Wrestlemania. It has transcended beyond just a mere pro wrestling event and has become an integral part of both sporting and pop culture, and nowadays is
treated with as much reverence around the world as that other spectacle of
grandiose proportions , the NFL Superbowl. And with the celebration of 30 years
as the grandest stage of them all it was promised that the WWE would deliver
the greatest show on Earth, a celebration of its 30yr existence with the best
the WWE has to offer.
And now that it has been and gone what have we been left with. Quite
frankly, it was a sub-par effort in terms of booking and creative, considering the amazing
talent they have on display in the modern era. Before the rumble the Universe
were primed for a massive show with their favorite superstars, and what we got
was a disastrously booked PPV that failed to utilize the core of their talent
pool.
And with the majority of the WWE Universe more vocal then it has ever been
and all crying out at what they wanted to see, the failure of whomever is in
charge of the creative process, although unlikely, should seriously reconsider
their position in the world of Sports Entertainment. Before the Royal Rumble of
2014, the Universe was genuinely excited and expected the greatest Wrestlemania
of all time, knowing who was to be involved.
And after the Rumble it just became a guessing game as to how they could
screw up the card more so than they’d already had, or make even more of a mess in
terms of PR for the event. Although they did fix some mistakes and
corrected a few errors in the lead up to the show, overall this whole
experience leading into Wrestlemania has shown just how out of touch with the
fans the WWE truly has become.
So upon spending a little more time than usual concentrating on the IWC and
the WWE social media machine, I have compiled a Wrestlemania card based on the
rhetoric that spewed forth from the masses as to the type of event they were
expecting, rather than the one that was delivered. Now I must point out that
this is NOT a review, merely a what-if scenario. A Wrestlemania booked by the
WWE Universe for lack of a better term.
And what may have made the celebration of 30 years of Wrestlemania go off
as the greatest and most loved of all time. But first, let’s see what they
actually got right.
(Side note: I understand this may be construed as a little late, but
unfortunately I had other editorial commitments. Also, this list is compiled
of Superstars who were on the roster at the time of the Royal Rumble, with one
exception)
WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT!
Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match For The WWE Tag Team Championship (kind of)
With the resurgence and renewed focus on the tag team division you could
not have booked a finer match to have on the card. One that showcased multiple
tag teams at once and for people to get behind. Many traditionalists say that
it should just have been a two on two affair but I think the multi-team option
was the way to go. It was a better chance to show the depth of a division
reborn.
The only problem is that they put it on the pre-show. Honestly, who came up
with that idea? The WWE has spent over a year rebuilding the tag team division
from near extinction, but instead of allowing all of the hard work and progress
they have made shine on the grandest stage of them all for a big payoff, they
instead relegate it to youtube.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale (kind of)
Again, a concept with the right idea but the wrong execution. This should have been for a number one contender spot down the line but instead just became
a throw away match in the end. And with too many cooks it kind of spoiled the
broth. A 20 man Battle Royale would have been sufficient. Maybe with a Bray Wyatt win to push the dominance of his family could’ve have worked as well. Or at least have him as one of the final two with Cesaro.
And Chris Jericho should have been in it.
Lets begin….
GOLDUST VS CODY RHODES
Why did this match not happen? We were told this was more than likely going to be a match at Wrestlemania 30, we all wanted it to happen, the timing was
right, both superstars were over. So why didn’t it happen? Out of all the
matches on this fantasy card this is the one where Creative really dropped the
ball and showed their incompetence.
I mean, the Rhodes brothers, taking each other on after a successful tag
team championship run at the grandest stage of them all. My cat could book that
in his sleep, yet they decided to hold off until after the big one to get the
story rolling on this little idea.
Considering both superstars in ring ability (especially Goldust) this could
actually have stolen the show. Probably the reason why they didn’t go with it
considering the lackluster card to begin with. I think the McMahons knew this
and didn’t want a young gun and an old horse from the Attitude era showing up
the main event. No matter how much of a draw it may have been,
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – BIG E VS MARK HENRY
Again, this was one that could have been easily booked as a major feud for
the I.C. title with a similar storyline to the aforementioned Goldust vs Cody
Rhodes match that should’ve happened. But instead both superstars were shoved
into the already overflowing Andre the Giant Battle Royale without any real
spots and instantly forgotten.
Which is actually a head scratcher considering Vince McMahons reported love
for big men as champions. Why not have two of the biggest men on the roster go
for the gold, testing each other’s limits in the ultimate strong man contest?
The in-ring psychology alone would have had the crowd going nuts after the
first lock up. With Big E’s phenomenal speed for his size and Mark Henry’s
veteran instincts this actually could have also been a bit of a show stealer.
A match that truly defined the notion of the “irresistible force meeting
the immovable object.” Words that were spoken at the inaugural Wrestlemania by
the late, great Gorilla Monsoon during another big man match, Andre the Giant
vs Big John Studd body slam contest. But instead we got a lackluster run as
champion from Big E and Mark Henry totally forgotten, lost in the shuffle of 31
superstars. How is that best for business????
