Super hot stadium crowd in Detroit and a fresh matchup in the main event that wasn't the original plan but was far more acceptable to the IWC and wrestling fans in general. However, HBK-Cena was in a fight for match of the night honors.

Enjoy

Wrestlemania 23: All Grown Up

From Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on April 1, 2007

Hosted by Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Michael Cole and JBL

World Championship: Batista vs. The Undertaker

Short-form storyline – Undertaker won the Royal Rumble, he chose to face Batista. There’s more to this then that, but it’s not really important at this moment is it? Nice pop for Big Dave. I’m not sure if he was a heel or a face or just a guy at this point. I must say though, I did the current heel Batista. Not sure why the champion is entering first, but whatever. I liked the Ford Field layout though. The wrestlers had an entrance to get to the entrance ramp giving them more time for fanfare. Yay the druids have returned! I hit fast forward.

Batista catches Undertaker right as the bell ring with a spear and quickly goes to work. Undertaker rallies back with rights and lefts and Batista comes right back with shoulders. Crowd not feeling Batista anymore but Big Dave drops Mean Mark with a clothesline and then clotheslines him over the top. Naturally Undertaker lands on his feet. So they brawl on the floor and with Batista getting the upper hand and whipping the Understand over the ring steps. Back in the ring Batista climbs to the top rope and hits the shoulderblock for two. Not a normal move for Big Dave. Batista runs into the big boot but bounces off of it and hits a clothesline for two. They continue to slug things out with Batista maintaining a favorable spot. Big body slam from Batista but Undertaker blocks the boot with an uppercut. They slug it out again and finally the Undertaker takes control. He rocks Batista with two corner clotheslines. Snake eyes and the running boot keep things rolling for the dead man. A beautiful legdrop gets a two count and Undertaker is going to the take it to the old school. Chokeslam city but Batista separates Undertaker’s hand from his throat. That’s a cool visual. Knee by Batista but Undertaker comes right back with the flying lariat for two. Undertaker knocks Batista through the ropes and follows him right out. Batista goes head first into the ring steps and the Undertaker hangs Batista off the ring, drops and elbow and then a legdrop to turn the champion into a quivering mass of jelly. With Batista still groggy the Undertaker pulls out the top-rope hands-free plancha! Mean Mark is feeling it tonight. It really is an impressive move for a man his size. Undertaker rams Batista’s head in the barricade. Undertaker breaks the count and that gives Batista time to recover and send the Undertaker into the timekeepers table. Batista follows in with some ground and pound. Batista is rearranging some furniture. Not sure which announce table they are on, I think the RAW table and Batista gives the Undertaker a running powerslam through the ECW table. Batista stays on top of his challenger and tosses him into the ring. Pinfall attempt gets two. Ooo Big Dave said a dirty word there. More ground and pound from Batista and another two count. Batista goes for the Animal bomb but Undertaker backs him into the corner. Batista counters a corner whip and gets a beautiful belly to belly suplex. Wow, someone’s been digging into the moveset. Batista corners the Undertaker and gives him the ten punches in the corner but the Undertaker stands up and takes Batista on his last ride. It gets two. Batista reverses an irish whip and gets the big spinebuster for two. Undertaker ducks a clothesline and its chokeslam city for two. Crowd is getting pumped. Batista slips out of the tombstone and hits the spear. He goes for the Batista Bomb and hits it! For two! BULLSHIT! Big Dave is in shock but he goes for a second one. Undertaker with a back drop counter. Batista up first and goes for another powerslam but Undertaker shoves him off in the corner and scoops the champions up for the tombstone. Rest in Peace Big Dave.

(Undertaker def. Batista, pinfall, ****, that my friends is how you execute a power vs. power match. Every move was done with bad intentions and a terrific closing sequence makes this match an easy winner. I would say it’s probably Batista’s best non-gimmick match)

WWE Championship: Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena

This is one of those times that the WWE gave the people what they wanted. Obviously HHH-Cena was penciled in for this card but HHH tore his quad in a match against Rated RKO at New Year’s Revolution. Well at the Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels was the last person eliminated (by the Undertaker) and put himself in the mix for a title shot against Cena (the RAW champion) if the Undertaker didn’t choose him. Well the Undertaker chose Batista and HBK won a match over Randy Orton and Edge to earn the title shot against Cena. They are also tag team champions (after defeating Rated RKO) but that’s just a side story. Bottom line was this matchup, however unintentional as it was, was fresh and brought me back in the wrestling fold. The real story is even simpler – Shawn Michaels had to take John Cena to a level he’d never been to before.

