The Shield were hell bent on getting revenge on the Wyatt Family. On January 31st, 2014 edition of Smackdown!, The Shield called out the Wyatts and challenge them to a match at Elimination Chamber. Instead Triple H came out and told The Shield it's not worth it to fight them, there is nothing to gain. Roman Reigns then stood in front of the COO's face and told him they were not asking for permission. So Triple H granted them the match at Elimination Chamber 2014. The Shield would go and lose that match. There where hints of declension among The Shield members for months prior. Who was the standout, future world champion of The Shield? On March 3rd, 2014, The Shield had a rematch with the Wyatt Family. During the match Seth Rollins walked out on his Shield brother-ens costing them the match. It looked like the group who debuted at Survivor Series 2012 was about to dissolve. On Smackdown! that same week, The Shield held a summit in order to fix themselves. This is where they got on to the same page again, put their egos aside, and became the ass kicking machine they were for over a year. On March 17th, 2014, Kane claimed he had evidence that Jerry "The King" Lawler had evidence that he was in on helping Daniel Bryan get all of those members of the Yes Movement into the ring during "Occupy RAW". What evidence, no one knows as Kane didn't say. So the director of operations was going to use The Shield to beat up Jerry for his supposed crimes against the Authority. What he didn't expect that the Hounds of Justice would turn on him. So instead of beating on the old man who Actually had a heart attack during RAW, they beat on the DOO. So Kane enlisted the help of Triple H's old buddies, the New Age Outlaws to aid him to teach the young pups, The Shield, a lesson. So at Wrestlemania XXX, instead of The Shield fighting against one another, they banded together to take on the old guard, Kane and the New Age Outlaws. It's Old School vs. New School.
To put things into perspective, the combined ages of Kane, Road Dogg, and Billy Gunn is 140. The Shield's combined ages is 83. That's a 57 year difference between the two teams of three. Kane & Outlaws are all over 40 and The Shield are all under 30. What's going to happen when these young and hungry competitors get into the ring with these old fogies? Dominance. The Hounds of Justice where very strong in this match. With fast and furious moves and tags. With many suicide dives and ring apron drop kicks, The Shield showed why they are a formidable foe. The Shield hit an amazing Double Triple Powerbomb. Funny how that name only make perfect sense in pro wrestling. I mean how would you double something that is already tripled? The young blood were able to quickly dispatch their opponents ending the match in 2 minutes and 56 seconds.
The late great Andre the Giant was an amazing athlete. Not just because of incredible skill but of the shear size and mass of Andre. He was an astonishing sight to see. He held a 15 year undefeated streak. At Wrestlemania III that streak was broken when Hulk Hogan defeated him and giving us the most memorable sights in the history of professional wrestling. Hulk Hogan lifting the big man right over his head and down onto the mat. Now if you watch that moment, you can clearly see Hogan didn't lift Andre past his head but hey, that's how Hulk describes this moment anytime he talks about it. Wrestlemania XXX is of course 30 years after the first Wrestlemania. The man who was involved as one of the wrestlers in the main event of Wrestlemania I is hosting Wrestlemania XXX, Hulk Hogan. To honor his friend, the Hulkster created this match in tribute to the 8th wonder of the world.
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Santino Marella looking to end The Miz's
4-0 Streak at Wrestlemania - Wrestlemania XXX |
Battle Royal's are never the pinnacle of pro wrestling skill and talent. It's just a bunch of dudes in the ring fighting, and dumping other guys out until there is one left. In the 30 year history of Wrestlemania, there were 13 battle royals, televised and non-televised. My pick for this battle royal was The Miz. Not because he's a great wrestler, it's because he had a 4-0 streak going into Wrestlemania XXX. He didn't win however, he was eliminated by comedy character, Santino Marella. The Miz didn't get pinned or submit so he still sorta does have a streak still going, but it's a stretch. Kofi Kingston has now become a highlight for Royal Rumbles. He would always do some crazy stunt to get thrown out of the ring but not eliminated. So then he can make a save to get back into the ring. This year he got thrown over the ring post but the tip of his foot was still on the steel stairs. The definition of being eliminated from a Battle Royal has always been that both feet must touch the floor. Since one foot was on the stairs, and the stairs are not the floor, he was able to re-enter the match. He was eliminated shortly after though.
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The Big Show shaking Cesaro's hand - Wrestlemania XXX |
The fan favorite going into this match was The Big Show. He even wore attire that resembled Andre the Giant. The final four in the match were Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, The Big Show, and Cesaro. Del Rio hits a cross armbreaker on Sheamus. But with the strenght of a celtic warrior, Sheamus lifts Del Rio up and over the top rope to eliminate him. However Del Rio also took Sheamus with him so both got eliminated. This leaves both Big Show and Cesaro as the last two. With Big Show at a obvious advantage, he has Cesaro up on his shoulder and tries to dump him over the top. However the Swiss Superman counters, hits a huge uppercut on him, and lifts the giant up in a homage to Hogan/Andre and dumps him over the top rope for the win. Earlier in the night, Cesaro lost during the Wrestlemania Pre-Show to the Usos. After the match, he got into a fight with his tag team partner Jack Swagger. This ended Cesaro's night in fantastic fashion, showing that he can stand on his own and possibly doesn't need Zeb Coulter anymore, he's just too good.
