Post by Slade on Jan 16, 2023 16:01:01 GMT -5
Live from United Center in
Chicago, Illinois
On Friday, December 16, 2022
WWE Commentary Team: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Wade Barrett
WWE Ring Announcer: Howard Finkel
WWE Backstage Reporter: Mean Gene Okerlund
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Shawn Michaels defeated “Ravishing” Rick Rude by pinfall at 14:05 to earn a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania III. Rude untied a turnbuckle pad in one of the corners and tried to catapult Michaels into it, but Michaels landed on the middle rope and did a springboard crossbody out of the corner for a 2-count. Rude attempted a running lariat, but Michaels did a matrix evasion, then executed a teardrop suplex. After that, he tuned up the band and struck Rude with Sweet Chin Music.
After Michaels won, WWE Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero came to the ring and congratulated him on his win. He told Michaels that a match against Latino Heat will be the biggest test of his life. The Heartbreak Kid said he was bringing his A+ game and taking the WWE Intercontinental Championship as his prize for acing the exam.
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Mean Gene Okerlund caught up with WWE United States Champion “Macho Man” Randy Savage to ask him about accepting John Cena’s challenge for his title. Savage said that to be the best, you have to beat the best, and John Cena is one of the best. He might be second best, may be third, but he isn’t the very best. At WrestleMania, he’s going to show the entire world what he already knows – that distinction belongs to the Macho Man. Holding a little coffee creamer, Savage told Mean Gene the reason he is holding this is to tell him that the cream always rises to the top, and the Macho Man is the cream of the crop! Oh yeah!
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Daniel Bryan defeated “All Ego” Ethan Page by submission at 6:57 when he forced him to tap out to the Yes! Lock. After the match, Bryan asked for a microphone, and said that this was but another win in a long line of them that proves he is without a shadow of a doubt “the best there is, the best there was, and –
Bret “The Hitman” Hart cut him off. He walked right down to the ring and said that while he had a lot of respect for Bryan, he couldn’t help noticing that Bryan was making a lot of claims that sound a lot like things he himself would say. In fact, he was saying things word-for-word. That’s easy enough to do when one is away on a leave of absence to deal with family business, but he also couldn’t help feeling like this disrespect was a direct challenge. Well, if a real challenge is what Bryan wants, a real challenge is what he’ll get. The Hitman has a match coming up on New Year’s for the biggest prize in all of professional wrestling – the UWA Men’s Universal Championship. But he could use a good tune up match to prepare him for the big one, and it looks like Daniel Bryan is giving him that gift for Christmas. The Hitman said that he’ll see Bryan at WrestleMania III, where he’ll show him what it is like to step inside the ring with the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be!
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Mean Gene Okerlund spoke to WALTER about challenging The Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania III last week on Smackdown. Mean Gene mentioned that some would argue that defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania is a taller task than winning the WWE World Championship or even the UWA Men’s Universal Championship! WALTER said this was precisely why he made the challenge. When you are the best at what you do, you don’t wait for the world to discover that you are the best. You go out there and show the world that you are the best. You force the universe to recognize it as an undisputable fact. Even after having the longest title reign in WWE history, it wasn’t enough to prove that the Ring General is the greatest wrestler on the planet so now he must show the world by doing what no one else thinks is possible – by defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania!
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Harlem Heat defeated The Usos by pinfall at 10:50 when Booker T pinned Jimmy Uso after he and his brother Stevie Ray executed the Towering Inferno on him. This came shortly after Jey Uso tried to hit Stevie Ray with a steel chair but got the chair sent back in his face with a Harlem side kick from Booker T.
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Mean Gene Okerlund spoke to Rowdy Roddy Piper about his vicious assault of his long-time friend Cowboy Bob Orton’s son Randy Orton. Mean Gene thought that Cowboy Bob had to be fuming. Piper told Mean Gene that Cowboy Bob was fuming mad because his offspring was tarnishing the family name. Orton used to be a name for men all around the world to fear. No one fears young Randall. That’s why Bob is happy that Piper did what he did last week. Just then, Randy Orton Piper from behind. Orton threw him into the interview set, causing part of the set to crash down on top of him. Orton taunted Piper throughout the attack, which moved from backstage out to ringside. Piper mounted a comeback after he reversed a whip, sending Orton slamming into the steel ring steps. Just as he had done on Monday, Piper got Orton up onto one of the announcer’s tables in position for a piledriver, but this time, Orton dropped to his knees and delivered a low blow, then he took Piper off one table and drove his head through the other with a RKO! Orton grabbed a microphone and said that Piper had unleashed the Viper within him and the Viper is hungry for revenge. At WrestleMania III, it’s time for Piper to find out what Orton is truly capable of. He will show the world that he is the Apex Predator when Randy Orton fights Rowdy Roddy Piper in a No Holds Barred match!
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Maryse defeated Sable by pinfall at 3:18 after The Miz executed a Skull-Crushing Finale on her. Sable dominated the short match. But interference by The Miz brought out Brock Lesnar. The referee got caught up in trying to prevent all hell from breaking loose. Maryse guarded her man, and the referee tried to get Lesnar to leave the ring. The Miz then executed his finisher on Sable and Maryse took advantage. Lesnar chased The Miz through the crowd until they were out of sight.