HBK, now in his fifth Wrestlemania Main Event, actually entered with DX music instead of his theme song. John Cena crashes a Ford Mustang through a glass barrier. The fans were clearly behind HBK in this match and this program in general. This crowd is about as hot as a stadium crowd can get. Michaels invites Cena to the center of the ring and lets him know what’s up with a slap and then gets the first knock down with a chop and adds a crotch chop. Sorry John, this crowd ain’t on your side. At all. HBK with a little wrestling sequence and a go behind, Cena reverses and misses a clothesline and Michaels gets another punching combination and finishes it with a chop. Third lockup and HBK with am arm wringer as the crowd tells Cena how much he sucks. Side headlock and HBK takes it to the ground. Cena fights his way back to his feet and Michaels takes him down again. Cena gets the best of a rope sequence with a huge clothesline that sent Michaels flying. HBK gets up and is dropped with a shoulder but HBK gets a Thesz press and goes into the ground and pound. Cena tries to knock HBK over the top but Michaels stays on the ring apron, hangman on the champion and Michaels hip tosses him to the arena floor. Nasty chop by Michaels and an enziguri sends Cena laying on the table. Michaels is feeling it and hits the springboard moonsault onto the table. Looks like Michaels took the brunt of the bump there. Back in the ring and Michaels lays in the Texas violence, he adds a forearm and another chop. Cena tries to catch HBK with a boot on a blind charge but Michaels blocks it and hammers the knee. Oh boy, Michaels is ready to take Cena into surgery and spends no time going after the knee with a post wraparound. Cena tries to fight back but Michaels gets the chop block and the springboard knee drop on the leg. Michaels corners Cena again and lays in a chop. Cena tries to fight back but Michaels is like an animal on the leg. Cena misses a punch and Michaels goes back to the chop block and stares Cena down while laying in some wicked born-again badmouth. Cena tries to rally again and appears to be getting the better of the challenger before finally knocking him down. But HBK runs back in with a shoulderblock. Back to the leg but Cena continues to rally with the harder punches and this time Michaels misses the shoulder block and hits head first into the ring post. Let there be blood. Let’s see if he can match the blood flow from Wrestlemania XX. Big time clothesline from Cena and a ground and pound right to the bloody face of the challenger. Flying shoulderblock and a second one from the champion. Cena adds a side slam and the five-knuckle shuffle, Michaels frees himself from the FU and hits a chop. Cena whips Michaels into the corner, sending him head over heels but Cena misses the knockout blow and Michaels cues up for sweet chin music. Cena ducks and Michaels hits the referee. Cena goes for the FU but Michaels counters it to the DDT. Michaels decides to rearrange some furniture and goes for piledriver on the steel ring steps! He hadn’t pulled that one out of the mothballs in about 10 years. It was a sweet piledriver too. Cena blades the back of his head for extra effect. Michaels rolls Cena’s dead weight into the ring but there’s no referee until a second one runs into the ring and gives him a two count. Cena has enough strength to reverse an irish whip but Michaels hits the flying forearm and gives us the kip up. Michaels scales the ropes and hits the big elbow drop. It’s time to cue up the band but Cena runs at him with a flying lariat! Nice counter. They slug it out in the center of the ring with both guys staggering, Cena catches HBK with the FU but Michaels rolls it into a sunset flip rollup for two. Michaels goes for a second Thesz pres abut Cena catches him with the FU this time – on his third attempt – of course it gets two and we fight on. Cena sets Michaels up on the top rope and goes for a top rope FU! But Michaels elbows his way out and knocks Cena off the ropes. Michaels perched on the top and gets the cross body but Cena rolls over and into another FU, Michaels flips over and misses sweet chin music and gives HBK a single leg for the STFU, Michaels fights out of that and he gets a small package for two. Michaels goes for a second enziguri and Cena wisely ducks and now gets the STFU on the challenger. Cena doesn’t exactly break on time so he and referee get into it and Michaels gets the time to recover and hit sweet chin music….for two. Both guys struggle to get to their feet and Cena goes for another FU, Michaels counters that but Cena counters back into the STFU again. Michaels in the center of the ring and has no choice but to tap out.

(Cena def. Michaels, ****1/4, very good match but it was missing…something...that kept it from being legendary. I don’t know what that was. Still it was a fresh encounter that was highly-anticipated and sometimes the simple story line of “guy who has title faces guy who wants one more shot at glory” is more than enough to sell tickets.)

BONUS MATCH~!

Battle of the Billionaires: Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley

This is a battle for Vince McMahon’s hair vs. Donald Trump’s hair and “Stone cold” Steve Austin is the special referee. Given how green both guys still were anything over 10 minutes would be overkill.

They run into the each other to start and neither budge. Then Lashley pounds away with the rights and lefts until Austin finally pulls him off. Umaga gives Lashley a boot and whips him into the corner but misses the corner splash. Lashley goes to the top and hits a top-rope shoulder for two when Armando Estrada puts Umaga’s leg on the ropes. Lashley decides to go after Estrada and gives him a Bulldog powerslam (my new name for the running powerslam after the most recognizable person to do the move) and Lashley slickly ducks Umaga’s move and he goes flying over the top. Umaga comes back with a thumb to the throat but Lashley stays on top of him until Umaga sidesteps a spear and sends Lashley to the floor. Big splash by Umaga gets two and the choke gets admonishing chop from Austin so Umaga argues and gets another choke and this time Austin grabs his hair to break the hold. The stalling gives Lashley time to rally but Umaga rocks his world with a clothesline. A springboard sit down splash from Umaga and a second one. Umaga had very good talent for a man his size. Lashley did too but he was a lot more raw. Lashley tries to rally but Umaga gets the Samoan drop. Lashley rallies again and goes for the bodyslam but Umaga falls back and they get two. McMahon on the apron and Lashley “accidentally” knocks him off. Umaga continues the assault and goes to the top rope, it doesn’t work as Lashley slams him from the top and gives him a nasty clothesline. Umaga did the somersault sell on that one. It was like 0.6 Jannetty. Stone Cold starts the double count as both men are out but Austin changes the rules and says no countout. Who’s gonna argue. Here comes Shane McMahon as Umaga comes back with a big uppercut. He hammers away at Lashley in the corner and Austin has to get involved again. Austin then has to chase off Shane and turns around and gets rocked with a Samoan Spike…well he had it coming. With Austin eliminated Shane goes to work on Lashley while Umaga hits the running ass ram. Vince grabs a trash can as Shane climbs to the top and hits coast-to-coast. Lashley might be legally dead as Shane removes him dress shirt to reveal a referee’s shirt. Umaga climbs to the top and hits the big splash but Austin pulls Shane out of the ring after the two count and beats him up. Austin gets caught with another Samoan Spike upon re-entering the ring. McMahon lays the badmouth on Austin and Trump runs around and nails the chairman with a clothesline that made Jackie Gayda cry. Austin ducks a third Samoan Spike and gives Umaga the stunner. Lashley follows with the spear and say goodbye to Vince McMahon’s “hair”.

(Lashley def. Umaga, **, saying this may have been overbooked is like saying Pat Patterson might prefer men over women. But the crowd loved it and loved the post-match antics of Vince getting shaved and Trump getting stunned even more.)

Even though I think Strikeforce is a bit of a sinking ship, JR should totally try announcing or recruiting for them rather than going back to the humiliation of WWE again.

Hey Scott -
I am setting up a free fantasy baseball league for wrestling fans...
if anyone is interested here is the link!
http://freemeeting.0.baseball.cbssports.com/splash/invite/6617/135130/387e05e044f8d1a4764c26953cf87501
Thanks!

