WWE PPV Review: WrestleMania XXIX

One of the best Wrestlemanias of all time will go down as one of the most controversial as well.

So did you hear?  Wrestlemania 29 was last Sunday?  And apparently, it was the worst Wrestlemania of all time!  If you've been hearing this and you feel as if the whole world has gone batshit crazy, then have no fear, G9Z Wrestling is here with a review you can call your own.  Also for the second year in a row, Pearl (@SexySmarkY2J) stops in here and there to give some insight as well.  Find out our thoughts on one of the best Wrestlemanias in recent memory after the jump!

 

Match 1: The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins) vs. Big Show, Randy Orton & Sheamus

Pearl: I thought this was a very good opening match. It was loads of fun from beginning to end and even though I'm a huge Randy Orton fan, I couldn't help but marvel at The Shield. Dean Ambrose is possibly my second favorite wrestler in the WWE right now no doubt about it. His mannerisms are the best in wrestling right now and it's the little things that make him so amazing. I <3 this match!!

G9Z: This match was one of the more exciting of the night and was an absolutely amazing opener.  It's easily one of the top three or four openers they've had on the show.  Ever.  Fast paced action with a lot to love from every man involved.  The Shield have been on fire since their debut, and when we look back at their rise to prominence years from now, we will talk about three events in particular.  With Survivor Series '12 being their impactful debut, TLC '12 being their breakthrough performance and tonight being the night they cemented their status as major players for the company.  In the NFL, players give their best all season in hopes to make it to the Super Bowl.  And even then, their performance at the event will be one of the defining factors in their legacy.  The same could be said about the WWE and Wrestlemania.  The Shield passed their first test at the company's marquee event with flying colors.  I don't think I've ever seen any three performers debut stronger and with more confidence at the big show then they did here.  It was amazing. 

Ambrose was my pick for the Breakthrough Star Of 2013 and after tonight, I'd say he damn well proved that.  The guy got some of the best reactions of the night whenever he stepped foot in the ring and he moved and carried himself with the swagger of a 10 year vet.  On the flipside, Sheamus fell by the wayside in some ways as Randy Orton delivered some of the best in ring work in the match and Big Show showed just why he is one of the most versatile big men in the biz.  We didn't get the Orton heel turn here as I predicted, but his arrogance and attempt to make things all about him in the end cost the team and may be the seeds for a slow burn shift to the darkside in the coming months.  Either way it didn't matter on this night because this match was everything I wanted it to be.  And a little bit more.  Kudos to The Shield for coming to play. 

The Shield def. Team Orton after 10:40 via. pinfall following a Spear from Roman Reigns to Randy Orton

 

Match Rating: ***3/4

Still the most dominant force in the WWE.

 

Match 2: Mark Henry vs. Ryback

G9Z: If any match from last night was a disappointment for me, it was this one.  I hate to say that as a supporter of Ryback and a huge Mark Henry fan, but it's the truth.  Even with the spectacle, it was a bit of a bore at times.  Having said that, the spot I was waiting for-- hell, I was COUNTING on was definitely Ryback getting Henry up for the Shell Shock in some fashion.  He attempted it once during the match, but he got squashed by the weight of the World's Strongest Man.  After the match, he would get him up again (seemingly tearing every muscle in his body in the process) and give me the Wrestlemania Megaslam I was waiting for.  Feats of strength like these are something the event has literally been built around and I don't know if you remember, but there was this one time...

One slam to rule them all.

Aside from the big moment though, there wasn't much to love here.  I still wouldn't be against a rematch at some point with looser restrictions somewhere down the line.  There's an obvious chemistry and attraction that these two can bring together and maybe this just wasn't the right stage.  Extreme Rules may find itself a better playground for these two behemoths to tear each other apart.

Mark Henry def. Ryback after 8:00 via. pinfall after Henry fell onto Ryback

 

Match Rating: *

Mark Henry had the night's most surprising victory.

