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The Official Wrestling Thread (now with more news and stuff)
Arcademan:
(3) BAYLEY vs. CHARLOTTE vs. NIA JAX vs. SASHA BANKS WWE Raw Women's Title match Elimination Rules
Bayley came out first followed by Sasha, Jax, and Charlotte. Jax caught Charlotte diving at her and shoved her into the corner. All the women went after Jax early, but she fended them off rather easily. Saxton said this is the story of her career complete total domination. Jax sit splashed Bayley in the corner. Charlotte distracted Jax, which gave Bayley an opening to roll to the floor where Banks had been for a while already. Jax then knocked Charlotte off the ring apron onto Bayley and Banks at ringside. All three women returned to the ring, and Jax told them to bring it on. They did, and they triple powerbombed her off the top rope and piled on top of her to pin her. She was eliminated, so it was down to Charlotte, Banks, and Bayley.
Charlotte offered a high-five, but Bayley and Sasha wouldn't. Charlotte bailed out to the floor and told them to fight instead. They decided to, but quickly Charlotte yanked Bayley to ringside by her foot. Banks then flip dove over the top rope, landing by mistake on Bayley. Graves said it was intentional and told Graves one day he'll figure it out. Charlotte then hit both with a corkscrew moonsault. They replayed it in sl0-mo. Graves said it was a work out of art and should be in a museum. Charlotte went for Natural Selection, but Sasha countered into a Bank Statement. Charlotte fought free and gave Sasha a back-breaker for a two count. Sasha took over with running knees in the corner. Then she dove with the knees onto Charlotte off the top rope and scored a two count. She applied a Bank Statement. Charlotte struggled to escape by standing and lifting Sasha. Sasha countered into a roll-up, but Charlotte pushed out of it and shoved Sasha into a partially exposed turnbuckle for the three count.
It came down to Bayley vs. Charlotte. Bayley avoided a moonsault, then scored a two count on Charlotte. Bayley leaped off the top rope, but Charlotte caught her and slammed her into the mat. Then she applied a figure-four and shifted into the signature Figure-Eight. Bayley grabbed the bottom rope to force a break. Charlotte hung Bayley upside down in the corner, then worked on her left knee with stomps. Bayley back body dropped Charlotte off the top rope, but was still stuck up there hanging upside down afterward. Bayley eventually shifted out of that position and leaped on Charlotte with a top rope elbow for a three count. She sold her knee afterward. She clutched the title belt on the mat as her music played. She stood up crying and held the belt high in the air. Charlotte caught her breath at ringside.
WINNER: Bayley at 12:45.
(Keller's Analysis: Good match. I liked how they protected Jax by having her lose only because three others teamed against her. Then they had some good action, although it was just jam packed into 12 minutes, so not enough time to really tell a great story. But overall, definitely acceptable.)
Arcademan:
(4) KARL ANDERSON & LUKE GALLOWS vs. SHEAMUS & CESARO vs. ENZO AMORE & BIG CASS ? WWE Raw World Tag Team Championship match
After the three scheduled teams were announced and in the ring, New Day came out and said a fourth team has been added. The announcer assumed it?d be New Day. But instead, the Hardys music played. They came out to the biggest pop of the night so far. Cole said it?d been almost 7 years since the Hardys have teamed together in WWE. Graves said everyone in the Citrus Bowl is in shock. The bell rang and the four-way brawl was on. They cleared the ring of all but Anderson and took it to him. The crowd chanted ?This is awesome!? Jeff hit Whisper in the Wind on Sheamus and Cesaro. ?Delete! Delete!? rang out. Then ?Welcome back!? Matt shoved everyone who tried to enter the ring with a ladder. Gallows tipped a ladder over so Jeff fell onto the top rope. Then Gallows and Anderson rammed Matt with a ladder. Cole said the Dudleys, Hardys, and Anderson & Gallows are the only three tag teams in history to win the WWE and IWGP tag team championships.
Cesaro stepped off of the ladder onto Gallows? shoulders and landed feet-first on Anderson?s chest. Cass went to work with some big boots and then played to the crowd to no reaction. They brawled at ringside. Sheamus then went at it with Gallows on the ring apron. Cesaro used the swing on Anderson as Sheamus pounded Gallows? chest over and over to the pace of Cesaro?s revolutions. Cesaro catapulted Anderson into Sheamus, who powers lamed him. Cesaro then gave Cesaro a 619 on the ring apron. Cole said the tag team titles haven?t changed hands since WM17 when Edge & Christian beat The Dudleys and the Hardy Boyz in a TLC match.