In my fantasy the Blue Jays wouldn’t suck.

Apparently 1.0 for TNA was being generous and the actual number is 0.98.  Truly these are some genius people running things down in Orlando. 

It also has the best Wrestlemania crowd ever and a display of why Southern girls kick the most ass.

Enjoy.

Wrestlemania 22: Big Time

From the AllState Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on April 2, 2006

Hosted by Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Michael Cole and Tazz

World Championship: Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton

No roman numerals for 22. Hmmm. POD brings in Rey Mysterio just to hammer home the fact that he was going to win this match. Angle gets a big substantial pop on both ends of the spectrum. When I did watch the product it was usually an Angle match because my son liked to say “You Suck” during his ring entrance. Anything I can do to bring my family together.

Orton attacks Angle with the belt before the bell rings and knocks him out of the ring. Orton catches Mysterio on a springboard with a dropkick for two. Angle runs back in and gives Orton a german suplex, Orton blocks the second one and Angle does the double german suplex spot and gets two count on Orton. The legend killer catches Angle with that side neckbreaker for two but Angle rallies back with the belly to belly overhead. Mysterio back in the ring and he rams Angle’s head into Orton’s crotch. Crowd not liking Mysterio at all. Mysterio charges and hops Angle into a hurricanrana from the top on Orton. Angle shoots Mysterio out of the ring and gets the two count on Orton. Angle with a vertical suplex on Orton for two as the crowd chants “Let’s Go Angle”. Angle catches Mysterio with a clothesline and gets another two count. Mysterio counters a sunset flip with a round kick to the head for two. Mysterio with a whirlybird headscissors and goes for the 619 but Angle catches him with the anklelock. Mysterio taps out but Orton distracts the official with a chair forcing Angle to break and take care of Orton. Angle and Orton slug it out in the ring and Angle gives Orton a german, gives Rey a flapjack german and gives Orton another german. He’s on fire! Angle slam for Mysterio over the top rope and an anklelock on Orton and Orton taps like a little girl but Mysterio distracts the referee. Crowd not happy. Angle with the second anklelock on Orton but Mysterio drops the dime on Angle and gets two. Angle sends Mysterio into the post and goes for the Angle slam on Orton but Orton counters with the RKO and gets two. Orton’s ankle is fucked six ways from Sunday but like an idiot he tries to climb to the top anyway and Angle runs up the ropes and gives Orton the top rope belly to belly. Mysterio goes for the 619 around the post but falls off. Naturally the crowd pisses on him for it. Mysterio with the springboard senton and a roll up for two. Orton back in the ring and he kicks Angle out of the ring. Orton with a gut wrench elevated reverse neckbreaker from two. That’s a move he should still use. Orton prepares to give Rey the RKO and Angle sneaks up from behind with the Angle slam for two (!!). Angle prepares to kill Mysterio dead but Mysterio counters the Angle slam with an armdrag that sends Angle out of the ring. Mysterio dropkicks Orton in the back and hits the 619. Springboard hurricanrana into the rollup gets three and we’ve got a new champion!

(Mysterio def. Orton & Angle, pinfall, ***1/4, a total spotfest but a pretty damn good one with Angle beating the hell out of everything that moves. Great entertainment for a 9-minute match.)

WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Triple H

This is one of the earlier matchups in their series of 3,490 all won by Cena of course. There’s nothing I can say about Triple H’s ring entrance that isn’t displayed by the look of disgust on his face. As my husband quipped “Stephanie must have some serious p****.” All class that guy is. Cena’s ring entrance was a mixed bag and of course the prop (a tommy gun) didn’t work properly. Crowd is hot for…someone. I think HHH, but it’s hard to tell.

Collar and elbow with a headlock, HHH goes into the armbar and the drop toe hold and then he just lets go and slaps him on the head. All a point to make Cena look like a bitch and get the crowd to pop. He was successful on both counts. I love how Triple H is chewing gum during the match. Another lockup and HHH with the wristlock into the hammerlock and he shoves Cena off again. Totally milking this heel-leaning crowd. The “fuck you Cena” chant breaks off and Ross calls it a ‘traditional’ wrestling crowd. HHH corners Cena and lands a knee, Cena reverses the corner whip but HHH catches him with a knee on the charge. HHH charges and Cena tries to get the FU, HHH escapes and drops Cena with a right hand. HHH gives Cena another knee and tosses Cena to the floor. HHH goes to get the adoration from the crowd and Cena is about sick of the shit, runs into the ring and goes to town on the challenger. Big back body drop gets two. Two corner whips and a fisherman’s buster gets two. Cena goes to the chinlock while a small portion of the crowd chants “you can’t wrestle”, of course none of those fucks could do a fisherman’s suplex either. HHH forces Cena back into the corner but Cena fights out of it and sends HHH up and over the corner post. Cena goes to the outside and HHH thumbs him into the eye. HHH tries to give Cena a pedigree on the steel ramp but Cena reverses it to the back body drop. Still out on the floor and Cena pulls HHH back in for a sloppy cover for one. Man this crowd is on Cena’s ass like a wart. HHH rallies back with the Harley Race knee and HHH follows in with punches and a choke. HHH pulls Cena out of the ring and sends him into the ring steps. HHH pulls Cena back in the ring and gets a cover for two. Vertical snap suplex by HHH and the classic knee drop gets two. Cena tries to rally but HHH catches him with the kneesmasher and a ridiculous lariat that almost beheads the champion. It gets two of course. Reverse neckbreaker by HHH gets another near fall. Cena tries another rally but he sets too early and HHH with a swinging neckbreaker for two. HHH’s resthold of choice is a neck vice and now a neck twinge of sorts. Cena fights out of the hold but gets caught with the sleeper. Cena falls out from the hold and it almost becomes a rear naked choke. Cena fights back to his feet and rams HHH into the corner. Cena goes for the shoulders into the corner but HHH comes back with the boots, still Cena is undeterred and rocks HHH with a clothesline. Slugfest in the center of the ring and Cena rocks HHH with two more clotheslines. Powerslam from Cena and the side slam. Cena goes for the five-knuckle shuffle but HHH was playing possum and catches the champion with the spinebuster for two. Cena comes back with a shoulderblock and a second one but HHH with a second sleeper. Cena gets a back suplex to break the hold and finally hits the five-knuckle shuffle. Cena pumps it up but HHH charges, he misses a knockdown and Cena with a drop-toe hold and the STFU is applied! HHH struggles with the hold and finally makes the ropes. Cena goes for the FU, but HHH backs him into the corner, smothering the referee. HHH hits both of the low. HHH tells Cena to suck it and grabs the old trusty sledgehammer. Cena beats HHH to the punch the first time but the second time the hammer drops. HHH gets the sloooooooow two count and then a faster one. It’s pedigree time but Cena back drops HHH and hits the FU for two (!!). Cena is shocked. Cena goes to the top and whiffs on a high cross body. HHH goes for a second pedigree but Cena escapes low and slaps on the STFU in a beautiful counter. HHH is close to ropes but Cena pulls him away and HHH is dead meat. What a difference a year makes!

