Post by Slade on Apr 24, 2021 6:35:29 GMT -5
Date: March 29, 2021
From: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Commentary Team: Michael Cole and Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Howard Finkel
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THE BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION vs. THE WYATT FAMILY : This week’s show began with the reunion of the Brothers of Destruction, which occurred in this big man match against Bray Wyatt’s family members, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. It was a solid match featuring plenty of brawling in and out of the ring. With the Wyatt Family put up a good fight, their attempt to end the match with a double crucifix bomb on The Undertaker was thwarted when Kane went to the top turnbuckle and performed a double diving clothesline. Chokeslams for Harper and Rowan set up stereo Tombstone piledrivers with Kane and The Undertaker crossing each of their opponent’s arms on their chests for a decisive double pin victory. (12:46) -- Winners: The Brothers of Destruction
RICKY STEAMBOAT vs. CHRIS JERICHO : Ricky Steamboat and Chris Jericho were chopping the crap out of each other when Steamboat finally hit a few in a row and went for a cross-corner whip. Jericho countered and charged in. Steamboat for a boot up and then came out of the corner with a bulldog takedown. He made the cover and Jericho kicked out. Steamboat picked up Jericho and gave him rolling German suplexes and then he went to the top rope. He waited for Jericho to stand up before going for the diving crossbody. Jericho countered by giving him a Codebreaker! He made the cover. 1…2… kick out!
Jericho couldn’t believe it! He was infuriated. Jake Hager, who was at ringside, got on the apron and argued with the referee. Jericho left the ring to get a steel chair. Meanwhile, the referee decided to toss Hager from ringside, which just made him more animated. Back in the ring, Jericho tried to hit Steamboat but he ducked out of the way. Jericho turned around ready to take another swing but then Steamboat dropkicked it back into his face. Steamboat added insult to injury by performing a lionsault on Jericho. The referee got in position to count it. 1…2… kick out!
Steamboat picked up Jericho whipped him into the corner. He gave him a running kinfe-edge chop. He sent Jericho into the opposite corner and gave him another running knife-edge chop. Steamboat lifted Jericho onto the top turnbuckle He climbed up. They traded punches until Jericho knocked Steamboat down to the mat and got him a diving double axehandle smash. Jericho gave him a one-handed bulldog takedown and then gave him a lionsault. Steamboat kicked out at two. Jericho turned him over into the Walls of Jericho. It took Steamboat a lot of effort, but he got to the ropes to force a break.
Jericho released the hold at the last possible moment and got a warning from the referee. He stood waiting for Steamboat to get up and then charged at him, trying for the Judas Effect. Steamboat ducked it, ran to the ropes and took Jericho down with a flying forearm. After a few arm drags, Steamboat landed a dropkick and then a piledriver. He went up to the top rope. Jericho was slowly stumbling to his feet but had the instincts to pull the referee into the path of Steamboat’s diving crossbody attempt. Jericho then gave Steamboat the Judas Effect. However, with the referee down, he couldn’t pin him, so Le Champion waved to the back and Santana and Ortiz ran out. They took turns attacking Steamboat until finally giving him the Street Sweeper.
Just after they had done that, the Hart Foundation arrived in full force. A pier six brawl was underway with Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara showing up. Through it all, The Hitman and The Anvil were able to isolate Jericho and give him the Hart Attack. After members of the brawling factions fought away from ringside, Steamboat and Jericho were left alone in the ring. Steamboat got to his feet first, went to the top turnbuckle, and this time executed the diving crossbody. He held Jericho down with a lateral press and the referee counted. 1…2…3! (16:08) -- Winner: Ricky Steamboat
The sounds of bagpipes filled the Prudential Center, signalling the entrance of Rowdy Roddy Piper. He arrived in the ring to a thunderous ovation. Piper got on the mic and recapping his history with Billion Dollar Corporation over the last several weeks. It started with him pulling a fast one over on JBL to get a 10-second victory over him after he was paid to take the loss. After scamming the biggest scam artists in the business, the Hot Rod had been subjected to an excessive number of retaliatory beatings from the BDC. Piper said one such beating was one too many. But no matter how many they gave him, he kept getting up and coming back for more because there is no fear in this Scotsman. Now, he’s here and he’s ready for a fight. He doesn’t care which one of them wants to do it, or if all four of them comes out. He’s ready to take them all on.
