Skip to main content

WrestleMania XXX

Scott,

I know various versions and combinations of this have already floated around the blog,but are we safe to assume the following for WM?

Cena v Taker or Orton
Bryan v Shawn
Punk v HHH or Brock as H's avatar
Cody v Goldust

Where would you slot in Batista and/or Goldberg if they sign up?

If Batista is coming back (and hopefully he does because I'm already writing my next WhatCulture article on that assumption) then Wrestlemania becomes easy to lay out:

- Cena v. Undertaker, GODDAMMIT
- Brock v. Batista, because that way they have someone on Taker's level to get them out of this stupid Brock-Taker mindset.
- Punk v. HHH (pretty much set in stone apparently)
- Rumble winner Bryan v. Orton for the WWE World Unified International Saskatchewan Hardcore title
- Cody v. Goldust
- Roman Reigns v., I dunno, Goldberg?  Dean Ambrose?  Corporate Stooge Sheamus?  

This would all be awesome and I'd subscribe to their network to get this.  

Also, the Rumble should probably come down to Punk v. Bryan because it would be great and rip the hearts out of everyone watching in the best way.  

Comments

  1. I have said it since SummerSlam ended: Bryan is going to win the Rumble and beat Orton at Mania

    ReplyDelete
  2. A Punk--Bryan rumble finish would be the best thing in forever. Talk about a crowd reaction for the final stare-off.

    ReplyDelete
  3. People know my obsessive stance on this, but here's the bigger question...why WOULDNT they do Cena/Taker?

    The only thing I can think of is they have like a 3 year promise of matches from UT and have some grand story arch planned. Still dumb, with Cenas diminishing returns as the tippy top guy, the magnitude of the draw of a Cena/UT match lessens each day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "But Scott, Bryan won the rumble but only eliminated 6 guys. That means 23 other guys were eliminated by other people. Why is he getting buried?"... the internet

    ReplyDelete
  5. At the risk of setting off the guy without a sarcams detector again...

    Because the WWE hates money.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 4th from the top babee!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dont you worry, that question will be sent to Scott by someone.

    ReplyDelete
  8. If it happens...I still don't know I'll be convinced it was always the plan, not the plan the fans are STILL forcing them into with their segment hijacking

    ReplyDelete
  9. And we'll laugh at him

    ReplyDelete
  10. I got 0 doubt man.

    ReplyDelete
  11. They way the whole story has played out, it makes sense. I cant see Cena winning it again so after he lost the unification either. I could see Punk but like Scott said, all signs point towards a HHH vs. Punk match at Mania.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've got a QotD idea I'll email I might email you soon. I know it's often non-wrestling but I don't know if it's outright FOR non wrestling discussion.

    I fucking hate the term IWC, EVERYONE is on the internet now--John Cena has the most likes of any wrestler on Facebook. It's thrown out as an insult by other wrestling fans who are JUST AS MUCH on a pro-wrestling website. Internet wrestling fans aren't some exclusive tape-trading club anymore and people need to move the fuck on. The Markiest people I know read dirtsheets.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I know! I'll be happy as a pig in shit if they go with what makes sence, it'll just be so...out of character.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yea. I think it's just evolved into meaning "the Uber smart fan" since as you noted, everyone uses the internet

    ReplyDelete
  15. I know Cody/Goldust is the plan, but personally I would hate for this to happen as they've been tremendous as a tag team and would hate for them to break up. They should be keeping the tag titles until WM at least.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Not only that, but one misstep, one botched move, and UT/Cena could easily go into the "What If?" history bin.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Batista vs Brock, Taker vs Cena? That would be a fantastic WM.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would switch punk and Bryan. We have already seen orton/Bryan a ton and I think people want to see Bryan defeat hhh than punk defeat hhh.

    ReplyDelete
  19. But it really hasn't--based on everyone I've seen accused of being in the "hive mind IWC"...

    Only likes high workrate spot-fests, but also thinks you can only wrestle if you use a slow technical style.

