Originally posted by MrShawnMichaels
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My thoughts on Mania
The overall show was from back to front a fun and entertaining watch. There was no clear classic Savage/Steamboat, Bret/Austin, Michaels/Angle, Michaels/Taker match, which sometimes elevates a particular Wrestlemania to a higher regard.
Fatal 4 Way Tag Titles was exactly what you would want from an opener. All four teams worked very hard and almost trying to prove a point that they deserved to be on the main show. Considering what was happening later, difficult. A fun match with deserved winners
Andre The Giant Battle Royal had the main story of Miz and Mizdow going into this. From being an event last year, this is the jabroni payday opportunity. Hideo Itami facing off with Big Show smells of WWE booking of small guy unable to beat a big guy. In the end, we had an anti climactic win.
Intercontinental Ladder Match was good and intense. Not like a lot of other spot fests we've had in Money in the Bank PPVs and matches. Some really cool stunts and sick bumps. All gave a good account of themselves here, no real notable botches. A worthy winner here too.
Seth Rollins v Randy Orton had a lacklustre build but the narrative weirdly here was with two guys having a mechanical and solid wrestling match. If anything, I think they could have done with a bit more fire in this match to match the heat apparently going into it. A phenomenal finish with Randy seemed very pleased with.
Sting v Triple H was a bit meh at the end of it. On a script, having the DX and NWO face off is a cool concept despite the massive plot holes. The smoke and mirrors were placed probably because they didn't trust Sting to go on for so long. The only interferences which would have been good possibly are Michaels and Flair. Not sure about the finish unless Sting has another match to avenge this defeat because his stock is worth nothing now. In the grand scheme of things, HHH couldn't lose because of the plan next year.
AJ and Paige v The Bellas wasn't as bad as other matches they've had on TV. The correct result here because we need a fresh opponent for Nikki Bella. Decent story in the match too.
John Cena v Rusev had the best entrance of any man in any sport in the history of the universe. Rusev showing up on a tank was brilliantly creative and the production was big time and big stage for him. These two delivered a solid match, not as good as the previous and again, a winner with hopefully good booking to elevate that particular title - it does need it. I hope Rusev and Lana don't break up.
The most (or second) newsworthy segment of the show. The Authority trolled the crowd like it was the opener of Raw. Out comes The Rock and he cut down the silly lines and wanted a moment for the archives v Triple H. Rock was appearing in two forms for the event - either in the main to set up Brock or to set up Hunter - and press row had broke the story earlier that it was going to be Triple H. It's needed because of the big gate they have to achieve for next year. Stephanie slapped Rock and goaded him into hitting her. He left like a wimp and walked to where Ata Johnson (his mum) was sitting instead there was the Four Horsewomen and Ronda Rousey. This was brilliant. The crowd felt the buzz and clearly the best people to do this in front of. A lot of staring and stalling directed by The Rock, which led to a well delivered line by Rousey about owning the ring and some physical between all four people, teasing the armbar finish for next year. Hopefully a mixed tag is in the works, depending on Dana White. This smells gorgeously of money.
Undertaker v Bray Wyatt marked the return of the Undertaker of two years ago. The drama in this was good with a good pace at the start, Bray slowing it down and some good false finishes to close the match. Taker losing last year really did bring life to the Sister Abigail pinfalls. Crowd was dead for the first half, picked up in the second.
Brock Lesnar v Roman Reigns was beautifully brilliant from start to finish. Brock was strong over, showed good colour from an elbow or knuckle, which I'm sure Reigns got a good receipt for. The crowd were into this like it was a fight. Great noise around this. Reigns looked fine, hokey in some mannerisms. The final sequences were fantastic. I loved the Superman punch to F5 pick up. Then
The Rollins cash in was the only logical and best way to finish the show. Two curbstomps, Lesnar is protected from the finish, Reigns got screwed and the best (or second) worker in WWE is the champion for an explosive finish.
A great crescendo to an easy viewing Wrestlemania. Barring a few booking decisions, this was better than anything they've cooked up in years for a Wrestlemania and certainly unexpected after the months of rubbish served up on Raw. As close to Wrestlemania X7 as they could get - that WM probably had better match quality with the roster they had then. This roster and creative team massively overachieved here.
