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FULL WRESTLEMANIA 24 COVERAGE: END OF AN ERA, TWO NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND MORE

By Buck Woodward on 2008-03-30 22:10:00

Backstage, Edge cut a promo about being a kid that went to Wrestlemania to see his hero, Hulk Hogan, and had his dream crushed when Hulk Hogan lost.  Edge said tonight, he would crush the dreams of those that believe in the Undertaker by ending his streak. 

They set off a ton of pyro to kick off the "second half" of Wrestlemania. 

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

The other Divas, dressed in street clothes, came out on the stage.  Snoop Dogg came out and drove a pimped out golf cart to the ring with the Divas following him on foot (or, in Cherry's case, on skates). Wow, you'd be surprised how many Divas can't dance.  I mean, Victoria is supposed to be awkward, what is up with the others?  Snoop got on the mic and lead the crowd in some "Whoo's" in honor of Ric Flair. Maria and Ashley were introduced first.  Maria looks like she belongs in a Sci-Fi movie with funky hair, makeup and outfit.  They grinded up against Snoop after entering the ring.  Santino Marella led in Maria and Beth Phoenix.  Maria had giant fans, like a old-style fan dancer.  There were giant inflatable Playboy Bunny logos on the stage. Ashley started off with Phoenix, then tagged in Maria for a double hiptoss.  Melina tagged in and Maria tossed her to the floor.  Melina was shoved back in and Maria hit a reverse splash in the corner.  Maria gave Melina a Bronco Buster.  Maria pulled Melina out of the corner for a two count.  Ashley tagged in and did a headscissors and a clothesline.  Ashley, very slowly, set up and hit a facebuster.  Melina shoved Ashley into a punch by Phoenix.  Ashley was thrown to the floor and the heel Divas beat her up and tossed her in.  Phoenix tagged in and Melina catapulted Ashley into a bearhug by Phoenix.  Melina tagged back in and Phoenix tossed Melina into a moonsault onto Ashley.  Maria broke up the pin.  Maria got a tag as Beth Phoenix tagged in.  The lights went out in the stadium.  Unfortunately, they didn't stay off.  They got spotlights on the ring, and Maria was going at it with Phoenix.  Maria hit Phoenix with a bulldog.  There was a brawl at ringside, and Maria was left along with Phoenix in the ring.  Maria had a cover, but Santino reached in to break it up.  Jerry Lawler went over and decked Santino with a right hand.  In the ring, Phoenix hit Maria with a fisherman's buster to get the pin at the five minute mark. 

Winners: Beth Phoenix & Melina.

Post-match, Santino stood over Maria, but Snoop came in and nailed Santino with a clothesline.  Snoop then started making out with Maria in the ring, to the dismay of Santino. 

A video package on the WWE Title match was shown. 

They appear to still be having some lighting issues, but the ring and entranceway is lit.   

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena.

A marching band played John Cena's music as he came to the ring first.  It was revealed that Cena won a WWE poll to predict the winner of this match.  Cena got 52%, Triple H got 40% and Randy Orton got 8%.  Cena was getting a mixed reaction.  Triple H had a more traditional entrance, as did Orton. 

Orton grabbed the belt at the bell and hit Triple H with it, since it is a no DQ match.  Orton and Cena then went at it briefly, but Triple H got back in as Cena was tossed out. Triple H took Orton to the floor and bounced his head off an announce table.  Triple H applied a sleeper on Orton.  Cena came in and lifted both men for an FU, but Triple H slid off and hit Cena in the gut with a kick.  Orton gave Triple H a side backbreaker.  Orton went back and forth, stomping both opponents.  Orton hit Cena with a kneedrop for a two count, then gave Triple H a kneedrop for a two count.  Orton went to the top rope, but Cena met him there and went for a superplex.  Triple H pulled Cena off the ropes onto his shoulders and Orton gave Cena a flying bodypress.  Cena rolled through the bodypress, and put Orton in FU position.  Orton floated out of it and into a sunset flip for two.  Triple H nailed Cena with a clothesline, then Orton nailed Triple H with a clothesline. 

Orton set up Triple H and Cena and hit a double DDT.  Orton covered Cena for a two count, then covered Triple H for a two count.  Looks like some of the lights are coming back on now.  Orton measured both men for RKO's.  Orton went for it on Cena, but Cena shoved Orton off, and Orton landed on Triple H.  Cena gave Orton the Throwback, then hit a top rope Rocker Dropper on him.  Cena went to put Orton in the STFU, but Orton crawled out of the ring.  Cena chased Orton around the ring, and Orton suckered Cena into a shove into the ringpost.  Orton got back into the ring, and Triple H ambushed him.  Triple H put Orton's leg across the middle rope and drove his knee into it.  Triple H yanked on Orton's leg.  Cena dove in, but Triple H dodged him.  Orton hit Triple H with an RKO, and Triple H rolled to the floor.  Cena grabbed an STFU on Orton.  Orton struggled towards the ropes and Triple H pulled Cena to the floor and threw him into the ringsteps. 

