and I think they can do even better of given the chance. ***3/4

-The Rock confronts John Cena’s number one fan: Pee Wee Herman. He ends up converting to Team Bring It. “Fruit Loop Troop” was a pretty funny comment as is Pee Wee calling Okerlund a tool.

-The Hall of Fame: Class of 2011 is introduced to the crowd. Members: Drew Carey (celebrity wing), “Bullet” Bob Armstrong, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering, Abdullah The Butcher, Sonny, and Shawn Michaels. I was there for the Hall of Fame ceremony and was much better than the previous 2 years. The biggest thing was that they no longer had to rush things for TV, and that gave each member a chance to talk for as long as they wanted. Flair being there live was a treat, and was kind of cool seeing DDP and Lex Luger on the floor with the current WWE roster. The Road Dogg was on point when introducing his father, and the crowd was in the palm of his hands with his old New Age Outlaws catchphrases. HHH stole the show as he roasted Shawn, and the mark out moment for me was seeing the Clique reunion (missing Scott Hall) after Shawn was inducted. Good times all around!

-Booker T and Jim Ross make their way to the announce booth to join Matthews for the next match.

Michael Cole (w/ Jack Swagger) vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler

-“Stone Cold” Steve Austin is your special ref, and sadly, this didn’t go the way everyone in the building was hoping. The Boss, Larry Csonka said it best on here when he asked God for a jumping piledriver, and a Memphis fireball to Cole’s face. Had this been the Attitude Era we may have gotten that, but instead we get, well, the mess that is about to come. It starts out good as Cole channels his inner Taz and Rick Steiner with the orange Team Cole singlet and match head gear. Cole’s tattoos are kind of off putting, and wish he would have kept on the hoodie. Swagger won Money in the Bank the previous year, but is on a higher place on the card this year even though he is managing the lead announcer for RAW. Swagger’s pushups get interrupted by Austin as he nearly take out the All American American with his 4 wheeler. Cole escapes Austin by hiding in the Cole Mine. Lawler looks happier than a pig in shit to finally be able to participate in a match at WrestleMania, and I couldn’t be happier for the guy. Cole is rather reluctant to start as he stretches in the Cole Mine. Austin gets rather impatient, rings the bell, and tells Lawler to go get him. Swagger tries to stop Cole, but ends up ending post before being tossed into the security wall. Cole starts begging off while in the Mine and offers his hand. Lawler shakes the hand, but won’t let go and starts pulling Cole face first into the Mine. Lawler goes in after Cole, and we get a brawl in the Cole Mine. The crowd starts chanting “Jerry” and so far this is exactly what it should be. Cole even takes a pretty sick shot head first into the RAW GM podium. Sadly, things take a turn for the worst when Swagger nails Lawler from behind. Cole sort of hits a baseball slide, and then distracts Austin so Swagger can apply the ankle lock. Cole tells Austin to start a 20 count, and Austin is great with his rather deliberate account. Now things start to drag as Cole targets the ankle, and the crowd is getting restless. The first chant is a “You can’t wrestle chant” aimed at Cole, but Cena has received the same chant, so Cole is in good company. Swagger is making the most of his opportunity as he coaches Cole. He tells Cole to try a Swagger Bomb, but Cole opts to hit the move off the bottom rope. That gets the first near fall of the match and the crowd is not pleased. Now a loud “boring” chant starts as Matthews tells us to listen. I’m sure he meant listen to the conversation between Swagger and Cole, and not the crowd, but still bad timing. Cole pulls down the straps (nice touch) and applies the An-Cole Lock. Lawler rolls to his back and kicks off to break the hold. He goes after Cole and stomps a mud hole in the corner, but before any more damage can be done, Swagger tosses in the towel. Austin’s reaction is priceless as he uses the towel to wipe the sweat off his head. Swagger gets in Austin’s face, and that goes as you would expect: Kick, Wham, Stunner. Cole begs Austin to stop the match as he lets him know he can’t continue. Cole gets rather pissed and shoves Austin. Austin returns in kind and Cole staggers into a right hand from Lawler. Now we finally get a proper ass kicking and the crowd wakes out of their coma. Lawler delivers a dropkick to pop the crowd, and then drops the fist from the middle rope for two (Lawler lifted Cole off the mat). Everyone in the crowd was begging for a piledriver, but instead Lawler applies the ankle lock. Cole taps like a maniac, but Austin ignores and asks his if he submits. Cole screams that he gives, but Austin still ignores him for a few more seconds before finally calling for the bell at 13:45. Austin has a beer bash with Lawler, and Booker T decides to join in the celebration. Austin doesn’t seem all that impressed that Booker has crashed his party, but lets him have his moment as he delivers a Spin-A-rooni. Austin hands him a beer, and it’s Kick, Wham, Stunner for Booker. The RAW GM Chime goes off, and Josh Matthews handles reading the e-mail since Cole is toast. Matthews lets the crowd know that Lawler has been disqualified due to Austin’s interference, and Michael Cole is the winner. He celebrates on the stage with Swagger in fine fashion. The crowd chants bullshit, and poor Matthews has to explain things to a pissed off Lawler and Austin. They shoot the messenger as Matthews gets fed to Austin and eats a Stunner. That’s one way to get things down to Lawler and Ross in the announce booth to handle the rest of the show.

