Notes from the Nosebleeds #152
January 21, 2012
By: Matt O’Brien of Wrestleview.com
With the Royal Rumble pay per view just days away, the official Road to WrestleMania is about to begin. John Cena vs. The Rock is already booked and there are a few rumored matches getting a lot of buzz. These are only rumored matches so nothing is guaranteed, but the likelihood of them happening grows stronger with each passing day. No WrestleMania card will please every fan from top bottom. Looking at the rumored matches, I myself have mixed feelings. One seems like a great idea. Another seems forced, and the one just does not interest me. What you are about to read is a brief glimpse at a few rumored matches for WrestleMania XXVII, as well as if they should or shouldn’t happen.
Triple H vs. Undertaker
These two had their first Mania encounter in 2001. It was actually the first year when WWE really started to acknowledge the streak. Ten years later, they went at it again. This match sounds like a lock to happen for the third time at WrestleMania XXVIII. Triple H came closer than anyone to ending the streak so a rematch where he tries to finish off the Phenom makes sense. That being said, what do these two do in the ring against one another? They tore each other apart last year before going into an exchange of finishing maneuvers. After seeing Taker and Shawn Michaels do the same thing two years in a row at WrestleMania XXV and XXVI, it was hard to swallow these two doing it. Now we may have to sit through yet another finisher kick out fest. Both men have earned their place and deserve to play a prominent role at WrestleMania. As interesting as fresh as it would be to have see triple H face Miz or Alberto Del Rio, as well as see Undertaker face a Wade Barrett or a Dolph Ziggler, we may not have a choice. Still, with both men’s time limited, why not make the most of it?
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Punk and Jericho are not set to face each other at Mania, but it is a match many are anticipating. However, this match may look good on paper, but not come off as well in execution. Both Punk and Jericho are very talented and good at what they do, but people expecting this to be one of the all time great matches will be sorely disappointed should it happen. Jericho has always performed better at WrestleMania when he is not in a prominent match. That may sound insulting, but it’s not meant to be. His better Mania performances were against Christian in 2004, and the Money in the Bank matches He could better serve the card by facing Sheamus or Brodus Clay in match further down the card. Punk has been in a feud with John Laurinaitis since last summer. It only makes sense to keep this going a bit longer for a blow off a Mania. It could come in the form of Punk actually facing Laurinaitis, or even Punk going against someone Laurinaitis hand picks, with Punk getting five minutes in the ring with the Raw GM if he wins. Punk and Jericho is a no-brainer match to do before Jericho leaves again, but WrestleMania doesn’t feel like the right time.
Big Show vs. Shaq
With Rock and Cena already booked for Mania, Taker-HHH as a near lock, Show and Shaq would really put this show over the top. Really, how big this show get? Critics often hate it when celebrities get in the ring, but just look at the first WrestleMania. The focus was Cindy Lauper and Mr T. stepping onto the same stage and Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. It was a mix of wrestling and celebrities. Over the years there have been so many great celebrity moments. A match involving a star outside the wrestling world is a natural booking decision to draw viewers. Big Show himself had one of the best celebrity matches ever when he went up against Floyd Mayweather in 2008. Granted, there was the Akebono fiasco in 2005, but Show has come a long way since then. Shaq is great celebrity to put in the ring. Given his size, there is no better opponent for him than Big Show.
Mick Foley vs. Dolph Ziggler
This is just wild speculation. They had a little face off on Raw and rumors started flying. Given Foley’s physical condition, it would make sense to turn this into a tag match of some kind. Perhaps adding Zach Ryder and Eve to the baby face side, with Ziggler adding Vickie and Jack Swagger to his, would allow more stars to participate on the show without putting the weight of a singles match on Mick Foley. Ziggler is on the cusp on stardom and may even hold the WWE Championship as early as next Sunday. Should that happen, he will not likely head into Mania as champion, but he should play an important role on the biggest show of the year. Mick Foley is may not be the big name he was, but he can still contribute.
Of course none of these matches are set in stone. They may very likely change, but they may also happen. The Road to WrestleMania is always the most exciting time of year in WWE. It’s like Christmas for wrestling fans. If you think the speculation for possible WrestleMania matches is already crazy, just wait. The next few months will be huge as we head into what could be the biggest WrestleMania of our time.