FELT LIKE MANIA

Dec 20, 2012

by FM_ALEX
posted in WHAT CAN I SAY?

Rating:

WWE
WRESTLEMANIA 24

This is one of the best Mania's from this new era with almost every match delivering. In fact this Mania actually felt like a Wrestlemania in my opinion. Maybe it was the outdoor arena or maybe it was just the matches but it felt like Mania. Also this may sound weird but even some of the camera shots from time to time made me feel like I was watching a Mania of old, don't ask why?

1.[BELFAST BRAWL]JBL VS FINLAY-now I have read a lot of reviews and heard some people say that they really didn't like this match but I have to be honest, I enjoyed it. Sure the storyline was, well it came up a little short for me [get what I did there wrestling fans]. Now I know that Mr. Kennedy [Anderson] kinda ruined it, I know that is what you were about to say. Any way back to the match I really thought that this was an entertaining opening match. The hardcore no DQ style of the match helped a lot I'll give you that, but come on a hardcore style no DQ match is always fun. The action was quick and many a weapon was used even Hornswoggle got beat on a bit. JBL would win after a CFH but him nailing Finlay when he dived threw the ropes was crazy.

2.[MITB MATCH]CM PUNK VS CHRIS JERICHO VS SHELTON BENJAMIN VS JOHN MORRISON VS MVP VS CARLITO VS MR KENNEDY -ah yes the match that I still feel should have always been kept a Wrestlemania exclusive that became a gimmick PPV. I will admit that even on the MITB PPV the matches are always fun but when it was just a once a year thing at Mania it felt bigger. As I am sure you know these matches always guarantee us some incredible moments, highlight reel moments "if you will" in my best Dusty Rhodes voice and there is no shortage here. Morrison with his ladder moonsault and of course Shelton going through a ladder, watch and see. There are many more moments that make this one of the best matches on the card, plus the return of Matt Hardy was cool. In the end CM Punk figures out a clever way to win the match.

3.[RAW VS SMACKDOWN MATCH]UMAGA VS BATISTA-now I know I might get some heat for this but I thought this was a good match, especially with these two put together. It may have been the atmosphere but I thought this was a good match between two big men. Sometimes these big vs. big guys match-ups brings me back to the 80's for some reason, it felt like an old school Mania. Any way the action is quick paced between these two and Batista wins after a near screw-up Batista Bomb.

4.[ECW TITLE]CHACO GUERRERO VS KANE-after Kane won the battle royal earlier in the night he was given this title shot at the ECW title. Believe it or not but I was kinda looking forward to this match. I wanted to see how Chavo who was doing well at the time was going to handle this new challenge. Well seconds in we found out as he was defeated very quickly, what a waste. It is a rare thing when a squash match on a major event makes sense, very rare. It wasn't as bad as others because it was won by a monster like Kane but still I would have preferred the match. At least it wasn't as bad as the Bryan/Sheamus match, remember that? One of the few times I thought it made sense was at SummerSlam 88 when The Ultimate Warrior ran through The Honky Tonk Man. Any way Kane takes the ECW title.

5.[CAREER THREATNING MATCH]RIC FLAIR VS SHAWN MICHAELS-my favorite match of the night and the match that was supposed to end Ric Flair's career. Of course we all know he went on to have matches in TNA but still this was a great way for him to really go out. Two of the greatest of all time putting on a classic. This was the most dramatic match of the night and rightfully so the crowd was way into this. Flair put up a great fight and took two super kicks from Shawn while Michaels landed on the table after a moonsault. Then of course there is the ending to the match, classic with HBK retiring The Nature Boy, for a while anyway.

6.[PLAYBOY BUNNY LUMBERJACK MATCH]BETH PHOENIX & MELINA VS MARIA & ASHLEY-now I get the point of this match but I still have to ask, why? Now I know you have to get the ladies in here I am all for that but what is the point of the Bunny thing? Also I get that the celebrities usually help draw media attention but even Snoop looked bored out there on his thrown. Not that everything in this match is bad but it just does not stack up against the rest of the card, I do love Beth though. There is some good moments here and to be honest now that I am typing it the match wasn't too bad actually, I think it is the name and gimmick of the match that hurts it more. Maria and Ashley get the win although Beth and Melina are the ones who really made this match.

7.[WWE TITLE TRIPLE THREAT MATCH]RANDY ORTON VS JOHN CENA VS TRIPLE H-much better match than I thought it would be going in, I have no idea why I didn't think it would be. Triple threat matches always seem entertaining to me but I remember at the time I wasn't sure about this match. But this match turned out to be pretty good with all three guys got some shine and looked good. The ending was classic Orton punting Triple H's head off his shoulders after he pedigreed Cena. This lead to Randy keeping the title in a good, solid, full of action match.

8.[NO DQ MATCH]BIG SHOW VS FLOYD MAYWEATHER-I cannot stand Mayweather and can't stand the ending of this match. Much like when Randy beat CM Punk I have to say that the wrong guy won. You know what, I take that back, at least Randy is a wrestler. I love the entire match with Show demolishing Floyd and his cronies, oh how I love it. But then of course they have to have Floyd win, at least it was with some brass knucks. Tyson was brilliant in his role back in 98 so I get what they were trying to do I guess. I will say that at least the fans were very much behind Show here which I loved, gave me a little more faith in the fans.

9.[WORLD TITLE]EDGE VS THE UNDERTAKER-well at least that last match was not the last on the card and these two came to save it. This was a great match and a good way to end the night with Edge and Taker putting on a good show. Of course you all know Taker would win the title even after the interference. The action here was classic back and forth with each guy looking good by the end of it. The near falls added to the already entertaining match and the ending was perfect in my opinion.

EXTRAS

10.BATTLE ROYAL-this was the match that would determine who would get to face Chavo later on in the night for the ECW title, and as you read earlier Kane took this. I love battle royals and like always I loved this. There are some good spots in this and of course the action keeps moving.

The other special feature here is the HOF ceremony in its entirety with the members being Eddie Graham, Mae Young, Gordon Solie, The Brisco Brothers, Rocky Johnson, High Chief Peter Maivia, and Ric Flair of course. All of the speeches are excellent with Flair's being the highlight, and The Rock's being hilarious.

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Madpenguin December 22, 2012

I always fonund this event to be over-rated for one reason, and that's the praise Michaels/Flair get. I will always say Taker/Edge was match of the night. That match was just too good.

woopak_the_thrill December 24, 2012

I agree with you, that Edge-Taker match was a classic.

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FM_ALEX
Ranked #2

I basically am just a normal person obbsessed with Mixed Martial Arts, pro wrestling, movies of all kinds, music of all kinds, books of all kinds, and of course foods of all kinds. Just trying to keep … more