http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyvm5o_the-rock-vs-john-cena-wrestlemania-29-wwe-chapionship-match_sport At WrestleMania XVIII in 2012, WWE promoted a "Once in a Lifetime" match between John Cena and The Rock. The match drew the largest pay-per-view buyrate in company history and was one of those classic moments that will live on forever in the annals of wrestling history. When a contest does the type of business for a promotion the way that Cena-Rock did, there is always temptation to present a rematch. WWE did it at WrestleMania IV, when Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were booked against one another for the second consecutive year, and again at WrestleMania XXVI when Shawn Michaels took on Undertaker for the second time. WrestleMania XXVIII itself featured a rematch between Undertaker and Triple H. But none of those matches had been so heavily hyped as "Once in a Lifetime." It would take a great deal of intestinal fortitude for Vince McMahon's company to go back to the well for a second time with Cena and Rock, just one year after promising fans that their iconic clash would be a one-and-done deal. But that is exactly what they did. Rock defeated CM Punk to win the WWE title and Cena won the Royal Rumble, setting up a second match between the two at the Showcase of the Immortals. The match failed to recapture the excitement of the original and fans heavily criticized the company for repeating the same main event in consecutive years. Rock looked to be in terrible ring shape, gassed after his walk to the ring, and the lack of story or any sensible transitions made for a very disjointed match. A major disappointment after such a great showing the year before.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.