Aside from the ringwork, what made the WM 20 storytelling work was that Benoit was built up as such an underdog all the way to that win (finally, improbably eliminating Big Show in the Royal Rumble for example), and there was enough IWC angst over Benoit vs HHH alone (remembering how Booker didn't end up going over previously), adding HBK to the mix had something of a worked shoot quality of tugging at people's doubts, playing something of a mind game with the diehards about would they 'do the right thing' by finishing the story at the biggest show of the year.
Originally posted by Hogan's My DadThe match was awesome but it was the exception that proved the rule. There hasn't been one triple threat anywhere close to as memorable since. And as exceptions go, let's face it, that particular match is sort of ruined now and probably shouldn't be raised as an example.
I think if there was a time to do it, this could be the time.. Punk is still on the rise, and getting the win in the main event over Cena *and Rock would be the match that cements him as a "made man" in the main event scene. If they were to turn Cena, you might re-create the dynamic. And it would be a way for Vince to 'trump' the WM 20 match, by doing it over with a headliner he doesn't have to keep locked deep in the video vault.
That said, Rock/Cena really doesn't appear to need any distractions to make a worthy 'clash of the legends' match, and it wouldn't be a certainly that a Miami crowd would go for Punk getting the win, even if Cena did the job. I would argue against the idea if Vince was asking me.
(Edit: FANTASY BOOKING ALERT)
Okay, if Vince actually was asking me, I'd advise him to quietly sign Rock for Backlash too - have heel Cena screw Punk out of the title on a Raw about 3-4 weeks before WM - put Rock over for the championship, and do the rematch with Punk added in, since he didn't get to use his rematch clause before Miami. Have your cake, and give Punk his big moment as well.
You don't have to worry about a threeway. WWE has devoted its entire year to Cena vs. Rock. Dream matches aren't returning legend vs. generational star vs. third other guy who's good.
It's kind of an interesting question as to what they'd do if Cena got seriously hurt. The short answer is that Cena would work the match anyway, almost no matter what. I think the second answer is that they'd call Shawn Michaels, but even for Rock I'm not sure he comes back, at least not this year. Lesnar and Austin are waiting for their own year, individually or against each other. Undertaker vs. Rock, streak vs. gr8 1 is probably the biggest match possible, and probably what they'd go with. I think it kind of wastes two guys' unique values on each other, but no Cena would be a catastrophic emergency that Orton or Punk couldn't replace in all the mainstream advertising they're going to invest in this.
Seriously though, broken leg, broken neck, Cena would just find a way to do the match.
Rock would not come back for Michaels, too much heat there. Rock/UT has been done a million times and would be useless since neither is full time. Cena will work the match unless he is severely injured and if God forbid that happened, Punk would replace him.
Originally posted by ScottyflamingoRock would not come back for Michaels, too much heat there.
Rock's already back, made peace with reformed Shawn a long time ago, and is here for some legacy-polishing dream matches. I'd say there's more heat between Rock and Cena than Rock and Michaels at this point. Losing Cena would be such a disaster that they'd have to do something big as a make-good, bigger than just replacing him with somebody else from the roster, and Michaels has a history of reluctantly coming back to save the day.
Originally posted by ScottyflamingoRock would not come back for Michaels, too much heat there.
Rock's already back, made peace with reformed Shawn a long time ago...Michaels has a history of reluctantly coming back to save the day.
There's really no benefit to a Michaels/Rock match, besides a good match. Either way, come the next night's RAW, they're both going home. Cena/Rock is the match. If they can do Punk/Austin the year after, all the better.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroYeah, but that's close to the same story with Triple H vs. Undertaker. And it would be the same story with the Austin/Lesnar match both guys want.
Austin/Lesnar seems like a really weird dynamic. Austin has neck problems and Lesnar is a giant scary guy who tosses people around. And either one of them could do big numbers at Wrestlemania against pretty much anyone.