Winner: Michael Cole via DQ at 13:45
-This was rather horrible, but seemed even worse when I was there live. Here it didn’t seem as long, but that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t horrible. Most are comparing to Hart/McMahon last year, but at least they gave us what we wanted last year: Hart beating the shit out of McMahon and getting the win. This year we got Cole dominating with the help of Swagger, and then the bullshit ending. The stuff with Austin was the only entertaining aspect of the match. The fact that Cole didn’t eat a piledriver or a Stunner is sad. DUD

-Video package covering all the events of WrestleMania week in Atlanta. Was a pretty sweet city, and loved the fact that everything was in walking distance from out hotel. That was a big problem with Arizona last year as things were spread all over the place and made travel rather expensive.

-Vide package for HHH/Taker and its fucking fantastic. I will say it again, the WWE could release a DVD of nothing but there video packages and I would be there first day handing over my cash.

No Holds Barred: The Undertaker vs. HHH

-HHH gets a bad ass entrance that erases memories of his Conan entrance at WM 22 as he first comes out to Metallica’s “For Whom the Bells Toll.” The stadium was way into this and it just set the stage for what was to come. Knights wielding shields pop up on stage first and as they lay down their shields HHH appears in a bad ass skeleton king costume before transitioning to his normal “Time to Play the Game” entrance. Taker’s entrance is rather subdued for him considering this is Mania, but still it’s Johnny Fucking Cash, so awesome none the less. I have heard some complain about Taker’s new entrance, but at this stage of his career, the music just seems to fit the character. There is really nothing like Taker’s entrance live as it has given me goose bumps all three years I’ve been at Mania. Sure this match is 10 years after they nearly stole the show on the greatest Mania ever, but I never had a doubt in my mind that these two wouldn’t at least do everything in their power to deliver something epic. For those curious the entrances clocked in at just over 9 minutes combined which is the total time of TNA’s last 2 PPV World Title matches. I kid, TNA, I kid. I really do enjoy more than I dislike. No stare down as they just lay into each other, and HHH gets the early edge as he punches the shit out of Taker in the corner. That only pisses him off as he throws HHH over the top to the floor. That doesn’t stop HHH though as he pounds away on the floor with heavy rights. Again, that only pisses off the Dead Man and he tosses HHH into the ring steps. He preps the Spanish Table, but that gives HHH time to recover and he spears Taker through the Cole Mine. Again, Taker is rather pissed as he sits up and storms into the ring. Now he starts throwing some hard right hands, but HHH fights back. He misses a clothesline and that gives Taker the chance to hit the leaping clothesline. He starts to work on the arm and shoulder, and that sets up Old School. HHH is hip to that game though and just yanks Taker off the top to the mat. Effective! HHH finally does hit the clothesline and that sends Taker over the top to the floor. They battle on the floor and HHH sends Taker into the security wall with such force that it breaks. That was pretty sick actually. Everything so far has been so hard hitting and with bad intentions. HHH looks for a pedigree on the announce table, but Taker backdrops out and HHH hits with a sick splat on the floor. That’s a rather nasty bump from HHH so kudos to him. The crowd starts a dueling chant of “19-0” and “18-1.” Taker staggers back into the ring and even in his advanced age delivers the fucking flying Dead Man over the top rope onto HHH on the floor. A dude that size and that age should not be able to do