Home ▸ Other ▸ WrestleMania XXIV

Day 5 of WrestleMania week, and we come to an event that’s near and dear to my heart, WrestleMania XXIV.  But first, a little history.  Sometime after WrestleMania 23, Vince McMahon’s limousine infamously blew up on an episode of Monday Night RAW, and I was inspired to get on the forums at a wrestling website I’d been following for a while.  On this message board was a guy named JT, who it turned out was pretty much me if I were exactly three years older and lived a few hundred miles east of here.  This website can be traced back to that single event.  Anyways, I decided that I was going to take my girlfriend, who is now my wife, to WrestleMania, and we did.  We did the Hall of Fame ceremony too, though we missed out on the opportunity to catch one of the TNA tapings that weekend.  So here now is the event I’ve been most looking forward to covering this week, WrestleMania XXIV!  Let’s roll!

The Blue Angels fly overhead, and John Legend performs “America The Beautiful” to kick off the show.  We get our standard WrestleMania hype video with the Superstars talking about what WrestleMania means to them.  The pyro goes off from both inside and outside the Citrus Bowl, my section is shown on TV, and JR welcomes us to WrestleMania!

Our opening WrestleMania Match is a Belfast Brawl

JBL is out first, and man do I hate the storyline that led up to this.  I remember it vividly, because it started in Buffalo.  After McMahon’s limo blew up and he came back, they did the same setup in Buffalo, but when he got out to the limo, Coach stopped him and told him that he had a paternity lawsuit against him.  Then they said it was Hornswoggle.  Then JBL beat the crap out of Hornswoggle, and revealed that Hornswoggle was Finlay’s son.  Speaking of Finlay and Hornswoggle, they’re out next, and we’re set for our match.

John “Bradshaw” Layfield vs. Finlay:  Belfast Brawl

JBL won’t even let Finlay get in the ring at the start of this.  Finlay reverses an Irish whip attempt and sends JBL into the steel steps, then rolls him into the ring, and the opening bell finally starts.  Finlay grabs a trash can and a couple of kendo sticks.  JBL nails him with a trash can when he gets back in the ring.  He nails the Irishman with the trash can lid and a cookie sheet, then grabs the top half of the steel steps, tossing it into the ring.  JBL tries for a piledriver on the steps, but Finlay counters with a backdrop.  Finlay then uses the cookie sheet, scoring a two count after a series of shots to JBL’s head.  JBL drops Finlay with a big boot.  He beats Finlay down in the corner, then grabs the shillelagh, but gets distracted by Hornswoggle.  Finlay then nails JBL in the head with the shillelagh, knocking him out of the ring.  Finlay retrieves him and rolls him back in the ring, then stomps him with a trash can.  He then goes out to grab a table, which he props up in the corner of the ring.  JBL reverses the Irish whip attempt, and sends Finlay into the opposite corner.  Finlay tries to use the steps, but JBL rolls out of the ring and attacks Hornswoggle, sending Finlay into a rage.  JBL gets away to the opposite side of the ring, and Finlay tries a suicide dive but gets cracked in the head with the trash can lid.  JBL throws a trash can at Hornswoggle, then uses another one on Finlay.  JBL goes for the Clothesline From Hell, but Finlay blasts him with the trash can.  Finlay sends JBL through the table that was previously set up in the corner, but only scores a two count.  Finlay grabs the steps, but JBL takes him down with a kendo stick, then nails a Clothesline from Hell, and JBL picks up the victory!

Winner:  John “Bradshaw” Layfield

Kim Kardashian is backstage talking about the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, and she’s interrupted by Mr. Kennedy, who says he’s going to win it again this year.

The participants, in order of entry, for the Money In The Bank match:  WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison, Carlito, Shelton Benjamin, CM Punk, Mr. Kennedy, WWE United States Champion MVP, and WWE Intercontinental Chris Jericho.

