MATCH 8: John Cena vs. The Rock
Ten years on from one dream match, WWE gives us one that could be even more anticipated than Rock vs. Hogan was at Wrestlemania X8, and one that many wrestling fans (including yours truly) thought would never happen. But, one night after Wrestlemania XXVII last year, the match billed as ‘once in a lifetime’ was set. On one side, we have one of the most beloved superstars in history and a bonafide Hollywood celebrity adored by millions (and millions) of fans worldwide. On the other, one of the most polarising main event level performers in the history of WWE, a man who has been despised, derided and ridiculed ever since he rose through the ranks and became the superheroic face of the wrestling business, yet still holds a special place in the hearts of millions of young fans who tune in to see their colourfully-clad idol salute the camera and run to the ring.
One year of trash talk, Fruity Pebbles, Tooth Fairies and Rocky statues has finally brought us to the main event of Wrestlemania XXVIII, and man was it something to behold. It has been a long time since I’ve witnessed a main event match that had so much emotion, so much nostalgia and so much seeming to ride on its conclusion even before the bell was rung. The company seemed to know it too, as no expense was spared in building up the anticipation while we were waiting for the two competitors to enter the ring. Beginning Cena’s entrance was a performance of his song ‘Invincible’ by rapper MGK (I’ve never heard of him either). On the other hand, Rock was brought out with a little more star power as global star and Miami native Flo Rida (it spells Florida, you know) performed ‘Good Feeling’ and ‘Wild Ones’ to introduce the Rock.
Once the pomp and circumstance concluded, the match kicked off…slowly. As the two men locked arms during the opening minutes, I got flashbacks to Wrestlemania XX and the pisstake of a match that was Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg and I started to worry. Was this gonna be another lead balloon hypefest? Luckily, I was quickly dissuaded from my worries as the bout began to pick up the pace and deliver some big hits. One thing seemed clear as hell as things begin to quicken and heighten in intensity: the Rock hasn’t missed a step. For a mean nearing 40 who hasn’t wrestled a one-on-one match in years, he didn’t miss a beat once he got into his groove.
However, Cena did seem to lose some of his wind as the match wore on, and the Rock seemed noticeably (and audibly a few times) miffed with his opponent being a little sluggish. All that being said, the dramatic tension began to hit fever pitch when it seemed like either man could pull of the win at any time. Eventually, after multiple false finishes and a wonderful STF pass-out moment as it seemed Rock would be put to sleep and give the win to his opponent, Cena caught an unexpected Rock Bottom off the ropes as he tried to mimic the Peoples’ Elbow (which often in the past didn’t do the Rock’s opponents any favours either), giving the Peoples’ Champion the biggest win of his career. With the Great One celebrating in the ring, and Cena sitting in quiet bemusement on the entrance ramp, Wrestlemania came to a close.
All in all, this year’s Wrestlemania was one of great ups and downs. Some matches/segments were awful to the point of justifying mass genocide, while others were brilliantly performed and put together and deserved the spot on the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’. In short, it’s an event I won’t forget with much ease, and for the first time in years I don’t want to tune out of WWE programming after the big show is over. I want to see where the threads left untied this year are going to go, and I’ll bet I’m not the only one.
