If I booked Wrestlemania

[suave]

here's my card if I was booking Wm 29. The show goes 4 hours, so every match has a certain amount of attention paid to it.

Rey Mysterio vs Sin Cara

Zach Ryder vs Big E Langston-Winner gets to ref Ziggler/Ryback

MITB Match-Tensai vs The Miz vs Kofi Kingston vs Kane vs Daniel Bryan vs Heath Slater vs Alex Riley vs Brad Maddox

Antonio Cesaro vs Mr. USA Derrick Bateman- US Title

Randy Orton vs The Big Show vs Sheamus- WHC #1 Contenders Match

Team Rhodes Scholars vs New Age Outlaws-WWE Tag Team Championships

The Shield vs Mick Foley/JBL/William Regal-Hardcore Match

Ryback vs Dolph Ziggler-World Heavyweight Title. special guest ref Big E Langston

John Cena vs Wade Barrett-IC Title

CM Punk vs The Undertaker

Kaitlyn vs Eve-Divas Title, Steel Cage Match

Jay Z plays a few songs

The Rock vs Brock Lesnar-WWE Title

Kinda a flawed card I put together. Your thoughts?

[Snaptastic]

Too many matches.

[fw91]

Jan 12, 2013 13:50:29 GMT -5 suave said:

John Cena -IC Title
Jay Z plays a few songs

Tomko gimme a beat

[Arrow]

My thoughts? There is no way I'd buy that.

As was already said, you have too many matches. And top of that, a Jay-Z concert. There is no way your bigger matches are going to get the time they deserve. WrestleMania tends to go 8 matches, maybe 9, because between all the advertisements (I know we hate them, but with one million people watching on pay-per-view, and another 70,000+ in the audience - many of them casuals - it's a great time for WWE to run advertisements), the special segments, and the fact that the main events can go up to 30 minutes to an hour, there's not a lot of time for much else.

Another issue is that you have names that, frankly, don't need to be at 'Mania. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people will not be buying WM for Big E. Langston, Derrick Bateman, Alex Riley, Tensai, Brad Maddox, the New Age Outlaws, Zack Ryder, JBL, Mick Foley, and William Regal. JBL is best on commentary, Foley, Ryder, and the NAO are good for a backstage segment or two, Langston is fine as Ziggler's bodyguard - but none of those other guys need to be there. Contrary to popular belief, WrestleMania is not the place to put the young generation over. It's the show you want your biggest guns in the best spots. Which leads me to my next point...

Why is John Cena fighting for a midcard title at the biggest show of the year? He's your biggest full-time draw, you want to use him in a position where he'll be allowed to give his fans a big match. The Rock, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk (provided that it's alongside Rock in a Triple Threat), The Undertaker... these would all be good uses of Cena. Wade Barrett is not.

And on that note, if you're going to have a gimmick like Steel Cage do not waste it on a Divas match. In fact, a Divas match shouldn't have any non-Lumberjill/Special Ref gimmicks at all. The Divas are used to calm down crowds in between the stuff they care about. On top of that, Kaitlyn and Eve have feuded for months already. You don't want to stretch that out into WrestleMania. You want a big gimmick match? You either put it to your main eventers, or the midcard guys who should be at WrestleMania (Kofi Kingston, Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, etc.)

And if you already Money in the Bank as a pay-per-view, there's no need for a MiTB match. Just use the usual 12-man tags to get the midcarders on the show. You don't need a US title defense and an IC title defense. That's just taking up extra space on the card for titles few people really care about. The multi-mans should also be scaled back.

[suave]

Jan 12, 2013 14:35:16 GMT -5 Arrow said:

My thoughts? There is no way I'd buy that.

As was already said, you have too many matches. And top of that, a Jay-Z concert. There is no way your bigger matches are going to get the time they deserve. WrestleMania tends to go 8 matches, maybe 9, because between all the advertisements (I know we hate them, but with one million people watching on pay-per-view, and another 70,000+ in the audience - many of them casuals - it's a great time for WWE to run advertisements), the special segments, and the fact that the main events can go up to 30 minutes to an hour, there's not a lot of time for much else.

