WrestleMania 27 Rundown

*I think that World Wrestling Entertainment does an outstanding job every year on promoting WrestleMania. There are always plenty of exciting attractions, events, and celebrities to look forward to behind the scenes and often in the squared circle. This year's WrestleMania was very special because it gave the opportunity for us to view the performance of returning icons, celebrity appearances, and new, young talent. Let me take you inside the facts and statistics of these superstars.

Undertaker vs Triple H

   This match arguably should have been the main event of the evening. Fans from all over the world tuned in to see the excitement unfold on the weekly episonic shows Raw and Smackdown leading up to WrestleMania. The only way that could have improved the match and it's level of excitement would be if Undertaker defeated The Game with a signature move such as the tombstone piledriver. I think I was one of the many in the WWE universe that could not believe it ended by a submission. The deadman has a reign at WrestleMania that will never be achieved my another WWE superstar again, decimating and brutalizing his opponents to earn a decisive pinfall victory. Over the past five years Undertaker's victories at WrestleMania have stopped being dominant. I still have one question, if Triple H is not the one in 18-1... who is? Who's character after so much success deserves to have this accomplishment?

Feel free to comment and share what you think on any or all of these topics.

*World Heavyweight Championship*
Edge vs Alberto Del Rio

   Last year at WrestleMania 26 the World Heavyweight Championship match was the fourth final match of the night, even a 10-diva tag team match was after the prestigous championship match. This is now two WrestleMania events in a row where the World Heavyweight Championship has not been up for grabs in the one of the final three matches of the night. I completely agree with Renee Paquette and Arda Ocal from the show "Aftermath" on The Score network when they were disappointed with the World Heavyweight Championship match kicking off the night as match number one at WrestleMania 27 on April 3rd this year. They also mentioned that it seems like there is now only one main prize in World Wrestling Entertainment.
   Alberto Del Rio winning the 40-man Royal Rumble match was simply a risky attempt to create a young, cocky, stubborn, arrogant, and tough superstar to slowly rise to the top like John Cena and Randy Orton. So I don't understand why you would kill his WrestleMania championship match moment by having his match kick off the big event. I do agree with Edge successfully defending his title though, it's about time Edge won a World Championship match at WrestleMania. Edge's buddy Captain Charisma played an important role by eliminating big Brodus Clay from the equation.

*WWE Championship*
The Miz vs John Cena

   The constant success and fame at WrestleMania for the all powerful John Cena had to hit a speed bump eventually. After WrestleMania 27 Cena has been involved in 7 WWE Championship matches and has emerged victorious in 5 of those matches. His second loss ever at WrestleMania opened the door for another bright, young superstar The Miz, Miz defeated Cena to win his second Mania match in a row and his first WWE Championship match at Mania. Keep in mind the most electrifying man in all of entertainment had a huge part in the decision, and it was incredible to see The Rock lay the smackdown again. I was impressed with the pace of the match and the powerful moves used by both superstars, very good match. The Miz now has improved his charisma and physique, this is allowing him to be used for more important roles in World Wrestling Entertainment. I see a lot of success down the road for The Miz if he keeps doing his job right, but don't expect him to hold on to the WWE Championship for much longer, though he claims to never lose it.
   I am absolutely estatic about the success in the effort of giving the fans what they want to see by the WWE. The story liners continue to make matches the fans only dreamed of seeing and making it a reality. Like Mr. McMahon vs Shawn Michaels, Mr. McMahon vs Bret Hart, John Cena vs Batista, Undertaker vs Triple H, and now... The Rock vs John Cena. This main event at WrestleMania 28 must have a decisive winner, as well as lots of back and forward high impact, powerful moves. Give the fans what they want, and you may see 85,000 people at the next WrestleMania. However announcing next year's main event might take away some of the excitement in the few months prior to the event, but I think its a risk worth taking. Everyone's jaws dropped when The Rock and John Cena agreed on a match at WrestleMania 28 on the Monday Night Raw right after this year's WrestleMania. This has never happened before, history has been made! It will be interesting to see the excitement and shocking twists through the year, like perhaps a few confrontations, The Rock costing Cena a WWE title, and possibly as tag team partners against antagonist opponents. I'm telling you one thing people, you should be electrified.

Snooki

   The star of Jersey Shore displayed impressive athletic ability in her performance at WrestleMania. Some of the moves she did made her look like a full time active diva on the Raw roster. Snooki led her team to victory by getting the pinfall on former WWE Women's Champion Michelle McCool. I figured that Trish Stratus would not have returned, and Snooki would not have agreed to perform unless a victory was promised in their contracts. I completely agree with Trish Stratus getting another WrestleMania victory, Trish is a 7 time WWE Women's Champion. I was there live at the Air Canada Centre to see her final match against Lita, I also saw John Cena give an attitude adjustment to Edge off a ladder and through two stacked tables that night. Anyways staying on topic... I would be very interested to see Trish and Snooki stay as active divas on the Raw roster. However if this were to happen, Snooki should not receive too much success right away. Look for Trish Stratus to compete on Monday Night Raw from time to time.