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UWA Men’s Universal Champion Chris Jericho hosted The Highlight Reel with his guest Ricky Steamboat, his challenger for the championship at WrestleMania III. Jericho acknowledged Steamboat’s stellar year, starting 2022 off as a tag team champion, defeating Mr. WrestleMania himself Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania II, winning the Money in the Bank ladder match, at becoming the number one contender to his title. However, on the flip side of that, Steamboat also had two opportunities to become the WWE World Champion and failed both times. What this all proves is that Steamboat is one of the best wrestlers in the world today, but he will never be the best in the world at what he does. That is what Chris Jericho is. He’s the Highlight of the Night, and WrestleMania III’s highlight of night is going to be Chris Jericho pinning Ricky Steamboat for the 1-2-3.
Steamboat acknowledged that Jericho has had a hell of a run this year. He transformed himself from a has-been to a still-is, starting the year off as the winner of the Terrific Tussle, going first to last, and by then end of the year becoming the UWA Men’s Universal Champion. Those are incredible feats to be sure. But between January when he won the Terrific Tussle and November when he won the top prize in the game, he failed to become the WCW World Champion, and twice lost matches for the UWA Men’s Universal Championship. Yes, it was third time’s the charm for Jericho to become the best in the world at what he does.
Jericho pipes in and says that he had the deck stacked against him. He wasn’t just wrestling Nick Aldis each of those times. He was wrestling against the entire York Foundation. Steamboat said that when he lost his two chances to win the WWE World Championship, he wasn’t just wrestling Triple H, he was wrestling against the entire Heenan Family. Steamboat points out that they have had parallel experiences this year. Jericho and Steamboat both vanquished their enemies on the third try. All year, he's been following in Jericho’s footsteps. Jericho loses to his biggest rival, Steamboat loses to his biggest rival. Jericho finally conquerors his biggest rival, Stemaboat finally conquerors his biggest rival. Jericho wins the UWA Men’s Universal Championship… Steamboat paused for dramatic effect as the WWE Universe started to cheer.
Jericho broke the silence between by saying it will never EVER happen. Steamboat then added, “Stemaboat wins the UWA Men’s Universal Championship! At WrestleMania III it will happen!” Jericho wore a scowl on his face before finishing the interview by saying that he’s glad Steamboat believes in himself, but all the confidence in the world won’t be enough to take this title off him. At the end of the night, Jericho is walking into WrestleMania as the UWA Men’s Universal Champion, and he’s going to walk out of WrestleMania as the UWA Men’s Universal Champion!
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WWE camera crews found The Miz still running away from Brock Lesnar. They were now running through the backstage area. Maryse, holding a broom, shouted at The Miz to come her way and he ran towards her. She was waiting by an arena exit. They went out the doors. Lesnar was in hot pursuit. He tried to open the door, but it appeared to be locked or barred shut from the other side. He took a few steps back, then kicked the door off its hinges. A shattered broomstick was at his feet as he went outside to see The Miz getting into the passenger side of a car that sped off. Sable ran out to find Lesnar who was cursing up a storm. Sable told him to relax because they’ll het their hands on them next weekend. She asked Vince for a mixed gender tag team match and he agreed to it. It will be Brock Lesnar & Sable versus The Miz & Maryse at WrestleMania III.
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The Hardy Boyz defeated WWE Men’s Tag Team Champions #DIY by pinfall at 12:45 when Jeff Hardy pinned Johnny Gargano after executing a swanton dive on him.
After the match, Matt Hardy said that he knows the Usos and Harlem Heat have been fighting to see who deserves a shot at the titles, but he and Jeff just proved that if any team deserves it the most, it is them. The Hardy Boyz want to become the WWE Tag Team Champions at WrestleMania III. Harlem Heat came out and Booker T asked his brother Stevie Ray to tell him he did not just say that. The Usos came out to throw cold water on the idea that anyone other than them should get the title shot. They won the match on Monday for the shot so it belongs to them and they aren’t willing to share it. At that moment, Howard Finkel made an announcement that he had just been given breaking news. At WrestleMania III there will be a fatal fourway tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championships between #DIY, the Usos, Harlem Heat, and the Hardy Boyz! When Finkel finished his announcement, Jimmy and Jey punked out Booker T and Stevie Ray with superkicks, which drew Matt and Jeff, and Gargano and Ciampa in for a fight. A brawl ensued until WWE officials flooded the ring to put out the fire.
