Wrestlemania 28: Team Laurinatis VS Team Long (12 Man Tag Match)

[rocksaviour]

Could of got two matches on the card then for the price of one. I think though they want to move MITB to another PPV either its own PPV or Summerslam I read on the main page the other day.

Seeing those lineups I would want to take away Khali and Henry from each team to take down the numbers and increase the likely quality rating of the match overall.

 

[justinsayne]

According to the latest backstage rumors, the supposed participants for the match will be comprised of:

Team Laurinaitis - Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Christian & David Otunga

Team Long - Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, The Great Khali, Ezekiel Jackson & Rey Mysterio or Evan Bourne

Team Teddy looks terrible, he's got a team full of mid-carders going up against a team full of former WHC/WWE champs. I'd remove both Rey & Christian from the match, both men could put on an amazing match one on one, give Bourne th final spot on Team Teddy. On Team Johnny I would replace Christian with either Miz or MacIntyre (would make sense after what happened on SD! this past week).

I really think this match would be better off as a 8 man tag though, 12 man tags just tend to turn into massive clusterfucks & I highly doubt they even give this match more than 10 mins. which will just make it worse.

 

[Thriller Ant]

I really think this match would be better off as a 8 man tag though, 12 man tags just tend to turn into massive clusterfucks & I highly doubt they even give this match more than 10 mins. which will just make it worse.

I think that's all they really want to come from this match. They'll need breather matches between the main events and this match fits that to a T. Give these guys a couple minutes to be at WrestleMania and let the fans rest before a big match happens. No harm, no foul.

 

[XXJJ]

I would of prefered a one on one match with Laurinatis and Teddy Long in the corner of their respective wrestler. I thought that would of been much more interesting.

But this is a way for a lot of wrestlers to make WM. IMO a 12 man tag is too much. It will turn out to be a bit of a clusterfuck, I dont think they will get that much time. This has to be an elimination match too.

I'm thinking Team Johnny Ace wins. Teddy has been SD GM for a long time. I think his GM reign ends. Johnny is a relatively new on screen character and draws a ton of heat from the audience. He will take over both shows.

 

[The Brain]

A twelve man tag? That's way too crowded. It's nice that a lot of guys will get on mania but this isn't the way to do it. I would much rather this be an eight man tag. I doubt this match is going to get a lot of time anyway and with six men on each team there may be guys who don't even get in the match at all. I think WWE should have put the tag belts on either Ziggler and Swagger or Kingston and Truth a few weeks ago and have had the other team challenge for the titles. That takes two men off each team and gives us a more logical eight man tag while keeping the others on the card too. This had potential to be decent but now I think it's going to be so rushed and nothing but a big spotfest with everyone coming in and hitting a finisher on someone just to get a few seconds in the ring.

 

[Theo Mays]

I'm with Justin and Brain here. A 12 man tag match is just super clutter and will likely downgrade the quality of the match (not like I was expecting much). An 8 man tag would have been a much better way to go and would have been less of a clusterfuck. Brain hit the nail on the head with the whole Ziggler/Swagger or Kofi/Truth to win the titles with the opposing team defending. Thus leaving us with the 8 man tag match.

In the end Johnny Ace's team is stacked and I hope he wins as I can't stand Teddy Long at all and Ace has been entertaining (much to my surprise). Though with the teams being stacked into Ace's favor I could see Teddy's team pulling something out and then working into an angle with Ace suing the board with Otunga as his rep and that leading to Johnny getting somewhere in this whole thing.

 

[Mr. HD]

If this was just a plain old ordinary tag match, I would agree with you guys, but with control over both RAW and SmackDown on the line, I think this match could get a decent amount of time. This match can't possibly be 5 minutes or less. The way this Long/Laurinatis feud has been building up, the blowoff can't be some 4-5 minute spotfest. I know 12 guys sounds a little crowded, but if an elimination stipulation is thrown in there, it makes it more interesting. All the superstars can get into the match, and it's sure to have a good amount of time.

