WWE WrestleMania 24 Thoughts: By Matthew Evans (13/04/2008)

No matter how much some wrestling fans have become disenchanted with the business, one can always rely on “WrestleMania” to boost the spirits of even the harshest WWE critic.

This year’s “Mania” emanated from the “Cirtus Bowl” in Orlando Florida, making it only the 2nd WrestleMania to be held outdoors (the first one being WM 9, which took place at Caesar’s Palace).

Obviously, with the outdoor setting came a great deal of risk. If it rained heavily, then WM 24 could literally have been a washout.

It wasn’t just the weather that WWE had to contend with, either. Rival company TNA (who are based in Orlando) decided to “muscle in” on the WM festivities and encourage WWE fans to attend their shows at Universal Studios (they also threatened to fly a “TNA plane” during WM, although this never came to pass).

Nonetheless, WWE soldiered on, undeterred and determined to make WM 24 a huge success, regardless of the threat of bad weather and competition from TNA.

The “Citrus Bowl” certainly looked great on TV (I always enjoy seeing wrestling events that “break the mould” and venture outside of an arena). John Legend’s rendition of “America The Beautiful” was okay, although I honestly don’t know why WWE just don’t cut the costs down and get Lillian Garcia to do the honours every year.

The opening “Belfast Brawl” between Finlay (accompanied by the returning Hornswoggle) and JBL was certainly a welcome surprise, even if the story heading into the match (Finlay being Hornswoggle’s “real” father) was preposterous.

This bout was brutal, violent fare. It’s been a while since I’ve seen two WWE Superstars break out the weapons and bash each other senseless (especially following the Chris Benoit-linked “blows to the head”/ “multiple concussions” debate), but Finlay and JBL did it with such ease and aplomb that it felt like the “Attitude” days of 1999 and 2000 (when the Hardcore Title had the “24/7” rule).

Perhaps the biggest shock of all was seeing “The Tough Irish B******” take flight with a suicide dive to the floor, only to be smashed in the face by a trashcan lid held by JBL.

JBL also got driven through a table, but in the end, it was the Texan who got the win with a “Clothesline From Hell”. Good opening match, pity about the finish (and the decision).

If Finlay and JBL set the bar for brutality, then the participants in the 4th Annual “Money In The Bank” Ladder Match raised it that much higher in the next bout on the card.

From an excitement standpoint, this was probably the best match of the night (although due to the risks involved and the insanity of the stunts, it was difficult to watch at times).

Special credit should go to John Morrison for a truly crazy ladder-assisted moonsault to the floor (and onto his opponents), while Shelton Benjamin achieved “Sickest Move Of The Night” honours for his senseless back-first dive from one ladder to another propped up outside the ring.

The return of Matt Hardy meant that MVP would not be becoming 2008’s “Mr Money In The Bank”. In the end, it was CM Punk who got the duke, after poor Chris Jericho got his leg caught in the ladder.

Despite the grilling it received elsewhere, I actually enjoyed the “big man” outing between Batista and Umaga. The only problem I had with the match was that it just didn’t feel like the big deal (i.e. an inter-brand bout) that it should have been (there was no competition between opposing announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler, which rendered the whole “Raw VS SD!” concept a bit redundant).

After some back and forth action (where Umaga got cheered by several Brits in the front row), Batista finished off “The Samoan Bulldozer” with a (nearly-botched) “Batista Bomb”.

Prior to the PPV, Kane had won a worthless inter-brand Battle Royal, meaning that he could now face Chavo Guerrero for the ECW World Title.

ECW General Manager Armando Estrada came out to virtually no reaction, and the words “ECW World Title” didn’t get much of a response, either.

As if to demonstrate just how pointless ECW is, WWE had Kane beat Chavo in less than 10 seconds with a Choke-Slam. Joey Styles and Tazz must have wondered why they were even put out there to call it.

Up next was the “Career Threatening” Match between Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair. This one certainly had a lot to live up. Quite frankly, it didn’t live up to the hype. But it was still a damn fine effort from both men and a very emotionally involving match.

Halfway through, Shawn nearly took himself out for good with a dangerous moonsault onto a ringside announce table (Michaels caught his ribs on the table with a sickening “crack”).

From that point on, HBK (understandably) looked winded and blown up. To his credit, he battled on and didn’t miss a beat.

Michaels managed to escape the “Figure Four” more than once, and in the end, finished off “The Nature Boy” with “Sweet Chin Music” (but not before saying, “I’m sorry. I Love You”). Just like that, Flair’s legendary career was history.

