The WWE is reporting the Wrestlemania 28 has set a record in terms of pay per view buys and the live crowd attendance at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. There were 1.3 million PPV buys world wide, meaning more than five million fans watched the Rock vs. John Cena. 78,363 fans from all 50 states and 36 countries were live in attendance that day.
What conclusions can be made here? Should the Rock get the praise for the higher buy rate? Did fans from the Attitude Era come back as the Rock made his return? While the numbers sound good on paper, it's not been reflective on the subsequent episodes of Raw. Ratings are still down. Even for the shows the Rock appeared on.
Rock wins at Survivor Series
But Survivor Series 2011, which truly marked the Rock's return to the ring pulled in 281,000 PPV buys, which was significantly up from 2010's event of 244,000. I think it would be foolish to not credit the Rock for at least some of the increases in buys. But can one person be credited completely for the popularity of Wrestlemania?
I was skeptical about the Rock going over Cena at the event. I still don't agree with it, but I'm assuming there is still some kind of bigger picture thing we're still waiting to see pan out.
I wonder with the success of the Rock's return (in PPVs buys) will the WWE continue to bring back stars from wrestling's boom period? Of course time is not on the company's side, as the Rock may be one of the few guys who is still in as good of shape (if not better) than he was 12 years ago.
So while the WWE touted it as the end of an era at Wrestlemania, I have trouble believing that will so many buys we won't see more of that "era" at future events.
Your thoughts? Post them here or on our Facebook wall.
Did an era of wrestling really come to an end on April 1, 2012? The photo of Triple H, the Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels embracing on the entrance ramp at Wrestlemania may have been a nice way for the WWE to put a bow on this story. But does that mean it's over in terms of in ring work for the Undertaker and Trips? I seriously doubt it.
Their match at Wrestlemania 28 was touted as an "End of an Era" match. To me, this meant that one or both men would be retiring after the match. But there's been no reason for me to believe at this point that either man has hung up his boots for good. And I don't necessarily think either needs to retire from the ring full-time. After all, the Undertaker spent a whole year on the shelf after their match at Wrestlemania 27. I thought their match at 28 was actually better than the one a year earlier. But there were some confusing moments with Shawn's involvement. I think it may have been lost in the translation of being a part of the live crowd.
Pedigree (WWE)
Here is my wish though. I find the whole Triple H as Chief Operation Officer confusing because he has no power over the Raw General Manager. I thought the COO was in charge of everything. But hey, I majored in mass communication, not business so I could be wrong there. I don't like having the authority figure (or one of them) as an active wrestler too. I can't exactly put my finger on my, it's just something I've never been a big fan of. Perhaps if Triple H is going to settle into an on air management role, he should have one last big retirement match. I figure his encounter with the Undertaker wasn't the end, as they would have made more fanfare out of it, wouldn't they?
RIP HHH (WWE)
As for the Undertaker, he's definitely come to that point where he's a special attraction guy only. He has nothing left to prove, and I don't think anyone would fault him if he were to decide that 20 and 0 was satisfactory to him and he never came back. However, like Triple H, I think the Undertaker deserves a sendoff where the fans know this is it and have that chance to get a little closure. But let's face it, in wrestling, do wrestlers ever truly stay retired?
Like many of the results from Wrestlemania, we're in a wait and see pattern. That's what makes wrestling exciting. Not knowing what's next and not being able to predict everything. The next few months should be interesting to say the least.
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Next stop on the Wrestlemania career ride is the man who probably has the most Wrestlemania appearances. I will verify or correct that stat in a later blog as we get closer to Wrestlemania 28. While Shawn Michaels may be called “Mr. Wrestlemania,” because of his show stealing matches, another man’s legacy at Wrestlemania really makes him “Mr. Wrestlemania.” That man is, The Undertaker.
Undertaker has competed in 19 Wrestlemanias to date and has his 20th appearance set for Wrestlemania 28 in Miami. Due to the number of matches, I’m not going to give thoughts of any depth on Undertaker’s past matches. Here is a list of his opponents though.
Wrestlemania 7 - The Undertaker defeated Jimmy Snuka.
Wrestlemania 8 - The Undertaker defeated Jake Roberts.
Wrestlemania 9 - The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzalez.
