WWE Wrestlemania 23 Results

Here are the result...

United States Championship Match
Chris Benoit vs. MVP
Much to my surprise this match didn't start the show. I was expecting very little out of this match and it sure delivered on my expectations. I figured that Benoit would lose the title since he is tremendously over already and doesn't need the title to get a strong fan reaction. As it turns out Benoit kept the title.
Me: 0/1
Dave: 0/1

Kane vs. The Great Khali
An average match as far as these two are concerned. Ending came when Khali hit Kane with the double handed chokeslam which allowed him to get the pin by stepping on Kane's chest. After the match Khali used Kane's chain & hook to choke him.
Me: 1/2
Dave: 0/2

Women's Championship Match
Melina vs. Ashley
A very short match. Even for women's matches. The Lumbejills barely came into play. I think they only had to throw someone back into the ring once during the entire match an it was 3 or 4 babyfaces throwing Melina back into the ring. I'm not sure if Melina put on a good enough performance to keep her job, but here's to hoping that she did.
Me: 1/3
Dave: 1/3

ECW Originals (The Sandman, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer & Rob Van Dam) vs. New Breed (Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von & Kevin Thorn)
In a huge surprise The ECW Originals came out the winners after a 5-Star frogsplash from RVD onto Striker. I still dont' think that the Originals will be sticking around for much longer though.
Me: 1/4
Dave: 2/4

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Edge vs. CM Punk vs. King Booker vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Finley vs. Randy Orton
A very good match. Not as many really big spots as I would have liked and expected. The biggest spot came near the beginning when Edge was laid across as ladder that was horizontal across the apron and the wall. Jeff Hardy then climbed a 12 foot ladder that was set up in the ring, jumped off, and gave Edge a leg drop. The ladder that Edge was on bent to a 90 degree angle and both Edge and Hardy had to be carried away. The first of 2 humorous spot was when Booker was in perfect position to grab the briefcase only to have Matt Hardy prepare Sharmell for the Twist of Fate while telling him (Booker) that he better not grab the case or else his wife will be given the Twist of Fate. Booker of course decided to save his wife. The second humorous spot came when Hornswoggle climbed the ladder to try to grab the briefase only to have Kennedy give him the Kenton Bomb off the ladder. Kennedy eventually went on to win it to become Mr. Money In The Bank...Bank. Also, during the match it seemed like only two wrestler were active at a time. They seemed to all take turns being laid out.
Me: 2/5
Dave: 3/5

Battle of the Billionaires - Hair vs. Hair
Special guest referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Bobby Lashley (w/Donald Trump) vs. Umaga (w/Vince McMahon)
Nothing really noteworthy as far at the wrestling is concerned. During the match Umaga took out Austin. Shane then came down and with help from Umaga and Vince he gave Lashley the Van Terminator. Shane then revealed that he was wearing a referee shirt. Umaga then went for the pinm but Austin pulled Shane out while Shane was counting. Right before the end Trump speared Vince onto the floor and proceeded to give Vince weak baby punches to the head. Austin then stunnered Umaga and after a spear from Lashley Umaga was easily beaten. Shane then jumped into the ring while Vince scampered away. Lashley chased him down though and threw him back into the ring. They then strapped Vince into the chair and while Austin held him down Lashley and Trump shaved Vince bald. After using the electric clippers they used a razor wich clearly didn't have a blade in it. If it did then Vince's head would have been a bloody mess with the way they were shaving. Vince then saw himself in the mirror and ran away is anger/shock. Lashley, Trump, and Austin celebrated with some beer. Austin them toasted Trump and gave him a stunner. I am amazed with how much Trump got involved in the whole thing (spearing Vince & getting stunnered). I had gotten the feeling that he was totally uninterested in the whole event.
Me: 3/6
Dave: 4/6

WWE Championship Match
John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
Cena had an interesting entrance. They showed a Ford Mustang ouside on the street. The car then started racing through the streets like a video game and then it drove into Ford Field and came crashing through a plate of glass. Cena then poped out og the car as if he was driving. The part where the car was racing in the streets was clearly pre-taped late at night because the streets (and sidewalks) were empty which I sure wouldn't be the case if it was really 10PM in Detroit. Probably the match of the night. Shawn brought out the best in Cena. A lot of close finishes and attempted finishing moves. At one point Cena had Shawn in the STFU and it looked like Shawn would tap out. He managed to get to the ropes though. Ending came when Cena again got Shawn in the STFU, but Shawn tapped out this time. After the match Cena tried shaking Shawn's hand, but Shawn wouldn't have it and walked away.
Me: 3/7
Dave: 5/7

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Batista vs. Undertaker
A lot faster paced match than I expected. Batista played the heel as expected. He went after the 'Taker as soon as the match started and at one point powerslammed Undertaker through the ECW announce table. Batista was able to kick out of all three of 'Takers finishing moves (not in a row) and 'Taker was able to kick out of a Batista bomb. Another tombstome by Undertaker was enough to keep Batista down and continue Undy's streak and have him become a World Champion again.
Me: 4/8
Dave: 6/8

Summary:
An excellent showing by Dave with 6/8 while I broke even with 4/8.

Other Stuff: There were a couple of noteworthy skits during the broadcast. The first one had Eugene walking backstage with Cryme Tyme. C.T. then tried to get Eugene to dance with the girls of ECW's Extreme Expose. He didn't really get into it at first, but then started to dance when Moolah and Mae Young appeared. All of a sudden Slick (who hasn't been seen in the WWE in about 15 years) appeared and yelled something which I couldn't hear. Next thing you know a full on party breaks out included various WWE legends like Dusty, The Stooges, Mene Gene, Slaughter, Ricky Steamboat, and others. The second skit was Vince and Stephanie backstage with her new daughter. Vince then starts telling the baby how he is going to beat Trump's skull in when the baby takes a dump which Vince calls a 'Trump' . Finally there was skit where Trump and former Miss USA Tara Connor were backstage and all of a sudden the lights turned red and Boogeyman appeared. Connor then ran away and Trump just turned around and asked him for a Sandwich. Pretty stupid? Yes. Did Trump kill Boogeyman's gimmick? Probably.

Final Thoughts:
I thought the show was solid, but I think I liked last year's a little more. There certainly weren't as many standout moments like last year when Shawn dropped the elbow on Vince through a table and when Edge speared Foley through a flaming table. Other than the Hardy/Edge spot the only other 'Wrestlemania moments' were when Vince was getting his head shaved, When Trump speared him, and when Trump got stunnered by Austin. It's too bad that there weren't more moments from the actual wrestlers in the actual matches.

I thought the set was good, but I had heard earlier in the day that the entrance was going to be mechanical and change to adapt to each wrestler's entrance. That didn't seem to be th case. I'm not saying that I was dissapointed, but I was surprised that it wasn't the way that I read it was going to be.

More thoughts to come on Monday (or Tuesday)...

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