CB’s Slant: Full WrestleMania 29 Preview, Updated Match Listings and Interest Level Rankings

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This week, WWE announced two more matches for WrestleMania 29 and with the card now presumably all set, I figured I’d present the final card along with my own preview that focuses on my personal interest level for each contest. Here we go:

WWE WrestleMania 29 Match Listing In Order of CB’s Interest Level:

The Streak vs. No Disrespect Intended: The Undertaker vs. CM Punk

While the build to Undertaker vs. Punk hasn’t been stellar, I still maintain the highest interest level for their match. Punk has done a fantastic job with the material he’s been given, and because they haven’t gotten all that physical leading up to WrestleMania, I’m looking forward to seeing what they do once that bell rings. Does Taker have one more dose of Mania Match Quality magic up his sleeve? If anyone can find it and bring it out, it’s Punk.

CB’s Interest Level: 10/10

The Shield vs. Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show

My interest level here is high mainly because of The Shield and not their opponents. Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns are still undefeated, and I’m hoping they stay that way here. All three have shown to be highly capable at delivering on a big stage, and so I’d like to see more of the same in that regard. I’m also curious to see what their next storyline chapter is, and if that will be revealed at WrestleMania.

CB’s Interest Level: 9/10

Chris Jericho vs. Fandango

If you’re looking for a sleeper pick to steal the show, this is it. Jericho is a master at making his opponents look great, and he seems to have pretty good rapport with the Fandango character thus far. With Y2J involved and with this being a FRESH match, I’m looking forward to this one more than most other WrestleMania offerings.

CB’s Interest Level: 8/10

No Holds Barred: Triple H (career on line) vs. Brock Lesnar

I think Triple H will certainly pull out all of the stops to save his wrestling career, while Brock Lesnar will do everything he can to end it. If you are looking for a storyline that could run through next year, you could have Brock actually beat Hunter, then move on to face the other Last Outlaw at WrestleMania XXX, which would be The Undertaker of course (that’s also assuming Taker beats Punk this year). Either way, I know full well that HHH has the creative control to make this match as long and as grueling as I think it will be, and it’ll probably be a violent spectacle like Hell In A Cell was last year. Therefore, I have a relatively high interest level in this one, though I still would have preferred a different opponent for Lesnar at Mania.

CB’s Interest Level: 7/10

WWE Tag Team Championship: Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane)(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston

While I would have preferred to see him in a spotlight singles match, I am still looking forward to seeing Daniel Bryan wrestle longer than 18 seconds at WrestleMania and I am also curious to see how Big E Langston handles his first official match. Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler is a real wild card for WrestleMania being that he is still holding that Money in the Bank briefcase. Either way, I think this will be a well-put together tag titles match that does have some intrigue.

CB’s Interest Level: 6/10

WWE Championship / Twice In A Lifetime: The Rock (c) vs. John Cena

This is the same exact feud as last year with the same exact arguments. The fact that the WWE Championship is an afterthought here also irritates me, and short of the John Cena heel turn we will never get, I just don’t see the value in this. I expect that the live NY/NJ crowd will be very hostile here towards Cena, but even that isn’t really all that new or interesting these days either. I also came very close to putting this even one match lower on my interest level rankings, but the rest of the card is so weak I just couldn’t do it.

CB’s Interest Level: 5/10

Brodus Clay, Tensai and The Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron) vs. Team Rhodes Scholars and The Bella Twins

The reason I rank this one above some of the other matches is for one reason and one reason only: Naomi. We’ve already seen glimpses if Naomi’s pure athletic ability, and if nothing else I have a feeling she will wind up doing something memorable in this match that stands out. As for everything else, it’ll be filler at best.

CB’s Interest Level: 4/10

World Heavyweight Championship: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Jack Swagger

This feud has gotten so boring and Del Rio is so miscast as a baby face that his pure wrestling ability won’t be able to save this whole saga from being anything other than a complete waste of time. Now, Ziggler could cash in here too, but unless Dolph takes out Swagger before the bell rings and replaces him for the full match, this one stays right where it is near the bottom of the pack.

CB’s Interest Level: 3/10

Mark Henry vs. Ryback

Couldn’t they at least get Vader involved? On a serious note, Henry and Ryback are towards the bottom here because there are no announced stipulations to this point and I’m not looking for them to engage me all that much in a pure one-on-one match. Also, it’s way too predictable that Ryback wins this to get some semblance of footing back in 2013.

CB’s Interest Level: 2/10

Intercontinental Championship: The Miz vs. Wade Barrett

If Alberto Del Rio is being miscast as a baby face, then The Miz is being seriously miscast as a) a baby face; b) Ric Flair’s protege; c) a marine; and d) a wrestler that anyone cares about anymore in 2013.

As for Barrett, well, there’s really nothing to say anymore, and I still think this match should have been an IC/US title unification match with Antonio Cesaro involved at the very least, if not my boy Chris Masters (#heromode).

CB’s Interest Level: 0/10

So there you have it, and now I ask:

What is your own interest level for each match at WrestleMania 29? How do you feel about my rankings? Sound off in the comments section below!

That’s all from me — CB.

CB is an Editor for Pulse Wrestling and an original member of the Inside Pulse writing team covering the spectrum of pop culture including pro wrestling, sports, movies, music, radio and television.