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WrestleMania XXX in Review

So, it's the morning after Mania. We saw a lot of crazy shit last night, and a lot that will be hard to top ever. Months of build up paid off with a satisfying conclusion, and the end of one of the greatest accomplishments in wrestling history. Yes, it was a Hell of a night ladies and gentlemen, and one that will stick with me for years to come. It was my first real WrestleMania that I got to experience in full, and I cannot be prouder to say that. Now that the intro's out of the way, time to cut to the chase with the review.

The pre-show match was the Elimination Fatal Four Way for the tag titles. It was a pretty entertaining match, with each team giving it their all. The first team eliminated were Los Matadores, which wasn't too shocking since it was pretty clear they don't come across as a long standing team or championship material. Then was RybAxel, who out their best feet forward and really showed their stuff. A good show case that they are some stiff competition and very well could hold the gold one day, just not yet. Jimmy and Jey Uso retained over the Real Americans, who I may not be a fan of, but did a damn fine job in this match and I saw some of what everyone was seeing. It just was not their night, which may never come as after the match we saw the may be dissolution the group. First Swagger put Cesaro in the Patriot Lock. When Zeb ordered them to make up, Cesaro pushed Jack and then delivered a Giant Swing. Seems to be a face turn for Antonio, who may be going places in singles competition, and could lead to bad time for Swagger who's best days in the business may be numbered. - ****

After that, we got host Hulk Hogan to kick off the actual show. He talked for a while about the good ol' days and how things are now. After a while, he's joined by my favorite wrestler from the Attitude era, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The man received a massive ovation, and there was just a moment of pure awe. Two of the most respected individuals in the history of the game, and to icons of their eras in the ring at the exact same time. And if that was not epic enough for everyone, The Rock came out to chew the fat and spew catchphrases with the other two men in the ring, setting up an awesome atmosphere for the event to come, and creating a memorable moment in the segment itself just for the awesome dose of nostalgia they gave the fans.

The first match of the main show was "The Game" Triple H vs. Daniel Bryan. Just a side note that Trips was totally dressed as Shao Khan from Mortal Kombat during his entrance, which was fucking sweet.

Anyway, the match was pretty damn nuts and they fought all over the ring area. Went pretty hardcore for such a regular match too, with Triple H intending to drive Bryan through the Spanish announcers' table with a Pedigree, but that was not to be. Triple H of course targeted the bum arm of Daniel, but that did little to but him away. Each man gave their all, throwing signature move after signature move at each over. But no matter how many Pedigrees or Double-A Spinebusters, the underdog just refused to stay down, and came out on top. Of course, Triple H was didn't take the loss in stride and gain respect for the young man, but he threw a hissy fit, culminating in him wrapping DB's bandaged arm around the ring post with a chair. Great tension building for the final match, but as we'll see later, the COO's best efforts the squash the Yes movement were in vain. - *****

After that was the squash match between the SHIELD and Korporate Kane and the Old Age Sellouts. Nothing much to say here really, except Double-Triple Powerbomb on Billy Gunn and Road Dogg. - ***

Then was the rather uninteresting battle royal for the André the Giant Memorial Trophy. It was a bit of a jumbled mess of a match, all 30 participants in the ring at once. The match was not the easiest to follow before the contestants were whittled down enough to see the action. It came down to Big Show (who's own height is a result of the condition the André also had) and Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro pulls out his inner Hogan and throws the big man over the rope to the ground below, making Antonio Cesaro the first recipient of the trophy in the honor of a man instead of the man who had to overcome the challenges that André ultimately could not. A bit of a misstep in my book, but Big Show shook the man's hand and all is well. What will this mean for Cesaro in the future? We'll have to wait to find out. - **

