KELLER'S WWE WRESTLEMANIA 29 PPV REPORT
APRIL 7, 2013
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - MET LIFE STADIUM
AIRED LIVE ON PPV

-They opened with Gov. Chris Christie narrating a video on Superstorm Sandy.

-A well-produced WrestleMania video package aired.

-They opened with Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL at ringside as ring entrances took place for Sheamus, Big Show, and Randy Orton. Cole said upwards of 80,000 expected at Met Life Stadium. They threw to Carlos Carbrera and Marcelo Rodriguez who did an on-camera introduction for the Spanish feed.

(1) The Shield (Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) beat Big Show & Randy Orton & Sheamus when Ambrose pinned Orton in 11:00.

As The Shield walked to the ring, Lawler said it could take hours walking through this huge stadium crowd. JBL compared The Shield to the Freebirds, said it was improved by the Horsemen, and "some day it was perfected by the NWO." Interesting that Evolution, for instance, not part of the "top faction" lists. The bell rang to start the match at 7:10 ET.

At 3:00 Show charged Ambrose, but Ambrose dropkicked his knee and tagged in Rollings. At 6:00 Sheamus hot-tagged in and went to work on Rollins. Reigns from the ring apron knocked Sheamus off the top rope. A brawl broke out at ringside with Orton and Reigns, so Rollins dove through the ropes at Orton on the floor. Rollins graced Orton but went head first into the ringside barrier. Show broke up a double powerbomb attempt on Sheamus with a spear. Cole said despite the Jets and Giant playing in this stadium, there's never been a hit like that.

Sheamus reached to tag Show, but Orton reached out and tagged himself in. Show looked upset. Orton powerslammed Ambrose and then DDT'd him off the second rope. Show took a step down off the ring apron as Orton signaled for the RKO. He fended off interference from Rollins by DDT'ing him out of mid-air. Reigns, though, speared Orton. Ambrose scored the pin right away. JBL said that the Shield's "WrestleMania Moment" and said they have a chance to be the best three-man team in "the history of sports entertainment." Lawler said he was hesitant to proclaim that yet. JBL said he should believe in The Shield.

Afterward Show yelled at Orton. Orton yelled back. Orton tried to walk away, but then Show took it out on Sheamus with a KO punch. He turned and KO punched Orton, too. The crowd booed as Show left the ring. Cole said Orton vouched for Show, so you've got to feel bad for Orton. JBL said things were fine until they wouldn't tag big show in. JBL said there were three huge egos and they couldn't work together. It's that simple. (**)

(WK Reax: Just a match. Fine for what it was and the story it told.)

-Cole hyped the Rock-Cena main event, then they aired the video package on the match.

(2) Mark Henry pinned Ryback in 8:00. This started at 7:31 ET. They stood mid-ring and exchanged punches. Cole said something has to give. JBL predicted no arm drags or hip tosses. Henry was the first to take Ryback down by connecting with a clothesline as Ryback charged at him.

In the end, Ryback lifted Henry for the Shellshock. The crowd popped for him lifting him. However, he fell forward and Henry landed on top of him. He rolled him onto his back and scored the pin. (**)

(WK Reax: They did a nice job of playing into the perception that both were massively powerful forces. We had the obligatory Henry bearhug, but otherwise they kept the pace decent enough. Clunky at times, but again that was just unavoidable here with these two.)

-Afterward, trainers came in to check on Ryback. Henry was leaving, but decided to re-enter the ring and go after Ryback. The ref scolded him. That opened up Ryback to recover and give him a surprise spinebuster. Ryback yelled "Finish it!" He then tried another Shellshock and this one he executed. He looked like it took a lot out of him and he might have hurt his left wrist or arm. He was wincing in pain afterward. He managed to lead the crowd in a "Feed Me More" chant, but he still looked like he was in great pain and trying to hide it.

-They went to Lawler and JBL playing with toy wrestling figures.

-They went to Gov. Christie, Stephanie McMahon, and members of the Special Olympics on the stage.