DIVA’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – AJ LEE VS PAIGE
Although there has been a refocus on the women’s division as of late thanks
to the success of Total Divas and the outright amazing talent of AJ Lee, it has
kind of stagnated as of late, simply because there are no real credible
contenders for the Divas championship. Although from my personal perspective I
partially blame this on the success of that God awful reality show (you can
read my thoughts on the topic by clicking here), it also is because there are
no interesting rivalries at the moment. AJ has beaten them all and in pretty
convincing fashion. With one exception.
Paige, the Anti Diva and current NXT champion as this piece is being
written, has become insanely popular for someone who is not on the main roster.
And since AJ Lee has beaten everyone else, why not have an exhibition match
between both women. A champion vs champion match at Wrestlemania 30 featuring
the two best Divas the WWE has to offer.
I personally have read fan comments alluding to this potential blockbuster
and the consensus has been pretty much the same. Anything else was just a waste
of time on an already bloated card and would be considered merely a toilet
break. And for a company trying to revitalize the Divas division the same way
they have done with the Tag division that is not good news at all.
Having an exhibition bout between both champions not only makes way for
Paige to enter the main roster and create a memorable rivalry with AJ, but
would bring about a certain amount of credibility back to a division fast
becoming irrelevant and nothing more than a stepping stone for reality tv stars
rather than female professional wrestlers.
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP – DEAN AMBROSE VS SETH ROLLINS VS ROMAN REIGNS
Although personally I was not a fan of the idea the WWE teased of breaking up the Shield during their feud with the Wyatts (which almost made this list as what should have been on
the WM card, not a second tier ppv), with Dean Ambrose as United States
Champion and tensions rising, this should have been the match that decided once
and for all who was the better man of the three elite.
And during those tense moments when we thought the Shield was no more, that
was the main consensus of the break-up. We are going to find out who is the
best. The enigmatic strangeness and unorthodox style of Dean Ambrose, the
tactical high flyer and charismatic architect that is Seth Rollins or the
monstrous powerhouse and enforcer, Roman Reigns.
Considering their current in ring form and with championship gold on the
line, this could have been yet another show stealer. And this was what the
crowd began to expect and ask for come Wrestlemania as the cracks began to
emerge after their second loss on RAW to the Wyatts. But then….
They got back together. And that was it. And what we got to replace it was
a pointless rivalry with Kane and The New Age Outlaws. Now granted if this was
pushed as the Attitude vs the New Blood of the WWE, it would have made a lot
more sense. But it was a match that came off as something that was just thrown
together.
And it is not like they had to split up after facing each other. It could
have merely led to a settling of differences, just like what happened on RAW after their initial division. Which then could have easily led to the Evolution vs The Shield feud that is currently gracing our
television screens.
BROCK LESNAR VS BATISTA
Now, I understand the reasoning behind bringing these two guys back, but
the booking for both has been utterly atrocious to say the very least. Batista
winning the rumble was moronic to say the very least and we all know what the
Universe thinks of Lesnar beating the streak.
After Batistas flop return they needed to do something that could get him
back on the up and up with the fans and what better way than to take on the
beast himself. Plus the added fact that this match has not happened before and
you have a possible main event contender with this gargantuan event of epic
proportions.
If this confrontation did indeed take place, it not only would have salvaged both Batista’s return and his status as fan favourite, but it could have been billed as a once in a
lifetime event, as we all know that they are both on limited contracts and unlikely to remain in the WWE for a prolonged period. It’s quite simple really, you have two major stars who have never faced each other. The booking writes itself.
It could’ve have easily started in January with one eliminating the other during the Royal Rumble. And come Wrestlemania, whomever loses the match (say Batista), could go on to use that loss as a transition to a heel turn or a reason to destroy the WWE from within. Not unlike what Brock Lesnar does anyway.
But instead we got the disastrous finish to the 2014 version of this iconic PPV that has absolutely tanked as far as the WWE Universe is concerned, and will most likely go down as the worst in history. Way to go.
JOHN CENA VS RANDY ORTON VS TRIPLE H – LOSER LEAVES THE WWE
Let face it, apart from John Cena and his insane hold on the young padawans within the Universe, these three guys have overstayed their welcome and have
needed to be sent back to the mid card in favour of promoting new talent for
quite some time now. I myself can’t stand wrestlers who can’t evolve or whose
character has become totally stagnant. It is the pro wrestling equivalent of
Ben Stillers character Tugg Speedman from Tropic Thunder and his six Scorcher
movies.
