Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger sang America the Beautiful
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
C.M. Punk, Mark Henry, M.V.P., Shelton Benjamin, Finlay, Kofi Kingston, Christian, Kane
Well I was right about this match being early in the night, it was first. I was expecting an extremely entertaining match due to the involvement of Christian, Benjamin, and Kingston. The match certainly had its moments. Like Shelton Benjamin doing a flip off of what I think was a twenty foot ladder into a crowd of competitors and smashing down to the floor; Hornswaggle using a stepladder to climb a top Mark Henry and dive into the same crowd; Kingston scaling the ladder while Henry was holding it unopened, Henry dropped ladder and caught Kingston in a bear hug then power slammed him into the ladder.
I think Kingston and M.V.P. may have actually been injured during the match. Kingston during the above mentioned slam, and M.V.P. when Benjamin in a power bomb like setup tossed M.V.P over the top rope to the floor. It looked as if he landed right in the back of his neck.
In the end Punk fought of Christian and Kane while a top the ladder and then reached up to become the first back-to-back Money in the Bank winner.
Kid Rock sings for about 12 minutes culminating in the Divas walking down to the ring during his final song – So Hott.
Mae Young was the guest timekeeper. With here was Candice Michelle waiting to crown the first ever Miss Wrestlemania.
Here is a list of the Divas involved in the match in the order of their elimination.
Leyla, Joy Giovanni, Rosa Mendes, Alicia Fox, Sunny, Torrie Wilson, Jackie Gayda, Maria, Gail Kim, Jillian Hall, Eve Torres, Tiffany, Kelly Kelly, Molly Holly, Maryse, Katie Lea Burchill, Natalya, Victoria, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Mickie James, Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, Melina
The winner of the match Santina Marella who claimed to be Santino’s twin sister from Italy. He did a ridiculous celebration dance before finally leaving the ring.
Legends Handicap Match
Chris Jericho vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper, Superfly Jimmy Snuka, and Ricky The Dragon Steamboat with Ric Flair
Snuka should wear bigger outfits when he decides to actually wrestle. Piper has lost quite a bit of weight, but it is great to see he is doing so well after his battle with Cancer. Ricky Steamboat looked to be in great shape. He was throwing high armdrags like he did 20 years ago.
Piper started the match and did pretty well for a while. Then he tagged Snuka who did a few chops and a headbutt before tagging in Steamboat. The Dragon took over right away and was controlling things. He then tagged Snuka back in. Snuka was soon tapping out to the Walls of Jericho. I got that part right, but not much else. Piper was next to go via pinfall. Steamboat nearly got the pin, and held his own for a few minutes. Including launching himself over the top rope down onto Jericho, and no less than three near pinfalls. Things would turn around though and after a Codebreaker Steamboat got pinned.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Ric Flair would then get in the ring and be disposed of by Jericho somewhat quickly. He then got a mic and taunted Mickey Rourke, trying and trying to lure him into the ring. Rourke would eventually oblige Y2J and climbed into the ring. After a bit of showboating for the crowd and some dancing around the ring Rourke landed a single left hook to Jericho’s head that left him laying on the mat. Flair came back in and they celebrated.
Extreme Rules Match
Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy
This was an exciting match as can be expected. Granted it would have been better if it had happened about five years ago. The majority of the risk taking was by Jeff Hardy, which in the end cost him. After a leap from what I estimate to be a twenty foot high ladder which after Matt moved left Jeff crashing to the mat with his lower spine area first – Matt then put Jeff’s head through the opening of a steel chair and hit the Twist of Fate. He then pinned what looked like a broken Jeff for the victory.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Intercontinental Championship Match
Champion JBL vs. Rey Mysterio
JBL attacked Mysterio before the match started. Once the ref rung the bell Mysterio hit JBL with a flurry of offense. First an Insaguri, then a 619, and finally a Frog Splash from the top rope, and the three count. In the end it took him just 21 seconds to become the new champion.
Winner and New Intercontinental Champion – Rey Mysterio
After the match JBL grabbed a mic and continued to talk. Only this time all he could say was “I Quit!” So it sort of made one of my more unlikely random predictions come true. Rey Mysterio has indeed retired JBL for a second time!
After an elaborate couple of entrances it was time for Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker
This match was to borrow a phrase from Christian – an Instant Classic! It lasted about 32 minutes from bell to bell, and included:
1 Figure-Four Leg Lock;
1 Crossface Submission;
1 Hells Gate Submission hold;
5 Attempted Sweet Chin Musics (3 Missed, 2 Connected);
2 Attempted Last Rides (1 Blocked, 1 Completed);
4 Attempted Choke Slams (3 Blocked, 1 Completed);
4 Attempted Tombstone Piledrivers (2 Blocked, 2 Completed);
2 Top Rope Elbow Attempts Shawn Michaels hit one, The Undertaker missed one
2 Backwards Moonsaults (Neither worked well)
1 Use of the word “Infreakinpossible” by The King
The Undertaker caught Michaels as he attempted his second backwards Moonsault off the top rope and hit the Tombstone Piledriver and got the pin. The Undertaker is now 17-0. I wonder if he has three more Wrestlemania appearances in him. I mean I know he won’t be wrestling full-time that long, but why not come back each year for Wrestlemania till he gets it to 20-0?