that! The replay shows that Taker almost got tripped on the top rope and HHH had to basically keep him from going head first into the announce table. Taker moves the stairs in front of the Spanish Announce Table and seemingly wants to deliver a Tombstone, but HHH slides off and starts punching away. Taker charges and HHH catches him with a spinebuster through the Spanish Announce Table. Again, there has been little wasted movement in this match as everything they have hit has meant something and been with force. They head back into the ring and Taker still has life as he hits a chokeslam for two. Lawler and Ross are hammering home the point that HHH has no remorse and is more consumed with winning than anyone Taker has battled previously. HHH mounts Taker in the corner, and that usually means The Last Ride is coming, but HHH learned from WM X-7 and escapes. He looks for a pedigree, but Taker is out and delivers Snake Eyes. He charges for the big boot, but HHH catches him with another spinebuster for two. That was a fantastic sequence right there. HHH heads outside and gets a chair, but once back in the ring he walks into a big boot. Now Taker has the chair and he dishes out some sweet shots to the back. HHH gets in a boot to stop Taker in his tracks, and hits the Pedigree for two. Lawler puts over the fact that it will put doubt in HHH’s mind since Taker kicked out of his best move. That comes in to play next as HHH does get caught with the Last Ride in the corner since he wasn’t thinking straight. That only gets two for Taker and now he is showing signs of frustration. The crowd starts an attempt at a “This is Awesome” chant, but doesn’t grow that much. Taker calls for the end and he drills Taker with a Tombstone, but shockingly we get a kick out at two. Now Taker looks for the Tombstone on the chair, but HHH escapes and hits a DDT on the chair. That leaves both men down, and the dome is rocking as the crowd is way into this match. Each man crawls towards the ropes and uses them to pull themselves back to their feet. Taker stumbles into a second Pedigree, but once again Taker is out at two as JR has a heart attack. Jim Ross needs to be on commentary for every big time match at Mania for as long as he can. HHH delivers a third Pedigree, and it’s just one of those days for the Game as once again it only gets a two count. HHH goes back to the chair and I shades of WrestleMania X-7, he goes all Austin on Rock with the chair as he beats Taker into oblivion. A nice touch as HHH keeps yelling at Taker to stay down, but Dead Man doesn’t roll like that on this night. HHH kills Taker with a chair shot to the head (Taker did get a hand up) and that popped everyone in the crowd. It was about this point my friend promised that if HHH won the match he would be walking out of the Dome and heading to Taco Mac next door. HHH keeps yelling at Taker to stay down, but Taker shows signs of life with a goozle. There’s nothing behind it though and HHH just shakes it off. He delivers the throat slash, and catches the charging Taker with a fucking Tombstone. In a nice touch he crosses the arms and sticks out his tongue, but Taker kicks out at two. My friend was already walking up the stairs, bound for Taco Mac when HHH hit the Tombstone. Credit to both men for delivering that kind of near fall when everyone in the building figured HHH had no chance. HHH goes to his trusty friend the sledgehammer, but gets caught in Hell’s Gate. HHH fights for as long as possible as he struggles to get his hands back on the sledgehammer. He eventually does grasp the sledge, but it’s too late and it slips from him hand before he taps out at 29:30. HHH eventually gets to his feet, and staggers around the ring (with blood coming down his nose), but Taker isn’t as luck as he has to be carted to the back. This is all the more surreal and epic with Johnny Cash playing.