    They hate brawling, but also think the Attitude Era was the best thing since sex with Brazilian super models.

    They only like old wrestling, but also only like the vanilla midgets that are a product of the modern era

    They won't give TNA a chance, and are also the entirety of TNA's fanbase.

    It's why I don't know what to do with HHH talking about "Internet fans"

    ReplyDelete
  20. I dunno. Never really gave it much thought. When I hear guys like HHH rrefer to "Internet fans" I just assume he's talking about the over the top smart fans. If you want it as a qotd you can email it in

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yeah I'll do that in a couple days when I got more time/aren't currently putting off homework.

    I want to know If I'm the only person who gets neurotic about it -_-

    ReplyDelete
  22. To me, Batista is boring. I never got the appeal of him. He just never interested me in any of his matches.
    I can also say the same thing for Brock. I only enjoyed 2 of his matches (cena and punk). He was one of the guys that made me tune out for several years along with hhh.
    Thus putting them in the same match is better than boring me for 2 matches.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Batista's final run as a douche-bag heel may have been the best run of his career

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have to ask, but what are "All the signs" that are point towards Punk/Triple H? It sounds just like how, a few months ago, UT/Cena was set in stone. But then it was UT/Brock. But then it was Cena/UT again. And then it was HHH vs. Vince that was happening, no matter what. Now it's HHH/Punk? Punk has finally been inserted in the Authority Universe again, but his interactions with Triple H have been limited. He's mostly dealt with Steph, Shawn, and the Shield. If it's leading to a Triple H confrontation, fine. But to say that all signs point to that is a bit much.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Also where is Val venis? This is wrestlemania xxx

    ReplyDelete
  26. I can't begrudge your opinion, because ya know it's your opinion, but who doesn't like Brock? He's awesome

    ReplyDelete
  27. Absolutely no doubt. That´s one thing Batista has in common with Nash - getting awesome character-wise before leaving (Nash in 95/96).

    ReplyDelete
  28. Not sure if trolling or...

    ReplyDelete
  29. According to reports, the plan is for Punk to go against HHH, which makes sense as HHH is athe authority while Punk is the anti-authority figure. Michaels came out to confront Punk this week and introduced him to the Shield, who are working under HHH. Punk also had a confrontation with HHH at the end of RAW on the go-home show for TLC. During one of those sitdown interviews with Cole, HHHwas mentioning Punk in that.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Chyna vs Xpac
    CM Punk vs AJ Lee
    Vince vs Stephanie in second ever Submission Match.

    ReplyDelete
  31. According to reports


    To be fair, "all signs" may be a little strong considering how often those reports are either wrong, or plans are changed after they are made.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Did u not get it? Val venis...porn star...XXX

    ReplyDelete
  33. No, I didn't get it at all.


    I'm lucky that whoosh over my head didn't give me whiplash.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wha kind of moves does Bryan have in his arsenal to eliminate anyone from a battle royale?

    They are only going to fall for the skin-the-cat-headscissors trick so many times...

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hogan and Vince vs Brooke and Steph.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Or we weekend at Bernie's the shit out of it for

    Steph VS Randy Savage

    ReplyDelete
  37. Apparently lots of people because the wrestlemania he main evented had a very low buy rate.
    More seriously though, I was watching summerslam with Brock/rock at a local bar. I can remember that everyone including me was cheering for rock to kick his ass. After Brock won, almost everyone was very deflated. Many of us felt that he was pushed down our throats just like Goldberg (another one I never got the appeal of).
    After I realized it was going to be the hhh/Brock shows, I just turned off wwe for a few years because I could not stand either one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 21, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Well played.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Dropkick Clothesline, Roundhouse Kick, Elbow, Running Knee, any other kind of strike ever, Lifting the guy out, various suplex variations, pushing a guy off the top rope, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love that card. I'd also pull the trigger and end Taker's streak with Cena. Even the most remarkable streak of all time (Ken Jennings) had to come to an end.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Like I said it's your opinion but Brock was the heel for that SS, only the real smart fans were behind him, so yea people were gonna be deflated. Rock was going away so he put the new guy over. Win win IMO

    ReplyDelete
  42. I think it was you, we're you explaining why WM 19 had such a low buyrate yesterday? What was the reason again?

