I wasn't particularly fussed on Mania this year until the most recent episode of RAW.

I'm sold on the Cole/Lawler match because I see it as a homage to Lawler's most famous feud - his antics with Andy Kaufmann. I'm also hoping that Lawler kicks Cole's teeth so far down his throat we get Jim Ross back on commentary for the rest of the show...a mooted JR/Joey Styles announce team for this match would instantly make it a classic.

I've been a fan of CM Punk since his early ROH days and it was easy to see that he would be a star. The fact that he is the only real, genuine heel in the company shows just how effective he is in his roll. I find it ironic that he gets cheered by some fans because he is so great in his role as a despicable bad guy and therefore appears to be the perfect anti-hero against the guy the WWE positioned to be the next Steve Austin-esque anti-hero in Randall Keith Orton. I wonder what the reaction would be to CM Punk getting louder cheers than Orton during the match.

The build for Undertaker/Triple H seemed slow and tortuous to me. Then there was the video package with the discussion of Undertaker and Triple H last week, which had me somewhat interested. Then there was finally a money promo on Raw between HHH, Taker and HBK which has made this match more interesting. Unlike last year's Mania where the Taker match needed to go last, I feel that this would work best as the second-to-last match. I feel that for Taker to lose and end the streak now would taint it. Ending the streak should fall to the guy that the company is dead certain will be the next flag bearer for the 10 years of the franchise (had Orton won back at WM 21/22, which ever one it was, that would have worked), but part of me would be disappointed that HHH was determined to end the streak when he's admitting to not having a major in-ring career in his future.

Edge/del Rio is not a match that is getting much hype and I think that adding Christian does give it some mention, but I don't see Edge leaving as World Champion. Del Rio is a great character and he would be an excellent smarmy heel World Champion.

When the Rock was announced as the guest host, I watched, live. And felt the pay-off was great. The moment his music hit, I felt 14 years old again and he delivered an entertaining speech and all was right with the world. But, I feel that the build between Rock/Cena and a potential match here has taken away from the match. The Miz has been booked to appear as an afterthought and for the main guy in the company (he's the WWE Champion after all) and guy who has done so much media for the company lately to just appear and get his ass beat is bad booking. The closing of Cena F-Uing the Rock on RAW has now thrown a spanner into the works - you can't end the match with the much mooted Rock and Cena shake-hands and pose-down "Passing of the torch". Now, despite the fact that I don't think the WWE needs to do so - they've booked themselves into a corner and Cena will be booed by a significant majority of the crowd on Sunday. Cena's character irritates me and I honestly think that if they let him have some weakness and let loose of his chains, he would win back some supporters, but that just won't happen. I'd love to see Miz walk out as the champion and perhaps face Undertaker at WM28 and be the one to end the streak (or even if not, it would be a half-decent match) whilst Rock-Cena have their Hogan-Rock-like match in Miami.

But, I only book the TWF, not the WWE