So it has been 16 days since WrestleMania XXX. A lot happened WrestleMania weekend and hopefully some was for the better. Here is the recap of the event from my view.
First, back in February the WWE launch the WWE Network. The main thing with this network was that for a 6 month commitment of $10 you would get access to all of the Pay-Per-Views starting with WrestleMania XXX. So the plan for WWE was to have a 1 hour pre-show on the network and that is where we start WrestleMania XXX.
Pre-Show:
Match 1: Elimination Fatal Four-Way for the World Tag-Team Championships (My prediction was The Usos would retain)
The Usos (C) vs Los Matadores vs Rybaxel (Ryback/Axel) vs The Real Americans (Cesaro/Swagger)
This was a great match for the tag-team division to shine. There have not been a lot of good tag-teams in the WWE for quite some time as they may have lost focus on it. There was a lot of action. The crowd was filing into the Superdome and there was some mixed reactions through out. From the beginning of the match it was clear to me that the favorites to win were either the Usos or the Real Americans.
Los Matadores were eliminated first, followed by Rybaxel and the Real Americans, leaving your winners and still champions... The Usos..
When I say Uce, you say O
Now the show begins....
Here comes your host of WMXXX The Immortal Hulk Hogan. This started off as a possible forgettable moment as the Hulkster had a moment and called the Superdome the Silverdome. Soon after that the segment became epic as Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock joined the opening in an exchange of 3 of probably the biggest stars the WWE has ever produced.
Match 2: Daniel Bryan vs Triple H for a spot in the Triple Threat Main Event (My prediction: Daniel Bryan wins, but somehow Triple H makes the main event a fatal 4 way)
This was an obvious opening match for the actual PPV. Triple H still has a lot to give as a performer. His entrance was awesome. The match was good, it got the crowd into the event right away. There was a lot of back and forth action, times when HHH was the aggressor and time Bryan was the aggressor. I was surprised that Daniel Bryan got the clean victory. However, the aftermath was brutal for D-Bry. HHH took out his rage on his shoulder, leaving him questionable for the main event.
Match 3: Corporate Kane, The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn) Vs the Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins) (My prediction Shield wins)
This was a qucik match. A lot of action and ended with a Triple Double Power Bomb. Shield wins. Side note, the Shield may be broken up soon, all 3 seem to have potential to have great careers in the WWE. Only time will tell.
Match 4: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (My prediction Rey Mysterio would win)
Battle Royals are very messy. There are so many wrestlers in the ring and sometimes hard to keep track of them. The final two were The Big Show and Cesaro. There was a nod to WrestleMania III when Hogan body slammed Andre, as Cesaro Body slammed the big show over the top rope to the outside for the win. The power showcased by Cesaro was crazy. Big future for him if they play their cards right with him.
Match 5: Bray Wyatt vs John Cena (My prediction Bray Wyatt would win)
The build up for this match was 50/50. Bray Wyatt's promos were excellent. Cena's build up and lead in were very much the same as they always are, but this time they made him seem scared of the Wyatt family. But that was all for nothing as once again 'Super Cena' won the match. In my opinion WWE could have used this opportunity to elevate Bray Wyatt to a higher level, but instead they went the other way. I hope Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt family do not lose their momentum because of this.
WWE 2014 Hall of Fame Class:
Jake "the Snake" Roberts
Mr. T
Paul Bearer
Carlos Colon
Lita
Razor Ramon
The Ultimate Warrior
Match 6: The Streak is on the line: Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker (My prediction 22-0, Undertaker wins)
Well son of a ..... He lost. The Undertaker lost. I still can't believe it. That Superdome is cursed. First the Niners lose for the first time in the Superbowl and now the streak ends. The crowd was so shocked and defeated. After the match, there were reports that the Undertaker had suffered a Major Concussion and was rushed to the hospital afterwards. The Undertaker took 3 F-5's during the match and when the refs hand him down for the 3 count, I really couldn't believe it. A part of history died, a part of my childhood died. It's been over two weeks and when I think about it, I can't believe that I live in a world where the Undertaker is 21-1 at WrestleMania. Whatever the reasoning was for Brock (The Beast Incarnate, not the 'Beast and Carnage' as some folks mislabel him) was the right one. I for one, would have loved to have the Undertaker go out undefeated at WrestleMania. Let's see where this goes next.
Match 7: Vickie Guerrero Invitational (Prediction AJ retains)
AJ Lee retained the Divas championship. This was another match like the battle royal, too many people in the ring. However, they gave a few spots to some of the Divas, like the Bella Twins (Surprise, surprise).
Match 8: Randy Orton (C) vs Batista vs Daniel Bryan (My Prediction Daniel Bryan will win)
This match had it all. Broken tables, big hits. Big spots. Daniel Bryan being taken out in a stretcher. A Batista Bomb-KO (Combination Batista Bomb and RKO)
This was a great moment for Daniel Bryan. Great pay off for all the storyline BS that the character was put through. This match got people into the event again as they were still in shock with the Undertaker loss.
Overall the event was good. Good moments, good matches. But the Undertaker losing will be what this WrestleMania will forever be known for.
The next night on Monday Night Raw the Ultimate Warrior cut a promo thanking the fans again. The next day 4/8/14 the Ultimate Warrior suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. The Warrior was away from the WWE for so long and he finally started his comeback home late last year and was rightfully placed where he belonged in the WWE Hall of Fame. The weekend was special for the Warrior and his family. During his hall of fame speech the Warrior told his daughters 'The most awesome thing that I'll ever do is be your father' That is what sticks with me. The promo Warrior did on Raw was almost like he was saying goodbye, like if he knew the end was coming. One thing for sure is that we must try to appreciate everyday and not take for granted every day, every minute we have.
Now the road to WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara begins.....
