WWE WrestleMania 28 Review - April 1, 2012

The Rock finally squares off with his rival John Cena.

Disappointing World Heavyweight Championship match to kick off WrestleMaina 28. Despite the lackluster build-up to this match, I was highly anticipating what they'd deliver in the ring. The result could have gone either way, so cutting it short with Sheamus quickly winning the World title didn't feel special, even if the Royal Rumble winner curse was finally broken. Worse yet is that they were ten seconds short of breaking the shortest Mania match in history. Then again, not many cared for the rivalry anyway, so it's nothing to groan over. Only can hope we see the tremendous match we all know Daniel Bryan and Sheamus can provide in the near future.

Good match between Randy Orton and Kane that was certainly better than originally expected with that face that their feud seemed random to begin with. They worked hard in the 10 minute duration they were given and had some good action throughout. I was pleasantly surprised that Kane defeated Orton in a clean finish, so this must mean the feud continues on to the Extreme Rules pay-per-view.

Decent match between Cody Rhodes and Big Show that saw Show win his first Intercontinental Championship. That result was predictable given the way they've built this feud around Show getting his Mania moment, but I had a feeling going into the event that Rhodes would somehow be able to maintain possession of his strap one way or another. I'm disappointed that Rhodes' eight-month reign as champ end in this fashion, but if nothing else, the World's Largest Athlete made history by becoming the only man in WWE history to hold every active title in the company today. The question that needs to be asked is who can possibly beat Show for that title? This can help elevate Rhodes to the main event, while also give Show a short title reign before he retires soon.

Throwaway Divas tag team match with Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos defeating Divas Champion Beth Phoenix and Eve. The match wasn't all that terrible, but it was obvious right from the get-go what the result would be. Since Menuonus pinned Phoenix at last year's Tribute to the Troops event, I was hoping the Glamazon would gain her measure of revenge here, but apparently it was not meant to be. I do give Menounos pops, though, for continuing to wrestle with two broken ribs. Kelly got the Mania moment she was looking for, so fingers crossed she can finally stop complaining. Kharma's return would have been a nice touch, but hopefully it occurs sooner rather than later.

Classic match between Undertaker and Triple H that certainly lived up to the hype. The use of weapons throughout the match was a very nice touch, as was the unintentional blood from both men. Adding Jim Ross onto commentary was a very smart move that enhanced the match immensely. Sure, the Hell in a Cell didn't play that much of a factor throughout the bout, but it was a very cool visual and provided for an incredible atmosphere. Let's not forget the brilliant work done by Shawn Michaels, who provided enough swerve to both men that had the finish in doubt on more than one occasion. Everything about this match was absolutely perfect, as was the sign of respect from all three veterans after the awe-inspiring c

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CM Punk delivers a GTS to Chris Jericho.

Boring 12-man tag team match that had fun final moments. Everyone was able to get in their spots by the end, but the crowd hardly cared at all. Once Eve came down to the ring with Zack Ryder, you can easily tell that she'd play a major factor in the outcome of the match. I'm glad The Miz was the once who picked up the pin-fall here, as he made a huge deal of that in previous weeks. Team Johnny going over was logical, and Eve's "heel turn" could be seen coming from a mile away.

Solid match between WWE Champion CM Punk and Chris Jericho that didn't exceed my high standards, but still a very well-wrestled match. It's no secret these two have chemistry, and that was evident here. It was nice to see this title match go on so far on the card, also being given a lengthy amount of time. The first portion of the bout was slow, which the crowd didn't react much to due to being drained out, but it got very enjoyable by the end of the contest. Both provided a very strong performance and built suspense, ending with the Anaconda Vise from CM Punk. Now that Jericho has submitted to the Straightedge Savior, where does he go from here? I'd love to see this feud continue, but they need to reestablish the logic in Y2J earning another shot at the title.

Painless segment with Brodus Clay coming out. I was thrilled to see him get a proper WrestleMania moment, even if it was used to kill time. The crowd was fine with it, and the "dancing mommas" was a hilarious visual.

Epic match between John Cena and The Rock that no doubt lived up to my expectations. Much like the Hell in a Cell match, the story-telling in this bout was beyond phenomenal. The trading of finishers provided the perfect amount of excitement, with the thirty minutes just flying by. I love the finish with Cena attempting to go for the People's Elbow, only to be reversed into a Rock Bottom. I thought for sure Cena was kicking out of that, but I've never been more glad to wrong. Putting Rock over Cena is questionable since Rock will be leaving again anyways, but the important thing is that it was unpredictable and sent the crowd home happy. The crowd didn't seem to be expecting any interference, and there didn't need to be. Ending this major match-up with a clean victory was the perfect way to close the show.

Overall, an extraordinary show that didn't quite live up to my high standards of being the best WrestleMania of all-time, but it certainly was the best delivered Mania in recent memory. The top three main events is what will be remembered from the match anyway, so the lackluster undercard won't matter all that much in the long-term. Nothing on the card was by any means terrible, but some of the matches weren't as great as they could have been. However, I have no doubts that WrestleMania 28 was very entertaining, memorable, and lived up to the major hype it was given.

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