Fatal 4 Way Tag Titles was exactly what you would want from an opener. All four teams worked very hard and almost trying to prove a point that they deserved to be on the main show. Considering what was happening later, difficult. A fun match with deserved winners
Andre The Giant Battle Royal had the main story of Miz and Mizdow going into this. From being an event last year, this is the jabroni payday opportunity. Hideo Itami facing off with Big Show smells of WWE booking of small guy unable to beat a big guy. In the end, we had an anti climactic win.
Intercontinental Ladder Match was good and intense. Not like a lot of other spot fests we've had in Money in the Bank PPVs and matches. Some really cool stunts and sick bumps. All gave a good account of themselves here, no real notable botches. A worthy winner here too.
Seth Rollins v Randy Orton had a lacklustre build but the narrative weirdly here was with two guys having a mechanical and solid wrestling match. If anything, I think they could have done with a bit more fire in this match to match the heat apparently going into it. A phenomenal finish with Randy seemed very pleased with.
Sting v Triple H was a bit meh at the end of it. On a script, having the DX and NWO face off is a cool concept despite the massive plot holes. The smoke and mirrors were placed probably because they didn't trust Sting to go on for so long. The only interferences which would have been good possibly are Michaels and Flair. Not sure about the finish unless Sting has another match to avenge this defeat because his stock is worth nothing now. In the grand scheme of things, HHH couldn't lose because of the plan next year.
AJ and Paige v The Bellas wasn't as bad as other matches they've had on TV. The correct result here because we need a fresh opponent for Nikki Bella. Decent story in the match too.
John Cena v Rusev had the best entrance of any man in any sport in the history of the universe. Rusev showing up on a tank was brilliantly creative and the production was big time and big stage for him. These two delivered a solid match, not as good as the previous and again, a winner with hopefully good booking to elevate that particular title - it does need it. I hope Rusev and Lana don't break up.
The most (or second) newsworthy segment of the show. The Authority trolled the crowd like it was the opener of Raw. Out comes The Rock and he cut down the silly lines and wanted a moment for the archives v Triple H. Rock was appearing in two forms for the event - either in the main to set up Brock or to set up Hunter - and press row had broke the story earlier that it was going to be Triple H. It's needed because of the big gate they have to achieve for next year. Stephanie slapped Rock and goaded him into hitting her. He left like a wimp and walked to where Ata Johnson (his mum) was sitting instead there was the Four Horsewomen and Ronda Rousey. This was brilliant. The crowd felt the buzz and clearly the best people to do this in front of. A lot of staring and stalling directed by The Rock, which led to a well delivered line by Rousey about owning the ring and some physical between all four people, teasing the armbar finish for next year. Hopefully a mixed tag is in the works, depending on Dana White. This smells gorgeously of money.
Undertaker v Bray Wyatt marked the return of the Undertaker of two years ago. The drama in this was good with a good pace at the start, Bray slowing it down and some good false finishes to close the match. Taker losing last year really did bring life to the Sister Abigail pinfalls. Crowd was dead for the first half, picked up in the second.
Brock Lesnar v Roman Reigns was beautifully brilliant from start to finish. Brock was strong over, showed good colour from an elbow or knuckle, which I'm sure Reigns got a good receipt for. The crowd were into this like it was a fight. Great noise around this. Reigns looked fine, hokey in some mannerisms. The final sequences were fantastic. I loved the Superman punch to F5 pick up. Then
The Rollins cash in was the only logical and best way to finish the show. Two curbstomps, Lesnar is protected from the finish, Reigns got screwed and the best (or second) worker in WWE is the champion for an explosive finish.
A great crescendo to an easy viewing Wrestlemania. Barring a few booking decisions, this was better than anything they've cooked up in years for a Wrestlemania and certainly unexpected after the months of rubbish served up on Raw. As close to Wrestlemania X7 as they could get - that WM probably had better match quality with the roster they had then. This roster and creative team massively overachieved here.
Found myself nodding along to most of that.
When I saw the line up I was extremely underwhelmed and was expecting very little from W31.
But many of the pairings that I was expecting to stink actually entertained, and whilst a few things sat wrong for me (DX, NWO, Rollins/Orton) it was a solid show for the most part
he didn't even look strong. 
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