31 Manias in 31 Days: Rewriting Wrestlemania XXVII

[LODemolition]

Today's installment of my "Rewriting WrestleMania" series takes us to unfortunately one of the lesser Manias of all-time, and maybe without question the weakest main event of all-time in The Miz vs. John Cena at WrestleMania XXVII. To me, the only bright spots were the Randy Orton/CM Punk, Rey Mysterio/Cody Rhodes and Undertaker/Triple H matches. I won't mix words. The rest of the card was garbage. How good can any WrestleMania be where Snooki is on the card? This is easily one of my worst 5 Manias of all-time. Here are the results.

April 3, 2011
Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)

1. (Dark) United States Championship:

Sheamus (c) vs. Daniel Bryan ended in a no-contest

2. (Dark) 23-Man Battle Royal:

The Great Khali won by last eliminating Sheamus.

3. World Heavyweight Championship:

Edge (c) w/ Christian def. Alberto Del Rio w/ Ricardo Rodriguez and Brodus Clay

4. Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio

5. 8-Man Tag Team Match:

Big Show and Kane, Santino Marella, and Kofi Kingston def. The Corre (Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel)

6. Randy Orton def. CM Punk

7. Michael Cole w/ Jack Swagger def. Jerry Lawler by disqualification (with Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest referee

8. No Disqualification Match:

The Undertaker def. Triple H

9. 6-Person Mixed Tag Match

John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki def. LayCool (Michelle McCool and Layla) and Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero

10. WWE Championship:

The Miz (c) w/ Alex Riley def. John Cena to retain


*Rewriting WrestleMania XXVII*


1. Tag Team Championship: Hart Dynasty w/ Natalya (c) def. The Usos w/ Tamina

The Hart Dynasty were easily the best tag team in WWE at the time, yet they couldn't even get on this weak card? Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater were the actual tag champs at the time and took part in an 8-man tag. I'd have Kidd and Smith come in the champs and leave the champs over an up and coming Usos team when they were heels.

2. United States Championship: Daniel Bryan (c) def. Alex Riley

The US Title was wasted on Sheamus at this time. Bryan helped give it some credibility when he was champ, actually defending the title regularly. With him being the NXT protege of The Miz, why not put him against The Miz's apprentice Alex Riley? Bryan retains in a battle of Mania rookies.

3. World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match: Christian def. Edge (c)

If only they could have known that this would be Edge's final match before his abrupt retirement, I think they would have not only obviously had him drop the World Title, but I think they would have likely had Christian be his last opponent. Christian turns heel a few months earlier (he turned heel in his feud with Orton in a great series of matches throughout the summer) on his best friend Edge and takes credit for ending his career. I never understood why Del Rio didn't win either actually. He won the biggest Royal Rumble of all-time only to lose at Mania?

4. LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool) def. Trish Stratus and Kelly Kelly

It's sickening that Ziggler and Morrison's talents were wasted in a match featuring Snooki. I'd keep the Trish Stratus return of course, but besides that there's not much I'd keep the same about the 6-person tag.

5. Intercontinental Championship: John Morrison def. Dolph Ziggler (c) w/ Vickie Guerrero

I would have loved to see these 2 go head to head for the IC Title, which was yet again not defended at this WrestleMania. Morrison gets a huge win over Ziggler in a standout contest.

6. Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio

One of the very, very few things about WM27 that I'd keep the same. I liked Cody's gimmick at the time, handing out paper bags to the fans to cover their faces and having to cover his face with a mask after Rey broke his nose and ruined his "dashing" gimmick.

7. Alberto Del Rio w/ Ricardo Rodriguez and Brodus Clay def. Triple H

I wouldn't have had Del Rio win the 2011 Royal Rumble, but I would have given him a breakout win at Mania over Triple H before he would go on to win multiple titles. Triple H did not need to face Taker at WM27. He had already faced him 10 years earlier and yet again at WM28.

8. The Undertaker def. Wade Barrett

Man, did they ever drop the ball with Barrett back then. Not only did they split up the original Nexus way too soon, but then they formed The Corre (Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, and tag champs Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater). Barrett should have in all likelihood had a championship reign under his belt by this point and could have really benefitted from a match w/ Taker. They clearly got it wrong this year.

