Wrestlemania 31 - Press Play

I'll start this post off with a disclaimer.  My expectations for Wrestlemania 31 were extremely low.  Every year I look forward to Wrestlemania.  My buddy and I make plans to watch it and we talk about it as soon as the Royal Rumble concludes.  In fact, we attended the 29th Wrestlemania at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.  It really was our Superbowl.  This year was different though.  I became disillusioned with the product, and stopped watching it last July, except for Pay-Per-Views on the WWE Network. The overall booking leading up to this year's 'Mania was flat, and didn't give me anything to look forward to.  I went to dinner and returned about an hour after the event started, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Of course, my friend came over, and we caught the first hour on replay.  Overall, Wrestlemania 31 was a pleasant surprise.  Here are my thoughts on the good and bad of the event.

The Good

The opening Intercontinental Title match was a 7-man ladder match, with the key names in the match being the champion Wade Barrett, top contenders Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, and Dean Ambrose.  Luke Harper, Stardust and R-Truth were the other three combatants.  Overall, it served its purpose.  It had some nice spots (Ambrose going through a ladder bridge set up outside the ring), allowed Bryan to be a champion again, and was a return after a few year hiatus of ladder matches at Wrestlemania after Money in the Bank became a stand alone PPV.  It was a good match to open the card.

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins was the next match on the card, and Rollins continues to show that he is part of a very talented group of young stars that can carry the company moving forward (depending on creative getting out their rut).  One of the highlight moves came when Rollins went for his curb stomp.  Orton lifts himself up, Rollins gets airborne, and Orton hits with an RKO.

Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt.  Undertaker looked much healthier this year compared to last.  Got a much better match this year compared to last year's that ended his 21-0 winning streak.  We got a 'Mania moment in this match when 'Taker is down on the mat, Wyatt does his human spider body pose.  Undertaker sits up, and Wyatt's express said it all!  Taker would win this match.

Main Event match.  Roman Reigns was, most likely, originally going to leave Levi's Stadium last night with the title.  However, fan reaction to Reigns probably forced WWE their hand, much like last year.  The match started great, with Brock being an unstoppable beast, manhandling Reigns like he was a child.  Reigns would get a couple Superman Punches in to Reigns towards the end of the match.  As the title match came to a conclusion, both competitors battered, Seth Rollins comes down to the ring, demanding to cash in his Money in the Bank contract.  It's now a triple threat match, with Rollins giving a Curb Stomp to Lesnar and getting the pin. 

Fans got to see the NWO vs. DX in the Sting vs. HHH match.  I wasn't as crazy about this match as others were, mainly because I knew Sting would be booked to lose, because McMahon can never lose to WCW.  However, it was a lot of 1997 nostalgia with the NWO and DX going at it and looking out for the respective stars of the companies they represented back then. 

Wrestlemania is known for great entrances.  Out of them all this year, Rusev's was the best.  He entered the arena in a tank!

There was also the Rock with Ronda Rousey standing against the Authority.  Rousey did a perfect hip toss to HHH, and to be honest, she would be able to legit beat him up! 

The Bad

There wasn't much to complain about.  Being in California, the sun was out for most of the event, which kind of put a damper on Sting's, Undertaker's, and Bray Wyatt's entrances.  Those would have had a more stronger effect if it was dark, but otherwise, the last Wrestlemania that was outdoors, and under mostly sunlight, was the infamous Wrestlemania 9.  In that regard, it was different.

The stage set up.  Each year since Wrestlemania hit the big arena circuit starting at X-7, the stage set ups have been fantastic.  However, this year it seemed lacking, and looked to me very much the same one that was used at 'Mania 28 in Miami, except the font was different (or appeared to be).  I hope this doesn't become a trend.

My biggest gripe was the burial of Sting.  Yes, I knew it was coming, it was obvious, but I wonder why Sting even bothered signing with WWE.  Hopefully he got a good payday out of the deal.