Winner: The Undertaker via tap-out at 29:30
-This was an absolute war, and I loved every second of it. Bitch all you want about how slow things were, but I will take this drama and hard hitting slugfest over any match that is nothing but flips and no selling. Others will compare this match to the two matches with Shawn, but completely different. Shawn had to be Mr. WrestleMania and steal the show while at the same time trying to end the streak. HHH was focused on nothing but punishing the Undertaker so that he could end the streak. We enjoyed this match live, but it came across even better on TV. Jim Ross had something to with that as well. I won’t say this was as good as Shawn/Taker the last 2 years, but don’t see how anyone can call this a disappointment. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion though. ****1/4

-WrestleMania XXVIII: April 1, 2012: Miami, FL; I was debating spending the cash, but with Rock/Cena announced a year in advance, I may have to find the cash now.

Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vickie Guerrero) vs. John Morrison, Trish Stratus, and Snooki

-Each group that bought a WrestleMania travel package got a ticket to meet a Super Star that came to the hotel. On Saturday morning our group got a gets pictures taken an autograph from John Morrison. A funny moment was that he had to take a call on his phone as I stood waiting for the autograph, and now wonder if it was Melina telling him what time to get back to hotel. I did get Morrison’s autograph and it is a one of a kind item: A 2001 Uniontown Red Raiders Undefeated Keystone Conference Champions T-Shirt that has also been autographed by Luke Gallows and CM Punk. Be jealous! Dolph talks smack to Snooki to start and ends up eating a slap. Trish and McCool start and they have a nice little sequence. McCool counters the Ma-Trish, but Trish fights out of a Faith Breaker. They battle on the top, and take a nasty fall to the floor. Layla attacks, but Trish fights back and takes out both women with a clothesline off the apron. Back in the ring, Trish hits the Chick Kick, but Dolph makes the save. Morrison tosses him to the floor and delivers Starship Pain from the top to the floor. Snooki gets the tag to massive heat from the crowd, but quickly gets them on her side with a handspring elbow of all things. She finishes McCool with a cartwheel splash at 3:17. So Snooki already has enough offense to fit right in with your local indy promotion at your nearest YMCA, except she got to perform at WrestleMania. The post match is all the more interesting as Morrison does all he can to avoid making contact with Trish. Only time you may see someone hug Snooki as a way to avoid hugging Trish Stratus.

Winner: Morrison, Snooki, and Stratus via Snooki pin on McCool at 3:17
-Serves its purpose to cool the crowd following Taker/HHH and Snooki did more in the ring than Hall of Fame member Drew Carey. 1/2*

-The crowd is announced at 71,617.