After several minutes out of the picture, the hardys got back into the mix. Jeff went for a dive off the middle rope onto a crowd at ringside, but Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick. He landed on a crowd at ringside. A ?Brother Nero? chant broke out. Sheamus and Gallows climbed a ladder and each grabbed at the red belts hanging above the ring. Enzo tipped the ladder over, although it took some real effort. When Enzo climbed the ladder, Cesaro and Gallows made sure that didn?t happen. Sheamus and Gallows tumbled to the floor. Enzo was left on the ladder and reached up for the belts. Anderson raced up to stop Enzo. He knocked him down. Cesaro and Sheamus went for a Crucifix on Anderson, but Gallows intervened. Matt gave a Twist of Fate to Gallows. Anderson threw him out of the ring, then climbed a ladder. Sheamus and Cesaro were KO?d on ladders bridged at ringside. Hardy gave Anderson a Twist of Fate off the ladder. Jeff then climbed to the top of the giant ladder at ringside. He leaped at Cesaro and Sheamus. The ladder broke under Cesaro. Matt then climbed the ladder and grabbed the belts to win. The crowd erupted as Cole declared they are seven-time champions. ?That has to be one of the greatest WrestleMania Moments ever,? said Cole. ?The Brother Hardys are back!?
WINNERS: Matt & Jeff Hardy to capture the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships. (***)
(Keller?s Analysis: A lot of fans who knew to chant ?Delete!? were also aware that they might be arriving today or later this week. The Hardys threw some red herrings out there to try to throw people off. The way it was done was a clever swerve in that it seemed New Day, without a match and only hosting duties, teased they had been added. So the Hardys music was, to many, a double-surprise. Well done. The Hardys did their thing and looked the part, not just a nostalgia act. The Hardys didn?t take over the entire match, and all the teams had their moments. Good match, and Cole added a lot to the moment by seeming genuinely excited himself. The Hardys have a lot of ways to make money for WWE the next couple of years if they can work together that long. It could be a fun journey. If you?re a Smackdown fan, pin your hopes on Shinsuke Nakamura, I suppose.)
Arcademan:
(5) JOHN CENA & NIKKI BELLA vs. THE MIZ & MARYSE
Miz and Maryse came out first. They had other announce teams from around the globe introduce themselves on camera. Then Nikki and Cena came out separately. Cena sprinted to catch up to Nikki. Cena ran full speed and slid into the ring. Roker was, as expected, awful at ring announcing and also totally unselfaware of the fact. Nikki and Maryse began, but Maryse tagged out before a lock-up. Lawler said he got a kick out of the Total Bellas spoofs. Lawler said he's surprised Miz and Maryse's marriage has lasted this long because it not typical for Hollywood marriages. Lawler said people didn't expect it to last long because at their wedding they were throwing Minute Rice. Miz stomped away at Cena early and then played to the crowd. Maryse slapped Cena after Miz broke a sleeper against the ropes. Miz taunted Nikki.
Miz got a sustained beatdown on Cena. Lawler said he doesn't believe things are great between Miz and Maryse. He said it's a big front and a big show. He said he heard the other morning Miz asked for breakfast in bed and Maryse told him to go sleep in the kitchen. JBL said Miz is the modern day Gregory Peck. Lawler said the fifties want his reference back. Miz gave Cena a DDT for a near fall. Miz threw a barrage of round kicks at Cena's chest as the crowd chanted Yes! with each kick. JBL said Miz does that better than Bryan did. When Miz taunted Nikki with a You can't see me hand save, Nikki slapped Miz. Cena then knocked Miz to the floor. Cena crawled over to Nikki and gave her a hot-tag. Nikki tackled Maryse. Maryse bailed out to the ringside to regroup with Miz. Nikki dove through the ropes, but hit Miz instead of Maryse. Nikki KO'ed Maryse with a forearm. Cena then entered and gave Cena a side slam. They played to the crowd before doing the You Can't See Me routine. Then they dropped five knuckle shuffles. They scored stereo pins with a Rack Attack and Attitude Adjustment combo.
WINNERS: Cena & Bella.
(Keller's Analysis: The match itself was a virtual night off for Cena, and even more so for Nikki. It was what it needed to be, though, because it was just filler for what was coming next.)
-Cena grabbed the mic afterward and looked over at Nikki. He said, This is what you wanted over a year ago. You broke your neck and you did everything you could to come back because you wanted a WrestleMania Moment. He said how proud he is of her. He said after she went into surgery, he said there'd be a time she'd be a little loopy and she'd given him an honest answer and she wouldn't remember what she talked about. He said not a week went by when she didn't ask what happened and he promised to eventually tell her when the time was right. He said right as they were wheeling her into the E.R., she was glassy eyed. He leaned in and asked if she could hear him. She said yes. He said, Well, I have only have one question. He said, Do you know one day I'm going to marry you. And she said yes. I just need you to say yes one more time. He reached into his pocket and got on his knees and showed her the ring. His voice quivered as he said he has been waitiing so long to ask her this. Will you marry me? She nodded and said yes and hugged him. The crowd was mic'd odd during this as only some localized screeches from a girl could be heart. She put on the ring and hugged John. They exchanged some private off-mic words. Then they kissed. They went to ringside and hugged some family members.
