Five Reasons Why Wrestlemania 27 Is on Thin Ice
Being a purchaser of last year's WM, I had a level of expectation going into this year's event. While I knew the WWE would struggle to create such a climactic finale to WM 27 as it did the year before, I still had a high standard for the card this year.
In recent weeks, we've seen leaks to the WM card become validated, albeit a few curveballs that have done good and bad for the event's potential. Here, I'd like to go over some of the main issues concerning this year's WrestleMania.
1. HHH Vs. Undertaker
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There's a lot that I dislike about the likely Main Event for WM 27, the match of legends between Triple H and The Undertaker.
First off, this match has been horribly hyped from the beginning, which is saying a lot considering how little it has actually been hyped. Neither wrestler has been in a match since he's returned to the active roster, and their promos have been cut-and-pasted each week, with little variation. The entire concept that fueled the match is also lack-luster.
Triple H says that he and Taker are the last of an era, that there's no one left for them to beat. But wait...didn't Triple H get sidelined after being stomped on by a then-blooming Sheamus? And wasn't The Deadman gone after being handily beaten and buried by his brother, Kane?
I also don't understand Triple H's repeated motto of how he'll 'die trying' if he can't beat the streak. We all know this match doesn't have a Career vs. Streak stipulation, and it's been made clear that Triple H intends to wrestle after WM 27. So why promise something you won't deliver? Do you intend to go back to wrestling these guys you've already declared as being not worth your time?
But we're supposed to take these things at face value, as though the events of the last year don't matter. We're supposed to accept that Triple H can squash his feud with Sheamus in two minutes of returning, making the King of the Ring look more weak and incapable than he'd already been made to appear, in weeks prior.
This 'last of an era' concept is just not cutting it with me. Maybe some people want to see these two go at it once again, but I just don't see it being worth the (little) hype it's received. Why?
Because the match is No Holds Barred, as well.
We all know The Undertaker is getting up there in years. He's already done permanent damage to himself, and he will likely never be at 100 percent in the ring again. This stipulation is purely designed to give Taker means to put on a performance without being required to wrestle traditionally, as he has in past years. Despite this, the WWE wants to market this match as the main event, and hype it to be an instant classic (like their previous WM encounter never existed).
There's nothing that can be done about this match, in my eyes. If they were going to end the streak, it should've been done last year (when it was believably threatened and properly built-up).
I'll go on the record and say this. Last year was the last year we'll see Taker put on a truly legendary performance at WM. This is likely just a segway match to allow the streak to be broken at an even 20.
2. No MITB
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Another move that I'm shocked at is the removal of the Money in the Bank match from the Wrestlemania card this year.
The WWE is struggling with its mid-card talent, currently. There are many gifted performers who could benefit from a title shot, but likely won't find one outside of this event.
Kofi Kingston, Drew McIntyre, Ted DiBiase, Evan Bourne, Chris Masters, Tyler Reks...the list goes on and on. These are the people who need to really make a WM moment, and perhaps even go on to set the path of their career in the process. They don't even have to win; just letting them perform on The Grandest Stage of Them All could do wonders for their hype, popularity and potential.
But unless the WWE understands how important of a match this is for their mid-card and developing talent, they'll continue to see a stagnancy in their mid-carders.
I sincerely hope that the WWE surprises us, and includes this match at the last minute.
3. Snooki Wrestling
3 of 6You may notice that I didn't include a picture for this slide. That's because I couldn't crop a picture of Nicole Polizzi (aka "Snooki") to fit in the margin.
...okay, so that isn't completely true. But all joking aside, I shouldn't even be put in the position to MAKE a slide regarding this. There's so much wrong with Snooki's addition to the WM card, I wish I could type it by punching the keyboard.
For those who've been living under a rock in recent history, Snooki is a 'reality television star' from the show "Jersey Shore". If you haven't seen it, count yourself lucky. The show is an embodiment of everything foreigners hate about America, which validates itself by the fact that networks pay these people to endorse said image.
