This year’s WrestleMania has been set the main event: Dave Batista will defend the WWE Championship against John Cena. Despite receiving a boatload of criticism for their work in the ring, they are two of the business’s most prominent stars today. While the internet fans may prefer Edge vs. Jericho or Undertaker vs. Michaels to receive the honors, fans of the WWE universe will clamor to this match-up as it will be up to Cena and Batista to bring home the goods.I find this match interesting for a few different reasons. The WWE has an excellent opportunity to build this match going into Mania. Five years ago at WrestleMania 21, Cena went over on JBL to win his first WWE title. On that same evening, Batista went over on HHH in the main event to win his first World heavyweight title. Since then, the two have had multiple title runs. We have come full circle as the two OVW standouts who received the straps five years ago now will headline the same event that made them superstars.
It would be an exciting storyline to tap into because the writers are basically telling the truth. Another angle they can touch on is how Batista seems to have had John Cena’s number over the years, even though Cena is the biggest star in the company. Batista eliminated Cena to win the Royal Rumble in 2005 and went on to win at WrestleMania. Batista being world champion, was the focal point of the company. Three months later, the two men switch brands, and the company’s focus changes to Cena. The Massachusetts native gets the keys to the kingdom while the dominant Batista plays second fiddle.
The two finally met in their first major singles match at SummerSlam 2008, where Batista defeats John Cena in the middle of the ring. Despite beating the company’s top dog, Cena is still the man in the fans’ eyes. Batista can’t take it anymore and decides to go down the quick and easy path, which led him to his title match promised by Vince McMahon, where he once again became WWE champion. Now he gets his chance to beat Cena at WrestleMania, where the world will be watching. If the jealous animal can put Cena away at the showcase of the immortals, there will be no doubt who the top star in the company is.
As great as I think this would be for the build going into Mania, I don’t think it will happen. The WWE doesn’t like to get too real too often. Plus, mentioning that wrestler A beat wrestler B two years ago is taboo in pro wrestling booking because “the fans eventually forget.” I like the current story going into the Cena/Batista match with the Bret Hart tie-in. It’s an added breath of fresh air.
In my opinion, the main event of WrestleMania should have more build than the average match. The bookers won’t have to write any material because you already have the footage to tell the story I proposed in a nice video package. I had my reservations when I found out this was the top match on the card.
After thinking about it, I am as excited for this match as I would be for any big WrestleMania match. For all the bad matches we have seen Batista in, he delivers nine times out of ten when it matters the most. We hear about John Cena on the message boards for all the negative things; he deserves more credit than he receives. While he doesn’t possess the technical skill of a Shawn Michaels of Bret Hart, he works his ass off every night, which provides wrestling fans which some entertaining matches.
People reading this might disagree with that last statement even though his bank account tells a different story. I believe Cena is going to work harder than ever come March 28th. Most of the business’s biggest names have that one memorable WrestleMania match they can add to their trophy case. Batista had his against the Undertaker. Cena has yet to have his, and I believe this year will finally be the perfect chance for him to have that classic WrestleMania moment.
“If you win it at WrestleMania then the WORLD remembers.” Jesse Ventura: WrestleMania IV 3/27/88
Ringside Logic 