Rival Angels

[Salazen]

Please note, something friends and I have discovered, when it comes to single's matches and PPVs, you can almost always pick the winner by who won on the shows the week before said PPV. Rey beat JBL just before the PPV, so Rey loses -at- the PPV. It works that way most of the time in the WWE, and has been that way since WWF days. It's not 100%, but it's in the high 80s to low 90s for accuracy when I last got to watch a lot of the shows.

Also, about the tag matches, I would -LOVE- to see more tag matches, but with real tag teams. They don't have real tag matches any more. Too much of the time it's two random stars thrown together against some other two people. MoMiz is the team closest to what a real tag team should be that I've seen recently. Rhodes and Dibaise are close. I've not seen enough of the Colons to say about them. If they made more true teams, like the old days had, it would be an exciting thing to watch. LOD. Rock 'n Roll Express. Midnight Express. The Minnesota Wrecking Crew. The Freebirds. That's tag team wrestling. Not 'Hey, Rey and Shawn are hot right now. Let's tag them up!' >.<

[albone]

I think I got four matches right, not counting the tag team match that we didn't see. I would've taken the Tag match over Kid Rock.

That header that Taker took was scary and funny at the same time. He looked PISSED after he screwed that up, and you'll note that they didn't show that angle again in the replays.

What's up with the Diva Battle Royal? They made a big deal about the girls coming back and then don't acknowledge them before the match? Weak. I have a feeling that Gail wasn't supposed to be put out as quick as she was.

Punk repeating MITB was cool. This was probably the second best match of the night, though I honestly think last year's was better.

Triple H and Orton was a dud. Dud of the night maybe?

The Hardy match was much better than anticipated. It had the finish I was expecting (chair, though pretty creative) and I really think that this feud is done.

Legends match was kind of predictable. Jericho going over but the Legends ala Rourke getting the last word. Funnily enough, TMZ said that the Rourke/Jericho exchange was faker than Rourke's hair. TMZ is dumb but that was funny.

The triple threat match was decent. Its a shame to see Show job all of the time. The two man (before Edge fell off) FU was pretty amazing. That's a lot of weight.

All in all, not bad but I can already think that last year's was better.

[Zodo]

The match everyone was talking about is Taker/HBK. I commented to my friends before this match started that I had not rooted for the Undertaker more than I had at this Wrestlemania. I absolutely despise HBK. I am a relatively late joiner to watching Wrasslin, about 1997, and I didn't follow when HBK was in his prime and then left because he 'lost his smile'. All I've seen is some 40-something former great, who is riding the hype, and adoration of fans who remember the way he was. Now he comes in to the same music he's had for decades, a grizzled piece of meat with music playing that says he's a 'sexy boy'. Um, no. He has no innovation, but apparently has a lot of stroke because of all the attention and air-time he gets. So when it came to this Wrestlemania match, I was hoping beyond hope that HBK didn't win this, and I was getting incensed at the way he kept on no-selling Undertaker's finishers... all FOUR of them! The other three aside, you are NOT supposed to kick out of a Tombstone Piledriver! Undertaker was as good as he gets anymore, though he did seem to be a little off his game with some of his flying spots. I'm glad he didn't hurt himself landing on that cameraman.

As for the rest of the card...

Money in the Bank was a great match, I thought. I was expecting Christian, or maybe MVP to come through. I didn't expect Punk to win specifically because he won last year. All the participants really did well, even Mark Henry, who has come along significantly since Tony Atlas started managing him. I do wish they would let Hornswaggle wrestle for real from time to time. He's a real talent that is being squandered for gags.

The Legends match was what it was. Piper and Snuka are really showing the miles, and their performance wasn't what it was thirty years ago. Steamboat, however, was a real surprise, and did really well for himself. The match could have been just him and Jericho, and would have been a heck of a lot better. I'm admittedly the biggest mark in the world for Jericho, so I was glad to see him win. I was very annoyed to see him get punked out by a rabbit punch from a hollywood actor, even if that actor was the start of a very good movie about Wrasslin.

The Hardys put on a good show. I think Jeff has come along very well in recent years. I'd hoped for a bit more from these two, but I really have nothing to complain about. I was hoping for Jeff to win, but Matt took it home.

