A few days ago you'd suggested a possible Triple Main Event for WrestleMania of Cena/Undertaker, HHH/Bryan, and Punk/Lesnar, with the latter being for the WWE Title. It seems every tenth WrestleMania is the time for a great worker who's never really had his "moment in the sun" to finally get it. Bret Hart at X, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero at XX, and now it seems C.M. Punk would be a great candidate for XXX.
Do you think with Punk wrestling the company's biggest draw (besides Rock) in Lesnar that WWE would have that match go on last, or would they close Mania with Cena vs. Undertaker instead?
And will Daniel Bryan have to walk Stephanie McMahon's dog on the Raw before the show?
If they DO go with Cena-Undertaker at WM, there's no possible universe where that doesn't go on last. Punk's only shot at legitimately main eventing the show would be involving himself as the avatar of either HHH or Vince, although Punk with Vince v. Lesnar with HHH might work for that dynamic. Even then Cena-Undertaker is still a bigger match IMO.
I don't know, I could see Cena/UT, then some kind of crappy mixed or multi-tag match to calm everyone down, then a main event involving either Bryan or Punk (hopefully both) would be smarky and awesome enough to light everyone back on fire
ReplyDeleteIf they run with Cena/Undertaker it goes last no matter what. Accept it.
ReplyDeleteIf CM Punk doesn't get to go on last then I bet he'll throw a hissy fit and sit at home for months
ReplyDeleteAs well it should. Cena is the biggest star in the company. The Streak is the most important "title" in the company. Cena vs the streak would be the biggest match at Mania since HBK/Taker 2.
ReplyDeleteThe only time the Streak felt "close the show worthy" was when the title was on the line against Edge, and when Shawn put his career on the line.
ReplyDeleteIf the "End of an Era" Hell in a Cell match against the Ass Kicker, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Emperor of Emperors, the Martyr of the Kliq for the Curtain Call, Dynasty Warrior, The Game Triple H didn't close out a Wrestlemania, I don't think a random match against Cena would.
Let's call a spade a spade here: With the subject matter of this post in our god CM Punk and Viking Space Lord Brock Lesnar, this is clearly an attempt to get Cultstatus to stop milking the 10,000th post and just get it over with.
ReplyDeleteI don't think its a given Cena-Undertaker is the main event. Everyone knows Undertaker will win. And Angle-Lesnar once main evented a Wrestlemania that also included Austin-Rock. If Lesnar vs Punk or Lesnar vs Bryan for WWE Title is on the card, it has a very good chance of being the main event.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know how "random" the Undertaker/Cena match will be. It could have a strong angle behind it.
ReplyDeleteMartyr of the Kilq... I love it. Great names for the COO King of Kings The Game Triple H
ReplyDeleteDisagree with those saying Cena/Taker isn't a given to go on last. We are the minority of wrestling fans, most fans would buy Cena as the last real threat to end Takers streak. Throw in a stipulation and its a given. Cena once ended a show wrestling Johnny Ace.
ReplyDeleteI read some of the posts below and found myself disagreeing with it being 'a given.'
ReplyDeleteUntil I read the last sentence of your post.
I...can't feel my legs.
Im really enjoying not knowing exactly what WM is gonna look like after the last two years. We knew a year ahead of time what 28 was gonna be, and essentially the same for 29. Not only did we know what 29 was gonna look like months in advance, we knew exactly who was going over months in advance. That kinda sucked
ReplyDeleteIf there was a battle royal between all the world's leaders, who wins? I think bit would cone down to Putin and Barack with Putin winning in the end. Cant fuck with the KGB training.
ReplyDeleteCena vs. Taker must be on last, damn it all. It has the potential to be the highest stakes match since... well shit, at least Cena vs. Punk.
ReplyDeleteIt's a weird situation because the card is fairly predictable, yet not going ahead with the main events would be throwing money out the window.
One idea that keeps floating around in my head is for HHH to steal Lesnar from Heyman and use him as his enforcer.
ReplyDeleteThen you could have Punk and Bryan trying to fight the system together but struggling and end one of the RAW's with them leaving the building only to hear a voice call out...
"You know you are never going to beat them yourselves....you need someone who knows the McMahons inside and out...someone who hates them as much as you..."
The turn to see Heyman in a ball cap, unshaven, no suit, just streets clothes.
"You guys need an ALLIANCE."
this guy gets it.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I would hate for Cena to win again, they could do title vs. streak. Then they could do some random tournament. Scott loves those!
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty obvious troll... but he is absolutely right if he does so... he deserves to go on last, he's paid his dues, he's accomplished everything, its time he gets that as a reward.
