WrestleMania 28: Are Expectations Too High for Rock vs. Cena?

WrestleMania 28. The Rock vs. John Cena, what more could a fan ask for on the grandest stage of the year? For almost a year The WWE has been building WrestleMania 28 around this one match. Why not? On paper it promises to be the biggest match of all-time or at least the year. The Rock and John Cena will bring it and then some. That being said, are expectations for this dream match too high?

Expectations should be high to a certain degree. Both men are in great physical shape and remain two of the most intriguing personalities in sports entertainment. They are both symbols of different eras whose significance will always be debated. Disappointment does not factor into this equation. No matter what the outcome, the match itself will deliver.

This match will be a classic, but I'm having a hard time putting it in the same category as other classic matches that we've seen over the years. It may be better than  Hogan vs. Andre in terms of physicality, but there's a difference between the two.

1987 saw wrestling approaching its peak; WrestleMania III was to be the catalyst for the future of the business. Hogan vs. Andre was about taking Hulk Hogan on a path to immortality as corny or cliche'd as it sounds. Andre had a stellar career, but it was obvious that Vince McMahon could not build the future on his massive shoulders. A victory for Hogan would take the business to new heights and cement his legacy. The business would continue to thrive as did Hogan. Andre's legacy didn't suffer at all; he did the right thing for the success and survival of the business.

Fast forward to 2012.

Business is not the same. Sports Entertainment is no longer main stream. There are too many variables to mention as to why the business is nowhere near successful as it was during the 80's and 90's.

Rock vs. Cena, alone, will not revitalize the business. At best, it will give us the treasured WrestleMania moment. It will hopefully give WrestleMania 28 better buy-rates than The Survivor Series and The Royal Rumble. It certainly won't do anything for either man's career. Rock's legacy is already cemented in stone. It wouldn't surprise me if he were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame within the next few years.

Whether it's victory or defeat, Rock will be back right in time for WrestleMania 29 to pick up where he left off, being the "People's Champ."

Despite being compared to Hulk Hogan in terms of popularity and being the company's goodwill ambassador, Cena is a different case all together. He may earn the respect of some of the fans after WrestleMania 28, if he changes things up, but that won't happen in one night. That will need to happen over a period of time.

If Cena does go over, no matter how hard fought the victory; it may be viewed as business as usual for him. This match will not do for him what Hogan vs. Andre did for Hogan.

This match, as anticipated as its been and as good as we anticipate it will be, at its core is a match that will entertain us, which is what it's supposed to do. It won't change the course of history; business will go on as usual. Lets just sit back and enjoy it for what it is, a grand show that only the WWE can give.