Match 3:: WWE Tag Team Championship match: Team Hell No(c) (Kane & Daniel Bryan) vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big E Langston w/AJ Lee

Pearl: So Big E Langston gets his first match at Wrestlemania, which would go on to be a bit of a trend for the evening. I thought he did an outstanding job here. The spot where he caught Kane mid air dropped my jaw. I never saw much of his stuff from NXT so I didn't have any idea how strong this guy was. Wow!  I really looked at this as two separate matches happening at the same time.  Ziggler and Bryan are two I could watch wrestle all day and Langston vs. Kane is now on my short list for Extreme Rules next month.

G9Z: The opening tease/rehash of last year's "Brogue Kick Of DOOM!" spot was brilliant.  Seriously, it got me.  The crowd seemed to eat it up as well.  It got them riled up immediately as the match begun and it was an energy that stayed throughout the entirety of the match.  This is noticeably a thinking man's crowd that appreciates out-of-the-box ideas like this.  This match was six minutes of fun & fast paced action that saw Team Hell No continue their 200+ day run as the best tandem in the WWE.

Team Hell No def. Dolph Ziggler & Big E Langston after 6:15 following a Diving Headbutt from Bryan to Ziggler

 

Match Rating: ***

Both Kane & Daniel Bryan finally got even with AJ Lee.

 

Match 4: Chris Jericho vs. Fandango

G9Z: As I had predicted, Jericho brought a surprisingly good performance out of Fandango here.  To have your first official match take place at the biggest event of the year against an all-time legend is both a huge honor and a massive amount of pressure.  Fandango must have been a nervous wreck the entire day.  And no one could blame him.  Perhaps this is the reason there was a bit of sloppyness here and there (especially with the finish).  But overall, as a character, Fandango is a huge success from where I sit.

 

Fandango def. Chris Jericho after 9:10 via. pinfall following a Small Package (a move that REALLY could use a better name)

Match Rating: ***

Fandango, striking a pose.  Because he's cool like that. 

 

Match 5:: World Heavyweight Championship match: Alberto Del Rio(c) w/Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Coulter

G9Z: This was arguably, the best match of the night from a pure in-ring standpoint.  Swagger's new persona is something I've dug since the very beginning and Zeb Coulter's mix of formality & symbolism in his attire tonight was superb.  Even with the overbearing meaning behind Swagger & Coulter's promos and presence, it's in these subtle nuances that the message gets pushed even further.  That being said, I had a hard time getting emotionally involved in this match.  The crowd was there in parts, but I don't know what it was.  The action was very good, but something about the storytelling was a bit lost on me.  I think it's due to the fact that like everyone else, I was anxiously awaiting for Dolph Ziggler to cash in post match.  But it didn't happen, and I didn't sweat it, because I had a feeling it would still occur very soon (wink wink).  This wasn't the perfect time for it anyhow because it would've gotten overshadowed by some of the later happenings.

Alberto Del Rio def. Jack Swagger after 10:30 via. submission following the Cross Armbreaker

 

Match Rating: ***1/2

Del Rio is still your World Heavyweight Champion.

Match 6: CM Punk vs. The Undertaker

G9Z: A CM Punk and Undertaker video package was shown.  Living Colour then performed "Cult of Personality" live for Punk's entrance.  Twas' awesome!  Punk's approach to this match was unique from every other streak match.  And I say this having recently watched every match when I recently reviewed the Deadman's latest DVD.  As soon as the gong hit, Punk let out a ferocious scream and had eyes that lit with the fire of a determined man fully convinced that the legacy he was up against was no match for him.

Pearl: This was not my most anticipated match going in, but DAMN! These two had the best dynamic of any match on the entire show. I'd even say it had the best dynamic of any match in the streak before it. I also think its astounding how someone with all the wear and tear Undertaker has could still turn in this hard fought and well paced of a match. Even if it's only once a year. It's still an unbelievable thing to see. His aura is unlike anything else I've ever seen. For all of the WWE's attempts to convince us that he is indeed dead, we always knew that he can hurt just like everyone else. But we also know that The Undertaker is no average human being. I don't know any normal people that can just "sit up" while in the Anaconda Vise...

