As far as match quality goes, this could definitely be the match to beat come March 29th. Let's talk all things IC Title Ladder Match!
Pros
1. Exciting match
This match hearkens back to when WWE was putting on the Money in the Bank on a yearly basis. The MITB ladder matches at Wrestlemania were a smart idea. You get guys who aren't paired up already and have them contend for something that matters; a future title shot anytime they want for a year. WWE had MITB matches at Wrestlemanias 21-26 before giving it its own event in 2010. It's been quite awhile since we've seen multi man ladder match at Mania and I'm happy to see it back. It this is the match to kick off Wrestlemania then it will set the bar very high for what's to come next and historically, Ladder matches at Wrestlemania tend to be some of the best of all time. TLC 2, the first ever Ladder match and MITB 1 were all fantastic contest that I watch on a yearly basis.
2. Relevance back to IC Title
With 7 guys gunning for the championship, it makes the championship feel like it's important again. You remember the good ole days? Where the IC Title was the workhorse championship? Usually the guy holding that belt was a great performer who might one day hold the World Title once they did all they could do with the IC Title? Guys like Bret Hart, The Rock, Stone Cold, and Edge all had multiple reigns with the IC belt before going after the main title. Now that there is only one World Title in the company, the IC Title could potentially take back its rightful place as the second tier championship that it is. It's no secret that the IC Title has gone down in the last couple years. Cody Rhodes was doing such a great job of elevating the title in 2011 and I really thought he was going to elevate himself to the main event thanks to the IC Title. It didn't happen and then they starting bouncing the title around to just about anybody without care. I mean, Barrett is a five time IC Champion but doesn't have any memorable reigns. With all eyes on the IC Title come Wrestlemania, it could be the start of making the title important again
3. Great line-up of stars
There are a lot of popular and great up and coming superstars in this match. Wade Barrett, the champion, is still one of my favorite guys although he has fallen on hard times with being injured every year. Barrett is in his 5th reign with the championship and was at one time, one of the leaders of the future generation. Those days have gone.
Dean Ambrose is one of the most popular stars in WWE right now but unfortunately, they don't know what to do with him. They don't give him major wins in feuds and it just seems like he's without direction. Giving him the IC Title would help him to elevate him back where he belongs and also get him ready for the inevitable Shield Triple Threat World Title match sometime soon.
Dolph Ziggler is another internet darling who has been responsible for hurting the IC Title in the past couple years. Ziggler held the belt on three different occasions in 2014 alone. That's not a good thing. He beat Miz for it, lost it to Miz. He beat Miz again, lost it to Harper. He beat Harper and then lost it to Barrett. Playing hot potato with the title is not going to help the status of it. Ziggler does have workhorse written all over him so he basically screams what the IC Title needs. After Wrestlemania, he'll definitely be one of the guys helping it in the months to come.
Luke Harper is a big and agile guy. I like his in ring style and look. I wish he had the IC Title for longer than he did because I think a monster like him could've done wonders for the title. He's another one who will help the IC Title in the coming months.
Stardust is away from his brother and back feuding for the IC Title. It's only right that the guy who was close to restoring the prestige of the title get to fight over it at Wrestlemania. I do hope that one day, Stardust will revert back to Cody Rhodes and he can try to get back into the main event but for now, I'll take him in the IC Title hunt.
R-Truth.........NEXT
Daniel Bryan makes this match very interesting. This is the guy who main evented Wrestlemania last year. The popularity and following this guy has is exactly what the IC Title needs to raise its prestige. If you get a guy like Bryan to hold the championship, not only do you have a workhorse holding the title, but you have a proven main eventer constantly defending his title in consistently great matches. The Ladder match revolves around Daniel Bryan and for good reason.
There is some really great talent. So much great talent that it makes the Andre the Giant Battle Royal without any real big names.
4. Future of division
So, let's play the prediction game here. I know that's for another post but whatever! Let's say Daniel Bryan wins the IC Title at Wrestlemania, like he should. WWE has done a great job of already giving him enough challengers for the months to come. There's no reason why Daniel Bryan couldn't walk out of 2015 as IC Champion. Let him feud with Barrett for the next couple of months, then Ambrose then have Ziggler and Bryan steal the show at SummerSlam. Bryan will help make the division strong again and make the feuds personal and worth watching. When's the last time a IC Title feud was personal and interesting to watch AND had a promo before the match? Daniel Bryan winning could start the up again. And not only Bryan winning could do that. Anyone but Truth could start themselves now that everyone is looking at the championship. It just takes WWE to pull the trigger.
Cons
1. R-Truth
OK, seriously, WHY? Who in creative thought that putting R-Truth in this match was a good idea? SERIOUSLY? There's no reason he should be in this match. If they were to include anyone else, it should have been Kofi Kingston. One, he's actually held the IC Title plenty of times in his career and two, he could be used for plenty of spots. I guess WWE didn't want to do that though! ANYONE else could have been in this position! Miz, Big E, ADRIAN NEVILLE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! It just baffles me that they decided to give the spot to Truth. Weird decision but he's been funny during this WM season.
JBL: "You pilfered the title!"
Truth: "I ain't no pilgrim!"
Amazing...
2. No Bryan/Ziggler
After Reigns won the Royal Rumble, many, including myself, were left wondering just what Daniel Bryan was going to do at Wrestlemania. The dream of seeing Seth Rollins VS Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania this year slipped away, mainly due to Orton not returning to feud with Rollins quick enough. The day after Mania, Ziggler sent out a tweet, basically saying they were both without dance partners for Mania so why not steal the show together? For awhile, this seemed like the plan and why not? It would've have screamed Wrestlemania 21, where Batista, a newcomer, was in the main event at Wrestlemania, despite not being ready for it while Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle had an amazing one on one match. You know, there's a lot of striking similarities between this Mania and 21....ANYWAY, as we know, it didn't happen and both were announced for the IC Title Ladder match, ruining the dreams of fans who wanted to see the two lock up at the Show of Shows one on one. It's not that big of a deal but a Bryan/Ziggler match would have had the fans split and would've been THE match for Wrestlemania 31. They still have a chance to steal the show together but I would have loved to see them get 20 minutes by themselves and see the results.
3. Hard to follow
If this is the first match of the night, it's going to raise the bar high for the other matches on the card. They're going to have to deliver. The only match I can see standing with this, wrestling wise, would be Orton and Rollins. Everything else, not a chance. It's not necessarily a bad thing because it's going to be next to impossible to top a multi-man ladder match but I feel bad for the rest of the matches, especially the main event. Everyone looks to it to impress and if all 7 of these guys go all out and have the match they should have, man. It's going to be a war that can't be followed.
The IC Title match is a nice surprise on the card. Most of the match announcements came to no surprise at all. Lesnar/Reigns, been in the making since last year. Wyatt/Taker, the only thing Wyatt could do to remain relevant this year. Orton/Rollins, seeds planted back in November. This is the only match that I did not see coming and I love it and can't wait to see what these guys have planned.
The last pros and cons list will be about the match between Randy Orton and Seth Rollins! If the IC Title match doesn't steal the show, that sure will!
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