Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
At first, I was surprised that they did MITB first, and thought that was unnecessary. But as the show progressed, I took back that statement. Anyway, it was a great way to open the show! It was quite awkward having all 6 announcers call the match, though. My favorite highlight was Jeff Hardy's legdrop on Edge through the ladder! And it was smart booking not to bring Edge back into the match. As for Kennedy winning, that's a great idea! I see big things for him in the future!
I actually think WWE films may have a hit on their hands with The Condemned. Heck, I might not even mind the endless shill on SD, Raw, and ECW!
Kane vs. Khali wasn't much. Slow, boring, and an anticlimactic finish. At least it was a "cool down" match.
The segment with Eugene, Cryme Tyme, Extreme Expose, et al was downright ridiculous, until Simmons' "DAMN" saved the skit. I still pop for that!
The US title match started out iffy, but it got better as it progressed. Benoit can carry any up-and-comer quite well. MVP was somewhat impressive in his role as challenger, but still needs a bit of seasoning before he can be a serious threat to the US title. But I do see a promising future for him!
Backstage, Trump and the embattled beauty queen are startled by the Boogeyman. Big deal!
The World Heavyweight Title match was stronger than I expected. And, appropriately enough, Undertaker gets his 15th mania win! Now Batista should lay low and let Taker focus on a different challenger.
Vince, Steph, the "baby," and potty humor. Next!
The ECW match was a very strong showing for an undercard match. And it was good that the Originals went over. Guess WWE cares somewhat about ECW's roots after all!
As we all knew, the Battle of the Billionaires was about Vince and Trump rather than the wrestlers involved. That said the match has its good elements, and it got really awesome when Shane (of all people) got involved! I still think he does the Coast to Coast well! Of course, I predicted that Lashley would win, and he did. I actually thought Vince's scalping was hilarious! He really plays a boomer scorned very well! By the way, who DIDN'T see the stunner that Trump got coming?
I didn't think a Mania Divas segment could get any worse than last year's Playboy Pillow Fight, but I was proven wrong with the Lumberjill Match. That match was downright AWFUL! Melina couldn't get a decent move out, and Ashley truly brought her "F-game." And the other Divas barely got involved in the match! All I can say now is that I've lost all respect for Ashley, and I hope she enjoyed her moment in the sun, because now it's over. And soon, something very negative will happen to her career, just like every other WWE Diva who's posed in Playboy!
And now, the main event, Cena vs. HBK, for the WWE title! This match was off the charts, and I consider it the match of the night, like a Wrestlemania main event should be! Those two men gave 111%, and this truly elevated John Cena to the "Modern-Day Greats" status! Now that he's made two major names tap out at Mania, I can say that the latter part of the '00s will be all his. As for HBK just walking away, I don't know what's behind that, but it should make for an interesting next few months.
Wrestlemania 23 was a blockbuster show, in my opinion. it was enjoyable throughout, save for a couple of matches, and I think it will be one of the more memorable shows!
Great work, WWE!
Rating: EXCELLENT
Ken Kibby
California
**********
This was a totally awesome show!!! From top to bottom I got more than my money's worth. This was truly a Wrestlemania to remember!
Jacob Rachwal
Buffalo, NY
**********
A solid, but at least in my opinion not up to par with what I expected going in. I'm probably in the majority here, but I like Cena, but I also think the wrong title match ended the show. I like the whole thing of having one main event for each hour and having Money in the Bank starting the show. They sure did look like they had extra room on the show, with all those video packages.
I expected Money in the Bank match to be longer, but for the 3rd year in a row, this was the best match on the show for me. Every guy in the bout shined and the right person one in Mr. Kennedy....... Kennedy. I was a bit surprise that they didn't have Edge or Jeff come back out. With the promo at the end, Kennedy is proven he deserves the push as he has ring, mic skills and may very well be the complete package
Kane and Khali wasn't craptacular as some thought it would be, it wasn't good , but better than what I expected. I cant believe I saw Slick, that was one of the highlights for me. I expected MVP to win, but I also expected MVP to show me more than he did. Take vs. Batista was honestly my second favorite match of the night.
EC FN' W, I loved that the original won at WRESTLEMANIA. as a fan of the old ECW since day one, I was proud to see WWE show Sabu, Dreamer, Sandman and RVD respect by having them win. Vince is Bald!. but was I the only one shocked to see Trump bump for the stunner. The match itself had it highlights but could've been better too.
I switched to the Mets/Cardinals game when the divas were fighting. Shawn and Cena started off slow, but picked up at the ending. I realized Cena is the Jeter of WWE and there face right now since he retained and ended the show, while Taker could've gave the fans the happy ending. All in all a good show, but not one of my favorite WRESTLEMANIA's.
Alexander Tejeda
Brooklyn, NY.
**********
I really enjoyed this edition of Wrestlemania. I thought it was a very satisfying event and a great way to celebrate my 20th full year of being a wrestling fan (I began my "journey" just before Wrestlemania 3).
