SB Nation Boston - WrestleMania 28: The Rock Defeats John Cena In Miami; Undertaker Beats Triple-Hhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-04-02T00:14:33-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26744252012-04-02T00:14:33-04:002012-04-02T00:14:33-04:00WrestleMania 28 Results: The Rock Defeats John Cena In Main Event
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<p>Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had the last laugh in his match against West Newbury, Mass. native John Cena, winning the main event in his hometown of Miami, Florida at WrestleMania 28 at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday evening.</p>
<p>The Rock and Cena gave the match everything they had and were clearly drained at the end, but Rocky mustered energy to pin Cena and settle the score once and for all.</p>
<p>In the other big match of the night, the streak lives on as the Undertaker took out Triple H for the second-straight year in their Hell In A Cell match. Triple H came at 'Taker hard to start the match, but he wisely let Hunter tire himself out before putting him away.</p>
<p>The complete list of results from WrestleMania 28 can be viewed below.</p>
<p><b><u>WRESTLEMANIA 28 RESULTS - SUNDAY, APRIL 1</u></b></p>
<p><b>Main Event: </b>The Rock defeats John Cena.</p>
<p><b>Hell In A Cell:</b> Undertaker defeats Triple H.</p>
<p><b>WWE Championship:</b> CM Punk defeats Chris Jericho.</p>
<p><b>World Heavyweight Championship:</b> Sheamus defeats Daniel Bryan.</p>
<p><b>Intercontinental Title:</b> Big Show defeats Cody Rhodes.</p>
<p><b>Twelve-Man Tag Team:</b> Team Johnny defeats Team Teddy.</p>
<p><b>Divas Tag-Team:</b> Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos defeat Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres.</p>
<p><b>Singles Match:</b> Kane defeats Randy Orton.</p>
<p><b>Triple-Threat Tag Team Championship:</b> Primo and Epico defeat The Usos and Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd.</p>
<p><i>For more WrestleMania 28 coverage, follow <a target="_blank" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2910384/wwe-wrestlemania-2012-wrestling-news-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertaker-cm-punk-chris-jericho">our stream</a> and visit <a href="http://www.cagesideseats.com/" target="_blank">Cageside Seats</a>.</i></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/4/2/2919366/wrestlemania-28-results-the-rock-vs-john-cena-triple-h-undertaker-cm-punk-wrestling-newsGethin Coolbaugh2012-04-01T10:00:30-04:002012-04-01T10:00:30-04:00WrestleMania 28 Predictions: John Cena Vs. The Rock, Round One
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<p>WrestleMania 28 is hours away, which means it's time to make predictions about all of the matches. And who better to make picks than a fan who doesn't have inside information?</p>
<p><b><u>MAIN EVENT: JOHN CENA VS. DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON</u></b></p>
<p>This better be good. After all of the time the WWE has spent hyping up this match, it has to be great to meet expectation. The trash talk coming from both sides has been passable, sometimes even good, with Cena winning most of the monologue battles. As for the match itself, it really could go either way. But if one has to pick a side, I'm going to side with the man who made a Tooth Fairy movie. That's right, Rocky. Why? The Rock is one of the greatest wrestlers in WWE/F history, and do you really think they would bring him back just to be embarrassed? Possibly, but it's unlikely. Rocky beats Cena, and then we get a rematch in WrestleMania 29 in New York City. <b>PREDICTION: The Rock defeats John Cena.</b></p>
<p><u><b>HELL IN A CELL: UNDERTAKER VS. TRIPLE H</b></u></p>
<p>It's the end of an era. If you read Dave Shook's column on WrestleMania from Sunday, you'll see that it literally is the end of an era. Undertaker is turning 50 years old, and Triple H is in his 40's. They've both had injuries, and both are way too proud to not give their all in this match. Of course, the two met in WrestleMania 27, where Triple H takes pride in the fact that he beat down 'Taker so badly that he couldn't leave the ring under his own power. At the end of the day, Triple-H still lost, and the streak improved to 19-0. Shawn Michaels adds an interesting dynamic to this match, too, serving as a special guest referee. It's going to be a bloody battle, but this time around, I think The Game wins, and the streak will end. <b>PREDICTION: Triple H defeats Undertaker.</b></p>
<p><b><u>WWE TITLE: CM PUNK VS. CHRIS JERICHO</u></b></p>
<p>How can one like Chris Jericho? Sure, he's a former champion and a great wrestler in his own right. But his constant facts about CM Punk and his family have become annoying, and any sane human being can't respect him. CM Punk isn't exactly the world's top role model, but he comes off as honest and he loves what he does. He's the new people's champion (sorry, Rocky). That being said, Punk's title reign has lasted a long, long time. Also, Jericho was signed through the summer, so all signs point to Jericho becoming the new WWE Champion. <b>PREDICTION: Chris Jericho defeats CM Punk.</b></p>
