WrestleMania 27: Just Another PPV?

Looking at last night's event, I have to say there wasn't a lot of pop as a whole.  Were we older fans spoiled with WrestleMania 27?  Quite possibly.  I can't really say for sure.  But I do know that the crowd at the event and at the Blast Area I attended for the biggest night in sports entertainment was... just mediocre.

The crowd got into the opening contest all right, but after that, we fizzled until the in-between match segments where icons from the Attitude era made their presence known.  As a friend of mine, "Lord Gonchar," said on his Facebook page: "The key to working a WrestleMania match is to oversell. That's all you have to do."  

He's right.  

Unfortunately, there was no overselling.  It was like watching a long episode of Raw, as if we're slowly building towards another event, not Wrestle-freaking-Mania.  The only selling came from Undertaker, HHH, Edge, Del Rio and dare I say it—Cody Rhodes.  

Those guys worked hard to make you really believe that the big moves were impactful, and that the injuries were real.  Cody ripping off Rey's knee brace, and every look of vehement hatred he delivered?  Eating the 619?  He sold those moves well.  He made them believable.  

If you want a shining example of overselling to put over another guy, look at Undertaker.  He oversold the end of his match like a true pro.  The losing man got to his feet and left before Taker could stand.  He made HHH look epic, while still taking home a win.  That, my friends, is an oversell.

Don't get me wrong.  I don't think the rest of the show sucked.  I think there were good points.  Look at Cena-Miz.  Miz and Cena technically went to a draw.  Miz matched up with Cena, and there's still more story to tell there.  Even if we don't see it, it's a possibility, and I like that.  Miz has come a long way since his initial squash feud with John Boy, and it's good to see him get his comeuppance and be placed on an even keel to that point.  Is the bigger story Rock-Cena?  Of course.  You knew that going into the PPV and leaving it.

Mad props to Del Rio and Cody Rhodes to really prove themselves.  Both men worked their asses off and proved why they deserved spots on the card.  Props.

I think that's all I have for now.