Column: Thoughts on Wrestlemania 25 Card

[Thanks to reader Jimi Wheeler for sending along his thoughts on the Wrestlemania 25 card. If you'd like to write a column email typesthetalk@gmail.com]

The recent Joe’s Take column on Wrestlemania is very true, but, I think it’s missing the big picture. We’ve seen every big match before. Edge Vs Cena Vs Big Show; Edge Vs Cena, very over done. I’ve seen them two wrestle more times than I had hot meals. Throw Big Show into the mix and you get a match that has lost all appeal plus a wrestler who is entertaining but not exactly main event material anymore. As much as I like the Big Show, he simply couldn’t cut it in the Wrestlemania main event 8 years again let alone now. So, yes we pretty much have a match that has been seen time and time again plus someone who isn’t main event worthy, and this is supposed to draw money? As for the love triangle, it’s just ludicrous and extremely boring as it’s been done many times in wrestling.

Randy Orton Vs HHH, also very overdone. The break-up of Evolution a few months back when Orton broke his collarbone. Again nothing new, it’s the same stuff brought up again expecting to draw hype. The storyline isn’t even particularly new. Just makes me think of Stone Cold Steve Austin in the hey days of 1998/1999, except they’re trying to bill Orton as the heel. You can tell by the fact half the audience cheering Orton that it’s just not working. Would be a bit more comrpehendable if he was the heel against someone other than Hunter, as most real wrestling fans dislike Hunter on the basis of his backstage politics. So, that’s two main events two overdone matches and not particularly original storylines.

Logically the next biggest match is Shawn Michaels Vs The Undertaker. I’m a huge Shawn Michaels fan, I know that’s hypocritical considering what I said about HHH’s politicis, but Shawn is God. Still, though, Shawn Vs Taker again been done before, they had a nice long feud from around August 1997 – January 1998 (The match that effectively “Ended” Shawns career). This probably will be the best match on the card giving Shawn’s history of excellent Wrestlemania matchs and the fact it’s against Taker one of the best in the business just spells good match. Although, I must admit it doesn’t seem likely Shawn will win, as Taker will of been in WWE for 20 years this November and frankly i just wouldn’t make sense which takes away all suspense. Still, a match well worth watching probably the only one. Just a shame like the two main events it’s been done before.

Jeff Hardy Vs Matt Hardy…. Done, done, done, done, done. Did I mention it’s been done? I’m not looking forward to it at all. As much as I like both Jeff and Matt, when they wrestled before it wasn’t particularly ground breaking stuff. Adding the Extreme Rules stipulation does absolutely nothing for me as from what I’ve seen of WWE’s “Hardcore” factor in recent times it leaves nothing to really drool about. A couple of trash cans, tables, ladders, chairs and a “Death defying” dive from Jeff at some point. **Yawns** I’m not even going to say anything else about this.

The Divas Battle Royal, it’ll be good to see some of the old divas back, it’ll be good to see that many divas in one ring at one time and be interesting to see if they can pull anything good off with it. I’m assuming the usual appearance of Mae Young, maybe Jericho could fight Mae Young as he is berating legends and such. Overall, I’m not expecting much from this match-up other than the delight of seeing 25 divas of varying beauty of from varying eras of the WWE in one ring at one time, expect nothing spectacular of the wrestling.

The Money In The Bank, it’s lost it’s appeal. Another overdone match. Unfortunately thanks to TNA using gimmick matches every week on Impact as well as on PPV, the gimmick matches really have just lost a lot of their awe, and a lot of the anticipation that they once held. It has the making of the good match if they can actually think of something new to do in it. I doubt they will though. Shelton Benjamin normally comes off looking like a star with his amazing athleticism and agility. Christian should be looking to prove himself and I hope he pulls out all the stops. CM Punk also is a good wrestler and if he manages to perform better than he did when he had the World Championship, he should also be one to watch in this match. Kofi Kingston, I expect to be simply sitting mouth wide open at him as his abilities rival Shelton’s in my opinion for high flying and athleticism. MVP has improved greatly, but is not exactly suited to a ladder match. Kane, Finlay and Henry I don’t expect much from. Finlay should bring some brutality to it and Kane normally pulls off a nice move or two for a big man in these kind of matches, but Henry should be fired. This match has the potential to really steal the show, if they can only think of new ideas of what to do in the match. If last years is anything to go by though, they wont.

JBL vs Rey Mysterio, again done, done, done, done, done. Just like the first four matches I mentioned it’s been done and done again. When them two was battling for the world title on Smackdown for around 6 months maybe longer. Now, JBL has retired come back and is literally falling apart. It’s well documented of his back problems and that he probably wont be wrestling for much longer if they continue, I fail to see what if any draw level this match has on the card. It’s just to fill space that is all I can see it being.

Carlito & Primo Vs Miz & Morrison, this has the potential to be a really good match if given the correct time limit and a good finish, although we have seen the two teams fighting in recent weeks it hasn’t be anything that could ruin the match at Wrestlemania and it has been built up over a long period of time (Well a couple of months, that’s long in the industry these days). All four athletes are spectacular and of high caliber. This match has genuine excitement levels and to the best of my knowledge has never been done before on a grand scale other than the build up matches over recent times. The only match on the whole card that in my opinion has any new flare at all. The only problem with this match is, the names aren’t big names and they have no real drawing power to those outside the real fans who appreciate good wrestling, unfortunately the majority of fans are people who love Cena and Batista and the whole “We can’t wrestle” wrestlers, but it’s okay Vince likes us.