(3) Daniel Bryan & Kane beat Big E. Langston & Dolph Ziggler (w/A.J. Lee) to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles in 6:00.

This started at 7:48 p.m. Ziggler kissed Lee on the ring apron. Cole said that was just sticking it to Bryan. Cole said that cost Bryan his World Title last year in the same way. Bryan went for the pin, but Ziggler kicked out. Bryan then dove through the ropes and knocked Ziggler into the security barrier. At 2:00 Big E. tagged in and chomped on his gum and stared down Bryan. Bryan tagged in Kane. Cole said it's Kane's tenth straight WrestleMania appearance. Big E. caught Kane in mid-air and then gave him three unreleased backbreakers. JBL said he's never seen Kane tossed around like that.

(Quotebook - Jerry Lawler on A.J. Lee: "Her family has always been crazy. Back in the Civil War, his ancestors fought for the East." Sadly, how many people don't get that joke because they have no knowledge of U.S. history.)

Kane countered Big E., so Big E. tagged in Ziggler. Ziggler charged at Bryan, knocking him off the ring apron. Kane got up and went to work on Ziggler right away and scored a two count at 4:00. Ziggler avoided a Kane clothesline off the ropes and went for a legdrop driver, but he didn't connect clean. Bryan came in, so Ziggler dropkicked him. Ziggler then leaped off the top rope, but Kane knocked him out of mid-air and scored a two count. Big E. splashed Kane's back, but logically there was no reason for the ref to stop the count as Kane was still on top of Ziggler and Ziggler's shoulders were still down.

Ziggler surprised Kane a minute later with a Zig Zag after Kane threw Big E. out of the ring. A.J. slid the MITB Briefcase to Ziggler and then distracted the ref. Ziggler swung it at kane, but Kane ducked and then he chokeslammed Ziggler. He tagged Bryan in, and Bryan landed a top rope headbutt for the win. (**)

(WK Reax: What you'd expect from a short TV style match with these two teams. Just not long enough to have an impact.)

-A video package aired on Cena working with Make-a-Wish.

(4) Fandango pinned Chris Jericho in 9:00. Fandango danced his way to the ring before the match with a larger group of dancers on the big entrance stage. Lilian Garcia got his name wrong, and Lawler said he's not sure she said it well, yet he still is walking to the ring. A clip aired of Jericho making fun of Fandango's name. Lawler said even though he's a fan of Jericho, it wasn't right how much he butchered Fandango's name. A "Y2J" chant rang out.

The bell rang to start the match at 8:02 ET. Jericho tackled Fandango at the start as Fandango danced in his corner in a self-absorbed manner. Fandango bailed out to ringside. Back in the ring Jericho tackled Fandango and punched away at him. The ref scolded Jericho for beating him up in the corner.

(WK Reax: JBL overplayed the fact that Fandango had never wrestled in WWE before, pretending that fans don't realize that Fandango obviously wrestled before he got to WWE, even if they're not sure of the exact context. It's a credibility-killer if viewers think JBL is trying to say Fandango literally never wrestled before. He was technically precise with his language, but the implication was this was a huge mismatch akin to Buster Douglas having never boxed when facing Mike Tyson.)

At 3:00 Jericho dove toward Fandango on the ring apron, but Fandango caught him with a kick to the head. They fought back and forth for the rest of the match. In the end Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho, but he sold that he tweaked a knee. JBL pointed it out. Fandango then small packaged him for the surprise pin. Jericho had a couple splotches of blood on his face. Lawler said Jericho can't believe it. (**1/4)

(WK Reax: Decent relatively short match. Fandango looked like he belonged in the ring and he kept up with Jericho just fine. Good clever finish that gives Fandango just enough credit for the upset win while also giving Jericho an excuse for the loss.)

-A commercial aired for the WrestleMania chair featuring Miz bursting out of a big gift package and a child hugging him and begging his mom to keep him.

-Cole narrated a clip of Wade Barrett vs. The Miz in the Intercontinental Title match ending with Miz applying the figure-four leglock from the mat and getting the tap out win. JBL said somewhere Flair was looking on as proud as can be.

