Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker steal the show for the second year in a row.
Fantasia Barino starts us off with America the Beautiful. The woman has a powerful voice, I’ll give her that. The routinely awesome video package follows. Our announcers tonight are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker. Even the Spanish announce team is here.
Opening Match: Unified Tag Team Titles: Big Show and Miz © vs. John Morrison and R-Truth
Morrison catches Miz with a dropkick and Truth adds a flying leg drop. Show tags in and hits a big fallaway slam on Truth. He climbs the turnbuckles but Morrison kicks him off. Morrison flapjacks Miz but misses Starship Pain. Show catches Truth and hurls him into the ringpost. Morrison goes for a springboard move but Show lays him out with his knockout punch to retain the titles at 3:21. Criminally short. It kind of defeats the purpose of an opener when you don’t give it enough time to get the crowd excited for the show. It was fine for a three-minute match, but this had way more potential. *½
Match #2: Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
I give Rhodes the advantage here just because of his boots. Look at them and tell me you don’t agree. DiBiase and Rhodes go straight after Orton. He’s able to fight them off for a bit until the numbers game finally catches up to him. DiBiase and Rhodes hit a double team suplex along with a high-low. Rhodes was a little late on the “low” part. DiBiase goes for a cover and dissention ensues. Rhodes throws him to the floor and hits an alabama slam on Orton. DiBiase decks Rhodes with a punch and they start brawling. Orton comes back with powerslams. He hits an inverted backbreaker on Rhodes. DiBiase gets caught on the floor with a plancha by Rhodes. In the ring, Orton catches his opponents with a double rope-assisted DDT. Orton punts Rhodes in the head and hits an RKO on DiBiase for the win at 9:02. This match ended up being exactly what I expected. The crowd was insanely into Orton and that helped things greatly. I don’t necessarily dislike the finish, but WWE really needs to decide what they want to do with DiBiase and Rhodes. Nonetheless, some good storytelling and a rabid crowd made this moderately enjoyable. **¼
Josh Matthews is with the heel divas backstage. Vickie Guerrero is ready for tonight and Jillian Hall comes in to sing horrifically. Santino Marella makes a WrestleMania appearance by interrupting and saying that anything is possible with a Slim Jim. Every time he takes a bite of his, Jillian changes into a different person. We have transformations into Mae Young, Gene Okerlund, and Melina. Somewhat fun skit here.
Match #3: Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Kofi Kingston vs. MVP vs. Evan Bourne vs. Jack Swagger vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Matt Hardy vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Kane vs. Christian
It’s a brawl to start. MVP brings a ladder into the ring and McIntyre tries to climb it to no avail. Hardy hits the Twist of Fate on McIntyre and MVP mafia kicks him to the floor. Everyone tries to climb the ladder. Kane chokeslams Bourne to the outside. Kofi knocks over a ladder holding Hardy and Swagger. Christian monkey flips Kofi into a ladder. Dolph slams Christian off a ladder but MVP does the same to him. Kane gets rammed with a ladder but powerbombs Kofi onto it. Benjamin hits Pay Dirt on MVP. Swagger knocks Benjamin off a ladder and keeps everyone out of the ring. Bourne connects with double knees on Swagger. Swagger gets trapped under a ladder while getting rammed with two other ladders. Hardy falls off a ladder platform while Bourne kicks Christian off another one. Bourne lands Air Bourne off a ladder and onto Christian. Hardy hip tosses Bourne off the top of a ladder. Swagger sends Hardy crashing into a ladder. Benjamin hurricanranas MVP to the floor where Kane hurls a ladder at them. Kane pushes Dolph off a ladder and then chokeslams him onto one. Kane breaks the ladder into two pieces during the process of punishing Dolph. Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise on Kane and uses the two pieces of ladder as stilts! McIntyre stops the fun and climbs a ladder. Hardy pushes him off and the man gets crotched on the top rope. Kane gets pushed off a ladder. Christian hits an inverted DDT on Hardy from the top of a ladder. Michael Cole calls it a Twist of Fate. Vintage Christian? Swagger uses the briefcase to knock Christian off a ladder. After some trouble, Swagger retrieves the briefcase to become Mr. Money In The Bank at 13:40. For the sheer amount of guys in this match, it was structured nicely to highlight everyone. Everything was pulled off fairly clean and there were some standout moments. While the winner was fairly unpredictable, I think that Swagger has a tremendous upside and can make an impact if he’s used right. At this point, I believe that it’s time to rethink the Money in the Bank concept. This was a good match, but WWE needs to cut down on the number of participants and start making this match type more than just a crazy spotfest. Just look at the inaugural match at WrestleMania 21 as an example. ***
The Hall of Fame class of 2010 is highlighted as everyone has their moment on the stage.
