What will close the show?

[Dagger Dias]

Wrestlemania 28 is surely going to be a phenominal show. Only one match will get to be the final match of the evening and close the show. In this thread I want to discuss which match (or matches) you guys think might get the honor this year.

I can see as many as 4 different potential closers. The obvious one of course is John Cena VS The Rock. Dream matches don't always go on last though. Some subscribe to the theory that the world titles should go on last. That means the WWE Championship match may go last. Nearly every Wrestlemania has had the WWE Championship last. Or perhaps the World Heavyweight Championship might get to be the final match? The last time the World Heavyweight Championship went last was in 2008. Finally, we have the Undertaker undefeated streak match. A few Wrestlemania's have ended with Taker standing strong after keeping his streak intact.

I don't think it will be Taker VS Trips going last. The World Heavyweight Championship is not likely to get to close this year either. Sheamus is probably going to challenge for that belt, I don't see it closing though. Punk VS Jericho is the likely WWE Championship match and it might go on last, that is if Cena & The Rock don't go last. Dream matches rarely close the show though, it is almost always the WWE Championship match due to it being the top prize of the federation up for grabs at the biggest show of the year. Even when The Rock faced Hogan, that match was a bigger deal than the world title match, but Jericho and Trips still went on last. That might happen again this year, and it is honestly my prediction. Cena and The Rock deserve to go on last, but I see history repeating itself and it being high up on the card although not the closer. Perhaps 3rd to last, with a Divas match or something lesser going next to last to revive the crowd, and Punk facing Jericho for the WWE Championship closing the show.

What about the rest of you, what match do you think will close the show at Wrestlemania 28 by having the honor of going on last in the evening? Why?

Discuss!

 

[The Crock]

It'll be Rock and Cena. That has been the main event of this show ever since they announced it and I have no doubt that it will close out the show. WWE has to have learned from what happened at WrestleMania 18, where Jericho and Triple H went on last, after Rock and Hogan, and the crowd was just out of the match -- for various reasons, but mostly because nothing could top Rock and Hogan. Rock and Cena NEED to close out the show, the last image we as viewers need to see is the winner of that match standing tall.

Rock versus Cena isn't just the biggest attraction of the year, it may be the biggest match of all time. It would be a travesty if they didn't close the show. Nothing is more important than that match, everything will pale in comparison. Why close with the streak or either of the world titles, when the entire show is all about Rock and Cena. This is a once in a lifetime match, this is the type of match that must go on last. It would be a slap in the face to all the fans in that stadium to have Rock and Cena go on, then follow that up with a match that can never live up to it. I think the WWE is well aware of this, too.

You mentioned a scenario with Rock and Cena going on third to last, with a divas match after, with Jericho and Punk closing out the show. That would be a disaster. Divas -- AFTER Rock and Cena?! The crowd would either not care, like, at all, or they would boo the divas out of the ring. Punk and Jericho will put on a great match, but you just don't put anything on after a legendary match of these proportions. The WWE can't top Rock and Cena, so they shouldn't try. They should let it naturally progress, building to it all night long, then end the show with that match -- the match that will be remembered, the match that will go down in wrestling history as a defining moment.

 

[hatehabsforever]

I will be absolutely flabbergasted if anything other than the John Cena versus The Rock match ends up closing the show. The biggest name of today's era, competing against one of the bigger names of the Attitude Era, after a year of hype and anticipation, how can this not be the main event of the evening? Lots of build, both on the show and beyond it through such avenues as twitter or talk shows, with definite uncertainty as to who will win the match, this will definitely be the climax of the show.

The WHC hasn't been featured on a PPV for ages, so there's no reason to think it will be the focal point of the biggest event of the year. All due respect, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Mark Henry, or even Randy Orton cannot be expected to outshine Cena/Rock.

The WWE Championship, apparently Chris Jericho and CM Punk, should be great, but this won't be near the level of Rock/Cena either. I'm not sure if this match is going to come anywhere near where the WWE brass think it is going to. Personally, I had been anticipating this match, but so far, have found myself caring very little about it.

The only other match which could possibly be the main event would be Triple H versus Taker, but this would only be the case if the streak were to end. Personally I don't see this happening, and I really hope it doesn't. If the Undertaker preserves the streak, there's no way this match closes the evening. And I have to question if these guys can still go in the ring to a degree worthy of closing the biggest event of the year.