Arcademan:
(6) TRIPLE H vs. SETH ROLLINS
Triple H's ring entrance this year was one of the anticipated moments of the show. He rode to the ring with Stephanie McMahon behind him on a motorcycle led by a parade of motorcycles with sirens in front of him. Clever way to avoid walking to the ring like a real man (or running like Cena did). Stephanie looked like Lita. Cole said this is Triple H's 21st match at a WrestleMania, second only to Undertaker. He said his debut was in 1996 and he'd missed just one with a torn quad at WM23. Next out came Seth. he carried a torch to the ring. I appreciate the product placement. Seth took it to Hunter at the start, overwhelming him with punches. Seth kicked Triple H into a ringpost at ringside a minute in. Cole said it's non-sanctions and pretty much anything goes. Hunter dragon screw leg whipped Seth from his good knee. Then they tumbled over the barricade to fight in the WWE Universe in Orlando. Now we know where the WWE Universe is located, apparently. Boy does that always sound stupid. Graves said Seth has been battling a 103 degree temperature the last three days. He clew at Triple H with a springboard clothesline off the ringside barrier. He eyed Stephanie, who was at ringside for Hunter. Hunter grabbed Seth's leg mid-air as Seth flew at him off the top rope. Seth hit Hunter with an enzuigiri. Hunter rolled to the floor. Seth did a running dive and tackled Hunter. He did it again. Not much crowd reaction. They're at the five hour mark since the Kickoff Show began. Half of them have been there that long. It's 75 degrees and not sunny.
Seth set up a Pedigree on an announce table. Hunter countered with a DDT. Triple H hit Seth with a chair on his bad knee. Hunter dropped a knee on the back of Seth's knee, then threw him back into the ring. Hunter settled into a leglock on the mat. Seth went for a sunset flip off the top rope. Hunter held on. Seth landed hard and clutched his knee. Graves said that's the same move that first injured his knee in Europe that caused him to miss WrestleMania 32. Seth tried to powerbomb Hunter off the top rope, but his legs gave out. Hunter stood over him and then set up a Pedigree. Seth blocked it and gave Hunter a buckle bomb. He went down clutching his knee. Seth got up and whipped Hunter into the corner and Hunter spilled over to the floor. Seth then dove off the top rope. Seth scored a two count after a Falcon's Arrow.
Hunter made a comeback and methodically beat down Seth and worked over his knee. He put Seth in a figure-four at ringside. When Seth escaped, Hunter produced a sledge hammer. When he entered the ring, Seth punched Hunter until he dropped it. Hunter gave Seth a knee to the face and a clothesline. Seth did a 360 bump. Stephanie yelled to Hunter, Twist his knee off. A Let's go Rollins! chant started. Hunter grabbed the sledgehammer. Seth hit Hunter with an enzuigiri. Seth then picked up the sledgehammer. Steph yanked it away. Hunter then surprised Seth a Pedigree for a believable near fall. Hunter set up a top rope Pedigree, but Seth backdropped out of it. He then climbed to the top rope and hit a Phoenix Splash for a near fall. Cole said that's something you'd see on 205 Live. Saxton put over how gutsy Seth has been. Hunter went for another Pedigree, but Rollins escaped and set up a Pedigree. Hunter backdropped out of it. Seth landed hard and sold knee pain again. Hunter then set up a Pedigree, but Rollins countered with is own attempt. Hunter gave Seth a forearm to the knee. Steph stood on the ring apron and held Seth by his throat. Seth moved and Hunter almost hit Steph. Seth then shoved Hunter into Steph, who went crashing off the ring through a table below. Seth then gave Hunter a Pedigree for the win. Cole called him a King Slayer! Graves said Hunter's kingdom is burning and Seth holds the torch.
WINNER: Seth Rollins at 25:50. (***1/2)
(Keller's Analysis: Okay, if that was there main event of a three hour PPV, that'd be a fitting main event. For an event where half the fans have been there for five hours already, and just about everyone for over four, with a live music performance and four more matches to do, that was excessive. Just get to the point faster given the situation, especially since poor Seth was suffering from a 103 degree fever the last three days. In any case, there was a lot good in that battle. The finishing sequence is intriguing. Does plant a seed of a storyline divide with Steph and Hunter since her attempt to interfere cost him the match? Or was that just an out for Hunter to lose as he showed concern for his wife's well-being? They told the story of working over Seth's knee. It got repetitive that Seth would do a big move, sell his knee in pain, do a big move, sell his knee in pain. Yet he kept getting up to do another big move. The crowd was into at the end, but live reports indicate they were dead for a lot of the body of the match. Cut this down by ten minutes and it's a better match and better for the show.)