Binge drinking, promiscuity, irresponsible behavior and fits of violence aren't the kinds of themes that people should be tagging to a youth-marketed company like the WWE. Hell, they've been known to fire their own wrestlers (or should I say "Superstars") for such incidents. Why would Vince McMahon include her to the WM card, as a wrestler no less?
Because Vince, who I'm sure has never even seen "Jersey Shore", will do anything for a quick buck.
Given the decline in sales and profit for the WWE, I understand how adding Snooki to WM could increase value to the product from a monetary standpoint. But it detracts from the quality value in the process. Snooki isn't a wrestler, and her presence does nothing more than deprive another more deserving, more dedicated individual of a potential chance to shine at WrestleMania.
Then again, Vince seems content with having Michael Cole bury the Diva's Division from week to week, so maybe this move shouldn't be seen as a real shock.
Regardless, I think Snooki deserves to be nowhere near WM, this year or any other.
Oh, and she's already reported to be caught drinking backstage and acting unruly. You truly get what you pay for, Vince.
4. Christian's Involvement at WrestleMania
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I'm a big Christian fan. So when I saw him at the Slammy Awards with Edge, I marked out. My excitement only grew after he saved Edge at Elimination Chamber, and subsequently made more significant appearances on SmackDown! than I've seen him make in a long time.
Christian is a hard worker for the company, and has been with the WWE for a long time. He's iconic in the tag-team scene, and a stable in the mid-card division. But unlike his kayfabe brother, Edge...Christian just hasn't hit the main event, yet.
WrestleMania should be his chance.
I know many are hoping that Christian gets added to Edge's match with Alberto Del Rio at WM, and rightfully so. Christian deserves a chance to make his mark on the event, and I think he's got a great chance to do just that.
But even if he's not added to the match as a contender, he should at least be in Edge's corner (as is rumored to be the case) to make a difference in the match. With Del Rio favored heavily to walk way the new champ, Christian's involvement could (and should) cost Edge the title, allowing the two to feud afterwards in what many would call a dream rivalry.
After all, best friends make better enemies.
Christian needs to get his push to the main event scene. It's long overdue, and if the WWE fails to give him that nudge now, when all the stars seem to be lining up for him, I doubt they ever will.
5. John Cena Vs. Miz
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It may garner some heat for saying this, but I like John Cena. As a worker, at least.
It's widely considered that Cena is going to walk out of WM the new WWE Champion, but this is the last thing the WWE needs to do.
Cena has already been an accomplished champion, and has solidified himself as a main eventer and the current face of the WWE. Love him or hate him, he can sell tickets. The WWE doesn't need to waste a WrestleMania Moment on Cena getting the title back...again.
The Miz needs a win, at The Showcase. I know people talk about how ratings have dropped with Miz as champion, but I think this is because he hasn't been given a chance to prove he's more than just an opportunist who can't keep the title on his talent. Letting him beat Cena at WM would be a big step in the right direction of establishing him as a champion, and truly making him 'Must-See'.
While I know A-Ri is going to get involved at some point in the match, given that he was fired for all but an episode or two, I think that the main interference is (of course) going to be from The Rock.
Rocky and Cena have been going at it in recent weeks, taking to Twitter and the microphone to lash out at each other, leaving The Miz out in the process. This also likely contributed to the drop in ratings, given that if Cena and Rock can overlook Miz, why shouldn't the fans?
Rock needs to interfere and level Cena in the ring, followed by an interfering Alex Riley. Allow Miz to capitalize in the meantime, retaining the championship and giving him both his WM Moment, and a chance to affirm that he can be champ, at least for a little while longer.
I anticipate events will take place like this, since there's been speculation of a Rock/Cena confrontation at SummerSlam, making a Cena heel turn on Rock very tantalizing.
If WWE knows what's good for them, they won't discredit Miz at WrestleMania, and let him walk away the champion.
In Conclusion...
6 of 6That's all for my Top Five. I hope you enjoyed reading it, and feel free to leave any comments. Until next time, Bleachers!
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