(Cena def. HHH, ***3/4, now THAT’s how a veteran should carry the action and put the young star over. This had super slick pacing, booking and storytelling, a great match thanks to the talents of Triple H.)

BONUS MATCH~!

WWE Women’s Title: Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James

This match sort of let you know where the crowd stood this night. And who would’ve thunk that Mickie would have come out of this as a fairly prominent star on the WWE roster? And as I watch the highlight preview package, it shouldn’t have been that much of a shock because she was absolutely into the gimmick of being Trish’s unstable biggest fan. Trish was going on about 400+ days as the Women’s champion so a switch was inevitable. I also figured Trish for a Hall of Fame induction this year given its sort of a throwaway class and they could bring her in with some star treatment.

They have a violent lockup and Mickie ties her up and slaps her in the head a few times. Trish rallies back with a Lou Thesz press and pounds away. Trish corners Mickie and lays in the quality female Canadian violence. Mickie misses a heel kick so Trish makes her split and kicks her in the side of the head. Trish with a baseball slide and Mickie falls to the floor. Trish misses the chick kick and boots the post instead. Mickie goes to town on the leg and does a wraparound on the post. Trish is trying to sell the leg on her own but can’t so Mickie dropkicks her low and gives her one of those leg DDT moves. HUGE “Let’s Go Mickie” chant starts and I’m compelled to join in because I have to stick with my Southern girls. Ross describes the crowd as “defiant” while Mickie torques on the leg using the ropes for assistance. Mickie with a knee smasher to the mat and single crab, Mickie adds to the hold by pulling the hair and lays in some psychotic badmouth. That’s a heel! Mickie continues the punishment on the leg by elevating the knee on the second rope and using the old Flair springboard sitdown. This is pretty good stuff actually. A standing leglock from Mickie and Trish fights out with a whirlybird head scissors. Trish with a couple of forearms but the fans aren’t feeling it. Big clotheslines from Trish, a second one and a spinebuster gets two. Trish with a corner whip but Mickie catches her with the boot. Mickie scales the ropes but Trish goes for the Stratusphere or something, Mickie counters and does an elevated kneesmash from the top of the ropes to the floor. Awesome. She gets two on it. Trish comes back with a inside cradle for two. Trish with a running powerbomb for two (!!). Pissed off Trish with some ground and pound. Mickie tries to hit a flying cross body but Trish does her bridge escape. Trish goes for Stratusfaction but Mickie counters with some vaginal groping and does a “V-lick” to the joy of this crowd. I feel like a voyeur right now. Mickie goes for Stratusfaction but it’s botched horribly so they don’t rehash the spot and the Mick kick unceremoniously finishes thing. Really botched finish ruined an otherwise cool exhibition.

(Mickie def. Trish, pinfall, ***1/4, I loved this match because it actually had wicked psychology with Mickie giving Trish all kinds of wicked head games and Trish not able to overcome them. And of course Southern girls rule!)

Hang on, my parentheses got away from me there.

OK, so it’s that time of year again when I begin doing the WM reposts en masse, which raises the question:  Are there any left that need redoing particularly badly?  Here’s my running tally of what’s been done:

1:  Done multiple times, pretty much definitive now.

2:  Done recently, no desire to do it again.

3:  Done definitively off 24/7.

4:  I’ve said everything I want to say about this show.

5:  Done recently off 24/7.

6:  Done recently off the Anthology DVD.

7:  Ditto.

8:  Done multiple times.

9:  Done recently off the Anthology DVD.

10:  Possibly.

11:  Done shortly after Bigelow’s death.

12:  Done recently enough that I don’t think it needs a redo.

13:  Ditto.

14:  Ditto.

15:  My ultimate Russo hate-rant and I don’t want to ruin it by redoing it while calm.

16:  Done recently off the DVD.

17:  Did it last year.

18:  Possibly.

19-25:  All done in what I consider my “modern era” where my writing style matches up with how I write now and I probably don’t need to redo them.  Is there any desire for these shows?  Maybe 19, but definitely not anything later, I’d say.

So by my count, that’s maybes for 10 and 18, and maybe 19. 

Thoughts?

MICHAEL'S IMPACT REVIEW #10

MARCH 8, 2010

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - THE IMPACT ZONE

-  Feels good to get to flip back and forth like it's 1998 again.  Let's cross the line.

-  New TNA Impact Video to start; your hosts are Mike Tenay and Taz.

-  Two minutes in and we already have multiple shots of Dixie Carter, marking out.  Abyss is rocking new all black attire with his insignia on his back in red and yellow.  Hogan has the mic.  Fans are SUPER amped in the Impact Zone tonight.  Hogan is filibustering about how AJ and Flair are going down.  Hogan wants them out to the ring now.  So it looks like....

