WrestleMania XXVIII on April 1st, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida
Pre-Show Match: WWE Tag Team Titles: Primo and Epico © vs. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd vs. Jey and Jimmy Uso
One man from each team is legal in the ring. Primo misses a charging knee strike and Kidd punts him from the apron. Jey and Kidd trade rollups to no avail. Primo connects with a missile dropkick on Kidd. The champions follow with some double team maneuvers on Jey. They do a tower of doom spot in the corner. Jimmy connects with a springboard forearm smash on Epico and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Gabriel. He hip tosses Gabriel into a neckbreaker. Jimmy elevates Gabriel into a samoan drop from Jey. Epico gets elevated to the outside onto Primo. Jey follows out with a dive. Jimmy elevates Kidd from the apron into a samoan drop by Jey on the floor. That looked great. Gabriel loses his balance and then lands a springboard moonsault onto everyone. In the ring, Gabriel finds knees on a springboard 450. Epico hits a backcracker on Jey and the champions retain their titles at 5:02. Give them five more minutes and this could have been an appropriate WrestleMania opener instead of a mere pre-show match. I'm sure the tag team division is not where people want it to be right now, but this was a solid showcase for what little of a division exists. The Usos were the standouts with their impressive tandem offense. **¼
Lilian Garcia starts us off with America the Beautiful. The usual poignant video package follows. As a side note, I won’t mention any of the backstage segments unless they reveal some kind of pertinent information regarding the matches themselves. There’s no pyro to start the show and we get right to the first match…
Opening Match: World Heavyweight Title: Daniel Bryan © vs. Sheamus
This is starting an unsettling trend of the Royal Rumble winner competing in the opener of WrestleMania. Bryan gets a good luck kiss from AJ. Sheamus connects with the Brogue Kick to become the new World Heavyweight Champion in eighteen seconds. There's a lot that can be said about this situation, none of it positive. This did absolutely nothing for Sheamus, Bryan, the prestige of winning the Royal Rumble, or the legitimacy of the World Heavyweight Title. I would imagine there will be a rematch, as Bryan can argue that Sheamus simply caught him off-guard.
Match #2: Kane vs. Randy Orton
Orton lays in a series of strikes as the crowd chants for Daniel Bryan. He fights off a chokeslam. Kane avoids a rope-assisted DDT and drapes Orton across the top rope. Kane connects with a boot and a basement dropkick. He takes control until Orton hits a neckbreaker. Kane responds with a suplex. Orton flips out of a side slam and hits a backbreaker. He follows with a powerslam and throws Kane into the ringpost. Orton hits a rope-assisted DDT. Kane fights off the RKO and connects with a boot. Kane comes off the top rope but Orton catches him with a dropkick. Orton goes for the punt but Kane chokeslams him for a nearfall. Orton delivers some punches and thinks about an RKO from the middle rope. Kane goozles him and hits a chokeslam from the middle rope for the win at 10:56. They definitely kept the action moving, but there wasn’t much rhyme or reason behind what they were doing. I actually expected Kane to win, as he seems to have more momentum than Orton does currently. This match wasn’t blow-away, but it successfully took the angry crowd’s mind off of Bryan’s quick loss. **½
Match #3: Intercontinental Title: Cody Rhodes © vs. Big Show
Rhodes connects with a baseball slide. Big Show catches him on a plancha attempt and military presses him back into the ring. Big Show lays in a few chops and hits a scoop slam. Rhodes avoids a charge and connects with a series of dropkicks. He gains the advantage, working over the left leg. Rhodes connects with the Disaster Kick. He tries another one but Big Show spears him. Big Show lays in a knockout punch to become the new Intercontinental Champion at 5:18. Sure, Rhodes was on the offensive for a decent amount of time but the finish made it look like it was only a matter of time before Big Show won. I'm not sure if Big Show can do anything productive with the title but it's clear that Rhodes took a definite step back here. **
Match #4: Beth Phoenix and Eve vs. Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos
Kelly snaps off a hurricanrana on Eve. Eve blocks a handspring elbow but gets hung up on the top rope. Menounos and Kelly give her stereo stinkfaces. Good. Eve and Phoenix work over Menounos’ previously injured ribs. Eve spends too much time before a moonsault attempt and Menounos tags out. Kelly snaps off a headscissors on Phoenix and hits a neckbreaker. She comes off the top with an impressive somersault seated senton. Kelly reverses the Glam Slam into a bulldog. Menounos goes up top and is really selling the ribs. Phoenix tries to military press her but Kelly makes the save. Menounos rolls up Phoenix for the victory at 6:49. Maria Menounos pinned the current Divas Champion. Additionally, the divas received six more minutes than the World Heavyweight Title match at WrestleMania. Mull over those facts for a few seconds. ½*
Match #5: Hell in a Cell: Triple H vs. Undertaker