The BDC showed up in a white stretch limo with a cattle horn hood ornament. “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, John Bradshaw Layfield, “Glorious” Bobby Roode, and “Cowboy” James Storm got out and they looked good. They each said a word about how much of a idiot Piper was for wanting to get his ass kicked week-in-and-week-out. They told him that they’ve had enough of him always showing up to interfere in BDC business. When you poke sleeping bears for too long, you’re eventually going to get mauled. Now, is the time for his mauling.
Piper said he was expecting this scenario before pulling a baseball bat out from under his kilt. Still, it was 4-on-1 (+1 bat). The BDC showed no fear. They cut the ring in half, cornering Piper, who held the bat, ready to strike. Then, a man dressed entirely in black descended into the ring from out of the sky. The fans erupted as they recognized that it was STING! Piper pointed behind the BDC. DiBiase and JBL said they weren’t falling for that trick. Roode and Storm turned and were in shock. They tapped on their partners’ shoulders. Now everyone saw the Stinger, who pulled a bat out from under his trenchcoat.
The brawl was on! Sting and Piper attacked with their bats. The BDC tried fighting back. Although they outnumbered their opponents 2-to-1, it didn’t matter. Roode and Storm both received Stinger Splashes and Scorpion Death Drops. DiBiase and JBL ran for the hills. Piper got a microphone and laid out the challenge: Piper & String vs. DiBiase and JBL at Wrestlemania!
LIV MORGAN vs. BAYLEY : Bayley executed a Belly-to-Bayley suplex on Liv Morgan, but wasn’t content to end it there. She covered Morgan, but grabbed her by the hair and lifted her head and shoulders off the mat at the count of two. Bayley picked her up and gave her an armtrap headlock driver. She pulled the same trick, and gave her another armtrap headlock driver. Instead of pinning her, she lifted her up to give her another one when she saw Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan coming down to ringside. Baylely told the referee to deal with it and as he argued with the to leave, Bayley removed a turnbuckle cover and then catapulted Morgan into it. With Morgan busted open, Bayley gave her another armtrap headlock driver. Logan and Riott entered the ring and Bayley quickly exited. The match was ended and the referee reluctantly awarded the win to Bayley. Bayley ripped the microphone out of Howard Finkel’s hands and said that she and her legion of fans believe it is a travesty that she isn’t booked for Wrestlemania yet. The first show of the year should have the brightest star in the company featured on it. The Golden Role Model, who thinks of herself as the face of the company, argued that must change and demanded she be on the show, and since the person she most has a problem with at the moment is Ruby Riott, she wants her at ‘Mania. Riott, tending to her fallen comrade, looked up, pointed at Bayley and said, “You’re on!” (6:37) -- Winner: Bayley
Mean Gene caught up with Chris Jericho and members of the Inner Circle to ask him about what happened in his match with Ricky Steamboat. Jericho was still upset about the results and called Gene a stupid idiot. He said that what happened was the greatest injustice in sports entertainment history. He should be the first WWE Intercontinental Champion, and he blamed the Hart Foundation for preventing that from happening. He guaranteed that Bret Hart also wouldn’t become the first WWE Intercontinental Champion. Vince McMahon happened to be passing nearby, so Jericho complained to Vince about what happened. Vince didn’t care. He saw what happened and saw that Jericho had tried to cheat Steamboat out of the victory. He also heard Jericho’s guarantee and warned him and if he or any other member of the Inner Circle interfered in tonight’s main event, they would be suspended for 90-days without pay. Jericho complained that was not fair and Vince told him life’s not fair and walked away.