1.  Abyss and Hulk Hogan vs.  AJ Styles and Ric Flair

-  This may be a smart move.  If this match shits the bed, them at least we have it out the way.  AJ is sporting his old short tights.  Abyss goes after AJ and AJ fights back with kicks and shops.  AJ ducks a couple of clotheslines and runs into a press slam throw across the ring.  Flair tags in.  Flair chops Abyss and Abyss no-sells.  Abyss now chops Flair and big back body drop.  Ref has his back turned and Flair connects with a low blow.  AJ covers Abyss's head with the robe and hammers away.  Hogan has enough and nails Flair.  AJ with a PELE KICK on Hogan.  AJ and Flair hammer away on Hogan and Abyss and the lights go out.  It's STING!!  Sting stands between AJ and Flair and Hogan and Abyss.  Sting nails Abyss and Hogan with the bat!!!!  Abyss is stood up and takes another bat to the gut and AJ kills Abyss with the chair.  Hogan is up and Flair gingerly cracks Hogan to the head and Hogan blades on camera.  Security out now and AJ and Flair leave.  Brooke Hogan is shown and seems very upset.  Hogan grabs the mic.  He spits blood all over the camera and says they will finish this match tonight, brother.  Later on, the match will re-start, NO DISQUALIFICATION!  As for this match; the time was 3:02 at a NO-CONTEST.  (DUD) We'll be right back.

-  Back on TNA and we see what happened before the break.  Backstage we see Sting walking toward Dixie Carter.  He pushes her against the wall and tells her "he owes her nothing".  Now we see JB with AJ Styles and Ric Flair.  AJ says there are no do-overs in wrestling.  But, they will own them one more time tonight.  Flair is getting fired up.  He turns redder than Wahoo McDaniel (that's not racist, is it?) and says he will make a statement tonight.  He says, "if you wants blood, guts, and glory; you dial Ric Flair."  Now we cut to Abyss wiping the blood off his head yelling "WHY STING?  WHY?!?".  We'll be right back.

-  Back on TNA.  We see Brooke Hogan talking to Hogan's girlfriend, Jennifer.  She is upset because she knows what Hogan is capable of.

-  In the ring, we have Kazarian.  He says that he walked away from TNA 2 years ago because of doubt in himself.  The doubt is gone and we wants to re-ignite the X Division.  Crowd pops for the X Division.  Enter Daniels.  Is it bad that I forgot about him?  Daniels says he will lead the X Division into battle.  He says he was X Division 10 years before it was cool.  He wants to carry the X Division alone.  Enter Doug Williams.  He calls Kaz and Daniels old geezers.  USA chants erupt.  Really?  Kazarian asks Williams where he was 7 years ago when they were pioneering the X Division.  Daniels takes exception to that.  Kazarian calls him a selfish prick.  Enter Eric Bischoff.  He says he will make TNA bigger, stronger, and faster.  He books Kazarian's X Division title match for right now.

TNA X DIVISION TITLE

2.  Kazarian vs. Daniels vs. Doug Williams

-  Series of nearfalls as the bell rings.  Williams eats a spinning heel kick from Daniels.  He tries the same on Kaz and Kaz holds onto the ropes.  Williams grabs Kaz and Kaz rolls him up and Daniels runs into a Northern Lights Bridge!  Double cover gets 2!  Williams and Daniels battle on the outside.  Kaz WILL FLY!  Somersault dive on both!  Daniels up and tries a whip into the post and Kaz reverses.  Williams slingshots Kaz in and hits a running knee to the face.  Williams hammers away in the corner and whips Kaz into the corner and hits a flying knee to the face.  Kaz comes back and Daniels drops him.  Daniels kicks Kaz in the face.  Daniels hits a springboard moonsault and cover gets 2.  Daniels hits a flying forearm in the corner.  DVD gets 2.  Williams on the top and Daniels meets him up; they botch a spot.  They double clothesline each other.  Kaz with a double springboard dropkick.  All men down.  Kaz up and hits Williams and Daniels with clotheslines.  Springboard elbow on Daniels and flying legdrop.  Cover gets 2.  Kaz sets Daniels up to the second rope and Daniels drops down.  Williams comes in and attempts the Chaos Theory, Daniels rolls them both up.  Only 2.  Kaz grabs Daniels with a swinging neckbreaker and gets 2.  Daniels with a standing Urinage.  BME attempted but Kaz moves.  Williams comes in and hits the CHAOS THEORY on Daniels for the win @ 6:46.  (Sucks that Kaz isn't getting his match at Destination X.  This match was great, though.  B-)  Here comes Shannon Moore.  He cleans house of Williams.  Eric Bischoff names Moore the number one contender for the X Division title at Destination X.

-  Backstage it's JB with Dixie Carter.  She books Sting in a match tonight.  We will find out who his opponent is when everybody else does.  Can I Book a match too, tonight?  Everybody else is!

MATCH FOR THE VACANT TNA KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

3.  Taylor Wilde & Sarita vs. Madison Rayne & Velvet Sky (With Lacey) vs. Tara & Angelina Love

-  Taylor and Tara start.  Taylor with a spinwheel kick and gets 2.  Sarita in and hits a springboard stunner on Tara.  Velvet tags in and gets 2.  Madison in and snapmares Tara and gets 2.  Velvet slaps Tara.  Velvet back in and double Russian legsweep gets 2.  Taylor and Sarita in and Lacey trips them both.  Double low dropkicks.  Angelina in and drops Madison.  Tara goes for the Widow's Peak and Daffney hits her with the Knockout's title.  Madison covers and gets the win @ 2:14.  We have new Knockout Tag Team Champions.  (Match would have been alright if they had more than 2 minutes.  D+.)

-  Backstage is Christy Hemme with the Pope.  Pope begins his promo on Desmond Wolfe.  In comes Wolfe with a chain and works over the Pope.  He takes Pope's boot off and makes a remark about a chain belonging on his ankle.  He whips the chain violently on Pope's ankle.

-  Now we see Sting headed to the ring.  Taz asks Mike Tenay what he was doing at 4:20 this afternoon.  RVD vs.Sting is next.

-  Back on TNA and the Beautiful People are celebrating.  Lacey wants to know if she is a champion too.  JB brings in some champagne to celebrate.  Velvet dumps it on his head.

