Lack of Execution With Minor Redemption

Wrestlemania XXIX
Courtesy of WWE.com

Wrestlemania XXIX, in my opinion, was a failure and a disappointment, and I'll defend my opinion.

Wrestlemania, on a grand scale, has been hyped ever since its inception back in 1985 as the World Series of Wrestling; the Super Bowl of WWE Superstars; the Stanley Cup of its genre. This is where the WWE goes all out at the peak of visuals, storylines, character development, the whole enchilada. Wrestlemania XXIX fell far short of all these things that Wrestlemania is truly about; ending on a high note. This PPV, was in comparison, the caliber of Unforgiven, Survivor Series, or Extreme Rules. Something you would expect in the middle of the year. And a lot of this is based solely on character development and execution. I was watching an interview with Trish Stratus yesterday before the big event, and she mentioned something along the lines that character development was lacking. How true was that?! When was the last time we had a new character that the audience could actually get behind and root for, or boo because of the story behind him/her, and the feuds made sense? John Cena is a perfect example of character development that had begun, but now falls flat because no one took the time to continue to work on his character. He was the "Doctor of Thuganomics"; now he is "SuperCena", able to win all odds, because "he can." Why? How does Cena win so much? Because he is passionate about the business? Because not one wrestler in the locker room can find their stash of Kryptonite and weaken him? All bad elements around such a workhorse.

Cena was booed practically out of MetLife Stadium. I can understand that he is a Boston Boy in Jersey/New York, and the Yanks hate Boston because of the Bambino Curse (and vice versa), but that wasn't the issue at hand; NOBODY in that arena wanted Cena to face the Rock AGAIN, and NOBODY in that arena wanted Cena to walk out of MetLife Stadium the WWE Champion. But everyone knew that. Everyone knew that Cena was going to get his redemption, and he did. Royal Rumble was a joke once Cena won.

Many are also saying that the Rock passed the torch, as Hogan did with the Rock at Wrestlemania 18 and making comparisons to that match. There is NO COMPARISON to that!! Take a look below at the footage of Wrestlemania 18.

Hogan and the Rock BLEW THE ROOF off of the SkyDome. In Toronto of all places! The fans were absolutely nuts about it. Last night was a slumberfest. Nobody cared. That was the sad part. No development. Horrible execution. NO INTENSITY. The Rock took his loss. And now, with a lingering injury, there are reports that the Rock left and went back to Los Angeles. Anyone who paid attention saw that he wasn't very happy with the ending, even with working through the pain. And honestly, I don't think the injury is legitimate. I think the Rock just wants to go home.

I don't blame him. The Rock should have retained, Cena should have made the heel turn (and not a ridiculous spin on his heel), and much of the IWC would be content. Passing the torch at that point in time was unnecessary. Cena would have stayed with the company, heel turn or not. And the Rock is STILL the #1 contender! Imagine that. I foresee a blown opportunity here.

The Undertaker/CM Punk match was another disappointment. Whatever happened to the anger and hatred that CM Punk had from the Undertaker going into the match? Whatever happened to the fuel to the fire? Did it just lose steam and the two superstars just were attempting to put on a show? About two minutes into the match, I lost sight on why CM Punk and Taker were going at it, and I needed to remind myself why this match was taking place. There should have been some sort of reminder (outside of using the urn as a weapon) from Punk, or Heyman, that could anger Taker.

Courtesy of WWE.com

I am glad the Streak lives on, but Mark Callaway looked painful to watch in the ring. He's not my idea of what I remember as the unstoppable Undertaker any longer. Are we to believe now that Taker will continue to lace up the boots and "defeat" other potential opponents every year? It's just not the same. And with a rumor that Cena will be the potential usurper to Taker's streak, how much more will the WWE fill Cena with bogus wins? Is he honestly going to be the new Hogan? And if that is going to be the case... TURN HIM HEEL. Cena needs to have a bad guy persona, a character development on the other side of the spectrum.

Going back to CM Punk, if it was going to be someone to end the streak, it should have been him. Punk or Dolph Ziggler. I can't see any other two superstars that will get a bigger boost from the win. But at this point, let the streak go undefeated. And my hat goes off to Paul Heyman. He has been phenomenal and working with two gentlemen up until Wrestlemania. I really hope that Vince or Triple H keeps Paul around for booking, and CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Unfortunately, both CM Punk and Brock Lesnar lost (and I will get to that point in a minute), yet Heyman's amazing ability to get CM Punk and Lesnar working is awesome. CM Punk and the Undertaker had an outstanding match, for the conditions that were there. The Undertaker needs to pass his own torch to a young guy who could legitimately beat the streak.