<p><b><u>WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: DANIEL BRYAN VS. SHEAMUS</u></b></p>
<p>The fact that Daniel Bryan continues to "win" the World Heavyweight Title is a constant reminder of the fact that the WWE is scripted. If this was a real competition, braun would beat ... whatever it is that Bryan has .. and Mark Henry or Big Show would win every single time. Alas, the submission specialist continues to win. That is, until Sunday. Sheamus is a fan favorite, and an "a** kicker." The time has come for the Great White to beat the tofu out of the vegan grappler. <b>PREDICTION: Sheamus defeats Daniel Bryan.</b></p>
<p><b><u>INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: CODY RHODES VS. BIG SHOW</u></b></p>
<p>Don't poke the bear, because eventually, he's going to destroy you. Cody Rhodes has gotten under Big Show's skin with his weekly "Big Show at WrestleMania" features on the titantron every Monday night on RAW. Rhodes has said that he would be scared to face Big Show on any other day, except at WrestleMania. He's going to regret those words. <b>PREDICTION: Big Show clobbers Cody Rhodes.</b></p>
<p><b><u>RANDY ORTON VS. KANE</u></b></p>
<p>The last thing remaining in Kane's path to monster-hood(?) is beating down Randy Orton. That likely isn't in the plans of the WWE's apex predator. There have been plenty of spats between Kane and Orton leading up to their grudge match, and we know they don't like each other. This may be the hardest match to predict, but one has to take a side. <b>PREDICTION: Kane defeats Randy Orton.</b></p>
<p><b><u>TEAM TEDDY VS. TEAM JOHNNY</u></b></p>
<p>It's Mr. Excitement against team ... playa? Either way, this 12-man tag-team match is sure to delight. As far as talent is concerned, Team Johnny has the upper hand. But the heart and fan-favorite category goes to Team Teddy. Fans will almost certainly side with Team Teddy, but John Laurinaitis draws more emotion, mostly negative, from the WWE Universe. Putting him in charge of both shows might be the best thing for the WWE, even if he is annoying.<b> PREDICTION: Team Johnny defeats Team Teddy.</b></p>
<p><b><u>KELLY KELLY/MARIA MENOUNOS VS. BETH PHOENIX/EVE TORRES</u></b></p>
<p>We'll keep it short and simple. Eve is the most notable Diva at the moment due to her fling (or lack thereof) with Zack Ryder. Phoenix is a good wrestler, too, so I'll give the edge to them. <b>PREDICTION: Phoenix/Torres defeat Kelly/Menounos.</b></p>
<p><b><u>WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: EPICO AND PRIMO VS. THE USOS VS. JUSTIN GABRIEL AND TYSON KIDD</u></b></p>
<p>In what appears to be the the least appealing match of WrestleMania 28 going in, I won't waste your time with an explanation. <b>PREDICTION: The Usos defeat Epico/Primo and Justin Gabriel/Tyson Kidd.</b></p>
<p>I'll be happy if I get half of these right. Nevertheless, I hope you all enjoy WrestleMania 28!</p>
<p><i>For more WrestleMania 28 coverage, follow <a target="_blank" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2910384/wwe-wrestlemania-2012-wrestling-news-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertaker-cm-punk-chris-jericho">our stream</a> and visit our blog, <a href="http://www.cagesideseats.com/" target="_blank">Cageside Seats</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/4/1/2917586/wrestlemania-28-predictions-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertaker-wrestling-newsGethin Coolbaugh2012-04-01T08:33:55-04:002012-04-01T08:33:55-04:00WrestleMania 2012: Start Time, The Rock Vs. John Cena, The Undertaker Vs. Triple H
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<p>Wrestling's biggest event of 2012 takes place on Sunday night, as WrestleMania 28 begins at 7 p.m. ET on pay-per-wiew. The nine-match event will take place at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL, where the main event will feature The Rock squaring off against John Cena.</p>
<p>Other anticipated events will showcase The Undertaker taking on Triple H in a Hell-in-a-Cell match and a 12-Man Tag Team showdown between the General mangers of both Raw and SmackDown.</p>
<p>Here's a list of the official match ups:</p>
<p><b>Triple threat tag team:</b> Primo & Epico vs. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd vs. The Usos</p>
<p><b>Tag team match: </b>Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos vs. Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres</p>
<p><b>Single match: </b>The Rock vs. John Cena</p>
<p><b>Single match: </b>Randy Orton vs. Kane</p>
<p><b>Hell-in-a-cell: </b>Triple H vs. The Undertaker</p>
<p><b>WWE Championship: </b>CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho</p>
<p><b>Heavyweight Championship:</b> Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus</p>
<p><b>Intercontinental Championship: </b>Cody Rhodes vs. The Big Show</p>
<p><b>Raw vs. SmackDown! 12-man Tag Team Match</b></p>
<p><i>For more WrestleMania 28 coverage, follow our stream and visit our blog, <a href="http://www.cagesideseats.com/" target="_blank">Cageside Seats</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/4/1/2917730/wrestlemania-28-2012-start-time-the-rock-vs-john-cena-the-undertaker-vs-triple-hJared Smith2012-04-01T08:00:31-04:002012-04-01T08:00:31-04:00WrestleMania 28: WWE Grasping At Straws With This Year's Matches