Then was the Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena match. This whole storyline has been largely a rehash of what the Wyatt Family did with Daniel Bryan not too long ago, except this does not end with Cena joining them... to immediately turn on them. Bray has a goal in mind that he wanted to unleash Cena's inner beast, to get under his skin and make him snap. The whole match, Cena battles a heel turn more than he's battled an actual physical opponent in a while, and there were several times through out the match that it looked like Cena might give in to the dark side, but it was not to be. Maybe it was because the ref told him "No John, this isn't the real you," when he planned to bash Bray over the head with a chair. Cena came out looking like he always does after a victory, with an air to him that he's still a good guy, whether we buy it or not. - ***

Now it is time to talk about what is surely most people's least favorite part of the night: Brock Lesnar beat the Streak. Brock Lesnar beat THE STREAK. Let that sink in for a moment. Brock Lesnar, who really was at one time a decent superstar, but has spent so many years away that once he came back he was a shadow of him former self, beat The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak. Now, I really don't have a problem with it being over as much as I do with who did it. This could have been a great opportunity to give some young heel lifelong heat. That's not the only problem with the match however, as Taker really showed his age, and the match pretty much suffered for it. His moves weren't nearly as spectacular as they have been in the past, and it was obvious he was having difficulties. Still, there was not a moment did the thought cross mind that Brock would actually win. He did, however and this was still a historic match. The Streak is over, and that could only have happened once. I did not want to see, but at the same time I'm glad I didn't miss it. Thank you, Mark Calaway. For all the wonderful moments you've given us. To see it all end is tragic, but it does not take away the run you had during the Streak. Good ride, Taker. Good ride. - ****

Next was the Vickie Guererro Diva's Championship match. It was kind of a battle royal, except it was only one fall to the finish which is a horrible way to do a match with 14 performers. AJ Lee won it to retain in under 7 minutes. On the Main Event we go! - **

The main event was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the only major single's title in the company now. It is such a prestigious award that was before the match was through belonged to Randy Orton. But let's not get a head of ourselves. It was a pretty damn good match, with all three men going at it, until Daniel Bryan's shoulder became a problem. We saw a little one-on-one action between Batista and Orton until the fan favorite was back up and bringing the fight once again. But then a certain big nosed individual in high position came out, threw the ref out of the ring, instated Scott Armstrong as the ref, and told him to count Bryan out quickly. He kicks out of the attempt that is made, which pisses Triple H off. D-Bry is able to regain his composure, and takes out The Authority's interfering asses.

Triple H is just a little pissed that the move hit his wife, so he decides that it's time to bring out his old faithful sledgehammer. This backfires however, and Trips is knocked out flat. The match continues as scheduled, until Randy Orton and Batista deliver a Batista Bomb-RKO combo onto the Spanish announcers' table and it looks like Daniel needs to be carried out on a stretcher, leaving Orton and Batista to be in a singles match.

Fortunately for everyone in the arena and those of us watching at home, Daniel Mankind's the fuck up and gets back in the match to kick some more ass. The match returns to its volley state, with each wrestler hitting a signature or finishing maneuver, and it looks to be anybody's game. And of course there can only be one winner, and that is the crowd's hero, Daniel Bryan! Months of getting screwed over all pays off in this on momentousness moment. One of the greatest matches I have ever seen, and one Hell of a WrestleMania moment that people will talk about for years to come. The underdog overcame all the odds, and proved what an A+ player he really is. - *****

That was a quick summary of WrestleMania this year. One of the premier Mania's too, and the first one that I can personally say "I saw it happen" for all the great moments that occurred. And there were some pretty good matches here, don't get me wrong. But this WrestleMania was about matches; it was about moments. Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock all together and having some brewskis. The first winner of the André the Giant Memorial Trophy. The end of the Streak. The Yes Movement overcoming the Authority. All of these things will be with us forever, etched into our minds as some of the greatest moments in wrestling history. This WAS our Hogan slamming André moment all throughout, and it was bookended with one hell of a Cinderella story. I for one don't even care what happens on RAW tonight. No matter what, this even cannot be topped, and it cannot be undone. We have this moment, and let us revel in it. For whatever the future might hold, we all know that this is just the beginning of a new era. The Bryan era has begun.

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