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Time for Hell in A Cell.
As we noted in the Elite, we were told the production elements for this would be "badass" and they were. They had some great videos on Edge's history before "Brood Edge" appeared in a badass entrance rising from flames on the ramp to Slayer music. He then unveiled the Rated-R Superstar and came to the ring to his traditional music.
Then, we had the return of The Demon Finn Balor for the first time in years.
All the production here was incredible and they hadn't even started the match. Just great spectacle and theater.
As we had reported last week, the traditional black Cell is here, not the red one.
They began brawling with weapons immediately. They battled outside. Edge nailed the Impaler but Balor came back with the Slingblade, almost as if he was in the zone and he wasn't hurt by the move. Balor nailed a shotgun dropkick on the floor, send Edge into a table that broke and then fall atop of him. Ouch. Balor began flinging chairs like Kevin Sullivan. Edge came back with The Killswitch. So, he's whipped out Gangrel and Christian's finishers.
A ladder came into play and Balor was smashed with it in the head. He hit it hard and was bleeding. Medical attendants began checking him as Edge tried to killed time, pulling out weapons from under the ring. Balor must have been cleared as he came back and they battled with Balor hitting a double stomp. He went for another but missed. Edge went for a spear but missed and hit the ladder. Balor rolled him up for a two count.
The fact they are still going this hard is pretty damn insane. Lots of big spots including an Impaler DDT. Balor missed a Coup de Grace off the cage, crashing through a table. Edge finally nailed a Conchairto and scored the pin. The fact Balor was able to keep going was insane. He is a tough SOB. This was one hell of a war and if this was the final Edge Wrestlemania appearance, he went out with a glorious last match.
Live, this was great. Can't wait to see the televised version.
They held the WWE Hall of Famers appearance. Can't say how much I LOVE that Andy Kaufman was honored this year. He loved pro wrestling more than anyone. Pretty cool that someone who popularized Lucha in Rey Mysterio and someone who popularized Japanese wrestling in Great Muta are enshrined the same year. Really like that finally, a referee is honored in the late Tim White as well. Plus, who doesn't love Stacy Keibler???
MAIN EVENT TIME. Does Cody indeed finish the story? Let's find out!
The first time all night I could hear the live crowd from behind the soundproof glass in the press room tonight was the fans singing for Cody. That's how loud they were. That was damn, damn impressive.
Cody hugged his family at ringside including his daughter Liberty. Lots of pyro.
He gave his weight belt, which was inscribed with every independent promotion he worked for on his journey from and back to WWE, to Brodie Lee's son.
Roman received a big entrance with five grand pianos on the stage.
This was great, GREAT theater and they haven't even gotten to the ring announcements yet.
Roman wanted to be acknowledged.
HUGE pop when the bell finally rang.
BIG TIME feel live.
They started out methodical, trying to wear the other down. Huge Cody chant as he grinded away with a headlock. Roman didn't expect to get cracked with a right hand and went to the floor. After he returned, Roman smashed him with several elbows to take control. Cody tried to change the tide with a Disaster Kick but was caught and powerbombed down for a close two count.
Roman continued to battle and beat down Rhodes. Rhodes came back with a clothesline off the aprin to the floor but was shot down again. Roman stalked him on the floor but was slammed on the ring ramp. While the referee had his back turned, Solo attacked Cody and drilled him with a chair in the ribs before Roman nailed a Driveby. Reigns drilled Cody with a sliding kick and scored a near fall. The crowd was trying to urge Cody to fight back, but Roman kept beating him down. Solo got involved again, distracting him and allowing Roman to hit a clothesline that sent Rhodes inside out.
Roman kept putting the pressure on Cody and prepared an announcers' table for destruction. He tried to piledrive Cody through a table but was backdropped through another, smashing through. Rhodes broke the referee's countout and then dragged Roman back in but was drilled in the face. Cody fired back and surprised Roman with a Scoopslam. He nailed a Disaster Kick but Roman, who sold the move like a shotgun blast, kicked up at the very last second. This is really damn great.
They battled to the floor and back but Solo snapped him with the weight belt Cody brought to ringside. The referee heard the snap and threw him out. Is that the FIRST TIME in wrestling history a referee actually heard something????? Roman went to use the belt but the referee stopped him. Cody caught Roman and then hit CrossRhodes for a CLOSE two count. Cody was tossed over the top and skinned the cat but Roman caught him and nailed the Uranage for a two count.
Roman waiting for Cody and went for the Superman Punch but Cody ducked and caught him with a Pedigree - ! - and scored another close near fall. Is that his apology for smashing a throne?
Cody himself up, but never stopped selling the ribs. He went for a Disaster Kick but was wiped out with a Superman Punch. Somehow Cody survived. Cody scored several near falls and locked on the figure four leglock, which Dusty Rhodes used as a finisher. Roman rolled it over and reversed it, so Cody fought to the ropes. They fought back and forth with big right hands as they hit the 20 minute or so mark. Cody won the fight and ascended to the top but Roman speared the HELL out of him. Cody lives to kick up. This is great stuff.
Roman began drilling down with right hands, beating Cody. Roman locked in the guillotine choke as the crowd chanted for Cody to come back to life. They teased his was it and Cody got the arm up right out of 80s pro wrestling, only to be entrapped by Roman even stronger. They teased Cody was done but he somehow slipped out and attacked Roman with a series of right hands. Cody accidentally kicked the referee. Roman speared him but there was no official.
Cody made it to his feet and grabbed Roman for CrossRhodes but The Usos attacked and nailed a double superkick. They attacked and beat Cody. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens hit the ring from the outside and they brawled, running off The Usos. Kevin and Sami drilled Roman with their finishers. The Usos attacked them and they brawled back through the crowd. The official returned to the ring and counted buutttttttttttttttttt Roman KICKED OUT.
Good theater earlier. Tremendous theater now.
Roman and Cody recovered and battled back and forth on their knees. They battled to their feet and battered each other to hell. Cody avoided Roman's Superman Punch and did the flip flop and fly, including the BIONIC ELBOW. He nailed a series of CrossRhodes. Paul Heyman got on the apron and distracted the referee. Solo returned and nailed the Spike. Cody was speared and pinned.
WHOA, LOS ANGELES WAS SHOCKED.
Roman retained.
From up here, I could see the entire mood of the stadium change quicker than you could spell TAZ.
People wanted to see A New Hope and instead they got The Empire Strikes Back.
The Bloodline lives on another day.
HELL of a main event.
That's it for tonight. Hope you enjoyed my blog, all our coverage this weekend and tomorrow is a whole new day - and perhaps a new era for all of pro wrestling.
Until then, thank you for your support of PWInsider.com - off to the airport I go for my Redeye flight home.
Mom, Blackjack and Bob, you are missed.
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