Thoughts of a Pleb: A Raw step forward?

Wrestlemania weekend is finally over. It’s bittersweet, because on one hand Wrestlemania is generally when the product is at it’s hottest, and highest quality. On the other, I may actually get some sleep now. It all culminated in Raw last night, the show that widely considered to be one of the best of the year, partially because of the Wrestlemania hangover: all the fans stick around for Raw the next night too. This year though was a bit different. The word I keep using to describe was underwhelming.

Last year we had a Ryback heel turn, Dolph Ziggler cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase and won the World Heavyweight Championship, and The Undertaker wrestled his first match on Raw in 3 years, as he teamed up with Kane and Daniel Bryan to take on The Shield. The year before saw Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE. We could be forgiven for expecting something equally as huge this year.

2013-14 Prediction League Results

As you should probably be aware, we run a prediction league at the Plebs Of Wrestling, and the inaugural league finished with Wrestlemania 30! That’s why we do the predictions for every PPV, to try and score points. If you’re unfamiliar with how it works, click the “Prediction League” tab at the top of the page for a set of rules, and the current standings.

But, as I said the first league has finished. And the winner is….. ANDREW!!! He ended up with 117 points, compared to Matt’s 100.

The new league will start with Extreme Rules, and run up until Wrestlemania 31. Feel free to play along at home, and let us know how you get on!

Plebeian Point of View: Deadman walking… no more?

The Undertaker went 21-0 at Wrestlemania. That is a feat that will never, and can never, and should never, be replicated. But last night at Wrestlemania, it all came crashing down in the most controversial moment since the Montreal Screwjob…

 

21-1. Still a remarkable record, and itself is highly unlikely to ever be replicated. But that doesn’t matter. The streak is over. And for years I’ve thought that when the streak was over, Undertaker’s career would be over. It was something most of us never thought we would ever see. And you could tell. When Brock Lesnar got that three count, everyone watching was stunned into silence. It was an appropriately deathly quiet for the Deadman, and the death of the streak.

Personally? I get sucked in to his matches at Mania. I thought Triple H had done it after a Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree. I thought Triple H had done it after a Tombstone. There were countless times I thought Shawn Michaels had done it. I remember when I was younger not being able to take not knowing who won between Taker and Edge as I watched it the next day. And last night, with that F5, I instinctively thought it was all over.

Little did I know I was right. 3 seconds later, it was.

Thoughts of a Pleb: Mania Musings

Wrestlemania 30… that was some show. Whether it was for the right or wrong reasons, it was memorable. So memorable, it will stick with us forever. I’m not going to lie, I’m still a little bit in shock at the whole Undertaker situation. The plan for this article is to put down some random thoughts about the event as a whole, but I’m saving most of the Undertaker discussion for a separate article. I feel like I need to do it justice, and so trying to keep it brief here wouldn’t be a good idea. Let’s see how it goes…

Wrestlemania 30 Predictions

Welcome… to Wrestlemania! Or at least, the Plebs Of Wrestling’s predictions for Wrestlemania! This is it guys, this is the biggest show of the year! I don’t know about you, but I’m excited. As I’ve said a lot over the last week or so, there hasn’t been much wrestling news in the last two months that hasn’t in some way related to Mania. This is the culmination, this is what WWE has been working towards for the whole of 2014 so far. This. Is. Wrestlemania.

There are 8 matches announced for the show including the kickoff match. There are also several notable things about this Mania – for one it’s literally the biggest ever, with 66 performers confirmed for matches on the show. Then add in appearances from the Hall of Famers, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and anyone else who shows up (CM Punk? Sting?). And those special appearances will be the first time we’ve seen some of the biggest names in the history of the wrestling industry on a WWE broadcast in years. And to top all of that off, this is the final event in the Plebs of Wrestling Prediction League! This is the end of the season if you like, and though I hold a fair lead over Matt, you never know what will happen. So, enough rambling about how great Wrestlemania 30 is/will be, let’s get on to the actual predictions!

M It’s Wrestlemania and how can one not be at least a bit excited!? Well it’s a close call for me I’m afraid. There’s a different feel to this year but unfortunately it’s not about the quality of the story lines and talent, but more about the spectacle surrounding the WWE Network promotion and just a downright expectancy that everyone will watch if they make it BIG! I’m a skeptic at heart as I’m sure you know, so I’ll hold my breath on this one till after I see it. The only thing I get excited about at Wrestlemania time is the Raw after it! Anyway, I’m a bit behind Andrew so I’m going all out tonight. Most of these predictions will be strange with added bits all over the shop. If I’m going down, I’m going down swinging!!