‘WWE Wrestlemania 29’ Blu-ray Review
The biggest event on the WWE calendar, Wrestlemania is always guaranteed to feature some of the WWE’s biggest superstars going head to head and this year’s incarnation is no exception to this. Emanating from the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets NFL teams, Met Life Stadium, Wrestlemania 29 is headlined by one of the most anticipated matches of the year – the rematch, for the WWE title, between The Rock and John Cena. Also top-carding the event is the match between Triple H, putting his career on the line against Brock Lesnar in a Holds Barred Match; and CM Punk, with the assistance of Paul Heyman, attempts to end The Undertaker’s historic winning streak at Wrestlemania.
Of the three matches it’s only really CM Punk vs. The Undertaker that impresses – both wrestlers are on form throughout and there’s some perfectly choreographed action between the two; and the interplay is not just kept to the wrestling as the pair square off psychologically against each other too. Of course there could only ever be one outcome but its still great watching the duo go at it to the inevitable conclusion. Whilst not up to the same standard as Taker’s match, Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar is at least one hell of a physical fight, with some brilliant examples of wrestling “brutality” from both men. However The Rock vs. John Cena is yet another let-down and the less said the better.
Yet not even Cena’s match can compare to the terrible, terrible, matches that make up some of the other bouts on the card. Yes, the matches pitting Ryback Vs. Mark Henry and Chris Jericho Vs. Fandango are currently vying for worst pay-per-view matches of 2013. The Jericho/Fandango is a particularly risible affair, it’s hard to believe Jericho was headlining PPV’s at one time given how awful his Wrestlemania 29 match is! Whilst not as bad as Jericho and Ryback’s efforts, the Tag Team Championship match between Daniel Bryan/Kane and. Dolph Ziggler/Big E. Langston is still a forgettable entry into the years biggest PPV – I didn’t hate it, but mere hours later I couldn’t remember a thing that happened in the match. The same can be said for the World Heavyweight Championship match between Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger.
However unforgettable is something that cannot be said for the six-man tag team match that opened Wrestlemania 29. If there is one reason to watch this years event, it’s for the superb (some would say career-making) match between The Shield, making their Wrestlemania debut, and the team of Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show. The Shield, which consists of the wrestlers Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, have already been making a name for themselves on both Raw and Smackdown, declaring their intention to fight what they perceive as “injustice” in WWE and often getting in the faces (and matches) of current WWE superstars. Facing up to the trio of main eventers the Big Show, Randy Orton and Sheaus, The Shield showed just why they are THE hottest tag-team to hit the WWE since Degeneration X – not only are these guys great in terms of storytelling and presentation, they can also wrestle!
As if all that wasn’t enough, the Blu-ray release is packed with extras including the entire Hall Of Fame Ceremony, this year emanating from the historic Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City, featuring the inductions of the legendary Bruno Sammartino, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus and Booker T; as well as highlights from WWE Raw before and after Wrestlemania 29.
WWE Wrestlemania 29 is out now on DVD and Blu-ray from FremantleMedia.