After weeks of what many have termed a lackluster buildup, we finally have arrived. It’s Santa Clara. It’s time for the biggest show of the year, the grand-daddy of them all, WrestleMania!
Best Match of the night:
Logic says this one goes to the Ladder Match, and that’s the easy call. But Undertaker-Wyatt was a lot better than I expected it to be, and while Sting and Hunter ended up being more of a trip down memory lane, it was still very entertaining and, for the most part, delivered the goods.
Worst match of the night:
Not on the main card, but I’d have to say the fatal four way tag match was disappointing. Which disappoints me to say that, considering I really thought it should have been on the main card. Seeing how blah it was, WWE made the right call.
Crowd Chants of the Night
This is awesome
You still got it-for Sting, and for Taker.
Let’s go Sting
USA
John Cena Sucks (sung to his entrance, of course)
Lets go Lana
Rocky Rocky
Yes! Yes!
Rhonda Rousey!
Undertaker
Star of the Night
Non-wrestling? The network feed. Clearly, WWE has improved things. At least for my experience, this feed was HD quality from start to finish, no buffering no stuttering no complaints.
The Levi’s Stadium crowd deserves a nod, because they came across as incredibly into it from the start. Having a hot crowd is priceless.
From a wrestling perspective, I’d have to say Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt, and of course Seth Rollins as he seized the opportunity afforded him and leaves Santa Clara the new WWE Champion.
Spot of the Night:
Orton, reversing a curb stomp into an RKO for the win
The ladder match
Cena adding a stunner from the second rope
Sting’s splash to the outside.
Undertaker. Old School. ‘Nuff said.
Jobber of the Night:
Rusev could get the nod, for getting pinned for the first time, but I have to give the nod to Sting-for doing the ultimate job, losing to Hunter in his Wrestlemania debut. Let’s be honest, on the grandest stage of them all, there really aren’t any Brooklyn Brawler-type jobbers.
I could also give a huge nod to Wyatt, as it was an amazing job he did too. Looked awesome in the effort, but helped carry The Undertaker to a very strong outing.
Upset of the Night:
Rollins cashes in with minutes to go in the show and makes the title match a triple threat match and essentially steals one by pinning Reigns. Just when it seemed like the crowd might have been warming up to Reigns, they don’t have to.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
DX. nWo. HBK. Monday Night Wars come alive. Seriously, that’s something that people would have paid a fortune back then to see. A bit late, but amazing.
Rock, a kind of expected surprise, but always a hit.
Rock getting slapped by Steph, but Rock-and Rousey!-getting the last laugh, so to speak. Wonder if that’s not a mixed tag match destined for SummerSlam?
The Rollins cash-in. It was oft-discussed heading into the show, but as the clock ticked closer to 11PM EST, the odds of his cash-in tonight seemed slimmer, but he did, and got himself a WrestleM ania moment.
Commentary of the night:
king-I am glad these two aren’t mind readers. I’d get my face slapped alot.
The team was working hard to build up Hunter, make Sting seem overmatched and tie in the Monday Night Wars to the Sting/HHH clash.
I’d say the Rock just blew the roof off this place, but it already has no roof.
LOL Moment of the night:
OK…not pure comedy, but this still made me laugh-the really bad tie in (a reach, if you will) of Terminator and Hunter. I mean, sure, the announce team tried to tie it in, but this, while grand, was the oddest HHH entrance in a while and I wasn’t a fan.
But, Rock calling HHH out on it? That was funny.
Noteworthy Moment:
Backstage segment of all the legends congratulating Daniel Bryan. This WWE’s way of trying to super-elevate both Bryan and the IC Belt? Having them all congratulate him, then chanting yes…punctuated by Simmons’ “DAMN”. Had Patterson, Steamboat,Piper, Flair, Hart all congratulating him. And I probably missed someone, not counting Simmons.
Rhonda Rousey, having been linked to WWE for some time, oft-rumored to be involved in a match in some capacity, finally steps into the ring to support The Rock against The Authority, and one can only imagine that score gets settled down the road.
Overall lowlights:
The musical interlude. OK, I get Skyler Gray with the theme song and all, but Kid Ink? As bad, if not worse, than Khalifa and Snoop. Waste of time. People don’t pay money-a lot of money-to go to Wrestlemania to see that. If you want to trot out a musical performance in the midst of the biggest show, the most expensive live event ticket of the year? Make it worthwhile. Not painful.
That use of time becomes further underscored as a waste when, at the end of the show, it felt like they were rushed. I cannot remember a big PPV ending so close to the top of the hour. Not saying it hasn’t happened, just saying I can’t remember it. Cut 5 minutes of music to give that match a bit more run time.
Overall highlights:
The grand entrances are something that make this what it is. Whether it was Rusev’s grand Russian homage, Hunter’s Hollywood theatrics, take your pick. Each tries to outdo the next.
Rock and Rousey. And whatever they may be building toward with Steph and Hunter.
DX
nWo
Ladder match, and the post-match treatment of new IC Champ Daniel Bryan by a slew of Hall of Famers.
Not personally a fan of Rollins, but his cash-in is going to create a whole new set of match possibilities, so I am excited to see what happens tomorrow night on RAW.
For what I felt was a rather flat build-up to the event, I have to tip my hat to WWE, they delivered the goods.