Post-match, there was lots of emotion from Flair and his family (and the fans). Ric got a standing ovation, but no speech or “group hug” from the wrestlers (that would be saved for the following night on Raw). I would really like to think that Ric Flair has retired for good this time (the way he went out was great and very sincere). But the cynic in me still thinks that Flair (who still has a few years left on his contract) will never lose the wrestling bug and be back in the ring within 2 years.

“BunnyMania” (which has since been criticised by former WWE Diva Trish Stratus) was a complete mess of a match. Snoop Dogg’s entrance took absolutely ages, Ashley and Maria’s ring work was atrocious and the lights went out halfway though (actually, that was a good thing and got a pop from the bored-rigid crowd).

The involvement of Jerry Lawler and Santino Marella (and later Snoop Dogg) saved the bout from the complete depths of despair (plus, at least the best team in Beth Phoenix and Melina won), but overall this was an embarrassment that summed up the sorry state of WWE’s booking of the Women’s division.

The Triple Threat WWE Championship Match was certainly entertaining, although the fact that the ring was dimly lit (the power didn’t return until the end of this match) and the fans were a little confused and restless, hampered it overall.

John Cena was not a popular man, although that was to be expected. The fans went crazy when HHH prevented Randy Orton from tapping out to Cena’s STFU by keeping “The Legend Killer’s” hand away from the ropes!

There was another great spot when Cena blocked Orton’s “RKO” and sent him crashing into the prone body of “The Game”!

The finish was shocking to say the least. After HHH had planted Cena with the “Pedigree”, Orton ran in while Hunter was making the cover and punted him in the head. Orton then covered Cena to retain his title.

I applaud WWE for not doing the obvious and keeping the belt on Orton. However, I really think that HHH should have sold the effects of the blow on Raw this past week. After all, isn’t this the same sort of kick that gave Shawn Michaels, John Cena Snr, Dusty Rhodes, Rob Van Dam and others concussions?

The “Anything Goes” Match between Big Show and Floyd Mayweather was another pleasant surprise. For my money, this was the best example of a “Celebrity VS Wrestler” match. It was heated, it was entertaining and both guys played their respective roles brilliantly.

At first, Show dominated. When Mayweather got cocky, Show assaulted a member of his “entourage” (it was actually a developmental guy who had been trained to take the abuse).
Things got really interesting when Mayweather began swinging a steel chair and whacking the giant in the back and head. Finally, “Pretty Boy” finished off “The Show” with a brass-knuckle-assisted punch to the face. The crowd hated it and Mayweather (a natural heel) lapped it up.

Closing out the event was the WWE World Heavyweight Title Match between Edge and The Undertaker. ‘Taker’s 15-0 streak was on the line here, but I don’t think that anyone in the “Citrus Bowl” or around the world truly believed that “The Rated R Superstar” had a chance in hell of being the first man to beat “The Phenom” at ‘Mania.

Undertaker had a classic, souped-up, WM entrance (and even wore his “medieval” costume from 98’, although when he took it off to wrestle, it was the same dull tank top and black trousers underneath).

Though a slow-starter, this match soon turned into something special (especially when Edge began kicking out of some of ‘Taker’s signature moves).

The referee went down, meaning that poor little Charles Robinson had to run the full length of the extra-long aisle to get to the ring in time to make the count.

In the end, Undertaker got the win with his daft choke-hold. The crowd (all of them pro-Undertaker) popped big for the decision, and WM faded out with “The Dead Man” celebrating a World Title reign for the 2nd consecutive year. Unfortunately, WWE’s post-show fireworks display went awry, putting a dampener on things for anyone who was unlucky enough to be caught up in the accident (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: All of these expensive pyrotechnics just aren’t necessary. Granted, this was an outdoor thing and was a freak accident. But after experiencing such a thing, you would think that WWE would have axed their “opening explosion” on Raw the following night. When you way up the risk factor [and what such pointless displays and pyros do for the show in general], it’s just not worth it).

Despite the post-show mishap (which wasn’t fully seen by the TV audience), WM 24 had to have been considered a success overall. It was certainly one of the best WM’s I can recall and should have left a generally positive impression on anyone who was there.

It seems that in the end, WWE were focused and delivered one hell of a show. TNA may have childishly tried to sabotage it, but WWE proved that when it comes to doing PPV and an event like WrestleMania, no one can touch them. No one.

Previously seen on Smash Wrestling:

http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/