Wrestlemania 27 is this Sunday, and while it’s fun to predict winners and give opinions, I also thought I would add a little perspective on the years the participating (and not) superstars had.
Dark Match Battle Royal: Last year’s winner, Yoshi Tatsu, was just recently added to NXT as a pro in his first step towards actual character development. This year’s winner should be last year’s runner up, a man who is actively trying to develop his character with mixed results, Zach Ryder.
Notable absences from the card: Ted DiBiase was a player in his feud with Randy Orton last year, but he couldn't get anything going in 2010 and has taken several steps backward. Kofi Kingston, who stole the last two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, still hasn’t recovered from his severe de-push that happened at the beginning of 2010 following his amazing feud with Orton. He is rumored to be inserted into the match with Drew McIntyre, another wrestler with a disappointingly stagnant 2010. R-Truth still hasn't evolved past his ‘What’s up’ chant. Evan Bourne had some momentum, got hurt, came back, but couldn't gain any traction. Mr.McMahon and Bret Hart are thankfully not wrestling. Shelton Benjamin, MVP, Luke Gallows, Serena, Batista and Matt Hardy are no longer with the company. Shawn Michaels is retired but might make an appearance in the main event. The same goes for every diva that isn’t Trish Stratus or Lay-Cool. While not officially on the card, they might make an appearance for the match versus Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. That leaves Chris Jericho who is not on the show because he is ‘dancing with the stars’.
United States Championship Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus©
Daniel Bryan was fired at the beginning of the Nexus angle, and then rehired for its unofficial conclusion at Summerslam. Since then, he beat Miz for the U.S. Title, holding the title for 6 months before losing to Sheamus. Bryan's match with Dolph Ziggler at Bragging Rights was voted the Match of the Year on WWE.com over Undertaker/Michaels II. He may never make it past mid-card enhancement talent, but perhaps 2011 will see more opportunities for charismatic expression from Daniel Bryan.
Sheamus had a rough year. He took out Triple H after last years Wrestlemania, lucked his way into the WWE Championship, but then lost feuds to Randy Orton, John Morrison, and even a match to Santino Marella. What you can’t deny is the talent of Sheamus, and his continued evolution as a character. After winning the U.S. Title, he chanted that he is “The champion of America” in such a way that implied that he was the ruler of this country. It was well done, and I look forward to his work in 2011.
Winner: Sheamus
The Corre (Wade Barrett/Ezekiel Jackson/Justin Gabriel/Heath Slater) vs. The Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella & Vladimir Koslov
Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, and Heath Slater were original members of the white hot Nexus angle. Not even on the card for last year’s Mania, they find themselves in an eight man tag this year. This is where Gabriel and Slater belong, but you can’t help but think that Barrett could have been higher on the card if his year was booked a little better. Ezekiel Jackson spent much of the year injured, and is still finding his way back into the fold. 2011 will be the year he turns on the Corre and gets another opportunity working on his own.
Big Show and Kane have found a comfortable place in their career where they know they will have a spot as long as they want it. It is unfortunate because Kane had a pretty impressive 2010, including big wins over the Undertaker and an impressive World Championship run. Unfortunately the rug was pulled out from under him. Santino Marella and Vladimir Koslov make their Mania debuts, and no I’m not counting Santina Marella.
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| I keep telling myself that Santina Marella didn't happen... |
Both men have a passion for what they’re doing, have developed in 2010 as comedic characters, especially Koslov, and Santino even has a finisher that is second only in popularity to the RKO. The future has never been brighter!
Winner: The Corre
World Championship Match: Edge © w/Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio w/Brodus Clay
If Alberto Del Rio wins the World Championship at Mania, it will be roughly 7 months after his debut. Only Sheamus and Brock Lesnar, 6 and 5 months respectively, can say they won a world championship in less time. What neither man can say is that they won their first championship at Wrestlemania. That speaks volumes for what Del Rio has accomplished.
How do you think Johnny Curtis feels? He won his season of NXT, but Brodus Clay is participating in one of the main events at Mania. I will say this for Clay, he looks like a scary dude that will hurt you. I know it sounds easy, but it isn’t, and Clay DOES IT.
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| Don't mess with Brodus Clay |
Christian will happily take this spot over the pre-show battle royal or money in the bank match, especially after being out so long with an injury. He’s still wrestling, and acting, like he did years ago. That isn't necessarily a good thing. It’s time to revamp his character and a heel turn at Mania might be the catalyst.
Edge is rock solid. His position on the card as a main event player is never in question, only whether or not he can remain healthy. Speculation is that his next big injury will be his last. Here's hoping that doesn't happen for a while and he continues to create entertaining feuds and memorable promos.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
CM Punk had a chaotic year. He lost his Straight Edge Society seemingly overnight, was moved to Raw where he promptly got hurt. Then he knocked it out of the park as a commentator, and came back for great feuds with John Cena and Randy Orton. Punk’s stock continues to rise because of his love for this business and an unquestioned belief in himself. Barring another injury, that shouldn’t change in 2011. Although maybe this will be the year that Punk finally kicks out of a finishing move.
