Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

WWE WrestleMania XXIV Blu-ray Movie Review

Wrestling goes outdoors.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 10, 2012

WrestleMania is the end-all, be-all of what we do.

This ain't no Monday or Friday night. Where most casual wrestling fans might tune in to basic cable for a lot of action or a little chuckle at the expense of a lot of sweaty and muscular professional wrestlers, the diehards shell out ungodly sums of money for the WWE's premiere pay-per-view events, and they don't come any more "premiere" than WrestleMania, the annual showcase that is the Sports Entertainment world's Super Bowl, Daytona 500, insert-any-major-mainstream-sporting-event-here. This is the pinnacle of the sport that brings out big celebrities and even big press. It's an event defined by far more pomp and circumstance than is normally associated with the professional wrestling world but that remains shaped by the same people, the same story lines, the same intense action. But even all of the hoopla feels a little disingenuous, manufactured, even, just like wrestling itself. The WWE seems to work best when it's contained in its own little universe and veering away from integrating pop culture, but even with Kardashians and Snoop Dogs and other people that exist outside of the WWE sphere popping up from time to time, WrestleMania XXIV stays largely focused on what the people have paid to see, with even most of the in-between filler still staying focused on the world of the WWE and promoting story lines and wrestlers, not fluff.

Triple H: ready for a Triple Threat match.

WrestleMania XXIV, beyond all the hoopla that plays out before it all starts, begins with an interesting "no disqualification, no count out" "Belfast Brawl" match between JBL and Finlay, the match defined by some weird "who is Hornswoggle's father" storyline (not exactly the WWE's finest hour, but whatever). Despite its questionable background, it's a fair match, and viewers looking for something beyond general wrestling will find it here: pretty much anything -- beating the opponent with steel trash cans, ladders, steel steps -- goes. Next is another rather "untraditional" matchup featuring an up-and-coming CM Punk fighting to win a "Money in the Bank" ladder match; a victory allows the winning wrestler a shot at a title match anywhere and at any time of his choosing. For more "smack the other guy around with large objects" action, this one is pretty hard to beat (WWE disagrees; this particular match didn't make it onto the ladder match compilation set released last year). A fair "brand supremacy" (RAW vs Smackdown) match between two hulks of the wrestling world -- Umaga and Batista -- is next. Kane, cashing in a title shot earned prior to the start of the show (see the supplements below), battles Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Championship in the next match. Then there's the most historically-significant match of this WrestleMania; legends Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels do battle, with Flair agreeing to retire should he lose the match. After a little Diva eye candy lumberjacking, it's time for the big boys. A "triple threat" match for the WWE Championship sees three future hall-of-famers -- John Cena, Randy Orton, and Triple H -- battling for the hardware. Floyd Mayweather takes on The Big Show in a cross-sport mismatch, and the evening concludes with a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Edge.

Though it's certainly a middle-of-the-pack WrestleMania that never quite finds its stride until the final three matches, the allure here is the outdoor setting, only the third time the event has taken place without a roof over the wrestler's heads. Early raindrops give way to a gorgeous night and the bright lights of wrestling's biggest stage. The show oozes drama and immediacy with every match. The wrestlers up their games accordingly, performing at a level rarely achieved on the average RAW or Smackdown episode. The production values are superb, both in the event and on the video release; the sense of drama and spectacle is evident with every single shot and at any given angle. The WWE went all-out for this one, and even if the in-ring matches and results aren't anything spectacular, the setting truly is. Nevertheless, it remains a little difficult to watch these events in a vacuum. The pomp and circumstance largely dominates the intricacies of the story lines leading up to WrestleMania; it feels a little less pure than even the average pay-per-view event, but it's hard to fault WWE for putting on such a spectacle once per year. If nothing else, there are stars aplenty. A Floyd Meayweather/Big Show brawl that should capture the attention of fans of more "legitimate" sporting pursuits is arguably the show's top highlight; it's not just the crossover theme, but the raw size mismatch in terms of both height and weight and, of course, the differing styles and backgrounds that should draw quite the diverse crowd. The event is worth watching for that one alone, though certainly when the final five wrestlers of the night include John Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, Edge, and The Undertaker, well, that makes any WWE event, WrestleMania or not, worth watching.

The following matches comprise WrestleMania XXIV:

• Belfast Brawl: Finlay vs. JBL.
• Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Chris Jericho vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. John Morrison vs. Carlito vs. CM Punk vs. MVP vs. Mr. Kennedy.
• Battle for Brand Supremacy: Batista vs. Umaga.
• ECW Championship Match: Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero.
• Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels.
• Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Maria & Ashley vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina.
• Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton.
• The Biggest vs. The Best: Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs. Big Show.
• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Undertaker vs. Edge.

