WWE WrestleMania 27 Review: April 3, 2011 (Part 2)

Welcome to part two of my WrestleMania XXVII review!

After Cody Rhodes’ win, we were treated to a backstage segment featuring Snoop Dogg. He was talking to Teddy Long about how he needed someone to tour with him, and so the auditions started.

William Regal did an amusing rap. The Great Khali and Beth Phoenix did "Summer Lovin’." Zac Ryder was getting down on "Friday" before being attacked by the Hot Rod Roddy Piper. Chris Masters flexed his muscles to "We Will Rock You" as Yoshi Tatsu sang it. Hornswoggle was the final audition, and he just whimpered until Snoop left in disappointment. He then burst into rap. I know what you’re thinking: Why did I just bother telling you all that?

The eight-man tag match was up next, and we learnt that Kofi Kingston would be replacing Vladimir Kozlov. Kofi came out to an extended fireworks display.

The match was fast-paced and short just as everyone hoped it would be. See if you can keep up with this play-by-play...

Heath Slater and Santino start off with Heath getting the better of Santino until he does his signature hip toss and tags in Big Show, who demolishes Slater until Ezekiel comes in and almost knocks Big Show’s head off. Ezekiel then runs into Kane’s top-rope clothesline as he stands up and uppercuts a flying Gabriel before being stopped by the big boot of Barrett, who walks into Kofi's Trouble in Paradise. Kingston then dives on two Corre members outside while Big Show wins with a knockout punch on Slater, who just suffered The Cobra in the middle of the ring.

They finished the match before I finished typing.

The Corre were defeated in the first wrong move by WWE of the night. They were beaten by a mismatched team despite holding the Intercontinental belt and the tag team belts. What does that say about how WWE treats its titles and their holders? The Corre needed to win that match in my opinion. It’s not as if the crowd were even that invested in the faces of the match.

Another backstage segment and The Rock congratulated Eve on being the Divas Champion (another title neglected at the Granddaddy of them all). He then said he would create an unforgettable moment with the next person that comes around the corner. Unlucky Rock, it was Mae Young.

She was hungry for the Rock’s strudel, but he managed to convince her to go to her seat and enjoy the show. He didn’t get away without a pinch on the arse from Mae though. As he expressed his annoyance about her walking through the corridor, Stone Cold appeared, and the fans got the electric moment they were hoping for.

They shook hands and asked if they were ready to “kick ass,” and that was all they needed to do. The segment worked so well and added a lot to their presence at WrestleMania.

Randy Orton took on CM Punk next in a match that everyone thought would steal the show. I got a lot of stick for saying it wouldn’t, but I was right. It really didn’t.

Randy delivered a thunderous clothesline at the start of the match to take control, and the action went to the outside. Randy threw Punk toward the stairs, who jumped over them and booted them into Randy’s leg. Punk landed a huge cross body when the action returned to the ring.

Punk mocked Orton’s game leg and focused on his knee with an assortment of wrestling holds after suffering a backbreaker from Randy. After the barrage of assaults to the knee, Punk signalled for a GTS, which was reversed into an RKO, which was also reversed! Punk then went for a high-risk move, but had his feet swept away and landed where I’d rather not think about.

A superplex followed. When they had recovered, Punk managed to get a figure four around the turnbuckle on Randy.  This was a highlight of the match for me, as I haven’t seen that move used in a long time, and it was a staple of Bret Hart’s repertoire. He then ripped the bandage off the leg before momentum switched again.

Orton gave Punk an Olympic Slam before being locked in the anaconda vice, which was good to see. It was the only other good bit in the match in my opinion.

Punk ended up on the apron and suffered the patented DDT before Randy did his tantrum thing. He stopped when he realised Punk was puntable, but his leg gave way again. Funny how he can run about all match doing suplexes, but he can’t run the length of the ring without falling over.

Punk regained composure, worked his way to Orton and avoided an RKO like someone would avoid a snakebite. He then went to the top rope and became a victim of the overused AIRKO. Randy Orton picked up the victory in a disappointing match. I predicted it would be a disappointing match despite many saying it would be a classic. I guess you never know until you see it. This was the second disappointing result of the night.

Another backstage segment with The Rock had him trying to convince Pee Wee Herman to join Team Bring It. I don’t know Pee Wee because I’m not American, so I don’t know whether he’s supposed to be funny or annoying, but he was the latter. He did The Rock’s catchphrase, and I almost put a Cena t-shirt on, that’s how annoying he was.

I’ll just mention the Hall of Fame segment where Drew Carey got booed, and rightfully so in my opinion.

Booker T and JR were introduced next to call the action between Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole!  That made my night. Even if it had just been for one match, I was glad Jim Ross was there.

Michael Cole came out in amateur wrestling gear, heckling Jim Ross for being overweight. He explained by the end of the match that he would be the new Mr. WrestleMania.

Jack Swagger was out next, but Stone Cold interrupted his entrance during the press-up part! He charged at him in the same ATV he used two years ago and narrowly missed him. Then he charged at Cole, who fled to his Colemine for safety.

Jerry came out to his normal ring music in a brilliant piece of ring attire. He looked to be really enjoying walking out in front of 71,000 people, and I’m not surprised. They all cheered him loudly.

“He gonna put a whoopin’ on Michael Cole,” Booker T said.

The King was all over Swagger, who tried to attack him, and then went after Cole, who barricaded himself in the Colemine. He was doing the apology act when he made the schoolboy error of putting his hand out for Jerry to shake it. Lawler took advantage of this naturally, and beat up Cole for a good five minutes in the Colemine.

He then shoved him into the Raw General Manager podium before Swagger was up again and attacked Lawler from behind. This match should have already been over by the time it started. They were spending way too long on it. What followed was Cole focusing on the leg for what seemed like ages—it must have been about 10 minutes. It was boring. Cole shouldn’t even have been in there. I wish they’d have made this the dark match instead of the US title match between Sheamus and Daniel Bryan.

Lawler reversed the “ancole lock” and put the boot to Cole. When he started arguing with Austin, the crowd reacted in a way I can only liken to when someone stands up to a bully in school and the whole class does a collective gasp. Swagger got a well-deserved Stunner when he tried to throw the towel in for Cole.

Austin pushed him into a right hand by Lawler. Jerry stopped a pinfall after a big punch from the second rope and made a screaming Cole tap out to the ankle lock. Swagger carried Cole to the top of the stage as the Stone Cold celebrations began! Booker T joined in and did a huge spinerooni...then got Stunned. I thought that was a bit tight by Austin.

The Raw general manager ruled that Cole won the match via disqualification due to Austin getting involved and "overstepping his authority." King grabbed Josh and threw him in the ring where he was greeted with a Stunner much to the delight of the crowd. Just for reading the email out! Wounded.

This concludes part two of my review. If you wish to read part three, please follow the link.

If not, thanks for reading, and please leave a comment telling me whether you agree with my views about this part of WrestleMania in the comments section below! I reply to all comments that warrant it. Thanks for reading!

If you missed part one of this review, please follow the link.