Match 1: Belfast Brawl - JBL vs. Finlay
This feud may have to be one of the most ridiculous things the WWE has ever came up with. Either way, a match between these two is a nice way to put them on the card and also give us a cool opener. They really tried their best to make this a very heated and personal feud, but it just didn't work. With little Hornswoggle by his side, Finlay looks to defend his son's honor against JBL. Can't believe I just said that, how silly is this for a WrestleMania match. They brought in all the gimmicks that included a trash can and a table as they beat the crap out of each other to the crowd's delight. Hilarious spot came when JBL tossed a trash can at Hornswoggle. Despite Finlay driving JBL through a table, JBL still squeaks out the win after a Clothesline from Hell. This feud can finally be put to rest. Very cool to see the show start with the sun still out.
Winner: JBL
Rating: **
Match 2: Money in the Bank - John Morrison vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. CM Punk vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. MVP vs. Chris Jericho
This is easily one of my favorite Money in the Bank matches, good amount of star power with a bunch of cool spots along with an awesome finish. Of course, this was the match that Jeff Hardy was scheduled to win until you know, extracurricular activities got in the way. Regardless, these guys put on a show as everyone in the match was involved with some sort of marquee spot. Marquee spots that also Matt Hardy make his grand return and hit a Twist of Fate to MVP off the ladder. Perfect booking, only if his brother Jeff was still around for this. But nothing was perhaps bigger than Shelton Benjamin being tossed off a ladder and crashing through a ladder on the outside. Chris Jericho and CM Punk battled at the very end until Jericho got caught up within the ladder to allow Punk to secure the briefcase. The perfect ending to the match with the right guy picking up the win. Many predicted Jericho to win but his status is fine without winning, why not make a new star out of this which they did in CM Punk. This was truly the start of Punk's rise into the main event.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ****1/4
Match 3: Batista vs. Umaga
What a sight it is to see the stadium lit up in the night as Batista and Umaga make their grand entrances for the battle of brand supremacy match. This feels like WrestleMania. This is also the WWE's way to put these guys on the card. Somewhat of a shame for Batista considering he basically carried the company in a terrible year that was 2007. Always felt like he deserved a better spot on the card because of that. I dug how they had the general managers come out and announce their respective participants. Nice little touch. Umaga dominated most of the match before Batista made a final comeback and hit him with a sweet Batista Bomb that he just barely got off. Batista falling backwards as he hit it made it look even nicer, regardless if he nearly botched it. Very quick match here to just put these guys on the card.
Winner: Batista
Rating: *3/4
Match 4: ECW Championship - Chavo Guerrero (c) vs. Kane
Kane won a battle royal earlier in the day to score himself a shot at Chavo Guerrero's ECW Championship. Really? What a cheap way to get Chavo an opponent for the show. Like the last match, they had the brand's general manager in Armando Estrada announce the participants for the match. Guerrero looks pumped up as he awaits his opponent in Kane who comes out from under the ring to hit a Chokeslam for the win. Why did Kane have to attack him from behind? Why do they constantly have to bury ECW like this? That literally did no favors for anyone.
Winner: Kane
Rating: n/a
Match 5: Career Threatening - Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
"My game plan? To be the man!" - Ric Flair. The buildup to this match was off the charts. Loved how Shawn Michaels gradually accepted the challenge before giving his classic Old Yeller promo. If you haven't seen that promo before or haven't seen it in a good minute, do yourselves a favor and watch it before this match! The atmosphere for this match was simply electric, from the crowd down to Jim Ross on commentary. Michaels brought out all the big moves and false finishes here as he carried Flair to the best match they could possibly have before Michaels ends Flair's career with a Sweet Chin Music. It's almost as if you knew Flair's career was coming to a close, but you just didn't want to believe it. Do people tend to overrate the match? Sure. And sure, the ending was pretty corny but it went well with the moment and this was more than a suitable finish to Flair's in-ring career with the WWE. Of course, this would definitely mean more if he never competed in TNA years later. Regardless, this remains an iconic WrestleMania moment and this wasn't even the best part of the night.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Rating: ***1/2
Match 6: Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack - Maria & Ashley vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina
After the emotional retirement match of Ric Flair, we have Snoop Dogg leading the Divas down to the ring for a the filler of the century. The best part of the match was Santino Marella who I always thought was gold as a heel. Unfortunate part of the show struck here when the lights completely shut off during the match that I'm sure left Vince McMahon run around like a mad man in the back. Jerry Lawler knocks out Marella after Marella pulled Maria out of the ring during a pin attempt. However, Beth Phoenix still manages to finish Maria off for the win. Afterwards, Snoop Dogg comes in and clotheslines Marella before kissing Maria. The match blew but the ending scene with Snoop was pretty sweet. Time for the main events!
