Do guys like The Rock have too many distractions to maintain focus for Wrestlemania XXIX?
Welcome to the third article in my new RTWM series! In the past few years, the WWE has gone through one of the most confusing talent movements the business has ever seen. On one hand, they've got a great crop of hungry young talent that's just waiting to get the chance to show & prove. On the other, they've got a handful of reliable main event stars who can come in and pop the ratings whenever they're in a bit of a creative slump. Men like The WWE Champion The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H & Brock Lesnar have all been gifted the opportunity to work a very limited schedule that mostly has them working the biggest shows of the year. Obviously, we can't track their RTWM the same way as the others, so instead I'll just do a brief overview of each man's direction heading into Wrestlemania XXIX starting with....
The Rock
Note: All stats are recorded
from the Wrestlemania events prior to 2013.
Wrestlemania
Record: 5-4
Main
Events: 6
World Title
Matches: 3
Biggest
Match: Wrestlemania XVIII Vs. Hulk Hogan
Best
Match: Wrestlemania XVII Vs. Steve Austin
The Rock's contributions to Wrestlemania are well documented and there is perhaps no other superstar more confident in a main event situation in the WWE right now. That's both Rock's best and worst trait. He's not always set to deliver at this point in his career, but he walks into every arena almost one hundred percent sure he'll be racking up another win by the end of the night. In today's landscape, that's one of the most detrimental qualities a superstar can have. Especially if said superstar has been too busy making waves in Hollywood and promoting his upcoming films to maintain the level of focus needed to earn a victory on a stage as big as Wrestlemania. Still, one can't argue his win percentage. He's 4 for 4 in PPV wins since his return to the ring in 2011 and has earned victories over some of the top talent of today including John Cena and CM Punk, who stand atop the mountain as the number 1 & 2 in the company right now. Looking at his upcoming main event match with Cena, you'd be crazy to bet against the champion given his recent track record, but I think his overconfidence has made him underestimate Cena tremendously this time around. And if I was gambling man, I would say it's a pretty safe bet that his arrogance is finally going to cost him come April 7.
Odds of a victory: Low
The Undertaker
Wrestlemania Record: 20-0
Main Events: 8
World Title Matches: 3
Biggest Match: Wrestlemania XXVI Vs. Shawn Michaels
Best Match: Wrestlemania XXV Vs. Shawn Michaels
The Undertaker is the most successful Wrestlemania competitor of all time. It's nearly impossible to even consider him losing to anyone at the event at this point, but CM Punk has a big time advantage over the deadman right now. The untimely passing of The Phenom's close friend and manager Paul Bearer has no doubt been a heavy burden on Taker's morale and Punk has made every attempt at exposing this as a weakness. Never before has The Undertaker been so emotionally unhinged when his streak was on the line and the resulting dynamic of the Punk match has many fans predicting that The Undertaker is going to leave 20-1 when the lights go out in the NY/NJ stadium. It's a tough call, but either way, CM Punk is not going to get this victory through mind games alone. He's facing a man backed by one of the most powerful and storied legacies the wrestling world has ever witnessed and when you're up against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania, there's no room for error.
Odds of a victory: High
Triple H & Brock Lesnar
Wrestlemania Record: HHH (7-9), Lesnar (1-1)
Main Events: HHH (10), Lesnar (2)
World Title Matches: HHH (8), Lesnar (1)
Biggest Match: HHH (Wrestlemania XXVIII Vs. The Undertaker), Lesnar (Wrestlemania XIX Vs. Kurt Angle)
Best Match: HHH (Wrestlemania XX Vs. Chris Benoit & Shawn Michaels), Lesnar (Wrestlemania XIX Vs. Kurt Angle)
Of all the matchups on the card, these two stack up more evenly than nearly everyone else. Triple H has main evented more Wrestlemanias than everyone but Hulk Hogan and Brock Lesnar has main evented almost every time he's made an appearance on a WWE PPV. Both men thrive in high pressure situations. What separates them is their motivation. Triple H has already suffered a major loss to Brock last August at Summerslam & left a broken and humiliated man who failed to avenge all those he loved as a result.
And yet somehow, Fred Durst still managed to top him on the embarrassment scale that night. Go figure.
I can't say I remember the last time The Game looked so disappointed. The guy is a 13 time world champion for a reason *insert smark political allegations here* and to see him have his ass handed to him in such a way was a spectacle all unto itself. This is the kind of thing Lesnar brings to the table in every match. It almost appears as if the guy could give a damn about whether or not he wins. Lesnar gets his pleasure in destroying the competition. The last ass kicking was so harsh that the bravado & overblown man growl that has become a staple of Triple H's promos had been replaced by a defeated man with a deflated ego crying is eyes out. Seriously, shit got weird. And let's be honest, the WWE Universe isn't the best collective shoulder to cry on.
Aw man Hunter, you lost ONE match? Dude WTF are you crying? Y'know, it seems like you need a moment alone....
So yeah, there was absolutely NO WAY Triple H was going out like that. So fast forward six months or so and he makes his triumphant return to Monday Night Raw and spits a bunch of water everywhere and somehow Brock appears to have bust himself open. Triple H then pees himself with joy. Shit.....I don't really know where I'm going with this right now.....
.......
*Clears throat* Um....long story short, it's Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H in a No Holds Barred match with HHH's career on the line. The story? Ah, well at Summerslam it was about HHH getting even with Brock for breaking his arm and insulting/attacking his friends and family. Now? It's essentially about HHH getting even with Brock for breaking his arm and assaulting his friends and--
Wait....what just happened there?
.......
Hell just let these two beat the ever loving piss out of eachother for twenty minutes with a wide variety of weapons and it's all good with me.
Odds of a victory: HHH (Moderate), Lesnar (High)
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