TheOneBigWill's 'take' on Wrestlemania XXIV (24)
The Opening: So, the opening pyro honestly was horrible. With such a wide open option available to them, they went for more fireworks than actual stage pyro. As a result, because there isn't a dome to inclose the sound, the pyro didn't come across on Pay Per View as anything big.
John Legend opens. Why Lilian can't just sing this song herself is beyond me. I understand Wrestlemania needs big names to boost the star power, but no way is this guy better at the song than Lilian.
The Matches:
Belfast Brawl: Finlay w/ Hornswoggle v. J.B.L.: Overall, the opening match is the one expected to be the most hard hitting of them all. Hornswoggle is brought out by Finlay, as the match gets under way with Finlay taking it to J.B.L... until he decides weapons are needed.
Honestly, the match was not what some said it could be equalled to. Some claimed the match had a heated rivalry to equal that of a Foley/Edge hardcore match. I can honestly say, this match was not anything special. I got more humor out of watching J.B.L. take random shots and Hornswoggle than I did anything else. In the end, J.B.L. picks up the victory with a clothesline from hell. So, in the end, good doesn't always win? And the ultimate understanding.. its okay to beat up helpless midgets and get away with it in the end. Nice.
Money In The Bank Match: Mr. Kennedy v. C.M. Punk v. Carlito v. Shelton Benjamin v. John Morrison v. M.V.P. v. Chris Jericho: By far,
the best Money In The Bank match to date. Even (unfortunately) better than the one Edge won, in my opinion. This match was filled with tremendous spots that made me jump out of my seat, simply saying nothing more than "Holy Shit!"
John Morrison was clearly (to me) the star of tonight's match, as he had the most spots that made people take notice. Shelton Benjamin was the subjected target for pain, as he took the broken ladder spot from inside to outside of the ring.
Matt Hardy made his return to a nice ovation, delivering a twist of fate to M.V.P. taking him out of the match. Finally, when everyone figured Chris Jericho had the match wrapped up, C.M. Punk came in, sweeped Jericho's leg into the ladder, and took the match.
Brand War: Batista v. Umaga: They allowed the Raw General Manager (William Regal) & Assistant Manager (Teddy Long) introduce their respective Superstars. Overall, the match wasn't as great as I had hoped but it was more or less what I expected.
It was some nice back and forth action, although they didn't seem to give them too much time to work with. Umaga barely hit any of his spots, and in the end Batista likely destroyed his back on that wicked Batista Bomb to Umaga. Batista picks up the victory in the end.
E.C.W. Championship: Chavo Guerrero v. Kane: Ladies and Gentlemen, 5 seconds. Chavo enters via the E.C.W. General Manager announcing him, Kane's music hits, he enters behind everyone.. Chavo turns around, the bell rings, Chavo rushes, Kane grabs and delivers a thunderous Chokeslam, makes the cover and becomes the
NEW E.C.W. World Heavyweight Champion.
All in all, I hope this is what Kane needs to light a fire within him to be a better Superstar, because like it or not, hes the new guy on top of E.C.W.
Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair v. Shawn Michaels: Staged or not, Shawn Michaels in all likelyhood busted the **** out of his ribs. The early moonsault spot to the announcer's table could've easily shaved years and several monthes off of whats remaining in Shawn Michael's storied career.
Overall, the match wasn't anything completely special, but given the opponent, Shawn did what was exactly asked of him, which was give Ric Flair an ending match that the world would remember. I wasn't a huge fan of the semi-ending, where H.B.K. went for the Superkick then stopped. All in all, I understand why, but it just pisses me off that he knows and had knew all along going into the match what was at stake if he were to win. So why suddenly get second thoughts in the middle of the match.
Only to then lock in your own version of a figure four, in which had Flair tapped it would've ruined his entire career.. or rather ended it in irony. Again, great match.. just bad spots.
BunnyMania: Beth Phoenix & Melina w/ Santino Marella v. Ashley Massaro & Maria: The greatest part to this match was when the Power went out.
Apparently Orlando doesn't care about the Divas anymore than the rest of the Wrestlemania audience. hahaha
Seriously though, giving Beth & Melina the victory shocked me because the match was built around Divas instead of female wrestlers, but I'm happy they didn't crap on the talented female's for the playmates. Santino, Jerry Lawler and Snoop Dogg all played stupid roles in the match.
W.W.E. Championship: Triple Threat Match: Randy Orton v. John Cena v. Triple H.: SHOCK OF THE NIGHT! Randy Orton walks out of Wrestlemania with his Championship intact. And to beat all else, he pinned John Cena to do it! What does this say to everyone?
1. Triple H. didn't win the Championship like everyone assumed. 2. John Cena is NO LONGER undefeated at Wrestlemania. 3. Randy Orton just became a legend, for being one of very few heels to walk in and out of a Wrestlemania with his Heavyweight Championship.
The match itself was very good for as far as Triple Threats go. They had great action between all of them. It was pointed out to me that Randy Orton may of injured his knee, or he sold it really greatly. Either way, I'm happy for the shock that I received as I never seen Randy Orton leaving Mania with the Championship. Hell, to be completely honest I was never sold on him entering with it.
The Biggest v. The Best/Anything Goes Grudge Match: The Big Show v. Floyd 'Money' Mayweather: The announcers pointed out that at some point during the WEEK, this match was turned into an Anything Goes match. I must have missed that memo.
In my opinion, this was the worst thing to happen to the W.W.E. as far as seeing them as completely fake is concerned. Big Show, in complete honesty, should've and would've likely killed that little bug. Mayweather acted completely cocky and like a prick at the beginning of the match. I have NO clue when the roles of heel and face were reversed, but everyone was cheering Show and booing Mayweather. Furthermore, Mayweather was acting like a heel, while Show was fighting off everyone like a face.
