2013 WWE Wrestlemania 29 Champions Live Main Card. The Wrestling Observer reports that the top four matches of Wrestlemania 29 are currently penciled in as:
The Rock vs. John Cena
Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar
CM Punk vs. The Undertaker
Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
This quadruple headliner doesn't surprise, but it doesn't exactly excite us, either.
First, Cena, Triple H and Undertaker are about 99-percent locks to win.
Second, Punk/Taker is the only match that feels remotely fresh.
Third, as with last year, half these guys will disappear the next day. That once again leaves it to the Daniel Bryans and the Dolph Zigglers to anchor six hours of weekly TV for the remaining eight months of the year — as implied inferiors to the part-time headliners.
A good Wrestlemania card would place equal priority on showcasing stars and elevating new ones. A good Wrestlemania card would give us fresh matches, be they first-time encounters or rematches we thirst to see. A good Wrestlemania card would conclude feuds while igniting new ones to propel WWE through the rest of the year.
A good Wrestlemania card would — you know what? Here's what we'd do:
David's Wrestlemania 29 headliners:
The Rock vs. CM Punk vs. John Cena — I normally hate triple threat matches. They deny us the basic drama of one-on-one conflict in favor of gimmicky action. However, this is one of the few that's not only a natural match-up, but better than any possible two out of the three. Punk/Cena has been done too often to carry 'Mania, any fervor for Rock/Cena died somewhere in the middle of their second 20-minute promo together last year, and Punk/Rock is already taking place at the Royal Rumble. But the three of these men still have a multifaceted beef that's been simmering for years, and they could deliver a hell of a Wrestlemania main event to blow it off.
Ryback vs. Brock Lesnar — I'd hoped Lesnar would save fellow "Paul Heyman guy" Punk from Ryback at some point to set this monster clash in motion, but alas. I can't guarantee it'd be a pretty match; I don't see Ryback's Goldberg/Ultimate Warrior tribute act meshing well with Lesnar's pulverizing MMA style. Still, knocking off Lesnar is about the biggest thing Ryback could do to assert himself as one of WWE's bright new stars.
Sheamus vs. The Undertaker — Of all the wrestlers on the WWE roster, Sheamus may be the most hard-up for fresh opponents. How many times has he wrestled Alberto Del Rio and Ziggler in the last calendar year? But he's never wrestled The Undertaker, and Sheamus fighting to end The Dead Man's undefeated streak at Wrestlemania would be the perfect opportunity for WWE to weigh whether they want to continue cloning their new star as a wisecracking Cena-esque good guy, or make the most of his unique potential.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Triple H — No wrestler feels his face pressed so tightly against WWE's glass ceiling as Ziggler. No wrestler represents said ceiling more than Triple H. Not only would Ziggler's athleticism perfectly complement Triple H's power and psychology, but their contest could be just the right place to pair up Ziggler with his long-speculated future manager: Ric Flair.
Robert's Wrestlemania 29 headliners:
The Rock vs. CM Punk: After Monday's Raw, I am convinced that a rematch at Wrestlemania would be the best thing for WWE. These two superstars are not only great in the ring, but the promos are fantastic. There will likely be more epic exchanges leading up to Royal Rumble. If the match lives up to the hype, I don't think WWE will have any other choice but to have Rock vs. Punk II at Wrestlemania.
Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker: Would I like to see an up-and-coming star challenge The Undertaker and his legendary Wrestlemania streak? Absolutely. But if you really want to market "The Streak" and try to build hype that this could be the year it ends, put Lesnar in the match. The Undertaker, to some, would be the underdog in that match. Lesnar is younger, more physical and destroys everything in his path. The Undertaker is older and doesn't have the same power he had, say, 10 years ago. But it would still be a great match. And The Undertaker, who is now wrestling just once a year, may surprise us like he did last year. He performed well at Wrestlemania in 2012. He could be just as great this year.
John Cena/Ryback vs. The Shield: The inclusion of so many part-timers complicates things for Ryback, who deserves one of the big main event matches. However, I don't see him going toe-to-toe with Punk or The Undertaker. A match again Lesnar (as David suggested) is a possibility. But I went with this combo for two reasons. One, Cena also needs a spot. And if it's not in the WWE Championship match, why not use Cena's star power to help boost Ryback and the Shield? Plus, this match would be a classic good guys vs. bad guys match. It would be a big deal for the young talent involved and it would give Cena a "main event" match at Wrestlemania.
Sheamus vs. Randy Orton: Remember last year when Sheamus beat Daniel Bryan? That match was a joke. It was a terrible way to start the show, so hopefully we don't see anything like that again this year. This is one of the matches rumored to be set, and I like it. As long as Orton stays clean, he can be one of the top guys in WWE. Sheamus has earned the main event treatment, so this match could be a good one. And it will likely be for a title, so that adds to the importance.