Randy Orton vs CM Punk

   Another successful victory at WrestleMania for the future hall of famer Randy Orton. Although I feel CM Punk earned a victory on the grandest stage of them all for his amazing display of charisma and microphone skills, you cannot give a character like Orton a defeat against a character like CM Punk at WrestleMania. Punk is quickly becoming the ultimate antagonist in the WWE, which surprises me because for a while it looked like the 2 time WWE Champion Sheamus was taking that character. Look to see Randy Orton in an important match at next year's WrestleMania 28.
   I enjoyed watching a tag team match on the Monday Night Raw the night after WrestleMania which consisted of Mysterio and Orton vs CM Punk and Rhodes. It was one of the few times I have ever seen Mysterio and Orton on the same page. Come to think of it CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are two very different characters as well. The fans react to the excitement of matches more when the superstars involved are a rare combination to see. Cody Rhodes is getting better and better every week at becoming the kind of superstar who gets important roles, and Mysterio is a high flying machine so there was plenty of excitement. Randy Orton would end up getting a pinfall on Cody Rhodes to give him and Rey Mysterio the victory on Raw.

Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes

   Arda Ocal from the show "Aftermath" on The Score network stated a week before WrestleMania that he was looking forward to the Mysterio vs Rhodes match the most. Arda really knocked that one out of the park, this match was so exciting, so innovative it really had me paying attention and getting pumped about the end result. When Cody Rhodes first came to Monday Night Raw, he was a quiet character looking to prove himself to veterans like Hardcore Holly and Randy Orton. For a while things were looking up for Cody Rhodes as he won multiple Tag Team Championships with partners like Ted Debiase and Randy Orton. However after those storylines, Cody has not been offered any major roles or characters. The young superstar had his first WrestleMania match at WrestleMania 26, but was defeated in a triple threat match to his former mentor Randy Orton. Cody Rhodes has developed this character where he only cares about himself and how good he performs. That's why when Rey Mysterio injured Cody's face which required Cody to get plastic surgery and wear a clear mask, he took it to heart and he has become a dark, angry superstar full of emotion and physicality. So far it's bringing out a superstar in him that he some day wants to be.
   Although Rey Mysterio used high flying skills, Cody Rhodes managed to earn his first WrestleMania victory using the Cross Rhodes move. His creativity and charisma improves with every important role he gets. The Monday Night Raw the night after WrestleMania, Rhodes spent the majority of his tag team match in the ring. He showed impressive skill in the ring to make a realistic fight atmosphere. However Orton and Mysterio defeated CM Punk and Cody Rhodes by an RKO from the Viper.

Jerry 'The King' Lawler vs Michael Cole

   It is about time the WWE Hall of Famer got his dream, a match at WrestleMania. However it wasn't the kind of match he would have liked to have, his opponent was an arrogant commentator whom had minimum skill in the ring. Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee was a smart way to create excitement, without him delivering a few stunners to a few unlucky men the audience would have had nothing to cheer about. Not to mention that the outcome was a shocker of stupidity. It was obvious that the Texas Rattlesnake would be more involved than just as a referee, so to have the anonymous Raw General Manager e-mail a laptop and explain that Michael Cole is the actual winner due to interference by the WWE official was simply ridiculous. Why would you give a WrestleMania victory to a commentator than a WWE Hall of Famer? Come on! The only exciting thing that brought a smile to my face was seeing Booker T and commentator Josh Mathews receive a stunner from Stone Cold. Watch for plenty of exciting challenges for the Tough Enough contestants, as Austin 3:16 is calling the shots as the host.

Keep in mind...

-A challenge was issued on an episode of Monday Night Raw that took place before WrestleMania by Daniel Bryan. It was directed at Sheamus regarding a match for the WWE United States Championship. His answer was no words, just a big kick to the face by Sheamus. I was shocked to not see this match take place at WrestleMania.
-I think Jack Swagger needs to learn some new ways to show charisma for his kind of character, that's why he did not have a match at WrestleMania.
-A late change to the 8-man tag team match at WrestleMania, Vladimir Kozlov is a large man that is often viewed as poorly coordinated. I believe he was removed from the match to open a slot for the young, athletic, exciting, Kofi Kingston. I feel the match should have been much longer with a faster pace, regardless of the fact that large athletes like Kane and Big Show were competing.
-R-Truth, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Evan Bourne, and Daniel Bryan are five superstars that should have had a match at WrestleMania 27.
-Look for improved success from John Morrisson, The Miz, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio.

All photos were uploaded at www.google.ca. Please feel free to share your opinion with me, ask questions, and tell me some predictions. Thanks for reading.

Written by: Tyler McMurter

Saturday April 9th, 2011