9. Triple Threat: The Miz w/ Alex Riley def. The Rock and John Cena

Not only should The Miz not have gone into Mania as WWE Champ, but The Rock should not have been just a guest host. People wanted to see him wrestle. These 3 were all intertwined in a feud that should have ended in a triple threat here. I'd give the win to The Miz still just so The Rock and Cena can continue to feud without either having the advantage going into WM28.

10. WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) def. CM Punk

CM Punk should have won the 2011 Rumble. Don't believe me? Go back and watch it and see how he and The Nexus dominated it until inevitably Cena entered and threw them all out. I liked the Orton/Punk feud a lot, but it should have been the main event and for the title. Orton never loses it to The Miz and goes into Mania the champ. I'd let him retain since Punk would get his chance to go in as champion the following year. And that's my WrestleMania 27.


Feel free to comment and/or post your rewritten WMXXVII.

 

[MMK]

I like the idea of Barrett vs Undertaker, and Punk winning the Rumble. But there's no way a match involving Rock/Cena in any shape or form would not end the show. If either of them are involved in a match, let alone with each other, then that's going to be your main event.


WRESTLEMANIA 27

WWE Championship:
CM Punk def. John Cena
I also would have had Punk win the Royal Rumble and go on to face the champion at Mania. I'd have that champion be John Cena. The Rock is still involved in the rivalry. Nothing between he and Cena would change in terms of their verbal sparring. But Punk is added to the mix instead of Miz. Punk could have held his own on the mic with Cena/Rock no problem.
The only problem some might have with this match is that it would take away from Punks win over Cena at MITB a few months later in Chicago. But that wouldnt be true. Punk simply goes in as champ much the way Bret Hart went into Survivor Series 97 as champ with an expired contract. The storyline is, Vince and company have to get the belt of Punk before he leaves. Punks pipebomb remains in tact as he would still have all the same frustrations, and his comments about The Rock would make even more sense if he had been overshadowed by "Dwayne" at that years Mania in which it was he who walked out as champino yet Dwayned got all the press.

World Heavyweight Championship:
The Miz w/Riley vs Edge w/Christian
Instead of cashing in on Randy Orton, I'd have Miz cash in on Edge for the World Championship. Edge gets his rematch at Mania. Not sure who goes over. In hindsight, Miz would be the right choice since Edge would be forced to retire soon after. But since it was his last match, perhaps Edge winning and going out on top is the right call. Either way, Christian continues the feud with Miz after Mania.

The Undertaker def Wade Barrett w/Nexus
The Nexus never should have split off into 2 groups. That has never worked. If it didnt work for nWo Hollywood and nWo Wolfpack I highly doubt it would work for a lesser stable like Nexus. The "New" Nexus led by Punk and "The Corre" were both equally terrible. In fact I can't think of a single example of any team or group with "The New" in front of them that ever worked. The New Foundation (Owen and Anvil), The New Midnight Express (Holly & Bart), The New Rockers (Marty & Leif), The New Razor and Diesel, etc. The New Nexus never should have been. Leave Barrett in charge and keep the group together. They were the hottest thing in 2010 and deserved to make it to Wrestlemania.
The Nexus attacked Undertaker in 2010 and helped Kane bury him alive. Taker should have returned as a suprise entrant in the Rumble and cleared the ring of The Nexus members after a period of the stable dominating and eliminating everyone who entered. All Nexus members are at ringside for this match including Sheffield, Otunga, Mason Ryan, Hennig, Husky Harris, Slater, and Darren Young)
Continuing the Undertaker/Shawn feud for the third year in a row with Triple H replacing Shawn was overkill. I agree with the OP. Especially since Trips had his shot at Taker years ago. Barrett was red hot after 2010, but went downhill in 2011. It can all be traced back to the feud that never was between he and Taker. If they had followed up on what they started it could have been very different for Barrett in the years that followed.

Alberto Del Rio def Randy Orton
Del Rio was going to win MITB later that year, so I dont see why he had to win the Royal Rumble as well. A feud and victory over Orton seems suffice. Del Rios' character was very similar to Ortons character when he debuted. Cocky, privileged, believes its his destiny to be a legend.

