Wrestlemania

Every year we anticipate Wrestlemania and every year we wonder “is this one going to be as good as the rest? And of course, we weren’t let down in the least…

ECW Battle Royal. After hyping this match the last two weeks, we find out Friday that it is now part of the “pre show” on wwe.com. Which means no one watched it. Shame, because it had a great part where Jamie Noble landed outside the ring on top of Kofi Kingston and climb three guys back into the ring, not landing on the ground the whole time. Otherwise, came down to the big guys and Kane gets the #1 spot at the ECW title.

Finley vs JBL: Belfast Brawl. All of the hardcore crazy action we’ve missed in recent years. This made me hearken back to the days of Fit Finley vieing for the WCW Hardcore belt. Memories… Then Finley forgets he’s not a luchador and does a face plant into a trashcan lid and the outside floor. JBL wins. Not enough leprechaun in this one, but good opener.

Money In the Bank. I feel bad for anyone in this match these days. They have so much past innovation behind them for ladder matches, and every new one appears to hurt even more than last year’s. It’s a fantastic spectacle that makes one worry for the welfare of the contenders, yet cheer at the fact they are not dead. CM Punk gets the briefcase and a step up from ECW’s roster, perhaps.

Batista vs Umaga. I think I was fighting to order Chinese for this one. Maybe I’ll watch it later. Not too big on it…

Kane vs Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Title. Well. Chavo is the new Special Delivery Jones. King Kong Bundy has nothing on Kane…

Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair. What can I say. This was the greatest way anyone could retire from wrestling. Night 1: getting inducted in the Hall of Fame. (missed it, but have seen clips). Night 2: Lose a retirement match to one of the best in the business in one of the best wrestled matches I have seen Flair do in years. It was very emotional. 36 year career. Amazing.

BunnyMania. Seriously. Snoop was the highlight of this. That pimp cart was great. I give the girls all the credit in the world, but this just felt kind of sloppy. But the lights went out in the middle of the match, so that sure as hell didn’t help. Snoop becoming the new man by Kiss Stealin’ one from Maria after the non-Playgirls stole a win. I think the Lumberjack Divas did one thing the whole match…

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship. this was a fast paced 3 way match between Triple H, John Cena, and Randy Orton. Rather short for the biggest show of the year (or maybe it just felt it. Randy Orton steals a win and asserts himself as the best heal running today (yes, I finally said it about the gay porn star…)

Floyd Mayweather vs Big Show. A no rules match. Amazing. You always worry about these celeb appearances, but Floyd was in it. He got knocked down, stepped on, knocked around some more. Then his entire posse got involved. It took help and some brass knucks to put Show away. I was amazed that Maweather went such a heel route. Amazing.

The Undertaker vs Edge for the World Championship. this really surprised me to be last. After the high octane matches the preceded, the crowd (and us at home) just felt exhausted…It was slow at first, but eventually started to pick up. The Undertaker still has it, and Edge is just getting warmed up and will get that belt back…

This was also the first wrestling event I was able to experience in HD since Dish Network hasn’t picked up USA, Sci Fi, or our local CW in the new format yet. So this was a new visual experience. It was amazing. I feel like I’m watching wrestling under a fog as RAW is on right now in SD. A few caveats, though entertaining, do exist. As you will see in our yearly WrestleMania recap video, and Veronica’s Tanning Report, you notice more than you ever wished too…

And now, our yearly WrestleMania recap…