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-- PRIMO & CARLITO beat MIZ & JOHN MORRISON to unify the World and WWE Tag Team Titles. Disappointing that this didn't air on the PPV show. This was my pick as a sleeper match of the night, but having the tag titles unified and not even air it on the main PPV card really shows where the tag titles fit in WWE's list of priorities.
-A really cool video montage opened the event with various wrestlers on the roster picking their favorite WrestleMania moment and match. Hogan-Andre, Michaels-Razor, Owen-Bret, and other obvious picks by a variety of wrestlers.
-After Nicole Scherzinger sang "America the Beautiful," Jim Ross introduced the show. Michael Cole then took over and spoke about the Money in the Bank ladder match. He introduced Jerry Lawler, rounding out what appears is going to be a three-man announce team. Not sure about this. If Ross and Cole trade off doing the play-by-play each match with the other offering supporting comments and questions, that's fine. If they try to share play-by-play all night, that could be messy.
1 -- C.M. PUNK vs. MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. M.V.P. vs. FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. KOFI KINGSTON vs. CHRISTIAN vs. KANE -- Money in the Bank Ladder match
The order of entry is reflected in the above line listing the competitors. The bell rang and everyone went at it, most of them ending up at ringside as Kane battled Mark Henry. As Shelton and Christian held onto a ladder, Kofi dropkicked it into both of them, then legdropped the ladder in a move that, with a basic understanding physics, was going to hurt Kofi much more than Christian and Shelton who were under it on either end. Finlay was about to climb the ladder when Kane kicked him in the face. Kane and Henry climbed the ladder. The rest of the wrestlers ran into the ring and yanked them down. Shelton, Punk, MVP, Kofi, and Finlay climbed two side-by-side ladders. Henry and Kane knocked them over. Kane then gave Henry a big boot, then threw one of the ladders out of the ring. When Kane climbed the ladder, Henry recovered and knocked the ladder over. Kane took a cautious bump onto the top rope. When Finlay entered the ring Henry threw the ladder at him. The ladder flew to ringside and almost hit the announcers. Finlay dove through the ropes onto Kane and Shelton. Christian then leaped from inside the ring onto both Kane and Finlay at ringside. I half expected a commercial break at this point.
MVP stood on the ring apron and played to the crowd, then flip dove onto Kane, Finlay, and Christian. Kofi and Punk squared off in the ring. They agreed to work together and hit the wrestlers on the floor with stereo shoulder tackles. Shelton climbed a ladder at ringside - the jumbo-sized one - and then flip dove onto the crowd of wrestlers on the floor. That prompted the first "holy sh--"! chant of the night. That was crazy looking. Henry then climbed the ropes. Before he could shock the world with a flip dive, Finlay hit him with a shillelagh. Hornswoggle used a small ladder to climb in the corner. Finlay then launched Hornswoggle off of the back of Henry onto the crowd of all other wrestlers on the floor. Finlay hit Henry with the step ladder. Finlay set up the ladder mid-ring. Kofi leaped into Finlay with a dropkick under the ladder, then knocked the ladder onto Finlay in the corner. Fans chanted "Kofi, Kofi." Finlay threw the step ladder into a flying Kofi. Punk re-entered the ring and went after Finlay. Finlay used a step ladder as a weapon to clear the ring and ring apron. He set up the taller ladder and began climbing it. Kofi knocked him down with a 360 degree roundhouse kick to the head.
Kofi climbed the ladder, but Henry tipped it over easily. Henry then set the ladder against the top rope, headbutted Kofi, and then set up the ladder. In a sweet spot, Kofi climbed the ladder before Henry could even set up it. He used Henry as the base for the ladder to hold it up. As he grasped toward the ladder, Henry shoved the ladder aside, caught Kofi and powerslammed him onto the lader. As Henry climbed the ladder, MVP hit him from behind with the ladder with a jab. MVP then stomped away at Henry and climbed the ladder. Shelton quickly stopped MVP. MVP went for a suplex on a ladder he bridged in the ring over the top rope. Shelton escaped and leaped off the ladder at MVP. MVP caught him and powerbombed him. The crowd chanted "MVP, MVP" as if it were Staples Center for a Laker game. Punk met MVP on the other side. Christian yanked MVP down. Punk kicked Christian away from him. Christian climbed the ladder behind Punk. Punk stood on the bridged ladder and set up a move. Christian escaped and gave Punk the Unprettier off the bridge. Christian sold it as much as Punk. It was a pretty awkward bump.