King of Kings Triple H def King Sheamus
I would have had Sheamus win their inaugural encounter at WM26 then go on to become a champion for the first time later that year. After winning the King of The Ring, Triple H returns for the first time since last years Wrestlemannia and crashes Sheamus' ceremonial party. Yeah it's a feud we saw last year but I would have preferred to see Taker vs Barrett and with Taker preoccupied, there weren't many dance partners left for Triple H. A rematch with Sheamus would make sense from a booking standpoint.

United States Championship: Submission Match
Daniel Bryan def Jack Swagger w/Michael Cole
The YES lock vs the ankle lock. Swagger was in Cole's corner in the dreadful Cole/Lawler match, but I would have had it be the other way around. Cole should have transitioned to being a heel manager at this point. His logical rival would be Daniel Bryan who he continually harped on as being a vegan nerd every chance he got. When Cole attempts to interfere, Lawler knocks him out with one punch. They didnt need to have a match. Just have them get involved in this match and that would be suffice. Cole gets his comeuppance while Bryan gets the win.

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Cody Rhodes def Dolph Ziggler, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder
Since the MITB concept was no longer a part of Mania, it should have been replaced with another gimmick match. Thats what theyre doing this year, why they didnt do that immediately is beyond me. Combine the Cody/Rey and Dolph/Morrison feuds and you'd have a perfectly good four way which could be a ladder match in itself. But I threw in Kofi, a perenial ladder match favorite, and ZackRyder, who was a rising star at the time. I really liked Cody's delusional disfigured character at this time. Still think he should have stuck with it. I give him the win.

WWE Tag Team Championship
Evan Bourne & Justin Gabriel def Husky Harris and Axl Hennig
Always felt Bourne & Gabriel would have made a great tag team. To see both doing their top rope splash finishers simultaneously would have been a great double team finish to their matches. In the storyline, Gabriel, like Bryan before him, gets kicked out of the Nexus and forms a new partnership with Bourne. They challenge the newest Nexus members who took Gabriel and Bryans place, season 2 NXT alumni Harris and Hennig. Forget Michael McGillicutty and just let him use his real name "Hennig". WWE would never let him go by "Joe" though as they want to own everyones name. So incorporate the Axl from Curtis Axel and call him Axl Hennig.

Brodus Clay def Big Show
Old blood puts the new blood over. I see no reason why Brodus couldn't have been a star in WWE. Forget Funkasaurus. WWE is obsessed with tuning their big men into dancing fools. It was fine with Rikishi in the attitude era where you could do no wrong, but it doesnt fly anymore. As the new big scary monster in town, Brodus could have worked. Even if he doesnt win this match, perhaps he gets DQ'd, it still ends with him standing tall over a fallen Show.

 

[Mac]

WWE Championship Match- The Miz (c) vs Randy Orton

After cashing in on Orton in November I'd have Miz screw Orton in the rematch and cost Orton in the Rumble match. Orton wins a number 1 contenders match at the EC PPV. Miz retains here before Orton regains the title at Extreme Rules a month later.

Grudge Match- John Cena vs CM Punk

After CM Punk became the new leader of the Nexus and attacked Cena on the last Raw of '10 that should've lead to this match here.

John Morrison vs Dolph Ziggler

Snooki would be in Morrison's corner and stops Vicki when she tries to interfere.

WM Battle Royal- I'd throw everybody else in this match.

The Rock opens the show and that's it.

Sheamus/Bryan gets on the show instead of being a dark match.

Everything else remains the same.

 

[Aquaman6686]

Dark Match - Ezekiel Jackson def. Santino Marella:

I'm splitting the Corre into separate matches, and these guys didn't deserve to be on the main card.

Sheamus def. Daniel Bryan to retain the United States Championship:

There was no reason for this to be a dark match. Get rid of the lumberjacks too. Just put it on the main card, and Sheamus retains.

Kane & The Big Show def. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel to win the WWE Tag Team Championship:

WM27 needed more title matches, and at least one title change. Kane & Big Show win the titles in a brief squash match.

Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio:

Stays exactly the same.