    ReplyDelete
  43. The only reason to have Cena beat Taker is if they turn Cena heel. If Cena is the one who ends the streak, he will get booed out of every building he ever enters again. WWE has no plans to turn Cena heel, so Taker would almost certainly win.

    ReplyDelete
  44. One of the major overlooked factors for the disappointing WM XIX PPV buyrate (down from 1.6 to 1.4) and the total number of buys (down from 880K to 560K) was the fact that it was the first "digital cable only" WM PPV, which means only those who had a digital cable box could order the PPV. Due to this shift from regular cable to digital cable, many people were unable to purchase the PPV, and hence the huge drop in the number.

    -from Wrestlingforums.net

    ReplyDelete
  45. Not saying you, but I don't get this notion of "only do Cena vs Taker if Cena ends the streak amd turns heel". How about TO SELL A SHIT LOAD OF PPVS?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Awesome, thanks. It's SUCH an outlier there had to be peripheral reasons

    ReplyDelete
  47. I'm not saying that. Probably the best thing for business would be for Taker vs Cena to be a pure Face vs Face match, which Taker wins cleanly after each kick out each finishers 50 times, and then shake hands. However, I don't see how they could have Cena win, without turning him heel, because the audience would almost certainly turn him heel if they did that.

    ReplyDelete
  48. He's not saying only do Cena vs Taker is Cena wins and turns heel, he's saying only have Cena win the match if he is going to turn heel.

    He's advocating a Taker victory, not that they shouldn't do the match

    ReplyDelete
  49. You were thinking about it because of the anti Brock guy down below weren't ya?

    ReplyDelete
  50. I know. Such a STACKED pay per view when Jericho and Michaels is low midcard and Hogan/McMahon AND Rock/Austin don't close the show.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I Think they'd ONLY end the streak to put over the heir apparent, probably Reigns. You could have Cena just beat the shit outta Taker afterwards to turn heel. I don't think Cenas ending the streak either way

    ReplyDelete
  52. I kmow, that's why I said "not saying you." Streak ends only to put over the heir apparent IMO, whether it's Reigns or whomever. Just have Cena beat the shit outta Taker afterwards to turn heel. People are dieing to see Cena turn heel, they could do it a number of ways.

    ReplyDelete
  53. There's no way they do Bryan vs Orton at Mania after the amount of times they've already given it away both on PPV and free TV the last 4 months.

    ReplyDelete
  54. ...I misread you as having misread someone.

    Impressive levels of fail for me in this thread

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hogan v. Vince was a match no one really wanted to see and Rock v. Austin had been done to death

    ReplyDelete
  56. Has anyone ever heard a casual fan talk about the streak? I never have.


    At this point the only good the streak can do is to have someone end it; I'd never have Cena do it because it does nothing for anyone. I wish Orton had ended it; yeah Randy sucks but it just made good sense and would have MADE him.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I don't disagree but it was like 200k under what they had done the previous few years and what they'd do for the next few years. I don't buy "nobody wanted to see the matches" as the only reason for the drop, essentially since the WM brand itself was a draw

    ReplyDelete
  58. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 21, 2013 at 6:26 PM

    - Orton vs. Corporate Stooge Sheamus for the World title
    - Cena vs Lesnar (3 Stages of Hell: Standard, Submission, Cage)
    - Undertaker/Reigns vs. Rollins/Ambrose
    - HHH/HBK vs. DBry/Punk
    - some type of Battle Royal
    - Wyatts vs. The Rhodeseseses
    - AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella vs. Natalya vs. Brie Bella for the Divas title
    - Mark Henry vs. Big E. Langston for the IC title
    - The No Neck Roid Monkeys (Ryback/Warrior/Goldberg) vs. 3MB (you can sub in Batista for any of the 3 Roid Monkeys)

    Throw in some vigenettes and guest appearances and this is not a bad card.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I'd like the Real Americans thrown into the tag title match to cover up for the Wyatts.

