WrestleMania 28: Ranking and Grading Every Match

Like any other wrestling event, WrestleMania 28 provided fans with amazing, unforgettable matches while others disappointed.

We saw the "End of an Era" and a match of "Once in a Lifetime" proportions. We saw a battle of the best, a match that crowned a new champion and a match to determine a new general manager.

Which ones were worth the money and time?

Here’s a ranking of every single match from Sunday’s PPV, complete with grades too.

No. 8: Kane Defeats Randy Orton

There wasn’t much action involved in this one outside of constant punches and chokeholds.

In fact, it was pretty underwhelming.

Toward the middle we finally saw an Orton DDT. Thank goodness for something.

Orton’s kick out of Kane’s chokeslam was surprising, but the match went right back to punches and clotheslines.

When most—or at least I—expected a third attempt of an RKO from the top rope, Kane surprised with a second chokeslam from the ropes to end it.

Still, it was slow and kind of boring.

Grade: C+

No. 7: Sheamus Defeats Daniel Bryan

It was a head scratcher why the opening bout was for the World Heavyweight Championship, a match typically saved for the end.

After 18 seconds, we all saw why.

This one featured plenty of shock and awe with Sheamus delivering a “Brogue-Kick” right out of the gate for the win.

The surprise was a great deviation from the norm.

Still, most of us would have liked to see an actual match. Afterward, we heard nothing from either wrestler.

Grade: B-

No. 6: Big Show Defeats Cody Rhodes

The Big Show and Cody Rhodes put on a nice match, entertainment and technical wise.

The match featured a fantastic mix of power (Show) and high-flying antics (Rhodes).

The ending successfully advanced the storyline whether the feud is over or it continues awhile longer.

Big Show finally has a legit WrestleMania win and Rhodes shouldn’t take much of a hit in reputation.

The worst part of the match was Big Show’s punch. How I longed for a huge chokeslam.

Grade: B-

No. 5: Team Johnny Defeats Team Teddy

It was decent in length and there was a fair amount of action.

Booker T looked good, though he spent too much time in the ring.

Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth provided spectacular energy.

The match went back and forth well. Mostly everyone was involved at some point, just not as long as they should have been.

It was nice to see the less favorable team win the match. It’d be way too obvious to have all the faces win. Besides, they did have the better team in terms of talent.

It’s going to be super interesting to see how the storyline of John Laurinaitis’ reign as general manager will go.

Grade: B

No. 4: Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos Defeat Beth Phoenix and Eve

Kelly Kelly. Maria Menounos.

Enough said.

This match actually shocked me.

There was tons of high flying moves from Kelly Kelly. The flip from the top rope was simply amazing and may have been one of the biggest highlights of the entire show.

Menenous held her own very well too.

Action and intensity—it’s what we expect from every match. This one had both.

Oh and butt wiggles. Don't forget the butt wiggles.

Grade: A

 

No. 3: CM Punk Defeats Chris Jericho

The match between two wrestlers claiming to be the “best in the world” was very technically sound. It was also incredibly entertaining.

The two complimented each other well, matching punch for punch and counter for counter.

Punk pandered to the crowd effectively to build momentum.

When Jericho reversed Punk into the Liontamer from the top rope, I honestly believed Punk was going to tap out. It would have been a surprise that worked favorably.

How Punk kicked out of the one of the most vicious Codebreakers of all time is beyond me.

The con of this match was the constant reversals of finishing moves. Punk tried unsuccessfully to deliver the “Go To Sleep” four times and missed. Jericho couldn’t get him to tap out of the “Walls of Jericho” three times.

Jericho tapped out, finally, after the third Anaconda Vice.

Still, it was a high quality match.

Grade: A

No. 2: Undertaker Defeats HHH

These two took each other to the absolute limit.

Chair smash after chair smash, sledgehammer shot after sledgehammer shot, both wrestlers got pummeled for 30 minutes.

The accidental Hell’s Gate on Shawn Michaels was a bit of a surprise.

The addition of a second referee and a chokeslam for his efforts was confusing and unnecessary.

Likewise, so was Michaels’ constant crying in the corner.

It was stunning when the Undertaker kicked out of a double finisher but this is WrestleMania. 20-0 is on the line. It was ridiculous when he kicked out of the pedigree for the second time.

Hell in a cell it truly was.

The Undertaker is 20-0 and he walked out on his own this time.

The best part was the Undertaker, Michaels and HHH walking out together, ending the era.

Grade: A+

No. 1: The Rock Defeats John Cena

It brought a smile to my face to see the Rock as nimble as he was at the beginning.

Cena showed many moves early that seemed to foreshadow a heel turn: running to regroup and taking the fight to the outside of the ring. It never did happen.

It was strength versus strength the entire time.

Cena had the upper hand the majority of the match but the Rock never went away.

One thing was for sure: if the Rock could kick out of the Attitude Adjustment, Cena would kick out of the Rock Bottom.

These two showed more moves and technique than the Undertaker and Triple H. Cena and the Rock had more strength and raw power than CM Punk and Chris Jericho.

Just like the two matches prior, this one went the distance went thrills and spills all along the way.

It was unbelievable seeing the Rock go to the top rope. It was breath-taking to see Cena’s immense power—picking up the Rock for an amazing Attitude Adjustment.

As soon as Cena mocked the People's Elbow, fans could see a Rock rebound coming.

The match was awesome.

Like Michael Cole said, “I don’t think there was a loser in this thing.”

The result was satisfying. The finish was electrifying.

Most importantly, it lived up to the hype.

Even better, it leaves the door open for so much more to happen.

Grade: A+