CM Punk def. Randy Orton:

The same match, but switch the result. Punk should have gone over here.

Wade Barrett def. Jack Swagger (w/Michael Cole) and Christian (w/Jerry Lawler) in a Triple Threat Match to retain the Intercontinental Championship:

Rather than Lawler vs. Cole, each man puts their career on the line for their representative (if Swagger wins the title, Lawler must retire, and it Christian wins the title, Cole must retire). Barrett retaining prevents either man from retiring and keeps the feud going.

Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) def. John Morrison (w/Snookie):

There was zero reason for Snookie to wrestle. Give Ziggler a win on the grand stage, and what a match this could have been.

The Undertaker def. Triple H in a No Holds Barred Match:

No changes.

Trish Stratus def. Michelle McCool (w/Layla) to win the Divas Championship:

Rather than have McCool drop the title to Eve at the Royal Rumble, I'd have her keep it and defend against the greatest Women's Champion of all time. Trish wins the title before dropping it to Layla the next night on RAW, beginning the split of LayCool.

The Miz (w/Alex Riley) def. John Cena to retain the WWE Championship:

During the match, the ref gets knocked out, and The Rock appoints himself special guest referee. The Miz pins Cena, who has his foot under the ropes, but The Rock doesn't see it and counts the pinfall. After the match, Cena argues with The Rock, leading to the Rock Bottom and the feud between the two continues as it did in real life.

Edge def. Alberto Del Rio to retain the World Heavyweight Championship:

Add in a stipulation that anyone who interferes (Brodus, Christian, Ricardo) will be fired. Edge deserved to close the show here (and I said that from day one, not due to his retirement), as did Del Rio since he won the Royal Rumble. Make the match a little longer, an extra five minutes or so, but keep the finish the same. End the show with Edge holding the World Heavyweight Championship above his head as the pyro goes off, and in my book you have a MUCH-improved WrestleMania 27.

 

[roipdh123]

Wrestle Mania 27:

1.Submission Match for the WWE United States Championship
Daniel Bryan {C} def. William Regal.

2.Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Alberto Del Rio def. Kofi Kingston & Dolph Ziggler & John Morrison & Drew Mclntyre & Kane & The Big Show & Justin Gabriel.

3.Singles Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio {C}

4.No Disqualification Match
Mark Henry def. Sheamus {As a babyface}.

5.Singles Match for the WWE Divas Championship
Kharma def. Beth Pheonix {C}.

6.Singles Match
The Miz def. Triple H.

7. Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship
Wade Barrett {C} def. Cm Punk and Randy Orton.

8.Singles Match
Jerry "The King" Lawler def. Michael Cole.

9.Co - Main Event: Singles Match with The Rock as the Special Guest Referee
The Undertaker def. John Cena.

10.The Main Event: Retirement Match for the World Heavyweight Championship - where the winner will win the title and the loser must retire.If someone interferes in the match they will be fired.
Christian {2011 Royal Rumble Winner} def. Edge {C}.
For me they could have done everything with Cena and Rock in that night and it will forever not be the most important and significant moment of the night for me - as this one belonged in the first match. As an Edge fan I think he deserved to go out in the main event of the biggest show of them all and that's what is going on here.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Oh goodness, where do I even START????

This is one of the worst Wrestlemanias of all time. The only thing saving it from being the absolute worst in the history of the brand was Undertaker VS Triple H. Out of all the Wrestlemania events, this is by far the one I would change the most. There's so many changes that unlike my other posts in this thread series, I'm listing out the whole card. So.... here we go.


Pre-Show: The Corre VS Santino's APPLE Stable
Why this made the main card instead of Daniel Bryan VS Sheamus is beyond me. It was useless filler so this is where it belongs. Santino's team still wins.

1. Daniel Bryan VS Sheamus (US Championship)
THIS NEEDED TO BE ON THE MAIN CARD! It could have been one of the better matches of the night. Bryan retains.

2. Cody Rhodes VS Rey Mysterio
Nothing much to really change here. Cody still wins.

3. The Miz VS Randy Orton
Orton wins. Miz would have lost the WWE Championship to CM Punk. There is no way his reign should have lasted as long as it did.