    ReplyDelete
  60. But again, "according to reports" have been used for UT/Cena, UT/Brock, the unification match, and HHH/Vince. That's my point.

    ReplyDelete
  61. The Shield vs. The Wyatts, (Roman finally turns on Ambrose) GODDAMNIT

    ReplyDelete
  62. I'm getting giddy just thinking about it, so it probably won't happen.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I agree in the ultimate value in the streak should be to put over the heir apparent, whoever that ends up being (probably reigns). I do think it's a WM draw for the casual fans. It won't bring in non wrestling fans like celebrities would but it's just as much as a draw for the normal average fan then anything else on the card

    ReplyDelete
  64. I always took internet fans as wrestling fans who watch stuff outside of WWE and TNA, seeing as how more than likely you have to be on the internet to watch ROH, PWG, NJPW, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  65. I think Bryan getting his fair rematch where he doesn't win by shenanigans needs to happen at Mania. Then HHH will probably undermine Orton like he usually does and says "If I want something done I've got to do it myself" and books himself vs. Bryan at Extreme Rules. Hopefully putting Bryan over, but I won't get too far ahead of myself. Punk needs to get his win back on HHH and I think WM would be the best place for it. They have enough time to build it up well enough between now and then. Though, HHH jobbing to Punk and Bryan two PPV's in a row...like I said, I won't get too far ahead of myself.

    ReplyDelete
  66. And they were putting on some awesome ass matches at the end of their runs, something that neither guy consistently did. Sure Batista had a really great match with Trips and a great feud with Taker, but that's all he had before his heel turn. He had some really good raw matches and 3 PPV matches with Cena that were all ****+

    ReplyDelete
  67. The main matches sucked. No one wants to see that. X-8 had Hogan v. Rock, XX had a year long buildup and 21 had the Batista storyline. XIX had Vince v. Hogan

    ReplyDelete
  68. But has it been for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? AHA! NO IT HAS NOT!

    ReplyDelete
  69. That's Saskatchewan Hardcore International Title. Gotta keep the acronym straight.

    ReplyDelete
  70. You can poke holes in every single match in every single WM build...its subjective on a person's individual likes amd dislikes. U put more stock in Knuckleberrys theory then anything else. Not liking a build isn't responsible for a 200k buyrate outlier...

    http://www.thecoli.com/threads/graph-of-wrestlemania-buyrate-history-must-see.119366/

    ReplyDelete
  71. I don't put much stock into that at all. It had a shitty build and a shitty card at a bad time in the American economy and when people's minds were occupied elsewhere

    ReplyDelete
  72. Bryan wins Rumble tossing Punk last, at Mania gets an assist from the authority likely Sweet Chin Music, to defeat a lame-duck "face of WWE" Orton.....next night on Raw a beardless, buzz cut corporate Bryan walks out. You know Vince loves taking away what the fans want.

    Taker beats Brock....Vince has been DYING to use that UFC seed planted footage from years ago. No, not Cena yet, Cena will be Taker's final opponent.

    Cena gets a returning Batista, who naturally wants a shot at the top dog who also happened to retire him. The fans will go ape shit for Batista naturally, making this face vs face and continuing the trend of Cena vs returning Superstar ( Rock, Brock )

    Punk gets H's in a battle for control. Punk may be his own avatar. Punk in control for a bit could really open some fun shit up for a month or two.

    Rhodes Bros. drop belts to Ambrose/Rollins

    Wyatts vs Show/Mysterio/RVD

    Reigns plows Rybeck

    Vacant US Title Battle Royal:
    Sheamus
    Henry
    Ziggler
    Mix
    Kofi
    Axel
    Barrett
    Clay
    Truth
    Khali







    Vacant US title battle royal pre-show

    ReplyDelete
  73. So the build was 200k shittier hen anything the did in the previous 5 years and 200k shit tier then anything they'd do in the next ten?

