PWP’s coverage of grandest stage continues, as Eron Ramadanov covers WrestleMania 26.

WOW! I can’t believe we’re almost there. WrestleMania 31 is right around the corner, and the complete series of WrestleMania is almost over. I started with WrestleMania 6 and 7, went through 13 and 14, was given 24 and this will hopefully be my last one.

I’m not complaining about getting WrestleMania 26… I’m just happy I didn’t get stuck with WrestleMania 25 or something…

WrestleMania 26 is actually in my top five of my favorite WrestleManias of all time. From top to bottom, this card screams star power, so let’s get into it.

ShoMiz (The Big Show & The Miz) (c) vs. R-Truth & John Morrison
WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match

For an opening match, this wasn’t very good. If this match was placed somewhere in the middle of the card, it would have been alright, but as an opener, this wasn’t the best way to start the show.

The Miz and Morrison started off the encounter, at one point Morrison attempted to hit Miz with the Starship Pain only for Big Show to come in for the save. Later, R-Truth tried to springboard onto the Big Show but was caught and hit against the ring post. The match ended when Big Show blind tagged himself in and knocked out Morrison, pinning him to win the match and retain the title.

This match was lackluster to say the least, and very quick.

Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes
Triple Threat Match

The second match was a triple threat bout between Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes, all formerly of the stable known as Legacy.

Rhodes and DiBiase spent most of the match double teaming Orton, however when DiBiase attempted to pin Orton, he was stopped by Rhodes. This turned into a brawl between the two which led to Orton taking the advantage.

The match ended when Orton punted Rhodes and hit the RKO on DiBiase to win the fall. After seeing this match, I wondered up this didn’t start off the show, as Orton was really over as a babyface and the fans were very invested in this match-up.

Jack Swagger vs. Christian vs. Matt Hardy vs. Kane vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP vs. Evan Bourne
Money In The Bank Ladder Match

The annual Money in the Bank ladder match took place next. The match started off with every superstar trying to incapacitate each other long enough to climb and retrieve the briefcase.

In between Jack Swagger was stuck in between a ladder with Christian and Matt Hardy hitting him with two ladders of their own. Another instance was when Evan Bourne performed a shooting star press on Christian from a vertically placed ladder wedged between another and the middle rope.

The match came to an end when Jack Swagger hit Christian with the Money in the Bank briefcase sending him falling down and giving Swagger enough time to unhook the briefcase and become the new Mr. Money in the Bank.

Triple H vs. Sheamus

The fourth match included The Game, Triple H taking on Sheamus. The match started with Sheamus taunting Triple H and calling himself the future of the business. He then spent most of the time dominating Triple H with his back breaker and submission moves.

Triple H then took back control of the match by performing a facebreaker knee and spinebuster on Sheamus. Sheamus then hit Triple H with a Brogue Kick and then tried to hit him with a powerbomb only for Triple H to reverse and hit Sheamus with the Pedigree to win the match.

This match was better than people say, and I really enjoyed the feud itself.

CM Punk (w/Serena & Luke Gallows) vs. Rey Mysterio
If Mysterio loses, he must pledge allegiance to the SES

The fifth match saw CM Punk going up against Rey Mysterio. A malfunction in Mysterio’s opening delayed the match. The bout went evenly matched throughout with neither superstars managing to get the advantage for long. CM Punk’s disciples Luke Gallows and Serena attempted to interfere throughout the match.

The end came when Serena distracted the referee and Gallows tried to distract Rey Mysterio. Punk lifted Mysterio from behind and attempted to hit the GTS, but was reversed into the 619. Mysterio then hit Punk with a diving splash and pinned him for the win.

Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon
No Holds Barred

Mr. McMahon took on Bret Hart next, with Bruce Hart as the special referee. McMahon entered and informed Hart that he wanted to give him a “Wrestlemania sized” screwing and called out Hart’s family claiming he had paid them to turn on Hart. Hart then informed McMahon that his family had informed him about this before and that they would screw Vince instead.

The match featured members of the Hart family including The Hart Dynasty beating on McMahon. Hart then placed McMahon in the sharpshooter, with McMahon tapping out to end the match.

In all honestly, I love Bret Hart, but WOW… jean shorts? Really? This entire segment was hard to watch and very cringe-worthy. Just… no.

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Edge
World Heavyweight Championship Match

The seventh match was for the World Heavyweight Title between Edge and reigning champion Chris Jericho. Each man tried to get the better of each other only to be countered every time. The match ended when Jericho hit Edge with the championship belt and a codebreaker to win and retain his title. For the match itself, it got off to a rough start, but on paper, this match should have been much better than it came out.

After the match Jericho attempted to hurt Edge further but was fought off and was speared by Edge through the barricade outside the ring. Overall, it was a solid segment for the middle-end of the show.

Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse, Alicia Fox & Vickie Guerrero vs. Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim
10-Diva Tag Team Match

I’m just… no.

Batista (c) vs. John Cena
WWE Championship Match

John Cena and Batista fought for the WWE Championship after the eye swore that was the Divas match. Cena entered the ring after a performance from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team. Batista dominated the first half of the match. Cena made a return after hitting a suplex. The match started to go evenly after that.

An instance included Cena hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle off the top of the turnbuckle. Then Batista delivered a Batista Bomb for a two-count and Cena delivered an Attitude Adjustment for a two-count. The match came to an end after Cena reversed a Batista Bomb into an STFU. Batista eventually tapped out.

Cena won the match and the WWE Championship, making him an nine-time World Champion.

Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Streak vs. Career

The final match featured was the billed “Streak vs Career” match between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. The match started out with both men hitting their signature moves early on. The Undertaker injured his leg while performing Old school and Shawn focused on his leg. The action then went outside the ring. An instance included where Undertaker hit the tombstone on the stadium floor, but Michaels kicked out when Undertaker tried to pin him in the ring.

Afterwards in the match, Shawn Michaels hit a Sweet Chin Music. Soon after, Undertaker also hit the chokeslam and the Last Ride successfully, but Michaels kicked out of each. Shawn also applied numerous submission maneuvers on Undertaker’s injured ankle, such as the figure four leglock and crossface, but The Undertaker was successful in countering all of them.

Undertaker also applied the Hell’s Gate, but Michaels reversed it into a pin attempt, with Undertaker kicking for a two count. When the action spilled outside again, Undertaker attempted a Last Ride on the announce table, but Michaels countered it and hit a second Sweet Chin Music, which placed the Undertaker on top of the announce table. Michaels performed a moonsault aiming on the Undertaker’s injured ankle.

After taking The Undertaker back in the ring again, Michaels then hit his third Sweet Chin Music on Undertaker, who kicked out at two yet again. Michaels then attempted Sweet Chin Music again but Undertaker countered into a Chokeslam, and quickly followed up by hitting Michaels with a second Tombstone Piledriver. But Michaels kicked out at the count of two. Undertaker began to signal the end for Michaels, but stopped his cut-throat action and told Michaels to stay down. Michaels, however, taunted Undertaker by completing the action on his own and slapping him in the face.

Then Undertaker responded with a third jumping Tombstone Piledriver and pinned the fallen Shawn Michaels for the win, and extended his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to 18–0,ending Michaels’ career. After the match the two shook hands and embraced. Undertaker soon left and Shawn Michaels interacted with the fans for the final time as the event came to a close.

Thanks for reading!

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