This was supposed to be a breakout year for Randy Orton. He won the WWE championship and while his reign was nowhere near the abomination of his run in 2004, it was without importance. Something is missing from Orton. Between his finisher, his music, his physique and mannerisms, he should be the #1 act in the company. He’s set in the main event for life, but he could be so much more. I continue to question exactly what that missing ingredient is.
Winner: Randy Orton
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler vs. Michael Cole w/Jack Swagger
Something is either very right, or very wrong, when this is one of the most anticipated and best built matches on the Mania card. People have wanted to see Michael Cole get his ass kicked since this time last year when he was routinely trashing then NXT rookie Daniel Bryan on a weekly basis. I thought Cole took it too far at times, especially with his new habit of interrupting the Divas matches, but if it leads them becoming involved in this match and all having a shot at him, then all is forgiven.
It’s a shame, but the fact that this is Jerry Lawler’s first Mania match is lost in all of this. So is the participation of Jack Swagger, last year’s money in the bank winner. Swagger had a mediocre year starting with a poor world title reign. The only bright spot was his temporary introduction of the his own eagle mascot. Of course this was dropped, but it was solid gold.
This match has become about one thing, and one thing only, seeing Cole get his, preferably with a Lawler piledriver or a stunner from the special guest referee, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Winner: Michael Cole (I KNOW!!!)
Ray Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
What year is this? Ray Mysterio is feuding with someone who is trying to unmask him? That’s unheard of! Ray’s spot will be safe as long as he wants it to be, so the focus here turns to Cody Rhodes. This match is make or break for him. He spent all of 2010 being ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes to little reaction. Dusty said it best in a pre-Mania promo, people beneath him were going on to win world championships while Cody was being ‘Dashing’. So this is the beginning of a new brutal side of Cody Rhodes. How will it work? Only time will tell.
Winner: Ray Mysterio
No Holds Barred, The Undertaker vs. Triple H
This match shows you just how important ‘The Streak’ really is. Undertaker spent all of 2010 either injured, or losing title matches to Kane. Triple H was written off of TV after Wrestlemania last year, and didn’t return until a month and a half ago. The fact that they both spent the majority of 2010 playing with themselves is irrelevant. All that matters is Wrestlemanai, 18-0, and that a match nobody was initially excited for...now EVERYBODY is excited for. That’s called a good build, and it was reportedly done exclusively by Triple H and Undertaker, NOT by the WWE writers.
…hmmmmm.
Winner: Triple H (Why not? I can say I called it!)
The Stupid Mixed Tag Match with Snooki in it
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| Surprisingly the only good picture of her I could find... |
Kudo’s to Vince McMahon for bringing aboard Snooki for Wrestlemania. He probably liked it as much as his routine colonoscopy, but it was a good business decision. Like it or not, Jersey Shore is one of the top shows on television. Vince isn’t trying to bemoan the fact that our society is glorifying these idiots, he just wants to cash in on their popularity before the interest dies down and they all go back to working at White Castle.
I feel bad for the Diva’s who miss their traditional Mania exposure from a battle royal or lumberdiva match because of this. I feel bad for John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler. Two fantastic performers with zero charisma between them. They’re in this match for one reason, because neither has the drawing power to carry a match on their own.
Lay-Cool continue to be the best female performers in wrestling. That Michelle McCool hasn’t missed a step since wearing a walking boot speaks to both her toughness and the incredibly light wrestling work the WWE divas do. Vickie Guerrero continues to be the most valuable employee and heat seeking device the WWE has. Everyone says that managers are dead, they aren’t. Vickie is a testament to that. Trish Stratus once said that if she came back to Wrestlemania, it wouldn't be for a throwaway match, but for one with build and purpose, preferably against someone like Beth Phoenix. Well, I guess that payday changed her mind...eh?
Winner: Snooki sits on someone and wins.
WWE Championship: The Miz © vs. John Cena
Regardless of the outcome of this match, or how he has been overshadowed in its build, the big winner here is The Miz. If this match goes on last, Miz will be the first person in WWE history to close a Mania the year after he opened one. If that doesn’t speak volumes about how far he has come during 2010, then nothing will. The best part is that he’s still getting better, and he has a passion for what he's doing.
The chaotic year John Cena had only cements the reality that he will be a main event fixture for as long as he continues to produce at this level, no matter what reaction he gets. The insertion of The Rock into this feud will do nothing to change the legacy of either man. They're here for two reasons. 1) To pop a big Wrestlemania buy rate, and 2) to make Miz into a megastar.
Winner: The Miz
Squeaky is everywhere, but you should follow him on Twitter, because that's where he posts links to all his absurdity.
