- My 360 has decided to stop reading Madden 13 and as it's 2am TV is horrendous and TruTV aren't airing Conan, at all this week it seems and I only started watching it wednesday it's Devil's Dinner Party all over again. I got this last monday and have already watched around half of it however I have been ill all week so this is the first clear headed review also my first in a while.
LL Cool J, who I assume is culturally relevant again, talks us through Mania moments of past in the opening video.
IC Title - Ladder Match - Wade Barrett (c) Vs. Ambrose Vs. Bryan Vs. Ziggler Vs. Stardust Vs. Harper Vs. R-Truth
It'd be nice to think WWE had created a 7-Way feud revolving around Wade and the IC Title, say he cheated to beat the 6 others in one-on-ones over the past month or two but I think it's a case of let's throw a ladder match in there and make it the IC Title, yeah yeah that saves us booking something meaningful good job boys. Stardust looks like Mister Sinister. Asai butt bump by Stardust then some others get dumped or jump over the top rope and Ambrose elbow drops off a ladder onto them. Bryan dropkicks Stardust into a ladder but Harper then hits him with it. Ziggler superkicks Bryan from San Fran to San Juan. Something new as Wade breaks off a rung and hits Stardust with it. Now we get something done in seemingly every multi-man ladder match the put a ladder over head and twirl spot but R-Truth ends it with a Scissor Kick on Harper. We get a Holy Shit chant and no doubt each other will pat themselves on the back due to that as Wade superplexes Stardust off a ladder. Harper powerbombs Ambrose over the top through a ladder. Wade Bullhammers various people. Bryan and Ziggler exchange headbutts atop the ladder then Bryan wins the IC Title. **1/2 - Don't much care for spot fests especially the ones of the present day where spots are generally rehashed from older matches I mean how many times have people gone through ladders now? Didn't it start at least 8 years ago w/ Jeff and Edge. I like psychology in my matches and they are, understandably, non-existent in ladder matches. (Man Flu has left me sofa-ridden the past few days and I have rewatched this PPV and **1/2 seems a tad harsh, I think my dislike of Bryan, due to fans, played a part in this rating and that's unprofessional even for an amateur when the pain in my head subsides I'll give this a proper look back)
Randy Orton Vs. Seth Rollins (w/ J & J Security - Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Rollins is current MITB holder. Video depicts Rollins as similar to Orton from his Evolution days, though I doubt he's as much as a headache for management as Orton was. Dropkick right to Rollins mush but he avoids an RKO by going ringside. Double Draping DDT wipes out J & J. Cole says it's 16:20 so is it 00:20 UK time? Rollins may of watched TNA pre-match as he does Mic-Check. Orton is fighting back, turns a Curb Stomp into a powerslam. Rollins avoids DDT and sends Orton ringside where he asai moonsaults but almost does a Shawn Michaels as his back hits the table hard, the announcers make a note of it. Seth Rollins rolls through a crossbody for 2 but is soon hit with a Draping DDT. RKO gets 2 then J & J eat RKOs allowing Seth to hit Curb Stomp for a 2 of his own. Nice finish as Curb Stomp is countered with an RKO. *** - Technically sound and proficient if unspectacular overall, like the SA Spurs, I wasn't drawn in to it as much as i'd of liked to of been despite the beautiful finish. (Love having Orton go over though given what happens later as it makes a ready made challenger)
Sting Vs. HHH
Don't get me wrong I understand how big Sting being on a WWE card, no less WrestleMania, is as I was a fan during the WCW days albeit the latter ones (I feel I should explain why I was a fan of latter day WCW given its rep, Channel 5 showed it so I watched it, I think it was on a friday night, I used to buy figures from Brewsters, I really liked Crowbar if Iremember rightly) but not until watching the pre-match video did it really hit me just how big this is, though some say Sting is the last big WCWer to appear for WWE I counter that with Disco Inferno ain't appeared yet (I think anyway). Now I have already watched this match so let me state here that I hate the commentary throughout this one as we get constant WCW digs in, ignoring the fact that WCW had a spell of being dominant over the WWF but what really irks me is that JBL bangs on so much you'd think he himself helped put WCW out of business even though in reality nobody paid to see The Acolytes kind of like if Adam Morrison took credit for the 2 NBA Titles Lakers won during his tenure as a Laker. The crowd here may be bigger than all of the people who saw Sting in TNA combined, HHH has a Terminator style entrance and now I want to watch Judgment Day. Kind of fitting Charles Robinson is the ref (As he was a WCWer). Sting throws his first dropkick since around 1995 earning a 'you still got it' chant which is kind of like Ali coming back doing a shuffle and earning a YSGI chant. Sting no sells a facebuster as HHH has memories of WM 12 then he goes ringside to avoid a Deathlock. Sting misses a Stinger Splash at ringside then soon HHH gets a 2 after a knee drop following a vertical suplex, another 2 follows after a spinebuster. Scorpion Deathlock is applied and this brings out DX, minus one prominent member .... Chyna, oh and that Shawn guy, but Sting fights them off then avoids Pedigree which sends HHH ringside and Sting dives onto DX. Pedigree only gets a 2 count, HHH gets his sledgehammer but nWo are here (Everytime I watch this, multiple times recently as I'm to ill to change the disc .... and lazy, I smile when nWo come out, a true moment though would've been nWo music hits and Adams, Norton and Vincent come out .... and then the main three), I kind of want X-Pac to morph into Syxx, Scorpion Death Drop gets 2, that should've been the finish for me. Deathlock is reapplied as Hogan removes the Sledgehammer from the ring. HBK takes a break from killing animals to Sweet Chin Music Sting, maybe he heard the word Scorpion and agreed to show (Anti-Hunter mode engage!). Billy Gunn gives HHH the Sledgehammer but Scott Hall hands Sting his Ballbat which he uses to break the Sledgehammer in half, so in modern Roshambo Baseball Bat beats Sledgehammer. Disappointing finish which takes the wind out of the matches sails as HHH hits a charging Sting with the head of the Sledgehammer for the 3 count. *** - Bittersweet for me, I got into wrestling around 99/00 so was around for WCW and did love the nWo/DX stuff which I honestly never thought i'd see let alone Sting at WrestleMania but that ending is disheartening as HHH screws another WCWer at 'Mania, we get it WWE won and you're the alpha male but do you need to stop a happy ending Hunter? The match was a good WWE style match a type that Hunter excels at. Tack on a better ending and the rating would go up.