Money In The Bank Ladder Match

Six men head out to grab ladders, while MVP stays in waiting for somebody to toss one in.  He grabs said ladder and uses it on anybody trying to get in the ring, until Jericho comes in with a bigger ladder.  Jericho wins the joust, and then Morrison gets the better of a ladder battle between himself and Jericho.  He then climbs the ropes and hits a moonsault with ladder in hand on four other guys.  Mr. Kennedy looks to take advantage of the carnage, but before he can even get up to the second run, Jericho takes him down.  Jericho goes for a catapult, and winds up putting Kennedy right up on the ladder.  JoMo springs into action, literally, and starts battling with Kennedy at the top of the ladder.  Shelton Benjamin tries to sneak by both of them, but he fails.  Kennedy sets up for a Superplex on Morrison, and Benjamin flips over them, powerbombing Kennedy, who still scores with his superplex.  Benjamin goes for the win, but Carlito stops that.  Punk tries to take advantage, but he’s stopped by Kennedy.  Punk and Benjamin battle, with Benjamin eating a Go To Sleep from Punk.  Kennedy hits the Green Bay Plunge on Punk on a ladder, MVP knocks Carlito off of the ladder, takes Kennedy out, but misses a driveby kick on Carlito, who tosses a ladder into MVP’s leg.  Carlito gets to the top of the ladder but Benjamin pulls him down.  Benjamin takes out Carlito and starts climbing up again.  Kennedy and Carlito tip the ladder over, and Benjamin goes through a ladder set up on the outside.  Kennedy, Jericho, and Carlito climb the ladder but are dumped off by MVP, who gets a ladder in the face from Morrison, who starts battling with Jericho and winds up in the Walls of Jericho on the top of a ladder.  Kennedy comes up and breaks that up, and he and Jericho battle on top of two ladders.  Punk and Carlito jump in as well, Kennedy taking down Punk and himself, Jericho knocking Carlito down, but Carlito climbs up Jericho’s side of the ladder and drops him with a backstabber off of the ladder.  MVP is the only man even moving at this point, and he starts to climb, but as he gets to the top and starts trying to unhook the briefcase, Matt Hardy shows up and drops him with a Twist of Fate from the top of the ladder!  Hardy takes off through the crowd, and Morrison and Punk start to battle.  Jericho gets involved as well, as does Carlito.  They make some kind of contraption with two ladders, which JoMo tries to climb, but he gets dumped off the ladder and crotches himself on the top rope.  Jericho climbs, as does Carlito, who spits apple in the face of Jericho.  Carlito gets to the briefcase, but Kennedy takes him down.  Punk takes down Kennedy with a small ladder, and Jericho hits a Codebreaker on Punk, driving the ladder into his face.  Jericho climbs, but Punk won’t be denied.  He climbs up and starts battling with Jericho on top of the ladder.  Jericho tries to smash the briefcase into Punk’s face, and eventually succeeds, but Punk manages to hook Jericho in the tree of woe on the ladder, then climbs up to grab the briefcase!  CM Punk!

Winner:  CM Punk

John Cena is getting ready for his title match backstage, as are Randy Orton and Triple H.

2008 WWE Hall of Fame highlight video.  The inductees, in the order that Howard Finkel introduces them:  Jack and Gerry Brisco, Gordon Solie (represented by his family), Rocky Johnson, Peter Maivia (represented by his family), Eddie Graham (represented by his son Mike), Mae Young, and Ric Flair (represented by his children).

Backstage, Todd Grisham is talking to Snoop Dogg, who is having the time of his life, and he says he sees eye to eye with Festus.  Santino comes in to interrupt “Mr. Snoopy The Dog.”  He wants to let Snoop know if he tries any funny business… Snoop grabs a ring bell, rings it, and Festus chases Santino, and Grisham asks Snoop where he got the bell.  Snoop says he has a friend.  Mick Foley says “Bizzle Bizzle, Owwww have mizzle!  Have a nice dizzle!”

Next up is the SmackDown vs. RAW battle for brand supremacy.  William Regal, the RAW GM, and SmackDown’s Assistant GM are in the ring to introduce their representatives, Batista for Teddy Long, and “Youmanga” for William Regal.

