For yours truly, there are two sure-fire signs of spring's arrival. The first one is one that we saw on Friday, with the Minnesota Twins taking the field for the Opening Day of the baseball season. . .and the other is World Wrestling Entertainment putting on their biggest show of the year. That's exactly what we're going to get on Friday when we are presented with the 27th installment of Wrestlemania from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The state of Minnesota has a pretty proud pro wrestling heritage, going back to the day's of Verge Gagne's AWA and the long list of professional wrestlers that hail from the great state of Minnesota. Names like Larry and Curt Hennig, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Ric Flair (born in Minneapolis), "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and Michael Hegstrand. . .who you may know better as Hawk, one half of what many call the greatest tag team of all time, the Road Warriors.
While Wrestlemania may not be a pure "sports" event, per se, it's still a pretty major event, and one that bears covering, in our opinion. I don't intend to make wrestling coverage a regular part of the site, but for Wrestlemania I'm happy to make an exception. So, tonight I'll be putting together quick previews of all of the matches and some predictions as well, all in preparation for tomorrow night's festivities. So kick back, relax, and enjoy!
Here's the card as it stands right now:
No Holds Barred Match - Triple H vs The Undertaker
WWE Championship Match - The Miz (champion) vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match - Edge (champion) vs. Alberto Del Rio
United States Championship Match - Sheamus (champion) vs. Daniel Bryan
Randy Orton vs. C.M. Punk
Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Michael Cole (with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as the special referee)
Mixed Tag Team Match - John Morrison, Trish Stratus, and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi vs. Dolph Ziggler, Layla, and Michelle McCool
Eight-Man Tag Team Match - Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella, Kane, and The Big Show vs. Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel (Kingston is subbing for Vladimir Kozlov, who was attacked by the Corre) at WWE Fan Axxess today
Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
And, as you've probably heard, all of the festivities will be hosted by the jabroni-beating, pie-eating, trail-blazing, eyebrow-raising most electrifying man in sports entertainment. . .The Rock!