ASUKA & BIANCA BELAIR vs. BETH PHOENIX & RHEA RIPLEY : This tag team match, featuring Wrestlemania opponents for the Mash-Up Wrestling Women’s World Championship and the WWE Women’s Championship, was hotly contested for much of the bout. It was sure to be a major boon for whoever could get the pinfall or submission in this one. With Asuka and Rhea Ripley as the legal women, it was Ripley who was in control until She missed a running big boot attempt. Asuka grabbed her from behind and executed a release german suplex. Outside the ring, Bianca Belair lifted Beth Phoenix into a military press and dropped her across the top of the ringside barricade. She was grabbing the ropes to climb back onto the ring apron when Asuka went for a running hip attack on Ripley as she was getting up from the mat. Ripley did a somersault to evade the attack and Asuka hit Belair in the face, knocking her off the ring apron. Asuka continued to fight with Ripley, but she was soon down a partner as Belair decided to leave the match after getting hit by Asuka. This allowed Ripley and Phoenix to take control and together the two of them gave Asuka a beat the likes no one has seen in a long time, if ever. Asuka kicked out of many power moves by both women, but after she finally received the Riptide and a Glam Slam, one after the other, she was pinned by her Wrestlemania opponent for the 3-count. Getting the win gives Phoenix all the momentum going into Wrestlemania weekend. Could this finally be the time when Asuka’s unprecedented reign as the best woman in MUW comes to an end? (11:56) -- Winners: Beth Phoenix & Rhea Ripley
John Cena came out to the ring. He said he wanted to apologize to the WWE Universe for failing to win the WWE Universal Championship a few nights ago on Smackdown. He has heard and seen the protests on social media that claim that John Cena should be the champion right now. While he appreciates all the support, he said that the referee was unconscious when he had Hogan down on the mat long enough to count to ten. There’s nothing he or anybody else can do about it. The results stand. Hogan won the match fair and square and now, John Cena will be on the outside looking in. He supposed that he would have to buy a ticket to attend the event from out there like the rest of the WWE Universe.
It was at this time that the WWE Universal Champion, Hulk Hogan, came down to the ring. First off, brother, he wanted to commend Cena for giving him the biggest challenge of his WWE career. He even acknowledges that what happened to him wasn’t fair, but he can’t change the past, he can only alter the future. Wrestlemania is set and even though Cena deserves to be there, he can’t. It’s going to be Hulk Hogan versus Roman Reigns. But, what Hogan can do is promise to give John Cena another match after he successfully defends the title at Wrestlemania, brother.
To this, Cena asked why he doesn’t just give him another match at Wrestlemania. It was just announced that it is now a 2-night event. He could defend the strap twice. He could defend it against Roman Reigns on Saturday, and give him a shot at the gold on Sunday. After all, Cena did earn a spot in the Wrestlemania main event by winning the Royal Rumble, and he only really lost it to Roman Reigns because Hogan got involved in the match. Hogan didn’t appreciate being blamed for Cena’s loss to Reigns a few weeks back and said he was only trying to defend him, and prevent Cena from getting put through a table. And how did Cena thank him? By putting him through the table! Hogan said he thought they could put that little episode behind them, but clearly, someone has sour grapes.
Cena looked like he was losing his cool, but before they could come to blows, Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns entered the arena. Reigns said that Cena lost his Wrestlemania moment to the better man. Now, it will be he who has the greatest Wrestlemania moment of all when he defeats Hogan for the WWE Universal Championship. Paul Heyman added that Cena is nothing if not stupid if he thinks that he can try to weasel his way back onto the marquee of the Showcase of the Immortals. It will be Hogan vs. Reigns. And when Reigns wins, he isn’t going to turn around and defend his newly won championship against John Cena. While Reigns knows deep down in his heart he can beat the both of them on back-to-back nights or even both of them in the same night, as his advocate, it is Heyman’s duty to protect his client’s best interests, and his best interests are to win the WWE Universal Championship and then celebrate that win with his family at the Head of the Table as its Tribal Chief. No one, not least of all John Cena, will deprive him of that right.