Match #4: Sheamus vs. Triple H
Sheamus shoves Triple H in the corner and talks trash. Triple H answers with a slap and some punches. Sheamus escapes an early Pedigree attempt. Triple H hits a suplex along with a knee drop. He follows with a chop block and locks in a figure four. Sheamus makes the ropes. The action goes to the floor where Triple H is whipped into the ring steps. Back in, Sheamus hits a backbreaker and takes over. Triple H comes back with a back suplex followed by a DDT. He connects with a running knee and a facebuster. They escape each other’s finisher. Sheamus hits his pump kick for a nearfall. Triple H responds with a spinebuster but falls victim to another pump kick. Both men are down. Triple H hits the Pedigree for the victory at 12:07. We can sit around and call Triple H a nazi for not putting over Sheamus. However, the fact of the matter is that Sheamus looked really strong here and will come out of this match for the better. They meshed well and generated some believable nearfalls down the stretch. Good showings by both men made this a fun match for the middle of the card. **¾
Match #5: CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
If Mysterio loses, he must join the Straight Edge Society. Punk did his usual microphone work during his entrance. A distraction by Luke Gallows allows Punk to get the jump to start. He misses a baseball slide but recovers and slams Mysterio into the ring steps. Mysterio comes back with a springboard seated senton but gets caught with a powerslam. Punk absolutely lays in a kick to the side of the head. Mysterio flips into a DDT to start his comeback. He nearly gets caught with a Go 2 Sleep but escapes. Punk avoids a frog splash and connects with a running knee. Serena blocks a 619. Mysterio hurricanranas Punk into Gallows and hits the 619 for the win at 6:31. This was a nice preview of what these two can do together. The problem is that this is WrestleMania and the fans were denied a possible show-stealer here. They made the most out of their seven minutes and the crowd was solidly into the action. I just thought that given the feud, we would have received something a little more special with this match. **½
Match #6: No Holds Barred: Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon
Vince has a microphone with him. He says that Bret deserves to get screwed tonight. Apparently, Vince has bought out Bret’s family. Everyone is there and Bruce Hart is even the special referee. Bret reveals that the Hart family is united and that everyone agreed to Vince’s plan so they could cash in their checks. Bret connects with a few punches and the Hart Dynasty add in some shots on the outside. The Hart Dynasty hit the Heart Attack and roll Vince back into the ring. Vince tries to crawl under the ring but the Hart Family stop him. Vice pulls out a crowbar and everyone backs off. Bret gains control of the crowbar and gets a few shots in. He teases the sharpshooter but decides to go back to the crowbar. Bret now grabs a chair and hits Vince repeatedly…eighteen times to be exact. Bret locks in the sharpshooter for the victory at 11:09. I severely don’t understand the booking of this match. Why not save the swerve for later in the match? Have Vince control the first couple minutes, then slowly have the Hart family begin to turn on Vince, then add the weapons. This whole fiasco was entirely too long and completely one-sided. This was supposed to be one of the highlights of the show, yet I found myself waiting for this to be over. They dropped the ball in the execution of this encounter, plain and simple. *
Match #7: World Heavyweight Title: Chris Jericho © vs. Edge
They trade shoulder tackles. Edge hits a flapjack and teases the spear. Jericho baseball slides him to the floor and takes over back in the ring. Edge avoids a charge and connects with a spin kick. Jericho drapes him across the top rope but gets sent to the floor and into the announce table. Edge connects with a clothesline from the apron. In the ring, Edge hits a gourdbuster from the top along with a flying crossbody. Jericho rolls through a pin attempt but can’t lock in the Walls of Jericho. They avoid each other’s finishers and Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho. Edge turns it into a small package for a two count. Jericho goes for a lionsault but Edge hits the Edge-O-Matic. Jericho responds with an enzuigiri but falls victim to an Edgecution. Jericho comes off the middle rope with a forearm. Edge blocks a spear with a boot. He goes for a spear of his own but Jericho counters