Shawn Michaels is the special referee. Jim Ross also joins commentary for this match. They stare each other down as the cell lowers. They trade punches and Undertaker seems to have the advantage. He throws Triple H to the floor and into the steel steps. They brawl around ringside. Undertaker back drops Triple H onto the floor and continues the assault. In the ring, Triple H hits a facebuster but immediately walks into a clothesline. Undertaker goes Old School and hits Triple H with the steel steps. He follows with a guillotine leg drop. Triple H finds life with a DDT. He attempts a Pedigree on the steps but Undertaker back drops him to the canvas. Triple H anticipates a charge and hits a spinebuster onto the steps. He goes for a cover but Undertaker traps him in Hell’s Gate. Triple H is able to power out of the hold. Triple H brings a chair into the ring and hits Undertaker with it repeatedly. Michaels tells Triple H to just cover Undertaker, but Triple H continues with the chair shots. Triple H tells Michaels to end it, or he will. Undertaker commands Michaels to not stop the match. More chair shots follow. Triple H gets a sledgehammer and hits Undertaker with it for a nearfall. Triple H attempts to smash Undertaker’s head in with the sledgehammer but Michaels stops him. Undertaker applies Hell’s Gate on Michaels to stop him from calling for the bell. Triple H gets trapped in Hell’s Gate yet again. Undertaker eventually releases the hold for lack of a referee. Charles Robinson runs down to the ring to officiate. Undertaker hits a chokeslam for a two count and then chokeslams Robinson. Michaels superkicks Undertaker out of nowhere and Triple H hits a Pedigree for a nearfall. Michaels cowers in the corner, knowing that he wasn’t an unbiased official as promised. Triple H throws Michaels to the floor but Undertaker sits up! Undertaker connects with a series of strikes and is suddenly reinvigorated. He hits a tombstone for a two count. They trade punches and Triple H hits a Pedigree for a nearfall. He grabs his sledgehammer while Undertaker grabs a chair. Undertaker stops Triple H from using the sledgehammer and returns the favor with repeated chair shots. Triple H tries one last sledgehammer shot but Undertaker steals it. He shoves Undertaker and gives him the DX chop. Undertaker hits him with the sledgehammer. Triple H uses Undertaker to get to his feet. Undertaker hits a final tombstone for the win at 30:51. Undertaker and Michaels help Triple H to his feet after the match. All three men walk to the back together.
I don’t know if opinions will be split on this match, but I thought that Triple H and Undertaker undeniably came through and delivered an amazing spectacle. There were just so many things to like about this contest: Undertaker using his first Hell’s Gate to surprise Triple H like last year, Undertaker trying to choke Michaels out to prevent him from stopping the match, the nearfall after Michaels superkicked Undertaker that everyone bit on, Undertaker’s flurry of offense down the stretch, and Undertaker ultimately returning the favor with repeated chair shots on Triple H to wear him down. Those were just some of the things I noticed while watching this match. I also thought the finish was brilliant, as it mirrored the Undertaker/Michaels finish from WrestleMania XXVI with Michaels being in the ring to witness it. While there are a few nitpicky complaints that can be made, I think this match is, to a certain extent, what WrestleMania is about – storytelling working off a year-long build in front of a red-hot, massive crowd. Tremendous performances from everyone involved may very well make this the best match WWE puts forth all year. ****½
Match #6: Team Johnny (David Otunga, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, The Miz, and Drew McIntyre) vs. Team Teddy (Santino Marella, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, Great Khali, and Booker T)
If Otunga’s team wins, John Laurinaitis will become the general manager of both Raw and Smackdown. If Santino’s team wins, Teddy Long will become the general manager of both Raw and Smackdown. Kofi lands a springboard crossbody onto Ziggler. Truth follows with a leg drop. Ziggler catches Truth with a dropkick. Khali beats up McIntyre for awhile and then Booker showcases some of his offense. Booker gets too distracted by Team Johnny's corner and they isolate him. He never makes a tag – people just start entering the ring and the match breaks down. Swagger and McIntyre flapjack Khali. Kofi, Truth, and Ryder land dives to the floor. Vickie and Aksana get into a fight at ringside. Booker tags in Santino, who unleashes a flurry of offense on Miz. He connects with the Cobra on Miz for a nearfall. Ryder monkey flips Ziggler across the ring and hits a neckbreaker on Miz. He hits the Rough Rider on Ziggler. Eve enters the ring and distracts Ryder. Miz plants him with the Skull-Crushing Finale for the victory at 10:35. Well, this truly felt like a way to pack as many roster members onto the card as possible. No one was really showcased and the match didn’t receive enough time to fully play out. It also didn’t help that the crowd was burnt out after hell in a cell. The action wasn’t offensive or anything, but this match never stood a chance given the circumstances. **
Eve low blows Ryder after the match and walks away.
