The Master's Dojo: Wrestlemania XXVI Recap

Hello everyone, and welcome to the return edition of The Master’s Dojo!!  I have been on a multi-week hiatus, but I am back this week to talk about the biggest event of the year, WrestleMania XXVI!! A lot went on during WrestleMania weekend, so let’s get this party started!! 

I’ll start with a little bit about the WWE Hall of Fame inductions. It seemed like the class was…lacking this year. I mean sure, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase is a legend in the WWF/E, but he doesn’t really compare in my mind to the superstar of Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was inducted last year. Other people inducted include the late Stu Hart, Gorgeous George, Wendi Richter and Bob Uecker. (Interestingly enough, Bob Uecker is the second person from baseball to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, along with Pete Rose.) Maybe there just weren’t any superstars who were able to be inducted this year…not including the Ultimate Warrior, who declined the invitation/request because he was pissed at Vince McMahon about the name of his DVD and some other stuff.  Anyway, this is not directly related to this year’s class, but there are a few stars who I would like to see in the Hall soon.  The Rock, of course, should be going into the Hall of Fame, no question asked.  Shawn Michaels will go in as soon as he is eligible, I know that.  But then there is someone like Rob Van Dam, although as of late, with WWE removing him from their website after he went to TNA, but still.  He won the Intercontinental 6 times, won the Hardcore title numerous times, he was a Tag Team Champion, and he was the First ECW Heavyweight Champion (in WWE) and a WWE Champion. I think a lot of those old ECW guys deserve to be in, but that’s just me. Anyway, I’m not upset by the class this year, I just wish there was so more star-power.

Alright, now on to the show. Big Show and The Miz took on John Morrison and R-Truth for the Unified Tag Team titles. I actually like this team of Morrison and R-Truth. They’re both young and explosive, and John Morrison will (well, at least should) become the next Main Eventer in WWE. That having been said, they came up short.  The Big Show pulled out his Signature Knockout Punch on Morrison, and that was that.  I hope that Morrison and Truth win the titles, and as cool as it would have been for them to win at WrestleMania, but I do think it’s good that a proven team (well, somewhat proven) won on the big stage.  How about Money in the Bank?  Well, let’s be honest, I was disappointed. It seemed short. And I was disappointed with the outcome.  Why Swagger? I thought his push ended and he was a filler wrestler now. Apparently I was wrong. I just wish it had been longer and we had seen something awesome, just truly awesome. Maybe Kane with a flying clothesline off of a ladder (then again, Bourne looked good high-flying wise). I really wanted to see Kane win. Really badly. But alas, that didn’t happen, and Jack Swagger now has a shot at gold. Meh, maybe this will turn out well. But then again, maybe not.

Moving on, let’s go to the Legacy Triple Threat. The outcome of this match was not a surprise. Let’s face it, Orton is better than DiBiase and Rhodes.  They did what they are famous for though to start out, and that was teaming up and beating on their opponent. However, they eventually realized its 1 on 1 on 1, and they attacked each other. Then Randy got up and started wailing on them. Orton used the inverted headlock backbreaker on Rhodes (one of my favorite moves), then soon delivered a punt to Cody and then countered DiBiase’s finisher with an RKO, and that was that. Not necessarily a bad match, but very predictable. Speaking of bad matches, Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart; What a joke. I really wanted to see Bret Hart and Vince McMahon fight, not the Hart Clan beating up on Vince. I really hated watching it. Except for Bret Hart putting on the Sharpshooter, because I’ve been waiting for that. Still though, that match was a joke.

CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio. Rey loses and he has to join Punk, Festus/Luke Gallows and Serena in Punk’s Straightedge Society. The event starts out by The Society walking to the ring with CM Punk on the mic, talking about how people pop pills to make themselves feel better, and how he’s a savior, and so on and so forth. God, for a minute I thought he was a school teacher rather than a wrestler. But then here comes Rey Rey. The match went on, and eventually Rey nailed the 619. Goodbye CM Punk, hello Rey Mysterio. Rey has won 2 years in a row now (and maybe before that, correct me please if you can), and this year was at least a legitimately match, unlike last year’s 21 second piece of…crap…that he and JBL “fought”. Good job Rey. And then there was Triple H and Sheamus (sorry if this isn’t in the correct order). So, we get to the end of the match of these two behemoths, and Sheamus is going for that big, bad powerbomb of his. But no!! Triple H counters. He sets up Sheamus, and boom, Pedigree. Triple H picks up the pin and that’s it. Triple H with the win.

Screw women’s wrestling. Santino was/is right, Vickie’s a pig.

Edge won the Royal Rumble a couple of months back, and he decided to use his title opportunity to challenge Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship. It looked like a good match, despite the fact that you could tell Edge is still somewhat injured, because he started limping fairly early on. The match was back and forth, and eventually Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho, but Edge rolled out of it. Then it was applied again, and again Edge got out of it.And in this period of time, Edge pulled out a few of his former finishers, including the Edgecution. So, Jericho gets Edge down, and he’s going to go for the Spear, but Edge says “oh no you didn’t” and avoids the spear. Then Edge sets up for the Spear, but Jericho counters with a finisher of his own, The Codebreaker, and he gets the pinfall. Jericho retains. This was a pretty good match in my opinion. Oh, and after the match Edge speared Jericho off of the Announcer’s Tables into the barricade, no big deal. And then came the other World Title Match. I honestly didn’t want to see this. With Cena, I see it like this: 50% he’s not bad, 50% he pisses me off. Batista just always pisses me off (recently at least). So, the match is going on like a basic WWE Title match at WrestleMania would. But then Batista pulls off a move like he did at Summerslam, which busted Cena’s neck. Not this time though. This time Cena kicked out and soon applied the STFU (yeah, I know there isn’t a U anymore, whatever). Batista can’t get to the ropes, he can’t do anything, he taps out. John Cena is your new WWE Champion.