Now, WWE Chairman of the Board, Vince McMahon, entered the arena. He said that he has witnessed the events of the past two months, all from right behind this entrance set. He has also listened to everyone’s arguments. He has seen the questionable circumstances by which John Cena has lost his shot at the WWE Universal Championship and even his match challenging for the title. What’s more, he has seen the questionable circumstances by which Roman Reigns has obtained the spot in the main event of Wrestlemania, and he has seen the questionable circumstances by which Hulk Hogan has successfully defended the WWE Universal Championship in singles matches against both men. There are arguments to be made as to why the results of everyone of their matches against one another should have had the results overturned. He was wondering how best he could rectify this situation. And then that great creative mind of sports entertainment, one Paul Heyman, said that his client could beat “both of them in the same night.” That gave him, Vince McMahon, an idea. The best way to resolve the question of who deserves to be the WWE Universal Champion after Wrestlemania is to make on of them beat the other two on the same night. Now, he agrees with Heyman that it wouldn’t be fair for one of them to have to wrestler two matches in a row, so that is why the Wrestlemania main event will now be a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship between Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, and John Cena!
ELIAS vs. MARK HENRY : The fans wanted to walk with Elias, but Mark Henry wanted to render him immobile. The World’s Strongest Man was in a foul mood after being eliminated from the Intercontinental Championship tournament and getting put through a table. He made short work of Elias, giving him the World’s Strongest Slam and pinning him for the win. After the match, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas got a table out from under the ring and opened it up on the floor. Mark Henry powerlifted Elias up into a military press and dropped him over the top rope through the table. Jim Cornette got on the mic and said that was the future that awaits Keith Lee and the Dudley Boyz at Wrestlemania where the World’s Best will beat them at their own game in a Tables Match! (4:29) -- Winner: Mark Henry
SAMOA JOE & AJ STYLES vs. TRIPLE H & EDDIE GUERRERO : Last week, Samoa Joe challenged Triple H to a match before their Wrestlemania bout. Triple H found Eddie Guerrero to partner with him and Joe found an old friend in AJ Styles. Guerrero and Styles, it should be noted, are also scheduled to compete against one another at Wrestlemania.
This tag team match had a few close endings. For instance, Joe made a blind tag to Styles as he was whipped into the ropes by Guerrero, who would give him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and then go to the top rope. Joe came in and tripped up Guerrero. He then pulled him off the top turnbuckle and gave him a Musclebuster. Joe made the cover, but Triple H made the save. Later, Triple H made a blind tag to Eddie, who had just been placed on the top turnbuckle by Styles. Triple H had just reversed a whip attempt, sending Joe into the barricade. Styles took Guerrero off the top turnbuckle with a frankensteiner. He was picking up Guerrero when Triple H came in and got him a running neckbreaker. He picked up Styles and gave him the Pedigree. He made the pin, but Joe grabbed his foot and dragged him out to the floor where he lit into Triple H with chops before giving him a release German suplex.
Joe went back to his corner and made the tag, then he ran back across the ring and took out Triple H with a suicide dive through the ropes. Guerrero got Joe with a topé con hilo and then he helped Triple H back into the ring to made the tag. Guerrero knocked into various items on the outside before sending him back into the ring. Guerrero went for the slingshot senton, but Joe put his knees up and then pulled Guerrero into a grounded Coquina Clutch with bodyscissors. Just as it looked like Guerrero was going to lose consciousness, Triple H made the save by driving the top flat end of a sledgehammer down into Samoa Joe’s throat! The referee immediately called for the bell. Styles came back into the ring, giving Triple H a phenomenal forearm.