 

[smokeyjoe414]

while i agree that a 12 man tag is gonna be a 10 min long crowded spotfest, its probably the only way of getting everyone on the card, as there are 4 main events, plus an expected diva match and orton v kane. To included everyone would make mainia last about 6 hours

jonny ace's team is gonna win anyway as JL is the fresher face and can be used in newer storylines, i like teddy but honestly cant see how he has lasted this long

 

[Dagger Dias]

I'm glad that this will be a 12 man tag team match. They run the risk of it being a mess to book properly, but it gives 12 guys who otherwise might get left off the card a chance to participate in the biggest show of the year. Do you honestly think someone like David Otunga would be on the card if it weren't for this match? Rather unlikely. I hope that it is under elimination rules. It probably won't be, for timing reasons, but that would be the best case scenario. A 12 man elimination tag team match would be yet another level of epic to add to this card. At the very least it better get more time than last year's tag team match of Barrett's Corre losing to APPLE or whatever Santino's filler team's name was IN ONE MINUTE. If that happens again in this match, I riot.

Santino and Otunga are obvious choices for the tag captains with them being Long and JL's respective side kicks at the moment. Rumored names for JL's team also include Ziggler, Swagger, Christian, Mark Henry, and Alberto Del Rio. That's a pretty good team, other than Otunga who still sucks in the ring, but he is the best choice for captain. Long's team is rumored to include Kofi, Truth, Zeke, Khali, and either Bourne or Mysterio. Taking a look at the lineups, JL's team is far superior. Long has a bunch of jokes on his team other than the Air Bourne team. This leads me to believe (for now anyway) that JL walks out as GM for both brands due to not only having the better team but also because he is something new whereas Long has been booking tag team main events for the past few years now, it's time WWE gave us something new with the GM's.

 

[rekon59]

What I find funny about this fight for control, is that it was a month ago, Triple H was two seconds away from firing Laurinatis, and then the board decides for now to keep him on, but still as interim general manager. Now he gets to have a match to decide if he can run both shows? Why would a guy about the be fired suddenly get a shot for more power? No sense there.

As far as the teams go, it is incredibly unbalanced, especially if Christian and Del Rio are indeed a part of Johnny's team. Hell, I could have come up with 6 guys without using Otunga. So since we have Otunga and Henry already, I'll maintain that the other four will be Christian, Del Rio, Ziggler, and Swagger. It would make sense to have McIntyre here somewhere, so if Christian isn't ready to go, or they want to do something else with Ziggler or Swagger, that would be the option.

Long's team just seems weaker. I love Santino, and it makes sense he's captain, but he's just not taken seriously. Kofi and Truth look like locks to be in now as well, and they get their first presence by getting beat down by Henry and Otunga. That leaves 3 spots left. Ryder is good idea, since Johnny was part of the reason he lost the US title, but I think he might be involved in an Eve-Beth Phoenix match. Brodus Clay might be back just to be a member of the team as well, and I too fear having to using both Jackson and Khali, and Khali will probably certainly get in just because of his international appeal.

My last pick is still Miz, and I think the seed was fully planted for his face turn last night.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Not a fan of matches like this. If somebody like David Otunga can't get on a Over The Limit or TLC PPV then why would you force him onto the biggest card of the year? Somebody like Kofi Kingston is an integral part of the WWE roster but he can easily be left off the show. Guys like Christian & Del Rio have been injured for a few months, have them return after Mania. Makes more sense.

Six guys is too many. I'd be inclined to halve the teams and only feature guys who will be pushed strongly throught the year or who've been massively important over the last six months or so.

 

[phoenixphreek]

I'm a fan of this match. Having it as a 6 on 6 allows for a lot of the younger, mid-card superstars to perform at WM, and it'll be a good chance to give the crowd a little bit of a break.

 

[aallen11]

I like the match and I think Miz ends up on Team Long. The match ends with him screwing Teddy Long, which is pretty much the best way to end it IMO.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

this is going to be a lot of fun. Multi-man with a lot on the line, 2 non wrestling personalities that are extremely over.

Multi-mans are always fun and a good way to get a bunch of guys on the card. I expect this match to be a fast paced ball of joy.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Not a fan of matches like this. If somebody like David Otunga can't get on a Over The Limit or TLC PPV then why would you force him onto the biggest card of the year? Somebody like Kofi Kingston is an integral part of the WWE roster but he can easily be left off the show. Guys like Christian & Del Rio have been injured for a few months, have them return after Mania. Makes more sense.

Six guys is too many. I'd be inclined to halve the teams and only feature guys who will be pushed strongly throught the year or who've been massively important over the last six months or so.

Let's see. Otunga is over. Otunga isn't that great in the ring, but his mic skills, charisma, real life hateability, and look all make him a great heel. Ace is a great heel but shouldn't wrestle. Long is a great face but shouldn't wrestle. What don't you get? It makes perfect sense.

