PDA

View Full Version : What's the bigger draw for Mania - Cena/Batista or Taker/Michaels?


Xero
03-23-2010, 07:21 PM
I was in the 100k thread and I got to thinking about the Mania main event. Yes, it makes sense that the title match closes, but I think there's a case to be made that Taker/Michaels is the bigger draw and thus should close the night.

So, not what's the bigger draw for YOU, but overall (for ALL fans, marks, smarks and everything in between), what do you think is the bigger draw at Mania?

Fignuts
03-23-2010, 07:23 PM
Cena/Batista

The Franchise
03-23-2010, 07:23 PM
I think if HBK's career wasn't on the line it would be Cena/Batista but since it is, Taker/HBK is the bigger draw.

We are guaranteed something MAJOR and historic to happen. Guaran-damn-teed. Either the streak is over or the career of one of the WWEs all-time greats.

DAMN iNATOR
03-23-2010, 07:37 PM
Taker/HBK. It's all but guaranteed to be a classic rematch for last year, and one that if it lives up to or even exceeds last years outing by these two amazing guys, could be yet another Match of the Year come the end of 2010.

Nicky Fives
03-23-2010, 07:40 PM
I don't even see how this could ever be close, but Cena marks will love Cena/Batista, whereas virtually everyone else would rather watch HBK/Taker II

ClockShot
03-23-2010, 07:41 PM
Michaels/Taker 2 is worth the *insert insane 'Mania PPV price here*.

Cena/Batista. Obviously we know the condtions of this.

Poit
03-23-2010, 07:43 PM
Taker/Michaels

tjmidnight420
03-23-2010, 07:49 PM
Hands down the career vs. streak match. While the WWE title may be on the line for Cena/ Tista, HBM is the first grand slam champ, and many people would say Taker's streak has become worth just as much as a title. So yeah, no question about it.

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 07:51 PM
fantasy island

jskinnyg
03-23-2010, 10:04 PM
HBK/Taker for everyone... For me it's Jericho & Cena...

The Franchise
03-23-2010, 10:05 PM
lol what?

jskinnyg
03-23-2010, 10:12 PM
Opps... Sorry... Jericho & Edge... I'm an ass...

dronepool
03-23-2010, 10:22 PM
Taker/Micheals.

Emperor Smeat
03-23-2010, 10:42 PM
Taker/Micheals but based on the multiple highlight packages on every show, you can tell the WWE is pushing Cena/Batista very hard as the match to watch at Wrestlemania.

Taker/Micheals doesn't need as many packages due to the status of both wrestlers and the skill they have to put on an amazing match just on the basis of last year's match they had.

Dark One
03-23-2010, 11:27 PM
Even beyond the "which is the bigger draw" question, to which I think the obvious answer is Taker/HBK, you have to ask "Can anything else follow it?"

When Flair/HBK was on the card, it had to go ridiculously early, and it still didn't feel like people were back into the event until nearly the end of the show... Taker and Edge, which had its own little streak versus mini-streak plot going on. I don't legitimately believe that anything is going to be able to follow up the match. HBK/Flair was definitely an emotional match, but the mechanical aspects of the match were no where near what Taker/HBK did last year. With Taker being more rundown this year, there's a chance this match won't be either, but if it is? What can follow it?

If you put it on early, you risk having most if not all of the rest of the card look like crap by comparison. It's an amazing card this year, but if Taker/HBK doesn't end the show, there's a really huge risk that whatever does falls flat, which is going to hurt the "overall opinion" of the show.

The Franchise
03-23-2010, 11:32 PM
Nothing can really follow it but that will not stop WWE. Rock vs Hogan didnt close WM X8 and that was a bigger match than Taker vs HBK (hell, it was probably the biggest Wrestlemania match since Hogan vs Andre). But factor that in with Cena and Batista having a much better feud than Triple H vs Steph--- I mean Jericho did and I dont think they will have that much trouble following the Streak vs Career

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 11:37 PM
I still stand by the fact that Taker/Shawn is a big deal to the hardcore fans, but not near the draw of Cena/Batista. It's a match that's 5 years in the making and this generations biggest payoff. Whether certain fans like that or not, it is.

To the hardcore fans, which obviously includes everyone on here, Shawn/Taker may be the bigger draw, but overall, to the casual fans and the kids (who account for most of the audience), Cena/Batista is a bigtime match.
Also, the demographic of fans that consider Taker/Michaels the main event are the ones who are watching Wrestlemania no matter what, as they obviously have done so for years. That's why two guys who were on top in 1996 are their primary draw.