Wrestlemania 11 - The Undertaker defeated King Kong Bundy.
Wrestlemania 12 - The Undertaker defeated Diesel.
Wrestlemania 13 - The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid.
Wrestlemania 14 - The Undertaker defeated Kane.
Wrestlemania 15 - The Undertaker defeated The Big Boss Man.
Wrestlemania 17 - The Undertaker defeated Triple H.
Wrestlemania 18 - The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair.
Wrestlemania 19 - The Undertaker defeated The Big Show and A-Train.
Wrestlemania 20 - The Undertaker defeated Kane.
Wrestlemania 21 - The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton.
Wrestlemania 22 - The Undertaker defeated Mark Henry.
Wrestlemania 23 - The Undertaker defeated Batista.
Wrestlemania 24 - The Undertaker defeated Edge.
Wrestlemania 25 -The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels.
Wrestlemania 26 - The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels.
Wrestlemania 27 - The undertaker defeated Triple H
In 21 years, Undertaker has only missed two Wrestlemania events. This year will also mark Undertaker’s 12th consecutive Wrestlemania, which ties him with Bret Hart for the longest streak of Wrestlemania appearances. Will Undertaker make it 13 next year?
After Wrestlemania 27 (WWE)
For the 2nd time in Wrestlemania history, Undertaker will be stepping inside “Satan’s Playground,” Hell In The Cell to do battle with an opponent he’s already beaten twice on the grandest stage, Triple H. Last time Undertaker fought in a Hell In The Cell at Wrestlemania, it was against the Big Boss Man in a match that is often considered one of the worst Wrestlemania matches. Here’s to hoping this year’s match is better. Or at least it doesn’t end with Undertaker hanging Triple H from the top of the cage.
Will this be the swan song for the Dead Man? Undertaker has not wrestled since Wrestlemania 27. After what should be a grueling battle, will Undertaker go back on the sidelines and rest up for Wrestlemania 29? Or should he be victorious will a 20 and zero record at Wrestlemania be good enough for the “Last Outlaw” to call it a career?
Share your thoughts about the Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak on our Facebook page.
The four main even matches are now set for Wrestlemania 28. Over the next six weeks, WWE will be promoting these matches in an attempt to get viewers to fork over $50 or more to watch the biggest Wrestlemania ever live on pay per view. The cynic in me thinks by the time April 1 rolls around, I’m going to be tired of seeing the same guys in the ring. So I’d like to use this blog to suggest how I would go about building up the matches.
WWE TITLE: CM PUNK (C) VS. CHRIS JERICHO
This is a relatively fresh match up. I’m sure they wrestled before, but off the top of my head, I can’t remember when they were in the ring together for a one on one match. Given WWE’s track record, it’s probably safe to say Punk and Jericho will be on the opposite side of the ring in some tag team matches over the next few weeks. To me, this is the wrong path to take. Punk and Jericho should never be in the same ring together. In fact, CM Punk shouldn’t wrestle on TV until Wrestlemania. The 30-day title defense clause should be waived (not that it’s ever enforced) and Punk should only cut promos or be on commentary during Jericho’s matches. Punk could claim he’s been a fighting champion and is using the next six weeks to rest up and be closer to 100% healthy for the biggest match of his career.
Jericho on the other hand should be hell bent on proving he is the “Best In The World” by taking on anyone willing to step into the ring. While I don’t necessarily like this idea, given how little value is placed on the US title at moment, I’d have Jericho beat Jack Swagger but instead of pinning Swagger, Jericho pins himself. After the match, Jericho tells Swagger he could have taken the US title, but the only title he cares about is CM Punk’s WWE title. Chris Jericho hasn’t done anything since returning to WWE. If he’s going to be in a high profile match, he needs to be re-established as a threat. Have Jericho tear through the undercard to show dominance and give the audience the feeling Y2J could take the title at Wrestlemania.
I know one of the biggest problems in WWE is the lack of star power and by having Jericho run wild over guys isn’t going to help that problem. But this is the build up to Wrestlemania. If you’re not in a meaningful match on Wrestlemania, you can’t really be damaged any more than you already are at this point in time. After Wrestlemania, WWE should start building up new stars. Now is the time to promote guys in matches fans are going to pay to see.