That’s all the matches listed at the time of me writing this. You’ve got Jericho on the card somewhere fighting a hall of famer somewhere along the lines, possibly Ric Flair (Doubting that at the moment though), Hulk Hogan is on the shelf after surgery, Stone Cold I heard is overweight and not fit to wrestle, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he appears somewhere along the lines as he will become a legend the night before. The possibility of a Mickey Rourke interference along with Steamboat, Piper and Snuka. Is it just me or can anyone smell a Lumberjack match coming? Jericho against someone with the legends surrounding the ring? Just a thought.
Either way the match will be nothing more than entermainment value as everyone want to see Jericho have his arse handed to him by a bunch of legends, no real draw power. Mickey Rourke hasn’t really brought as much media attention of McMahon would of hoped.

All in all, Wrestlemania 25 seems like the worst Wrestlemania on paper ever. I was going to go to America this year and see it, but my girlfriend put stops on that, how I thank her for it. I really am glad I didn’t pay the money. I will however pay to watch it and watch it live on TV at 1AM. I have faith in Vince that even though he has booked overdone matches and overdone storylines that for the biggest show of the year he can pull something out of his big billionaire sleeves and give us all a show to remember, just doesn’t look good at the moment. Oh, and I expect to see Vince at the show himself, somewhere in a main event, maybe turning on HHH or is that wishful thinking?

11 Responses to “ Column: Thoughts on Wrestlemania 25 Card ”

  1. Nice Column, I agree with a lot of your opinions and only hope something like Vince turning on HHH happens. Im going to pay to watch the event because after all £15 isn’t all that much. I am really disappointed with this years show, It isn’t hyped very well and all of the match look pretty boring. Just like you I was going top American, Im so glad I didn’t because I would have been so disappointed.

  2. Hey man, thank you. I read yours and decided to give my own spin on it, yours was also pretty nice. I just hope like I said Vince can pull some magic tricks out of his “Evil genius” mind.

  3. I agree with you Keelan Wrestlemania 25 suck so far.

  4. Note this was not written by me.

  5. Yes I agree that HHH back stage position is taking some of the heat away from the Orton match, I also find it amusing when the half the crowd cheer and mark out for Orton.
    It would be great if Steph turned heel on HHH, add somthing extra to the match.

    Triple Threat for World Heavy Weight Title, will be a 5 move bore fest with Cena winning.

    Taker vs HBK, Taker will win hands down.

    Diva Battle, would be better if Trish Stratus and Lita appeared.

  6. I agree exactly with everything u say.
    Wat happened to the classic one on one nva been done b4 WM main events they used to do?! Im so sik of triple threat matches for the main events and im sik of orton v hhh (even though it has a gd storyline) im sik of JBL v Rey, im sick of mark henry and finlay and pray that shelton wins, i cant belive ther making Y2J tak on 3 legends! that will b average, and the only 2 matches im looking forward 2 r the Tag Team one and HBK v Taker those 2 should b awsome! Im not happy about vince making the tag team match a lumber jack match bcoz ther ssssooo shit!

  7. though i agree on something BIG happening bcoz its WM and amazing moments always happen at WM so something HUGE is comeing!

  8. I agree with Randy Orton v HHH. I don’t think they can out do the last man standing match they had at No Mercy 07, plus this match was done at last yr’s Mania (except that Cena was also involved), a very lazy booking. However, I do think the Show v Cena v Edge can & will be a really good match. Yes Cena v Edge has been done b4, as has Cena v Show, but the 3 of them do have really good in ring chemistry with each other….I think could be best match on card. Taker v Shawn, has been done…but that was ova a decade ago. Taker has always come out victorious in his fueds, but Michaels came out on top when they were last feuding(largely cos HBK got injured), & it looks like wwe want to put that straight. How I would love a HBK win though. They are really pushing this brother v brother thing….almost trying to replicate the success of the Hart brother’s feud, which did lead to an exceptional match at WM 10. But Owen & Bret were far more talented than the Hardy’s in my opinion. JBL v Mysterio, is a very strange match. The only thing good about this match is, that it will bring some glamour back to the Intercontental belt which has been whored out to any tom, dick & harry over the last decade or so. But the strangest booking of all is the Jericho v Legends (now that is desperately running out of ideas for the main talent). I think this yr’s Mania might be cringeworthy. The fans expect far better for the 25th anniversary of wrestlings “superbowl”

  9. Got to admit I’m watching ECW at this very moment & they just showed a clip of “Wrestlemania 9″ at Ceasars Palace where they were all in Roman attire…What the hell happened to those days, the razzmatazz, the glitz, the glamour, filmstars/musicians popping up & pining someone..I can remember looking forward to wrestlemania 6 months in advance..Now as the above says Its all been done before & its not as if they leave gaps between the bouts…”And Next week on Raw/Smackdown…HHH v’s Orton, JBL v’s Rey, Undertaker v’s HBK….And its only 2weeks before Wrestlemania”…I’m not gonna waste £15 & a late night gonna stream it for free the next day so I can skip 90% of the bouts…Ah the memories!

  10. Wow.. your dumb, how likely is it for the WWE to pull off new matches? Not likely.. they compete 3 times a week on TV, your going to get repeats, but atleast the storylines are interesting.

    And your right.. their not going to get sales.. thats why this will probably be the highest grossing wrestling event in history.

  11. Definitely not in terms of buyrate.

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