7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
It's the biggest event of the WWE calendar when Superstars of RAW, SmackDown and ECW come together to create moments of immortality featuring top Superstars such as Bret Hart, John Cena, Batista, Triple H, Undertaker, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels, Edge, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, Vince McMahon and many more!
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Paul Levesque, Mark Calaway, John Cena, Mike MizaninSport | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Relentless pursuit of perfection.
WrestleMania time means brighter lights, larger venues, more sweat, harder work, fancier wrestling, heavier hits, and bigger stakes. As in the Super
Bowl or the World Series, the athletes of the World Wrestling Federation push their bodies into overdrive, past the red line and into territory otherwise
uncharted save for that one spring day when the best in the world gather under one roof -- or under the sky or a mixture of the two, as is the case
here -- for an evening of unforgettable entertainment. WrestleMania is the one night that the world that normally scoffs at professional wrestling
slows down to take a peek at what's in store in the biggest night in sports entertainment. WWE does it right; the event attracts celebrities and millions
of fans, earns untold countless dollars, and makes household names of each participant, even if the event costs an arm and a leg to watch live. But for
those who cannot afford it, missed it, want to see it again, or wish to take a look-see into what professional wrestling 21st century-style is all about,
WWE's Blu-ray releases of the annual WrestleMania event showcase the night that was, capturing all the sweat, each maneuver, and chronicling the
winners and the
losers for fans to enjoy time and again. WrestleMania XXVI's transition to Blu-ray features three packed discs featuring incredible wrestling action --
including the RAW and Smackdown episodes which aired right before XXVI -- and the hardcore fans are treated to the 2010 Hall-of-Fame induction
ceremony as well as vintage matches featuring the newly-enshrined wrestlers.
One shall stand, one shall fall.
WrestleMania XXVI's 1080i, 1.78:1-framed transfer arrives on Blu-ray looking rather rough. The image seems always ready to break apart at the seams, held together by the thinnest of margins and defined by a host of issues that severely hamper the experience. Of immediate note is that this image seems always soft, hazy, and not particularly well defined. Detailing sort of rolls in and out of acceptable quality, ranging from very good texturing on skin and facial hair and great clarity in medium-distance crowd shots and small elements such as the seams in mats which look crisp and authentic, at times. But there are also times where the image decidedly lacks definition, going smooth and ultra-flat and very plain. Colors are mostly vibrant, with wrestler garb and the flashy electronic backgrounds spitting out an array of balanced and natural hues. However, the image is hindered by a large assortment of jagged edges, plenty of blocky backgrounds, scan lines, and even some evident shimmering. This one definitely lags behind the newer WWE releases in terms of clarity and visual appeal. The good news is that this is probably the low end for WWE high definition home video, and things only get better from here.
WrestleMania XXVI arrives on Blu-ray with the WWE-standard Dolby Digital 5.1 audio presentation. The show begins with fighter jets screaming across the stage, the effect playing with a slightly disappointing range but quite good authenticity. Crowd ambience is wonderful, full and inviting throughout the program. The in-ring announcements play with accurate stadium spacing and reverberations. Ringside play-by-play and color comments are delivered naturally and clearly through the center speaker, though they are forced to compete with the loudest crowd and musical competing elements, sometimes being slightly drowned out by the additional sounds. The event theme music swells and plays with fine spacing, good clarity, and a quality heavy low end. Wrestler intro music plays cleanly and clearly, sounding better than it should if pumped straight from the stadium speakers and into the recording device. The Undertaker's intro in particular begins with the heavy chiming of daunting bells which are deep enough to rattle the ribcage. In-match sound effects -- notably the sound of wrestlers being slammed into the mat -- are noticeably over pumped and far too heavy. Still, this is a good, entertaining track. It's not perfect, and it's not lossless, but it serves the material well.
WrestleMania XXVI contains a bonus XXVI "pre-game" match, the 2010 Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony and classic moments from the
careers of the
inductees, as well as the RAW and Smackdown episodes preceding XXVI.
Disc One:
Yup, this was a pretty fine WrestleMania. It's first-class all the way, right down to all the window dressing and pomp and circumstance that make this more special than any other WWE event, Pay-Per-View or otherwise. A fantastic roster, unbeatable match-ups, and classic story lines mean this will be one fans will want to revisit time and again. And by all means, snap into a Slim Jim. WWE's Blu-ray release of WrestleMania XXVI features troublesome video, adequate lossy audio, and plenty of extras, enough, in fact, to keep fans busy all day long. This is a must-buy for die-hard WWE fans, and the release comes recommended to general audiences despite the shaky video quality.
2010
2009
2010
2-Disc Collector's Edition
2011
2010
2011
2008
2009-2010
2011
2010
2010
1999
Wrestlemania 28
2012
2011
2012
2010
2010
2011
2012
2011