WORLD TITLE: SHEAMUS VS. DANIEL BRYAN (C)
I’m willing to bet last year’s Wrestlemania United States title match between these two guys won’t be mentioned during the next six weeks. I find it funny and sad that a match not even important enough to make it onto the PPV last year is now being redone for the World Title. I can only think this was a last second decision and not a match that was planned for in advance. I still wish they would have kept the title on Mark Henry and had Daniel Bryan cash in his Money In the Bank briefcase at Wrestlemania to set up a David and Goliath storyline. But I suppose Henry’s injuries changed the plans.
One thing I do not want to see in this match is the addition of Randy Orton. Should Orton be medically cleared to wrestle at Wrestlemania, I’d rather see him and Wade Barrett (if his elbow injury is also cleared) settle their feud or I’d settle for Randy Orton vs. Tyler Reks. Just keep Orton out of the title match. Let Bryan and Sheamus have the spotlight.
I’m not sure how I’d book the build up for this match. One on hand I think Sheamus should look dominant while Bryan keeps his current cocky escape by the skin of his teeth character going to make the fans believe Sheamus will walk out of Wrestlemania as champ only for Bryan to shock the world and keep the title. Just like Punk and Jericho though, I don’t want to see these two in the ring with each other week after week. I want to anticipate them finally wrestling after weeks of hype.
HELL IN THE CELL: UNDERTAKER VS. TRIPLE H
Loyal readers know I’m not fond of this match. I don’t have the desire to re-watch a match I feel was horribly overhyped last year and the way the match came to be was essentially the same way the Undertaker matches for the last 2-3 years have been set up. I find it to be lazy booking. If this ends up the last match for both guys, then I can agree fighting each other is the way to go out, as they are the last of the Attitude Superstars left on the roster. For fans excited about this match, answer me this, the Attitude Era ended 10 years ago, what’s the difference between WWE doing this match and TNA doing Sting vs. Hogan?
Now that the match is set, hopefully we can stop with the way too long and meandering promos. I don’t see either guy wrestling before Wrestlemania and really, all that needs to be said is Triple H. vs. Undertaker in Hell in the Cell. Show some videos putting over their history in the Cell and get comments from Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley to talk about the brutality of the match and then the match sells itself.
JOHN CENA VS. THE ROCK
Another match I’m not real excited about. I think John Cena hit the nail on the head on Raw. When April 9 comes around and The Rock is back in Hollywood, WWE will need to focus on the wrestlers who show up every week. While I get the appeal of The Rock returning, that doesn’t mean I agree with it.
I was never a huge Rock fan. To me The Rock was the Hulk Hogan to Steve Austin’s Ric Flair, big on charisma but short on wrestling skill. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It worked for him and non-cynical fans enjoyed his antics. I do think since Rock started making return appearances, he has shown himself to be a one trick pony. He comes out, runs through his catchphrases, makes fun of John Cena’s mangina, and then…. well, that’s about it.
The buildup will be a continuation of long promos in the ring and long videos that seem to put over Cena’s dedication to wrestling and Dwayne’s dedication to promoting his movies. Honestly, I feel this match sells itself the same way Triple H and Undertaker sell their match based solely on the names involved. Listening to Rock and Cena trade insults is going to be annoying since the insults seem to be childish and repetitive.
Given the lack of star power on the undercard, I would much rather see WWE keep Rock/Cena promotion to less than 10 minutes on Raw while building up other matches. But Rock/Cena is the biggest match in Wrestlemania history so it’s going to be talked about and promoted ad nauseum.
Even though I’m less than excited about the last two matches on this list, I know once I step foot into Sun Life Stadium on April first, I will get caught up in the atmosphere and spectacle that is Wrestlemania. I will attempt to lose myself in the moment and have fun with the show. Even if I have to listen to Kevin do his Rock impersonation for four hours.
Are you excited by these four main events? What would you do to promote them over the next 6 weeks? Let us know on our Facebook page.
Based on the events at the end of RAW on Monday night, it appears WWE is set to go with Undertaker/HHH 3 at Wrestlemania 28. Of all the possible matches they could have chosen, in my opinion, this is the laziest and least exciting. It also highlights one of the biggest problems currently plaguing the WWE roster; no one has been elevated to be a believable main event contender.
