It's about 5:30 a.m. now, and I'm sitting at Gate B6 waiting for my flight to Fort Lauderdale. From there I'll be driving into Orlando (don't ask) for what should be a fun WrestleMania weekend.
It's easy to criticize everything that's wrong with pro wrestling - and I often do. But tis time every year, I am reminded about why I enjoy this business so much. Yes, this year's WrestleMania card - and the WWE product as a whole - has plenty of flaws that we could pick apart all day. But let me take the opportunity to go over a lot of the stuff WWE is doing right, and should make for a memorable WrestleMania weekend.
The Citrus Bowl: In addition to all the colorful personalities that make up WrestleMania each year, one of the most important characters is always the setting. An awesome setting - like Ford Field last year or the sea of humanity that was the Silverdome in 1987 - can take a so-so event and make it extra special. A stale setting - like Atlantic City's Trump Plaza 20 years ago, or Chicago's Rosemont Horizon in 2006, can really dampen a show. With 70,000 fans packing a football stadium for what is only the second outdoor WrestleMania in history, the backdrop for the night's matches promises to be spectacular. If it rains, all the better. Anybody remember Diana Ross' Central Park concert from about 30 years ago?
The Triple Threat Match: The storyline involving Triple H, John Cena and Randy Orton has been a pretty compelling one, and all three performers - as well as WWE writers - have come through with intriguing interviews and angles to sell the night's big match. Seth Mates rightfully pointed out what a mess WWE writers made of WrestleMania X8's WWE title match between Triple H and Chris Jericho - what with a dead puppy being the lynchpin to the whole feud. There has been none of that this year. For all three men, the goal is clear - the WWE championship. WWE has shown a lot of discipline in recent years in its handling of the title, and it is now paying off in dividends. What's more, these three men should be capable of putting together the match of the night, and quite possibly, of the year.
Ric Flair: I'm not so naive as to think the Nature Boy will never lace up the boots again, even if he does lose Sunday and is "forced to retire." But nonetheless, in a career filled with historic nights, this could definitely be among the most memorable - if handled well. Without any need to qualify the statement, Ric Flair is, quite simply, the greatest wrestler that ever lived. To witness in person what could be the last major match of his career is one of the things I'm looking forward to the most. And in Shawn Michaels, he is paired with the one man most likely to get the very best out of Flair. Heck, he got a decent match out of a 50+ year old Hulk Hogan. Even more than the match, I can't wait to see Naitch get inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow night. It should be an emotional and historic night, and I only hope that those who were integral parts of his career - such as Arn Anderson, Rick Steamboat and dare-I-wonder Sting - are there to share in it.
Undertaker vs. Edge: I'm less excited about this match than some others, but as he did with Batista last year, the Undertaker certainly has the capability to steal the show. And in Edge, he has a much better equipped dance partner in the ring than he did with the Animal last year. I don't think for a minute that the Taker's Mania winning streak is about to end, so we are almost guaranteed a world title change here, which is always nice treat at Mania.
Money in the Bank: It is what it is: a high-spot fest. But as far as those go, it's usually a good one. Chris Jericho returns in the match for his first WrestleMania in three years. Shelton Benjamin - the star of the first two MITB matches - is back this year, and is sure to deliver something memorable. This could also be the coronation of a future world champion, in the form of MVP.
The Mayweather - Big Show spectacle: WrestleMania has always been about more than quality matches. In fact, workrate wasn't even considered as a priority until about the half-way point of the Mania era. The "spectacle" match has long been a fixture at the event, dating back to Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper boxing at the Nassau Coliseum at WrestleMania 2. Sometimes it works - like Vince McMahon's matches against his son Shane and last year's Donald Trump fiasco - and sometimes less so - like The Big Show's sumo match against Akebono. Whatever this tuns out to be, I'm sure it will be loaded with plenty of bells and whistles to make it memorable, if nothing else.
The Rock: After mostly staying out of the WWE spotlight for four years, the Great One returns tomorrow night to induct his father and grandfather into the Hall of Fame. It will be fun to see what kind of reception he receives from fans and to hear him work his magic behind a microphone. With any luck, Vince McMahon was able to twist his arm into appearing at Sunday's show. A People's Elbow on Santino Marella would make the Citrus Bowl explode.
Comments (10)
Unfortuantely I think this a one shot deal for the Rock. Would love to see him at the show but he seems to be of the mind set that he is done with the WWE in that respect.
No chance of The Rock appearing. I hear he's flying straight back to finish up some filming the next morning.
Dude, What are you talking about: "A stale setting Chicago's Rosemont Horizon in 2006" Damn... the crowd rocked at WM22 and made the show!
The Rock will pull a 2006 Bret Hart is my guess. But an elbow on Santino would be orgasmic.
Um, no offense, but were you even at Wrestlemania 22? I freely admit I think the arena itself is kind of crappy, at least compared to some of the more high end places Wrestlemania has been (i.e. Ford Field), but by the admission of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jim Ross, Mick Foley, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, and a host of others...Chicago is unlike almost any other city in the world (with the exception of New York, Montreal, and maybe Philadelphia) in regards to its fan appreciation for the buisness and its noise level. I was there live for that event and let me tell you... my ears are still ringing two years later from the noise we made. In case you forgot, WWE even voted the Chicago fan reaction towards John Cena as one of its most memorable moments in a Wrestlemania poll last year on wwe.com. I think Chicago is an awesome place for wrestling, and I'm not even from there!
Chicago was friggin' rockin' for Wrestlemania. You are WAY off there.
Chicago was friggin' rockin' for Wrestlemania. You are WAY off there.
Let me echo the sediment of those above...
WrestleMania XXII was FREAKING AWESOME because of that crowd. For instance...
- super hot for Foley/Rock.
- super hot for Mickie/Trish... and the they gave Mickie MEGABABYFACE HEAT.... (which makes perfect sex... she wanted to go lesbian with Trish... and she was supposed to be the HEEL?).
- super-duper hot for Michaels/McMahon.
- and last but not least, DUELING CHANTS for HHH/Cena!!!!!!
That crowd was insane and awesome. That crowd MADE that WrestleMania.
In fact, I was there for WrestleMania 22 in Chicago. My complaint isn't with the crowd, which I agree was hot throughout, but rather with the overall feel and look of the place. They dressed it up as much as they could, but ultimately it's a mid-sized indoor arena - certainly no Ford Field or SkyDome. And I've never sat in such an uncomfortable seat in my life.
Alfonso,
I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the whole TNA/Robbie McAllister situation. Do you blame him for showing up at the event, or do you blame TNA for showing him? Part of me says, it's his own fault for going to a show he "shouldn't be at." The other part says that, as good ettiquette, TNA shouldn't have shown him and put him in this situation, since it's not like he's a ratings draw.