Money in the bank was everything I expected. Plunder, Violence, Drama and a great way to kick off the PPV. I was not surprised to see Kennedy win, nor was I surprised that Jeff Hardy would be involved in the "match spot". I was surprised to see Edge be the recipient of said spot and not involved in the final series. If Edge isn't actually injured it will be amazing. I really liked the CM Punk wasn't buried either. Great Opener. I look forward to the future with Mr. Kennedy. Hornswagle definitely has some guts taking the big bump from Kennedy.
Khali and Kane was a lot shorter than I thought it would be. I was surprised the body slam spot didn't get a Wrestlemania 3 reference from JR. That had to be saved for the post PPV video with the montage of Hogan slamming Andre, and Kane slamming Khali. Not surprised Khali went over, but am surprised that he didn't do more to Kane post match, setting up the Kane break that PWInsider has been reporting.
MVP's entrance was great, but I think it would have been better to have the cheerleaders all the way down the walk way. The walk way was so long that by the time MVP made it to ringside, the girls were a far after thought. MVP definitely worked hard and I thought this was his best performance to date. Great win by Benoit, especially using the Swandive headbutt since the story of the match was that MVP had a counter for all of Benoit's mat wrestling. I look forward to a continued feud here, if MVP can continue delivering as a legit challenger like he did tonight.
I was surprised Taker and Batista went on early. Maybe it was a slap in the face for Batista's "boo boo face" over not closing the show as PWInsider reported. Nonetheless, I think Batista came to show that he can have a good match because I legitimately thought the streak was a goner more than once. Of course having the champ come out first is always a harbinger for the end, but still I was worried. The Undertaker swandive is always a highlight and the table spot was awesome. I like JBL making reference to the Undertaker era and what it will mean for Smackdown with him as champ. It was like post match commentary from WM13 all over again. 15-0. Really awesome.
ECW Originals win?! ECW Originals on a Wrestlemania Card?! It was kinda surreal to see Sandman and Sabu wrestling in front of a crowd that size...by the way - 80K in the Ford Field? If that is accurate all I can say is I remember just a few months ago listening to No Name and hearing Dave & Buck saying that WWE needed a lot to sell it out and doubting they could. Wow, what an accomplishment, I suppose. Anyway, I was glad to see the Originals win but am wondering where they go from here with the New Breed. Also, very emotional Tommy Dreamer = a cool moment for an old school ECW fan from Boston!
Battle of the Billionaires was overbooked and fun. I think they got what they wanted out of it. Trump attacking McMahon, Coast to Coast, Stunners to everyone except the match winner and a real head shaving. That was the best wrestling hair cut of all time. Truly bald McMahon = a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes. I think he should get a round of applause. I noticed on WWE.com that he and Trump will be on the Today show tomorrow. Set the TiVos I guess! Oh and props to Buck for calling for a stunner to Trump.
The Main Event was just that...what a performance in my opinion. If the Umaga/Cena last man standing match was Cena's best than this one was his trump card (no pun intended). I thought these two had a hell of a match. 35 minutes (give or take) and what an effort by both. There were several exchanges that I thought were absolutely awesome. Shawn Michaels put on a hell of a show, and Cena definitely earned his money tonight. I enjoyed the hell out of it and would easily say this match really took John Cena to a new level. If that didn't earn him some respect from some of his detractors I don't know what will. Just a great solid match and a great way to end the show.
Other notes: The women's match was better than I thought it would be, but only once were the Lumberjill's used made them irrelevant. The brawl at the end was ok. Glad this match was short.
The backstage stuff with Trump and Vince was lame in my eyes. I especially thought McMahon looking into the carriage was especially bad.
The production really blew me a way though. The staging was awesome and the video screens made it look awesome when talent was walking the aisle. The Pyro and the lights really made this whole card feel "big game".
Slick on camera! No Triple H! Trinity getting camera time on Wrestlemania, while being forgotten in her own brand! I'm Good!
A-
All in all an A-. I really enjoyed this show
**********
A very predictable Wrestlemania with only the main event having sort of a surprising finish.
Money in the Bank was solid, with some BIG spots. Kennedy deserved to win. Edge's Wrestlemania streak ends with him being stretchered out?
You had the payoff of Vince's head being shaved. How come The Donald gets up from a stunner in less than a minute, but everyone else sells it until they go to the back? Did anyone tells Lashley and Trump about razor burn?
The women's match tells you WWE cares nothing about women's wrestling. The dance segment backstage was cute, with the usual WM appearance by Mae and Moolah. Khali-Kane was what it was. ECW originals deserved to win, and they did. RVD is the only one who stood out. Benoit-MVP was a typical midcard match with a meaningless title. Undertaker did all he could with Batista. The right man won. Undertaker has really worked hard.
I really thought Michaels would take the belt, but Cena keeps holding onto that thing. They had the match of the night:
This Wrestlemania will NOT go down as one of the more memorable ones.
David R,
Deltona, Florida
