By Rick Morris
Twice in the leadup to WrestleMania 24, I put in my two cents about how best to book the year's biggest 'rasslin card. I have long believed that the best way to set up this card, especially since it essentially marks the end of one year of setup and the beginning of the next, is to set it far in advance and back up from there in terms of the year's entire booking. Having said that, here's my early recommendation of how to book what will surely be one of the biggest cards of all time in Houston's Reliant Stadium next April:
^ WWE Championship match: John Cena vs. The Undertaker. The streak ends here. You wanna hear crowd heat? Picture Cena beating Taker cleanly in his hometown in the biggest event of the year! I think that the WWE should have had UT end his streak at 14-0 against Batista in '07 or at 15-0 against Edge this year, but I'm convinced that the company should have him lose to Cena next year if they are serious about promoting him as the company's cornerstone (stopping the neutering of Cena's character would be a nice move also, but you can't have everything!). I can't get behind the Mark Markerson sentiments of those such as my SportsTalkNetwork.com colleague Paul Belfi who think that Undertaker should never lose at WrestleMania. For a promotion that cares first and foremost about perpetuating future success, equity is built up to be spent eventually and the priceless value of Taker's streak has to be transferred sometime and somewhere. Houston in '09 is the time and the place.
^ World Championship match: Edge vs. C.M. Punk. I'm in favor of Punk getting another run atop ECW, then moving on to new horizons when he drops the title again. A Mania match against Edge should be fantastic and should really help put him on the map. While I would pull the trigger on a Punk World Title run, I think that should be held off for a few more months as Edge has yet to have the heel World Title wins that have only ever been bestowed on HHH and (undeservedly) on Randy Orton. He needs his moment and should get it next year.
^ ECW Championship match: MVP vs. The Big Show. When MVP moves on from the U.S. Title scene later this year, he should be the man to take the ECW Title from Punk when it gets transitioned back to him. Then, at WrestleMania, the WWE can work out a deal to bring back Floyd Mayweather in a "special adviser" role for MVP as the "man who knows how to beat The Big Show." With the similarities of "Money May" and the MVP character, the heat for this angle could be insane. I'd keep the belt on MVP, with Show dishing out post-match chokeslams to both of his adversaries.
^ Texas Beer Hall Brawl: JBL vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. We keep hearing rumors that Austin "may have one match left in him." Supposedly, these two Texans wouldn't mind working a match together -- remember the tease for it on Saturday Night's Main Event back in 2006. Mania in Houston would be the perfect atmosphere for the kind of no-DQ brawl that could perfectly camouflage the kind of limitations that would have to be built into a match given the state of Austin's neck. With Austin having a variety of weapons at his disposal, he could get the feel-good win that would energize the crowd without doing any damage to JBL's main-event viability.
^ Legend of Legends Match: HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane. This match would be contested for a "WrestleMania Legend of Legends" trophy by competitors who had won a main event match at one of the previous Mania shows (main event for these purposes to include the title match for any of the brands in the post-'02 era, which would include Orton and Kane). This would be a good place to give HHH some credibility back as a main-event player as he continues down the back nine of his career.
^ BunnyMania Match: The Glamazon & Nattie Neidhart vs. Cherry & Candace Michelle. Frankly, the contestants in such a match don't matter. Utilize the "Lumberjill" format again to cram all the Divas into one segment and get them out of the way, have the heels win and provide some comedy to lighten up the show a bit. In other words, pretty much do what they did this year.
^ Money In the Bank 30-man battle royal. Because the multi-man format is being used for the "Legends" match this year, substitute the battle royal for the "Money In the Bank" designation. It also keeps the match a bit more fresh and gives the wrestlers a one-year respite from trying to top the previous spectacle (and it might be futile to try to top the one from this year). I'd have Vladimir Kozlov as the winner and use this as the embryonic stage of a main-event push.
^ WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Miz & Morrison vs. The Hardys. WrestleMania should have some fun nostalgia moments, especially the 25th edition, and seeing the Hardys in there against a team that could be regarded as one of the most entertaining in a long time by then -- wow, that could be excellent. Give the Hardys the win and watch the roof get blown off.