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<p>March is an exciting time for wrestling fans, as the WWE builds up to its biggest event of the year -- WrestleMania. But this year, the WWE is reaching into the past to create interest in WrestleMania 28 on Sunday and will face future problems.</p> <p>For fans of the WWE, the month of March is one of the most exciting times of the year. March is the month that builds toward WrestleMania, the company's biggest event of the year and one of the true spectacles in sports and/or entertainment on par with the Super Bowl or the Final Four. Rather than a one-day show in a standard arena like the TD Garden (as WrestleMania 14 was), WrestleMania has become a weeklong event featuring press conferences, celebrity appearances, jam-packed 70,000 seat stadiums, and great entertainment. All of that will be the case again this year as WrestleMania 28 rolls into Miami's Sun Life Stadium tomorrow night.</p>
<p>This won't be your ordinary WrestleMania, though, as neither of the top two matches on the card will be contested with any type of a championship on the line. The first was announced almost a year ago when the company's most sacred cow, West Newbury, Massachusetts-native John Cena, agreed to a match with one of the living legends of "sports entertainment," The Rock. The second features a battle of two more living legends when The Undertaker, he of the perfect 19-0 record at Wrestlemania, puts that streak on the line for the second consecutive year against longtime WWE frontman Triple H. The match will be contested inside the "Hell in a Cell" steel cage with fellow legend Shawn Michaels serving as the guest referee and has been billed as "The End of an Era" (insert your own jokes about the "Attitude Era" here), as it could well be the swan song for both competitors. Both matches sound great on paper and may well be the best two matches on the show, but they speak to a growing problem within the company: the lack of marketable talent on the roster.</p>
<p>To their credit, the WWE is working very hard to make John Cena that next truly marketable talent. The problem though, is that not enough fans are buying the act. Audible and, at times, overwhelming chants of "Cena sucks!" can be heard ringing throughout arenas from coast to coast, which is not exactly what you want if you're trying to make him your centerpiece going forward. Thus, in an attempt to boost the credibility of a man that they've invested so much time and money in, the WWE has pitted Cena against The Rock. The hope is that, by using the popularity of The Rock to bring in fans, they'll be able to retain them going forward and put them squarely in the corner of Cena and start to drown out the boos and the derogatory chants that follow him around the country.</p>
<p>The Hell in a Cell match between Triple H and the Undertaker is even more disturbing if you're watching from afar. Both men were/are among the biggest names to have ever entered a wrestling ring, but both have also been around the block far too many times. The Undertaker, who started with the WWE back in late 1990, was basically pulled off the operating table to compete in this match and rarely competes more than two or three times a year thanks to his advancing age (he turned 50 this past week). Similarly, Triple H is at the end of his illustrious career thanks to age and injuries (he turns 43 this summer) and has been far less active in recent years thanks to a long string of grisly injuries.</p>
<p>Between the Rock, Triple H, and the Undertaker, they still have fantastic drawing power and are people that fans will line up and pay to see, and as a result, they're all here to fill Sun Life Stadium. The problem? All of it absolutely reeks of desperation.</p>
<p>The WWE is a different place now than it was five or 10 years ago. Beginning in late 1997 and running until about 2005, wrestling began an incredible rise in popularity that saw it go from being a form of entertainment that you would never admit publicly to being a fan of to a mainstream phenomenon. Characters like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and the Undertaker, coupled with adult themes and storylines, made it cool to be a wrestling fan. TV ratings were through the roof, revenue was off the page, and fan interest was at an all time high, even surpassing the mid-80's when Hulk Hogan told you to say your prayers and eat your vitamins. It was truly a golden age.</p>
<p>But in recent years, many of those stars that made it cool to be wrestling fans either retired due to age and injuries (Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels), expanded out into other areas of interest (The Rock) or greatly reduced their work schedules as age and injuries caught up to them (Triple H, the Undertaker). Unfortunately, there hasn't been anyone to really pick up the mantle left behind by these superstar performers. Coupled with a move back to more "PG"-style storylines, the ratings have dipped (significantly) and overall interest is back to levels not seen since Doink the Clown, Barry Horowitz and the Brooklyn Brawler were seen on Saturday morning TV. This lack of depth and interest is reflected in this year's WrestleMania card.</p>
