PWTorch Specialists Roundtable Question - At this point in the WrestleMania 28 build-up, do you think WM28 is on pace to draw more or fewer PPV buys than WM27 (1.06 million buys)? Or, is it too early to tell?

Jon Mezzera, PWTorch Hits & Misses specialist

There is a built-in audience that is going to buy WrestleMania regardless of the card. How many beyond those core fans choose to buy it is the question. This year, Rock vs. Cena will have more interest than Rock hosting last year. Sheamus is over with the fans, and is a former WWE Champion who has had PPV main events in the past, so I think there is going to be more interest in him as the Royal Rumble winner than Alberto Del Rio last year. Punk is very popular, and a presumed match against Chris Jericho should be a draw.

Let's compare the top four presumed matches to last year (in no particular order). (1) Rock vs. Cena should be a bigger draw than Cena vs. Miz. (2) Sheamus vs. Bryan is probably a wash with Edge vs. Del Rio, as neither Bryan nor Sheamus is as big a star as Edge, but Sheamus is arguably a bigger star than Del Rio. (3) Undertaker vs. Triple H is a re-match. Nothing about last year's match suggests to me that people won't want to see it again. A big enough deal was made about the match last year that some who missed it might want to see it this year, and if WWE adds a stipulation, or if Shawn Michaels is somehow involved, interest should increase. (4) This year will clearly be Punk vs. Jericho. What was the fourth big match last year? Arguably, in terms of hype, the fourth biggest match last year was Cole vs. Lawler. That had some intrigue and a long storyline, plus Steve Austin's involvement, but how many were actually paying to see that match? I think this year wins out.

If they add in (please!) Money in the Bank this year (a good way to get mid-carders like Miz, Ziggler, and maybe a returning Christian onto the show in a meaningful way as opposed to the totally forgettable and meaningless eight-man tag match from last year - you forgot about it didn't you?), and focus on Phoenix vs. Kharma as the only Divas match, they can actually have a lower card that makes a difference in the buyrate, which it did not last year. (Read Mezzera's Hits & Misses column after each week's Raw and Smackdown.)

Charles Cress, PWTorch humor specialist

Memories can be a funny thing. For instance, I was pretty sure nothing in the world was better than Excitebike for the NES when I was a kid. I mean, motorcycles! Jumps! Eight different colors! That's as good as it gets, you know? Unfortunately, when I played it recently, I was frustrated, confused, and my eyes hurt. It was like snorting a bag of Skittles. The colors were as subtle as parade float. Similarly, I can remember being super-hyped for WrestleMania last year, thinking it was a brilliant, well-thought-out show. However, was WrestleMania really that good last year? How many of those matches were hastily made? In retrospect, WrestleMania 27 had a few draws but mostly standard PPV fare, without much foresight.

Maybe this is another case of living in the now, but I'm very impressed with WrestleMania's line-up this year. Putting together Cena and The Rock a year ahead has proven to be pure genius. It's something that could actually change the way big events are booked in wrestling for the next 20 years. Joining the special attraction is what could be Taker's last match, C.M. Punk getting his WrestleMania Moment versus Jericho, and Daniel Bryan on the big stage. I don't know how this could go wrong, unless the hardcore fans do what they do: complain about good matches because it's not their favorite high school gym wrestlers in an Iron Man match, and of course, by stealing the PPV online. Overall, though, I think WWE is already well on-pace for beating last year. This year's Mania is going to be one of the best. (Read Cress's Alphabet Soup humor column after each week's Raw and Smackdown.)

Robin Scannell, PWTorch specialist

The build towards WrestleMania will likely increase exponentially as WWE approachs April 1. However, at this moment in time, I don't feel a real enthusiasm about the event. My view might be a dissenting one, but I would suggest that with the current momentum, the buys will likely equal last year's, at best. However, with a poor next few weeks of television, the big three matches of The Rock vs. John Cena, Undertaker vs. Triple H, and C.M. Punk vs Chris Jericho just might not be enough to push Mania to that million buys mark.

If WWE really manages get into the next gear, and the top three matches are all hyped really well, the three main matches combined with a solid undercard could result in a better buyrate than last year. Possible matches for the undercard include, perhaps, a World Title Triple Threat match of Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton, Shaquille O'Neal vs. Big Show, Goldust vs. Cody Rhodes, Kharma vs. Beth Phoenix, Mick Foley vs. Dolph Ziggler, and a Money in the Bank match (perhaps featuring Christian and Del Rio). This doesn't even include the returned Kane or Mark Henry. These potential matches show that it is too soon to tell how WM28 will turn out. With a line-up including the above matches, WM28 could start to look very strong over the next few weeks, and combined with the three main matches, I think it is quite possible for WM to draw around 1.15 million buys. (Read Scannell's Storyline Tracker column after each week's Raw and Smackdown.)

Nathan Kyght, PWTorch PPV specialist

My initial reaction is that it's too early to tell, as this is "2012 WWE" we're talking about, and WWE seems to insist on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but, thus far in the build, I'm at least cautiously optimistic. Obviously, The Rock and John Cena is the crown jewel of the show, and between the two of them (and the knowledge of the importance of the match) I can't see it being anything but exciting and great. And, if the in-ring goes south, that match in Miami could almost accidentally be a spectacle that wrestling fans talk about the next morning. That match seems as close to a guaranteed "WrestleMania moment" as you can get.

As for the rest of the show (or what seems to be the direction at least), we're looking at Triple H vs. The Undertaker 2 which was a superb encounter last year, and there's no reason to believe it won't be more of the same; say what you want about either competitor, but you can't argue their dedication to a WrestleMania match. Couple that work ethic with a cool tie-in with Shawn Michaels being the last man that went in twice against "The Streak," and I think that there is a really solid co-main event program that almost writes itself.

C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho - should that be the match for the WWE Title on the Raw side - is another virtual lock for a great match. (My guess is that Jericho wins the title in the Elimination Chamber and Punk heads to Mania to reclaim it.) And, who doesn't want to sit back and watch those two cut promos on one another heading in to Mania? Finally, from at least whatever I can tell, it looks like Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan for the World Title. This one seems to be the biggest question mark, as it leaves Orton out and I just don't see that happening, but whatever Orton ends up doing will be good at the least. If it does end up with Bryan vs. Sheamus, then Bryan is tremendous and Sheamus is good. So, several weeks out from the biggest show of the year, I like where WWE is going. Will it trump last year's buyrate? Yeah, I think so. But, we'll see. (Read Kyght's regular PPV Evaluation Column and listen to him on Wednesday's PWTorch Livecast!)

Jimmy Eaton, Retrospective of the Common Fan Specialist

At this point, I think it's very early to tell and I'm not one who follows buyrates and TV ratings in today's world of DVR and such, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's going to be close. Personally, I like how the card is shaping up and I see it as a strong possibility that it can even surpass last year, if not by much. The Rock will be a huge draw once, again, especially now that he's actually wrestling this time around. Not to mention with some good build-up around Punk, Cena, and Taker-Hunter Round 3, and the show will be off a great start.

But, of course, everyone knows that if it doesn't meet or surpass last year's show, Miz is to blame right? But, in all seriousness, I think as the Chamber fall-out comes to pass, there will be a clearer picture of how the show is looking once more matches are announced. In my personal opinion, I'm optimistic on what the show will offer. At least, cautiously optimistic. (Agree? Disagree? Follow @TheCommonFan to start the debate & listen to Eaton on Wednesday's PWTorch Livecast!)

Check back for Part 2 on Thursday

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