(WK Reax: I have a feeling Flair doesn't care at all right now about Miz's figure-four.)

-The announcers hyped the Cena-Rock match again and threw to a video on The Rock. Any doubt what the top match of this show is?

-They went to the stadium and showed iconic WrestleMania moments on the big screen spread over all 28 previous events. Then Sean "Diddy" Combs performed live on the stage. He told the fans they are the loudest and craziest WWE fans in the whole world. He asked those from out of town to make noise. He said it's time to show you party in New York. "I don't care how tough you are, put your hand in the air and wave them side to side." He performed several songs including a duet of "Coming Home," the official WM29 theme song. He didn't get booed, which is one of the biggest surprises since live acts get booed off the stage typically at wrestling events.

-Cole threw to a video package on Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger.

-Zeb and Swagger got to the ring in their camouflage vehicle called the Patriot Patrol. Zeb said this past week he walked "these filthy streets of New York. He asked, "When did we let them take over?" He stressed "them." He said it was once a beacon of American prosperity and "now it's not even worth the beads we paid for it. All it is is a cesspool of criminals, illegals that snuck across our borders and they speak Spanish and they speak Italian and they speak Greek and Chinese and they speak something called Yiddish and they plot God-knows what against us." Swagger said, "We the People." Not much heat.

(WK Reax: He has a point about those Greeks sneaking across the border. Man, it's just non-stop Greeks, everywhere you look crossing our border.)

(5) Alberto Del Rio pinned Jack Swagger in 11:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title. Ricardo introduced Del Rio while standing on the stage with help from his crutches. Cole said Del Rio is in a fighting mood tonight. Cole repeated his ridiculously counterproductive catchphrase: "Born in Mexico, Made in America." Lilian Garcia did formal ring introductions. Swagger got a good dose of boos. Del Rio got fewer cheers than Swagger got boos, which is not good.

The bell rang to start the match at 8:33 p.m. Swagger dominated early, but with little heat or energy in the arena. Del Rio made a comeback and took control for a short time. Swagger dominated again for a stretch. He went for the Patriot Lock at 7:00 to zero crowd heat. Del Rio almost reached the ropes, but when Swagger yanked him back to center-ring, Del Rio switched into a cross arm breaker attempt. Swagger blocked it as best he could, but Del Rio eventually snapped Swagger's arm into full extension. No pop. Swagger escaped and applied the Patriot Lock. That got a little bit more of a pop. Del Rio crawled to the bottom rope to force the break. Swagger reapplied it even when Del Rio was still in the ropes. The ref scolded him. Cole said Swagger was using the full five count.

Swagger went for a gut-wrench suplex, but Del Rio spun out of it and nailed Swagger with an enzuigiri. Del Rio landed another running enzuigiri, but Coulter put Swagger's foot on the bottom rope to stop the count. He denied to the ref that he did it. When Ricardo confronted him, Coulter kicked at his crutches. Del Rio rolled to the floor to the defense of Ricardo. Coulter retreated. Swagger threw Del Rio into the ringside barrier. Coulter taunted him. Swagger threw Del Rio into the ring, but Del Rio surprised Swagger immediately with a fully applied Cross Armbreaker and Swagger tapped out. The crowd popped moderately at least for that. (**1/4)

(WK Reax: Very steady show so far, with one two-star match after another. And by steady, I mean consistently mediocre and without much of anything memorable - either because it was especially good or especially bad.)

-A video aired paying tribute to the troops.

-Cole threw to a video package on C.M. Punk vs. Undertaker.

-Living Color performed the theme song for Punk live.

(6) Undertaker pinned C.M. Punk (w/Paul Heyman) in 23:00. Heyman carried the urn as Punk walk to the ring in front of him. With the show just over half over, this really felt like a shift in energy. Once Punk's music stopped, there was an actual buzz in the crowd anticipating the Undertaker entrance. Lots of flames shooting off on the stage in the background as Taker made a slow walk to the ring. Punk played around with the urn as Taker took off his robe and revealed his Chuck Liddell haircut. Punk tossed the urn to Heyman, then entered the ring.