Also, it's not like Christian and Del rio WON'T likely be on Ace's team. Probably Miz/ADR/Christian/Henry/Otunga/someone else vs Mysterio/Kingston/Truth/Santino/someone else/someone else. It's a great way of getting guys involved, capitalizing on two over characters (ace and long) in the best possible way (having other people wrestle instead of them), and hides basically everyone's weaknesses. Plus the card is already heavy with singles matches, you need variety to keep it interesting.

I am truly baffled at how you seriously don't get it.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

I think they're going to go the route of announcing team members as the weeks go on. Add suspense. Right now we basically know that ADR, Christian, Henry, and Otunga are on Ace's side (from EC and last week). We know that Santino, Kofi, and Truth are on Teddy's side.

I think a "surprise" return from Mysterio would be nice. Also, I want BRODUS CLAY to be Teddy's ace in the hole (pun intended). Brodus is over, a beast, and that would be awesome.

So in my perfect world it's Team Teddy: Mysterio/Kofi/Santino/Truth/Bourne/Brodus vs Team Ace: ADR/Christian/Otunga/Henry/Swagger/Ziggler. Miz screws Ace's team in his babyface turn.

 

[Mr. HD]

I really think Brodus Clay will be added to Teddy Long's team. It seems too convenient how Brodus Clay made his re-debut on RAW just a few weeks before WrestleMania. Now, it's like you NEED him at Mania. An act like his that's over with the fans? Yeah, Brodus Clay should be on Long's team.

Team Teddy: Santino, Kofi, Truth, The Great Khali, Ezekial Jackson, & Brodus Clay.

Vs

Team Johnny L: Otunga, Henry, Christian, Ziggler, Swagger, & Del Rio.

If I'm right on this, Teddy is going to have 3 times the muscle and power on his team. On paper, Team Johnny L. is in deep trouble. His team may have the star power, but in actuality if you were looking at it as a kid, Team Long should wipe the floor with the opposition at WrestleMania.

If my predictions are right, than this match will be very, VERY entertaining and interesting.

 

[pepentorresHHH]

so, I just saw the latest episode of Z True Long Island Story and zack basically asked teddy long to include him on his team in order to get revenge on Lauranaitis for costing him his us title and having kane attack him week after week....

do you want to see zack ryder on this match , should he be in it? or do you think he should have a separate match? or would you rather not see him at all in any match at wrestlemania??

Discuss....

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Let's see. Otunga is over. Otunga isn't that great in the ring, but his mic skills, charisma, real life hateability, and look all make him a great heel.

How is Otunga going to shine in a match involving 11 other wrestlers and two team cheerleaders?

It's a great way of getting guys involved,

Why do so many people need to be involved? WrestleMania pay-days! As fans I don't see why we should concern ourselves with things like that. I don't care if Kofi Kingston doesn't get a Mania bonus. I do care if a feud that's been given substantial is watered down for the sake of getting a few extra guys on PPV. Long & Ace probably shouldn't work a one-on-one match on this show. However a simple one-on-one match between two representitives or a tag match involving Teddy & Laurinitis would make perfect sense.

Plus the card is already heavy with singles matches, you need variety to keep it interesting.

Does Long, Ace and the role of GM not present variety?

I am truly baffled at how you seriously don't get it.

I understand the reason behind it. The match just happens to be shit. Personally I'd prefer a match where the competitors are allowed to truly shine yet the focus can still remain on the Long/Ace feud. As this match stands are wrestler going to shine in a match where they basically come in, do signature moves and tag out?

 

[The Talon]

So, I think the last members for Team Teddy will be Miz, Zack Ryder, & Rey Mysterio. Storyline wise, they all make pretty good sense. Though, I can Ryder being taken out of the match to have some kind of match with him teaming up with Beth Phoenix against Dolph Ziggler & Eve. I think that might happen because of the hinting WWE's been doing on this week's RAW & on Twitter lately.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

How is Otunga going to shine in a match involving 11 other wrestlers and two team cheerleaders?



Why do so many people need to be involved? WrestleMania pay-days! As fans I don't see why we should concern ourselves with things like that. I don't care if Kofi Kingston doesn't get a Mania bonus. I do care if a feud that's been given substantial is watered down for the sake of getting a few extra guys on PPV. Long & Ace probably shouldn't work a one-on-one match on this show. However a simple one-on-one match between two representitives or a tag match involving Teddy & Laurinitis would make perfect sense.



Does Long, Ace and the role of GM not present variety?



