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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of the Wrestlemania 34 kickoff show!
Our hosts are Renee Young, Booker T, David Otunga, and JBL. They start by welcoming us to the show, and then they run down tonight's card.
We start by talking about the Daniel Bryan/Shane McMahon vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn match, and then we go to a video package of the history between these men. We go back to the panel and JBL talks about how it was a Shakespearean fall to have his biggest moment right here four years ago, and then have it all taken away from him soon after that. Booker T thinks Owens and Zayn are going to try and hurt Daniel Bryan, and JBL agrees because he's glad he's back, but this could turn into a nightmare for both Daniel Bryan and Shane. Booker is betting on Owens and Zayn because they're hungry and Daniel Bryan could be living on borrowed time. JBL says Shane was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Daniel was retired for three years, and Owens and Zayn are fighting for their job, that'll be hard to beat because they're fighting for their lives.
Sam Roberts is outside with the fans who are chanting Rusev Day, and he says that new subscribers are getting this show for FREE FREE FREE FREE!
We see John Cena in the crowd, apparently because he couldn't get a match? He's shaking hands and taking pictures with people as JBL says he's going to break Ric Flair's record one day, but after everything he did to get on the show, he's sitting in the crowd and that has to be killing him. He may retire as the greatest of all time, but not getting the Undertaker at Wrestlemania is going to stick in his gut forever.
Renee turns the subject to the AJ Styles-Shinsuke Nakamura match, and we go to a video package of the build to tonight's dream match between those two for the WWE Title. Renee asks what it's like getting in the ring with someone you respect as much as they respect each other, and Booker T says he thinks Nakamura is stepping into AJ's house and that'll make the difference. Renee can't wait to see Nakamura's entrance, and Otunga says he thinks the artistry is part of what makes him so successful. JBL says it'll be a great entrance, but he doesn't give a damn about that because we're going to get one of the greatest matches of all time, and he thinks it's going to steal the show. JBL and Booker call this for AJ, and Otunga has it for Nakamura.
Next up, we talk about Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey against Triple H and Stephanie. We hit the video package, then Booker T says there's a lot of fanfare around Ronda Rousey, but she has to prove herself tonight in front of 70,000 people and that's a lot of pressure. JBL says Ronda is like Muhammad Ali or the Rock, because if you know UFC, you know Ronda Rousey, she transcends her business. Otunga says she's one of the baddest women on the planet, and Ronda wants to know what it means for Triple H and Stephanie if they walk out of here with a loss tonight. Booker says he wants to know what happens if Ronda loses, because she'll have to go to the back of the line. JBL says there is one Game and he and his family don't lose, so he's betting on Triple H and Stephanie. Booker lost to Triple H at Wrestlemania, so he'll agree. Renee and Otunga call it for Angle and Rousey.
Next up we talk about Charlotte Flair and Asuka, and we see a video package of Charlotte as the modern version of her father, and Asuka's road to the Royal Rumble and then selecting Charlotte as her Wrestlemania opponent. Renee asks if the streak is coming to an end, and JBL says he called when Brock Lesnar ended the Undertaker's streak four years ago, and the same thing's going to happen tonight. Carmella crashes the party and says they ought to be talking about her. She has a big plan, and JBL asks if she is cashing in tonight, and she's not sure since she'll be exhausted after winning the women's battle royal. She powders out, and JBL sends it down to ringside where Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, and Byron Saxton are on commentary for our opening match...
Andre The Giant Battle Royal
We have 30 men in the ring according to JR, and Aiden English is the first guy out, landing with an audible thump. This thing is a mass of people beating each other up. Karl Anderson tosses Konnor, and then Fandango backdrops Curt Hawkins from the apron to the floor. Goldust and R-Truth reunite, then Goldust tosses Truth as soon as he turns his back. Mike Kanellis tosses Primo Colon as Heath Slater tries to toss Victor. Kanellis goes out, and Ziggler almost goes but does the Shawn Michaels save to get back in. Shelton knocks Tyler Breeze out with a flying kneestrike, and I think everyone in the ring will have to work together to get Rhyno out, he seems to have spent too much time snacking at Heath's plastic foldout table. Victor goes flying, Dolph saves himself from elimination again as the fans chant DELETE at Matt Hardy. Dolph misses a Stinger Splash and Zack goes for the WOOWOOWOO knee, but Mojo Rawley comes out of nowhere to Pounce Zack oover the top and to the floor. Chad Gable eliminates Karl Anderson with a rolling front kick, then Titus O'Neill big boots Luke Gallows to the floor as...we take a commercial break?
Okay, we're back as the Revival tosses Apollo Crews, then work together to eliminate Shelton. Rhyno goes next, followed quickly by both members of the Revival. They're falling like flies as the Miztourage both go out next, Kane uppercuts Fandango to the floor, Corbin sends Heath to the apron and smashes him into the post to eliminate him, just picks Gran Metalik up and chucks him over the top to the floor, and Corbin and Kane face off before everyone else left in the match jumps on the both of them. Titus tries to toss Ziggler, but Ziggler lands on his feet and superkicks Titus to the floor. Goldust snaps Ziggler and Tye Dillinger over with powerslams, then Goldust gives Tye the Shattered Dreams, but Ziggler ducks down and dumps Goldust when he tries it on him. Matt does DELETEDELETEDELETE as he prepares to toss Ziggler, then he and Dillinger get into a DELETE/10 battle until Matt gives him a Twist of Fate and DELETEs him. We're down to Kane, Corbin, Rawley, Ziggler, and Hardy. Ziggler goes for a Zig Zag on Kane, but Kane dumps him and then is immediately eliminated by Corbin. Matt goes after Kane, Rawley blindsides him, and gives him a fireman's carry flapjack. Fans are solidly behind Hardy as Corbin and Rawley put the boots to him, and they prepare to toss Matt when Bray's video pops and he appears in the ring. Bray tosses Rawley to Matt who eliminates him, then Corbin gives Bray the End of Days. Corbin goes after Matt, but Matt backdrops him out and we have our winner!
Winner: Matt Hardy
Matt looks stunned that Bray helped him, but he is the winner of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Matt and Bray have a staredown, Matt thanks Bray, and they shake hands and hug as the fans chant "THANK YOU WYATT!"
Back to the panel, who is stunned at what we just saw, and we even see John Cena sitting in the crowd looking shocked as well. They run down the card as we start...the second half of the Kickoff Show!
The Kickoff Show continues on Page 2!
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