JBL and Mysterio spent more time coming to the ring than they did performing in it. Did we really have to have a squash like this on Wrestlemania?

Did we really need FIVE Kid Rock songs? I've got nothing against the guy himself, but people buy a PPV for the Wrasslin, not a concert. Putting the Tag Team match as a dark match, while Kid Rock gets this much air time is a travesty.

The Divas Battle Royale was somewhat missable. Among the various no-talent eyecandy, WWE has some real talent, including a few Shimmer alumna, that they are wasting with stuff like this. Then it all gets ruined by 'Santina'. The only up part is that Morella is very very funny, and actually gets some laughs out of this joke of an angle.

The Triple threat match was pretty good. All three were able to showcase their talents, and I especially like that Edge was allowed to actually wrestle for a change. I do wish that they would let him get by on his own merit, then sticking him in that stupid angle with Vicki Guerrero. Cena was the guy I was wanting to win, and he didn't disappoint, pulling out his scary power in the end. The finish seemed a little rushed, but I can live with it.

I was not very enthused by the Orton/HHH match. Both performers show that they have what it takes to be in the Main event, and I would have been satisfied with this match going either way. I was rooting for HHH, just because the mark in me was booing the heel.

One thing that disappointed me about the whole show was the amount of promos they were shoving down our throat. it's not like they haven't been co-opting their primary TV shows with all this shlock already, but to take up a third of your biggest PPV of the year with this stuff is really annoying.

[Prestwick]

My thoughts on 'Mania 25.

Utterly shocked that they didn't bother to show the Tag Team match after hyping it (although nowhere near as much as the other events bar the Diva Battle Royal) and yet fart about with Kid Rock and making Santino Marella Ms Wrestlemania. Now Santino is a hero but I want him to pull stunts like that in the Battle Royal or on RAW and not at Wrestlemania! Pointless.

The HHH/Orton match was dull, neither really brought anything to the table which excited me and after the one or two epic matches previously didn't do anything to live up to the hype. I'm still trying to work out what Randy actually does apart from brooding and being a (kayfabe) knob to justify this attention. The match just didn't grab me.

The MITB match was fun to watch, lots of high flyers, thrills, spills and fun to be had and a great way to warm up the crowd. Not every match has to be epic but they all have to be entertaining and this one delivered in my mind. Pity MVP didn't get bumped up but good that most of those wrestlers managed to showcase thier skills.

'Taker vs HBK. One word: epic. Utterly, utterly epic. I have no idea how the 'taker does it, aren't his knees all shot to hell? Great match and it kept me right on the edge of my bed (was watching it telly in bed). I can't really say any more as it would devalue the inherent awsomeness of the match.

The Hardy match: again a really good match to watch especially as you see Jeff going through two tables to take out Matt. I expected the result but it didn't make the match any less enjoyable.

Triple Threat match: Great match, got pretty bored pretty quickly with the never ending "Legs go Cena-Cena Suck!" back and forth in this dire and never ending battle between the dregs of Wrestling's fanbase. Yes we know that Cena isn't the most creative wrestler but put it in perspective. He hasn't "screwed" anyone or done anything stupid so why exactly does he get boo'ed while HHH and HBK get the plaudits despite being party to the Montreal Screwjob. Double standards, leave the poor guy (Cena) alone!

As for the match, it was enjoyable. The Big Show may job but he does play his part enthusiastically, especially when tied to the ropes while Cena was doing his five knuckle shuffle. That was pretty hilarious. Actually saw Edge wrestle rather than lurk around and then spear someone like he usually does. Good to see a good display of skills from all three wrestlers!

[lordmgc]

Wrestle Mania 25..

I always love wrestlemania..

(Money in the bank)

I was really rooting on Shelton Benjamin for the win. Shelton Benjamin really do unbelievable stuff in wrestlemania.. great performance.. I wasn't amuse on C.M. Punk winning the money in the bank..

(Miss Wrestlemania)
Possible the worst match I know.. Thinking of the past match, Harvey Whippleman won the woman title..is kinda screw up.. not very amusing..