Arcademan:
(7) BRAY WYATT vs. RANDY ORTON WWE Championship match
Bray came out first. Then Orton. The walk to the ring was so long, they seemed to play Orton's song on a loop three times. The bell rang to start this 32 minutes into the fourth hour of the show, not counting the two hour Kickoff Show. So over five-and-a-half hours deep since the Kickoff Show started. Randy went for an early RKO out of nowhere. Bray leaped to ringside. Orton went right after him. They exchanged strikes at ringside. Orton threw Bray into the ring. Bray caught him with a forearm and then a running headbutt to the chest. Bray bent over backwards. The camera showed the action from overhead. They projected maggots on the ring surface. The crowd got all grossed out and let out a collective Ewwww! JBL said he's never seen anything like that in his life. Otunga said Bray's been different since Orton burned down ?he place that houses Sister Abigail's ashes. They won't say compound or shed or anything. It's just that place. Bray methodically beat up Orton. He bent over backwards again and the ring filled with earthworms crawling through dirt. Orton acted creeped out again. Bray pounded on the back of Orton's head with elbows, then yelled out, I am a god! He hit a senton for a two count.
JBL said Orton was as fired up on his way to the ring as he has ever seen him, but the images of the worms and the psychological warfare has taken him out of it completely. JBL said the place is in shock, noting the silence in the stadium. Orton rolled out of the ring and took a breather. Bray rolled out the other side and jogged at him with a running clothesline. Orton gave him an RKO out of nowhere at ringside. Back in the ring and waited for Bray to stand, and he went for the running punt. Bray avoided it and went for Sister Abigail. Orton blocked it and landed a DDT off the second rope. Orton pounded the mat and then charged at Bray, but Bray gave him Sister Abigail. Orton kicked out. Just silence afterward. Now we had a ring full of some sort of bugs. Randy didn't seem to notice, which made it even sillier. Bray pounded on Orton methodically with forearms, but Orton hit an RKO out of nowhere for the pin. They cut to a shocked fan. Or else he's frozen in fear from those creepy bugs.
WINNER: Orton to capture the WWE Championship at 10:30. (**1/2)
(Keller's Analysis: I don't know what to say. The match was what I expected, but worms and bugs were an added bonus? It works in the sense that this whole feud has been about nonsense spookiness, so why get serious now? When someone at WWE HQ said, Wouldn't it be neat if... that person should have been shot down immediately and moved to new division.)
(8) GOLDBERG vs. BROCK LESNAR (w/Paul Heyman) WWE Universal Title match
Lesnar ran the ropes after he arrived in the ring and his music stopped. Then Goldberg's music played. The crowd seemed fatigued. A weak Goldberg chant fizzled quickly. Someone knocked on his door, and Goldberg came out of his locker room. He walked too the ring with the belt around his waist. He looks the part. More gray in the beard, but he looks badass. He walked the whole way to the ring. They should have had the champ come out first in this match, of all matches, so Goldberg could rest up a bit. Heyman insisted on introducing Brock, yanking the mic from JoJo. When Jo Jo got to Goldberg, the crowd booed with whatever little energy they had left. Lesnar sidestepped a spear and gave Goldberg a German Suplex. And two more. Goldberg popped up and speared Lesnar into the bottom rope. Lesnar staggered to his feet and ate another spear. Lesnar rolled out of the ring. Goldberg snuck around the ring and went for a third spear. He speared Lesnar into the time keeper's area through the barricade. Both were slow to get up. Goldberg was selling convincingly. Back in the ring, Goldberg signaled for a Jackhammer. Lesnar countered into an F5 attempt. Goldberg escaped and hit a spear again. Lesnar struggled to stand. Goldberg seemed to be handling the cardio well so far. He set up a Jackhammer and landed it. Lesnar kicked out. Goldberg looked down at him in shock. Heyman pounded the mat as the crowd woke up and cheered. Goldberg waited for Lesnar to stand and set up a spear. He charged, but Lesnar leapfrogged him. Goldberg's head might have caught Lesnar's knee. Lesnar then took Goldberg back to Suplex City. Sexaton said he's trying to make Goldberg a permanent member. After five more, Lesnar staggered to his feet and delivered a ninth overall. The crowd chanted for Tye Dillinger. Lesnar delivered. Then he gave Goldberg an F5. Cole said Lesnar has finally exorcised his demons.
WINNER: Lesnar to capture the WWE Universal Championship. (**)
(Keller's Analysis: That was a best case scenario for this match. Goldberg pulled off the moves well. Neither was asked to do anything they weren't able to do or that the fans weren't in seeing. It delivered Suplex City and some teases of finishers, a bit spot at ringside, and then more of the same in the ring leading to the logical finish. Had Goldberg not been so vocal about regrouping and reassessing after WM, the outcome might have been a bigger mystery.)
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