WWE WrestleMania XXVII 2011 Review

World Heavyweight Championship
Edge Vs Alberto Del Rio

We start off with a, let's say unique booking decision by having one of our main events right away. While I can understand the upsides, to me the downsides pretty much negate them completely and all you're left with is a really odd atmosphere. It's hard to trust that the main event would be first without some kind of swerve or angle to be played out later in the night. This uncomfortable feeling looms over the entire match, an expectation of the unexpected that manages to be all the more surprising by never turning up. The contest itself is a decent effort from two of SmackDown!'s best performers, even if it never transcends the burden of it's own unorthodox booking. There's obviously some nervousness in both men early on, as well as some awkward spots that don't quite flow suggesting neither Edge nor Del Rio are that familiar with one another. The final sequence just doesn't have the drama it ought to, despite the best intentions of Del Rio building towards the Cross Arm Breaker. The presence of Christian and Brodus Clay on the outside never really factors, again distracting from rather than adding to the work going on in the ring. Of course soon after this show Edge would be forced to retire due to his many injuries, making this the last match of his career. That certainly gives this some historical significance, but it's a real shame they didn't add Christian into the match to build more intrigue and perhaps improve the work rate. As it stands, it's at least a decent opening to the night, if a somewhat disappointing end to an amazing career.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Cody Rhodes Vs Rey Mysterio

This was probably the match I was most anticipating going into this show, the climax to one of my favourite modern angles and a huge opportunity for Cody Rhodes to make an impact on the grand stage. From being Dashing to Disfigured, Rhodes has quickly grown into one of my favourite performers both on the microphone and in the ring. As a contrast to the last match, this one has both character and urgency from the start, with Rhodes displaying unprecedented aggression going after the man who cost him his looks. His offence is crisp and sharp, much like his former mentor Randy Orton, while his smaller size allows him to believably sell for Mysterio. The story of the mask Vs the knee brace is well staged with a strong conclusion that seems uncertain right to the poetic end. Rey is in much the same role as he was against CM Punk one year before, only this time he does the right thing and puts the young heel over in spectacular fashion. This one was everything it needed to be.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Kane, Big Show, Santino Marella and Kofi Kingston Vs The Corre

First off, I hate these short filler matches that always end up at WrestleMania, just to shove a bunch of unused people on the card. The beauty of the Money in the Bank concept was eliminating the need for matches like this as the mid-card could all work on something important. Now that's it's own show we're back to doing these again, only here they can only spare just 92 seconds for it. Now if that wasn't bad enough, the majority of the match is between Heath Slater and Santino, arguably the least talented members of their respective teams! At least Kingston Vs Gabriel would have been good for a few seconds, but this? This is nothing. This is a massive waste of time. Why this got on the card while Bryan Vs Sheamus was taken off is just ridiculous.

Rating: 1 Star

Randy Orton Vs CM Punk

When CM Punk took over the Nexus, it seemed to be leading towards a big match with John Cena here at WrestleMania. At the Royal Rumble plans suddenly changed, and Punk turned his focus to Randy Orton instead. It was nicely explained by employing some rare continuity and recalling the Orton attack that cost Punk his first world title in 2008. However as the feud got more personal, the need for the New Nexus itself just disappeared and despite the shirt Punk is wearing they have nothing to do with this. Instead, the story here is the bad condition of Orton's knee and his ability to use the punt kick. Both men bring their usual intensity as they brawl in the early goings, falling to the outside and into a nice counter spot involving the ring steps. From there things get “methodical” as Orton sells the knee while Punk mocks him. This keeps the pace slow but the exchanges where they happen are all up to standard. As the usual strength and crispness is taken from Orton's offence in order to sell, we don't get the fully rounded match this pair is capable of performing. Punk is his usual charismatic self, yet isn't able to fully carry the down time caused by the story of the knee, never really relaying the urgency of his opponent's injury. The finish is telegraphed a mile away, yet still fails to work in any dramatic build or impact as it was completely orphaned from the main narrative of the rest of the match. It was a solid outing, but not up to the high standards both men should hold themselves to.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Michael Cole Vs Jerry Lawler
Special Guest Referee: Steve Austin