The bell rang to start the match at 8:59 p.m. ET. Punk slapped Taker early, then threw a barrage of chops and elbows in the corner. The crowd really woke up. Taker grabbed Punk by the throat, but Punk escaped with a kick. Taker countered with a boot to Punk, then tossed him out of the ring. Cole said, "Listen to the WWE fans, nearly 80,000 here at Met Life!" Taker whipped Punk into the security barrier. Punk tumbled into the bell ringer area.

Taker tossed the monitors off of the announce table. Lawler said this shows Taker wants to hurt Punk. Wouldn't leaving the monitors on the table hurt more? Taker rammed Punk into the ringpost back-first, then kicked his head and guillotine leg dropped him off the ring apron. They cut to Heyman who looked worried. At 4:00 Taker climbed to the top rope and was going to walk the rope, but Punk yanked him down to the mat with an arm drag.

Punk went on offense. Cole reminded viewers that he was WWE Champ for over a year. He walked the top rope and leaped off with a forearm. The Punk fans popped as Cole said that was an Undertaker signature move. Cole said if Punk can beat Taker tonight, he can punch his ticket to the WWE Hall of Fame. At 7:00 Taker made a comeback with strikes. When Taker charged Punk in the corner, he sold the idea that he landed awkwardly. He clutched his knee and rolled to the floor. Punk leaped off the top rope onto Taker on the floor.

At 10:00 Punk attempted another top rope walk, but this time Taker yanked him down and Punk straddled the top rope. Taker knocked him to the floor. Heyman asked, "What happened?" When Taker charged toward the ropes to dive at Punk, Heyman leaped onto the ring apron to stop him. Punk then surprised Taker from another direction with a flying clothesline. Punk nailed a high running knee in the corner and a clothesline. Punk then leaped off the top rope with a flying elbow drop for a near fall. The crowd kinda popped, but mostly figured it wasn't over yet.

Punk signaled for Go To Sleep. Taker blocked the GTS attempt and chokeslammed Punk for a near fall. At 13:00 Taker landed Snake Eyes, but Punk countered with a leaping hook kick for a two count. Punk clotheslined Taker over the top rope to the floor. Punk took the last monitor off the Spanish announce table. It actually fell through the hole. Taker then set up a Last Ride through the table, but Punk slipped free and shoved Taker onto the table. Punk caught his breath and looked at the crowd. He decided to roll into the ring and then climb to the top rope. He leaped off with a flying elbow. He landed it and the table didn't give at all. Taker rolled to the floor. Taker barely beat the ten count. Punk cried at the near miss at 17:00. Cole said Punk was in "celebration mode."

When Punk crawled over to Taker, Taker surprised him with the Hell's Gate submission. Punk flipped over and leveraged Taker's shoulders as he was still in the hold. Taker released it at two. Punk then shifted into the Anaconda Vice. Taker stood up while in the hold, gave Punk a devious look, and then grabbed his throat and went for a chokeslam. Punk escaped and went for Go To Sleep. Taker, though, gave Punk the Tombstone and covered him for an apparent victory. The crowd popped when Punk kicked out. Heyman freaked out in shock. Cole called it a miracle. Taker looked exhausted and stunned.

At 20:00 they slowly rose to their feet while exchanging punches. Taker won the battle by grabbing Punk's throat. Punk hit the ref. Heyman distracted Taker. Punk reverse side kicked Taker in the leg. Punk hit the running knee in the corner, but Taker set up a Last Ride. Heyman handed Punk the urn while he was in the air. Punk hit Taker across the back of his neck with the urn. Punk covered Taker with his arm crossed, imitating Taker's pin attempt. Taker kicked out at the last possible second. Cole: "Resurrection at WrestleMania!" Lawler said Punk is beginning to think Undertaker isn't human. JBL and Cole lauded the match.