ReplyDeleteDafuq?
ReplyDeleteThen they resurrect the WCW/ECW Alliance that Heyman helped run! Genius!
ReplyDelete29 sucked in general.
ReplyDeleteWouldnt a battle royal be the way to go to settle foreign disputes?
ReplyDeleteUm...no. More like Cody, Bryan, and Punk. The Alliance part was just a nod to the Dangerous Alliance.
ReplyDeletePlus a "world leader battle royal" or a "jesus vs Mohammed cage grudge match" would be the only two matches that could bump Cena vs Taker out of the last spot at Mania.
ReplyDeleteDude, I totally agree. As much as I love The Rock...Damn, it sucked knowing he was gonna do the job for Cena for more than a year. No more of that shit.
ReplyDeleteEven us the alleged smart fans see Cena and only Cena as the last real threat to the streak.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the first real high drama streak match in three years and if they go with it, which seems obvious, it will be damn amazing.
Random? It will be the business's biggest star that overcomes every single odd going against The Streak. With no Rock and Brock's PPV draw being less than we thought it was going to be there's no way this isn't the marquee match.
ReplyDeleteThe only possible way this match doesn't close the show is if an Austin/Rock or someone decides to come back.
So, what do we know for sure then? Lesnar and Taker will do matches, not necessarily against each other. COOHHH will represent himself in a feud with Vince's representative, That leaves Punk, Bryan and Cena that need matches. Do we know for sure Cena is taking on Taker? Are they gonna play this "Bryan vs. Authority" thing out to Mania? If they do, where does that leave Punk? There are a lot of questions. Honestly, I'm cool with that because knowing all the answers before the Rumble kind of sucks i.e. last year.
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to say, if they do put all three of those matches on Wrestlemania, then I don't care what the rest of the card is. They HAVE my $60/$65/$70/whatever they raise it to this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trolling at all. Punk does deserve to go on last, but so does Cena. And Undertaker. And Triple H for that matter.
ReplyDeleteWater is the essence of wetness. Believing UT/Cena won't go on last is the essence of naivety.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Cena/Taker has been the assumed main event for WM30 for a few years now. Anything other than main event is just foolish. That is the match that sells the ppv (unless they pull a miracle with an Austin match, which as time goes on seems like a dream other than a possibility).
ReplyDeleteI REALLY hope they change their minds on the Vince Vs HHH thing. I do not want to see Vince come in and cut the nuts off Bryan or whoever else he gets behind.
ReplyDeleteAre you thinking what I'm thinking?
ReplyDeleteFATAL FOURWAY BITCHES!!!
The more I read about Putin, the more willing I'd be to have a foreign exchange program of world leaders. I'd trade Obama for him just for a year just to see the crazy shit he'd somehow get done as President of the United States.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there's the whole anti-gay things, which automatically deducts -50 from his coolness factor.
Just like two years of Rock/Cena had a strong angle behind it?
ReplyDeleteLET'S HAVE BATTLE RAP/ROCK CONCERT! POINT COUNTER POINT!
This! Would be so much better than whatever McMahon circle jerk is being drawn up
ReplyDeleteThe "angle" was the best of the Attitude Era v. The best of the Universe era, or whatever era this is. That was awesome.
ReplyDeleteAll the stuff they did to "sell" the angle, less so.
True about "WM19", but that was also the third Austin/Rock WM meeting - Cena/Taker would basically be the "first" meeting.
ReplyDeleteTournaments are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm very conflicted on what I'd like to see out of this year's card. It's going to be a huge buy no matter what, just due to the nice round number, and I'd love to see them use the opportunity to really "shake things up".
ReplyDeleteAs much as Punk deserves his "moment in the sun", I also think that - unlike Bret or Benoit - he's already at the point where he's made. I mean, it's been two years since the "pipebomb", he's about as popular and high on the card as he can be. If anyone could really use that "moment", it's Bryan, who is still very new to the main-event level. If anything, I'd like to see Punk defending the title against Bryan, with the two friends putting on an absolute clinic for their most devoted fans. Bryan would win, and the two would share a Benoit/Eddie-style hug.
I realize that that doesn't teally connect to the current storyline, but I think ot'd be the best way to solidify Bryan. I really don't want to see this Bryan/Trips feud to continue for another six months
I hope they go Cena-Undertaker. I don't think there is a match they could put together that I'd rather see. I have a tough time envisioning a card where Cena-Undertaker doesn't close the show.
ReplyDeleteAnd the whole "Supporting the Syrian's government's murder of its own populace."
ReplyDeleteHeyman as a face? I don't know about that.
ReplyDeleteObama makes the final two on his own? Bull.