with the Codebreaker. Jericho starts targeting Edge’s previously injured achilles. He synchs in another Walls of Jericho and eventually transitions into a half crab to target the achilles. Edge makes the ropes. Both men are sent to the floor. Jericho grabs his title belt but Edge throws him back into the ring. Edge bumps into the referee and Jericho lays him out with a belt shot. Jericho covers for a nearfall. Jericho hits the Codebreaker to retain his title at 15:48. A lot of people were probably expecting something more epic, but they worked a very good match while leaving room for the feud to continue. I liked the psychology of Jericho going to work on Edge’s previously hurt achilles, the injury that broke up their partnership nine months ago. They teased their finishers nicely throughout and didn’t go crazy with the nearfalls down the stretch. This is just a case of two smart wrestlers making the most out of their spot on the card. ***½
After the match, Jericho tries to damage the achilles even more. Edge fights him off and sets him up on an announce table. Edge runs across the two announce tables and spears Jericho through the barricade.
Match #8: Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, and Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Vickie Guerrero
Vickie uses her power advantage (?) to bully Gail. Beth tags in and carries Vickie into her corner. The faces take turns getting shots in on Vickie and Kelly hits her leg drop. Michelle picks Kelly up into the Faith Breaker. Mickie catches Michelle with a tornado DDT. Everyone else hits their finisher. Beth looks to have Vickie cornered but Michelle saves her. The heels setup Kelly and assist Vickie to the top rope…EPIC HOG SPLASH…1..2..KELLY’S SHOULDER IS UP!!….MINI HOG SPLASHES…Vickie gets the win at 3:04. Folks, if you didn’t know that the divas were a joke, you do now. This was a terrible match and one that didn’t deserve to take time away from the opener and Punk/Mysterio. Considering that the divas are a joke, the epically botched finish just adds entertainment value at this point. ¼*
Match #9: WWE Title: Batista © vs. John Cena
Cena receives a super special entrance, with marines doing a routine. Batista takes him down with a shoulder block and connects with a northern lariat. He starts focusing his offense on Cena’s neck. Cena counters a suplex into one of his own and hits a bulldog. Batista counters an Attitude Adjustment into an absolutely sick DDT. They exchange punches and Batista maintains control with a neckbreaker. Cena comes back with a shoulder block and side slam. He goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Batista hits a big spinebuster. Cena locks in the STF but Batista makes the ropes and responds with a spear. Cena fights him off the top rope and connects with a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Batista fights off an Attitude Adjustment and hits the Batista Bomb for a nearfall. Batista’s look after the two count is absolutely priceless. After some reversals, Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment for a two count. He comes off the top but Batista catches him with a spinebuster. Cena rolls out of a Batista Bomb and locks in the STF to become the new WWE Champion at 13:30. This was pretty short at only thirteen minutes but I think it benefited the match. They were forced to keep everything concise and the match had little wasted movement. Batista was on point, impressively keeping his offense focused on Cena’s neck. Some genuine nearfalls were generated down the stretch and the crowd was with them the whole way. As much as some of us like to hate on these two at points, they delivered a very good semi-main event. ***½
Match #10: No Disqualification: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
If Shawn Michaels loses, he must retire. They stare each other down and Shawn mocks Undertaker’s taunt. Shawn connects with some chops but falls victim to snake eyes. Undertaker hits Old School and it appears he tweaked his leg on the way down. Shawn goes after the left leg when possible. Undertaker narrowly avoids Sweet Chin Music and clotheslines Shawn to the floor. He goes for a repeat of his insane dive from last year but Shawn blocks it with a spear. Undertaker fights off a figure four, sending Shawn to the floor. Undertaker rams Shawn into the ringpost and hits a guillotine leg drop. Back in, Shawn finds an opening to lock in the figure four. Undertaker turns it over to escape. They trade strikes. Shawn connects with his flying forearm and kips up…INTO A