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Submitted by Mr. Tito on Monday, March 31, 2008 at 12:13 AM EST
Wrestlemania 24 is TitoInteresting layout with going outdoors this year... I was waiting for it to rain, but it appeared that it didn't (I didn't watch it on HD, so I may not have honestly seen it). Going outside presents a risk, for the crowd heat will be declined. See Wrestlemania 9... Then again, that WAS Wrestlemania 9, potentially the worst Wrestlemania ever. The show started off with John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) vs. Fit Finlay... Wait, Hornswoggle is Fit Finlay's kid??!?!? This was a decent bout that had both guys hitting each other brutally with trash cans, kendo sticks, and cookie sheets. Reminded me a lot of the older WWE "hardcore" matches, for they used the same classic weapons, but that JBL and Finlay were a bit stiffer on the shots. It was entertaining for what it was and a good win for JBL I suppose. **1/2 Money in the Bank was next, or as I call it, the match that Shelton Benjamin usually shows up in. Actually, he was part of the match, as all of the competitors contributed. Pretty brutal (as in violent) match, as the wrestlers attempted to do variations with the ladders that have yet to be done. Benjamin's fall onto the ladder made me shudder... How he can walk after that, I don't understand, nor will I ever. I really liked the jumping from ladder to ladder, as they seemed a lot more crisp than previous efforts on those risks. Strong match-up overall, although I always worry that the ladder match has been well over-exposed since 2000. ***1/2. WWE rolled out their Hall of Famers... For as much as the WWE has issues with their current talent, they're Hall of Fame tribute ceremony is extremely well done and their honoring of the past has greatly improved (especially as they can make DVD and 24/7 off of those guys). Umaga vs. Batista was the next match and it was very boring, in my opinion. Just zero heat from the crowd and neither guy did anything on the "wow" scale. With Batista's older age, he seemed to struggle picking up the thicker Umaga. He's luck that the Batista-bomb hit or we'd be short an Umaga. 1/2*, yuck, bad match. Earlier in the night, Kane apparently won the Battle Royal with the winner getting to fight the ECW Champion, Chavo Guerrero. Ok... I'm lost here, but what the heck. You'd figure that the WWE would give Chavo, who is a decent name and is related to Eddie, some respect to wrestle at length with a guy who had to win a battle royal a few hours ago, right? Wrong. I don't know any backstories here, but that was a complete burial job to me on Chavo and the WWE management wanting Kane to rule the ECW brand in their creative big-man vision. That's just what I saw, not knowing any facts. NEGATIVE ***** for a horrible bury job and further crapping on the ECW brand. Why can't Kane be a legitimate contender on RAW or Smackdown for once? Bad booking for him on the other brands is forcing the WWE's apparent hand to be the guy on ECW of all places. I'm surprised that Raven Simone didn't get booed, even if she was recognizing Make-A-Wish foundation kids. Good wrestling fans... Next match was Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels... The match I looked forward to. Now, my hopes weren't entirely up for a blockbuster match... Just a fitting effort from Flair, a 59 year old... You could clearly see why he was retiring, for Michaels had to really oversell and carry the match as Ric just can't move like he used to. But that's not what matters... It was Flair's last match and he'll be missed. I liked the attempts that Flair made to keep the match looking dramatic, like kicking out of the first superkick and later with the multiple Figure 4's. The whole "I'm Sorry, I love you" by HBK was really touching and will be remembered by yours truly. I would have liked Flair to make a final speech after the match, but hugging his heavily crying children and walking away on his own two feet is respectable enough. For overall best of all time, if I take into account EVERY year of their career compiled together, Ric Flair is #1 on my list, no doubt. Whooo!!! I would have liked to seen some of the 4 Horsemen come out, but again, we're nitpicking at a time when this is Flair's last moment in the sun and we should let him have it. ***** because it was Ric, but *** for the match without bias. Maria & Ashley vs. Beth Phoenix and Melina was up next and it was a Snoop Dogg sponsored Lumberjack match. Yeah, easy money for Snoop (as well as any other celebrities