Batista vs. Umaga

The fans are behind Umaga, with an “Oooh, ooh, Umaga” chant.  Seriously.  Umaga dominates in the early going.  He splashes Batista and scores a two count.  Umaga misses with a flying headbutt, but Batista’s back has been worked over so badly in this match that he fails at a bodyslam attempt, and Umaga continues his offense.  Umaga clamps on a nerve hold for what seems like forever, and when Batista tries to fight out, The Samoan Bulldozer hits a Samoan Drop for two.  Umaga tries to drag Batista to the corner, but The Animal uses his power to prevent it.  Umaga runs into a boot, Batista nearly runs into a Samoan Spike, but he avoids it.  He ducks a charging Umaga, and drops him with a spinebuster, followed by a Batista Bomb, picking up the win.

Winner: Batista

We get the tale of the tape for the Big Show/Floyd Mayweather match.  In fact, here you go.

Earlier in the night, Kane won a 24 man Battle Royal to determine the number one contender for the ECW Championship.  Chavo Guerrero milks the hell out of his entrance, as he’s introduced by the GM of ECW, Armando Estrada.  Kane’s music hits, and unbeknownst to Chavo, he comes in from the crowd.

Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero: ECW Championship

Chokeslam.  Pin.  New champ.

Winner and NEW ECW Champion:  Kane

WrestleMania 24 spot featuring Carlito, Maria, and a pidgeon.

Raven Simone is here to tell us about the 50 Make A Wish kids from 50 states in the crowd.

Video package for the Career Threatening Match between Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels.  Then Mike Adamle interviews The Nature Boy.  He wants to know Flair’s game plan.  Flair’s game plan?  To be the man.  Woooooo!

HBK enters the stadium first, and Flair gets fireworks from outside of the stadium during his.

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels:  If Flair loses, he must retire

JR wishes everybody could be there.  Guess what – I was!  HBK hits a shoulderblock to kick things off, then Flair cinches in a hammerlock, but HBK reverses it.  Flair takes HBK down with a drop toehold, but HBK goes right back to the hammerlock.  Flair hiptosses Michaels.  They lock up, with Michaels backing Flair into the corner.  Flair turns it around, shoves HBK, and says “Old Yeller, huh?”  Michaels slaps Flair in the face.  Flair chops away at Michaels in the corner, then Michaels turns the tide with chops of his own.  Flair turns it right back around.  The two battle back and forth for a few.  Michaels tries to go to the top rope, but Flair tosses him down, a la every Ric Flair opponent ever.  Flair heads to the top, Michaels tries to toss him down, but Flair shoves him off and hits a cross body from the top rope!  HBK gets Flair outside the ring, and hits him with a baseball slide.  He goes for an Asai moonsault, but winds up putting himself through the RAW announce table.  Lil’ Naitch, Charles Robinson, starts his count, and gets to 8 before HBK manages to get back in the ring.  Flair is firmly in control by this point.  He takes HBK down with a double arm suplex, scoring a two count.  Michaels starts to mount a comeback, hitting a neckbreaker.  He backdrops Flair over the top rope and to the floor.  Michaels scales the turnbuckles and hits a moonsault on Flair this time.  Both men get back in the ring at 9.  The two start exchanging chops in the middle of the ring, and Michaels gets the better of it, hitting a flying forearm.  Michaels nips up, and hits an inverted atomic drop.  He bodyslams Flair, then heads back to the top rope, nailing the flying elbow.  HBK starts to tune up the band, but he can’t bring himself to pull the trigger, so Flair executes a double leg takedown and cinches in the figure four leglock!  Michaels flips it over to reverse the pressure.  Back on their feet, they exchange chops again.  Flair reverses an Irish whip, then chop blocks Michaels’ leg out from under him.  Flair goes for the figure four but Michaels rolls him up for two.  Flair ducks an enziguri and manages to lock on a second figure four.  Michaels writhes in pain, but refuses to give up.  He tries to get to the ropes, but Flair pulls him back.  Michaels tries to reverse the pressure again, but Flair stays with the momentum to roll it over and maintain the hold, but HBK manages to finally get to the ropes.  Flair works over HBK, then stops to strut.  When he turns back around, he turns into Sweet Chin Music!  Michaels gets an arm over Flair, who kicks out at two!  HBK tunes up the band, begging for Flair to get up, but Flair isn’t getting up very quickly.  Michaels goes to help Flair up, and gets kicked between the uprights for his trouble, out of view of the referee, of course.  Michaels manages to lock in his variation of the Figure Four.  Flair pulls towards the ropes and manages to grab the bottom rope.  He inadvertently pulls off the bottom turnbuckle cover, and while the referee’s concerned with that, he thumbs Michaels in the eye.  He rolls him up, but only scores a two.  They exchange chops again as they make it back to their feet.  Flair gets the advantage this time, but Michaels pulls off Sweet Chin Music again.  HBK sits back and looks at Flair before he tunes up the band again.  Flair gets back up, and Michaels tells him, “I’m sorry, I love you,” before he pulls the trigger on Sweet Chin Music and pins Flair for the victory.