Another issue is that you have names that, frankly, don't need to be at 'Mania. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people will not be buying WM for Big E. Langston, Derrick Bateman, Alex Riley, Tensai, Brad Maddox, the New Age Outlaws, Zack Ryder, JBL, Mick Foley, and William Regal. JBL is best on commentary, Foley, Ryder, and the NAO are good for a backstage segment or two, Langston is fine as Ziggler's bodyguard - but none of those other guys need to be there. Contrary to popular belief, WrestleMania is not the place to put the young generation over. It's the show you want your biggest guns in the best spots. Which leads me to my next point...

Why is John Cena fighting for a midcard title at the biggest show of the year? He's your biggest full-time draw, you want to use him in a position where he'll be allowed to give his fans a big match. The Rock, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk (provided that it's alongside Rock in a Triple Threat), The Undertaker... these would all be good uses of Cena. Wade Barrett is not.

And on that note, if you're going to have a gimmick like Steel Cage do not waste it on a Divas match. In fact, a Divas match shouldn't have any non-Lumberjill/Special Ref gimmicks at all. The Divas are used to calm down crowds in between the stuff they care about. On top of that, Kaitlyn and Eve have feuded for months already. You don't want to stretch that out into WrestleMania. You want a big gimmick match? You either put it to your main eventers, or the midcard guys who should be at WrestleMania (Kofi Kingston, Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, etc.)

And if you already Money in the Bank as a pay-per-view, there's no need for a MiTB match. Just use the usual 12-man tags to get the midcarders on the show. You don't need a US title defense and an IC title defense. That's just taking up extra space on the card for titles few people really care about. The multi-mans should also be scaled back.

Fair enough. I kinda just thought this up while playing WWE 13, so there's lots of people that don't really have any use on the card.

[Bret Hart Rules]

What I don't get is this is YOUR fantasy booking of WrestleMania and yet you have willingly added Jay Z to play a few songs.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 15:10:09 GMT -5 Bret Hart Rules said:

What I don't get is this is YOUR fantasy booking of WrestleMania and yet you have willingly added Jay Z to play a few songs.

Maybe he likes Jay-Z? I personally wouldn't mind Jay-Z doing someones entrance.

Jay-Z in NY only seems appropriate.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I think John Cena going after the IC Title is actually a good idea. Maybe Cena as Intercontinental Champion would make the belt a big deal again, even though I think Barrett is already doing a decent job at that.

[suave]

Jan 12, 2013 15:10:09 GMT -5 Bret Hart Rules said:

What I don't get is this is YOUR fantasy booking of WrestleMania and yet you have willingly added Jay Z to play a few songs.

I like Jay Z, and he could also draw more of an audience to the PPV, and give it a big time feel. Also, we could get a Beyonce or Kanye West cameo in there, so there's that.

[Bret Hart Rules]

I just can't imagine loads of fans sitting at home thinking "I like the look of the card but I don't know.... Maybe I shouldn't buy it...... Wait.. JAY Z MINI CONCERT. Take my money WWE at once". I don't really recall any live music at any wrestling event being well received ever, that all

[zeez]

If I booked Wrestlemania, there'd be cake.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I don't see why there is a #1 contenders match AND a MiTB match.

I would also take Maddox and Riley out of the MiTB match and replace them with Cesaro and Big E in there.

Cesaro would just end up in the MiTB match anyway. WWE tends to have their midcard champions thrown into random programs instead of actually booking title feuds. Also, while I want Bateman to be pushed, but the idea that Cesaro HAS to drop the title to someone with an "American Hero" gimmick character feels contrived and forced.

I think The Shield should face current roster guys. The Shield running over three retired/semi-retired veterans in a gimmick match doesn't really do anything for them. I would instead have Sheamus & Orton vs. the Shield in a 3 on 2 Handicap match.

Big Show doesn't really fit in at WrestleMania unless he's using his size to obliterate someone or put someone over by selling their finisher in a feat of strength

I want to see the New Age Outlaws have one last run. Just not at WM. I would instead have Riley & Ryder paired up as Rhodes Scholars' challengers. The story of two underutilized underdogs making a pact to get together, winning the tag titles and finally getting their moment in the spotlight would make a much better WM moment.