on the show). Actually, this was decent, as Ashley was really hitting her spots and Beth and Melina worked very well together as a heel team. The power failure really sucked life out of the bout that saw the heels win despite outside interference not going their way. **1/2 Triple H vs. Randy Orton vs. John Cena was up next... I thought this match had a very slow start but seemed to pick up better towards the end. When I watch this match, though, nobody on the screen is truly a draw for me. When Austin and Rock were around, and even Kurt Angle, there was a "wow" factor from a match-up. These 3 just don't have it and putting them together doesn't mean they'll combine their appeal. The crowd did get into the multiple near finishes, which they should, and I was quite surprised that Randy Orton won. Well delivered finish even though Randy seemed to quickly recover from a chop-block to run over and attack HHH after he gave the Pedigree to Cena. Details, Randy, details... it's what I've criticized you for years on. ***1/4 Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather was up next and it was a fun match overall, mostly in terms of a spectacle. Seems like Mayweather worked well as a heel (I think for the fact that he brags about his wealth really bothers wrestling fans, of all people) and both come out of the match looking strong. Big Show can't lose because he's fighting a non-wrestler who is maybe 1/3 of Big Show in weight. Additionally, Mayweather can't look bad because he is a champion and can't embarrass his own sport (even the sport of boxing itself has become an embarrassment). Plus, Mayweather getting manhandled by the Big Show makes sense... That's why they have weight classes!!! Mayweather resorted to cheating to win, including using a pair of brass knuckles (or were they gold?) to deliver the knock-out punch. It was a fun match that you don't quite see often in the WWE. Worth $20 million to the WWE? Probably not, but the match will probably not be forgotten in the Wrestlemania history... Wrestlemania 25 is in Houston for 2009... Good choice. The main event was Edge vs. Undertaker. Coming into this match, I told my brother and all that was there that having Edge finally defeat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania does nothing for Edge. He's already and established star and World Champion. He doesn't need the rub of finally defeating the Undertaker. Someone up and coming does, if the WWE is ever fully committed to pushing someone not named Batista, HHH, Edge, Cena, or Orton. Seriously... The WWE is in a serious growth rut right now and they're failing to replenish stars. When watching this event, I was hoping to see new faces after not following the product as much. I didn't... Same old, same old... Anyway, the match was about the same as Cena vs. Orton vs. HHH on pace, but I will say that once Edge and 'Taker got going, they worked relatively well together and had some nice reversals of moves. Provided that it's from a more wooden Undertaker, the fact that they hit convincing reversals of each others finishers adds to the match a bit. Not a "WOW" main event, but they put together a good match together and that's what counts, brother. ***3/4 The Skinny: It was a decent show overall... Nothing horribly offensive besides the ECW title change. Batista vs. Umaga was probably the worst thing, but many of the matches seemed to work and Big Show vs. Mayweather did deliver well. My issue after this show would be "is this show rememberable?" So-so for me. None of the big stars, Edge, HHH, Undertaker, Cena, or Orton really impress me and they've fought so many times that the match-up itself is hurt by a bias against before their matches even start. Even if they have a good match, as Edge and Undertaker actually did, it's nothing special and I ask myself "do I even care about an Undertaker title run?" My honest answer is no. My grade for this event is a [ B ] for an overall entertaining show that had some good matches and a fun spectacle with Big Show vs. Mayweather. However, this show made it very apparent that the WWE needs new faces at the very top or some kind of refreshing of things. When I can take many months off and still be bored with the characters attempted to be presented as main eventers, you have a problem, Houston. Show was fun, but potentially forgettable. Just my opinion, and if you don't like it, just chill, till the next episode... WrathofTito@yahoo.com ***DIRECT LINK*** Amazing UP CLOSE Kelly Kelly Tease Photos! MUST SEE!
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