First off, I’m probably going to get some backlash from this but my blog, my thoughts. I hate “the streak.”Yes, it’s an impressive feat that will probably never be seen again. But when you break it down, it’s really not that amazing and there have been more matches where the outcome was never in doubt than matches where you felt Undertaker may actually lose.Let's break the streak down.
Undertaker vs. Jimmy Snuka
Wrestlemania VII: In the Undertaker’s Wrestlemania debut he defeated Jimmy Snuka. At this point, Snuka had seen his best days in the business while Undertaker was the new emerging star. No one expected Snuka to win.
Wrestlemania VIII: Undertaker battled another past his prime superstar in Jake Roberts. While a bit more competitive than the previous match, the outcome was still pretty cut and dry.
Wrestlemania IX: The Giant Gonzalez did put an asterisk on the streak but losing via disqualification.I guess WWF still saw big plans for Gonazlez and didn’t want him to suffer a true defeat.
Wrestlemania XI: Back to the past their prime opponents. This time Undertaker defeated Ted Dibiase’s hired gun of King Kong Bundy.Again, two stars on opposite career paths. No one expected Bundy to get his patented five count.
Wrestlemania XII: Diesel was on his way out of the company and wrestling rules dictate you exit while looking at the lights.
Wrestlemania XIII: Undertaker won the WWF Championship from Psycho Sid. At this point in history no heel had ever left Wrestlemania with the title, so there was little doubt Taker would claim another victim.
Wrestlemania XIV: The first meeting between Taker and his brother Kane. This match did have some intrigue as Kane was new to the scene and had been dominate in his matches. I don’t think people expected Kane to stick around as long as he has though, so this match was seen as Taker possibly sending Kane on his way out the door.
Wrestlemania XV: One of the worst Hell In A Cell matches took place between Taker and Big Boss Man. Boss Man didn’t stand a chance.
Wrestlemania X-Seven: If memory serves me right, this was the first time “the streak” was brought up. Going up against Triple H gave Undertaker the first real possibility for a loss. This was a really good match and could have gone either way.
Taker vs. Flair
Wrestlemania X8: Ric Flair is a legend in the sport. Ric Flair is a 16-time world champion. Even with his history though, Ric didn’t have a chance at ending the streak.
Wrestlemania XIX: A handicap match against Big Show and A-Train sounds impressive until you remember one of the guys is A-Train. Off the top of your head name one memorable high profile victory A-Train had in WWE.
Wrestlemania XX: A rematch with Kane had more possibility for a Taker defeat since Kane wasn’t seen as a flash in the pan anymore. But did anyone think Taker would lose on a milestone anniversary show?
Wrestlemania 21: Undertaker’s 13th Wrestlemania match looked poised to be unlucky as Taker faced Randy Orton. Orton has been groomed to be a major star since his debut and what better way to push him to the top then by ending “the streak.”
Wrestlemania 22: Mark Henry wasn’t the Hall of Pain curator he is today when he faced Taker in a casket match. He was simply a big guy fed to Taker to make Taker look impressive in victory.
Wrestlemania 23: Batista didn’t need the rub that would have come with beating Taker. At the same time, Batista had been pretty dominant and the idea of him beating Taker was a possibility.
Wrestlemania 24: This match could have been streak vs. streak if WWE would have had some foresight and not put Edge in the Money In The Bank match at Wrestlemania 23. With this match taking place last and Randy Orton retaining his title earlier in the night, Undertaker winning to send the fans home happy was the predictable outcome.
Taker vs. HBK
Wrestlemania 25: A battle of legends as Shawn Michaels wanted to prove he was Mr. Wrestlemania and wanted to end the streak. A true edge of your seat match that could have gone either way but ultimately chalked up another win for the Undertaker.
Wrestlemania 26: Sequels are rarely as good as the original. Once again the Heartbreak Kid challenged Undertaker. This time it was streak vs. career. The added stipulation made the outcome less than uncertain. Undertaker stood tall while HBK rode off into the Arizona sunset.
Wrestlemania 27: The third repeat challenger to try and end “the streak” saw Triple H also looking for revenge for Undertaker putting Triple’s best friend out to pasture.I’ll touch more on this match in a few paragraphs.