Now granted, with Randy Orton you could blame creative for this, as he has
expressed interest in changing his look and character around. Give him a beard
and long hair and you could possibly have another 10 years left on the
proverbial clock in terms of characterization. A simple change like that is all
that would be needed to reboot the Orton character. But as of now Randy Orton
as he stands today is not only boring but I think he has lost of lot of his
drawing power because of this debacle and a year off I think is the best thing
for his career right now.
With the other two superstars, well let’s break it down. John Cena in
Vince’s eyes is this generations Hulk Hogan and Cena will have it no other way.
Because in regards to backstage politics according to reports and dirt sheets
everywhere, the notion is that he pretty much has to answer only to Vince. And
to me this indicates that if he actually was a good wrestler, he would’ve put
the notion of turning heel himself a long time ago. But no, he is the same old
Cena and continues to be with a match against Bray Wyatt keeping him smack dab
on the side of face.
But the Universe knows better and contrary to what merchandise sales tell
the company, his time as a face should have ended long ago. Even Hulk Hogan
turned heel, and since it was done right he went on to sell even MORE
merchandise as part of the nWo. So there is no excuse for this.
And as for Triple H, well. The guy has presided over the lowest point in
WWE history in terms of ratings and fan appreciation. Not to mention he has
been the same character with the same promos and the same overall look since
the Attitude era. I dare you, watch a promo from 2002 and compare it with a
promo from today, identical. He is NOT a good wrestler and to be honest, hasn’t
had a memorable match in the same amount of time, unless he is carried by far
superior performers (see Wrestlemania 20)
And because of these reasons and then some, the Universe are utterly sick
and tired of seeing these same faces in every main event, every PPV and
seemingly the only ones deserving to be champion. It’s time the WWE decided
which of these three will be still prominent in the main event for the next 12
months. And what better way than to fire one of them for a year. Or at least
until a surprise return at next years Royal Rumble. This is one match I think
could actually reinvigorate all 3 characters and bring about a change in
direction for each. Something the Universe has been asking for years now.
THE ICON VS THE STREAK – STING VS THE UNDERTAKER
I have voiced my criticism of Sting earlier on in my tenure with this
website where I gave my reasons as to why Sting is quite possibly the biggest douchebag in professional wrestling (which you can read by clicking here). And
the simple fact that this match did not come about on the 30th
anniversary of Wrestlemania no matter how badly the fans wanted it and voiced
their opinion on it, proves to me everything I have ever said about the guy.
This is the one part of the card that had nothing to do with Creative, as it was reported as far back as December that Sting had begun talks with the WWE
to make his debut ahead of a match with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. But,
regardless of the simple fact that his own fans have been literally screaming
for this to happen in the past decade tells me that his refusal to sign, even
after all of the changes the WWE has made over the course of the past 10 years
(including implementing the PG era), that he does not give a toss about his
fans or their opinions.
I mean, even the Rock came back, who in the blue hell does Sting think he
is? Yet his own fans don’t seem to realize that he treats them like they have
simply not mattered when it comes to his success within the realm of sports
entertainment. As I said in my previous piece on the selfishness of this man, his
explanations as to why he doesn’t sign no longer cut it. And the fact that he appears on the WWE Network but still does not sign as it pertains to the squared circle or inclusion on the roster is even more insulting.
Stop teasing us with this match up just to keep yourself relevant in the modern era. Either sign up or
retire and shut up about it.
WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – CM PUNK VS DANIEL BRYAN
The ironic thing about this match is that considering the simple fact that apart from John Cena these two are the biggest names in the industry today, it
was one of the easiest main events to book since Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate
Warrior. Or at the very least, Stone Cold vs The Rock. It really should have
been a no brainer. But for some reason WWE Corporate decided to have Batista
win the Royal Rumble.
And we all saw the aftermath. When it dawned on viewers that Daniel Bryan
was possibly not going to be headlining the anniversary of this iconic event
and that CM Punk wasn’t even going to be included on the card following a
dispute with Creative, Triple H and his subsequent walkout, well didn’t the
Universe come together like never before.
I mean seriously, I have been a steady viewer for over 3 decades and I have
never seen the amount of unity when it comes to the crowd participation aspect
since the days of 80’s Hulkamania. Not even Stone Cold Steve Austin could pull
off this amazing feat, although in his defense he had many other fan favourites
to compete with like The Rock and HBK.
No, these two superstars are without a shadow of a doubt the two most
popular superstars in the modern era outside of John Cena, and to not have them
face each other in the main event at your biggest PPV event of the decade in
favor of a feud that is as almost as old as Cena vs Orton has got to be the
worst booking in Wrestlemanias 30 year history (although it was rectified with the inclusion of Daniel Bryan at the last minute)….and yes, I am including Bam Bam
Bigelow vs a footballer….
The Universe knew it, CM Punk knew it, but Creative didn’t. And they are
the ones who are meant to be the professionals at their job, Do they need it to be spelled out
for them…..
Do you agree? What are your thoughts on the final Wrestlemania 30 card? Leave your opinions in the comments below.