This is nothing more than a new/next generation version of Lawerence Taylor v. Bam Bam Bigelow.
The Promos:
Kennedy Before MITB: Kennedy cut another lack-luster promo, prior to MITB about how hes going to become the first guy to ever win back-to-back MITB matches. I'm pretty sure its average promos like this as to why Kennedy didn't walk out the victor. Then I remember who actually did, and still scratch my head.
Snoop Dogg & Santino Marella: Mr. Snoopy the Dogg. Santino is a genius! And why on earth was Snoop Dogg hanging out with Festus to begin with? For them to have Snoop claim Festus was a lot like him, was basically having Snoop openly admit to being a braindead pot smoking moron. Great decision on W.W.E.'s part. Snoop had NO clue.
And Foley with the blinged out Socko.. another beautifully done segemnt.
Raven Symone/Make a Wish: HOLY CRAP! Raven made a wish for big f*cking tits and definately got a wish granted, if you ask me. SWEET MOTHER she could feed a 3rd world country with those jugs!
Outside of adding to the list of reasons why I'm going to hell, for scooping an underage (she is underage, right?) girl's huge breasts.. I laughed unbelieveably when she proceeded to ask the Make a Wish children (most of which were in WHEELCHAIRS) to stand up.
Edge: The Wrestlemania sized promo of all promos, if you ask me. Edge sold every bit of it. He recalled being an innocent child who immortalized Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI. A child whos innocence and dreams were shattered when the Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan before his very eyes.
Edge said somewhere in the audience, was another young child who immortalized and innocently loved and dreamed of the Undertaker going 16-0. Edge then said it would be his pleasure to destroy that child's dreams.
Attendance Record: 74,635 in attendance. Next year, we hit Houston.
Main Event: World Heavyweight Championship: Edge v. The Undertaker: Maybe its because I'm one sided in this, but Edge's entrance was a lot more big time/Mania filled than the Undertaker. Taker didn't have the usual breath-taking moment he typically does, but Edge was (like always) filled with emotion and his pyro was definately on top for being one of the best of the night.
By far the greatest match of the night. It started slow, and went kinda average until the middle when things began to finally pick up. Once it finally did pick up, it didn't slow down or stop. Edge made the biggest mistake of all, in trying to defeat the Undertaker with a Tombstone, in which Taker reversed into his own. At which point, the official had to sprint down the runway which almost looked like he was running in place for the longest period of time ever.
The match continued after a kick out, then followed by the Edge Heads making a run-in. Edge picked up a spear and it looked to be completely over, until Taker kicked out. Edge sets up and drills Taker with another finisher, but remains in between Taker's legs, as Taker uses all he had left to lock in his submission finisher and ultimately made Edge tap out, allowing Taker to officially go 16-0, and become a 6 time World Heavyweight Champion.
Overall: As a fan of pure action overall, I enjoyed the night as it was definately filled with some great moments. As a fan favorite of selective wrestlers, this was quite possibly the worst Pay Per View I've ever witnessed.
First, John Morrison stole the show (in my opinion) in the MITB match, especially when the ladders were locked and he ran up the upside down one. He honestly should've won with that alone, it was one of those "holy shit whats he doing" moves, where you would've never seen it coming. Secondly, C.M. Punk ends up with the ultimate victory?
WHY?! Morrison has been and definately is WAY more over than he is. Think back to the E.C.W. Championship wars they've had, the fans were more into Morrison than Punk.. so why does W.W.E. think Punk is ready for the next level.
If you look closely you could actually see a plane circling over head during the MITB match. You couldn't make out what it said, but I'm likely assuming that was the big T.N.A. interruption moment.
Shawn Michaels' rib busted moonsault almost had me shit myself, simply because I thought the man killed himself with internal injuries. I would NOT be shocked if he comes out tomorrow on Raw and explains to the world that he'll need the next 5-6 monthes off to repair major internal injuries. The overall H.B.K./Flair match didn't have me as hyped as I felt I was going to be.. but that move alone had me worried more than anyone, to think it was completely real and he was completely hurt badly.
I laughed incredibly hard when the lights went out during the Diva's match. Especially when the announcer's had to fill in the blanks with the classic.. "Its too early for the Undertaker to be coming out." line.
Randy Orton winning was definatey the shock of the night, next to C.M. Punk winning MITB. And the bigger shock was when Punk cashed in.. Oh, wait.. thats right..
THEY BLEW IT! W.W.E. had the best opening to give Punk his legit shot by doing the reverse role of a face cashing in on a heel.. but no, instead, congrats should go to Punk for becoming the first MITB winner to win it, yet not become a World Champion. (Kennedy doesn't count - Edge took it from him)
I was more than a bit pissed that the W.W.E. jobs out the Big Show to some good for nothing punk ass boxer, who's being billed as "the best" in the boxing world, when hes won 39 f*cking matches. Son, talk to me when you've won triple digits. I've met amateurs who have more knockouts then "Money."
The night capped me out furiously when Edge had the single greatest chance at defeating the Undertaker after absolutely little to no build at all. His spear to Taker after the Edge Heads interference was the best opening. Followed by him actually connecting on the second spear. What they should've did, was had Taker's shoulders pinned to the mat for a 3 count, RIGHT as Edge taps out. Now THATS how you should end a f*cking show!
Instead, they did the typically figured plan with Undertaker winning in the end, and seeing how long he can go before reinjuring himself only for Edge to save their ass again.
Overall.. as a fan of wrestling in general, I give it an 8 outta 10. But as a fan favorite of selective guys, the show was horrible for me.
