WrestleMania 27: Why Vince McMahon and WWE Have the Most to Prove

With two days until the biggest event in all of professional wrestling rocks the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, there are several Superstars in the WWE locker room with plenty to prove.

Can John Cena finally take his place amongst the iconic figures in WrestleMania history, such as Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin? Can The Miz prove he is a bona fide main event star, capable of carrying his end of a WrestleMania title match?

Will Cody Rhodes take the next step towards the top of the card on Friday Night SmackDown and, at the same time, perform to the level Rey Mysterio expected he could when he handpicked the second-generation star as his WrestleMania opponent?

Can Triple H and The Undertaker reaffirm their standing as two of the greatest stars not only in WrestleMania history, but in the history of the sport? Can The Rock prove he is capable on appearing in person rather than via satellite from his home office?

While all of these Superstars have something to prove on a night when the entire wrestling world watches, it is the pioneer of the event and the emperor of the professional wrestling business that must once again prove that, when all the chips are on the table and interest in the event is as high as it has been in quite some time, he is able to rally the troops and present an extravaganza worthy of the name "WrestleMania."

The 23rd WrestleMania was the last truly great show. The "Battle of the Billionaires" between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump, where each man handpicked a Superstar to battle against the other with a head shaving on the line for the loser, generated significant media attention.

The first major contest between Dave Batista and The Undertaker over the World Heavyweight Championship provided the spectacular "big man" power match that many expect to see from a professional wrestling event. The main event, featuring Shawn Michaels and John Cena battling for the WWE Championship, brought the work rate so many Internet wrestling fans value.

The undercard was littered with big-name champions and challengers, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric as 80,000 screaming WWE fans cheered on their favorite Superstars.

The three years after WrestleMania 23 have failed to yield the same results. The 24th annual event featured Big Show taking on Floyd Mayweather Jr., a major boxing and sports star, in what was billed as a "David vs. Goliath"-type bout. What should have attracted a huge media presence, especially from the likes of ESPN and Sports Illustrated, did not quite live up to its potential.

The Triple Threat WWE Championship match between John Cena, Randy Orton and Triple H fell flat, and The Undertaker challenging Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship, while a very good match, did not have the hype leading into the event that the Raw title match and the Show-Mayweather match did and as a result was largely forgotten. The undercard also failed to live up to the previous year's event.

While the outdoor setting and phenomenal pyrotechnic display were a spectacle and the momentary retirement of Ric Flair was certainly emotional, the entire event felt like a letdown.

WrestleMania XXV and XXVI will forever be remembered because of two matches that will live on in wrestling lore far longer than the events they were a part of. In back-to-back years, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker performed in two matches that upon their completion immediately took their place amongst the best of all time. Both won Match of the Year honors in many publications and online awards ceremonies.

At the end of the second, Michaels waved goodbye to the fans and his legendary career, retiring as a result of his second consecutive loss to the Dead Man.

Unfortunately for Vince McMahon and his companies, those two contests are arguably the high points of both shows. Two years removed from what should have been a history-making "25th Anniversary of WrestleMania," many find it difficult to look back and point out any truly memorable match or happening at the show other than the aforementioned five-star classic.

WrestleMania XXVI featured a significantly improved in-ring product over XXV but was also stricken by the same curse as its predecessor: As good as everything else may have been, it all paled in comparison to the showdown between Michaels and Undertaker.

Perhaps sensing the disappointment resonating from the previous three years' efforts, Vince McMahon and his company have pulled out all stops to make this year's event both memorable and satisfying to the viewers in attendance and at home.

The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Trish Stratus are all back on the big show. Jersey Shore's Snooki will provide the media attention WWE so covets for its biggest pay-per-view extravaganza of the calendar year. New faces creating a fresh product populate the card.

For this year's event to be the success he hopes it will be, Vince McMahon must once again show the world that he is not only a phenomenal businessman, but he also must dip back into the bag of tricks he utilized to make WrestleMania I and so many others the global phenomena they proved to be. He must utilize his talents to the best of their abilities.

Most importantly, it is imperative that McMahon proves he is still capable of producing the moments that stand the test of time.

Vince must also prove that the television time and the effort to get young, inexperienced talent over enough to participate on the WrestleMania card were worth it. Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and The Corre are all in positions they may not have been if it was not for the company going in a more youth-oriented direction.

McMahon made that decision, and now fans claim this year's card does not have the same special feeling of cards past, mostly due to its perceived lack of stars. The company has to do everything in its power to maximize the performance of its young talent.

The inevitable showdown between The Rock and John Cena is a moment WWE must absolutely capitalize on. With no defining moment outside of the Shawn Michaels-Undertaker match at WrestleMania XXV, Vince and company have the chance to create the most iconic image since the staredown between Rock and John Cena. The confrontation will be fresh and one fans have waited a very long time to witness.

The intense interaction the two had Monday night was one that undoubtedly sold hundreds of thousands of pay-per-views alone. Sunday, McMahon has to reward the paying customer with an epic clash of two sports-entertainment legends.

WrestleMania 27 could prove to be a turning point for World Wrestling Entertainment: the company, the product and its fans. There is potential for young talent to graduate to the next level, a potential that has not been recognized, in all reality, since WrestleMania XIV. Classic, memorable moments are waiting to be had, and only one man and one company can see to it that WrestleMania 27 achieves the goals possible.

There are plenty with much to prove in Atlanta on Sunday. Vince McMahon, the revolutionary sports-entertainment promoter, is the one with the most. Only time will tell if he succeeds or not.