John Cena versus the Rock will be the main event of Wrestlemania 28, count on it. The only question is, who wins it? Personally I think it will be John Cena.

 

[midgensa]

Wow ... got a lot of legs out of this one.

Those are some long posts for such an obvious answer.

John Cena vs. The Rock will absolutely close the show. It has been set in stone as the WrestleMania 28 main event since before WrestleMania 27!

You mention The Rock vs. Hogan and the WWE KNOWS that was a mistake ... that is why they did not screw around and not close with HBK vs. Undertaker II.

There is no chance that anything other than The Rock vs. John Cena closes the show. Can you imagine the fit Dwayne would throw if they told him to go on a 9:00?

 

[Mr. HD]

It's gotta be The Rock vs John Cena.

This match has been Advertised to death, and it's in The Rock's Hometown.

It would be EXTREMELY stupid to not close the show with Rock vs Cena. The one match that has a year of hype behind it, and it doesn't close the show???

In terms of business and entertainment, this match is the Main Event, without question. I Although Punk vs Jericho and Taker vs HHH III are more intriguing, this is Past vs Present, and this is a match people want to see. It's going on last. I'll eat my foot if it doesn't.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Rock versus Cena isn't just the biggest attraction of the year, it may be the biggest match of all time.

It just may be. How many other matches are planned a year in advance? How many others feature today's greatest vs yesterday's greatest......while the guy from yesterday is still physically able to compete with today's?

Plus, I believe the result will be groundbreaking. If Rock wins, the fans celebrate the legend coming back and prevailing. I think Cena turns bad either way in this match, given everything that's been leading up to it. Either he loses and the fans cheer Rock for beating the bad guy, or Cena wins and there's a huge coming-out event denigrating his heel turn.

In either case, it's going to be an end-of-show feature event and I can't believe WWE plans to follow it with another match; which could only be anti-climactic after Cena vs Rock.

 

[JWGunslinger]

As excited as I am for both world title matches and agree that were those match ups the biggest draw on the card they should go last, however no match is bigger this year than Rock vs Cena. There's really no other way to do it, Taker's match is huge but not a show closer and can't rival Rock vs Cena, the match for the WHC is the same and the WWE title match would be were it not for Rock vs Cena because that is the dominant title and an incredible match but even then it shouldn't follow such a match. They did that before with Jericho vs Trips for the Undisputed Title following Rock vs Hogan and after such a huge match the crowd was a little burned out, and you never want that not to mention at Mania. Rock vs Cena last or we riot.

 

[PlayTheGame]

I think the WWE learned a lesson from the response they got at WM18 with Hogan vs. Rock. HHH and Jericho both said that they had trouble with their match, which went on last, in terms of crowd response because the crowd was exhausted after Hogan/Rock, and rightfully so. HHH and Jericho stated that they wished that they had gone on before that match. So, besides all of the other points that also seem to spell out Rock/Cena as the final main event, I think the WWE similarly recognizes this match to be like Rock/Hogan, and will put it on last. At least, I would hope they learned from their mistake, because I'm sure the crowd will be exhausted after Cena/Rock. One way or another, it will definitely garner the biggest reacion from the crowd all night, which is saying something. I see no reason why not to put it on last.

 

[XXJJ]

IMO Cena vs Rock is a lock to be the last match. 1 year build and its in the Rock's hometown. I think Taker vs HHH will be the 2nd to last match. Taker's WM streak has become the WWE's most over storyline.

The world title match will get a better placing if Orton is involved. If no Orton, I wouldn't be surprised to see DB vs Sheamus open up Wrestlemania like Edge/ADR.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

I don't care about any bogus "give the title the credibility" bullshit. You don't book it like it's sport. They learned their lesson from WMX8, the fans blew their wad on Rock/Hogan and because of it, sucked for the ladies triple threat and the Undisputed title match.

I would end the show like this:
Cena vs Rock
Celebrity match
Punk vs Jericho
Divas match
HHH vs Taker
WHC

With the top being the main and working your way down. The WHC and HHH/Taker back to back isn't bad because HHH and Taker will take 6 years to get to the ring, you put the divas as a buffer after that, and the celebrity is a buffer after Punk/Jericho because really, it's just going to be "o cool that's *insert celebrity*" then all the loud crazy wrestling fans will take a piss while all the "other" people stick around.