Maria Menounos interviews Daniel Bryan but they get interrupted by various ex-IC Champions - Pat Patterson, sad times as Roddy Piper appears and as of writing he passed away 3 days ago, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and Bret Hart, they do YES chant and Ron Simmons appears with a DAMN as he wasn't IC Champion, did laugh when Naitch chopped Ricky as I don't think Steamboat expected it.
Musical interlude time, I know Travis Barker but have no idea who the other two are as I generally avoid today's music when possible, the lady looks like the girl who dies in season 1 of Orange Is The New Black. (Still not got round to Season 2 yet or finding out who these two were)
AJ Lee/Paige Vs. Bella Twins
Is Paige meant to be one of them annoying 'look at my jet black hair gosh aren't I against society' girls? AJ looks bored and during the Bellas entrance 90s Lawler returns. AJ is knocked off the apron and Paige gets isolated, Arizona-Slam gets 2, AJ is still prone at ringside, oh wait she's up and then down again. JBL says great teams always beat great individuals and I sigh contently remembering
the Detroit Pistons of 2004. Paige hits the Bellas but AJ is down again. Good lord AJ is up and tags in. AJ gets 2 off a messy DDT then uses Black Widow to earn the win. ** - Didn't care much for it but do appreciate Tag Psychology so boosted for that reason.
Annual bit where HOFers or people representing them appear on stage, Nash gets headline spot. Advert plays for WWE 15 and even there HHH is burying Sting.
US Title - Rusev (c) (w/ Lana) Vs. John Cena
Rusev enters on a tank. Always felt that when a European holds the US Title it should revert to the old European Title. Rusev beat Cena at Fast Lane via passout. This is the generic American Vs. Foreign heel. Not much love for Cena on the west coast. Nice gutwrench suplex gets Rusev 2. Rusev is on top so much so that he takes time to wave the Russian flag. Cena does his shoulderblocks, suplex routine but AA is avoided as is STFU. Rusev goes all Abyss hitting the Blackhole Slam for 2. Cena hits his usual sloppy top rope leg drop. AA is again avoided. Budapest Slam gets Rusev another 2 count. Cena avoids a stomp and applies STFU so Lana throws one of her heels at the ref, she's a true heel. Rusev hits a crackers Diving Headbutt evoking memories of Benoit at the 03 Rumble. Rusev may hold the record for most 2s on Cena. 10 years into his main event career Cena adds a new move to his repertoire by hitting a springboard Stunner, that was nice. Rusev hits a wheel barrow inverted slam then applies Accolade and of course Cena stands up then is fully recovered and locks in STFU. Lanas distraction backfires and Cena hits AA for the US Title. *** - Enjoyable at times but
Cenas sudden recoveries grew tiresome, after all these years I just can't let them slide, for example Rusev dominates 80% of the match then Cena still stands in The Accolade. WWE should've had Putin do a run-in i'm sure he would have. (Oh my god I have the pun of the century .... Cena beats a Russian, man you must me Putin-me on!!)
WrestleMania 32 or WrestleMania Dallas Cowboys Star is being held in .... Dallas. Freebirds have to be inducted right. (I believe they were as well)
We go to WrestleMania Panel - Renee Young, Booker-T, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton. We get pre-show results as Kidd/Cesaro retained the Tag Titles and Big Show won Andre The Giant battle royale, wasn't Show billed as Andres son for a time in WCW?