I understand the reason behind it. The match just happens to be shit. Personally I'd prefer a match where the competitors are allowed to truly shine yet the focus can still remain on the Long/Ace feud. As this match stands are wrestler going to shine in a match where they basically come in, do signature moves and tag out?

Why does Otunga need to shine? The match isn't about him, but he's a personality that is over.

It's not about a mania bonus. It's about having over characters on the show. Truth, Miz, Otunga, etc are all over personalities. However, you don't want to shorten the huge main events by having 6 more matches. You can weave all these fun personalities into a match that has meaning.

No that doesn't present enough variety. Singles matches and multi-mans have totally different paces. A 12 man tag is one that's incredibly fast paced and fun. It will be a stark contrast to the rest of the card. Plus, the idea of two guys fighting for control, it SHOULD have more guys involved. When we vote for the president, we don't pick 3 states to vote, we get everyone involved. It makes sense to have larger teams of support.

Again, why do they need to shine? Not every match needs to be TEH EPICSSSS!!!! Some matches should be fun. Also, not every character can control the crowd enough. So, a singles or a tag match, that is a slower pace with people the crowd doesn't care as much about. Then you have Show/Rhodes which will have a slower pace, Kane/Orton which will have a slower pace, Sheamus/Bryan that will start out slow and pick up, Taker/HHH that will be emotionally draining, Punk/Jericho that will be emotionally draining, and Cena/Rock that will be emotionally draining.

This match makes sense not only from a booking/story perspective; but it also makes sense from the perspective of the pace of the show.

 

[thebarber]

I think that WWE is going to throw a nice little curve ball with this match and in the process tidy up a long nagging loose end.
To me, Team Laurinatis wins, hands down. Teddy Long has been Smackdown boss for far too long and quite frankly sucks.
Laurinaitis has been a revelation as a heel character and is going from strength to strength. This, combined with his team comprising so many great upper mid carders and former World Champions to me says Tea Laurinaitis wins and he gets control of both shows.
As the heels are celebrating though.............................................................I expect to hear the sound of the laptop of the Mystery Raw General Manager sound out, leading to a humongous pop and having somebody like Edge or Mick Foley revealed as the new raw General Manager, thus sending Laurinaitis to Smackdown, freshening up the show and having a new Raw GM who is not an interim and leads to exciting new storylines. Maybe the Raw GM will be somebody else, just used Edge or Foley as examples but I see this scenario being gold and making this otherwise throwaway comedy match worthwhile at the end

 

[Y2JisBA]

So it's clear this thing will be a 12 man tag match. We have Christian, Henry, and Otunga on Laurinaitis and Kofi and Santino on team Long. Who do you think the rest of the team members are going to be?

I'm picking Del Rio, Ziggler, and Drey McIntyre for the rest of Laurinaitis's team and for team Long I'm picking R-Truth, Ezekiel Jackson, and two shockers: Rey Mysterio and The Miz. Mysterio wanted to do a match and he was WHC under Long's tenure as GM on Smackdown and The Miz will probably come in last minute when Mark Henry injures someone last-minute they put in. For example if they put in Justin Gabriel he might get replaced

 

[hobohaymaker13]

As the heels are celebrating though.............................................................I expect to hear the sound of the laptop of the Mystery Raw General Manager sound out, leading to a humongous pop and having somebody like Edge or Mick Foley revealed as the new raw General Manager, thus sending Laurinaitis to Smackdown, freshening up the show and having a new Raw GM who is not an interim and leads to exciting new storylines. Maybe the Raw GM will be somebody else, just used Edge or Foley as examples but I see this scenario being gold and making this otherwise throwaway comedy match worthwhile at the end

I can see that happening. Though instead of Edge or Foley (Though, that'd be awesome), i can actually see Joe Laurinaitis, or as we all know him more, Road Warrior Animal become Raw GM or turn out to be GM for both shows, screwing out his brother. I mean, i've read that Joe did think of the idea of him feuding with Johnny Ace, so that'd be awesome.

 

[AK2V8]

I see the teams going like this,

Team Long: Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Ezekiel Jackson, Ted DiBiase and Rey Mysterio

Team Laurinitis: David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Christian and Alberto Del Rio

This makes the most sense to me because Santino and Otunga are the respective assistants, Kofi and R-Truth as opposed to Ziggler and Swagger are the tag teams, Big Zeke and Henry are the powerhouses, Christian supported Laurinatis from the beginning and Ted is just there as a face and Rey has a score to settle with Alberto for "injuring" him.