Wrestlemania. Since the outcomes are rarely in doubt, I typically find Undertaker’s match to be the least exciting and the perfect time to go to the bathroom or get something to eat.
HHH vs. Undertaker
Now, back to Triple H and Undertaker fighting again. I am in the minority but I think their match at Wrestlemania 27 is one of the most boring matches I’ve ever sat through in person. Maybe I need to get the DVD and re-watch the match as all I remember is they’d hit a big move then lie on the mat for a few minutes. Stagger to their feet, hit another move, then rest. It felt like they had an eight-minute match but stretched it out to half an hour. Now they want to try and have a better match when Undertaker is older and hasn’t wrestled since Wrestlemania. Why?
I am also annoyed that for the second time in three years, WWE is running a repeat match from the previous year. I’ve said it before but I feel since Wrestlemania is the biggest show of the year it should feature matches that are fresh. Given the cost of Wrestlemania both in tickets to the show and the elevated price for the pay per view, selling the audience a rerun is just another form of ripping off the fans.
Besides the rerun factor, my other main complaint for Triple H to once again challenge the Undertaker is it seems like this match is happening because there’s no one else the WWE feels is worthy of being in the match. Instead of building up a guy like Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Dolph Ziggler or Cody Rhodes to challenge the Undertaker, ala Randy Orton, who could use a match against the legend to help elevate them in the eyes of the fans a credible threat, WWE is once again basically saying only guys who have been around for over a decade matter.
“The streak” will probably never be broken, nor should it be. Let it stand up as a testament to the Undertaker taking what could have been a lame gimmick and making a career out of it.I just wish that even with an outcome that can be seen by Stevie Wonder, WWE would use “the streak” to help elevate new talent and stop rehashing old feuds.
What are your thoughts on another Triple H vs. Undertaker Wrestlemania match? Do you want to see it happen or would you rather Taker face someone else? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
In 200 days I'll be in Miami, Florida for my sixth Wrestlemania. Chad and I have been to 22, 24, 25, 26, and 27. I'm looking forward to Mania, I always love being there live for it.
WWE.com has an interesting piece up based on their "hazy crystal ball" looking forward to April 1, 2012. Of course we already know the Rock will be facing John Cena. The website speculates that none other than CM Punk will be the special guest referee for the match. While I'm not putting any stock into anything the website is predicting, I really hope Punk WRESTLES at Wrestlemania and isn't wasted in a referee role.
That being said, I think Night of Champions will start to really lay the foundation for the Road to Wrestlemania. I'm working on a prediction blog and video that will probably go up tomorrow or Friday. I'm waiting to hear officially what's up with the Intercontinental title match. At last report, nothing had been officially announced.
Anyway, I've heard some interesting rumors that I won't spread here, partly because I'm not a big fan of blogger and vloggers who spread rumors. Secondly, if you haven't heard these things and they do come true, I don't won't to spoil the surprise for you. I hate it when that happens. So I'm thinking of you here too.
From WWE.com
Another match being speculated upon is Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton for the World championship. We know that Bryan has promised to cash in Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania. But with Mania still 200 days away, who knows if Orton will still be the champion. I'll admit, I'm intrigued by this matchup. And while I have not yet tasted the Randy Orton Kool-Aid, he is somewhat growing on me. His matches with Christian have changed my view of him slightly, as well as his recent contest with Dolph Ziggler. While I'm not labeling myself a "fan", I don't despise him like I once did.
Whoever Bryan faces for the title, I certainly hope he wins. But right now, the WWE needs to start pushing him up the ladder a bit more. As it stands now, I could see him being the first MITB winner to cash in and lose the title match.
From WWE.com
Dot com is also calling for a Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio WWE title match. That's really going out on a limb and assuming ADR will still be champ at Mania. Of course with weekly tv shows and seven (I think I counted that right) pay per views between now and April 1, anything can happen. Personally, I don't think the WWE can wait until Wrestlemania for this match. Big Show still has a score to settle with ADR, so I guess it depends on how quickly he returns for his injuries against Mark Henry.
It's too early for me to even start writing a Night of Champions blog, much less Wrestlemania, so thank the fine folks at WWE.com for this post. I just thought I'd throw in some opinions. What are your thoughts? Post here or on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
