Before we start this preview for WrestleMania 29, I want to
address the lack of posts these last two weeks.
While I was hoping to be able to sneak in another part or two for The
Road to WrestleMania 29 series, it never came to fruition with the amount of
work that I had to do for my classes.
Split between working on a presentation and two major papers, I did not
have much time or energy to work on anything other than school work. Getting those projects done and out of the
way was so important that this series had to be put on the backburner. I am sorry that I could not address this
delay sooner, but I hope to make up for it with one huge preview for
WrestleMania 29.
Personally, I cannot remember a WrestleMania so poorly built
as this year’s event. Watching WWE this
last month has been very straining because seeds for feuds that should have
been planted all the way back at the Royal Rumble were entirely nonexistent
until only a few weeks ago. WWE missed
an incredible amount of opportunities to make this WrestleMania live up to the
majesty and grandeur this event demands.
Matches like CM Punk vs. Undertaker and Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar that
could single-handedly sell any other PPV have been so poorly built that nobody
cares or is remotely interested. In the
shadow of Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania’s true home, you would expect the
WWE to pull out all the stops to make this WrestleMania worthy of this grand
homecoming especially considering that next year WrestleMania will not be
coming from MSG, breaking a WrestleMania tradition. It is still WrestleMania and honestly this
wrestling fan is hoping even with my doubts the WWE can pull together a show to
surprise us and live up to the name of WrestleMania or fail gloriously in the
process.
Wade Barrett (c) vs.
The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship
Not very often do the secondary championships get showcased
at WrestleMania. It feels pretty special
when it happens and it stings a lot when this match gets shafted to the
pre-show. It is understandable
considering how little build this match has had and the roller coaster WWE
creative has sent these two wrestlers on for the last month before settling
with this match. Given enough time, Wade
Barrett and the Miz will no doubt put on a good match. There is a slight possibility that the WWE
will give the title to the Miz in order to push his new babyface second-coming
of Ric Flair gimmick down our collective throats. Personally, I am pulling for Barrett to
retain the title to hopefully give him and his Intercontinental Title reign
more legitimacy.
Prediction: Wade Barrett retains
Brodus Clay, Tensai
and the Funkadactyls vs. Team Rhodes Scholars and the Bella Twins in an
Eight-Person Tag Team Match
This match is the definition of a pre-show match. There is no feud between these teams, no
build for this match and no interest from the fans. To put this match on the main card for
WrestleMania would be a travesty. It is
definitely sad to see two young talented wrestlers like Cody Rhodes and Damien
Sandow in a throwaway match on the Biggest Stage of Them All. There is no need to watch this match as it
will be nothing more than mediocre filler anyway.
Prediction: Brodus Clay, Tensai and the Funkadactyls win
Team Hell No (c) vs.
Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston
Speaking of talented wrestlers going to waste on the Biggest
Stage of Them All, we have the Tag Team Title match. Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Kane could
have easily been placed in singles matches that would be more appealing than
this match. Team Hell No, while still
enjoyable, has gone its course. If WWE
is not going to use Team Hell No to build a tag team division worth caring
about, it is time to take Daniel Bryan and Kane in a new direction. WrestleMania could have easily been the big
climactic finale to their long-term feud.
It just feels like a missed opportunity in my opinion. These guys will probably put on a good tag
team match. Like with many other things
with WrestleMania 29, it could have been so much better.
Prediction: Team Hell No retains
Ryback vs. Mark Henry
Ryback hits the Shellshock on Mark Henry. Nobody will care about the match; they will only
care about the big WrestleMania moment at the very end. That folks is Ryback vs. Mark Henry in a
nutshell.
Prediction: Ryback wins
Chris Jericho vs.
Fandango
While this match should have been Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris
Jericho, this wrestling fan believes Chris Jericho can put on a good match at
WrestleMania no matter who he is paired with.
Considering this match will be Johnny Curtis’ debut as Fandango, the
lights will definitely be on this young up-and-comer. It will be a true test if Fandango is
deserving of the push he is currently getting from WWE Creative.
Prediction: Fandango wins
The Shield vs.