Matt Hardy VS Jeff Hardy
Matt wins.. it's like the last time they fought.. who win Lita? in which Matt Hardy won..

Undertaker VS Shawn Michaels
I hate the Undertaker, lame dead gimmick.. I really like Shawn Michaels end Undertaker streak.. it's getting tiring see that streak. and Shawn Michaels makes a challenge majority he loss. like Shawn Michaels challenges Hulk Hogan..


(J.B.L. VS Rey Mysterio)

Unbelievable! Rey Mysterio winning the Intercontinental Champion.. I hope they'll show more Rey Mysterio matches in the future.

(Piper, Snuka, Steamboat VS Chris Jericho)
Cool match! Chris Jericho winning.. hahhaha..

(Cena VS Big Show VS Edge)
Cena always show his brute strenght, like carrying Big Show and Edge, sadly Edge escapes.. John Cena winning.. hmmmm.

(Triple H VS Randy Orton)

obvious win by Triple H.

[TheTarrasque]

I say to naysayers of Rourke "rabbit punching" Jericho, look up your facts. Rourke is a former boxer, not just a Hollywood actor. What he did, he used to do for money, and is common in the sport he used to do. I was laughing when it happened. Didn't so much care that I was wrong on this one. He makes a valid point calling the fans hypocrites (See: John Cena), and while I condemn his actions of late (he beat up a group of senior citizens. Seriously? Is this all they could come up for him for WrestleMania this year?), I still generally like him.

Taker vs. Shawn, I say should be the Match of the Year this year. The mark in me is glad the streak continues, as is the Undertaker fan in me. They could be running him as a heel at the moment, and I'd still be happy he won. The fans took to Undertaker almost as soon as he arrived back in 1991, and times they've actually booed him when they wanted them to are few and far between. Personally, I'm just glad he didn't get seriously hurt when he inadvertently took down that cameraman. I was waiting with baited breath every time he visited a finisher on Shawn. You're not supposed to kick out of a Tombstone, and yet he did! I understand his personal feelings, and he may have been serious about winning, but the mark in me screamed "STAY DOWN!" every time he got hit with one of Taker's finishers. All in all, though, Undertaker is 17-0 at WrestleMania, so all that they did to each other just makes the match even more epic than it was already destined to be.

More amazing than Rey winning, I saw it coming, was the fact that he won in only 21 seconds. I think we all knew it was going to happen, just not willing to accept the viability of it happening.

I did not honestly see CM Punk repeating. I wonder when he'll cash in...? Maybe that Orton/Punk feud will kick off at Backlash...

Personally, I'm glad that they didn't show the Title Unification Match. I don't care what other people think. Tag team matches are, in my opinion, the bane of wrestling, real team or just people put together, because you see them all the *expletive deleted* time! Give it a rest, already!

The Miss WrestleMania match, I see humor in it because Santino Marella was in it, but other than that, I still don't care. I don't even care that they didn't actually acknowledge any of them until they pointed them out during the match. That includes the ones who returned for the match.

Cena wins the title back, and then gets put in his mandatory rematch at the very next PPV. What's more? He doesn't even get to do his move on both of them at the same time like he tried to do. That would have made that match truly memorable. But all we get is instead that he did his move twice in a row then gets put in a Last Man Standing match at the next PPV the very next night. I swear, Vickie Guerrero needs to be fired. Her storied involvement with the talent is worse than Mike Adamle's entire reign as GM. In fact, I think they need to bring Mike Adamle back as GM, that's how much I hate how they run Vickie Guerrero. That or draft her back to SmackDown next week and draft Teddy Long to Raw. I think Cena gets booed because of his gimmick, personally. That, or his lack of creativity. The mark in me likes Cena, hates Edge, and is indifferent toward the Big Show in this match, but it does burn my blood either way when he's relatively clean-cut and gets booed, when a person who is generally liked by fans breaks the rules and is cheered for it. It is in fact double standards.

Triple H retains. Riiight. I'm happy I was wrong on this one, but come on. They couldn't have Triple H lose and then get his rematch the next PPV? Srsly?

Matt beats Jeff. Saw it coming. What makes this memorable to me is the fact that it was a lot more extreme than I thought it was going to be.