Fans got excited when WWE advertised a special three-hour Monday Night Raw last week with the "WrestleMania Rewind" theme. The idea was a novel one - The show would exclusively feature rematches from past WrestleManias. Using the current WWE roster, there were something like 21 different possibilities to recreate past matches from the Granddaddy of Them All, dating all the way back to WrestleMania XIV ten years ago.
Instead, WWE phoned in a lackluster and unimaginative Raw that featured exactly three actual WrestleMania rematches - none of which were very good.
It's a shame that WWE wasted the potential for a truly memorable Raw. Here are some of the more intriguing match possibilities that were squandered.
Triple H vs. Batista: These two headlined WrestleMania 21 in the match that coronated The Animal as a new top act. At the time they were bitter rivals. Since then, they have seemingly patched up their storyline differences, and even teamed together. It would have been fun to see these two wrestle a competitive, sportsmanlike match. To further their respective WrestleMania angles, the finish could have involved either Randy Orton or Umaga. Instead, we got a Triple H vs. Kane snoozer, which I believe was also featured in last year's WrestleMania rewind, and a short segment in which Umaga and Batista brawled.
John Cena vs. JBL: This would have been a rematch of WrestleMania 21's other main event, in which Cena won his first world championship. It's been nearly three years since these two were in the ring together, and a lot has happened since then. It would have been pretty easy to have Cena defeat JBL, or maybe have JBL win by disqualification when an outraged Finlay ran into the ring and attacked him. Instead we got a disappointing Cena-Shawn Michaels rematch from Mania 23, and JBL appearing on screen for about 10 seconds to taunt Finlay.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho: This would have been a rematch of one of my all time favorite Mania matches at WMXIX. Both men are five years older, and babyfaces, which could have led to a heck of a technical wrestling match. Instead we got Y2J taking on Jeff Hardy in a good match, but one that did not keep with the WrestleMania Rewind gimmick.
The Undertaker vs. Ric Flair: These two stole the show at 2002's WrestleMania X8. With Flair being forced to retire with his next loss - and Taker not about to lose clean to a 59-year-old Flair weeks before his Mania world title match - this would likely have to end in some sort of no contest, or DQ win for Flair. But with Flair expected to retire in the coming months, it would have been nice to see these two legends out there together one final time.
The Great Khali vs. Kane: Trust me, I'm in no rush to see these two stink up a ring again, but with three hours to fill, and only so many Mania rematches at WWE's disposal, this would have fit in just fine. It could have served as a vehicle to promote the 24-man battle royal for an ECW title shot at WrestleMania.
Six Man Ladder Match: Edge vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Randy Orton vs. C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Finlay: WWE's has six of the eight contestants from last year's Money in The Bank ladder match at their disposal (Matt Hardy has not yet returned to TV since being injured, and Booker T is in TNA) so why not use them to promote this year's MITB? Since Edge and Orton are both competing in world title matches at this year's Mania, they could have played the parts of the cowardly heels and kept away from most of the action while Hardy, Kennedy and Punk - who are all in this year's MITB - battled it out.
Melina vs. Ashley: I understand that WWE intended to put on this WrestleMania 23 rematch, but Ashley was injured. It would have been nice if WWE at least went through the motions in trying to carry out this match, even if it meant having Ashley come to the ring, explain in her injury, and announce that Maria would be wrestling as her proxy.
Add to that an actual finish to the campy, but fun, old timers match between the U.S. Express and Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik, and you would have had an entire card loaded up with authentic WrestleMania rematches that would have also served to promote this year's big event.