Winners: Beth Phoenix & Melina
Rating: 3/4*
Match 7: WWE Championship - Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena vs. Triple H (Taken from Randy Orton - The Evolution of a Predator DVD (Disc 3) Review)
Some fantastic entrances for these guys as it is time for Raw's
WrestleMania main event. Funny to see how white John Cena is compared to
the tanned bodies of Randy Orton and Triple H. I remember the hype
being pretty high for this match and it falling flat on its face. While I
won't go as far as saying it fell flat on its face, it definitely
didn't live up to its expectations. Everything just felt so rushed and I
wasn't able to feel the tension between the three guys that was built
so well before this. However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy the
match. I could almost compare this match to the triple threat match at
WrestleMania 22 for the World Heavyweight Championship. There was never
really a dull moment but I never really got the chance to stop and
digest everything. A rather forgettable match with a couple cool spots
like Orton delivering a DDT simultaneously to Cena and Triple H off the
middle rope or Cena hoisting both Orton and Triple H on his back for the
FU. The finish saw Orton punt Triple H in the skull and cover Cena for
the win as he escapes with the WWE Championship. Although Cena had a lot
of steam coming from his return at the Royal Rumble, Orton was
ultimately the right choice here. He was for sure the wild card of
everything and got his big WrestleMania win.Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: ***1/4
Match 8: No Disqualification - The Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Is this the biggest celebrity match in the history of the WWE? This very well might be. I recall the crazy amount of buzz the angle at No Way Out received through huge media outlets that included TMZ and I think even ESPN. I'm not sure if the crowd was just drained from the card or if they just didn't care much for this match, but they were certainly quiet for the first half of the match. But give credit where it is absolutely due, Floyd Mayweather Jr. certainly loves the spotlight and for good reason, he is good. He got more heat than just about anyone else on the card here. Even with the crowd not really being in to the match for the first portion of it, he still did a fantastic job of setting things up for the second half and leading us to believe that The Big Show had this in the bag. Things really picked up when Mayweather and his team decided they wanted out as they left the match and walked up the ramp, Big Show had none of it. Show ran up the ramp, ran through Mayweather's team and proceeded to drag Mayweather back to the ring. Can't believe that Mayweather allowed Show to chop him and even step on him like that. Kudos to him for that. However, Mayweather manged to bring Show down to his knees with a steel chair before grabbing a pair of brass knuckles and knocking out Show with one gruesome punch to his jaw. Wow. That surely exceeded anyone's expectations. Great stuff from top to bottom with Mayweather cementing himself as an overall star. Good to see Big Show get his WrestleMania moment on a huge spot on the card.
Winner: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Rating: ***1/2
Match 9: World Heavyweight Championship - Edge (c) vs. The Undertaker
How cool was it to have the SmackDown main event close out the show? The last time that had happened before this? That would be WrestleMania XIX in 2003. Plus, Edge more than earned his spot in the main event and more than earned his spot at WrestleMania against The Undertaker. Oh, and last time The Undertaker closed out a WrestleMania before this? WrestleMania 13 in 1997. Couple more fun facts, this was the only WrestleMania that Edge would close out and also one of Edge's last WrestleManias as he would retire only three years later. Who would have thought that Edge's career was on its last legs at this moment? I got chills watching Edge come down to the ring as The Undertaker looked on. The years of hard work had finally rewarded him with the ultimate spot in the business. And what a match it was. I love how Edge did not look afraid of neither The Undertaker nor the spotlight, he stood in there and hung with the best. Loved the false finishes and loved seeing The Deadman Chokeslam the Edgeheads on top of each other. Edge hit a Spear on Undertaker that wasn't enough to finish him off, he tried hitting another one but got caught up in The Phenom's Hell's Gate finisher. Edge taps! Awesome match and an awesome finish! The Undertaker continues to reinvent himself as he more than establishes his new submission finisher to close out the night. The sight of The Undertaker hoisting the World Heavyweight Championship as the pyro sets off was the perfect ending to the night.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: ****1/2
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
The 2008 edition of WrestleMania delivered on so many different levels. The special attraction match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was spectacular, Ric Flair's historic last match in the WWE was as emotional as it can get, Randy Orton retaining his gold cemented him as a star, CM Punk winning an awesome Money in the Bank match and lastly, the main event closing out the night on an incredible note. I think this is one WrestleMania that we will look back at in years to come and remember how great it was.
Rating: 9/10
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