Winner:  Shawn Michaels

Michaels leaves first, giving Flair the floor to make his final walk away from the ring.

Todd Grisham is backstage with Edge.  Edge says we’ve seen history tonight, and we’ll see more later on.  Edge talks about WrestleMania VI, and how he felt Hulk Hogan was infallible.  When Hogan lost, Edge lost his innocence, but it’s come full circle.  People rely on The Undertaker to win at WrestleMania, but that changes tonight.

Pyro goes off to signify the halfway point of WrestleMania.

“The following is the Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match.”

First of all, they’re lumberjills, not lumberjacks.  Snoop Dogg drives a pimped out golf cart to the ring, with the lumberjills following him down.  Snoop does the ring introductions.  Ashley and Maria are out first.  Melina and Beth Phoenix are out next, accompanied by Santino.

Ashley & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina: Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack Match

Let’s put it this way.  This match was so boring that the lights fell asleep.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  Watch it for yourself if you don’t believe me.  Beth and Melina won with help from Santino.

Winners:  Beth Phoenix and Melina

Santino gloats, Snoop Dogg hits him with a forearm, and he kisses Maria, before leaving with her and Ashley

We get our video package for the WWE Championship Triple Threat, and then a marching band is playing in the stadium.  They go from playing “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee” to playing “The Time Is Now.”  Yes, folks, they’re playing John Cena to the ring.  The AT&T customers have voted, and it breaks down like this – 52% pick John Cena to win, 40% pick Triple H to win, and only 8% picked Randy Orton.  Triple H doesn’t get Motorhead this year, but he gets some pyro at least.  A lot of pyro.  It wraps around the stadium.  TV didn’t really pick it up very well.  The WWE Champion, Randy Orton, still has “Burn In My Light” as his theme.  I think that only lasted a couple of more weeks before “Voices” by Rev Theory became his new song.

Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H:  Triple Threat WWE Championship Match