^ United States Championship Match: Chris Jericho vs. Rey Misterio. I'd like to see Jericho get moved to Smackdown and have some time with that program's secondary title also (well, actually, if I had my druthers he'd be booked as a main event face, but I'm trying to deal in the realm of the most they will get out of somebody). He could have some nice matches and some good entertainment in a Misterio feud and as with the Hardys, he'd pop the heck out of the crowd with a title win.
Showing posts with label CM Punk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CM Punk. Show all posts
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
WrestleMania 24 review
By Rick Morris
This was a tremendous show, one of the most entertaining WrestleManias ever. Great moments were interspersed all throughout the four hours, continuing the trend of recent years ended. Ever since the first post-boom WrestleMania of this decade (18), the company has taken advantage of their depth of "names" by trying to present several super-attractive matches on each show. They succeeded more than at any other time this decade.
^ JBL defeated Finlay in a Belfast Brawl match. Excellent brawl to open the show with several STIFF shots from each man. Hornswaggle made his return by accompanying Finlay at the outset. Finlay did a dive to the outside at one point, only to have JBL swing a garbage can lid right into his head. The "Clothesline from Hades" gave JBL a surprising clean win, surprising in the sense that the match seemed to be built toward the "Finlay family" getting revenge after a month of JBL's cruelties. This was a super-stiff match and both guys are going to be sore tomorrow. (3 stars)
^ C.M. Punk wins the Money In the Bank Match. This was probably the best of the "Midcard Spotfest-Mania" matches in its four years of existence. There were several insane spots: John Morrison moonsaulting out of the ring onto several participants HOLDING A LADDER, Carlito giving Chris Jericho a backstabber off a ladder and the worst of them all, Sheldon Benjamin getting pitched off a ladder and landing flat on his back on a ladder stretched out from the ring to the apron. Benjamin never got up from that and could well be seriously injured. Matt Hardy made the obligatory run-in when MVP was about to win and Punk & Carlito did a nice spot jumping onto ladders that their competitors were climbing. In the end, Punk got Y2J tied up in the ladder once he fell backward and Punk claimed the prize. (3 3/4 stars)
The Hall of Fame inductees were then recognized, with Ric Flair's family standing in for him.
A backstage skit with Snoop Dog and Festus then aired, with Santino angrily approaching Snoop, who then reached around to ring a bell to get Festus to chase Santino. Mick Foley then popped up for a cameo with a sock with bling-bling on it.
^ Batista defeated You-Mang-A in the "brand supremacy" match. This was a fairly basic match, nothing horrible or special about it. (2 1/4 stars)
Highlights of the battle royal that only aired on WWE.com earlier tonight were shown, as Kane emerged the winner.
^ Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Title. This one was short and sweet. Kane snuck into the ring behind Chavo and chokeslammed him when he turned around. Just like that, Chavo's run on top of ECW is done. (not applicable for star rating)
^ Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair in a "Career Threatening Match." Purely in terms of raw emotion, this match would have to be in anyone's all-time top five. They pulled out all the stops. Relatively early, Michaels missed a moonsault outside the ring in a planned spot -- well, I'm guessing the ringside table not falling apart as it should and likely breaking several of Shawn's ribs was not planned, but the spot itself was. Minutes later, Michaels tried another one and Flair botched the catch, causing HBK's knee to bounce harshly off the ground. There was a tremendous back-and-forth in the ring, with several false finishes. Michaels hesitated the first time he went for the superkick, allowing Flair to hit the figure-four leglock. Flair kicked out of another superkick and almost won several times with the figure-four or some rollup nearfalls. Flair actually hit a flying bodypress tonight as well. These two pulled out all the stops and were only hampered by their limitations: age in the case of Flair and Michaels suffering as a result of the first moonsault. In the end, Michaels mouthed, "I love you. I'm sorry," right before he swiftly hit another superkick and covered Flair for "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson's final three-count. Just like that, Ric Flair's career as an active wrestler ended. Michaels embraced Flair quickly, then left the ring, allowing Flair an extended exit. Flair, his family at ringside and many fans in the stadium were crying. Quite coincidentally, I had a piece of dust fly in each of my eyes at the moment, giving the illusion to the naked eye of manly tears welling up in there. (4 1/2 stars)
