Post by Slade on Apr 16, 2022 6:03:54 GMT -5
Live from TD Garden in
Boston, Massachusetts
On Friday, March 18, 2022
WWE Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo, Tony Schiavone and Corey Graves
WWE Ring Announcer: Howard Finkel
WWE Backstage Reporter: Mean Gene Okerlund
***
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin came out to the ring right at the start of the night and said he’s been in one hell of a foul mood all week because of what happened to him at the end of last week’s Smackdown so he wanted that sumbitch John Cena to come down to the ring right now so he can stomp a mudhole in his goofy holier-than-though ass. John Cena came out onto the entrance stamp with a microphone in his hand and said that he’d be more than happy to run down to the ring and fight Austin, and he knew all the fans wanted to see it too, but what would that accomplish? After all, they’ve been doing this week-in-and-week-out now for the better part of four months. It’s time to finally step inside the ring and do this thing for real. Cena said that Austin didn’t have a match for ‘Mania and neither did he, so it only makes since that the two biggest names the industry went one-on-one, mano-a-mano, at the Granddaddy of them all, the Showcase of the Immortals, WrestleMania! Austin asked the fans if they wanted to see ol’ Stone Cold beat the living shit out of Cena at WrestleMania to give him a “Hell yeah!” and they responded in kind. Finally, after months of feuding, it’s official: John Cena vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will happen at WrestleMania II.
Randy Orton defeated John Bradshaw Layfield by pinfall at 11:18 to qualify for Mania Mayhem. After it was revealed that JBL’s originally scheduled opponent, Johnny Gargano, could not compete due to an injury suffered at the hands of JBL during a tag team match at a house show in Manchester, NH the previous Sunday, Randy Orton was announced as his new opponent. JBL protested that he already had a chance to qualify for Mania Mayhem and blew it. Orton made the most of this opportunity, and when IRS tried to interfere on JBL’s behalf, Orton gave him a snap powerslam and a RKO to neutralize him. JBL gave Orton a fallaway slam and went for the Clothesline From Wall Street, but Orton ducked it and executed the RKO to get the win instead.
Mean Gene Okerlund spoke to The Miz and John Morrison, who both said that WrestleMania II would be the worst event in the history of the company if neither of them got to be on the event. Fortunately, The Miz had a solution. There are two Mania Mayhem spots remaining for Smackdown Superstars, so he and his best friend should get them. Mean Gene informed them that they would each get a chance to win one of those spots. They high-fived as they knew they were both going to WrestleMania. But then Mean Gene revealed that they would be facing each other in singles competition next week for one of those spots. The Miz and Johnny Drip-Drip were very animated as they complained, blaming Mean Gene for screwing them over and claiming they would see to it that he be fired for this.
Bayley defeated Ember Moon by pinfall at 10:06 after she executed a super Bayley-to-belly suplex on her. Moon rallied late and had Bayley looking for an escape, but when she tried to walk away from the match and take the countout loss, Lita appeared on the entrance ramp with a steel chair in hand. Bayley backed away right into a release German suplex from Moon on the floor. Moon brought Bayley back into the ring and hit a few more moves before going to the top turnbuckle to go for Eclipse. However, as Bayley was getting up, she stumbled into the referee, knocking her into the ropes, and causing Moon to be tripped up on the top turnbuckle. The ref questioned Bayley, who convinced her that she innocently tripped, then quickly went up to the top turnbuckle to slam Moon down to the mat. After getting the pinfall, she wore a devilish grin.
Young Bucks were on their way to the ring for a match when they were attacked from behind on the entrance ramp by Roman Reigns and Umaga. The assault was brutal. Nick Jackson got a spear on the ramp. Matt Jackson got a Samoan Spike. Kenny Omega ran out to try to help his friends, but he was given a powerbomb on the side of the ring apron and then got put through a table when Umaga put him on his shoulders and dove backwards off the ring apron. The Young Bucks’ tag team match was cancelled as they were unfit to compete after the brutal assault from The Bloodline.
Daniel Bryan defeated John Morrison by submission at 8:42 when Morrison tapped out to the Yes! Lock. After the match, Bryan spoke about his upcoming chance to win the UWA Universal Men’s Championship at WrestleMania II, saying that it was the opportunity of a lifetime, one that won’t be squandered. Nick Aldis’ reign as the number one wrestler in the sport will go down in the record books as the shortest reign of all-time!