CHOKESLAM! He’s able to kick out at two. Shawn reverses a Tombstone Piledriver into an ankle lock. He grapevines the leg but Undertaker kicks his way out of the hold. Shawn clotheslines Undertaker to the floor. Undertaker catches him off a springboard and Tombstones him on the outside. That gets a two count back in the ring. Shawn counters the Last Ride into a sit-out facebuster. Undertaker gets his knees up on a flying elbow drop attempt. He locks in Hell’s Gate but Shawn turns it into a pin attempt for a two count. Shawn connects with Sweet Chin Music for a nearfall. Undertaker blocks a second one and hits the Last Ride for another nearfall. He sends Shawn to the floor and rips the monitors out of an announce table. Shawn escapes a Last Ride and hits Sweet Chin Music, sending Undertaker onto the announce table. Shawn climbs up top…MOONSAULT ONTO UNDERTAKER THROUGH THE TABLE! In maybe the best touch of psychology I’ve ever seen, Shawn targeted Undertaker’s bad leg with the moonsault. In the ring, Shawn connects with Sweet Chin Music for a nearfall. Undertaker avoids another Sweet Chin Music and hits a chokeslam. He follows with the Tombstone Piledriver…SHAWN KICKS OUT! Undertaker puts his straps down. Shawn uses Undertaker’s tights to pull himself up. Undertaker tells him to stay down. Shawn taunts Undertaker and then slaps him…JUMPING TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER BY UNDERTAKER!! That gives Undertaker the win and ends Shawn Michaels’ career at 23:59. Undertaker poses in the ring as fireworks go off. He pulls Shawn to his feet and shakes his hand. Shawn has his moment in the ring with tears rolling down his face. He walks up the ramp and yells “I’m going to drive my kids nuts in three weeks”. He poses at the top of the entrance. Jerry Lawler quietly adds “Shawn, it’s over. Goodbye. We will miss you.” as Shawn walks through the curtain and the show ends.
The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels put on a match that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. The sheer emotion displayed throughout the course of the twenty-four minutes was unlike anything I’ve witnessed before in my time watching professional wrestling. The early leg work was extremely well-executed. Undertaker was incredible at selling, to the point where you have to wonder if he was legitimately hurt. The greatness of this match continued with them adding nods to their match at last year’s WrestleMania. I will say right now that this match is not perfect. The transition into the beginning of the finishers was a tad out of nowhere. However, the emotional investment in the finishing stretch was unparalleled. They masterfully worked in nearfalls and that was to be expected after their encounter last year. My only other criticism is that the match could have been longer with even more close finishes. I don’t support the degrading of finishers but it would have been appropriate here. I think more nearfalls would have just added to the overall atmosphere and made the finish more profound. Still, what these two men did on this night will stay with me forever. They showed the professional wrestling world how storytelling and emotion can make a match entirely more memorable. I can’t think of a better way for Shawn Michaels to end his unprecedented career. ****½
Just as an aside, I want to pay tribute to my favorite wrestler of all time. I am eighteen years old. I started watching professional wrestling in 1997. I will never forget watching the VHS of WrestleMania 12 with my parents. The main event is why I am as big of a wrestling fan as I am today. As I grew up, I didn’t follow professional wrestling as closely until I started watching matches from Shawn Michaels’ return in 2002. The man is the reason I love this business. Thank you Shawn Michaels.
Overall: WrestleMania XXVI is a definite improvement over last year, without reaching spectacular heights. Anyone who is a fan of professional wrestling needs to see the main event. It’s not just historical. It’s also one of the smartest and most emotional matches in recent memory. The show also features two very good title matches that did their job when considering their placement and allotted time. Unfortunately, Bret and Vince deliver an uninspired, one-sided mess while the Divas’ match is actually laughable. WrestleMania XXVI won’t rank among the elite editions of the event, but it is worth watching if only for the awesomeness that Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker bring once again.
Could not agree more on your comments on WM.