4. Alberto Del Rio VS Edge (World Heavyweight Championship)
This is where his match should have been. Edge still gets his moment by retaining in his final match. You don't open Wrestlemania with a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH! That is an insult to the fans and to the belt. Alberto didn't win the Royal Rumble to OPEN Wrestlemania. What a joke. The match itself was fine, its placement on the card however was a big problem on the actual show.

5. Jack Swagger (With Michael Cole) VS Jerry Lawler
This would have been much better. Why would you have an actual wrestler in Swagger train an announcer in Cole? Swagger faces Lawler for Cole in the idiotic announcer feud of 2011. Lawler wins and the feud ENDS HERE. Stone Cold can still be the guest ref here like he was in the original. He hits a stunner on Swagger then celebrates with Lawler in the ring for a bit after the match has already ended.

6. Undertaker VS Triple H
This was great. No changes are made and Taker still wins.

7. Trish Stratus VS Natalya (Divas Championship)
Natalya would have retained against Eve earlier in the year. Trish was able to work a match here so instead of the pointless mixed tag team match they could have given us one of the best womens matches ever. Natalya retains against the legendary Trish. If Snooki HAD to be involved she could be the guest ref here.

8. John Morrison VS Dolph Ziggler
Filler, but the two of them deserved to have their own match seperate from the useless mixed tag team match. Morrison wins.

9. CM Punk VS John Cena (WWE Championship)
Punk retains and The Rock (who is still the guest host in my version) still gets involved at the finish to help set up the Wrestlemania 28 main event.


This would have been much better than the real Wrestlemania 27 which, with the exception of Taker VS Trips, was 100% garbage.

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

Really really bad show.. One of the WORST Wrestlemanias ever..

Here's my card:

*DARK MATCH*

4-on-4 match; Kofi Kingston's Intercontinental Championship also on the line against Wade Barrett
The Corre (Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater) def. Kofi Kingston(C), Santino Marella, Kane & Big Show

*MAIN CARD*

Singles match for the United States Championship
Daniel Bryan(C) def. Sheamus
This gets on the main card.

Singles match
Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio

Singles match
Randy Orton def. Alberto Del Rio
It was too early for Del Rio to win the Royal Rumble and be in a headlining match at Wrestlemania. Indtead, i'd build Del Rio slowly. Have him in an interpromotional match against RAW's Randy Orton.

Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Edge def. Dolph Ziggler(C) and Christian
The company didn't know Edge was retiring. Not until the final days of the final week before Wrestlemania. I remember that they wanted to plant seeds for an upcoming Christian vs Edge feud. This would be the beginning. Ziggler wins the World Championship the way he did, but doesn't drop the belt to Edge the same night. Instead Edge is put in the hunter position. A returing Christian is also added in the mix in order to give the match more sparks, set the seeds for an upcoming Edge vs Christian feud. Edge wins so that he can get his final Wresltemania moment. Christian then beats Ziggler in a Ladder match at Extreme Rules and then history goes down with the Orton vs Christian feud.

Tag Team match
John Morrison and Jerry Lawler (w/ Stone Cold) def. The Miz and Michael Cole (w/ JBL)
First off, Miz does not walk into 'Mania as WWE Champion. Secondly, Lawler wins his first Wresltemania match, not Cole. Thirdly, a one-on-one Lawler vs Cole match should have never happened. It was wrong. A mistake. Cole and Miz was buddies. JoMo was Miz's ling time rival, so he joins Lawler against these two bullies. Miz shines as he interracts with Austin, like he did with The Rock.

No Holds Barred match
The Undertaker def. Triple H

Singles match for the Divas Championship
Natalya(C) def. Trish Stratus
Just the biggest divas match of all time.

Singles match for the WWE Championship w/ Wrestlemania's guest host The Rock as the special guest referee
CM Punk def. John Cena(C)
It should have been Punk in Miz's place and it should have been Punk trash talking The Rock and it should have been Punk who wins the 2011 Royal Rumble and his New Nexus. That's really simple. He was #1 heel in the company. He was the best talker and the best in the ring. Cena wins the WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber match from the Miz. After a fall out between Rock and Cena, The Rock costs Cena the belt and the CM Punk era begins.