    ReplyDelete
  74. Yes. They had nothing like Austin v. Rock, Hogan v. Rock, Wrestlemania XX and Big Dave v. HHH.


    Wrestling was also very cold at the time

    ReplyDelete
  75. Taker enters rumble #1 and wins.

    Wrestlemania XXX

    WWE Title v. The Streak


    - (C) John Cena v. The Undertaker


    Grudge Match


    - Triple H (w/ HBK and the McMahons) vs. CM Punk


    #1 Contender Match


    - Daniel Bryan v. Randy Orton


    WWE Tag-Team Titles


    - (C) Cody Rhodes and Goldust v. The Shield (Reigns and Rollins)


    Special Attraction Match


    - Batista vs. Ryback


    WWE United States Title


    - (C) Deam Ambrose v. Chris Jericho


    WWE Women's Title


    - (C) AJ Lee v. Kaitlyn


    WWE Intercontinental Title


    - Big E Langston v. Big Show


    Dream Match


    - Rey Mysterio v. AJ Styles

    ReplyDelete
  76. Why does Undertaker go wire to wire? Why does Ryback face Big Dave? Shield v. Cody and Goldust has been done to death. Ditto AJ v. Kaitlyn.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Yes it is. Taker in a tag match? Sheamus v. Orton again? Why do Cena v. Lesnar again? Why the black on black crime?

    ReplyDelete
  78. That card sounds really good, actually.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Actually I can totally believe TNA is only watched by people that think TNA sucks...

    ReplyDelete
  80. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 21, 2013 at 7:19 PM

    - We don't know if Taker is physically capable of wrestling a singles match and it can look like he's mentoring Roman Reigns.
    - What match out there WON'T be done again?

    - Cena and Lesnar is the rematch. (Lesnar wants revenge)
    - It was rumored they were going to feud, so why not do it here?

    ReplyDelete
  81. Matches are all well and good, but what are the angles? Angles sell.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Taker wrestled a singles match a few weeks after Mania, and hasn't wrestled since, so I'd imagine he's good to go.


    A tag match would just cheapen the streak.

    ReplyDelete
  83. It's my card. Frankly, I don't even care about the undercard as I rarely even watch the product anymore. Just having some fun with it.

    Taker goes wire to wire because A) He deserves it and B) It sets up his story by winning the rumble one last time and either going out as champion at Mania or going out 22-1. It's perfect. Don't know about Batista as I read he'd probably be on the card and don't know who else he'd fit in with. The other two are because there all I really know tbh.

    ReplyDelete
  84. This years Rumble is completely up in the air like last years. I am going to predict that Cena wins the Rumble again and will challenge Orton for the title at WrestleMania.


    Full predicted card:


    WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match:
    Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena


    The Streak vs. The Shield; Handicap Match
    The Undertaker vs. .The Shield


    Beast vs. Animal
    Brock Lesnar vs. Batista


    Student vs. Mentor
    Daniel Bryan vs. Shawn Michaels


    Corporate vs. Rebel
    Triple H vs. CM Punk


    WWE Intercontinental Championship Match:
    Big E. Langston (c) vs. Mark Henry


    Brother vs. Brother
    Goldust vs. Cody Rhodes


    WWE Tag Team Championship: Tag Team Turmoil Match:
    The Wyatt Family (c) vs. Real Americans vs. Big Show/Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio/Sin Cara vs. Ryback/Curtis Axel vs. Los Matadores vs. Prime Time Players


    WWE Divas Championship:
    AJ Lee (c) vs. Eva Marie


    Pre-Show Battle Royal featuring the other talent

    ReplyDelete
  85. I don't Taker going wire to wire is the best idea. I can't imagine he's physically up for it.


