TRUE - THE WRESTLEMANIA BANNER IS OVER-USED

If I never see a Superstar gesture to the WrestleMania banner hanging in the rafters it will be too soon. In the last few years, WWE has fallen in love with the camera shot showing the banner as the backdrop for two Superstars to promote their match.

At one time, it was an effective technique. The Royal Rumble winner turning to the banner to acknowledge his future now holding a main event position at the biggest event of the year was effective. The memorable unspoken promo between Triple H and The Undertaker last year used the banner and a mere glance to set up the main event.

Then, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, Edge, Big Show, Santino, Randy Orton, John Cena, The Rock, and C.M. Punk used it. As the saying goes, when everything is special...nothing is special. Glancing skywards to the banner is now trivial, after being tired, then overused, and ineffective. It all ended for me this week when Kelly Kelly mustered all her promo abilities and waved up towards the banner during her Raw match.

Promoting WrestleMania via a rafter-hung banner is now dead. May it rest in peace.

FALSE - THE YEAR-LONG BUILD TO ROCK VS. CENA WORKED

A year ago next week, WWE rolled the dice and announced the main event for this year's WrestleMania with 364 days notice. It was surprising. When Rock initially said he would face Cena, the crowd popped. He then concluded that the match would take place a year later and the crowd swallowed the pop.

The risk was clear. An injury or even a new character emerging could turn the calendar clock into a really bad idea. John Cena's feuds all seemed like filler while he looked towards the eventual match-up with Rock. The Kane feud seemed to serve a purpose in John's larger story, but it petered out without much fanfare when the Rock filled the stage.

As the clock now ticks under a week we can look back at a year that lacked the spark, the fire, and the controlled burn of a typical feud. This week came across as a "do no harm" wrap-up of a summary of an epilogue. Like a feud that had gone on for a year without much really happening because, well, it had.

WWE showed, not surprisingly, that they aren't exactly sharp promoting a match with roughly 12 times the normal time they use. I don't fault them. It was bold, daring, and unchartered. And, in the end, I don't think it worked, at least it didn't work as well as I believe a more traditional timeline would have.

I do wonder if they learned much from it. Rumors swirl now that the main event of WrestleMania 29 will be announced in the coming days to mirror this Rock-Cena timeline. I hope those rumors are false or that WWE learned a great deal about this new timing.

TO BE DETERMINED - THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT WRESTLEMANIA 28

A lot will be determined this week. Three jump out to me as the most interesting questions - the finish to Rock-Cena, match order, and the rumored WM29 match announcement.

- Rock vs. Cena has what great matches have: the equally implausible endings. How WWE resolves the feud with both egos in tact will be interesting. WWE usually refrains from using run-ins and screwy endings at WrestleMania, so looking for a clean three count on either star appears to be the finish, but it just seems so unlikely. Would Rock really return to put over John Cena? Would Cena really do the honor for someone he feels dishonored the company by daring to be successful enough to leave? I have guarded expectations for this match in the 3-4 star range, but it's the ending that I can't wait to see.

- The match order has been much talked about. It may not be as telling as many believe, but that doesn't make it less interesting. For example, production issues might call for Hell in a Cell to be first or last (due to cage set-up timings), so its placement may be determined by production issues more so than a reflection of its importance. I expect Cena-Rock to be last and predict Sheamus-Daniel Bryan will go on first.

- Finally, there have been rumors about the WWE again announcing the Main Event for next year's Mania on Raw. While I think this is a mistake, it could become an interesting tradition. I think the concept works best with returning stars who are not active. For example, if Shawn Michaels turns on Triple H at WrestleMania and they announce a match at WrestleMania 29. With two inactive (or very part-time) stars involved, the lingering match would not overshadow all other matches.

These questions and certainly many more will be determined this weekend in Miami.

***

Jon Cudo is the newest PWTorch specialist, presenting the "True-False-TBD" format. Jon has worked in the sports entertainment industry for over 20 years, including major league sports teams and Nike. He has been a life-long pro wrestling fan and has attended WWE, WCW, and ROH events in person, including backstage access at multiple events. He grew up in Minnesota and now lives in Cleveland. He runs his own business, www.GameOps.com, a website designed to connect sports teams and event producers with ideas and tools that will enhance the entertainment value for fans attending their events.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

We suggest these recent related articles...

TRUE - FALSE - TBD 5/3: Cena's place among top performers in history, Lesnar's schedule, impact of WWE's worked shoots

TRUE - FALSE - TBD 4/27: Open Fight Night could be a winner, ROH's lesson from WM28 biz, Int'l boost to WM28 buys

TRUE - FALSE - TBD 4/20: Funkasauras's limitations, Tensai's tattoos, Laurinaitis's introduction of Lesnar, FCW call-ups can spark business