Gustimania #2

18.2.2009 4.06 pm

Wrestlemania 25, just over 40 plus days to go and I just came off watching the first Raw show that leads up to the biggest event in sports entertainment. Already, in that 16/2 edition of that program (which was aired the day after here in Malaysia), they have laid the foundation for three matches which is no doubt will be the main attractions for Wrestlemania. I will talk about each matches individually and evaluate the potential of the matches to be bad or great.

1) Cena and Edge over the World Heavyweight Championship.

After coming off an amazing and very surprising No Way Out, Raw started with Edge coming out with Vickie Guerrero celebrating his triumph in winning the World Heavyweight Championship after knocking Kofi Kingston and inserted himself into the Raw Elimination Chamber match after earlier at the same night, losing his WWE Championship to Triple H in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match. After basking in his glorious moment, Cena came out and demand the rematch. A very simple start for this feud heading to Wrestlemania. Edge and Cena have had history between them in the past (which was pointed out by Edge during their confrontation), and I simply cannot wait for these two to get it on at Wrestlemania.

They had some of the best matches in 2006, if my memory serves me correctly. The matches at Royal Rumble, Sumerslam and the best of the lot, the TLC match at Unforgiven, showed the great chemistry between this two. This feud will be interesting, especially when Cena in the hunter mode and Edge become the hunted. No doubt there will be a lot of cross-brand interactions between these two superstars.

2) Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

The challenge has been thrown. JBL vs HBK next week on Raw with the winner to challenge Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania. I will not think that the WWE creative team will be stupid enough that they actually think that JBL vs Undertaker will draw more attention that HBK vs Taker. Imagine the sight at Houston when two of the greatest Texan ever to grace the WWE ring, Taker and Michaels, fighting it out at the grandest stage of them all. It is too big of a match for the creative team to not consider.

HBK-Taker, of course has had history of great matches. The three matches that came to my mind is their Ground Zero confrontation back in 1997 (a very entertaining match), the first Hell in A Cell (still the best HiAC match in my book) and also when they were the last two participants at Royal Rumble 2007. Hopefully, they (the creative team) will approach and make this feud memorable. It looks like it will be HBK, the Judas against Taker. After all, as the Deadman said to Michaels, “It takes hell to go to heaven”.

3) Orton and Triple H for the WWE Championship

The ending of Raw last night was priceless. The look on Triple H face when seeing his wife Stephanie laid down after eating the RKO from Orton says it all. Sad, sorrow but at the same time, anguish, hatred and angry. Also, look at Orton face when zooming in for the kill on Stephanie. Very opportunistic and evil at the same time. That, my friend is how you play as the ultimate heel.

Ever since, Orton got this super heel push after punting Mr Mcmahon, he has stepped up his game immensely. Far more sinister in the ring, and remorseless on the mic, he really shows that he is the main heel guy on Raw. His actions towards the Mcmahon family cemented his place as the top heel. Heading towards Wrestlemania, expects fireworks from this feud, which will be driven a lot by pure emotion.

All of those things aside, I have several other thing to touch upon. Jericho against the legends has been laid out very well. I have never seen Jericho in this kind of role on mic ever. Looks like the Jericho program at Wrestlemania will be interesting, no matter whom his opponent will be. I have to watch ‘The Wrestler’. The Hardy feuding each other is okay in my book, as long as they both come out from this feud stronger and not overshadowing the other, which what they have done during the Hart feud in the past.

Looks like the card for this Wrestlemania looks very strong indeed. Three marquee matches and also more to come (Hardys, Money in The Bank, Christian, other titles). Hopefully it will pan out as strong and as solid as Wrestlemania 17, which is still in my opinion, the best PPV in the 21st century.

Until then, Ciao