G9Z: Well said.  If nothing else, his streak and iconic presence have immortalized him in my eyes.  There is nothing else in wrestling like Undertaker at Wrestlemania.  That said, I have to note that the psychological warfare Punk used to unsettle the Phenom became his biggest and most deadly weapon here.  Everything from his mannerisms, to his moveset, down to his ring attire (a play on the classic black/grey/purple color scheme Taker made famous in the 90s) was all an attempt to throw Undertaker off.  I thought it was also interesting to note that Punk would break out a couple of things from the Taker-HHH/HBK saga such as a Shawn Michaels-like diving elbow through the announce table and when he stuck his tongue out during a pin attempt (which was a play on Triple H's mocking of the Phenom from Wrestlemania 27).  These are the amazing bits of psychology that make Punk my favorite wrestler today.  A phenomenal matchup with brilliant storytelling that's worthy of following the all timers that preceded it.

On a personal note, I find it interesting that Punk has made a ton of fuss out of not main eventing the show.  To me, it's kind of silly.  He shouldn't make much of it because it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.  Right now sure, but in the years to come what people always remember about Wrestlemania are the moments and matches that stole the show.  This should be every performers goal come mania, to main event should just be the icing on the cake. 

The work that Punk did here will not go unnoticed.  I believe you can still earn main events by letting the people in the back know that no one is going to follow you.  This has become Punk's M.O. since he became WWE Champion in 2011 and he's done a fantastic job over the past year.  Like Shawn Michaels before him, he's becoming the WWE's perennial show stealer.  Look to that to define your value at mania Punk no matter where you are on the card.  Because main event status won't hold up as well as the work you put in between the ropes.  It sure as hell doesn't to me.  This match will prove that in the years to come.  Outstanding work.

The Undertaker def. CM Punk after 22:10 via. pinfall following the Tombstone Piledriver

 

Match Rating: ****3/4

Another awe-inspiring performance by the WWE's most awe-inspiring act.

Match 7: Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman vs. Triple H w/Shawn Michaels

G9Z: I don't get the flack some are heaping on this match.  I thought it was unbelievably good.  There were a ton of moments where I felt as if this thing was over for Triple H and I was actually surprised when he won.  It's hard to grade it as a WRESTLING match because there really wasn't much to love here from that perspective.  This one was an all out brawl from start to finish.  I thought Lesnar busting The Game through the table Punk failed to break with his diving elbow and then again slamming him in the wreckage, showed the level of brutality like no other.  I hear rumblings that this was too similar to their Summerslam match from last year, but I beg to differ because that match was a stinker of a main event.  This match was what I wanted that one to be.  I thought they corrected nearly every mistake they made there and turned in a destructive battle that gave me everything I expected from it going in.  With the involvement of Heyman and HBK, it had a ton of great moments as well.  What exactly were people expecting from a guy like Lesnar at this point anyhow?  The guy is a gladiator.  And gladiators care very little for technicalities.  I enjoyed what I got here.  It was a brutal fight that brought a tasty slice of variety to an already spectacularly paced event.  If you find you didn't enjoy this, then maybe it's because HHH or Lesnar just aren't your cup of tea.  But to have any major gripes with the match itself is something I find mind boggling.

Triple H def. Brock Lesnar after 24:00 via. pinfall following a Pedigree on the steel steps

 

Match Rating: ****

The Game revels in his defeat of the WWE's most intimidating entity.

John Cena makes his way to the ring surprisingly minus the theatrics that have been a staple of his entrances at Wrestlemania.  WWE Champion The Rock arrives next.  A man's legacy is now put on the table on the opposing end of another's redemption.  This must mean that it is now time for our...

 

 

 

MAIN EVENT

Match 8:: WWE Championship match: The Rock(c) vs. John Cena

G9Z: This is the most divisive main event since....well since last year's main event.  It seems the people who didn't want to see this from the get-go were supremely disappointed by it.  Those who found themselves compelled by the Cena redemption story thoroughly enjoyed it.  I fall into the latter category. 

Pearl: I was more into this match than any other on the entire show. But I'm a proud Cena fan and maybe that's the main reason. And like Cena, I'm fine with the portion of the WWE Universe that has grown tired of him. I get it and they have good reasoning behind their bias. But for them to slight any of his bigger matches over the past couple of years is what grinds my gears the most. This was a great match. I don't see how anybody could deny that. Love or hate Cena or Rock, they still gave a great effort and they deserve better than what everyone's been giving them.