    Why does he deserve to be forced to wrestle an hour? He's already won the thing

    ReplyDelete
  86. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 21, 2013 at 7:47 PM

    I disagree, but you're entitled to your opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  87. No one remembers the match at Wrestlemania 19 and with good reaso n. Taker is undefeated at Mania and he's done it by taking on all the top comers. Not by needing someone's help.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Going an hour in the Rumble isn't like going an hour vs. Flair in '87.


    I think he can stand around, punch, kick, chokeslam, throw out for an hour. It's his one last hurrah. Winning the Rumble and going on to face the face of the company at his event with everything on the line.


    Christ, I'd buy that over anything else they will probably put on.

    ReplyDelete
  89. I would not buy that at all. That would be awful. Plus, I doubt Taker could even do it.


    You're still in the ring for an hour and presumably taking on all comers. Taker doesn't fit the bill of going wire to wire. Guys like Flair, Rey and Benoit were underdogs and really helped tell a story in the Rumble.


    Big tall guy goes an hour just makes the rest of the roster look so bad and would tell an awful story.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Whatever man. He can enter #30 then. The point is he wins. Focus on that.

    ReplyDelete
  91. He's won by coming in #30 already.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Ok? He wins my rumble. Get over it.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Nah, there are all kinds of Elvys out there

    ReplyDelete
  94. Ohh good call Scott on Danielson and Punk being the final 2. God that would be a gripping couple minutes.

    I still would not be surprised if Vince not only gave Reigns the 1994 Diesel moment with eliminating everyone in site, but even let him win. I agree, totally too soon, but hey you never know

    ReplyDelete
  95. Didn't they do this during the MITB where RVD returned and the crowd was hot?

    ReplyDelete
  96. Why would Orton be facing another corporate guy?

    ReplyDelete
  97. Didn't wresting become way less popular between 02 and 03?

    ReplyDelete
  98. As much as I dislike seeing Orton vs. Cena as the main event, I think they do deserve a real WM main event (as does Punk vs. Cena one day). The rest of that card looks fantastic, too. I'd love to see The Shield, as a unit, be the ones to end Taker's streak. In fact, that could be the catalyst for the breakup, have Ambrose be the one claiming to end the streak having made the pinfall, but Reigns was the one who speared Taker, and then Rollins is just like "Hey guys, I helped too".

    ReplyDelete
  99. Maybe, but look at the chart. Wrestling always gotta have its ebbs and flows. People just not liking the build one year isn't gonna drop the buys 200k when they've consistently sold the same amount of shows fir 15 straight years. I'm sure other years within those 15 years wrestling wasn't as popular also, but yet the buys remained at the average

    ReplyDelete
  100. I could see Reigns winning to. They don't really build people the way they used to and when they decide they want to push someone it's happening.

    ReplyDelete
  101. I don't really consider the Rumble being wide open to be such a good thing. In terms of the Rumble match itself, it's nice that it's not predictable, but by this time of year I think it should be pretty obvious who should be main eventing Wrestlemania.

    ReplyDelete
  102. They had nothing like Austin v. Rock... except for Austin v. Rock. I think Angle/Lesnar, HBK/Jericho, and even Booker/HHH were all draws in their own way, too, but changing technology and traditional WWE shortsightedness kept a lot of people from ordering.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Exactly. If they did their jobs correctly, they should be building to an obvious clear cut main event, even if it is predictable

    ReplyDelete
  104. I like it when they've got five or six guys who make sense winning the Rumble (2010 comes to mind). That way it's predictable and unpredictable at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  105. That works when they have two titles, but even then ideally there's a guy chasing the World Champion and a guy chasing the WWE Champion and maybe one other guy who would make sense...that makes the Rumble match fun because you don't know which of these two or three logical choices are going to actually win the match....but something like Sheamus or Edge's wins feel like they're just done for the sake of having them win and then they figure out where they fit into the Wrestlemania card later.