The lights still haven’t come back on from the Divas match by time this one starts.  They had some spotlights or something that they were able to illuminate the ring with during the Divas match and the early stages of this one, and quite honestly I think it was pretty cool with that lighting.  Orton nails Triple H with the WWE Championship to start the match and John Cena unloads on Orton.  Triple H comes after Orton.  It’s crazy in the early going.  Triple H slaps on a Sleeper on Orton, Cena tries to hit an FU on both of them, but The Game gets out of it and kicks Cena in the gut, causing him to drop Orton as well.  Orton takes control of the match, he’s got Cena and Triple H down and he’s stomping both of them with the Garvin stomp.  He drops a knee on Cena and scores a two.  He does the same to Triple H.  Orton goes to the top rope, but Cena catches him.  The Game gets Cena in a Doomsday Device position, Orton hits a cross body, Cena rolls through, goes for the FU, but Orton manages to get a sunset flip on Cena for a two count.  Triple H clotheslines Cena, Orton clotheslines Triple H.  Orton tries for an elevated DDT on both of his opponents, and manages to pull it off.  He covers Cena, who kicks out at two, then Triple H, who also kicks out at two.  Orton goes for an RKO on Cena, who tosses him onto Triple.  Cena hits the throwback and goes to the top rope.  He hits the rocker dropper from the top rope and goes for an STFU, but Orton gets away.  Cena chases after him, but Orton shoves him head first into the ring post.  Triple H regroups and goes after the leg of the WWE Champion.  He works over Orton, and clotheslines Cena when he gets back in.  Orton drops The Game with an RKO, but Cena gets Orton in the STFU.  Orton crawls toward the ropes, and Triple H reaches in the ring and pulls him over to them.  He throws Cena head first into the steel steps and locks in a modified Indian Death Lock on Orton, but Cena breaks it up.  He whips Triple H to the buckle, sending him to the outside.  Orton gets caught in the STFU again.  Triple H gets back in and tries to pull Cena off of Orton, and locks in the crossface (which was taboo at the time) on Cena, who manages to claw his way to the ropes.  Cena and Triple H throw rights at each other, and The Game gets the better of the exchange, or so it seemed, as Cena came back with a shoulder block and the Protobomb.  He hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle on Triple H, but Triple H avoids the FU, and Cena countered the Pedigree.  Triple H nails a huge clothesline and a spinebuster.  Triple H chop blocks Randy Orton, and turns around, nearly getting FU’d, but he reverses and hits the Pedigree.  Orton comes in and punts Triple H in the skull, covers Cena, and picks up the three count!

Winner and still WWE Champion:  Randy Orton

It’s a match you’d look at on paper and say “meh,” but it was actually a hell of a match.

Big Show is walking backstage, and we get our hype package for the Show/Mayweather match.  Again, I ask, can I just show this and count it as a review?:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDrFPeFDc6M[/youtube]

No?  Alright, fine.  Big Show is out first, Floyd “Money” Mayweather makes his way out with his entourage, and fake Floyd Mayweather money falls from the sky.

Interesting to note, this DVD I’m watching is supposedly being recalled worldwide due to copyright issues with Floyd Mayweather’s theme song.  You’re not getting this from me, WWE, it’s MINE!

Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. The Big Show

Money uses his quickness to avoid The Big Show early on.  He throws body shots at The Big Show, but they don’t seem to phase Show.  He goes for the face, but he can barely reach him.  One of his crew hand him a chalice, that he drinks out of.  Show knocks the guy down, then chops him in the corner.  The chalice shattered on the floor below.  Show stalks Mayweather, and this time, Show catches him.  Show tries to stomp Mayweather’s hand, but Mayweather moved.  Show goozles Mayweather, but Mayweather winds up getting Show in a sleeper, which seems to wear down the giant.  Show finally gets out of it, and he stomps the hand of Mayweather, which sends his crew into a frenzy, including white suit dude, who insists “he can’t be doing that!”  Show chops Mayweather, and white suit dude keeps screaming that Show “can’t do that.”  Show stands on Mayweather, and the guy says “he can’t be steppin’ on him!” Mayweather kicks Show in the gut, and tries to charge at him, but gets side slammed for his trouble.   Show uses Mayweather as a stepping stone.  Show drops an elbow, and asks the crowd if he should do it again, but Mayweather’s entourage pulls him out of the ring, saying “we out.”  Show bowls them over and gets Mayweather, and drags him by the throat all the way back to the ring.  Show goes for a chokeslam, but another one of Mayweather’s handlers jumps in and hits Show with a chair, getting a chokeslam of his own for his trouble.  Mayweather uses a chair on Show, once in the gut, once in the back, but he can’t get the third shot in, at least not until he escapes a chokeslam with a low blow.  Mayweather grabs brass knucks off of one of his handlers, decks Big Show, and Show is down for the count.

Winner:  Floyd “Money” Mayweather

WrestleMania 24 spot with Batista

Kim Kardashian is here to tell us that we’ve set a new attendance record of 74,635 at the Citrus Bowl.  I’ll never forget this – the guy next to me at the Citrus Bowl says “Damn!  Is that how many people can fit in her ass?”

