WWE WrestleMania XXVII Review

From August 25, 2011.

Match 1: World Heavyweight Championship - Edge (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
For the first time ever in WrestleMania history, the World Heavyweight Championship is on the line in the opening bout. It is Edge being accompanied by Christian defending his title against Alberto Del Rio who is accompanied by Brodus Clay. Del Rio has to be the fastest person to ever be in a marquee match as he looks to focus on Edge's arm and capture the World Heavyweight Championship where he looks absolutely confident in his work. Good match with lots of arm work from Del Rio early on before things get a little bit out of hand. Del Rio nearly scored a fluke victory early on when Ricardo Rodriguez pushed Edge's leg off the bottom rope disrupting a rope break. Brodus Clay also got involved by pulling Edge into a ring post but Christian took care of him which led to Del Rio getting Speared after being locked in a submission from Edge. Afterwards, Edge and Christian both destroy Del Rio's car and celebrate the victory. Good match and a good moment to see Edge and Christian atop the ladder.
Winner: Edge
Rating: ***

Match 2: Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
In a feud that started over Mysterio hitting a 619 on Rhodes which led to apparently getting his face ruined, the two took on each other at the grandest stage of them all. Cody has come a long way from wrestling pointless matches to having a great one with a star like Mysterio who dressed as Captain America here at WrestleMania. Some decent action was filled throughout the match but they just seemingly couldn't get the ball rolling and the crowd wasn't much into the action. Rhodes, however, did look pretty impressive his amazing delayed suplex on the second rope as well as playing the classic heel by using his face mask as a weapon. Mysterio later removed that mask and tried to put it on to which the referee then took it off of him. This have Rhodes the chance to capitalize on the turned away referee who then nailed Mysterio over the head with the knee brace and then hitting his finisher to pick up the win. A good match but nothing too impressive. Nice to see Rhodes get the win at the big show.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Rating: **3/4

Match 3: The Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, & Santino Marella vs. The Corre
It's not time for the match that is just there to get guys on the card somehow. Big Show & Kane have been having some beef with The Corre and they look to settle things here with Santino & Kingston. Kingston is replacing Kozlov's spot as he was attacked earlier by The Corre. Really quick match with melee ensuing about a minute in which led to Santino hitting The Cobra on Heath Slater by Show knocking him out. Nothing special, just here to get them on the card. No harm, no foul.
Winners: The Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, & Santino Marella
Rating: 1/2*

Match 4: Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
Two years ago, Orton punted Punk in the skull and caused him to lose the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to Punk holding grudges over people, he decided to finally capture his revenge and do his best to make Orton's life a living hell. For the weeks and even months leading to WrestleMania, CM Punk & The New Nexus did just that and even injured Orton's knee. However, without any men at ringside, Punk had to take on Orton one on one. Much of Orton's matches consist of slow and methodical wrestling and this was no different but only for the better. Things were really personal here so a slow and methodical match wouldn't make much sense but because of Orton's knee, Punk allowed himself to thrive on Orton's in ring abilities and make things much more interesting. His focusing on Orton's knee was brilliant as he relentlessly tore apart his knee throughout the course of the match while mocking Orton all the way through which in my opinion, allows the viewers to soak themselves in Punk's methodical beat down of Orton's knee. Punk controlled the majority of the match through this tactic but Orton knocked Punk's lights out with an RKO after Punk jumped off the top rope. Great match with a lot of psychology coming into play, may not be for everyone but still enjoyable.
Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: ***1/4

Match 5: Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler
For months and months, the commentators of Cole and Lawler have been going at it and they look to settle things at WrestleMania. Funny thing, this is the one match that has gotten the most storyline time and development. Steve Austin was announced as the special guest referee in this one with Jack Swagger being Cole's guard at ringside. Not going to get into this one too much because it basically was as bad as a typical Divas match. Lawler makes Cole tap out with the Ankle Lock but because of Austin's bias duties as a referee, the anonymous Raw GM reversed the decision and Cole was then announced as the winner. You can skip this because this was as boring as it gets and went for over 20 minutes.
Winner: Michael Cole
Rating: 1/4*