A battle chant brooke out of "C.M. Punk / Un-der-ta-ker" chants. Punk went for a Go To Sleep, but Taker elbowed free and set up a Tombstone. Punk countered with a Go To Sleep attempt. Taker escaped and lifted Punk for a Tombstone. He delivered it center-ring, crossed Punk's arms, and scored the pin. Fireworks shot off as Taker celebrated in the ring. Cole said year after year after year he does it. "21-0" flashed on the big screens. (****1/4)

(WK Reax: Punk's somewhat transparent "setting expectations low" gimmick wasn't needed here. A four-star-plus match that totally lived up to the precedent set in recent years with Taker classics.)

-They went to the announcers at ringside who threw to a video on Cena.

-Back at the arena they went to an overhead shot of the stadium. Then they showed Michelle Beadle at ringside, an NBC Sports reporter.

-A long video package aired on Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar.

-Shawn Michaels's ring entrance took place. He did his full entrance routine, but it didn't feel the same while wearing basically Steve Austin gear - jeans, a black t-shirt (sleeveless, though), and a camouflage cap.

Out next came Brock Lesnar, who looked like he was ready to beat up Cain Velasquez. Boy, if he hadn't entered MMA, people would have always wondered how he'd do if he did. Strange that Lesnar came out between Michaels and Triple H. Cole told JBL he and Lesnar were both trained by Brad Rheingans (butchering the pronunciation). JBL said he talked to him earlier in the day and Rheingans told him it was a once in a lifetime find.

Lastly, out came Triple H through an entrance set and he ended up covered in some strange green glowing foam that stuck to his abdomen.

(7) Triple H (w/Shawn Michaels) pinned Brock Lesnar in 25:00. The bell rang to start the match at 9:40 ET. Lesnar charged at Hunter. Hunter met him with a barrage of punches. Lesnar kneed Hunter in the gut a few times. Lesnar charged at Hunter, but Hunter ducked and Lesnar tumbled to the floor. He rammed Lesnar's head into the ring apron. Lesnar came back and tossed Hunter over the ringside barrier, then grabbed a chair. Hunter knocked Lesnar off the ringside barrier and Lesnar landed awkwardly on the side of his head and shoulder. Ouch. That looked potentially dangerous, even to Lesnar's incredible thick neck. Lesnar got up and threw Hunter back into the ring.

(Quotebook - JBL on Brock Lesnar: "This is a beast who won two World Championships in an Octagon. This is right up his alley.")

They brawled at ringside. Lesnar came out on top and suplexed Hunter onto the ringside table, which collapsed. He let out a barbaric yell. Lesnar overhead tossed Hunter onto the flattened table. Lesnar began to maniacally laugh. Michaels went to check on Hunter, but Lesnar went after him. Michaels ran. Lawler said he's never seen Michaels run from anyone like that, but it was a smart thing to do.

Back in the ring Lesnar played to the crowd and got some cheers. Hunter backed into the corner and then he waved Lesnar in. Lesnar moved in and stomped away at him. The announcers said Lesnar enjoys punishing Hunter. Hunter made a comeback attempt with a hope spot, but Lesnar took him down with a clothesline. Heyman yelled at Hunter, "You can't compete with Brock Lesnar! Stay down!" Lesnar went into a sustained beatdown. He whipped Hunter into the corner and Hunter flipped over top to the floor.

Lesnar pursued Hunter at ringside. JBL said Hunter feels he's fighting for his family and career. Nobody believes that. They know Hunter's set financially and has a career to fall back - running WWE behind the scenes. Lesnar was distracted by Michaels at ringside, which gave Hunter a chance to knock Lesnar down. He called a spot and then clotheslined him over the barrier into the bell ringer area.

Back in the ring at 12:00 Lesnar powered Hunter to the mat with a back suplex into a bridge for a two count. Michaels stood on the ring apron. Lesnar knocked Michaels hard to the floor. Lesnar stared at him and smiled. When he turned back, Hunter surprised him with a spinebuster. Hunter set up a Pedigree, but Lesnar blocked it and set up an F5. Michaels entered. Lesnar gave him an F5. Michaels rolled to the floor. Hunter then set up a Pedigree. Lesnar went to his knees, perhaps bumping for it too early. Hunter did it again and landed it. Lesnar appeared to be out and Hunter scored a near fall.