 

[Defekt]

Rock vs Cena is one of the biggest WWE matches ever, and it's unthinkable anything else will close the show.

I imagine HHH used his political power to get the main event spot of WM 18, and I'm sure he and Jericho remember what a huge mistake that was.

 

[LSN80]

I would be incredibly disapointed, and shocked at the same time if anything but John Cena vs the Rock closed the show. Anything, and I mean anything, would be a major disapointment in comparison.

This match is more important then the WWE Title. WWE has made that clear when they dropped the idea Cena proposed in the Raw after Wrestlemania 27, that the match be for the WWE Championship. There are those rare times when a match is more important then a title, such as Undertaker/HBK from WM 26. Despite the rumors, nothing has been confirmed, so like HBK's match from WM 26, this could be Rock's last match ever. Who would suggest that any other match would be more important then that?

Another thing to consider is this. While Rock wrestled in the tag match at Survivor Series, this is his first single's match in 8 years. And it's a clash between arguably the biggest star of the Attitude Era and the undeniably biggest star of the Modern Era. Could HHH/Undertaker, Punk/Jericho, or Sheamus vs. the Smackdown Chamber winner possibly measure up to Rock vs Cena? Not a chance.

For all of the discussion and excitement Ive heard surrounding potential matchups for this show, one thing has remained constant. Ive read time and time again on here how people would purchase this PPV if it was just for this match. WWE knows this, they've been building towards this match for a year. No other superstars that will be involved on this card are bigger names. HHH and Undertaker were huge names during the Attitude Era, but they weren't bigger then the Rock. HHH has been active during most of the modern era, and Undertaker has been around a good bit of the time as well.

Have either of them even held a candle to John Cena in terms of biggest star? On the biggest stage, the biggest stars shine. Cena and Rock are those stars, so putting anyone else in the main event would be a collossal mistake. And I'm sure following EC, they'll make this match feel even more epic then it does right now. It's the only match on the card that's set in stone, and for good reason. It's the biggest match that could possibly be made, and it's the match that will close the show.

 

[Paralyzer Z]

I would be ungodly bewildered if anything but Rock and Cena ends the show.

The very first thing that came to my mind when wondering what was going to be the last match at Wrestlemania the Rock/Hogan mistake came to mind. It has been a decade since and WWE knows they blundered greatly when it came to the card placing at Wrestlemania 18. Believe it or not Cena/Rock may as well just be the biggest match in the history of WWE. They announced the match an entire year before the event is taking place, who could they afford not to have it define the show.

The 2 WWE/WHC title matches will be interesting and I am sure that at least one of them will be great, but great is just about as far is it can go. Rock/Cena will be absolutely legendary regardless if by small chance the match doesn't go as expected. It's a clash of 2 generations, a battle to rise above hate (on Cena's part), and it will go on last at Wrestlemania. Not even Undertaker's streak match against most likely Triple H will be able to top Rock/Cena in importance. I am pretty sure I can't say much more than others have on that matter.

Cena/Rock much like Rock/Hogan before it will be a classic in WWE history, however unlike the latter Cena and Rock will be the main event of it's respective Wrestlemania.

 

[thebarber]

Um, The Rock vs John Cena will clsoe the show, undoubtedly.
There is no other option, and considering this has been advertised as the main event and all the promo material os Rock and Cena, this question really did not need asking.

I see the card looking something like this:

1. MITB
2. ZIGGLER VS FOLEY
3. IC TITLE MATCH
4. WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
5. BIG SHOW AND SHAQ VS KANE AND KHALI

INTERMISSION, HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

6. UNDERTAKER VS HHH
7. SINGLES MATCH maybe Orton vs Miz????(assuming its Bryan vs Sheamus for WHC)
8. WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
9. DIVA CHAMPIONSHIP
10. JOHN CENA VS THE ROCK

They generally have a throwaway or not as important match in between main event and title important matches. I see it being a 10 match card

 

[The Dragon Saga]

1. MITB
2. ZIGGLER VS FOLEY
3. IC TITLE MATCH
4. WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
5. BIG SHOW AND SHAQ VS KANE AND KHALI

INTERMISSION, HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

6. UNDERTAKER VS HHH
7. SINGLES MATCH maybe Orton vs Miz????(assuming its Bryan vs Sheamus for WHC)
8. WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
9. DIVA CHAMPIONSHIP
10. JOHN CENA VS THE ROCK

It's a very good thing you have no booking power whatsoever within the WWE. Where the fuck did that tag team match come out of and why on earth would it be placed on the most promising Wrestlemania card in years?