G9Z: Perhaps, this is an injustice I can correct here. The whole Rock/Cena feud is one of the more interesting cases in Wrestlemania history for me.  On one hand, you have Wrestlemania XXVIII.  The Rock and John Cena clashed in a match billed "Once In A Lifetime".  It was a match that didn't really live up to the incredible amount of hype surrounding it, but they had the live audience in the palm of their hands and an unbelievable amount of spectacle.  Even a bloated and completely gassed Rock couldn't take them out of it.

Fast forward a year and here we are again.  The announced rematch caused a million smart mark eyes to roll in unison and thus, the annoying troll favorite "Twice In A Lifetime" tagline made it's debut.  Fans were very down on the match from the get go and who could blame them.  They had already been hurt before and they just didn't know if they could ever love again.

What makes it interesting for me is that this match had a much better story developing beneath everyone's eyes.  There was an absolutely amazing hype video that summed things up better than any promo or segment could.  Turdnuggets around the world loved to scoff at the video and say "John Cena's marriage got ruined because of his loss at Wrestlemania?  HAR HAR HAR!".  No you goof, the divorce was thrown in as another example of just how shitty a year he's had since then. 

In spite of all this.  Both The Rock and John Cena were fresh off some amazing matches in the weeks leading up to their rematch.  Both men had standout bouts with CM Punk with Cena's being a MOTYC and The Rock's being a testament to just how much better shape he's in this time around.  Two matches that sold me on the potential that Rock/Cena II really had.

Which leads me to the match.  Did it start off a little slow?  Yes.  Did the crowd seemed a little burnt out from the events prior?  Sure.  Did these two go on to have an unbelievable main event match that had even the most gassed and uninterested members of the audience all on their feet come the final stretch? 

You bet your ass they did.

It amazes me that people use this as a knock.  These two won that crowd over in a way only so few could really do.  It's through Cena's brilliantly heelish mannerisms and approach that this was done.  He sold that crowd on a story very few of them could get behind at first and the very same audience that booed him throughout the majority of the contest then ERUPTED the minute the referee's hand hit the mat for three.  The John Cena dynamic is something that will become lore once the dust settles because it's truly unique to anything else I've ever seen in pro wrestling.

How much people enjoyed this match and this Wrestlemania as a whole is a direct reflection of their excitement level going in & how much value they put into desired outcomes.  You will find that the same people who hated the Rock/Cena main event were down on the show as a whole.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  Emotional investment is the name of the game with pro wrestling, my friends.  Your all time favorite match may be complete shit to someone else.  This is why I'm ignoring most of the bad reviews because they're almost all evidently birthed off of bias.  The ability to bring emotion out of a dead crowd is something everyone praised in last year's Punk/Jericho match.  The divide here is and will always be, John Cena.

From where I sit, this was the best match The Rock has had since his return in 2011.  Unlike the others, he came in with his work boots on and met his opponent half way.  This wasn't the carry job all the others were and I left satisfied with the action and the final 10 minutes were full of excitement and had me and all five of my friends on the edge of our seats.  I couldn't ask for much more than that.

John Cena def. The Rock to become the new WWE Champion after 24:00 via. pinfall following the Attitude Adjustment

 

Match Rating: ****

A show of respect from the People's Champ.

Final Thoughts

Pearl: I really loved The Rock/Cena main event despite of all the bad criticisms and I really think this Wrestlemania is one of the best ever. The only match I found to be a complete letdown was Henry/Ryback. Most of it lived up to and some even surpassed the expectations I had coming in and it's now top three all time for me.

G9Z: When the dust settles and tempers calm from the outcomes, I think people will appreciate the show more.  Punk-Taker, HHH-Lesnar, Cena-Rock & Shield-Orton/Show/Sheamus were all big hits with everyone I had over.  Were they all all-timers?  No, but they definitely were not all as terrible as people are making them seem.  It's easily, the best Wrestlemania of the decade thus far and I felt as if I had my money's worth here.  And I'm going to go one bigger and say that if you didn't find some sort of enjoyment from what the WWE put out here, then you may be too jaded and shouldn't even watch wrestling anymore.  It's the hard truth because seriously, this show fucking ruled.

Overall PPV Score: 8.5/10