ReplyDeleteI agree that I don't think they can do Bryan/New Corporation for six months. But I don't want to end the Triple H heel run to end. I believe that Bryan should be transitioned into another feud, and that they end the Orton title run by Punk beating him. Transition that into a Punk defense against Lesnar then a Punk defense against Bryan at Mania.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree, I'm LOVING Trips in his character, I just have little interest in most of what's happening around him.
ReplyDeleteIn a vacuum, as a condescending douchebag, he's fantastic.
There's basically only ONE match that could top it: Austin/Punk.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the clock is ticking down on that one.
People love Heyman - any chance to chant "E-C-Dub" or otherwise heap praise on him is rarely passed on.
ReplyDeleteI would have added HBK/Rock to that list before...but since Rock's return this past year, I don't have nearly as much faith in it as I used to.
ReplyDeleteYeah...but there's a difference between popular and good face.
ReplyDeleteI think they're onto something really great here. In a month he's made himself the hugest asshole of all time and people already think that the faces are completely doomed.
ReplyDeleteJust a brilliant job.
I would have actually liked for Cena and Undertaker to have taken place around 2007 or 2008. If it happened then, I'd have bought Cena having a chance to end the streak, and would have been on the edge of my seat throughout. But now, it's pretty much company line (I think it's even been said on a couple of DVDs) that Taker isn't losing at Wrestlemania ever.
ReplyDeleteThe fan in me would love to see Austin in the ring again. I'm a huge fan and I love watching him but his retirement match against the Rock was a quality match that encapsulated his rivalry with The Rock. It was a great way to go out. If anyone deserved great fanfare in their retirement it was Austin but I think, as a moment, Rock-Austin III is how I like to remember Austin.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, it should have happened last year - I think that going in with a 20-0 record would have made it seem more likely that The Streak could end. Like, "Hey, he hit the round number, now we can end it."
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be the 6* affair I always hoped it would be, but I have no doubt that Shawn could still get a good match out of him.
ReplyDeleteHis character is power-tripping more than Vince ever has. It's incredible.
ReplyDeleteMy only fear with that would be that it "gives away" the result of Taker's match - if the Streak were to end, it would be the biggest thing to happen on the show, meaning that it would have to go on last. If it happens in the middle of the card, no way Taker's losing.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because while Vince dropped into farce with his extreme cartoonishness. Triple H is way more believable as the smug supervisor that always goes on about how "They just don't get it".
ReplyDeleteI also like that Trips made it clear right off the bat that he won't back down on his word and will fire you right away.
ReplyDeleteConversely, everyone knew that Vince was so nuts that he'd rather fight you than fire you, meaning that nobody was afraid to lay their hands on him.
I'll give you that. But I'll say I think that Heyman can pull it off. Plus if you did it in Philly it would help.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a fan of the heroes working from their back. You have to give people hope, but it should look grim for the audience.
ReplyDeleteImagine if the first time one of the Nazgul appeared in LOTR, Bilbo had superkicked it's head off.
FUCKING LAME!
You could do it for a night or maybe a month (hell, Cornette has gotten cheers in his career). But I'd write Heyman out soon after or turn him heel again.
ReplyDeleteLet's say you could get Austin/Punk. Who plays the heel? Austin tried face vs face twice- once with Undertaker (and it didn't work great), and once with the Rock at WM17- and he turned heel by the end. So who's the heel?
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting year marching towards WrestleMania with all the potential variables. We know we'll get Cena, Taker, HHH, Lesnar, Punk, and Bryan in main event roles, but you also have Rock/Austin out there in the fantasy booking periphery, plus the potential for further TNA cutbacks (or folding in general) so you could have guys like Sting, Angle, Hardy and a non-wrestling Hogan in play.
ReplyDeleteYou missed out 'PaRappa The Rapper'
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't it be Punk?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea of what goes on last this year, but assuming Bryan succeeds during this run as the top face and really does take over from Cena full time...
ReplyDeleteI think he's the guy who ends the Streak at WM31.
I also left out "Lord of Winterfell", it felt too on the nose.
ReplyDeleteI'd just keep it a face/face "respect" feud - they've done a number of face/face programs lately (Rock/Cena twice, Taker/Trips twice, Taker/Shawn twice, plus Cena/Bryan last month, as well as Taker/Batista and Shawn/Cena a few years ago, etc.), no reason they couldn't just go that route.
ReplyDeleteHell, just have Punk say something like "We got Rock/Cena at WM, so how about Punk/Austin"?
More of an "enemy of my enemy" deal. I'd buy it.
