WWE’s biggest show of the year — WrestleMania — is over! This year’s show contained tons of surprises, a few great matches, and a couple of disappointments. Here are the results of WrestleMania XXVII and my reactions. If you caught the show, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. If you didn’t, please let me know what you think of the results.
Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan: Everyone got screwed here. This match was advertised for the WrestleMania card, but due to timing issues (I’m guessing) it became a dark match…and ended up being altered. It started out as a lumberjack match between two up-and-coming stars and got changed to a battle royal (i.e. throwaway) won by The Great Khali. Bryan Danielson is my favorite wrestler in the WWE and Sheamus has a tremendous future ahead of him. These two could have put on a show-stealing match. Sadly, they didn’t even get a chance.
Edge Beat Alberto Del Rio (Retains World Heavyweight Championship): I was shocked that this was the opening match for WrestleMania XXVII. I was also sure that Del Rio was going to get the win and have an excellent heel title reign. He has been getting a huge and well-deserved push from the WWE and I thought this was going to be his payoff. Ricardo Rodriguez, Brodus Clay, and Christian played bit roles in the match, with Edge eventually winning. After the match, Edge and Christian beat the crap out of Del Rio’s Rolls Royce. It was a good match that got the crowd warmed up, but most fans will forget about it in a month.
Cody Rhodes Beat Rey Mysterio (Raymond Stereo): I haven’t been watching much Smackdown, so I was thankful for the recap, but was still left with a feeling of, “I guess….” Rey Rey did his annual comics tribute by wearing a Captain America-like outfit. Rhodes had a mask and knee brace to play up his “disfigured” gimmick. The wrestling was actually pretty good. I haven’t watched Rhodes in a while. He has definitely improved. Rey is Rey. He has some dynamic spots and the kids love him. It was a good mid-card match, but again mostly forgettable.
Kane, The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, and Santino Marella Beat The Corre: This ring entrances took longer than the actual match. In less than two minutes, the faces did their finishers and beat the heels. This was pure filler.
Randy Orton Beat CM Punk: As expected, these two excellent wrestlers put on a very good match. Orton sold his knee injury well, which told the match’s story. Punk did an excellent job heeling it up. The match had plenty of back-and-forth action with several near-falls that the crowd bought into. It was definitely a cut above all the previous matches. I expected Orton to get the win and the crowd was happy that the face was victorious.
Michael Cole Beat Jerry “The King” Lawler: This match was a mess that took way too long. On the plus side, Lawler beat up Cole, Jim Ross was on commentary, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin played his part well. There were some fun comedic bits, like Cole warming up in his “Cole Mine” and moving to the first turnbuckle because he lost his balance on the second one, but the match was twice as long as it ought to have been. Bryan Danielson and Sheamus were cut for this and Snooki?!? Ech.
The Undertaker Beat Triple H: I loved hearing Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” during Hunter’s entrance. That was cool. It was even cooler that JR was still calling the action. This match actually exceeded my expectations. After two brilliant matches with Shawn Michaels at the last two WrestleManias, I thought that this would be a letdown. It absolutely wasn’t. I wouldn’t say it was as good as ‘Taker’s two victories over HBK, but it was close — really physical, great psychology, awesome near-falls, etc. The two put on a clinic on how to combine in-ring action with emotion. It was — by far — the match of the night. That’s especially impressive when you consider that Triple H is still shaking off ring rust and ‘Taker’s body is just a mess.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus, and Snooki Beat Laycool and Dolph Ziggler: How do you follow up the best match of the night? With a lame match that generates mainstream press because a reality TV star is involved! Not even JR’s commentary could make this one interesting. I suppose I’m being unfair. The crowd got excited for Morrison’s starship pain and Stratus’ chick kick. Snooki came out to some boos, but shocked the hell out of the world with a springboard elbow and a cartwheel splash. Snooki’s surprising athleticism aside, I still wish Danielson and Sheamus had time to put on a match.
The Miz Beat John Cena: Cena was getting crazy heat for most of the match — not exactly the reaction you want your top face to be getting. The two put together some decent action, but you could tell the crowd was waiting for The Rock to get involved. The match ended with a double count out, but The Rock hit the ring and restarted the match with a no-disqualification stipulation. A few seconds into the restart, The Rock hit the rock bottom on Cena and Miz scored the pin. After a few minutes of The Miz celebrating, The Rock beat him up too. The show closed with The Rock posing and the crowd eating it up.
While The Rock definitely had to close the show, I was expecting a bigger reaction. He received a big pop, but I was expecting an enormous one. Perhaps the crowd peaked during The Undertaker and Triple H match. Some people hate the way the show ended, but I like that The Miz can move onto another feud. He’s drawing some great heat and doing extremely well on mainstream television. It also looks like The Rock vs. Cena is a strong possibility for Summer Slam 2011.
Well, that’s how WrestleMania XXVII went down. It’s the Super Bowl of pro-wrestling and I definitely want to hear your thoughts on the show. Please share!
I streamed this. Taker v HHH was the best of the night. The main event was underwhelming in comparison. I think I would have paid $20 but it wasn't worth $60.
I paid $275 for a seat on the floor and don't think it was worth it. In the WWE's defense they did the best they could with what they had. There were no title changes and no heel turns. Nothing happened. Trust me, people booed Cena all night long. It's time for a heel turn for Cena.
i was super disappointed that Alberto Del Rio was the starter match.
Taker vs Triple H was by far the best match, after that i was bored out of my mind.