<p>To see the promotional material for the show, you'd assume that the company's two most prestigious championships (the WWE Title and the World Heavyweight Championship) were not being defended during this show, as there has been hardly a mention of current champions CM Punk and Daniel Bryan (if you're a casual fan, you're forgiven for not knowing who they are). The reason there has been almost no mention of the two is that both of them have very little cache with the casual fans. Both are capable and, at times, terrific talents who are among the best at what they do. The problem is that neither of them can convince someone who wouldn't normally throw down $50 for a WWE pay-per-view event to do so.</p>
<p>As a result, the WWE has had to keep reaching back to the time-tested, but well past their prime, veterans of an era that the WWE has been trying to distance itself from in recent years. In other words, the company NEEDS these guys from a previous era to sell this show rather than have them be secondary attractions. But what happens when they can't go to that well anymore? Assuming both the Undertaker and Triple H hang it up after Sunday night, only the Rock will remain from that great era that ended almost a decade ago, and he's no spring chicken himself (turning 40 in May) and will be returning to the silver screen beginning this summer.</p>
<p>That leaves nothing but Cena, an unpopular frontman, and a cast of talented, but largely irrelevant (at least from a casual fan's perspective) secondary characters. The WWE has tried valiantly to hide this by milking the popularity of that previous era down to the very last drop, but it's about to run out. When that happens, it likely won't be long before you stop telling your friends what you watch on Monday nights at 9 p.m.</p>
<p><i>For more WrestleMania 28 coverage, follow <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2910384/wwe-wrestlemania-2012-wrestling-news-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertaker-cm-punk-chris-jericho" target="_blank">our stream</a> and visit our blog, <a href="http://www.cagesideseats.com/" target="_blank">Cageside Seats</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/4/1/2916738/wwe-wrestlemania-2012-wrestling-news-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertakerDave Shook2012-03-29T07:00:46-04:002012-03-29T07:00:46-04:00WrestleMania 28: John Cena Battles The Rock In Match For The Ages
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<p>Finally, Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson returns home to Miami, Florida for his highly anticipated match against West Newbury, Massachusetts native John Cena in one of the biggest clashes ever at WrestleMania 28 on April 1.</p> <p>Finally, The Rock has come back home. Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson will face West Newbury, Massachusetts native John Cena in one of the most highly anticipated matches in history in the main event of WrestleMania 28 on Sunday, April 1 in Miami, Florida.</p>
<p>The feud between Cena and The Rock has been brewing ever since Cena was the victim of a Rock Bottom at WrestleMania 27 that cost him dearly in his match against The Miz. In the buildup to WrestleMania, both Cena and The Rock have been trading monologues over the last month on WWE's Monday Night RAW.</p>
<p>While The Rock and Cena have drawn the most attention, there are plenty of other matches that may very well steal the spotlight. Triple-H takes on the Undertaker in what is being billed as The End Of An Era match (Hell In A Cell), with Shawn Michaels (a.k.a The Heartbreak Kid) serving as the special guest referee.</p>
<p>C.M. Punk will also defend his WWE Championship title against Chris Jericho, and Sheamus will challenge Daniel Bryan for his World Heavyweight Title. Cody Rhodes takes on Big Show for the Intercontinental Title and Randy Orton and Kane will settle their feud with a grudge match of their own.</p>
<p>In addition, there will be a 12-man tag team match between Team John Laurinaitis (composed of David Otunga, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, The Miz and Drew McIntyre) and Team Theodore Long (composed of Santino Marella, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, The Great Khaili, Zack Ryder and Booker-T), and the winning team's general manager will have control of both RAW and Friday Night SmackDown.</p>
<p>Finally, there will be a divas tag-team match between the team of Maria Menounos and Kelly Kelly and the team of Beth Phoenix (current WWE Divas Champion) and Eve Torres.</p>
<p><i>For more WrestleMania 28 coverage, follow our stream and visit our blog, <a href="http://www.cagesideseats.com" target="_blank">Cageside Seats</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2910372/wrestlemania-28-john-cena-vs-the-rock-triple-h-undertaker-sheamus-daniel-bryanGethin Coolbaugh