Hunter brought his sledgehammer into the ring. He charged at him with it, but Lesnar executed an F5. Lawler and JBL called the match early, so you knew Hunter would kick out. Lesnar bled from his lower lip. At ringside Lesnar bashed Hunter across his back with a chair. Lesnar whipped Hunter into the ringside steps. Then he rammed him with the steps. JBL said Lesnar was completely out of control. He threw the steps into the ring. Cole said Lesnar is "untamed." Lesnar did the throat-slice gesture in the ring and then lifted the ringside step and bashed a charging Triple H with it. Hunter went down. Lesnar scored a two count. The pace here got a bit slow between the big shots.

Lesnar attempted a kimura lock, but Hunter blocked it. Hunter finally resorted to a low blow from behind after avoiding a Lesnar charge into the corner. Cole yelled: "Legal! Legal! Completely legal!" Lawler said desperate times call for desperate measures. JBL said Hunter has to capitalize now. At ringside Hunter wrapped Lesnar's left arm around the ringpost and bashed it with a chair. He did it again inside the ring on the stair base. Hunter then applied his own kimura lock. Lesnar yelled out in pain and teased tapping. Heyman yelled, "Don't tap!" Lesnar yelled, "Help!"

Heyman entered and picked up a chair, but Michaels KO'd him with Sweet Chin Music. Lesnar had no one to help. Hunter held the kimura. Lesnar yelled out in pain and finally stood up while in the hold. He then powered Hunter into the ringside steps. That broke the hold, but Hunter then reapplied it. Lesnar again teased tapping out. Lesnar again slammed Hunter onto the steps. It broke the hold again. Lesnar left his arm out there again, which was kind of ridiculous looking. Hunter applied it again. Lesnar again lifted Hunter, but Hunter shifted into DDT position and DDT'd Lesnar onto the steps.

Hunter grabbed his sledgehammer. Lesnar stood up and Hunter charged and jabbed him with the hammer in the head. Hunter then did his signature call for the Pedigree. He lifted Lesnar onto the ringside steps which remained in the ring and nailed the Pedigree. He made the cover and got the three count. Cole: "He slayed The Beast!" (***1/4)

(WK Reax: Not a ton of crowd heat during quite a bit of the match. It would have benefited from having about seven minutes at least sliced out of the middle, but it told a good story otherwise and had some clever and convincing near fall or near tap situations, with just enough high-impact moves and big spots that fit the no-DQ stip to match the build-up and hype.)

-An ad aired for Extreme Rules with Sheamus writing "I will not be extreme" on a chalkboard and then a punchline: "Some people never learn."

-A movie plug aired for "Pain & Gain" starring The Rock.

-Highlights aired for the WWE Hall of Fame followed by the Class of 2013 standing on the stage. It was hard to tell what kind of reception Bruno got, but it didn't seem to be the level deserved given what he meant to WWE's first 20 years in business. Add up Hogan, Austin, Undertaker, Michaels, and Cena, and you have what Bruno did for the WWWF/WWF over the first 20 years.

-An ad aired for "WrestleMania XXX." Yes, they're going with "Triple X" instead of "30." The tag-line is "Let the Good Times Roll."

-Back live at Met Life, Justin Roberts said the center of the WWE Universe has always been right there in the metro area. He announced 80,676 as the official attendance, and said it's a record for that venue. Fireworks shot off as the WM29 theme played.

-John Cena's music played. Poor Brodus Clay et al. The show was running long, apparently. Cena walked out to mixed results. No fancy entrance this year. Just Cena and his yellow t-shirt and his salute and his run to the ring. Ring entrances haven't been as special this year as in recent years.

-Rock then came out to his music for what sounded like the pop of the night, certainly bigger than Cena's. He did his usual pacing and jogging as he made his way to the ring.

(8) John Cena vs. The Rock.