The Rock vs. John Cena will obviously close the show. Although I prefer to see a WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship match close the show it won't be happening here, because The Rock and John Cena is being built as the Main Event already so the question has already been answered, Rock's hometown, two guys who led the path in their respective generations, biggest match WWE have put on in a pretty good while. I'm sure It'll be a hoot.

 

[thebarber]

It's a very good thing you have no booking power whatsoever within the WWE. Where the fuck did that tag team match come out of and why on earth would it be placed on the most promising Wrestlemania card in years?

The Rock vs. John Cena will obviously close the show. Although I prefer to see a WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship match close the show it won't be happening here, because The Rock and John Cena is being built as the Main Event already so the question has already been answered, Rock's hometown, two guys who led the path in their respective generations, biggest match WWE have put on in a pretty good while. I'm sure It'll be a hoot.

My belief is that Shaquiile O'Neill, who is rumoured to be doing something at Wrestlemania, will have some form of face to face with Big Show on Raw or Smackdown this week or next. I dont see Big Show having to put over another celebrity like he did Akebono and Maywether, Im more thinking they will tag up against other big guys. Its made me wonder why the hell Khali has come back in the past few weeks, and Kane will need something to do as I dont see Ryder vs Kane happening at Wrestlemania.
This is how I came up with this match. As for Foley vs Ziggler, again that is pie in the sky stuff but hoping they will work off their angle from before the Rumble.

 

[Khalifa]

It has to be Rock vs Cena. It has been built up for over a year now and is expected to be one of the biggest matches of all time, so for that to not headline WrestleMania would not only make the Rock and Cena look bad but also the WWE as well. Why the hell would you not let these guys main event Mania anyway?

Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to Jericho and Punk and think it will be an awesome match but it wont be and shouldn't be as good as Rock and Cena. Taker shouldn't have his 20th Mania match at this time just because of the build Cena and Rock have and the lack of build Taker has had.

 

[bfred27]

If Rock V Cena doesnt close the show then Vince has lost his mind, you dont go to these types of lengths to promote the match to only have it not close the show. Most years I want to see the title match ending the card but in rare cases I am fine with a non title match ending the show. I was cool with HBK V Taker II closing the show and I want Rock and Cena to end this show, so we get that final moment being one man standing tall in the biggest match in history

 

[MCMG]

I want to see HHH v taker end the show. For two reasons. One is that it will , in my opinion, be the most grasping match of the night. It will have everyone on the edge of their seats kinda thing.
Also the image of Taker going 20-0 is so potent and should end the night. The pyros and the pose has to end the night for me. In what could potentially be his last wrestlemania ever the focus should be on him.

Although i understand the debate for Cena v Rock i would prefer HHH and taker closing the show.

 

[Davi323]

There is no way in hell that the Rock/Cena match isn't going to be last on the card, unless ONE specific thing is planned. IF the Undertaker is retiring for good/ending the streak, I think that would take precedence over Rock/Cena, but that is the only possible alternative. If the Undertaker is scheduled to win, it doesn't finish the show.

The reason I think that HHH/Undertaker could close the show out is because while Rock/Cena is a huge match, in terms of it's actual historical significance, it wouldn't be as huge as the meaning behind the Undertaker's last match/end to streak. The WWE has made such a big deal out of the streak for a decade now, that if it were to end, it would deserve top billing over anything else. Barring that happening though, Rock/Cena is closing the show, guarandamnteed.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

It's going to be Rock vs. Cena. IF WM were being held anywhere else, I wouldn't be so sure. Then I'd think there could be a chance of Trips vs. Taker. As I see it now, it will be Punk vs. Jericho then Trips vs. Taker then to close the show, Rock vs. Cena.

The only way they might put on Trips vs. Taker last is if Trips is booked to win the match (which I highly doubt).