Winner: Cesaro
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Cesaro holding up the Andre trophy - Wrestlemania XXX |
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
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The Wyatt Family - WWE RAW 2/24/2014 |
Bray Wyatt is a complex individual. Making his debut by beating Kane down, Bray is one of WWE's many mythical characters. Only rivaled by the Brothers of Destruction themselves. He is accompanied by his "family members," Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. They are as weird and twisted as Bray Wyatt is. They are his followers, they listen to everything he says. Bray uses cryptic messages most of the time when he speaks. Often telling people to "Follow the Buzzards!" He follows to teaching of one "Sister Abigail." Who's touch could save the world, and her kiss could burn it to the ground. Apparently Bray Wyatt was there when Sister Abigail, who took him under her wing, breathed her final breath. Saying he is the one, that "they" chose you. The Wyatt Family do have a mission, a goal. They are in the WWE for one thing, to "take down the machine." Ever since they showed up, they were trying to recruit people who could help them do that. However their plans don't really work out. They tried to recruit Kane by kidnapping him. That didn't work when he came back to join the Authority. It's yet to be disproven if Kane is working for them or not. Then they tried with Daniel Bryan. It didn't work out so well when he just joined them to get closer to Bray and beat him down when they were locked inside a steel cage. But now they have their sights set on someone else. The resident superman of the WWE, John Cena.
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John Cena making his entrance - WWE RAW 2/24/2014 |
John Cena has been the good guy of the WWE since at least 2006 and even before that. He is the golden goose that keeps churning merchandise sales for the WWE with his ever changing wardrobe. If you know the basics to the character of Superman, then you have John Cena in a nutshell. He was the top guy in the WWE for the past 10 years. He main evented 5 out of 10 Wrestlemania's he wrestled in. He is a 14 time World champion. 4 time Tag Team champion, 3 time United States champion, Money in the Bank winner (2012), 2 time Royal Rumble winner (2008 and 2013), and winner of 8 Slammy Awards. John has done it all in the WWE. His past Wrestlemania opponents, they all fought him for the sport of Pro Wrestling. Be it for a championship or not, they respected one another on a competitive level. Not Bray Wyatt, no, he wants to do more than that. Bray Wyatt want's to destroy everything Cena built in 10 years, everything he stands for, his legacy. Bray Wyatt says that there is a monster lurking inside that billboard of a person. He is not who he says he is. He is not a nice guy, he is a monster. Now of course Cena doesn't believe this in the slightest. Bray Wyatt is different from anyone he faced before. He uses cryptic messages and mental warfare to attack John Cena. At Wrestlemania, Wyatt will show that Cena is indeed a monster just waiting to come out. So the stage is set at Wrestlemania XXX, John Cena, the hero of the woman and children, takes on the leader of the Wyatt Family, Bray Wyatt. In a match where there is no championship on the line or pride, just John Cena's Legacy.
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Bray Wyatt on his knees, screaming for Cena
to finish him - Wrestlemania XXX |
If you are looking for a very technical match, then you will be deeply disappointed. Unlike how Daniel Bryan/Triple H had a technical match where the outcome told a part of an even bigger story. This match was all about storytelling inside the ring more than wrestling moves. Probably the most technical move in the match was a headlock. And that's not bad thing. That is what makes Pro Wrestling different than fighting sports like MMA and Boxing, it wants to tell a story will also fighting. The tone for this match is set when as soon as the bell rings, Bray Wyatt goes down onto his knees and screams for Cena to end it right now, give them (the crowd) what they came to see, be the monster that you are."Finish Me." Cena responds by saying "Get Up!" This shows you that Cena came to Wrestlemania XXX to wrestle Bray Wyatt. However Bray Wyatt came to Wrestlemania XXX to unleash the monster inside of John Cena. At first, Cena refused to show any side of aggression. As the match continues Cena was showing signs of aggression that he normally doesn't show. Cena's face turns from a happy smiling face into a face filled with rage and anger. Perhaps there WAS some truth to what Wyatt was saying, maybe Cena DOES have a monster inside him.
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John Cena showing more ruthless aggression
than usual - Wrestlemania XXX |
Throughout the match Cena shows these flashes of anger but returns back before going over the edge. As if the Dr.Jekyll Cena is at war with with Mr.Hyde Cena through the whole match. But Cena keeps fighting on, never going too far over the limit. The ending of the match came when Cena kicked out of a Sister Abigail (His finishing move, not the women who he listens to) Wyatt had enough and was going to force the monster out of Cena with a steel chair. But instead of hitting Cena with it, he drops and passes it to him. This was Cena's final test of will. Wyatt goes on his knees once again tells Cena to "Finish Me." Saying "Be the monster you are," almost begging him. A look of rage overflows on Cena's face. It looks like the monster is going to come out. One thing I just noticed on the third time watching this match, while cena has that Mr.Hyde face on, the ref is telling him "John no, this is not who you are" "You don't want to do this John." A small touch that really adds to the Jekyll and Hyde dynamic Cena had this whole match.
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Bray Wyatt gives John Cena a steel chair
to finish him and unleash the monster
inside - Wrestlemania XXX |
At this moment, John Cena has a choice. Does he A, hit Bray with the chair and get disqualified, or B, don't hit him and continue the match. Cena chooses....to hit Erick Rowan, who was standing on the ring apron. This doesn't disqualify Cena as Erick Rowan in not a competitor in the match and Rowan didn't hit Cena. Bray rolls Cena up for a pin but luckily our hero kicks out. After countering another Sister Abigail, Cena hit's Bray Wyatt with an Attitude Adjustment for the pin.
Winner: John Cena
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John Cena staying true to himself and scoring
the victory - Wrestlemania XXX
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Cena overcame the odds once again, this time instead of winning a championship, he defeated The Wyatt Family. Now of course this is Pro Wrestling so I predict this is far from over between the two but on this night, Wrestlemania XXX, John Cena stayed true to himself. He did not become the monster Wyatt was telling him he was. He stayed the same Cena little kids believe in and cheer for. And that is more than a championship can give someone.
To Be Continued
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