You should have seen how many people got up for a bathroom break for the Snooki match.
it wouldn't surprise me to know if everyone did that. I would've left too…
@Raymond Padilla
They gave us Sheamus vs. Bryan two times for free on RAW so missing that match was no big deal. I don't know if the PPV showed it but I believe the Undertaker was hurt last night. I believe he really got hurt when HHH tombstoned him. The match was not supposed to end in submission, that was an on the spot improvision because Taker was hurt. After them match he laid there and couldn't move. HHH broke character and was looking concerned but the ref told him to leave. Finally they brought out the little stretcher truck to carry Taker out. He laid there motionless for a really long time.
On a side note, I loved the Taker vs. HHH match but I hate how at PPVs they always pop out of finishing moves. On a normal day one tombstone or one pedigree will pin you but on PPV day they take the Captain America super soldier serum so they can pop out of 4 tombstones, a last ride, and 3 pedigrees.
Best Last Ride ever was when he did it XPac. I hated that little bastard.
You and me both.
@RROD
Good compilation right there. I would nearly shit myself if I could see him do it to XPac again.
Their matches on Raw were about five minutes each. They would of had much more time at WrestleMania and I think they could have delivered an excellent match.
Taker seemed to have done something to his hand. There was blood coming out of his glove and you could see him readjusting it throughout the match. I don't think he was hurt much more than usual. I've seen him backstage. He hobbles around like an old man because his body is wrecked. The sense that I got was that he was just playing up the angle of being taken to the limit by Triple H.
I didn't catch it last night… but I'm watching it right now.
I skipped straight to this comment without reading anything, will talk more later.
Alright… watched it now.
Yeah, Taker/HHH was the best match of the night.
I marked out when I realized that JR and the King were doing the commentary for the rest of the night. Truly awesome.
I also marked out at the Rock/Stone Cold interaction. If it were up to me, after the Rock beat down everyone in the main event, I would have had Stone Cold enter and have what would appear to be an impromptu hardcore match (or bunkhouse stampede match for all us REALLY old school fans).
I like the Miz retaining.
… that's about it.
What about Snooki?
I must admit… I was astonished that she pulled off the handspring elbow. The fact that she's capable of that is probably the only reason she actually had a match at Wrestlemania.
AND JR IS COMMENTATING WITH THE KING AGAIN TONIGHT!!!!
Eh. Sauce in the face = Booker T and Josh Matthews
If my abilities to predict WWE events is as strong as it was 10 years ago (and I am rusty)… it also equals Stone Cold giving Cole a stunner later in the night.
In hindsight, a beer bath is more appropriate.
… not anymore.
(sigh)
Seeing a Wrestlemania match a begin a year in the making (all though it was never in stone then) reminds me of when I was a kid.
That's pretty cool… and it's in the Rock's hometown too.
@ Ray
I told you a while ago the Rock would come back. (Though I'm not the "told you so" type)
Or it's an April Fool's prank a year in the making.
You consider this him being back? This is a part time thing for him. It's not like he'll be on Raw every week and stop making movies.
I worry about setting up a match a year in advance. It's hard to sustain interest and an injury could wreck everything.
He's wrestling in some capacity, that's all that counts. He's more there than you or I, right? If all this in turn helps his movie career more so than if he would have just stayed on the same path he was on, that would prove my theory that the Rock just belongs in the ring and he needs to get over it. I understand the schedule, injury risk, yada, yada… shut your mouth and know your role, Rocky. The man was given a far bigger gift than acting in film. I wish he'd exploit it rather than go far the safer, easier money.
I was thinking about the injury thing too for 'Mania 28, especially on Cena's behalf. I'm sure they have a plan B and C on deck if need be.
On a related note, I wonder what Mae Young and Mark Henry's hand baby looks like now…
Then he can end up walking around like the Undertaker. :P
We now know Cena won't be champ before Mania next year. I don't understand why they couldn't have had that match at this year's Mania. The people wanted to see the Rock vs. Cena. They could have just thrown anybody in there against the Miz, who cares?
WWE will make a lot more money milking it out.
i was very disappointed in RAW last night. i loved the Sin Cara interaction with Sheamus and i can't believe he's already going to get a title shot. I think this is the beginning of the end of Rey Mysterio as the lone Mexican high flyer, it's time to pass the torch.
I loved seeing Sin Cara but not attacking Sheamus. That means Sheamus will have to job to him.
How dare you forget about The Mexicools!!!
i think that's a stable we all would like to forget. It sucks too because i was a big fan of the "juice"!
I've liked Super Crazy since his ECW days.
yeah he was pretty kool. he was a very skilled in ring performer but the Juice had the charisma in my eyes.
Yeah, Juventud was a great worker, but he was a complete dick backstage. A few people in the indies told me horrible stories about working with him.
yeah i can see him being a dick. you could tell when he was cutting promos.
Did anybody watch Tough Enough and see the girl who claimed to have 11 years of wrestling experience but couldn't do anything?
She was pretty awful too. I was also surprised she spent time modeling. She's not that pretty.
I figured she was either full of it, she was referring to a small appearance she had made 11 years ago, or She was referring to some backyard thing with like no ring and some dudes that swore they were legit.
Then, another option comes to mind. She could be a plant to stink it up at the beginning only to train harder and comeback to be in the top 3 (I think the pretty boy dude is winning). Kind of like a "success through hard work" type of moral. I mean, we are talking about a reality show created by a business that has made BILLIONS based on people's inability to tell fiction from reality.