Triple H rolled out of the ring to safety and retreated from the ring with a smug, satisfied grin on his face. The damage had been done to Joe. Michael Cole and Tony Schiavone were speculating as to whether Joe might have a crushed larynx as Joe struggled to breathe. A WWE doctor and EMTs had to come to the ring to administer oxygen to the Mash-Up Wrestling Men’s World Champion going into the commercial break. (17:36) -- Winners: Samoa Joe & AJ Styles
Coming back from commercial, our cameras caught a glimpse of MUW Men’s World Champion Samoa Joe being loaded into an ambulance. Cameras then saw Triple H looking on, still with that look of satisfaction on his face. Mean Gene Okerlund approached him to ask him why he did something so despicable. Triple H said that some might call it despicable while others would call it cerebral. What Triple H did was play a move that no one was expecting. In this game you have to use every tool in your arsenal to achieve victory. Tonight, Triple H played this most cunning move of all. He checked Samoa Joe, and on Sunday at Wrestlemania, he’ll go one step further and declare checkmate on his title reign.
DANIEL BRYAN vs. BRET “THE HITMAN” HART : Daniel Bryan was working away at Bret Hart with some Yes! Kicks. He backed up to go for a final big kick. Hart leaned back to avoid it, got up and took Bryan over with a bridging German suplex. He got a 2-count on it. Back to their feet, Bryan went for a step-up enzuigiri kick, but Hart ducked it and then put Bryan into an inverted Mexican surfboard. After he let go, he picked up Bryan and gave him a pendulum backbreaker. He pinned him for a 2-count. He dragged him to the ropes and pinned his leg on the bottom rope, and then proceeded to give him some seated senton bombs. After holding his legs and stomping on his abdomen, Hart gave Bryan some wrapped knee drops into the canvas. He picked up Bryan and gave him a snap suplex and then floated over for the pin. Bryan kicked out.
Hart turned Bryan over and applied a camel clutch. He didn’t have it on very good as Bryan was able to get out of it after about 20-seconds. Hart attacked Bryan and gave him a cross-corner whip. He ran in behind him, but Bryan stepped up on the turnbuckles and flipped over behind Hart, resulting in The Hitman running hard into the top turnbuckle, sternum first. Bryan ran to the ropes and took a dazed Hart down with a clothesline. He climbed the turnbuckle and executed a diving headbutt. He hooked Hart’s leg, but he managed to kick out, anyhow. Bryan trying to lock in the Yes! Lock, but Hart fought him. Still, due to his tenacity, Bryan at least managed to get Hart into an inverted Indian deathlock. Hart refused to submit and made it to the ropes for the break.
Bryan lit into Hart’s chest with chops and then kicked him several times in the corner. He put Hart on the top turnbuckle and executed a frankensteiner. Bryan waited for Hart to get up and then went for the running knee strike. Hart stepped out of the way. As Bryan was getting up, Hart gave him an inverted atomic drop and then a side Russian leg sweep. He went to the second turnbuckle and executed a diving pointed-elbow drop. Hart tried to apply the Sharpshooter but Bryan lifted his torso off the mat and managed to pull Hart down and into the Yes! Lock instead. After a good thirty seconds and dragging himself to the ropes, Hart tried to reach out for it, but Bryan pulled back, rolled him over and reapplied the hold away from the ropes. Another ten seconds later, without any way to escape, Hart tapped out. (26:29) -- Winner: Daniel Bryan
Hart congratulated Bryan and then left the ring. As he did, he was attacked from behind by the Inner Circle. The Hart Foundation was quick to rush out. The two factions brawled until the Inner Circle slowly but surely knocked everyone down. The attack ended with Jericho giving Hart a Judas Effect and handing him over to Jake Hager, who then powerbombed The Hitman through the commentary table. Jericho grabbed a microphone and said he was sick and tired of always having Bret Hart and his stupid family getting in the way of everything he does. There’s only room in WWE for one of these factions. It’s time for the war to end, and it will end at Wrestlemania in WAR GAMES!
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