Overall

Wrestlemania 31, in this fan's humble opinion, was a strong Wrestlemania offering.  From top to bottom, there wasn't a bad match on the card.  Each match, including the Diva's match, was decent at worst.  There weren't any matches that made me want to divert my attention to the guitar I had sitting by me, waiting to be played.  Of course, the WWE pulls out all the stops for Wrestlemania, and they hit it out of the park this year.  It makes me look forward already to see what they can do at next year's installment, which will be held at the massive AT&T Stadium.

My Top Five Wrestlemania Icons

Wrestlemania has always been the showcase of WWE's top talent, but there are certain performers who have defined moments, and shaped the event into what it has become today. They are the icons of Wrestlemania. Here is my list of the top five icons of Wrestlemania. I really wanted to put Vince McMahon on the list as he was mind behind it; but this list will focus on the talent he utilized. Some of the talent who will always be associated with WWE's showcase event.

1. Hulk Hogan

Hogan really was the showcase of Wrestlemania during its early days. He appeared in the main event for Wrestlemanias I-IX, and during this run, he had memorable matches. From Andre the Giant, to Randy Savage, to Ultimate Warrior, he was there. Many early 'mania moments focus around Hogan, and if it weren't for him, one can only speculate as to whether or not Wrestlemania would even be around today.

2. Shawn Michaels

Michaels is well-known to wrestling fans as being “Mr. Wrestlemania”, and there is a reason for that. Many Wrestlemania moments can be attributed to him. From winning the WWF title from Bret Hart in the 60 minute iron man match at Wrestlemania XII, to his retirement match with the Undertaker at last year's Wrestlemania XVI. His charisma, in-ring ability, and the hold he had on audiences meant he'd always put on a good show at the biggest one of the year.

3. The Undertaker

When fans think of The Undertaker, “The Streak” comes to mind for many of them. Coming into this year's Wrestlemania XVII, Undertaker is 18-0. While many of those matches would never be considered classics, the fact is, he has a streak that may never be broken. Let's also not forget his impressive entrances!

4. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

I almost put Austin third on the list. Though he may not have had as many Wrestlemanias under his belt as the men above him (though he was close to Hogan in number of appearances), the ones he participated in were legendary. It's safe to say that nearly every match he was in was a moment within itself. From his epic encounter with Bret Hart at WM 13, to his three matches with The Rock (15, 17, 19); Austin always opened up a can of whoop ass.

5. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Another difficult selection, as I was torn between Heenan, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and The Rock. Heenan gets the nod because he did it all from Wrestlemanias I-IX. He was a manager. He wrestled (IV and V), and did commentary (VII – IX). His pre-match interviews were epic, as was his time in the commentary booth. The humor he utilized no matter what he was doing is stuff of legend. When I think of early Wrestlemanias, Heenan comes to the top of my mind along with Hogan.

This was a difficult list to make, as there were several other choices that could have easily made this list as well. Randy Savage, The Rock, I even considered Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon. Wrestlemania is a special event in the world of sports entertainment, and there are certain performers who will always be associated with it. I'm certainly hoping, and looking forward to, seeing new icons that will be known as making 'mania special one day.

Upcoming Reviews of...Wrestlemania!

As the month of February winds down, and March is on the horizon, that means one thing in the world of sports entertainment...Wrestlemania is around the corner!  I'm going to try my best to review all 26 Wrestlemanias to date before the 27th installment of it.  Whether or not I'll be able to do it remains to be seen. 

The first Wrestlemania took place in 1985 at NYC's famed Madison Square Garden.  While Wrestlemania has changed and grown over the years, one thing remains the same.  WM is THE showcase event for the WWE. The company hypes it up as much, and pull out all the stops to make it so. As such, there's no better event to start this blog on than reviewing 'mania.

The first review will be of the original Wrestlemania.  Put on your mullet or big hair wigs, play some music on a Sony Walkman cassette player, and take a journey with me back to 1985!