    ReplyDelete
  106. Austin v. Rock was not fresh at all at that point. It was the third time they fought at Wrestlemania

    ReplyDelete
  107. Wrestling absolutely went through a lull then, business was way down in 2002 and 2003

    ReplyDelete
  108. Fair enough. So it never went through a lull the previous 5 or 10 years afterwards? Of course it must have, yet it doesn't reflect in the buy rates like 19 does. You are using completely subjective arguments like "the build was bad" or "people were sick of austin/rock" to argue against against 1 statistical outlier in 15 years being a just a fluke. There is a reason for it besides "fans were sick of wrestling". I'm sure that was the narrative at least one other year in the 15 year sample size

    ReplyDelete
  109. It clearly had some peaks and valleys, when you see 6 declining bigtime from 5, or 14 skyrocketing from 13.


    Business was on the downswing after X-7, they lucked into the Hogan nostalgia comeback the next year, which was already done by XIX.


    Business was at a low point in 2003, of course that's going to be reflected in the buyrate for Mania when they don't have a dream match like Hogan v. Rock to play with.


    You see the increase happening again, when they devoted a whole year to building XX and Batista's push got over huge in 2005.

    ReplyDelete
  110. "- Cena v. Undertaker, GODDAMMIT"


    I was starting to think me and Farva were the only ones around here who wanted to WWE to make a billion dollars off this show.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Aren't we pretty much looking at either Punk or Bryan challenging for the title at Maina? I guess maybe Cena too, but I don't think it's THAT wide open.

    ReplyDelete
  112. That's insane. Reigns winning the Rumble and challenging Orton for the belt at Mania?


    I wouldn't even buy Reigns/Orton as a main event of RAW yet. I mean, I know they want the guy to get the rocket push, but doesn't he have to prove he's better than the rest of the Sheild first?

    ReplyDelete
  113. LEAVE HIM ALONE! IT'S *HIS* RUMBLE!

    ReplyDelete
  114. I don't think Vince gives two shits about the Undertaker at a UFC show.


    I'm not saying UT/Brock doesn't happen. I'm saying he's not dying to use footage of the mythical Undertaker being A FAN at the competition's show.

    ReplyDelete
  115. I'm okay with that happen in the Elimination Chamber in a 3-on-3 match in the chamber.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Orton v. Sheamus in the main event on the biggest show of the year? Or the biggest show of the last 30 years?


    NO BUYS.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Have you read some of the ridiculous fantasy booking going on in this thread? You're "fail" is hardly as epic and impressive as that, haha. :)

    ReplyDelete
  118. I'm gonna throw this out there.... the US started A WAR the week before WrestleMania 19. Could that have impacted the buyrate?

    ReplyDelete
  119. Also, they had done a pretty damn good job of building up Brock/Angle.... although maybe they fumbled it by giving it away on Smackdown a few weeks before in a stupid angle. Also, HHH/Booker and Shawn/Jericho.


    I mean, a few years ago I ran a poll on the website to try and crown the best WrestleMania and 19 came in third. So while the buyrate may have sucked, every one of those matches delivered.

    ReplyDelete
  120. I honestly don't know. A 250k is decrease just seems to big to say "wrestling wasn't popular" or "the match builds sucked". Sure, the war and the cable theory the dude described seems plausible

    ReplyDelete
  121. Oh yea. I loved it personally. Sure, Austin/Rock was a little tired but I actually liked the build for most of the other stuff. It definitely all delivered. ..including vince/Hogan (yea, I'm sure im in the minority here but it was entertaining for what it was.)

    ReplyDelete
  122. I agree. They should be building up a team to chase them for the belts and take them at Mania. Cole was crowing about a big "tag team division" all last weekend. PROVE IT.

    ReplyDelete
  123. Cena vs. Taker. Shut out of the title picture, Cena does what the top guy shut out of the title picture does, and challenges Taker. Taker wins. Mutual respect ensues.



    Brock vs. Batista. Batista wants violence with Brock. End of story. Whoever is signed for more post-Mania dates wins.