Well this next segment can be described as a waste of time, worst Mania segment ever (A tad dramatic but upon further viewing I still hate it). Stephanie and HHH come out, Steph in face like fashion announces the attendance. They ramble on about WrestleMania and HHH beating Sting, yawn. Here's The Rock, who'd of guessed in 2004 that Rock would make 5 Mania appearances in a row. Eventually it continues, HHH says he remembers beating Rock throughout their careers, actually in terms of PPV I have 2-2-1 though can't remember OTE 99 and Rebellion 99 winners. Shane O'Mac chant and honestly an appearance by Shane-O would save this for me. Rock goes ringside and gets Ronda Rousey. What the hell are the Four Horsewomen? Rita Flair, Annie Anderson, Sally Blanchard and Brenda Windham? (I still don't know who they are) Anyway Ronda judo throws HHH to end it. Could of been saved had Stephanie took a bump as that's what it was building to.
Bray Wyatt Vs. Undertaker
This match is that pointless there's no video for it, not been a less interesting Taker Mania match since 2006 Vs. Mark Henry. Wyatt takes a day and an age getting to the ring so I dread to think how long Taker will take. JBL says 21-1 is greatest record in sports not true 72-10 (Since been surpassed but NBA have me hating GSW so I will refuse to acknowledge them), 16-0 or UCLA's 60s/70s NCAA is the best for me. Bray runs his mouth off then runs into a big boot. Geriatric School connects as does the apron leg drop, watching Deadman is like watching a band play old big hits. Weird bit at ringside as Wyatt runs into the steps taking a Foley bump as UT was sprawled by the ringpost it looked ridiculous. Back in Bray avoids Hells Gate and soon hits a Book-End type move and a senton for 2. Chokeslam out of a Sister Abigail attempt. Tombstone gets 2, suppose some would call that "giving the rub". Sister Abigail gets 2. Good moment as Crab Walk meets Sit Up. Sister Abigail is avoided and Tombstone gets the 3 count. ** - People disliked Brock/UT regardless of the result but I think it was better than this. Still trying to figure out why this match happened and the argument of "giving the rub" is rendered worthless as why not go whole hog and take the loss now the streak is over? (Does Wyatt ever win the big matches?)
WWE World Title - Brock Lesnar (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) Vs. Roman Reigns
Coming in Reigns is pretty much the uncrowned Champion ala Bobby Roode at BFG 2011, say what happened there? No-one brings the big match intensity like Brock does, WWE would've been a much less interesting place without him from 2012 onwards. Reigns seems to heavily push a spectator during his crowd entrance. I think only maybe Cena could've been the other person after Brock to
be able to give Reigns a main event feel here. German and F-5 right off the bat and Brock doesn't even go for the cover, release fisherman suplex then Brock no sells clotheslines and germans Reigns causing Reigns to smile. Nice back suplex not only reminds me of Dr. Death but also leads to the great 'Suplex City Bitch' line, all hail Brock Lesnar. We Are Not Worthy. Roman gets a punch in but is germaned for having the cheek to do that. Brock hits multiple knees then sends Reigns into the crowd barrier. Crowd boos as Reigns fights back but Brock grabs his leg through the ropes and just smacks him to the floor, replay shows one of Reigns knees has cut Brock but just like Nelson Muntz it will simply make Brock stronger. Brock belly-to-bellys Reigns from the apron into the ring earning a 8 chant as it's the eighth suplex. F5 gets 2. The gloves are off for real as Brock removes his and proceeds to slap Reigns. Two germans and an F-5 get 2. Ringside Brock is bounced off the ringpost and is now busted, no obvious signs of blading either. Weird seeing Brock gloveless. Superman Punch rocks Lesnar, a second gets him onto one knee, he seemingly avoids another until Reigns breaks up a german hits a third Superman Punch then a Spear followed by another Spear gets 2 to a pop, that's akin to my MK experience Vs. Shao Kahn where I fire off great combos and he still survives (Where as the Cena/Brock from SummerSlam is akin to my MK2 experiences Vs. Kintaro, no prizes for guessing who I am in that scenario). Wait why's Chioda wearing gloves? Reigns jumps for a fourth Superman Punch but Brock catches him and hits an F-5, Seth Rollins comes out cashing in MITB and making this a triple threat, alert fans may of realised something was going to happen as Michael Cole said 'Who Can Capitalise' as Brock and Roman were down. Curb Stomp to Brock then when he goes for another Brock catches him and sets up F-5 but Reigns Spears Brock and Curb Stomp to Reigns gets the 3 count for Seth as WrestleMania ends with a new Champion. **** - Love watching Brock throw someone around and that was fun but I really liked it from the moment Brock got busted to the end as Romans flurry upped the intensity. I do understand if some didn't like the layout but I personally did enjoy it as it also told a story of Reigns being in over his head.
18.5 / 35 - Only two matches that I didn't really care for - Divas Tag and UT/Bray the rest are solid if unspectacular at least until the top liner. The show is good overall but I can't say it holds up with other Manias in terms of having a classic on them as I don't think in the future years people will look back on any of the ones here like we do Savage/Steamboat 28 yrs ago, Savage/Warrior 24 yrs ago, Stone Cold/Bret 18 yrs ago or the HBK/Taker back-to-backs of 5 and 6 yrs ago.
Thumbs Up for WrestleMania 31 just don't expect to be blown away by anything bar the audacity of HHH winning oh and fast forward the music and Rock/HHH segment. (Whilst I still stick to it not having one of THE Mania matches on it I do think it surpassed expectations and is an enjoyable watch)
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