In the ring MVP climbed the ladder. Shelton climbed a ladder leaning against the ring at ringside, then moved to the bridged lader, and then went for a sunset flip on MVP off the ladder. That didn't go as expected as MVP held on too long and they fell backwards awkwardly. They were thankfully okay, and a "You f---ed up!" chant rang out from jerks in the crowd. Shelton then lifted MVP powerbomb style and tossed him onto several wrestlers at ringside. Finlay and Shelton climbed opposite sides of a ladder. Shelton knocked Finlay off the ladder and he bumped onto the bridged ladder. Christian yanked Shelton down and then unbridged the ladder and set it up next to another ladder for no logical reason strategically. Christian climbed the ladder that was set up. Shelton climbed the other. They battled on one ladder and it tipped over. Shelton fell to the floor as Christian landed on the top rope with hit foot, then pushed the ladder back upright. Cool spot. Punk leaped onto the ladder to try to stop Christian. Christian knocked him backwards and Punk hung from his ankle. Kane climbed a ladder and battled Christian. Kane sorta chokeslammed Christian off the ladder. He more so put his arm on his neck and Christian leaped off the ladder. Punk righted himself and grabbed the briefcase. Kane grabbed Punk's throat. Punk kicked himself free with a series of roundkicks, sending Kane to the floor. Punk then unfastened the briefcase to win it again!
WINNER: Punk in 14:00.
STAR RATING: ****1/4 -- Non-stop creative action with what could be considered a surprise outcome. Punk makes history as the first two-time winner. The crowd was in it all the way. The wrestlers really came through by making it new again with some creative spots. Not every spot was smooth, but I never hold that against wrestlers in a match where they're obviously being creative, as even if it were "real" mistakes would happen in the midst of exchanges between wrestlers. If it's too smooth, it looks more choreographed. That said, you don't want too many botched spots. In this case, they pulled off most of them, with good teases of the finish thrown in.
-They showed two minutes of highlights of the WWE Fan Axxess in Houston over the weekend.
-Kid Rock performed live on the entrance stage. He performed a medley of songs including "All Summer Long" which samples "Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." It was a big hit. He's enough of a showman and they had a cool set-up on stage that it was actually all right for a wrestling PPV. These usually bomb badly, but the crowd didn't overwhelm him with boos. Mostly cheers, in fact. Lawler said: "My favorite rock group is Mount Rushmore."
2 -- TWENTY-FIVE DIVA BATTLE ROYAL
They went right from Kid Rock to the bell ringing for this match. All of the women were already in the ring. Mae Young was the guest time keeper at ringside, with Candice Michelle sitting next to her. Rosa Mendez was the first eliminated. Women are eliminated if their feet hit the floor, whether or not they went over the top rope or through the ropes. Regarding May, Lawler said, "She remembers back when she was a beautiful diva. Then the meteor hit and the dinosaurs died." Molly Holly and Sunny were among the early eliminations. They flew to Houston for that? Santino was dressed in drag in the ring just avoiding any contact. The final five were Santino, Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, and Melina. McCool and Mickie tumbled to the floor next. Santino then knocked Phoenix and Melina to the floor to win. The crowd chanted "San-tin-o!" afterward. The announcers were instructed to play dumb, as they pretended they didn't know who it was.
WINNER: Santino Marella in 6:00.