 

[Trill Co$by]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but if Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock didn't even make it past Austin vs. Hall, what makes you think Cena vs. Dwayne will main event this year?

Do not give me that "it's Dwayne's hometown" or "Dwayne's a successful movie star now" bullshit. Rock was a movie star when he faced Hogan at 18, and Hogan is a much bigger name than Cena or Rock will EVER be to wrestling... try and deny it all you want, but without Hogan, there wouldn't be a WrestleMania 28. So if the two biggest names in history didn't main event 18, what makes you think they will in 28? Give one solid reason. Better yet, other than Mike Tyson, name one Movie Star or famous person that was in the main event of a WrestleMania?


I personally believe that HHH vs. Taker has just the amount of steam and drive behind it to main event the show to get people to KEEP watching WWE. Think about it, as amazing as Dwayne vs. Cena is going to be, HHH vs. Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell one on one for the first time is simply phenomenal. You want to talk about reviving Attitude Era fandom, this is the match to do it. Face it, HHH and Taker made the better parts of their careers inside the Hell in a Cell. They've got tons of memorable moments, and for years people have wanted this match to happen this way. Add on to that the fact that this is the legendary 20-0 victory coming up, and this match just screams main event.

Here's how I honestly see the card going with the already confirmed matches:

Main Event
Hell In a Cell
Triple H vs. Undertaker

WWE Championship
CM Punk (c) vs Chris Jericho

John Cena vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Sheamus


Yes, Cena vs. Dwayne has way more star power than Punk vs. Jericho, but at the same time, WWE's going to want to give people some rest before making putting on the main event. CM Punk vs. Jericho is honestly my show stealer of the night.

 

[Davi323]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but if Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock didn't even make it past Austin vs. Hall, what makes you think Cena vs. Dwayne will main event this year?

Do not give me that "it's Dwayne's hometown" or "Dwayne's a successful movie star now" bullshit. Rock was a movie star when he faced Hogan at 18, and Hogan is a much bigger name than Cena or Rock will EVER be to wrestling... try and deny it all you want, but without Hogan, there wouldn't be a WrestleMania 28. So if the two biggest names in history didn't main event 18, what makes you think they will in 28? Give one solid reason. Better yet, other than Mike Tyson, name one Movie Star or famous person that was in the main event of a WrestleMania?

It has nothing to do with the Rock being a movie star. It's because the WWE has been hyping the match for a solid year, that's why. There's your reason. The WWE will put Rock/Cena on last (barring an end to Taker's streak) because it's the match that they have invested by far the most time and money promoting.

Yeesh. Sometimes people completely miss the forest for the trees.

 

[GI Cake]

Because Hogan vs The Rock wasn't billed a year ahead of Wrestlemania, maybe? Rock vs Cena was called almost a solid year. The WWE, Cena, and Rock are building this to be the biggest match of WWE history, the Attitude Era vs the Modern Era, old generation, against the new generation. Hogan/Rock might have have share a similar story but their feud has been no where near as epic as the feud between Rock and Cena. If the biggest match of the year happens at the start of the show, people will leave. Put Cena/Rock in the Mid-Card, the energy would be sucked dry out of the Sun Life stadium and guys like Bryan/Sheamus will be wrestling to the sound of crickets. Cena/Rock has to close the show, plain and simple.

Once again, Hogan/Rock did not have the build that Cena/Rock has have in recent memory. If Austin called out Hogan a year ahead of Wrestlemania X8, and that match wasn't the Main-Event, it would have easily flopped the entire card. And are you saying Professional wrestlers are not famous in their own right? Hogan is a household name across the globe, John Cena is on T.V weekly, wouldn't that make him some degree of famous? This match isn't about the future of the WWE. It is a match of pure nostalgia between two of the greatest Superstars in recent history. Taker, and Triple H are past news, they will always be remembered by fans but will this match will not change the landscape of the WWE.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

It has nothing to do with the Rock being a movie star. It's because the WWE has been hyping the match for a solid year, that's why. There's your reason. The WWE will put Rock/Cena on last (barring an end to Taker's streak) because it's the match that they have invested by far the most time and money promoting.

Yeesh. Sometimes people completely miss the forest for the trees.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

They've been hyping and promoting it for over a year. There's no way they don't make it THE main event of Wrestlemania (barring an end to the streak, which is highly unlikely).