Wrestlemania XXVI--Part 2

Match number 6, was the "no holds barred" grudge match between Bret Hart, and Vince McMahon as they worked to lay the bitter feelings from the infamous Montreal "screw job' to rest. Given that Vince is now 64, and Bret suffered a stroke a few years ago, I wasn't expecting a classic--and it wasn't.

After an initial swerve when Vince claimed to have hired the Hart family to aid him--only to discover that they were solidly behind Bret, the actual "match" soon settled into a beatdown of Vince that went on way too long! I found the only feeling I had was a wish for it to be over. Mercifully, Vince finally tapped out to a sharpshooter, ending his, and the viewers pain.

Chris Jericho and Edge were up next, Jericho successfully defended his World title getting a clean victory with a "codebreaker" and press. Some will be disappointed that Edge didn't get the nod, but frankly, Jericho is the hottest heel in WWE, so it makes sense to prolong Edge's chase for now.

Match no. 8 was the ten Woman Divas' tag battle, with the heel team being led by Vicky Guerrero. This match, which was mostly played for laughs, served to lower the crowd heat before the two main events. The heels won with Vicky being assisted by her partners in deivering a "frog splash" to Kelly Kelly (it took two tries) Match was ok for what it was, and will give ten women a Wrestlemania payday.

In the first main event, John Cena took on his arch nemesis, Batista in a pier six brawl. The action took place in and out of the ring, with numerous near falls, and believable close calls. In the end, Cena got his revenge, forcing Batista to tap out to an stf. My hunch at this point was that Michaels was going to lose (a "feel good" moment in the Cena match to help offset what was coming next!).

Finally the match that everyone was waiting for, Shawn Michaels putting his career on the line, against the Undertaker's 17 win streak at Wrestlemania. The match did not dissapoint. It was a near perfect example of Booking 101: create a conflict between two wrestlers that people will care about, with characters, and a backstory, and then let the wrestlers "tell" a compelling story in the ring.

Both wrestlers let it all hang out, by the end I was totally "marking" out! These two put on a clinic that other wrestlers should study carefully. The high spots added to the meaning and intensity of the story. The issue remained in doubt right until the end.

Finally, the Undertaker nailed Michaels with a tombstone piledriver, only to have Michaels kick out at the last second! After both men struggled to their feet, Michaels drew his finger across his throat, and slapped his foe in the face! An enraged Undertaker delivered another tombstone, and I think everyone knew there would be no escape this time. And there wasn't.

After the final pin Undertaker helped his beaten opponent to his feet and the two embraced in a genuine moment of emotion. The crowd cheered both, but especially Shawn, as, with tears flowing freely, he made his way to the back, probably for the last time as an in-ring performer. But, oh my, what a swan song!

Wrestlemania XXVII will take place in Atlanta, Georgia.