^ Beth Phoenix and Melina won the BunnyMania match. Against all odds, Maria had The Glamazon beaten, but Santino Marella broke up the three-count and Phoenix got the duke. Afterwards, Snoop Dogg clotheslined a gloating Santino, who had also been punched earlier by Jerry Lawler. (1/2 star)
^ Randy Orton retained the WWE Title by pinning John Cena in the three-way match. This match was decent, but nothing terribly memorable. Each wrestler got in several of their trademark spots and pinfall attempts were routinely broken up by the third wrestler in there. The finish came when HHH reversed the FU into a Pedigree and Orton came back in out of nowhere with the punt to HHH's head to steal the three-count on Cena. (2 3/4 stars)
^ Floyd Mayweather defeated The Big Show. This match exceeded the justifiably low expectations. Mayweather successfully worked the "stick and move" early on, frustrating Show. In perhaps the funniest moment of the night, Mayweather took a drink from one of his cornermen not in the standard fighter's water bottle, but in an ornate chalice! Show charged the corner, started beating up on Floyd's posse, and the mayhem was on. Mayweather got in a version of a sleeperhold on Show, but eventually the big man took over to the point that the fighter and his entourage tried to bail. Show chased them up the aisle, beat up the crew and took Mayweather back to the ring. Once there, Mayweather was able to use a chair to soften up Show before resorting to brass knuckles for the legal three-count in this "anything goes" match. Decent action at times (2 1/2 stars)
^ The Undertaker defeated Edge for the World Heavyweight Title. This match began at a slower pace and built tremendously. At one point, Edge took a sick bump outside the ring when Taker pushed him off the top turnbuckle, then later Edge just dumped Undertaker right onto some shocked fans in the front row. The progression of the match featured the old All-Japan pattern of repeated false finishes. Edge kicked out of a chokeslam and a Last Ride, then the Undertaker kicked out after Edge waffled him with a TV camera during a ref bump, then Edge survived a Tombstone. When Edge's lackeys interfered, Taker chokeslammed one on top of the other one outside the ring, allowing Edge to set up a spear that did not result in a three-count. Edge hit another spear, but then Undertaker reached up and locked on a modified sleeperhold that got Edge to tap out. It was an outstanding ending to an amazing night of wrestling. (4 stars)
This was a tremendous show, one of the most entertaining WrestleManias ever. Great moments were interspersed all throughout the four hours, continuing the trend of recent years ended. Ever since the first post-boom WrestleMania of this decade (18), the company has taken advantage of their depth of "names" by trying to present several super-attractive matches on each show. They succeeded more than at any other time this decade.
^ JBL defeated Finlay in a Belfast Brawl match. Excellent brawl to open the show with several STIFF shots from each man. Hornswaggle made his return by accompanying Finlay at the outset. Finlay did a dive to the outside at one point, only to have JBL swing a garbage can lid right into his head. The "Clothesline from Hades" gave JBL a surprising clean win, surprising in the sense that the match seemed to be built toward the "Finlay family" getting revenge after a month of JBL's cruelties. This was a super-stiff match and both guys are going to be sore tomorrow. (3 stars)
^ C.M. Punk wins the Money In the Bank Match. This was probably the best of the "Midcard Spotfest-Mania" matches in its four years of existence. There were several insane spots: John Morrison moonsaulting out of the ring onto several participants HOLDING A LADDER, Carlito giving Chris Jericho a backstabber off a ladder and the worst of them all, Sheldon Benjamin getting pitched off a ladder and landing flat on his back on a ladder stretched out from the ring to the apron. Benjamin never got up from that and could well be seriously injured. Matt Hardy made the obligatory run-in when MVP was about to win and Punk & Carlito did a nice spot jumping onto ladders that their competitors were climbing. In the end, Punk got Y2J tied up in the ladder once he fell backward and Punk claimed the prize. (3 3/4 stars)
The Hall of Fame inductees were then recognized, with Ric Flair's family standing in for him.
A backstage skit with Snoop Dog and Festus then aired, with Santino angrily approaching Snoop, who then reached around to ring a bell to get Festus to chase Santino. Mick Foley then popped up for a cameo with a sock with bling-bling on it.
