WWE WrestleMania: Rock vs. Lesnar and the 10 Matches That Would Electrify Fans
Exactly one year from today will be WrestleMania XXIX from MetLife Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. The New York Tri-State area may be in for quite a show as it seems that WWE is trying to set up their WrestleMania card for 2013 already. The Rock and John Cena helped draw incredible numbers with a match one year in the making, so will doing the same thing this year generate the same sort of hype and income for WWE?
There have already been some attempts to try and put together dream matches that have never been seen before with WrestleMania 12 months away. With the continuation of The Rock on television and the return of Brock Lesnar this past Monday, it seems more likely than ever that once-in-a-lifetime clashes are going to happen at WrestleMania in the coming years.
Here are 10 matches that I would want to watch. Whenever these kinds of matches come together, they may either help sell the show or steal the show and become the great moment coming out of that particular WrestleMania. If you enjoy WrestleMania matches, then here are a few that any fan could hop on board with.
CM Punk vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
1 of 10We can thank social networking for spicing up the possibility of this match happening. It all began with tweets between the two men from their respective accounts. As Punk was still managing The New Nexus, he had a backstage clash with Austin. Austin asked if Punk wanted a beer, which Punk would respond to with the signature "What?" that Austin had made popular.
Their feud would only be fueled by the fire of Twitter as both men tweeted back and forth for the entire world to watch. Very feint rumors with little credibility have reported that this could be a WrestleMania XXIX match. Whether or not the WWE Championship will be around Punk's waist still is still being worked out over the next few months.
We may end up seeing this matchup after all, but not before Austin gets his injury-ridden knees checked and Punk outlasts Jericho in their existing storyline.
Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk
2 of 10We've gotten our previews of it. We've seen how intense and impressive it can all get. But what do we actually expect from a Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk match at a WrestleMania? How about a legitimate match that will challenge any other match on that big stage? That is the capability of these two skilled individuals.
We haven't seen a true winner in any of the clashes we have been teased. Expect a tease to last yet another year before their clash for a world championship or, better yet, simple bragging rights, begins.
WrestleMania XXX seems like quite the venue for a match like this. It isn't something you see everyday. It also isn't your typical WrestleMania. It also does not discuss the capabilities that some people have in order for this match to finally happen. Even with a potential two-year-plus build, this match should happen.
The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar
3 of 10Brock Lesnar would return to WrestleMania for the first time since XX, where he lost in his final days with the company at an event in Madison Square Garden. This time around, appearing at WrestleMania XXIX is almost like going full-circle with what his post-WWE career has been. If defeating The Rock for the WWE Championship at a SummerSlam (which was also in the New York Area, by the way) launched his legend, a match with The Great One could cement his legacy.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
4 of 10The attack on Monday night gets the ball rolling on this one. Brock Lesnar and John Cena faced one another in the past, but Lesnar was a huge star and Cena was just coming up the ranks. Cena was still decked out in his Basic Thuganomics gear and his Word Life philosophy. Lesnar, on the other hand, was as big as they came in WWE. The night that Cena won his first championship was the night of Lesnar's last match. Those 10 world championships for Cena all came after Lesnar was gone.
If we are supposed to believe that Cena has lost it all from losing to The Rock, he can gain some of it back by beating Lesnar. Lesnar has always been great and has always been better than Cena. Cena couldn't become great until Lesnar was out of the picture. To build back up his legacy, he must begin with a victory over Lesnar. Perhaps it comes at next year's WrestleMania?
Chris Jericho vs. Justin Gabriel
5 of 10I'm probably coming out of nowhere with this one for some people. Chris Jericho is great at getting over young talent, which is exactly why he was in NXT in the first place. Gabriel was in that season and made a greater impression than was expected. Gabriel finished third in the season behind David Otunga and Wade Barrett, the rookie of Jericho.
I recount a small feud that Jericho had in his last stint with the company during which he was facing Evan Bourne a lot. Jericho won the matches when it mattered, but Bourne had some of his best matches because of Y2J. Gabriel is my pick for the next guy to elevate himself into a good mid-card star, kind of like what Cody Rhodes did for himself at WrestleMania XXVII by defeating Rey Mysterio. Gabriel has the talent to step into the role Bourne had in that feud, except that Gabriel won't ruin his chances with Wellness Policy violations.
Wade Barrett vs. Christian
6 of 10Wade Barrett needs some redemption after an ill-timed injury. The same happened to Christian when you come down to it. A setback kept Christian out of WrestleMania. Who knows what would have happened if either of these men were involved in WrestleMania, but that's why both of these men want to do something to help their careers. Christian has been a two-time world champion, but has had lackluster reigns. Barrett, on the other hand, is chomping at the bit for a world title reign, which would be the first for any man from England.
I would think that it would be interesting to have Barrett slightly become a babyface in all of this. Christian could continue to complain, while Barrett tells him to be quiet and says that it is his time to shine. It could lead to something unexpectedly great at WrestleMania.
Natalya vs. Beth Phoenix
7 of 10The Divas division is in absolute shambles if your dominant champion loses to a pseudo celebrity and a Bella twin all in one week. Building this division back up starts with a great competitor for Phoenix. That's where Natalya comes in, a former close ally of Phoenix.
The two aren't seen together anymore and are actually in matches that have pitted them against one another. The Divas of Doom seemed to be destined to face one another at some point down the line. That dream seemed to have been abandoned, but can be revived for a great WrestleMania match that is absolutely necessary.
The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
8 of 10The Miz has been in need of some good matches that come out in his favor. The man who won the main event at last year's WrestleMania has seen very little success in the year that built up to this last Wrestlemania. The Miz got the victory in the Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny match, but he needs some more sustained success. Sneaky pinfalls over Zack Ryder is just something that is beneath The Awesome One.
The Miz probably had one of his better matches in the last year against Rey Mysterio in that short WWE Championship tournament after CM Punk "left" the company. The great match between these two came in the finals of that tournament, resulting in Rey Mysterio's first reign with the WWE Championship. The Miz hasn't come very close since then.
The altercations between these two write themselves, especially with promos already using shots like this one to build up hype.
Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
9 of 10Sheamus has climbed the mountain once again, now the holder of three world title reigns. Ziggler has just one, which lasted all of a couple of minutes. The time taken to read this whole article is longer than the time Dolph Ziggler was a world champion. Ziggler certainly has the skill for it and can have a good match with just about anyone. The style and reputation of Sheamus can make for a great match for both of them.
Both men are yet to have a great WrestleMania moment. The best Sheamus has is an 18-second win, but that won't make for a legendary moment in his career. Ziggler can do anything you ask him to, so instead of having him make guys beneath him look good, put Ziggler in a meaningful match against someone at his level. You won't be disappointed. Let these guys have 15 minutes to wrestle, sit back, and enjoy.
Mark Henry vs. CM Punk
10 of 10I officially want to see this match now. I wasn't quite sure about it, but I am all for it now. Monday night convinced me. Punk taking down the World's Strongest Man with a match like that one earlier this week will be like Hogan bodyslamming Andre at WrestleMania III. Punk can do it, but if Henry becomes a destructive force again, look out.
Watch for Henry to get built back up with the help of A.W., and for Punk to continue to shine. Henry needs one more great feud before the idea of his possible retirement can be reached. Henry can go out in style with a high-profile match at WrestleMania against The Best in the World.






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