WWE WrestleMania XXIV Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

WrestleMania XXIV arrives on Blu-ray with a middling 1080i transfer framed within a 1.78:1 high definition window, a transfer that's always on the verge of collapse but manages to remain firm throughout. Certainly, this isn't the prettiest WWE Blu-ray release on the marketplace. The image is definitely watchable, but it never quite achieves the more polished appearance that later releases enjoy, even if they do still suffer through some issues. WrestleMania XXIV's details are rather flat. Beyond skin textures, there's little here of note. Steel steps, trash cans, ladders, and other objects seen in fairly close proximity to the action are adequately textured, but the mat, ropes, costumes, and the decorations around the Citrus Bowl appear largely flat and lifeless. The HD video photography leaves much of the image appearing flat and glossy, sacrificing fine textures for ease of shooting, clarity, and admittedly good colors. Indeed, the color palette is largely impressive, the real saving grace of the presentation. The bright shades of wrestler outfits and all of the bunting and decorations around the Citrus Bowl contrast nicely against the gray Florida sky, particularly early on. Bright greens, reds, blues, and other shades are vibrant but natural. The image is awash in jagged edges on real surfaces and graphics alike. Meanwhile, aliasing and blocking are causes for much concern, too, these three elements representing the bulk of the technical bugaboos. Still, despite these issues and midlevel detailing, WrestleMania XXIV's Blu-ray should satisfy audiences wanting to relive the event, not pick it apart.

WWE WrestleMania XXIV Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

WrestleMania XXIV features a Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy soundtrack, the constant stalwart of these WWE releases. As usual, this one packs a nice punch, delivering a solid, enveloping wrestling experience, the absence of a lossless soundtrack noticeable but neither detrimental nor deplorable. The track delivers some very impressive music. Outside of matches, it's strong and full of energy, wonderfully spaced and accompanied by aggressive surround use and a powerful but stable low end. In-match music -- generally in the form of wrestler introduction music -- offers much of the same, the clarity not lagging far behind even though it's heard blaring through the stadium's sound system rather than directly from the studio. Even John Legend's piano/vocal rendition of "America the Beautiful" plays smoothly and efficiently. Crowd ambience fills the soundstage with regularity, with other ambient effects rather limited to off-stage action. In-ring sound effects are crisp and lifelike, whether wrestlers falling onto the mat, out of the ring, or beating one another with ladders, steel steps, and other weapons. Dialogue from ringside announcements and color and play-by-play commentary are delivered smoothly from the center channel, the former enjoying just the right amount of spacing and echoing as it floats through the Citrus Bowl. Dialogue does get a little lost and jumbled up with music in the opening "pump up the home audience" montage, but that's really this track's biggest fault, and its a minor one at that. This isn't a definitive wrestling soundtrack, but it's a hard worker that gets the job done and then some.

WWE WrestleMania XXIV Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

WrestleMania XXIV contains no extras on disc one. Disc two, however, contains the entire 2008 WWE Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony (1080i, 1.78:1, Dolby Digital 2.0, 4:10:12). This four-plus-hour feature showcases the inductions of The Brisco Brothers, Eddie Graham, Mae Young, Gordon Solie, High Chief Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson, and Ric Flair. Also included is the WrestleMania 24-Man Battle Royal (1080i, 1.78:1, Dolby Digital 2.0, 10:18), a pre-WrestleMania bout in which the winner would receive a shot at the ECW title later in the night against Chavo Guerrero. This match features current stars such as Kane, Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, and The Miz.

WWE WrestleMania XXIV Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's easy to see why WrestleMania is the WWE's premiere event, and WrestleMania XXIV is a fine example of the pomp and circumstance that's such a large part of the process and that separates it even from other pay-per-views, let alone the average bi-weekly episode. It packs a huge arena, showcases the brightest stars, and attracts the attention of even outsiders not normally associated with the sport. The pomp and circumstance might be a little much for all but the diehards, but bringing in some celebrities outside of the WWE universe may at least attract some buyers and potentially create some new fans. As for the wrestling action, it's top-rate, even if some of the match-ups are a little less than spectacular. WrestleMania XXIV features some superstars at the top of their games, old favorites still holding strong, and up-and-comers on their way to stardom. WWE's Blu-ray release of WrestleMania XXIV features passable video, fair audio, and an exclusive pre-WrestleMania 24-man match as well as the four-hour 2008 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Whether as a primer into the world of the WWE, a curiosity, or an addition a larger WWE home video collection, this release comes recommended.