Sheamus, Randy Orton and Big Show
The Shield has been seemingly unstoppable during their short
time in the WWE. Superstars step up to
challenge this faction of young superstars, but all fall to the Shield of
Justice. The next challengers are a pretty
mighty bunch in Sheamus, Randy Orton and Big Show. This fragile alliance will be severely tested
Sunday night as they battle one of the most cohesive groups in WWE
history. This match is one that I am
personally most excited for because of how great the Shield’s matches have been
and the possibility of a Randy Orton heel turn.
Prediction: The Shield wins
Alberto Del Rio (c)
vs. Jack Swagger for the World Heavyweight Championship
The more I think of this match, the more it reminds me of
Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle from WrestleMania XX. I could care less about the storyline between
the American-loving Alberto Del Rio and the American Extremist Jack Swagger, it
is the match these two technical wrestlers put on that really matters. Technically this match will be great as you
got two technical styles that will work wonderful together. The match will come down to a showdown
between the Cross Armbreaker and the Patriot Lock and that should be a sight to
see. Also I am personally hoping for
Dolph Ziggler to cash in the Money in the Bank contract after this match,
fingers crossed.
Prediction: Alberto Del Rio retains
Brock Lesnar vs.
Triple H in a No Holds Barred Match with Triple H’s Career on the Line
Looking for an all-out brawl reminiscent to the hardcore
matches of eras past than look no further than Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H
II. While their first match at last
year’s Summerslam left a lot to be desired, giving these two free reins to beat
the living crap out of one another with everything and anything will be a big
improvement. It might seem obvious that
Triple H will get the victory over Brock Lesnar to avoid retiring, but that
result would be incredibly damaging to the monster the WWE is trying to build
in Brock Lesnar. Brock should not lose a
match until the WWE is ready to have him face somebody they want to push to the
main event like Sheamus or challenge Undertaker to end The Streak. Honestly, Triple H does not need to be
wrestling anymore, so give Brock Lesnar another win under his belt and a
definitive ending to Triple H’s career.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins and Triple H retires
Undertaker vs. CM
Punk
There was one point in time when Undertaker vs. CM Punk at
WrestleMania 29 seemed like a great idea then we got the last four weeks of WWE
programming. Opinions can quickly change
when thoughts on paper turn into reality.
CM Punk and Undertaker tried their best to make the storyline they were
given to work with, but it was not enough.
While these guys are great on the microphone especially Punk, the
storyline really drew off the death of Paul Bearer, way too soon in my opinion,
that it felt quite uncomfortable at times.
There is no doubt that these two will steal the show at
WrestleMania. Some of the excitement
that normally surrounds an Undertaker match at WrestleMania is gone thanks to
such a horrible storyline.
Prediction: Undertaker wins
The Rock (c) vs. John
Cena for the WWE Championship
Here we are, at the rematch no one asked for—The Rock vs.
John Cena II. For the main event of the
Biggest Show of the Year, this match has had less build than Undertaker vs. CM
Punk. That is what WWE gets for wasting
two weeks showing the exact same video package about this match. While this match has been built as John
Cena’s redemption, nobody really cares who wins if one of two things
happens. First, Rock and Cena deliver a
match that surpasses last year’s match in Miami. Second, John Cena FINALLY turns heel. Wrestling fans are getting sick and tired on
John Cena’s character because it has not evolved in over six years now. Cena needs a new direction and why not
initiate on the Grandest Stage of Them All where the lights are on bright and
the whole world is watching.
Prediction: John Cena wins the WWE Championship
It is WrestleMania Sunday and there is no hype, no
excitement. Last year, I could not
contain my excitement to see Rock vs. Cena, Undertaker vs. Triple H and CM Punk
vs. Chris Jericho that I tried to find affordable venue to watch the event to
no avail. This year I have no such
inclination to watch WrestleMania live.
It is easier and much more affordable to wait two months and pick up the
DVD. Yes, you miss out on watching it in
the moment, but you pay about twenty dollars to have the event forever. Instead of wasting thirty to fifty dollars only
to see if WWE can put an amazing show despite the incredible lack of build and
excitement.