    Punk (Rumble winner) vs. Orton for the WWE WHC. I went with Punk over Bryan simply because I cannot see them going with Bryan-Orton AGAIN. Even if it is fourth from the top. We'll probably end up with Punk-HHH, but I can't see Orton-Bryan regardless. And Punk wins.



    Bryan vs. HHH. Just makes too much sense, even if HHH thinks Bryan's beneath him after Brock and Taker the last few years. Bryan taps HHH. Or more likely, Corporate-Sheamus returns to screw Bryan and give his mentor the win. HHH explains that there's more money in Bryan getting a win over Sheamus down the road.



    Reigns vs. Ambrose for the US Championship w/ Rollins as special guest ref. Rollins screws Reigns, Ambrose wins. Reigns gets his heat back after the match by spearing Ambrose and Rollins out of their boots.



    Rhodes vs. Wyatts for the Tag Team championship. Bray appeals to Goldust's weirdness during the angle, but Dustin's having none of it. A coincidental miscommunication costs the Rhodes the titles. Cody wrongly accuses Dustin of giving into Bray and lays him out, turning heel.


    Big E vs. Dolph for the IC championship. Dolph gets meta, and turns heel because he's sick of being passed over. The obvious target of his frustration is his former bodyguard, who's doing much better than he is. Big E wins anyway, because Dolph is getting Rydered.


    AJ vs. Nattie vs. Brie vs. Naomi for the Diva's championship. Because Total Divas. The Total Divas get the upper hand on AJ by ganging up on her, but AJ steals the win after they turn on each other.


    Pre-show:
    Real Americans vs. Usos vs. Rybaxel vs. MysteriShow vs. PTP vs. Matadores in Tag Team Turmoil. Winners get a shot at the Tag titles. Usos win.

    ReplyDelete
  124. Here's what wwe should be thinking as they plan WM...

    Main Event: UT/Cena

    WWE title match: Orton vs ahh i dont care because it doesn't really matter because we have Cena/UT

    Bryan match: maybe HBK but it doesn't really matter because we have Cena/UT

    Punk match: maybe HHH but it doesn't really matter because we have Cena/Taker at the top

    And so on...

    ReplyDelete
  125. I kinda thought that if Batista hadn't shit the bed in his 2006-7 comeback that he would have been the guy to end the streak.

    ReplyDelete
  126. I'd buy it. "Batista wants violence with Brock." Sometimes the simplest is the best

    ReplyDelete
  127. No one was expecting Flair/Steamboat when they ordered the show from Vince and Hogan. They were expecting smoke and mirrors, blood, run-ins, chairs & ladders and that's what they got.


    "Entertaining crap."

    ReplyDelete
  128. I don't think any of those four are safe to assume except maybe Punk/HHH or Brock. Maybe the Cena one too simply because I'm not sure what else they'd do, and Cena/Taker is their big match, but Cena/Orton would be a pretty stupid main event when you just had them in a TLC match a couple months before. We don't know if Shawn will even be coming back (I hope so but it's certainly not safe to assume). And honestly, I'm back and forth on Cody VS Golddust. I feel like this is their big chance to have that match (since who knows what either guy will be up to in a years time), but if they weren't brothers who had talked about wanting to have a WM match against each other, would we even be thinking about it? It'd be pretty forced. The Rhodes Brothers as a team still have a lot left in the tank, and I don't think turning either guy heel anytime soon makes sense.

    ReplyDelete
  129. I'd have Punk win the Rumble, and Bryan win the title at the Rumble... but on the night after on Raw have HHH screw Bryan out of the title by having him face..... BROCK LESNAR.


    So we get:
    Undertaker/Cena
    BROCK LESNAR/CM PUNK for the WWE title,
    HHH/Daniel Bryan.


    And who cares about the rest.

    ReplyDelete
  130. Exactly! Blow off the 2 biggest feuds of the year along with the biggest match they could sell, have punk and Bryan go over and have Taker standing tall to end the show. It's Sooooo easy

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment