The Dream Card

Wow its been a LONG time. But I guess that is a good thing as I have been kept busy with my work with WXW C4, WSU, and Vendetta Pro. I do want to blog more as I need an outlet for my creativity, etc. I'm actually thinking about moving this blog to Tumblr because it works more like Twitter so that I can blog quicker and more often, so we'll see what happens.

I was planning on coming on here to give my predictions for this year's Wrestlemania. But quite honestly, I don't have a clue on how this could turn out. And that's a good thing. I know I'll be back soon though for a review of Vince Russo's new book. I've already got some commentary in my head for that one.

I was actually inspired to come up with a Wrestlemania dream card after listening to "From Pillar to Post" on HybridENT.tv hosted by two good friends, Jake and Dean. They ran through their line ups and they had some great choices. So I figured I should give this a whirl. I'll be using the same criteria they used (which I don't feel like typing out so if you want to know go to HybridENT.tv now and listen). I should say now that after listening to the show and really thinking about it, I think I'm gonna end up with a lot of Wrestlemania X-Seven matches as I have very fond memories of that particular event. So here we go my Wrestlemania Dream Card:

1- Opening Match:
Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart (Wrestlemania X)
I couldn't help but open with this. Granted I haven't done the proper research and go back and review each event. But know what I have at the top of the card, I couldn't leave these two off. And within the context of the time, this was a great match. It is always hard for me to go back and watch particular matches because I can't invest my emotions into it without seeing the entire feud play out. But this is one of those matches that has always stuck out in my head. Plus I feel if this were today and both these guys were at their prime, this would surely be a great start to Wrestlemania.

2- Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match:
WWE Tag Team Championship
The Dudley Boyz (c) vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz (Wrestlemania X-Seven)
After choosing my opening match, I decided to pick all my matches and put them in order and THEN talk about them. And boy, this was harder than I thought! I think I have too many "main events." I've always been a fan of Tag Team Wrestling. Why? I don't know. Like I said before, Wrestlemania X-Seven has some fond memories. This match being one of them. These three teams carried the Tag Team Division for at least a year and a half. I tried to fit Money in the Bank here, but the rules wouldn't allow it. And after a technical bout that was sure to kick things off great, going crazy with a Hardcore-like match would really kick things up. Plus, I feel that the Tag Titles are always shafted at 'Mania with a quickly put together feud like this year's, so this match where time and energy was invested deserves to make it on a Dream Card.

3- Two Fall - Triple Threat Match:
WWE Intercontinental & WWE European Championship
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania 2000)
This is where I started to have trouble. I felt both Angle and Jericho, and I suppose Benoit (pre-going crazy) deserved to be on a 'Mania dream card. And with what I had laid out, this match fit in perfectly. Granted all three have better choices, but this was a great match nonetheless. And if any three can follow a TLC Match, it would be these three. I believe my only reservation about this match is Benoit being in it after well... You know.

4- $15,000 Bodyslam Challenge:
Andre The Giant vs. Big John Studd w/ Bobby Heenan (Wrestlemania)
I seem to only include matches from the last decade. But in all honesty, not including the main events, most of the 'Manias prior to 15 were not all that groundbreaking. However, I may say that because I have more of a memory of the modern Wrestlemanias as opposed to the earlier ones. I felt I needed to respect the history of the event. And respect the stars that deserve to be on here. I went through all the matches and I found this gem. Granted, its something goofy really, but I know at the time it was such a grand thing to see. Plus, I belive Andre The Giant was awesome. Granted, all I've seen is DVD footage and wasn't born until after his prime (Pre-Wrestlemania). But I think had I been around I would have been a bigger fan of Andre than Hogan. Plus, this is a good place to bring the crowd down for my celebrity match. By the way... I don't know if I could actually count this as a match, it was only a bodyslam contest. Could I get one more match? I have a few in mind. Haha...

5- Special Attraction Match:
Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Ted DiBiase (Wrestlemania XI)
I always forget this match existed until I see a Wrestlemania Recall or read about or whatever... Originally I wanted my celebrity to be Pete Rose, still do really, I just get a kick out of the Rose/Kane stuff. On a side note, I was disappointed with their use of Rose and his interaction with Kane. Anyway... This match could quite possibly be the best celebrity match maybe even the best celebrity usage ever. The rest of Wrestlemania XI is forgettable, which is why I always forget about this match. But this match, I can remember it clear as day... The coverage that it got. I can remember seeing it on the news and the entertainment shows. And when you go back and watch, the crowd was on fire for this match. I think if Mayweather/Big Show was built over a few months it could have passed this match. But none of the celebrities got WWE the attention LT did. And it was believable that LT could beat Bam Bam.

6- Retirement Match:
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair (Wrestlemania 24)
This was a fantastic match. However, I think Michaels has better outings. But they just did not fit into the equation. I really wanted the Ladder Match with Razor Ramon or his match with Angle, but this is good enough. This had a great build, but I still contend it could have been better as really Flair was only fighting for his career over like 2-3 months, it should have been going on for a year or more. I digress... The other reason I put this in here is once again I wanted to respect the past and who better than Ric Flair? I think if Flair was 20 years younger it would have been the greatest 'Mania match of all time, but then again you can say that about a lot of these matches. Still, for what it was... It was still fantastic. Which is a testament to both Flair and Michaels. Both a little over the hill and this match still blows away most other matches ever put on Wrestlemania. I would have put this on at match 7 but...

7- The Undertaker vs. Triple H (Wrestlemania X-Seven)
Since this was basically an anything goes match, I couldn't put this on first and have Flair and Michaels with a technical bout follow it. Out of all the choices I had I picked this... Why? This is really where 'Taker was getting "challenged" and the streak started to mean something. Prior to this the only real "challengers" he had were Jake Roberts and Kane. Maybe you could put Snuka and Bundy in there, but both were on their way out. The year before this, he was out with an injury. I am starting to second guess my choice here, but I felt that this was a great performance at the time. Especially considering at the time both were hated on the internet. Maybe on a different day I would have made a different choice. But I just liked everything about this match. Plus, to fit others in I had to make concessions.

8- WWE Women's Championship
Trish Stratus (c) vs. Mickie James (Wrestlemania 22)
Call me sexist, but I needed to bring down the crowd a bit for the main event, and unfortunately this is the spot the women always get. Most of the time the women get thrown into some stupid multi-women bra and panties battle royal or something, I do feel they deserve better. Others probably wouldn't have put a women's match on, but I just felt that wasn't right. And when thinking about it (and after hearing Dean choose this on P2P) this was the only women's match that stands out in my head. Maybe it was because of the great build to it... Or maybe it was just remembering Mickie James' sexual gesture... But it just sticks out in my head. And if I can remember it, it had to be good. And in all honesty, Trish Stratus always seemed to be able to turn things into gold. I just wish Mickie James would get the same attention Trish did, as Mickie James is just as good as Trish in my eyes.

9- Main Event:
No Disqualification
WWE Championship
The Rock (c) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (Wrestlemania X-Seven)
It was a toss up between this match and their Wrestlemania XV match. But X-Seven again wins out in my head. I would say that their XV match was probably more historical, but X-Seven (aside from the finish) was better. Plus if you think about it, this match put a cap on the whole Attitude Era / Monday Night Wars. I was tempted to put their Wrestlemania XIX match on here, but I felt that should have been handled differently considering it was pretty much both guys' last hurrah. I know I kept Hogan off, but really I felt that this match was bigger than most Hogan matches at 'Mania with the except of Hogan/Warrior. But even then its a close call. I think if the times were a little different and 'Mania was already a household name when Hogan was there, then maybe Hogan would have a match. But really 'Mania was a much different beat when Hogan was the star attraction.

Now if you don't count the Andre/Studd "match" as a match... Then I'd probably throw in Hogan/Vince from Wrestlemania XIX, especially because of the appearance of Piper.

Wow... That was hard. (That's what she said) I think the card came out pretty good. Could it have been better, probably. But I think that would make money. And when you look at it, you really don't have many choices, like I said a few lines ago. The first ten 'Manias were still searching to become that household name. Between X and XV they were in a state of flux, due to ECW and WCW knocking on WWE's door. It really wasn't until X-Seven where Wrestlemania had attempted 5 star matches all the way up and down the card, in my opinion that is.

Well, lets see what happens tomorrow night... This by far is one of the best build 'Manias, I just hop it delivers. And if it does... Oh man, it will be a great night to be a fan!

For those of you who don't know... I host "Pro Wrestling Headlines Now!" on HybridENT.tv so you can get the latest news sponsored by DOIWrestling.com, PWBTS.com, and LordsofPain.net. I try to get the 5-10 minute audio clip up every Tuesday so you can check it out then!

The next time I'll be out on the road looks like it will be Friday May 7th as part of WXW C4's partnership with the Mountainville Fair. For more info on that go to WXWC4.com, which just this week I updated the roster section, so check it out!

Stay classy,
Dan The Phan