[chazraps]

Jan 12, 2013 15:33:19 GMT -5 Bret Hart Rules said:

I just can't imagine loads of fans sitting at home thinking "I like the look of the card but I don't know.... Maybe I shouldn't buy it...... Wait.. JAY Z MINI CONCERT. Take my money WWE at once". I don't really recall any live music at any wrestling event being well received ever, that all

He's one of the biggest names in all of entertainment. Same with Cee-Lo. It's adding to the big event feel. It's a good thing.

[PTBartman]

Jan 12, 2013 16:19:46 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Jan 12, 2013 15:33:19 GMT -5 Bret Hart Rules said:

I just can't imagine loads of fans sitting at home thinking "I like the look of the card but I don't know.... Maybe I shouldn't buy it...... Wait.. JAY Z MINI CONCERT. Take my money WWE at once". I don't really recall any live music at any wrestling event being well received ever, that all

He's one of the biggest names in all of entertainment. Same with Cee-Lo. It's adding to the big event feel. It's a good thing.]

Except your not in NYC, it should be Springsteen or BonJovi.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 17:00:00 GMT -5 PTBartman said:

Jan 12, 2013 16:19:46 GMT -5 chazraps said:

He's one of the biggest names in all of entertainment. Same with Cee-Lo. It's adding to the big event feel. It's a good thing.]

Except your not in NYC, it should be Springsteen or BonJovi.

Jay-Z is way more relevant than Springsteen of Bon Jovi.

[Bret Hart Rules]

Did that Cee Lo guy play at SummerSlam? I don't know or care about him so I may be wrong but if I recall the crowd didn't really care and it added nothing to the event. I just hit fast forward. Same thing when they used Kid Rock at WrestleMania. Crowd doesn't care, hit fast forward and I actually don't mind Kid Rock.

My point is that if I want to see or hear artists that I like then I'll watch or listen to songs by them not purchase a wrestling event. Also, Vince will most likely remove it from the home release to save money rendering it pointless anyway.

[Snaptastic]

To add you should first off drop the following matches:

Ryder vs Big E - Pointless filler
Cesaro vs Bateman - Cesaro deserves to be on the card, but not vs Bateman.
Orton vs Show vs Sheamus - #1 Contenders match at Mania makes no sense
Shield vs Foley/JBL/Regal - I like The Shield but no.

Also, Divas cage match with those two? No thanks

So you're left with...

Mysterio vs Sin Cara
MITB
Tag Title Match
Ryback vs Ziggler
Cena vs Barrett
Punk vs Taker
Kaiyln vs Eve (normal match or add a few other participants. Maybe put AJ in there to give her something to do).
Rock vs Lesnar

8 matches down from 12.
You could replace Heath, Riley & Maddox with Orton, Show & Sheamus in the MITB.

12 matches in 4 hours only gives 20 minutes per match not including entrance time and in between segments.

[Deleted]

Rock/Brock in 2013, with how much bigger mainstream stars they both are now compared to where they were 10 years ago when they last battled, would be a great spectacle. My only worry is that the smarky NJ 'Mania crowd might ruin the match because they know that both guys will be going on vacation again after the show.

And Cena is their top full time guy. Your top guy should never be in a nothing match on the biggest show of the year. Cena in a IC title match would probably be a bigger slap in the face than Austin facing Scott Hall at Wrestlemania X8. In both cases you reward the guy who was part of the biggest match of all time the year prior by giving him a throwaway match. Although Cena at least probably wouldn't walk out in protest like Austin did.

I'd have Cena face Undertaker instead of Punk. And have Punk face HHH since I don't see him on that card. That way you'd have two huge matches (Rock/Brock and Cena/Taker) and one pretty big match (Punk/HHH) rather than one huge match (Rock/Brock) and one pretty big match (Taker/Punk).

[thetimetraveler]

Brock vs Rock would be ok, but the rest is kind of bad.