ReplyDeleteLet me kill the suspense for you: Taker is going over.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Strek vs. title would be awesome. I still maintain it should have been streak vs. title last year with Punk and Taker. A 500 day reign vs. Taker's streak? Awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with this. WM 18 also favored the title match over the clear main event. "Title goes on last at your biggest ppv of the year" might be one of the few old school traditions WWE hangs on to.
ReplyDeleteThe only precedent I can think of for them doing something like that would be putting Flair's retirement match in the middle of the card.
ReplyDeletePunk's reaction to Heyman bringing in Sean Stasiak, the Hurricane, and Justice Credible for back up would be pretty great, though.
ReplyDeleteI think they could build up a pretty cool storyline with Bryan trying to exorcise his demons by doing something that all these guys he has history with (Kane, Punk, HHH, Cena, Orton, even Shawn) couldn't. And after beating Cena cleanly, I can buy him going over just about anyone. So yeah, if Undertaker's still active next year, why not?
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, once Bryan is done with Orton HHH can back another horse and keep himself safe. They can keep matches from getting stale and build to Bryan finally getting his hands on Helmsley when he runs out of options.
ReplyDeleteHHH can use his political clout to get Sandow to give him the MITB Briefcase. Ziggler can get the WHT back from Del Rio, only to have COOHHH steal it from him. (Make a Bryan/Rhodes-like martyr of Ziggler and add another face to the anti-Corporation side). It was originally his trophy belt afterall (in 02). HHH can carry the vanity belt around to reassure himself that he is still the greatest champion ever. HHH vs Bryan at WM30 for the WHT, Lesnar vs Punk for WWE title. Taker vs Cena to close the night. Then Bryan & Punk can form an uneasy champions alliiance against the Corporate machine en route to ann eventual champ vs champ match.
ReplyDeleteMight have been interesting at WM27. Cena challenges the Streak at its peak (coming off the Michaels matches). Cena loses thanks to Rock, setting up Cena vs Rock at 28. Cena would have grounds to challenge the Streak again at 30 after getting revenge on Rock at 29. Of course, this scenario might call for Cena to win though
ReplyDeleteI think it's a done deal. Taker vs Lesnar doesn't hold the intrigue of "the Streak COULD end". They wouldn't even let Brock win his first match back against Cena. Plus he's a part-timer who isn't in it for the long run (and bailed on them once before). Brock isn't ending the Streak. Cena vs Taker is the last believable challenge they have left
ReplyDeleteI like it. I think Heyman weaseling into HHH's good graces would be a good catalyst for Punk throwing in with the other anti-corporate rebels. Orton & HHH vs Bryan & Punk as "Battleground" main event. Bryan has Orton dead to rights, but HHH saves. Punk gets the pin on Orton instead and has a valid claim to challenging at "Hell in a Cell". Bryan can face HHH while Punk gets screwed against Orton. Give me traditional Survivor Series matches, ala 1990, where its a final match of survival finish. Bryan & Punk are last standing. Orton vs Bryan vs Punk in a triple threat TLC match. Punk wins w/o pinning anyone. Orton gets a rematch at Rumble, Punk retains. Bryan wins Rumble. Punk puts Bryan over in a marathon classic.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Just like this Corporate angle is getting babyfaces over, it can also cement some new heels, who serves HHH's regime.
ReplyDeleteHeyman as a performer is better suited to being HHH's lackey. He can get pummeled by Punk at NOC, then crawl into HHH's corporate mix. Maybe announcing again as the corporate shill? Heyman as survivalist is perfect for him
ReplyDeleteWho else would you go with as the Corporate Champ?
ReplyDeleteADR maybe?
And I agree that the angle should end with a Triple H/Bryan fight. Trips needs to tap to Bryan after a crazy garbage match with run-ins a plenty.
I like this fine. I might extend the angle a little bit. And while it does leave a couple people without matches (what about Lesnar?) I think this could work.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Punk vs. Lesnar II could go at Royal Rumble '14 or Elimination Chamber, with Bryan winning the Rumble.
ReplyDeleteBrock as Corporate Champ?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I want to make a heel superstable (I'm not a huge fan of monolithic evil). But I think a limited run of Triple H, Heyman and Brock Lesnar might just get enough heat to melt the ring.
ReplyDeleteI know winning the title against the monster is always a popular thing, but I don't think Brock's ever getting the title again with his current schedule.
ReplyDeletePunk defending against Lesnar...I actually could see that happening.
I agree. I think it would be more along the lines of Punk being the guy to win the WWE title from Orton, then waving it in Brock's face to coax his re-match. Bryan could then face HHH
ReplyDeleteIn the last match on the card, both of these things are obvious.
ReplyDelete