"I'm watching you, HBK."
Courtesy of WWE.com

Lastly (as I believe no other match on the card really deserves any attention), the Triple H/Lesnar match was downright boring, until Shawn Michaels got involved. The look Brock gave Shawn was priceless after a failed superkick. "Oh, I'm gonna f**k you up now, cowboy!" After that, the match redeemed itself somewhat. Again, it wasn't captivating enough to hold my attention. but it was pretty solid up until the end. The ending itself... Brock should have won. At least ONE of Heyman's clients should have walked out the winner. If not CM Punk (as his odds were stacked against him), Lesnar should have been the dominating superstar, and let Triple H go back into the recesses of the corporate agenda. Brock would still be around. Triple H could come back as a General Manager, and the world keeps on spinning.

Considering that Wrestlemania was headlined by FOUR part timers, three of which are the top matches on the card, WWE Creative needs to revamp the roster, and do what I have been stating at the beginning of the article; CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! If it doesn't happen now, the WWE will lose more and more steam going to each event, until the product becomes stale.

Stay tuned; my RAW review is coming up next!

 

Does the Deadman Arise for Wrestlemania?

The Undertaker
Courtesy of WWE

For a couple of months now, this has been the question posed among many fans and WWE personnel alike--Does The Undertaker make an appearance at Wrestlemania to defend the streak? The Undertaker is the oldest "active" (and I use that term loosely) wrestler on the WWE roster at 47, following Kane at 45. One may say that, "Well, Kane is very active for being 45 and he can definitely make it to Wrestlemania", but there are a lot of differences between both wrestlers' timeline in the WWE. The Undertaker has been in high profile matches, some very hazardous in his career (multiple Hell in a Cell matches, Last Rides, Caskets, etcetera). The Undertaker also began his career in 1984, eight years before Kane stepped foot into the squared circle, and was already main-eventing Wrestlemanias and holding World Championships before Kane made his debut. More so, Kane has allowed Daniel Bryan carry a ton of weight in tag matches to ease aging aches and pains. But this article isn't meant to dwell on the Undertaker's past; it is about the present, and ultimately, the future of the Dead Man.

Will the Undertaker make it this year to Wrestlemania 29?
Only he knows the answer to that.
Courtesy of the WWE

Triple H, Chief Operating Officer of the WWE and part-timer extraordinaire  stated that the WWE Universe has not seen the last of the Undertaker. This was a broad and general statement leaving many possibilities and outcomes open for interpretation. In what capacity will we see the Undertaker return? In a wheelchair? Joking aside, possible opponents thrown Undertaker's way have been Ryback, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, and Triple H (repeat). Ultimately, the decision to face which wrestler is decided by Taker himself, and more importantly, will this wrestler end the streak? Will the streak even be put on the line at this Wrestlemania? And will this wrestler chosen be pushed into the stars and be revered as a legend or a fraud that the IWC will absolutely despise and tune out? Honestly, I don't think the WWE really cares what the IWC thinks, but they are interested in preserving the Undertaker's legacy and keep him around on a Legend's Contract with the best of intentions and keep him out of TNA territory. There has been several ideas as there are doubts of Undertaker's healthy return of having a tag-team match and allow Taker to keep his streak intact; keeping the streak alive by not bringing it into Wrestlemania as a contention; or having him avoid Wrestlemania altogether. It has been nearly thirteen years that the Dead Man has has a Wrestlemania off, since Wrestlemania 2000 (17), and it may be well deserved. On top of that, there hasn't been a build for any type of feud with the Undertaker, and it would be slightly rushed to start a feud with a superstar two months away from April 7th, and even so right after Elimination Chamber. If this is Taker's last ride (no pun intended), it should be big. Monumental. It should tell a story on the (possible) downfall of the Dead Man and pass the torch to a young superstar the correct way and not have it handed off to some main-eventer who is already established.

Mark Callaway, as the Undertaker outside the world of wrestling entertainment, has a healthy life from the ring. Married to former WWE Diva Michelle McCool with a baby girl, he is a real estate investor with business partner Scott Everhart. Taker is well established and with one or two years left in him within the business, Undertaker could retire very comfortably after a handsome payday from Vince and Wrestlemania. But again, the main question is; will he show? Rumor has it, he is training for the big one, but that is another vague statement. I believe that Taker should rest one more year to Wrestlemania 30, and take a Lesnar-esque schedule and pick one wrestler to start a feud with, and run with it all year, psycho-analyzing this rookie and and mentally picking him apart, piece by piece, until the big one where the young defeats the old.

I'm thinking Ziggy.