“Okay, just so I'm clear – there's only two minutes to spare for the eight man tag and not enough time for Daniel Bryan Vs Sheamus at all, yet this whole segment between announcers is going to get over twenty minutes? Well I suppose this has been a well built angle; Cole has become one of the biggest heels in the business while The King has been a sentimental favourite for years. I think there are enough people who would happily pay to see Jerry Lawler beat up Michael Cole for that long, fair enough. Sorry, what? You're saying Michael Cole, the non-wrestler in the match, is not only going to get in the majority of the offence, but ACTUALLY WIN IT?! Oh but wait, it's okay, I see you've got Steve Austin involved here, a man whose sole purpose in life is to hand out Stunners to anyone within touching distance. He's obviously here to deliver some Stone Cold justice to the most hated man in the WWE! Oh, he's there to stun Booker T and Jack Swagger and Josh Mathews. Okay, cool. But then... Cole too right? No? Wait, NO?! So Michael Cole, after being the biggest douche of recent years, not only wins his match but also escapes a stunner? Are we sure this is what we're booking to go down? Are we certain this isn't some elaborate, fake, 'Anti-Plan' of some kind, designed to be leaked and throw off the internet fans? Because when I read it, it sounds like the exact opposite of what this whole thing should be. This should be a brief but enjoyable segment where Jerry Lawler gets to beat up Cole in front of thousands before it all gets punctuated with a glorious Stone Cold Stunner. Not a long, arduous segment where Michael Cole gets to beat up Lawler in front of thousands before slipping away with a technical win! I mean, that is seriously one of the last things anyone wants to see happen. In the whole world. Like, people want to see a nuclear holocaust only SLIGHTLY LESS than this. You're sure this is how you want it to be? You can't be serious here. Well, what are we going to follow up with? Two more PPV matches?! That involve... feet kissing and JR wrestling?! … Hahahaha! Oh, thank God! Aw man, you had me going there. I mean, I should have known you were joking but... No c'mon stop pulling my leg. No seriously, because the thought of THIS plan happening in reality offends me to the centre of my very being. Hey, where are you going? You're going to tell everyone we're not doing this? Wait, was that a “Yo!” or a “No!”? Because I can only assume it was a Yo, but if so that means you're completely out of touch with human beings and how they live in this day and age which means you would be likely to... oh no! OH NO!”

Rating: 1 Star

No Holds Barred
The Undertaker Vs Triple H

After a pair of legendary encounters with Shawn Michaels the last two years running, the question on everyone's mind this year was how on earth The Undertaker could expect to follow them? HBK at least had the luxury of retirement after their final battle. Even working only part-time, The Undertaker is under extreme pressure to continue the WrestleMania streak, not just of winning matches but of selling the event around them, of delivering a match that ranks atop the best of the year on a routine basis. After so much time off it seemed like a bad idea to choose Triple H, a man who had even less in-ring time over the previous twelve months, as his opponent. While The Game is an unquestionable legend in his own right, his abilities aren't quite on par with The Showstopper and certainly not in the field of taking the big bumps needed to really put over a character like The Dead Man. In a way that made this match all the more intriguing – when two of the strongest and most unbreakable characters in the WWE collide in a situation where one must definitely lose, which one will come out on top?

For this match more than any other, the amazing set and production values enhance the whole thing to another level. Triple H's Metallica-themed entrance easily ranks amongst the very best of all-time, as both character and song are a good fit for the Colosseum-like, stadium atmosphere inside the Georgia Dome. Once things start they don't let up, with all doubts about bumps tossed aside as quickly and as easily as The Game is thrown right over the top and out of the ring. From there the match is all about escalation and devastation. You hear wrestlers say they're going to put everything on the line to defeat their opponents, but here you absolutely believe it. Triple H especially goes all the way to make this as epic and impactful as it could possibly be, taking part in huge spots and hard falls.

It's been interesting how for the last few years there has always managed to be genuine doubt over the result of Taker's matches despite his historic winning record. Uncertainty is at the heart of all good drama, and once again it is kindled and tended here into a mighty blaze. From being hit with his own finisher, to going right through a table to taking stiff chair shots to the head again and again, The Undertaker is pummelled so much you loose all faith that he can survive. One of the best things about the previous match was loosing Michael Cole and the rest from commentary and leaving us with the classic team of J.R. And The King. As you'd expect, J.R. highlights and saturates the action with his trademark emotion, drawing us even closer to every near-fall.

When the end finally does come it is right on the line, Triple H just inches from hitting Taker with his patented sledgehammer but trapped for an eternity within Hell's Gate. The Game's hand loosing it's grip on the hammer and dropping into the submission is one of the best images in WrestleMania history. The Undertaker wins, but for the first time he leaves on a stretcher after being pushed to his absolute limit. Match of the Year.