It was an incredible match. I highly recommend you find a copy of it and watch it.
Triple Threat Match
Champion Edge vs. The Big Show vs. John Cena
Oh yay, the match starts off with Vickie Guererro in a wheelchair being pushed by Chavo to ringside. Cena’s entrance was a bit streange. It started with probably about a hundred guys dressed like Cena lining the ramp and awkwardly doing the “You Can’t See Me” hand wave endlessly as Cena came down the ramp.
This match wasn’t all that exciting, which I expected, and is why I had it listed as being before the Undertaker-Michaels match. In the end Edge was on Show’s back with him in a sleeper hold, Cena came in and picked them both up for the Attitude Adjustment aka The FU. Edge jumped off, Cena dumped Show to the mat, then picked Edge up for another. Cena then pinned Show to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Winner and New Heavyweight Champion of the World – John Cena
After a segment honoring the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame inductees which included Stone Cold riding his four wheeler around the ring, and drinking a few beers in the ring, outside the ring, and even one with J.R.. . . it was time for out main event.
WWE Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton
Note: If Triple H is disqualified or counted out he WILL lose the title.
Two minutes into the match Orton had hit the RKO, and Triple H had hit the Pedigree. Halfway through the match Triple H setup the announce tables so he could Predigree Orton on them. Orton instead flipped Triple H onto the Spanish announce table. Rather than leave him out there to be counted out Orton went out to DDT him with his feet on the announce table, driving his head into the floor. Triple H got back in the ring at the nine count.
At this point Orton began stomping on him repeatedly. The ref got taken out, first inadvertently by colliding with Triple H, then Orton threw H into him again. Orton then went out to get the sledgehammer, but Triple H landed a hard hard punt kick to Orton’s head as he climbed into the ring. The Game then connected with the sledgehammer to Orton’s head, he then dropped it behind the ring apron so the ref would have no clue. After endlessly pounding on Orton’s head The Game hit another Pedigree and went right into the three count.
Winner and Still the WWE Champion – Triple H
One last results note: Carlito and Primo Colon defeated John Morrison and The Miz to unify the World and WWE Tag Team championship belts. however this match occurred prior to the start of the live broadcast.
As for my predicitons as well as the order of the matches predictions -
I said it would be Colons win.
Christian or Kane wins
Rey Mysterio wins … I even made note that he might retire JBL for a second time!
Piper defeats Jericho
Trish Stratus or Lita wins 25 Diva Battle Royal – which as we know now neither participated unfortunately.
Jeff Hardy wins
John Cena wins
The Undertaker wins
Randy Orton wins
My predictions for the order were pretty close as it was Colons, MITB Ladder Match, 25 Diva Battle Royal, Legends Handicap, Extreme Rules, Intercontinental title, Undertaker – Michaels, Triple Threat, and of course WWE title main event. so as you can see I only put the Intercontinental title match too early, and switched spots with Undertaker-Michaels match and the Triple Threat.
Now as for my results picks -
Correct – Colons win, Mysterio wins AND retires JBL, the Undertaker wins
Incorrect – Everything else. Although I did give C.M. Punk a small chance of victory.
Also you may have noticed I mentioned Batista near the end of my preview post. All I will say is – more on Batista later.
All in all it was a great show. $55 worth – probably not quite.
Best Match: Undoubtedly The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – This will go down as one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all-time.
Worst Match: Probably the Carlito and Primo Colon match vs. John Morrison and The Miz which I didn’t get to see even though it was advertised. This is most likely due to my total dislike of Morrison and Miz though. Of the matches I saw the worst one was probably either the Diva match, or the Triple Threat.
The Diva match was nothing more than a gimmick. (GASP, I know imagine that the WWE throwing up a gimmick for Wrestlemania.) It was clear the divas of the past were mainly there because they were invited and offered what was a probably a pretty big paycheck. Notice they were 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th out of the match with only Molly Holly and Victoria going further than that. (14th and 18th respectively).
Lets have a real Divas Battle Royal with the women who can actually wrestle well. My lineup would be; Lita, Gail Kim, Trish Stratus, Michelle McCool, Torrie Wilson, Victoria, Molly holly, Beth Phoenix, Melina, Maria, Kelly Kelly, Mickie James, Natayla, Sable, a couple from TNA, and I am sure I am forgetting some. I think my match would be much more impressive.
What do you think?