The bell rang at 10:20 ET. They fought back and forth for about five minutes with a decent pace, but nothing too intense yet. Then Cena sent to a side headlock for two minutes. Rock fought it, but Cena reapplied it. Rock then applied a sleeper, prompting a short "Boring!" chant. It was five very slow minutes. Coming out of it, the announcers acknowledged it was a slow match. When Cena went for a shoulder tackle, he called out "drop down" and Rock did. That's bad. Rock went for a Sharpshooter, but Cena escaped.

Cena began to do his You Can't See Me routine, but Rock came back with a DDT and then trash-talked Cena. Rock set up a Rock Bottom, but Cena countered with an STF. Cena called another spot to Rock. Lawler covered by saying Cena was trash-talking him. Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Rock hit a spinebuster instead. Rock set up a People's Elbow, but Cena countered into an STF. Rock broke free and hit a Rock Bottom for a two count. Rock caught his breath and then Cena recovered enough for an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Cena went for a guillotine legdrop, but at 16:00 Rock avoided it and landed The People's Elbow for a two count. There was a bit of a pop for that near fall, the first somewhat believable one of the match. The crowd appeared ready to explode. Cena rolled to the floor.

Rock threw Cena back into the ring. They exchanged punches. The crowd knew their night was almost over, so they really got into the exchanges. Cena caught Rock and lifted him for an AA, but Rock slipped free and hit the AA for a two count. The crowd was standing and popping at this point. With Cena flat on his back, Rock breathed hard and tried to catch his wind. He then stood over Cena and looked down at him. He raised his arm and did the You Can't See Me routine and then went for the People's Elbow. Cena, though, caught Rock with an AA for a believable near fall. Cole said Rock should have gone for the pin sooner and not toyed with Cena, noting that Cena says that cost him the match last year.

They went back center-ring for another exchange of blows, with the crowd popping for each. Cena schoolboyed Rock for a two count. Rock set up a Rock Bottom. Cena countered and hit a Rock Bottom of his own for a believable near fall. Cena took his time, but he stood up and held his hand in the air. He then looked at it and decided not to wave it in Rock's face. He crossed his arms on his hips and smiled. He then took his armband off and threw it into the crowd. When he went for People's Elbow, though, Rock stood up. Cena smirked and waved his hand in front of his face. Cole said Cena suckered Rock in. Cena then went for the AA, but Rock countered and delivered a Rock Bottom. The crowd popped, but Cena kicked out. Both were slow to get up again.

Cena again lifted Rock for an AA, but Rock escaped. Cena lifted Rock again. Rock grabbed the top rope. Then he tried to lift Cena, but Cena elbowed him. Rock countered with a DDT. He waited for Cena to stand. Cena did. Cena hit the AA and pinned The Rock. The crowd popped but with a mixed reaction, of course. Cole said Cena achieved redemption. JBL said, "What a championship match tonight." The ref presented Cena with the belt. He looked down at it as his music played. Rock stood up and approached Cena. Cena looked like he was being respectful but had a lot to say to him. Rock fired back with some respectful words, also. They shook hands. The crowd didn't like that. They hugged. THey didn't like that much either. Rock whispered in his ear and then Cena pointed at Rock and walked out of the ring with the belt. JBL said, "What a class act by John Cena." (***)

-Rock remained in the ring and mouthed, "I love you" to the NY/NJ crowd. He made his way out of the ring hanging his head a bit, but also absorbing the moment. He stopped to meet with some VIPs in the front row including widow of Arnold Skaaland and his mother, plus a few others including a little kid. When Rock got to the stage, Cena was waiting. Rock raised Cena's arm as fireworks shot off. Cena's music played again as JBL said, "That's class." This was the last chance for people waiting for Cena's heel turn, but it didn't happen. Cena held the belt in the air and smiled as the show went off the air.

(WK Reax: It's hard to call it a bad match, but it didn't live up to the lofty stature of a WrestleMania re-match for the ages. Rock just didn't have wind for a 24-minute match and it showed. The called spots were also a detriment. They also seemed to go back to the same few spots over and over in terms of reversals and counters.)

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