April 5, 2009, Houston, Texas. Think back to arguably the greatest WrestleMania match ever. Maybe even the greatest match ever. Shawn Michaels attempted to take down The Undertaker and his undefeated streak at WrestleMania. Despite a valiant from both men, The Undertaker prevailed, becoming 17-0 at WrestleMania. Shawn Michaels was left in dismay, and for a year wanted to get another opportunity. Now, think back to this year. Shawn Michaels costs Undertaker the WHC at Elimination Chamber. Undertaker finally accepts Shawn Michaels request for another fight at WrestleMania, on the condition that HBK’s career would be on the line. The match was set. Now it is March 28, 2010, and it is the Main Event of WrestleMania XXVI. I will be honest, as excited as I was, I was nervous that this match would be disappointing for all the hype. Well, the match got underway. The two men were fighting back and forth for so long, and then they started pulling out the finishers. A Chokeslam here, Sweet Chin Music there, etc. HBK even went for a moonsault off of the top rope onto ‘Taker, who was laying on the announce tables. Well, he failed, but it was cool nonetheless. Eventually, Undertaker delivered a tombstone, but Shawn kicked out, leaving ‘Taker in disbelief. Then he pulled and the straps off, and you knew something big was going down. HBK clawed up on the Undertaker and was barely staggering, but he was on his feet, and then he slapped him. A straight slap in the face. And Undertaker was pissed. A matter of seconds later, Michaels is down on the mat after a jumping Tombstone Piledriver. That was that. Undertaker becomes 18-0 at WrestleMania, and he gets an awesome fireworks show too. HBK’s career is now over. Undertaker, being the classy guy he is, pulls up Shawn and lets him give a goodbye to the fans in Phoenix. I was pleasantly surprised with this fantastic match, and it was good that this year they actually put the best match as the Main Event.

I’m sad to see him go. Shawn Michaels is a legend, and should forever be known as one of the best wrestlers ever and arguably the best entertainer in the sport’s history. If you watch this guy’s entire career, from the 80’s until now, it is amazing. From the Rockers, to The Ladder Match, to the Bret Hart feud, to DX, and on to now, he is just an amazing guy. I’m sad to see him go, but congratulations to him on a great career. PS, if you saw RAW, I think in his speech he slipped in a subtle shot at Ric Flair. Anyone else catch that?

Well everyone, another edition of The Master’s Dojo has come to a close. Remember to read next time, and until then, the Dojo is closed and I am out.

Comments

1. Comment #1

   Agreed on RVD and the ECW - I dont understand why a company like TNA would not allow a guy signed to them to be inducted in HOF and why someone like Vince is too dumb not to even try and go in talks with TNA to induct their people IMO how can you forget all these ppl did to your pockets?

   Posted by Mortal van Dam on Thursday, April 08, 2010

2. Comment #2

   Actually, R-Truth is 38...not that that's old, but it ain't young either....

   Posted by Alkanizator on Thursday, April 08, 2010

3. Comment #3

   I don`t think it has anythign to do with TNA letting wrestlerts under contract to them being involved in the WWE Hall of Fame, rather, it has EVERYTHING to do with Vince holding a grudge. ``You left my company ànd joined them, BANASHMENT!`` Just look at Mick, he was removed form the last Ledgend of Wrestling game (at almost the last moment) due to him getting involved with TNA. OF course, I am not saying that TNA would jump at the chance if iut ever did happen, I`m just saying it is more Vince then TNA.

   Posted by Feuer on Friday, April 09, 2010

4. Comment #4

   R-truth is still cool though... expect his corksrew thing he should use those scissor kicks like Booker expect maybe a little different.....................................
   Was an OK wrestlemania but Im kind of glad they may a MITB PPV because this one kind of sucked.

   Posted by ....... on Friday, April 09, 2010

5. Comment #5

   shut up yo yo dvmdvfbgbhtgtgtgtjgtbgthbgtbhgbgrbitkghtgthti
   yoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo yo

   Posted by yo yo yo jtg in da house on Saturday, April 10, 2010

6. Comment #6

   hey HBK didnt fail hitting the moonsault.... he hit undertaker right on his knees where he'd been aiming the whole 1st half of the match. It looked odd but it was a perfect hit to further weaken the legs of the Undertaker.

   Posted by Bart on Saturday, April 10, 2010

7. Comment #7

   Why should the wwe inductee an active wrestler into the HoF. Especially if they work for an opponent. surely the time for guys like jarett, nash, hall, rvd and the dudleys will inducteed will come but not before they are retired.

   Posted by Lord Psyke on Sunday, April 11, 2010

8. Comment #8

   dx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Posted by dxman on Saturday, April 17, 2010

9. Comment #9

   dx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Posted by dxman on Saturday, April 17, 2010

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