My favourite matches of the weekend in retrospect to RAW (I have yet to watch the NXT follow-up episode to Stand and Deliver):
1. Triple Threat, Punk vs Rollins vs Roman - loved the storytelling all around in the general narrative and in the match-flow. The development at the end of RAW was fantastic - that spear is crazy. This angle seems a lot of Punk's influence given the type of twist and the two guys involved (Seth a Punk friend, the other a Punk project, and Punk being in creative talks with Trips).
2. Hank & Tank vs Fraxiom - this match was easily the most technically impressive and flashy of the night, and it told a fantastic story - Hank and Tank are like a revised B-Team (which, IMO, were ended far too soon). Both teams excelled to great heights this match. The story telling was top tier, and athleticism, and the technical skill was madness. If it weren't for the RAW angle, this match would be my favourite.
3. Charlotte vs Tiffany - Great acton, best aggression of the night - although, rivalled by Mcintyre vs Priest. I also enjoyed the build up toward the end of their program in the weeks leading up - which was a lot different from the rest of the card which felt like a lot of repetition and no heat. Great picture of Tiffany with the blood in her mouth. I thought she had broken her teeth until she wiped them - but she nearly busted her inner lip when she face planted a sell. Not sure if the match was as stiff as Charlotte vs Asuka - I think that one looks more aggressive, but this is my #2 favourite Charlotte match for Wrestlemania.
4. Je'von vs Trick vs Oba Femi - OBA THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS, loved that label (I think it was Graves). This match was technically awesome, and it was surprising how well a power wrestler like Oba worked with the more acrobatic styles of Je'von and Trick. But, Je'von being announced at 180 pounds and Oba at 310 is a bit of an unbelievable stretch, he's a bit fat, but no way Oba is nearly 75% heavier.
5. Hard one, but I'll say I liked Damien Priest vs Drew McIntyre the most of the rest. Again, another great, stiff and hard hitting match. Although, I can't help but to think this feud will live in the shadow of the phenomenal program between Drew and Punk last year. There are a lot bunched up around this one, I could easily switch it to Iyo vs Rhea vs Bianca.
This weekend changed my mind on Seth Rollins. I used to be annoyed about seeing him, and his music was grating. But now I find him to be a compelling character with a compelling story to tell.
And, as a note, while I wasn't big on the Gunther vs Jey match, but it was probably my favourite win of the weekend (after Tiffany and Hank & Tank). On RAW, I loved watching Gunther choke out Pat Loudman - I don't hate Pat, I like him and his energy even if he is kind of an idiot - would have a beer with him. But I also very much find it entertaining to see idiots getting beaten up, gasping for air, face turning red... like the controversial scenes of Andre strangling Hogan or Undertaker getting garroted by Muhammad Hassan - good show!
Cody vs John Chena... I didn't enjoy it, I don't like matches where they keep firing off signature moves and repeating them over and over again for most of the match. Travis Scott coming out for a receipt was kinda fun, Cody planted him good into the mat, his nose was red... Had Scott been as high as he was in the past shows, he might have been smashed harder. I want to see more of the "Fuck you Rock!" type stuff on the show - no more of this PG nonsense, aggressive people don't mind their tongue that way. Those fuckers should let loose with the F-bombs.
Also, looking very forward to heel Giulia this year, but I was probably wrong about her, she's not Asuka 2.0 anymore, or at least isn't showing it in WWE thus far - she came in with a rough style, and then had to take time off to heal her bruises... Maybe it was a one time thing - maybe she just had an embarrassing injury to take care of (like a torn orifice (hopefully not Waltman level), we'll see if it was a one time thing, because it doesn't seem she's toning it down. But, either way, Asuka will soon be unshelved.
Becky and Lyra, I wanted to see them tag so much, but it's over already.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship featured at Wrestlemania? Definitely not something I expected. I believe in Joe Hendry... but not his height (188/6ft2in), guy barely reached Orton's chin.