WWE Championship: The Miz © (w/ Alex Riley) vs. John Cena
-The Miz gets a video package set to “Hate Me Now” by Nas and it does more to make Miz look like a big fucking deal than anything in his run as champion. Seriously whoever conceived that idea and then came up with the package needs a raise as that shit was genius. That video package had me believing in the Miz more than ever before and then his Awesome (yeah, I know) entrance only adds to it. It is just mind boggling to see The Miz getting this treatment when everyone figured he was toast once the split from Morrison occurred. Instead Miz gets this treatment and Morrison gets to hit one spot in a match that is won by Snooki. A choir starts singing and then we get a video package on Cena that is set “Prayer II” from DMX’s Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood. Again, just a brilliant use of popular music and the lyrics fit perfectly with Cena. The choir than finishes singing and Cena is so hated, that the crowd boos the choir. Only Cena can get a crowd to boo a choir and on Sunday to boot. There were some fans from England that sat behind me and they were shitting all over both men before the bell even started. I hate pro-wrestling fans sometimes! Cena controls early with a side headlock, but gets backed into the corner and Miz lands a right hand instead of breaking cleanly. A small “Miz is Awesome” and “Let’s Go Cena” chant starts as Miz hits his corner clothesline for two. He tells Cena to stay down, but doesn’t have same impact as HHH telling Taker to stay down. Cena fights back and hits a gutwrench slam for two. Miz gets a two count of his own after hitting a sit-out Rock Bottom. He tries for the corner clothesline again, but Cena avoids and hits the top rope Fame-Asser. A charge by Cena in the corner misses, and the crowd is dead quiet as we were waiting for the Rock. The kids start a “Let’s Go Cena” chant and that gets the smarks starting a “Cena Sucks” chant. Have to love grown men chanting down 8 year olds! The Miz remains in control as Cena is taking quite the ass kicking. Definitely a lot more offense and respect for this Miz in this go round with Cena than he got in their first feud. They battle to the stadium floor and Miz hits a knee lift on the apron for two. Miz preps for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Cena gets a rush off offense and let’s Miz know he can’t see him before hitting the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. The Attitude Adjustment is countered and Miz hits a sweet looking DDT for two. He follows with his back breaker/neck breaker combo and that gets two. JR and Lawler are harping on fact that Cena appears to be off his game due to all the blows to the head from Miz, and that’s a decent story actually. The Miz looks to send Cena into exposed steel buckle, but Cena comes back and locks in the STF. Miz is too close to the ropes though and is able to get the break. Riley gets involved as he sends Cena into the exposed buckle, but Cena is able to kick out following the Skull Crushing Finale. Sucks to be Miz! The ref gets bumped following as Miz tries to hit his finisher again, and Cena ends up hitting the Attitude Adjustment. The ref is gone though, so Riley uses the metal briefcase to crack Cena in the head. That’s ok, but chair shot to the head isn’t? That gets two for Miz, so Riley distracts the ref. Miz tries to use the briefcase again, but Cena sidesteps and Riley ends up eating the shot. Cena deliver the AA and Miz actually gets to kick out, and that is proof enough that the WWE feels the man is more than ready to stay in the Main Event. Cena charges at Miz and knocks him into the timekeeper’s pit with a clothesline. In a sick spot, Cena spears Miz off the security wall and onto the concrete floor. It seems Miz legit suffered a concussion from that spot, and the ref counts both men out. The crowd rightly boos, but immediately everyone starts looking at the ramp waiting for the Rock. It’s takes a little longer than expected, but the Rock does make his way down to the ring. Before he can speak though, the chime goes off and JR heads to the Podium, but Rock tells him to sit back down. The Rock heads to the laptop and it doesn’t matter what the RAW GM thinks. The Rock restarts the match, and everyone in my section was hoping he would put himself in the match, but not dice. They head back into the ring as the bell sounds again. Cena looks for the AA, but the Miz uses the ropes to escape. Cena turns around into a Rock Bottom as payback for RAW, and the Miz crawls in to steal the pin at 15:10. The Miz becomes the second heel to close the show and leave WrestleMania as the WWE Champion. Sadly for the Miz, he gets same treatment as HHH did at WM 2000: a beat down from The Rock. The Miz eats a spinebuster and People’s Elbow to send the crowd home on a happier note.

Winner and Still WWE Champion: The Miz via pin at 15:10
-This was a standard RAW Main Event with a little more intensity from the Miz. I liked the story of Miz targeting the skull of Cena, but the crowd was just waiting for the Rock to appear. Miz winning was the right call, and way he won fits in with his character. They could have done better with the ending, but at least they didn’t have Rock help Cena and then shake hands to end the show. **

The 411: I don't see where all the hate is coming from for this show. The ending was flat and Main Event was not what you would expect for biggest show of the year, but there was more than enough to make this an average to good show. HHH and Taker delivered (though I understand if some didn't like the match), and 3 other matches topped *** by my count. Of the three I have been to, I would put this on about the same level as WM XXV as both had 1 show stealer, several good matches, and a lackluster Main Event.

Final Score:  6.5   [ Average ]