I think not, and with so many part-timers filling featured roles inside MetLife Stadium, I think it’s in the realm of possibility that we’ll soon see a Mania headlined by the returning “Stone Cold” Steve Austin going up against “The Best in the World,” CM Punk.
It’d be a classic-in-the-making bout, one of the few “dream matches” still left to make (can’t beat the natural heat of the beer-swilling “Rattlesnake” against the straight-edge heel with plenty of pipe bombs left in his arsenal).
I had the chance to sit down with Punk’s advisor, Paul Heyman, and ask him if he thought the match might happen next year.
“I would love to see ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin come back, but that’s totally in Steve’s hands and up to Steve,” Heyman said. “You have to look at it two different ways. One, he has nothing left to prove. Nothing. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was the biggest star and was the catalyst behind the biggest era in this industry’s history. So, if he comes back, can it ever compare of being in the moment back then? On the other hand, look at the revenue generated today. We’re talking about a weekend that is going to generate $150 million in revenue. How can ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin not be a part of that? And if he is a part of it, and for the purpose of this conversation, let’s say he’s a part of WrestleMania 30, is he the catalyst who pushes that figure of $150 million in revenue to $200 million in revenue? So there are two ways to look at that, and I don’t know which one of those perspectives hits ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at this moment.
“Oh, and don’t think Punk and I haven’t pitched this match to Austin obsessively. I have a letter from my tel-com telling me that they’re going to stop giving me unlimited text messages because I bother ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin so much with these ideas, but it doesn’t mean that they resonate with him just yet.”
Looks like the ball is in “Stone Cold’s” court.
But enough talk of WrestleMania 30. There’s still so much of 29 left to digest. Let’s cut straight to the good stuff.
Match of the Night: CM Punk vs. The Undertaker
I wasn’t sure what to expect simply because I wasn’t sure how much Taker had left in the tank. But I have to say, this match not only stole the show, it proved to be what many thought going in: the most epic battle of the night. I was sitting in the press box, near some former wrestlers such as X-Pac, and they were hanging on every move just like every fan in attendance, and I think people started to believe Punk might actually pull this one out. I loved every minute, from Undertaker’s death stare into Punk’s eyes, to the way Punk pulled off Taker’s old-school rope walk. Classic stuff from both guys.
Stat of the Night: WrestleMania grossed $12.3 million thanks to 80,676 fans in attendance. That’s a lot of Fruity Pebbles.
Disappointment of the Night: I went into WrestleMania thinking Dolph Ziggler was going to leave with both a tag team belt and the World Heavyweight championship. He left with nothing. There was a strong “We want Ziggler” chant from the crowd hoping to see Ziggy cash in the briefcase, but then the lights went out and that was on to the next match. It’s funny, after the match Alberto Del Rio jumped on the second rope to celebrate and Ricardo Rodriguez was positioned behind him in a way that I thought for a second there might be a swerve where Ziggler paid off the ring announcer and he was going to setup an attack that led to Dolph cashing in his case. Obviously, this never happened, and I’m genuinely surprised by the show’s overall lack of surprise.
Quote of the Night: Backstage before WrestleMania, CM Punk met with the media and was asked if he’s disappointed he’s not in the main event. Punk replied: “Normally I would just grin and bear it, eyes forward, head down and work harder, but I don’t know how much harder I could possibly work. This business takes its toll and ages you. Obviously, I made it very well known that I would like to main event, but you have to understand, it’s because I’m a businessman. The difference between where they’re at [in the main event] and where I’m at is millions of dollars. If there’s one person in this room who wouldn’t like to get paid an extra couple million dollars for their hard work, I’d like to see you right now and punch you in the face.”