Rating: 5 Stars

John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki Vs Dolph Ziggler and LayCool

Another lightning quick tag match made just to get some names out there, this time a celebrity and a returning veteran. As with the other one, here we don't even get more than half of the competitors legally involved, with Morrison and Ziggler out just to do one Starship Pain spot. That said, I think everyone was surprised by Snooki's unexpected athleticism, her cartwheels more impressive than almost anything a celebrity has ever done at WrestleMania. From that point of view it served it's purpose in breaking up the main events and was enjoyable for the fluff it was.

Rating: 2 Stars

WWE Championship
The Miz Vs John Cena

Rather than one pre-match promo we get two, the first so good it manages to make The Miz seem like an important, main-event level character for the first time in his reign as champion. Sadly that promo is the best thing about this match, and it all goes downhill fast after an odd and extremely religious introduction for John Cena. Now, I don't know Cena's religious views, but he's never ever made a big deal about them before. They've certainly had nothing to do with this feud, so why are they so prominent in his entrance? It's the most overtly religious thing I've ever seen in the WWE and completely out of tone with this whole match up. It gives things an awkward atmosphere and leaves the kids uncertain how to react.

The adults already know how to react to Cena – boos and lots of them. The combined hate and apathy going on in Atlanta manages to be deafening and the awkwardness has only just begun. First we get two bell rings to start off, then some elbow-collar tie-up action with occasional move in between, all at a pace that's just coma-inducing. Every move that connects is followed by a break in action, as is every counter. Miz's work-rate is awful, he tends to just sit on the mat after a broken cover or just stand and pace rather than do anything. Even when he hits a move he sort of shuffles his feet before walking over to the follow up. Soon enough though it looks like John Cena has suffered a concussion as he can barely stand and even collapses while running the ropes. Surprisingly, it turned out afterwards that it was actually Miz who was concussed during this one, so I guess Cena is merely selling those devastating kicks or something.

Whatever the reason, the psychology is just thrown out of the window now, as while Cena sells a head injury and receives many more, he continues to kick out of any pin attempt. Meanwhile, whenever he gets a pin on Miz the ref is down or distracted, but every time he is able to get way more than 3 while Miz just lays there. Finally we get to see something impressive from Miz when he kicks out of an Attitude Adjustment, but after he rolls to the outside Cena knocks them both over the barrier and they're counted out. Now most main events shouldn't end in a count out, but for WrestleMania there should be an outright ban. NO ONE wants the show to end on a count out, and the crowd are just livid when it's announced and they even play Miz's music to sell that this is really happening.

Thankfully The Rock makes his inevitable appearance wherein he faffs around for five minutes before restarting the match as No DQ, which sounds good, only he then hits Cena with a Rock Bottom to give Miz the win after no extra match at all. Miz doesn't even get a moment to celebrate as Rock lays him out too and stands tall as a guy who hasn't wrestled in seven years but can beat down the entire main-event of WrestleMania with ease. Way to put over nothing but yourself Rock. So glad you're back.

“One thing's for sure – tonight we all smell exactly what The Rock is cooking. ”

- Final words of WrestleMania XXVII

We sure do J.R., and it's called Brahma Bullshit.

Rating: 1 Star

WWE WrestleMania XXVII 2011 Final Score: 2 Stars

An incredibly uneven show from top to bottom, featuring some of the best and worst matches of the year. The Undertaker managed to continue his streak, not only of WrestleMania wins but also of classic performances and together with Triple H gave us an easy choice for Match of the Year. Close behind them were Rhodes and Mysterio who worked a brilliant mid-card attraction, but sadly that's where the greatness ends. Punk Vs Orton wasn't quite up to it's potential while Edge Vs Del Rio was thrown by some really strange booking decisions. Both tag matches were given less time than their entrances, resulting in little more than meaningless fluff to get some names on the show. However it was the Lawler Vs Cole and Miz Vs Cena contests that were genuinely insulting, the latter being the worst WrestleMania main-event since Lawrence Taylor went up against Bam Bam Bigelow back in 1995. The Rock's involvement gave the event a big-time feeling, but sadly his presence came at the expense of the entire main-event's credibility. Despite the five star production values in Atlanta this was a poor show overall and a real drop in quality from the year before.