We get our video package for The Undertaker vs. Edge

This was my third WrestleMania I attended, and this is the first time I got to see the druids and all that stuff, because the two I’d been to previously were when he was doing the “American Badass” thing.  So to see this entrance in the cool March air in Orlando, it was definitely something out of this world to experience.  Edge makes his way out, and he brings Vickie Guerrero out for a good luck kiss.

Edge vs. The Undertaker:  World Heavyweight Championship

Edge shoves Undertaker to start off, but Undertaker stalls his momentum with a pair of clotheslines, the second one sending Edge to the floor.  Edge gets in the ring and tries to take advantage, but Undertaker drapes his arm over the top rope.  Undertaker is in firm control in the early going.  He goes for Old School, Edge pulled him down, but Undertaker manages to parlay that into an armdrag.  Undertaker starts choking Edge in the corner, then hits a high knee  and tumbles over the top rope.  Edge spears Undertaker off the apron as he tries to get back in the ring.  Edge hits a baseball slide to keep Undertaker out of the ring, then finally goes out after him.  He works over The Undertaker’s back on the outside, ramming him against the ring apron.  Edge is in firm control here.  Finally, Undertaker gets back in the ring, and Edge continues to work him over.  Edge hits a standing dropkick, and goes to the top rope, but Undertaker shoves him off and to the floor below.  Undertaker hits the suicide dive, then a guillotine legdrop, but Edge kicks out at two.  Undertaker sets up for the Last Ride, but Edge has damaged Undertaker’s back so much that he couldn’t get him up.  Edge nails The Undertaker with a big boot and scores a two count.  They wind up out of the ring again, and Edge drops Undertaker spine first on the barricade, depositing the Phenom into the front row.  Edge drags Undertaker back in the ring and only scores a two count.  He locks in a single leg crab on the dead man, but Undertaker manages to break out of it.  Edge continues to work over The Undertaker’s back with submission holds.  They start trading rights, and Edge manages to hold his own.  Undertaker starts to mount a comeback but gets dropkicked, and Edge scores a two count.  Edge goes up top again, Undertaker catches him, Edge avoids the chokeslam, Undertaker goes for it again, and Edge turns it into an elevated DDT and a two count.  Edge goes for the spear, but Undertaker hits Edge coming in with a knee, then a chokeslam for two.  Undertaker goes for Old School, but Edge shoves him down again, then scores with a superplex for a two count.  Edge climbs to the second rope and starts throwing fists at The Undertaker, who goes for Last Ride, but Edge escapes and hits a neckbreaker, and another two count.  Undertaker manages to hit the Last Ride, finally, but Edge kicks out at two!  Undertaker goes for the Tombstone, but it’s countered into the Edge-o-Matic, but Undertaker kicks out at two.  Undertaker goes for Old School again, and this time he hits it.  Edge ducks a big boot, and the referee eats it instead.  Edge starts wailing away at The Undertaker, but Undertaker gets him by the throat.  Edge kicks him low, and there’s no referee to do anything about it.  Edge grabs a camera and nails The Undertaker right between the eyes.  Edge goes for a Tombstone, but Undertaker reverses it and hits a Tombstone.  Charles Robinson tries his best to get to the ring quickly.  Here’s a video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWU5KgqZw4Y[/youtube]

Edge kicks out at two, and Hawkins and Ryder run down to interfere, but Undertaker makes short work of them.  Edge nails the spear!  One!  Two!  Undertaker kicks out!!!Edge hits another spear, but before he can take advantage, Undertaker locks in Hell’s Gate!  Edge tries and tries to reach the ropes, but he can’t and has to tap out – The Undertaker wins!

Winner and NEW World Heavyweight Champion:  The Undertaker (16-0 at WrestleMania)

After the match, pyro goes off.  A couple wires that were up over my head snap, and some people up in the corner of the 300 level get minor burns and have to go to the hospital.  We get our standard highlight video set to “Snow (Hey Oh)” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Light It Up” by Rev Theory.

My Thoughts:  This was a great WrestleMania to be a part of, and probably the last really good one.  I mean, we’ve got the 25 minute Kid Rock concert that’s  on the next show, and the 27 minute Rock Promo from WrestleMania 27.  I’m tired.  I’m done.  See you tomorrow.

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