That's not a knock to Taker and Michaels, who although being around since the 90s, can still go.

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 11:41 PM
I do agree that the crowd could be dead after Taker/Shawn though. I'm not sure what should close the show. I think a hot crowd will be a big factor in how good Cena/Batista is. I think it will be a 50/50 split of crowd support, and could get really exciting if they both wrestle to their potential and tell the right story.
For that reason, maybe Shawn/Taker should end the show. Still, I don't think it will for several reasons.

The Franchise
03-23-2010, 11:43 PM
True Jeri, but you don't think that the Streak vs Career stipulation may get the PPV viewers who don't watch anymore and probably wouldn't order Wrestlemania? I'm sure there are some people even here that would not consider watching Mania but might because this is a big-time match involving two guys they grew up with. Or even people who would normally stream Mania but might want a good quality watch for this match (I fall into this category).

But in the end you might be right about the Cena-Batista match. Normally kids would order Mania if Cena was wrestling Kung Fu Naki but since up until recently Batista was almost as big of a fan favorite, this will be a big draw.

This a tough choice. Cudos to the WWE for pulling off two huge draws for Mania. When is the last time that happened?

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 11:49 PM
I think Bret and Vince is a pretty big draw too, though not as big as it would have been while the attitude era crowd was still heavily present.
In any event, it's a big match.

Jericho/Edge isn't near the draw that the other 3 main events are, but it's still a draw for hardcore fans. I'm sure it helps seal the deal for other demographics. Same with Punk and Rey. And MITB.

They've really put together a great card this year. I can't say enough about it. It's got something for everyone. You get a huge showdown between this generations biggest creations, you have a rematch between two legends and the return of Bret. Then you have a couple great pure wrestling matches, and the ever-popular ladder match. There's a great mix of current greatness and nostalgia. You even have tag team wrestling.
Most importantly, there's no real filler.

The Jayman
03-23-2010, 11:51 PM
Taker/HBK for sure

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 11:52 PM
Franchise, The Streak vs Career stipulation absolutely adds more interest to it. It's a draw, I don't want to sell it short. I was just implying that it's a match that's a bigger deal to the hardcore fans than anyone. That's great though. I love that there are big matches for everyone on the show.
You're right though. The stipulation probably raises more interest from the casual guy on the fence about buying it, rather than if it were just a basic rematch. Good call.
But the ones who actually deeply care about whether the streak ends or Michaels retires are the people who are signed sealed and delivered for Mania sunday anyways.

The Franchise
03-23-2010, 11:53 PM
Word. I am glad that there are so many matches (all of them?) deserving at least 7-8 minutes on the show. This will probably work out nicely because a match like Triple H vs Sheamus might be cut back a few minutes and that IMO will improve the quality of that one. Get right to the point and it wont drag on like Hunter usually does. I am also seeing Edge-Jericho as being similar to Eddie-Angle from WM XX.

The Gold Standard
03-23-2010, 11:55 PM
Gotta be Taker/HBK

Two legends and one's career on the line.

Jeritron
03-23-2010, 11:56 PM
I think they should give Punk and Rey more time than one would probably think they'd get. It's midcard, but it has potential to be a real crowd pleaser. I'm not talking main event time, but 10, or dare I say 15 minutes would be great.

I'd much rather see HHH/Sheamus and the Legacy match get like 7-8 minutes each, and Punk/Rey get the extra time.

MITB will get decent time as always, which it needs to really get going. I think they could shave a few minutes off that this year though.

ImpactPlayer365
03-24-2010, 01:02 AM
We can see Cena vs Batista after WM...We probly wont see HBK vs. Taker after Sunday.

The Pope
03-24-2010, 01:05 AM
I couldn't care any less about the Cena/Batista crap.

St. Jimmy
03-24-2010, 01:05 AM
Cena/Batista

St. Jimmy
03-24-2010, 01:07 AM
I don't know where you're getting that as a pure draw standpoint Taker/HBK is a bigger draw than Cena (Top Face/Merch Mover in the company) vs. Batista (Not far behind in the Merch Dept.)

taker707
03-24-2010, 01:59 PM
I couldn't care any less about the Cena/Batista crap.

couldn't agree more