4.  Sting vs.  Rob Van Dam

-  Why turn Sting heel?  The fans will always mark out for him.  RVD from the crowd!  Sting turns around and eats a flying drops kick.  ROLLING THUNDER will do it in 10 seconds.  (DUD, TNA should have given them 15 or 20 minutes and let them go.)  Sting has his bat and beats RVD down with it.  Sting goes to leave and comes back in and beats RVD with the bat some more.  Fans chant "you suck" to Sting.  Sting beats up all the refs on the ramp way.  Sting comes back to the ring and beats on RVD again.  Out comes Hulk Hogan to confront Sting and he gets held back by Bubba the Love Sponge.  Sting wants Hogan to come in and continues to beat up RVD.  Hogan gets to the ring apron and security holds him back.  Sting belts RVD, AGAIN!  He grabs Hogan and catches him with one too.  Sting comes up the ramp and beats up security and clocks Hogan with the bat again.

-  Now as Mike Tenay and Taz discuss what just happened, out comes Kevin Nash and Eric Young.  Nash says he has a contract for one night only for Waltman and Hall.  Nash says it is for Designation X.  Yes, that's right; he fucked up the pay per view name.  Will the Band answer?  We'll find out on the other side of the break.

-  Back on TNA as we wait for the Band to come out.  Crowd chants "Hall is wasted; so is Pac".  Security step in to block off half the ring for Pac and Hall.  Hall calls Nash, Big Sellout.  He says that Hogan ain't running the sh-iz-ow after what Sting did to him.  He says they will beat Nash and Young and then they want full time contracts.  Eric Bischoff says that if they win, they will get their contracts.  If they don't, Pac and Hall leave TNA.  Hall says its a deal-do and he will be the one dressed like Elvis.  Waltman slaps Young and Young spears him to the mat.  Bischoff says to lock the doors and Nash and Hall leave cause...

4.  Eric Young vs. Sean Waltman

-  Waltman with lightning kicks in the corner.  Young answers with a big ass clothesline.  Young with a back body drop and rams his head into the mat.  Waltman lifted and goes over the top of Young and hits a spin heel kick.  Waltman goes for the Bronco Buster and misses.  Young hits the SPIKE PILEDRIVER for the win @ 1:11.  (For the pop that Young just got, I will have to give it at least a D.)

-  We see a US Army Hummer pull up to the Impact Zone.  Kurt Angle is also due out, next.

-  Back on TNA and some soldiers have lined the rampway as Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring.  Angle has bulked up and his "5 o'clock shadow" look makes him look bad ass.  The soldiers are surrounding the ring and Angle is calling out Mr. Anderson.  He marks out to the army, as well as the crowd.  Angle says that Anderson has spit on them, as well, when he disrespects Angle.  He calls Anderson a bitch.  Backstage we see Mr. Anderson calling the soldiers high school dropouts.  Angle blindsides him and brings him to the ring.  Anderson is up and levels Angle with the Warrior medal.  Anderson goes to leave and the soldiers make him go back to the ring where Angle beats him up.  He tosses Anderson out of the ring and soldiers get them some of Anderson.  They throw him back in and Angle tosses him out the other side of the ring and they get a few shots in on Anderson.  They toss him back in and Angle throws Anderson to the 3rd side.  They beat up Anderson and toss him back in and Angle grabs Anderson and hits an Olympic Slam.  Angle grabs a flag and his medal and the troops hoist him on their shoulders while Angle sweats away.  We'll be right back.

-  Back on TNA and Bubba the Love Sponge is talking to Hulk Hogan.  He tells Hogan to calm down.  Earl Hebner comes in wanting a second chance.  Hogan tells him to leave and BTLS tells him to give him another shot.  Hogan tells Earl if it gets too bad to take his daughter out of the Impact Zone.

-  We see Jeff Jarrett talking to James Storm.  Storm tells Jarrett that he volunteered in a match with Jarrett for tonight.  Jarrett asks him if he forgot who gave him his shot in TNA.  Storm says "sorry 'bout 'yo damn luck".  Jarrett decks Storm and Robert Roode attacks Jarrett from behind.  Mick Foley breaks up the beat down and sends them to the ring.

MICK FOLEY IS THE REFEREE

5.  Beer Money Inc. vs.  Jeff Jarrett

-  Jarrett is getting beaten up on the outside as we come back.  They get in the ring and Jarrett mounts a comeback.  James Storm catches him in a DDT.  Are B.M.I. heels now?  Jarrett's head bounces back and forth from Roode to Storm.  Storm throws Jarrett in the Eye of the Storm.  Storm takes a sip of beer and sprays Roode by accident.  Jarrett hits him with a low blow and backdrops both men out of the ring.  On the outside, DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER!  Crowd chants "you suck" at Jarrett.  Roode hits Jarrett coming back in and knocks him into the guardrail.  Foley has had enough and grabs the barbed wire bat and throws it to Jarrett.   Jarrett goes to hit Roode, but Slick Johnson grabs the bat from Jarrett.  Roode with a low blow and DWI on Jarrett will finish it @ 3:39.  (That match was a mess!!!!  D.)

-  Backstage, Hogan is talking to Abyss and Brooke walks in.  She is worried and crying.  Hogan calms her down.  Brooke wants Hulk to promise this is her match.  He says this is it.

TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT IS SPONSORED BY RENT-A-CENTER

NO DISQUALIFICATION

6.  Ric Flair & AJ Styles vs. Abyss & Hulk Hogan

-   Bell rings at 10:58 eastern and it's Hogan and Flair locking it up.  Flair chops Hogan, Hogan no-sells and whips Flair in and backdrops him.  On the outside, Hogan rams Flair in the guardrail.  Flair is busted open.  Hogan bites his forehead.  He pounds away on Flair and Flair is full pink.  Flair tries to chop and Hogan just chops him down.  He rams Flair's head into the guardrail and pounds away with more rights.  Flair flops on the rampway.  Abyss beats on Flair some more on the ramp.  Hogan takes off his weight belt and whips Flair.  Hogan gingerly stomps Flairs face and AJ steps away from his corner.  Ref has his back turned and Flair hits a low blow.  AJ tags in and stomps Hogan.  He works over Hogan's leg.  AJ stomps Hogan out of the ring.  Hogan is posted on the outside and blades on camera for the second time tonight.  Flair tags in and just bleeds everywhere.  He stomps Hogan and tags AJ back in.  AJ drops Hogan.  Flair back in and kicks Hogan in the ribs.  Flair is going up and, of course, press slammed down.  AJ gets the tag and here comes Abyss.  Abyss drops everyone.  Flair and AJ go for the clothesline but eats a double clothesline.  Abyss chokeslams AJ and Flair.  Abyss channels the Green Lantern and AJ kicks Abyss low.  AJ backdropped on the apron and slingshot Superman punch gets 2.  Abyss and Hogan HULK UP simultaneously.  Double big boots.  Hogan whips AJ into Abyss and BLACKHOLE SLAM will finish it off @ 7:57.  ()  Abyss and Hogan celebrate and out comes Desmond Wolfe.  He attacks with a chair and out comes the Pope.  AJ clips Pope and HERE COMES JEFF HARDY!!!  Hardy drops Flair.  Facebuster on Wolfe.  AJ eats a Twist of Fate.  Jeff goes up top for a Swanton Bomb and the screen goes black.  Show over.

FINAL THOUGHTS...

-  That show has me exhausted.  They had so much to set up for a pay per view; and did themselves no favors by spending 3/4 of the show hyping the main event.  The Jarrett segment had me baffled.  No set up, no reason as to why Foley was the referee, nothing.  Why they had Brooke whining to daddy about this being his last match had me confused too.  You know he will get in the ring with Sting or a six man tag is in the near future.  As for Flair and Hogan bleeding everywhere, Jesus.  Uncalled for.  Is that all Flair is good for now?  Chop, no-sell, blade job?  The show was light years ahead of the last two weeks, but as many have said:  TNA has a long way to go.  I am excited for next week, though.

Surprisingly good undercard with a ***** HBK-Angle match but some poorly executed stuff at the top of the card.

Enjoy.

Wrestlemania XXI: Wrestlemania Goes Hollywood

From The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on April 3, 2005

Hosted by Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Michael Cole and Tazz

WWE Championship: John “Bradshaw” Layfield vs. John Cena

This is my first brush with JBL as a sorta kinda main eventer. I wasn’t watching the product at this point. This was also one of the final incarnations of this particular design of the WWE title and one of the more underrated versions. But Cena had to have his spinner design so whatever. This was JBL’s ninth month as champion, which all but gave away the result of the match.

They start off with a headlock sequence and JBL knocks Cena down with a shoulder but Cena rallies with one of his own. Cena gets caught on a blind charge with a boot, however, and is knocked down again. JBL connects with fists, forearms and a decent chop. He corners Cena and kicks him square in the face. Always an effective move. JBL adds a swinging neckbreaker and a second one for two. JBL with a fairly creative rope choke and then a more traditional rope assisted camel clutch. The hangman catapult by JBL continues the assault on the throat but Cena fights back and catches JBL on a blind charge. Cena goes to the ropes but JBL catches him with a spinebuster. Reverse neckbreaker by JBL gets another two count. Another straight kick to the face and JBL lays in the boots and a big right that staggers Cena. JBL adds a big corner clothesline and a short-armed clothesline gets two at Cena gets to the ropes. Snapmare by JBL and a shoulderblock to the back by the champion. Sleeper is applied but it’s not a real good one. Still it manages to do the trick for a minute or so until Cena gets the counter with a back suplex. JBL misses another clothesline and they both get the knockout with the double clothesline. Cena tries to rally again but JBL uses leverage to sends Cena out of the ring. Swinging neckbreaker on the floor and JBL brings the action back in the ring and gets a two count. JBL sets Cena up on the ropes, almost knocks him off twice but follows up and gets the superplex. JBL rolls over and gets two. JBL scales the ropes, surely a regular part of his offense, and of course it backfires as Cena catches him with a powerslam. Crowd is sort of indifferent. Cena with another rally, a headbutt and a couple of clotheslines to get rocking. Back body drop and a flying shoulder knocks down the champion. A hip toss slam (!!) and the side slam sets up the five knuckle shuffle. He pumps up the sneakers but meets boot on a blind charge. JBL goes for the Clothesline from Goldman Sachs but misses and Cena hits the FU for the pin and the expected championship.

(Cena def. JBL, pinfall, *1/2, nothing like elevating the new star by giving him 10% of the offense.)

