How much time would you give the following WrestleMania XX matches? Here's how I'd do it.
WWE Title Eddie Guerrero v. Kurt Angle
If there is any justice in the world, they'd give this 35-40 minutes. And put it on last as the main event (hey, I can dream can't I?)
WWE Son-In-Law World Heavyweight Title.
Triple H v. HBK v. Chris Benoit
I can see son-in-law laboring to Vince for more time than the Guerrero-Angle match, but with Shawn's knee boo-boo and Triple H's deteriorated skills, Benoit's good...but he can't carry these two at once I don't believe. I'd say this gets 30 minutes tops.
Goldberg v. Lesnar
The toughest one to decide on time with for me. Both guys wrestle a pretty limited style, and I don't think they can carry the load for 30 without MSG crapping on the match. I say give them 20-25, let them tell a solid story and send Goldberg back to Japan where he belongs.
Undertaker v. Kane
Ahhhh yes, the return of the Dead Man (too bad his skills are pretty much dead too!). If the rumors are true and this is Taker's final WrestleMania hurrah, then I say give these two 18-20 minutes. Their match at WM 14 was damn near 30 and WAAAYYY to long.
WWE U.S. Title John Cena v. Big Show
Since this one of the only true "locks" on the card, I would suggest Cena and Show get 15 minutes of a solid power match culminating with the Doctor's first WWE championship.
WWE Cruiserweight Open
This one should be fun as it will be interesting to see who they put in it. Regardless, I think 20 minutes for the whole deal would do the trick.
Playboy Evening Gown Match
Contrary to those who don't think this match belongs on a WrestleMania card...I say SHAME on you! I am quite appreciative of this match actually. No, not for the mindless T&A it is certain to involve...but because I will be at the show and will certainly need a bathroom break during the 5 hour show. The WWE was nice to supply those in attendance and watching on PPV the chance to have one! Anyways, I say give this 8-10 minutes to shut the marks up.
WWE Grudge Match! The Rock and Mick Foley v. Randy Orton and Batista
Oh hell yeah. This is both Mick and Rock's big return to MSG and WrestleMania and I think that if Mick is in good ring shape, than there is no reason this can't get 25-30 minutes.
Chris Jericho v. Christian
Oh Y2J, how my heart aches for thee! Two years ago you were the golden child of the IWC, main eventing WrestleMania X-8 with son-in-law, and now look at you, you've been relegated to a match that will likely be within the first 3 matches on the show. Thank goodness Y2J and Christian are good workers or else this may have been a disaster. I say give these poor misused gentlemen 20 minutes to work with with the hope either of them will be pushed back to the upper mid-card.
Matches left: WWE Women's Title, WWE World Tag Team Title, WWE Tag Team Title. The only reason I didn't give these any times is because no one is sure as of yet who is going to be in them...besides the champions themselves of course!
I'll only say that if Goldberg/Lesnar lasts beyond 15 minutes, I will be amazed beyond belief. Goldberg is the king of short matches, and while Lesnar is good, his selling isn't his strong point. Of course G-Berg is worse than him in that department, so look for a 12 minute match here, tops.
Loud dogs suck. Working overnight sucks. Working overnight and then coming home to loud dogs keeping me up? PRICELESS!
Originally posted by Jerichoholic247Undertaker v. Kane
Ahhhh yes, the return of the Dead Man (too bad his skills are pretty much dead too!). If the rumors are true and this is Taker's final WrestleMania hurrah, then I say give these two 18-20 minutes. Their match at WM 14 was damn near 30 and WAAAYYY to long.
Originally posted by Jerichoholic247Undertaker v. Kane
Ahhhh yes, the return of the Dead Man (too bad his skills are pretty much dead too!). If the rumors are true and this is Taker's final WrestleMania hurrah, then I say give these two 18-20 minutes. Their match at WM 14 was damn near 30 and WAAAYYY to long.
That match went 16'58".
Then you just made his point that much stronger.
"Also, don't incur the wrath of P.U. It can only lead to trouble." - Torchslasher
I offer my apologies for not correctly stating the time of the first Undertaker-Kane match...for some reason it felt a hell of a lot longer than 17 minutes when I watched it in 1998! Also, I have taken my predicted match times and added them up and come up with this...if they give as much time as I think they should to each match, we'd have a total of 3 1/2 hours of wrestling on a 5 hour show. Please note that I am taking the top amount of time I would give each match. ex) Guerrero-Angle 40 mins, plus Son-in-law title match 30 mins etc. The remaining 3 or 4 matches are going to have to take up a good 60 mins if they are going to fill the 4 hours and 40 minutes. Remember, the shows usually go off the air 20 minutes before they are supposed to in order to give the people who want to order the show later a chance to do so...meaning the PPV will probably go off the air at 11:40 or so.
I'd say it's not so much the time given to the matches that mean as much as the ORDER of the matches.
With all due respect to the participants involved, the two tag title matches, the evening gown match, and the women's title match by far mean the least. All four matches should be used as filler after and before matches that will leave the crowd tired. To a lesser extent, Jericho/Christian and Show/Cena will be treated as lesser matches in the context of the card as well. Both matches should have the same decent time and hype behind it. The cruiserweight title match should be thrown in there as a fairly long spotfest.
That's where it gets tricky. First off, the Rock/Foley tag match MUST go in the first hour. This will basically be a nostalgia trip that will take the most out of the crowd. Placing it later in the card will kill the heat of guys like Benoit and Guerrero. The Taker/Kane match must be in the middle of the second hour for a similar reason.
From there on, they could go Lesnar/Goldberg, Guerrero/Angle, a filler match, then the triple threat.
The ladder match has to end with AJ turning on Cena, right? She already had the Tamina match, and this is wrestling; women are turned to prove they're fickle. She has a built-in insanity defense.