WWE WrestleMania 28: Why This Was a Mediocre Event

I just got back from my local Buffalo Wild Wings, where I just watched WrestleMania 28 with a packed house full of wrestling fans. There was a lot of excitement, cheering, booing and so forth throughout the evening. 

I was very disappointed in last year's WrestleMania after all the hoopla, hype, etc. After witnessing this year's event, I think it was a little better than last year's, and there were some pretty decent matches and moments, but this one is still not going to get me talking at the water cooler tomorrow.

The WWE wasted another opportunity to make some lasting memories. Don't get me wrong, there were a few, but there was nothing I saw tonight that is going to change the course of the business throughout the rest of year and lead into next year's Mania. 

I will now go into the reasons that made this just a mediocre event.

A Joke of a World Title Match

Sheamus beating Daniel Bryan that quick? Let me see...you put the World title around Bryan's waist, have him hold on to it for several months and then all of a sudden have everything that was built for him get flushed down the toilet? Would it hurt to have these two at least go at it for 10-15 minutes? I thought Sheamus would go over, but call the coroner because the WWE flatlined Daniel Bryan's push, and who knows if he will recover.

Big Show Finally Gets His Mania Moment

Great moment for the Big Show, getting his much-needed WrestleMania win. He was probably genuinely moved by the whole thing. It would have made more sense long-term for Cody Rhodes to go over to build some momentum for his character and possibly get into the World title picture, but after his berating of the Big Show during the Mania buildup, it was probably logical that Show was going to win.

Really?

I'm sorry, but you should not have your Divas champion being pinned by a celebrity who has broken ribs. Way to go, WWE, you just put your Divas division further down the crapper. A message to WWE creative: it's not so bad to have a celebrity lose once in a while. Their lives will go on. Kelly Kelly should have gotten pinned, and it would have been a great opportunity for Kharma to make her return and stare down Beth after they got a win. 

Um, Yeah

Yeah, Kane really needed that win over Randy Orton to get over, didn't he? 

Last of the Taker?

It will snow in hell before Undertaker ever loses at Mania. The match was actually pretty decent, but they didn't do any spots where they climb to the top of the cage like in most Hell in the Cell matches. I think both men really took some nasty shots, and poor Taker—he may have a hard time sleeping tonight and will be stiffer than a board in the morning. HHH took some pretty terrible shots, too. If there was a water cooler moment, it was HBK and Taker helping HHH to the back. It was a great moment to see them in a group hug and showing that respect. I do wonder if this will be the last time we will ever see them in the ring. (NOTE: This might be it for HHH, but I think Taker might have another Mania match left in him next year, and that will likely be his last). 

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

I think it was obvious that Team Johnny was going over. Team Teddy, except for Booker T and R-Truth, had no one who would scare me. I wonder what Johnny Ace will have in store for both shows? I think it would be a fantastic idea for him to form a heel stable and have them as his enforcers. Maybe an NWO-type thing, but with less of an impact. On that note...

She's Evil!

Since Eve's antics pretty much cost Team Teddy the match, I wonder where her character goes from here. She could jump over to side with Laurinaitis and be the female straw that stirs the drink. Only time will tell.

Punk Is the Future

Punk and Jericho put on a great display. I almost thought for a minute there that Jericho would trick Punk into disqualifying himself, but Punk overcame a lot, kept his emotions under control and took it. Now that Johnny Ace is the GM for both shows, he may try to pick up where he left off and make Punk's life a living hell. 

Poop or Get off the Pot

As much as I like the Brodus Clay character, the Momma segment was really corny. For the 137-millionth time WWE creative, enough with the squash matches; let him either work a longer match and put him in a feud with someone, or kill the gimmick and send him back to FCW if you don't trust him to have more competitive matches. 

Rock's Still Got It

Rock and Cena didn't knock my socks off, but it was still a pretty good match. Despite the contrary, I did think Rock looked a little rusty in some spots and seemed pretty winded during and after the match. I guess WWE threw that curveball again and didn't have Brock Lesnar come out. I thought when Rock was celebrating he would do a run-in and give Rock an F-5, setting things up for next year's Mania or Summerslam later on in the year. On that note, maybe this loss will change Cena's character a little bit. 

Summary

Now that another Mania is in the books, I would hope that WWE creative, for the rest of the year and beyond, would work on developing the next generation of characters. Rock, HHH, HBK, Taker, Jericho and others aren't going to be walking through those doors forever. It's time to pass the torch.