Triple H got into the ring and put Orton in an Indian Deathlock.  Cena came in and hit Triple H to break up the hold.  Cena whipped Triple H across the ring and Triple H floated over the top rope and to the floor.  Cena put Orton in an STFU, but Triple H got in and kicked Cena.  Cena wouldn't break the hold, so Triple H had to pry his arms off.  Triple H put Cena in a Crippler Crossface.  Cena struggled to the ropes, finally making the bottom rope to force a break.  Cena and Triple H got up and exchanged punches.  Fans were solidly behind Triple H.  Cena hit a shoulderblock and a clothesline, then a back suplex into a powerbomb.  Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop.  Cena went for the FU, but Triple H floated out and set up for a Pedigree.  Cena tripped and went for an STFU, but Triple H rolled over and kicked Cena away. 

Triple H hit a facebuster on the knee, a clothesline, and a spinebuster.  Triple H hit Orton in the leg with a chopblock as he got on the apron.  Triple H turned back to Cena, and Cena lifted him for an FU. Triple H blocked it and hit Cena with a Pedigree.  Orton ran in and kicked Triple H in the head, then covered Cena for the pin at the fourteen minute mark. 

Winner: Randy Orton. 

A commercial for Backlash aired. 

Big Show was shown in the back getting ready for his match.  A video package on Show vs. Floyd Mayweather was shown. 

Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather. Anything Goes, match can end via pinfall, submission or knockout.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are calling this one.  Big Show came out alone, in his usual wrestling attire.  Floyd came out with his posse.  He was wearing fingerless gloves, but with more padding than UFC gloves.  Fireworks went off for his entrance, and fake (at least, I assume fake) money shot out from the stage.  Floyd had long, fur and leather pants on, and sneakers.  

At the bell, Floyd circled the ring and dodged Big Show as he came towards him.  Floyd hit a series of shots to Show's midsection while Show swung in the air two feet above Mayweather's head.  Floyd hit a jab to Show's head.  They repeated the sequence, with Show moving in and Floyd hitting some jabs to the face before Show backed up.  Floyd had one of his second's get on the apron and give him a large goblet to drink from.  Big Show knocked him off the apron, then grabbed the second, yanked him in the ring, and blasted him with a chop to the chest.  

Floyd went for a punch, Show caught it, put Floyd's hand on the mat and went to stomp it, but Mayweather pulled his hand away.  Show grabbed Floyd by the throat and lifted him up, but Mayweather hit him with a punch or two, then jumped on his back and tried to choke him down.  Show teased snap maring him over the top rope, but didn't.  Mayweather kept his choke on, and the fans booed as Show predictably went down on one knee.  Show got back to his feet and broke free.  Show put Floyd on the mat and stomped on the forearm of Mayweather.  Floyd sold it like he had his arm broken.  Floyd's posse protested what Show was doing.  

Show put Floyd in a corner and chopped him hard on the chest.  The crowd chanted "One More Time".  Show stood on Floyd's back.  Floyd tried kicking Show in the gut.  Show gave Mayweather a side slam, and the crowd popped.  Show legdropped Floyd's arm, then stood on his stomach.  Floyd tried to battle back with punches to the gut, but Show headbutted him down.  Show hit an elbowdrop.  Show called for one more, and the crowd was behind him.  Floyd's seconds pulled him out of the ring before Show could hit the move.  Floyd's posse took Mayweather up the aisle, but Show gave chase and started knocking everyone down.  Show grabbed Floyd and dragged him back to the ring by his throat.  Show hit a knee to the gut and threw Floyd back into the ring.

One of Mayweather's handlers came into the ring and Show decked him.  Show lifted Mayweather for a chokeslam, but another handler came in and hit Show with a chair.  Show no sold it, and gave the handler a chokeslam.  Mayweather picked up the chair and hit Show a few times with it.  Show got back up and grabbed Mayweather by the throat.  Mayweather hit a few more chairshots.  Mayweather went to one of his downed handlers and pulled a set of brass knucks from a chain around his neck.  Mayweather nailed Show with the brass knucks.  Show started to get up on the bottom rope a bit, but was unable to get up for the 10 count, ending the match at the twelve minute mark. The crowd groaned.

Winner via knockout: Floyd Mayweather.

Coverage continued on next page.


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