^ Batista defeated You-Mang-A in the "brand supremacy" match. This was a fairly basic match, nothing horrible or special about it. (2 1/4 stars)
Highlights of the battle royal that only aired on WWE.com earlier tonight were shown, as Kane emerged the winner.
^ Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Title. This one was short and sweet. Kane snuck into the ring behind Chavo and chokeslammed him when he turned around. Just like that, Chavo's run on top of ECW is done. (not applicable for star rating)
^ Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair in a "Career Threatening Match." Purely in terms of raw emotion, this match would have to be in anyone's all-time top five. They pulled out all the stops. Relatively early, Michaels missed a moonsault outside the ring in a planned spot -- well, I'm guessing the ringside table not falling apart as it should and likely breaking several of Shawn's ribs was not planned, but the spot itself was. Minutes later, Michaels tried another one and Flair botched the catch, causing HBK's knee to bounce harshly off the ground. There was a tremendous back-and-forth in the ring, with several false finishes. Michaels hesitated the first time he went for the superkick, allowing Flair to hit the figure-four leglock. Flair kicked out of another superkick and almost won several times with the figure-four or some rollup nearfalls. Flair actually hit a flying bodypress tonight as well. These two pulled out all the stops and were only hampered by their limitations: age in the case of Flair and Michaels suffering as a result of the first moonsault. In the end, Michaels mouthed, "I love you. I'm sorry," right before he swiftly hit another superkick and covered Flair for "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson's final three-count. Just like that, Ric Flair's career as an active wrestler ended. Michaels embraced Flair quickly, then left the ring, allowing Flair an extended exit. Flair, his family at ringside and many fans in the stadium were crying. Quite coincidentally, I had a piece of dust fly in each of my eyes at the moment, giving the illusion to the naked eye of manly tears welling up in there. (4 1/2 stars)
^ Beth Phoenix and Melina won the BunnyMania match. Against all odds, Maria had The Glamazon beaten, but Santino Marella broke up the three-count and Phoenix got the duke. Afterwards, Snoop Dogg clotheslined a gloating Santino, who had also been punched earlier by Jerry Lawler. (1/2 star)
^ Randy Orton retained the WWE Title by pinning John Cena in the three-way match. This match was decent, but nothing terribly memorable. Each wrestler got in several of their trademark spots and pinfall attempts were routinely broken up by the third wrestler in there. The finish came when HHH reversed the FU into a Pedigree and Orton came back in out of nowhere with the punt to HHH's head to steal the three-count on Cena. (2 3/4 stars)
^ Floyd Mayweather defeated The Big Show. This match exceeded the justifiably low expectations. Mayweather successfully worked the "stick and move" early on, frustrating Show. In perhaps the funniest moment of the night, Mayweather took a drink from one of his cornermen not in the standard fighter's water bottle, but in an ornate chalice! Show charged the corner, started beating up on Floyd's posse, and the mayhem was on. Mayweather got in a version of a sleeperhold on Show, but eventually the big man took over to the point that the fighter and his entourage tried to bail. Show chased them up the aisle, beat up the crew and took Mayweather back to the ring. Once there, Mayweather was able to use a chair to soften up Show before resorting to brass knuckles for the legal three-count in this "anything goes" match. Decent action at times (2 1/2 stars)
^ The Undertaker defeated Edge for the World Heavyweight Title. This match began at a slower pace and built tremendously. At one point, Edge took a sick bump outside the ring when Taker pushed him off the top turnbuckle, then later Edge just dumped Undertaker right onto some shocked fans in the front row. The progression of the match featured the old All-Japan pattern of repeated false finishes. Edge kicked out of a chokeslam and a Last Ride, then the Undertaker kicked out after Edge waffled him with a TV camera during a ref bump, then Edge survived a Tombstone. When Edge's lackeys interfered, Taker chokeslammed one on top of the other one outside the ring, allowing Edge to set up a spear that did not result in a three-count. Edge hit another spear, but then Undertaker reached up and locked on a modified sleeperhold that got Edge to tap out. It was an outstanding ending to an amazing night of wrestling. (4 stars)
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