Match #7: WWE Title: CM Punk © vs. Chris Jericho
If Punk gets disqualified, he will still lose his title. They trade control on the mat and Jericho slaps Punk. Punk lays in boots in the corner and almost uses all of his five-count. Jericho starts insulting Punk's family. He retreats to the floor where Punk catches him with a dive off the top rope. Jericho continues with the family insults. Punk brings a chair into the ring but decides not to use it. Jericho blocks a charge with a dropkick and takes control. He suplexes Punk from the ring to the floor. In the ring, Jericho maintains control, working over the back. Punk avoids a bulldog and connects with a series of kicks. He hits a neckbreaker and follows with a running knee strike. Jericho traps him in the Walls of Jericho but Punk quickly escapes the hold. Punk connects with a knockout kick but finds knees on a flying elbow drop. Jericho hits the Codebreaker. Punk rolls out of the ring. Back in, Punk plays possum and hits the Go 2 Sleep for a nearfall. Jericho falls victim to a powerslam but recovers with a lionsault. They battle up top. Punk attempts a hurricanrana but Jericho counters into the Walls of Jericho! Punk is able to reach the bottom rope. He sends Jericho to the floor and follows out with a dive. In the ring, Punk attempts a springboard maneuver but Jericho catches him with another Codebreaker for a nearfall. Jericho escapes a Go 2 Sleep and applies the Walls of Jericho. Punk turns the hold into a small package for a two count. He synchs in the Anaconda Vice. Jericho knees out and goes back to the Walls of Jericho. Punk reapplies the Anaconda Vice to retain his title at 22:19. On a card that looked to be overshadowed by hell in a cell and Rock/Cena, these two made sure to make their point. The opening minutes were great with Jericho trying to coax Punk to get disqualified and he was able to take advantage of Punk's rage to work over the back. That caused some tense moments down the stretch where it seemed like Punk was going to tap to the Walls of Jericho. Everything in this match clicked and I think the crowd would have been with them more if they weren't still recovering from hell in a cell. This was a tremendous showcase for WWE's top title on the biggest show of the year. It was never a question of whether these two were capable of delivering a fantastic match; rather, it was whether they would be put in a position to do so. They were put in that position and they succeeded. ****
At this point, Brodus Clay comes out and dances to kill time. The song repeats something about calling your mother, so he does. Believe it or not, someone who I was watching this show with live called his mom. More dancing ensues.
Match #8: John Cena vs. The Rock
Machine Gun Kelly, a personal favorite of mine, performs Cena’s entrance while Flo Rida tackles Rock’s entrance. They shove each other down to the canvas. Rock snaps off a few armdrags and attempts a quick rollup to no avail. Cena escapes an early sharpshooter and takes some time to regroup. He connects with a hard clothesline. The action goes to the outside where Rock is dropped across the announce table. In the ring, Cena hits a belly to belly suplex and applies a bearhug. Rock fights back with a DDT and a spinebuster. He thinks about the People’s Elbow but Cena catches him with a side suplex. Cena lays in the Five Knuckle Shuffle. After a struggle, they both connect with clotheslines at the same time. They exchange punches and Cena hits an Attitude Adjustment out of nowhere. After they recover, Rock answers with the Rock Bottom for a two count. Both men are down. Cena hits a side slam and comes off the top rope with a leg drop. Rock takes him down and applies a sharpshooter. Cena is able to reach the bottom rope. Rock reapplies the hold but Cena reaches the ropes once again. Cena rolls to the floor and Rock throws him into the steel steps. In the ring, Cena finds life by locking in the STF. Rock stays in the submission for quite awhile but eventually grabs hold of the bottom rope. Rock hits a samoan drop and both men are down. Cena falls victim to a spinebuster and Rock connects with the People’s Elbow for a nearfall. Cena tries a small package for a two count. He catapults Rock into the corner and attempts another rollup to no avail. They battle on the middle rope and Cena gets pushed to the canvas. Rock lands a flying crossbody but Cena rolls through and hits the Attitude Adjustment for a nearfall. Cena mocks the People’s Elbow but runs into a Rock Bottom. That gives Rock the win at 30:33. Cena and Rock went out there and had a very good match that was taken to the next level due to the atmosphere in the arena. At no point throughout the course of the contest did I think the word “epic” was appropriate – but that’s okay. Given the build over the last year, I wasn’t truly expecting the Cena/Rock confrontation at WrestleMania to be epic. From what I’ve seen, the match at Survivor Series hurt their cause more than it helped and I haven’t been blown away by any of the back and forth promos. However, these two still had a solid match with an intriguing finish that met my expectations. Additionally, I think both men should be really proud of their performances. I didn’t get the “epic” vibe from this match, but it was the right way to end WrestleMania. ***¾
Overall: There wasn't much middle ground on this show. Any given match was either overwhelmingly dull or stellar and memorable. At the end of the day, I think I'll look back on WrestleMania XXVIII with positive thoughts. Let's face it – if you went into this show expecting Kane/Orton, Rhodes/Big Show, the twelve-man tag, or even Bryan/Sheamus to be given the opportunity to standout, you were going to be disappointed all along. Now that doesn't excuse WWE from giving their World Heavyweight Title match eighteen seconds, but I'd have to think that expectations were significantly lower for those matches. The good news is that the top three matches on the show came through in a big way. Undertaker/HHH was absolutely phenomenal, the WWE Title match received enough time to be great, and the main event was a satisfying way to end the night. Considering that those three matches took up about half the show, I have no problem giving WrestleMania XXVIII a recommendation based on them alone.