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Mean Gene Okerlund was backstage with Triple H and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan asking them about the Heenan Family’s decision to unceremoniously dump Adam Cole from their ranks. They said that Cole got too big for his own good. Cole looked after himself first and paid little attention to family business. He got what he deserved. Adam Cole interrupted the interview to argue with them. He said that everything Triple H and Heenan say about them can be equally said about the King of Kings. Cole is happy he is no longer a part of the family because now he doesn’t have to play second fiddle to Triple H. If they just told him he was out and they parted ways amicably, he would have been fine with that. But the thing is, the way the message was delivered didn’t sit right with him and so he is going to have to give them their receipt. No, he isn’t going to attack them from behind because that’s the cowardly way – the Heenan Family way. No, he’s going to do it where he shines best – inside that very ring. It’s going to be Adam Cole versus Triple H at WrestleMania III where the entire world is going to see that he ain’t no second fiddle, he’s a first chair because he’s Adam Cole Bay! Bay! Triple H told Cole he won’t just be stepping into the ring against any old chump. He’ll be in the ring against the Cerebral Assassin, the most ruthless, diabolic mind in professional wrestling. There is no one better in this business than he is today. So bring your best game because I am the game and I want to play.
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Becky Lynch and Awesome Kong defeated Trish Stratus and Bianca Belair by pinfall at 16:23 when Lynch pinned Stratus after giving her a Manhandle Slam. The WWE Women’s Champion picked up the pinfall win when she caught Stratus by surprise with a Manhandle Slam after Stratus finished executing Stratusfaction on Awesome Kong. Belair was unable to make the save after missing a spear attempt on Lynch, and slamming into the barricade by the timekeeper’s position.
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In a pre-recorded message, The Undertaker spoke about having been challenged to a match at WrestleMania by WALTER. The Undertaker said that wasn’t the match he expected to have at WrestleMania. He was going to challenge someone recognized the world over as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time to find out who amongst them is truly the greatest. That will have to wait for another day. Instead, he is going to wrestle the hottest new face in the game today. The Undertaker has been at this a long time. He has seen hot new faces come and he has been responsible for making them go. There are always going to be new faces trying to make a name for themselves off him, but they never succeed. And this, the Ring General, wants to step foot in his yard, at his event, when he is at his very best, to try to make a name for himself, well he has just made the poorest decision of his life. This isn’t going to be just another day in the park. This is going to be The Phenom at the showcase of the immortals. There will be one deadman walking into the ring at WrestleMania, but there will be second leaving it. At WrestleMania III, WALTER will rest in peace!
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Mean Gene Okerlund stood in the ring where he introduced the special guest host of WrestleMania III, the famous social media personality, Logan Paul! Paul said he was honoured to be asked to be the host of WrestleMania III. CM Punk came out. He had a problem with this famous for nothing loser being celebrated on Smackdown while he wasn’t scheduled to appear in his hometown. Punk told Paul to get out of his ring, but Paul refused. When Punk slapped him, Paul pushed Punk away, who then started laying in left and right hands, and some shoot kicks. AJ Styles came out and made the save with a Phenomenal Forearm. Punk rolled to the floor to avoid taking further damage.
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Coming back from the commercial break, Mean Gene was backstage with John Cena, who said that he challenged “Macho Man” Randy Savage for the WWE United States Championship because he is as he says, “the cream of the crop” and he believes they could have the greatest match in WrestleMania history. Cena is also hungry to a championship, something that has eluded him since WWE re-opened its doors 2-years ago. That is going to change at WrestleMania III because The Face that Runs the Place has been gearing up for the greatest challenge of his life. But when all is said and done, the next time you see him on RAW or Smackdown, Mean Gene will be saying what hasn’t been said in far too long: “The champ is here!”
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Sting defeated the team of Yokozuna and Umaga by pinfall at 12:47 to trigger a Loser Leaves WWE match at WrestleMania III with the Chairman of the Board, Mr. McMahon! Sting was dominated by his opponents early in the match, but he rallied with alternating chops and jabs, clotheslines, and dropkicks to both big men. He got them each stuck in opposite corners and executed several Stinger Splashes on the big men. When Roman Reigns came down to ringside, capturing Sting’s attention, Sting was grabbed and given a side belly-to-belly suplex by Yokozuna. The large Samoans retook the advantage until Yokozuna dragged Sting to the corner for a Banzai drop. Sting got out of the way. Umaga tagged in and nailed Sting with some headbutts. Yokozuna hooked Sting’s arms from behind and Umaga went for the Samoan Spike, but Sting broke free and Umaga dropped his cousin instead! Then Sting gave him a Scorpion Death Drop. He made the cover, but Roman Reigns reached into the ring and pulled Sting off him. WWE World Champion “Stone Cold” Steve Austin ran down and got into a brawl with Roman Reigns that took the two combatants all over the arena floor and eventually into the backstage area. Sting went to the top rope and dropped Yokozuna and Umaga with a diving crossbody. When Yokozuna got up, Sting dropkicked him out of the ring. Another Scorpion Death Drop to Umaga got the job done.
Mr. McMahon walked onto the entrance stage and acknowledged that he would now have to wrestle Sting at WrestleMania. The WWE Universe might think that he would be worried about this, but he is not. Sting needed Austin to help him win. He isn’t going to get the chance at WrestleMania. He will make sure of that because theirs won’t be any ordinary match. It’s going to be in a match that Sting has no chance in hell of winning. It’s going be inside HELL IN A CELL!