WWE Wrestlemania XXVIII Review
Sheamus def. Daniel Bryan(c)(0:18)
Thoughts: Given that Edge/Del Rio opened at Mania 27, it makes sense that this match would open Mania 28. Now watching this live, I expected Sheamus to win, but certainly not like the way he did. With that said, I definitely understand the notion that because Bryan has retained the championship in bizarre and fluky ways during his entire reign, it seems only fitting that he should lose it in such a bizarre and fluky way as well. However, while that concept might play out fine on Smackdown or a smaller PPV, I’m not sure I can ever get behind the idea of eighteen second title matches at WrestleMania. Still, to see Sheamus win like that was so epic, so I can't really hate on it and they do get an actual match at the next PPV. So if you want to see a great Sheamus/D-Bry match, check that one out.
Rating: N/A(+5 for Epic Squash)
Thoughts: This was a perfectly fine little match, but it really seemed like the same sort of match we see on Smackdown every week. I expect something special from every match at WrestleMania and this match didn’t deliver that. However, the most notable aspect of this match was that fact that Kane picked up the win. I expected Orton to defeat the monster and begin his built to an eventual title match, so having Kane get the pin was definitely a shock. Though to be fair, Kane, at the time, hadn't won a PPV match since...I can't remember the last time actually and after a draw and loss to Cena in the first two 2012 PPV's, he needed a win on PPV badly.
Rating: **3/4
The Big Show def. Cody Rhodes(c)(
Thoughts: This certainly wasn't a technical classic, but it did provide a feel-good moment for Show winning both the IC and the Grand Slam Championships and provided a logical finale to his feud with Cody Rhodes. Big Show didn't really need the IC Belt, so thankfully his reign didn't last long.
Rating: **
Thoughts: This action in this match was little more than the standard Divas tag team match fare, but what is definitely remarkable is that Maria Menounos wrestled the match with fractured and/or broken ribs and feet. Many celebrities in her position would have backed out of the match all togethe, and most of the rest would have stood on the apron for the entire match without taking a single bump. To her credit, Maria wrestled a substantial fraction of the match and allowed Beth and Eve to exploit her injuries. She had to be in pain the entire time, and I give her a ton of credit for every bit of effort she put in here. She’s not a wrestler. This isn’t her career. She didn’t need to do this. And yet she did. In my mind, that makes her a true professional, whether or not she ever steps foot in the ring again.
Rating: *1/2
The Undertaker def. Triple H(30:47)
Thoughts: I think there are some people who probably say this match went 10 minutes too long, but I say to hell with those people. This was a masterpiece, not in technical wrestling, but in story-telling. It told a story that has been building for decades and it did an absolutely phenomenal job of providing resolution and closure to that story. Despite all the animosity between these three men and despite them all having truly legendary egos, the truth that emerged in Hell in a Cell is that none of them truly wanted to be the one to end an era. When Triple H had the Undertaker beaten, he repeatedly begged Shawn Michaels to call the match. Later in the match, the Undertaker hesitated before finishing Triple H, waiting just a moment to give Triple H the chance to surrender. And through it all, Shawn Michaels proved that all he really wanted to do was the right thing. He never counted fast or slow and he never robbed either man of his dignity by calling the match. Back then, I thought that the perfect way for this match to end would be to have Triple H finally end the streak, but now I can see that this scenario was just as good – if not better. The story that was told after the match was truly beautiful, as years of tension and resentment faded way, leaving only respect and camaraderie. Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker helped Triple H to the top of the ramp and all three men turned to look back on their fans and their careers as they got a standing ovation. They embraced each other and the next phase of their lives before ducking behind the curtain. It probably should've been the final match for both Undertaker and Triple H, but then we would've never seen Taker/Punk from Mania 29 or HHH/D-Bry from Mania 30. But then Brock would never have ended the streak.
Rating: *****
Team Johnny(The Miz, David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, Jack Swagger and Drew McIntyre) def. Team Teddy(Santino Marella, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali and Booker T)(10:32)
Thoughts: Between active wrestlers, general managers, flag bearers, girlfriends, and Bellas, there were TWENTY people involved in this match. It’s almost impossible to have that many people all play a memorable role in a match, and in trying to do so the end result was a muddled mess. All that really stands out in the end is that Booker T played face-in-peril quite well. In the end, Miz was able to shine at WrestleMania by picking up a key win and Zack Ryder was kicked in the nuts, both physically and metaphorically, in just about every way humanly possible. Why he got de-pushed like that, I'll never understand. I would have loved to see Team Teddy get the win so that Teddy Long could take over Raw and Smackdown, fade into the background and let the in-ring talent shine, but I think we all knew WWE loves evil authority figures too much to pass up the opportunity to let John Laurinaitis run both shows, if only for a brief amount of time.
Rating: **
CM Punk(c) def. Chris Jericho(22:23)
Thoughts: When I first heard they were doing a Punk/Jericho match for this show, I fell in love with the idea and after watching it live and re-watching it a few times, I'm happy to say this delivered in a major way. Heading into the show, I did wonder if the storyline would overshadow the wrestling...and it looked like that for a few minutes, but then things picked up and everything from then on was awesome. It had a great closing sequence to end the match with. Thankfully, these two would get a second PPV match at the following PPV and they would have another great match there as well.
Rating: ****1/2
Thouhgts: Some didn’t like the mix of old school WWF/Hogan era action on this one, but being I thought it was a lot of fun to watch. They built this match wonderfully and the crowd was with them throughout. This crowd was as crazy as the crowd from Wretlemania 18 where Rock/Hogan took place, but that had a different feel. Cena delivered on the big stage like he always does and The Rock looked pretty great considering his long layoff. I mean, he went 30 minutes after being gone for more than 8 years. Great job by both men...But of course, Once in a Lifetime didn't stay that way for very long.
Rating: ****1/4
Final Rating:
3.86 out of 5
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