Match 6: No Holds Barred - The Undertaker vs. Triple H
This is no doubt the biggest match on the card and is quite possibly one of the biggest matches in WrestleMania history, it's The Undertaker taking on Triple H as Triple H looks to snap The Streak. It should be noted that this is also Triple H's first televised match in over a year so let's see how ring rust plays a factor during the course of this match or not. Triple H makes his epic entrance in front of over 70,000 people with a group of men with shields barricading him before they make room for The Game. Triple H waits for a few seconds in the ring alone before The Undertaker arrives and makes his way to the ring! Bell sounds and it's game time! The two go right at it early on and eventually take it outside where they won't be counted out. While outside, Triple H slams Undertaker through Michael Cole's little cube and then tries to land a Pedigree on the announcers table. However, Undertaker counters by back dropping Triple H up and over the table and onto the ringside floor! Undertaker gets back in the ring and leaps over the top rope and onto The Game! Great sequence of events there. It's kind of like a foreshadowing of what is next to come. Undertaker then does his best to demolish Triple H on the outside and even slams his face onto the bottom half of the steel steps. Undertaker places him on the steps and runs as fast as he can towards him to take him out but Triple H lands a Spinebuster onto the table! Back in the ring we go but both men seem a bit drained from that outside brawl. However, as soon as they back in the ring, Undertaker lands a Chokeslam out of nowhere but it's not enough to pin Triple H! Good surprise there but I find it odd how Undertaker is all of a sudden okay after that table spot. Later on, Triple H brings in a steel chair and this is where the brutality of the match kicks up an extra notch. Undertaker immediately grabs the chair from him and drills Triple H with it! Right after, Triple H lands a Pedigree out of nowhere but doesn't get the full count! Undertaker gets back into the thick of things and lands both The Last Ride and a Tombstone on Triple H but Triple H kicks out of both! While not as dramatic as it seems, the match's pace is amazing and they are putting on a show. Triple H then takes advantage of things by landing a DDT on the chair and another Pedigree but it's still not enough to get the win! The Game decides to go for another Pedigree and hits it but it's still not enough to get the win! Triple H is irate! He now picks up the chair and as death in his eyes. He starts destroying Undertaker with it by striking him with shot after shot and yelling for him to stay down, a flashback of last year's WrestleMania main event. Beautiful. With all the yelling being done by The Game, Undertaker grabs Hunter by the throat but doesn't have enough strength or energy to do anything. This leads to Triple H hitting a Tombstone on Undertaker who kicks out! What an incredible two minutes! Absolutely amazing with the crowd going nuts, you can't script this emotion. This only leads to Triple H going for the deadly sledgehammer but Undertaker locks in the Hell's Gate! Triple H does all he can to fight back and as he lifts the hammer in the air to take out Undertaker, he drops it due to exhaustion and taps out! The ending sequence was amazing but went on for a little too long but that doesn't take away from what was an amazing match. Both men deserve credit for this piece of art and what will surely be remembered as an all time WrestleMania great.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: ****1/2

Match 7: Trish Stratus, Snooki, & John Morrison vs. Layla, Michelle McCool, & Dolph Ziggler
This is the celebrity part of the show and it involves Snooki. Really don't want to get into this one since this was just one stupid filler match in there to get these guys on the show as well as Snooki. It was great to see Trish back in the ring but she didn't do much, nor did anyone else since this match was really short. Snooki showed off her athletic side and pinned Michelle McCool to get the win for her team. Short and something to fill the gap between the last match and the main event. I didn't like it but it'll give WWE some mainstream attention and the gap was much needed.
Winners: Trish Stratus, Snooki, & John Morrison
Rating: 1/4*

Match 8: WWE Championship - The Miz (c) vs. John Cena
Coming out to grand entrances, it's John Cena challenging The Miz for the WWE Championship in the main event. Amazing how far The Miz has come and to see him now headlining a WrestleMania against John Cena. Crowd at this point seems absolutely dead and this is probably the quietest WrestleMania main event crowd I have ever seen. The action inside was decent but nothing that stood out or anything that was WrestleMania worthy. In fact, this kind of felt like watching a Raw main event. They did their regular moves but when the crowd is this tired out, it just doesn't seem like much and it's hard to get invested in. Cena takes Miz to the outside and clotheslines him off the ringside barricade where The Miz gets his head slammed straight onto the floor. Both men are unable to reach the count of 10 and the referee calls for the bell. The Rock then comes out and announces that the match must restart. Cena rolls Miz into the ring but gets planted by The Rock! Miz covers Cena and gets the win. Afterwards, The Rock Rock Bottoms The Miz and stands tall to close the show. I didn't like this at all. You have a match that feels like something you would see on Raw, a stupid restart, and a cheap finish. This all felt more like an angle on Raw than a PPV main event. The action that lasted in the ring was fine but again, nothing that stood out or anything to buy into. If they're going to toss away a WrestleMania event like this, then next year's main event should blow this entire show out of the water.
Winner: The Miz
Rating: *1/2

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Definitely one of the weakest shows in a long time. Everything was either good, forgettable, or just bad. The Undertaker vs. Triple H match was definitely the highlight of the show and probably the one match that should justify your purchase of this show. The main event was very weak and a bad way to end the show. However, we must realize that this is 2011 and this show revolves more around sports entertainment rather than pure professional wrestling. The Rock couldn't even save this show himself.
Rating: 5.5/10