World Championship: Triple H vs. Batista

This match should have gotten Batista over as the next huge star in the wrestling world. But unfortunately for big Dave, The Rock was already in retirement and he had to rely on HHH to give him the rub. Motorhead brings HHH in live and I’m wondering if they even rehearsed the song ahead of time. Needless to say this all but drowns out anything Batista could do outside of entering the ring with druids (sadly that had already been done this night). Doesn’t help that Ross and Lawler are putting over HHH’s entrance to no end. They do the stare down and the people are definitely into Batista. They do a collar and elbow tie up and it’s a total stalemate. Now right away there’s the problem. Batista is supposed to be the animal. He is supposed to shove HHH right on his ass to establish his power dominance. HHH gets a side headlock but Batista knocks him down with the shoulder and HHH takes a step back. Another side headlock for HHH and Batista misses a clothesline so HHH drops him with a shoulder. HHH goes for the pedigree early but Batista shoves him off and almost gets the press slam. HHH tries to use the ref as a shield but big Dave is too quick for that and hammers away. He meets an elbow on a blind charge but HHH runs into Dave’s hand and gets beat up on some more. Big back body drop by Batista but HHH hits the Harley knee that sends Batista to the floor. Flair provides a diversion on the floor and HHH sneaks up from behind and rams Batista’s head into the steps. As Batista enters the ring HHH hits the middle rope elbow. HHH goes to the right hands and the choke. With HHH and the referee engaged in conversion Flair chokes Batista out with his sport coat. Back to the floor and HHH goes to the work on the lower back by ramming him into the ring barricade and into the side of the ring. Back in the ring and HHH drops two elbows on the back of Batista and goes to the knee drop. Crowd is solidly behind big Dave but HHH lands a forearm in the back and goes to another choke. Vertical suplex is beautifully done and HHH gets the two count. Back to the repeated knees in the back and a side backbreaker which allows Flair to cheat some more. Batista fights his way back into the ring but HHH with a hangman to send Batista back to the floor again. Back in the ring, HHH corners Batista and hammers away. Batista tries to rally but HHH hits the spinebuster for two. Second pin gets two. Third pin gets two. Reverse neckbreaker gets two for HHH as frustration begins to set in. Batista tries another rally but HHH foils that and goes for the pedigree that Batista counters with a back drop. A second back drop attempt is caught with a kneesmasher for two. HHH climbs to the top rope but gets met with a clothesline. Batista with another rally and he gets a sidewalk slam for two but a charge gets big Dave nothing but a boot. HHH goes for a corner whip but Batista reverses it and sends HHH over and out of the ring. Once out of the ring HHH turns the tide by sending Big Dave into the steps again. HHH goes for the pedigree on the steps but Batista counters and slingshots HHH into the ring post. We’ve got blood. HHH staggers around the ring and Batista catches up with him and sends him into the steps a few times. Back in the ring Batista starts hammering away with the violence and connects on a running boot to the head. Hard corner clothesline for Batista and a second one finds the mark. HHH blocks a third one but he can’t block Batista with the power moves and finally a third corner clothesline knocks HHH silly. Batista with an over-the-shoulder powerslam for two. Back out of the ring and Batista beats up Flair while HHH gets a chair. Referee stops the champion from using the chair but takes himself out of the match temporarily. Flair tries to interfere with the belt but Batista gives him a spinebuster. HHH grabs the belt, however, and wallops Batista for a near fall. HHH charges again and Batista gives him the super spinebuster. He goes for the animal bomb but HHH goes low. It’s Pedigree time but Batista just straight up blocks the hold and gives HHH a back drop slam. Batista bomb breaks HHH in half and the three count is academic. Match was saved by an excellent closing sequence.

(Batista def. HHH, pinfall, **1/2, it should have been Batista completely destroying HHH and HHH only getting advantages through all out cheating and still eventually getting his ass kicked because the point was to make Batista the big star. Instead it was 12 minutes of HHH beating the crap out of him until they remembered the original reason for having the match.)

BONUS MATCH~!

The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton

Randy Orton was deep into his “legends killer” gimmick although I don’t consider Rob Van Dam a legend. The Undertaker had another super overblown entrance.

Orton slaps Undertaker and plays a little cat and mouse game but the Undertaker gets him in a headlock but Orton fights back with a dropkick and gets a cover for a one count. Back body drop from Orton and but Undertaker drops Orton after a leapfrog. Orton reacted as if it might have been stiff. Undertaker corners Orton and punishes him but Orton avoids a blind charge and rolls Undertaker up for two. Orton goes for the RKO and the Undertaker casually shoves him outside the ring. Undertaker follows out and hangs Orton’s head off the apron to hit the legdrop. Ouch. Back in the ring the Undertaker takes it back to the old school but misses the charging boot. Orton with a dropkick that sends Undertaker off the apron and crashing into the ring barricade. Orton follows him out and lays in the blows before sending him back into the ring. Uppercut by Orton but the Undertaker fights back with three punches before Orton drops him with a clothesline and gets two. Orton sets too early off the ropes, however, and Undertaker delivers a big DDT for two. Sidewalk slam by the deadman gets another two count. Undertaker whips Orton into the corner and hits two charging corner clotheslines. Undertaker gets snake eyes but Orton catches him with a back elbow off the springboard. Nice. Orton with a chinlock and punches while in the hold. Orton is a much better personality these days but his wrestling skills were far superior in his younger days. Orton pounds away as the crowd tells him he sucks. Orton goes for a sleeper but their timing was off so Undertaker just hits him with an ugly clothesline for two. Dragon sleeper by the Undertaker. Man I didn’t know he used this move. Shows you how little I watched during this period. Orton doesn’t submit and counters the move into a DDT for two and it’s chinlock time and it becomes a rear naked facelock. Undertaker punches his way out of it but now Orton gets the sleeper but Undertaker fights out with a back suplex. Both guys are a little groggy and Orton makes a charge but eats boot. Undertaker tries to follow up but Orton gets the beautiful powerslam for two. Orton corners Undertaker and does nine of the 10-punch count but postures himself into the last ride. Orton hops over and goes for the RKO but Undertaker shoves him into the official. Ref totally oversold that bump. Another last ride attempt but Orton goes with the momentum and mounts Undertaker. Cowboy Bob Orton enters the ring and nails the deadman with the cast. Wow his arm hasn’t healed yet? He should probably get that thing checked out. It’s been about 20 years. Orton revives the ref and Undertaker kicks out of the slow count at two. Undertaker sits up and gets papa Orton a boot to the face. He goes for the chokeslam but Orton counters it into the RKO and gets a huge face pop! Undertaker kicks out at two. Oooo some fans don’t like that. Orton goes for the tombstone but that gets reverses and Orton is planted. You could count to a million. Nifty match.

(Undertaker def. Randy Orton, ***1/4, very well done on both sides. No complaints from this Princess. Oddly enough, the Undertaker should get props for giving the younger guy a legit chance to show his stuff and with that kept the crowd vastly entertained. Of course Mean Mark is going to go over because that’s what he does.)

Here's the #4 Canadian wrestler of the modern era. http://bit.ly/aMOJqW
Man, I miss me some Owen.
Thanks again for all your help,
Gordon

Everyone here should know my feelings very well, of course.

Dear Scott,
I thought I could interest you in reading my latest blog in which I blast Vinnie Mac and the WWE Hall of Fame. I know, welcome to the club.
http://scalaaz.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Brian

I think people get a bit too worked up over the Hall of Fame for what it is, but rant duly noted.