Shayna Baszler defeated Kris Statlander by submission at 13:11 when she made Statlander submit to the Karifuda Clutch. Statlander was a formidable opponent who tested Baszler. She took advantage of a distracted Queen of Spades to make a bid for the win after Baszler got in the face of the Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, who joined the announce team at ringside on colour commentary. Baszler shoved a hand in Lynch’s face, knocking her over completely in her chair. The Man got up and tried to get at Baszler, but the referee got in the way. Baszler taunted her, but it cost her as Statlander took her down with a wrecking ball dropkick. She stayed on the attack until she attempted the Are 451 Splash. Baszler got the knees up and executed the Ace of Spades to put Statlander in her submission move. As soon as the match was over, The Man entered the ring and came at the Queen of Spades. It was a back-and-forth brawl until officials flooded the scene to separate them.
Smackdown World Champion Sting came to the ring for an interview with Tony Schiavone, who asked the World Champion if he intended to strike The Undertaker in the head with the ring bell last week during their tag team match versus “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Sting claimed that it was a mistake. He said he would never hit The Undertaker, and although the Deadman will challenge him for his championship at WrestleMania II, he has the utmost respect for him. He noted that he didn’t bring the bell into the ring and was simply trying to defend himself against the man who did. It was at this point that the lights flashed, and the sound of a gong rang throughout the arena. When the lights came up, Sting and Schiavone were alone in the ring. Schiavone asked Sting another question, but as Sting began to answer him, a gong was sounded and the lights went out again. This time when they came up, Paul Bearer stood in before Sting, holding the urn in his hands and saying that Sting will pay for his sins. Sting told Paul Bearer that it was all a huge misunderstanding and that he would like to apologize to The Undertaker. Bearer told Sting to tell it to the Deadman himself. Again, the lights went out and when they came back on, Paul Bearer was gone and The Undertaker was standing in his place. Sting started to speak, but The Undertaker booted him in the face. Sting got up and The Undertaker slapped his hand around Sting’s throat and gave him a chokeslam. He did the throat slashing hand gesture before scooping up Sting and giving him the Tombstone. The Undertaker took the mic and said, “Apology not accepted.”
Brock Lesnar defeated “Cowboy” James Storm by pinfall at 3:10 after he executed the F-5. This one was all Lesnar, as he attacked early with running knee strikes, an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, and then started in with a series of release German suplexes. Lesnar took his time getting to the finish. After he pinned Storm, he looked at the stationary camera and gestured that the United States Champion would soon be around his waist.
Mean Gene spoke to the Smackdown Tag Team Champions, The Hart Foundation, who said that they would gladly defend their titles at WrestleMania II against the team that wins tonight’s main event. They didn’t care which team emerged victorious because they’re the best team there was, the best team there is, and the best team there ever will be
Dudley Boyz defeated the Lucha Bros. by pinfall at 18:33 after they gave the 3-D to Rey Fénix. Both teams were fighting to prove to the WWE Universe which one was more deserving of a title match at WrestleMania II. Bubba Ray and D-Von executed the What’s Up diving headbutt on Penta and were preparing to give him the 3-D, but Fénix dove in with a meteora for Bubba Ray to make the save. Next, he gave D-Von a double corner springboard hurricanrana followed by a handspring rebound cutter. Fénix made the pin, but Bubba Ray broke up the fall. Penta went for a superkick, but Bubba blocked it and gave him a Bubba Bomb before kicking him out of the ring. Then, he and D-Von gave Fénix the 3-D and D-Von pinned him to get the win. Following the match, the Smackdown Tag Team Champions, The Hart Foundation interrupted the celebration by entering the ring. Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart offered handshakes to their WrestleMania opponents. Bubba and D-Von shook their hands. Hart and Neidhart raised Bubba and D-Von’s hands in the air in another show of respect. Suddenly, the Dudleys turned on them. They beat down Hart while Neidhart wasn’t looking. When he noticed, he came to his partner’s aid, but the Dudley Boyz gave The Anvil a 3-D. Then, Bubba told D-Von to get the tables. He set one up outside the ring while Bubba continued to put the boots to The Hitman. Bubba and D-Von got Hart out to the ring apron and then Bubba gave him a sit-out powerbomb from the ring apron through the table onto the floor!