STAR RATING: n/a -- Afterward, Santino claimed he was Santina Marella, Santino's twin sister from Italy. He cried as Candice put the Diva Crown on his head. Beth Phoenix was upset that he stole her moment. Santino did a full fledged celebration dance including the splits in the ring. Cole did his fake forced laugh, while people the crowd seemed to getting a kick out of it, although a few seemed disgusted and almost distraught at what they were watching.
-A video package aired on the Jericho-Mickey Rourke storyline. Lilian Garcia then introduced Rourke at ringside. He seemed a little overwhelmed or uncomfortable as fans around him yelled at the top of their lungs near him and mugged for the camera.
3 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. RICKY STEAMBOAT & JIMMY SNUKA & RODDY PIPER (w/Ric Flair)
Steamboat was in solid shape. Piper spit his gum at Jericho, then tackled him at the bell in a really awkward looking move. He clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. Piper got his arm caught in the ropes briefly. The ref helped him break free. He went after Jericho on the floor, throwing him into the announce table. Piper hit a sunset flip for a near fall. That would have been hilarious if that was the finish. Piper even hit a dropkick, or something resembling such a move. Piper's t-shirt said "Old School is Cool." Ross talked about Piper and Snuka at WrestleMania 1. Snuka tagged in, headbutting Jericho at the start. He moved around like Mae Young and now has pretty much the same body shape. It was kind of uncanny, actually. He threw his signature chop, then tagged in Steamboat. Steamboat leaped off the top rope with a chop, then two armdrags. He applied an armbar and some knees to the ribs. The crowd chanted "Steamboat." Snuka tagged back in and headbutted Jericho.
Lawler said the shorter the match the better for the legends since they have only so much in the tank. Jericho put Snuka in the Walls of Jericho for the submission. Jericho didn't release it, so Piper and Steambaot entered the ring. Jericho knocked Steamboat out of the ring from behind with a forearm to the back. Piper kneed Jericho and began shouting obscenities, getting bleeped out. Piper poked Jericho in the eyes and then applied his sleeper. Jericho escaped by sending Piper into the top rope throat-first. He followed up with an enzuigiri for the pin. That left Steamboat, who surprised Jericho with a top rope crossbody block for a two count. Jericho fired back with a sudden clothesline. They showed Flair at ringside looking on with concern. Jericho kicked Steamboat in the face, then played to the crowd. Then he settled into a chinlock. Jericho tossed Steamboat over the top rope. Steamboat skinned the cat back into the ring. Flair hopped onto the ring apron. Jericho knocked him to the floor.
Steamboat backdropped a charging Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Steamboat slingshot himself over the top rope onto Jericho on the floor. Ross said: "Oh my God! We turned back the hands of time! How amazing was that move!" Steamboat climbed to the top rope and hit Jericho with a flying chop to the forehead. Jericho charged at Steamboat, but was taken down with chops to the chest. Steamboat rolled up Jericho for a near fall. Jericho came back with a bulldog. Steamboat fired back with a powerslam for a near fall. The crowd was totally into the match. Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho. He locked it on, but Steamboat twisted out of it and small packaged Jericho for a near fall. Steamboat flipped out of a suplex attempt, but Jericho caught him right away with a Code Breaker for the win.
WINNER: Jericho in 9:00.
STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Steamboat made it a special match by performing pretty well, if not very well. Snuka and Piper were very limited, but they worked around that. The crowd ate up everything, especially once it came down to Steamboat-Jericho.
-An enraged Flair entered the ring afterward and went after Jericho. Jericho backdropped Flair and then gave him a Code Breaker. Jericho shoved Flair out of the ring. Cole said Jericho had a smug smile. Jericho asked for a mic and was handed one. Jericho said he is the best in the world at what he does. He said he did what he said he was going to do - eliminate the "legend Hall of Fame washouts forever." He said he had one more piece of business. He pointed at Rourke at ringside. Frank Shamrock was sitting next to Rourke. Jericho demanded he apologize for what he said. He asked if he was a liar and hypocrite. Jericho told him if he didn't get in the ring, he'd jump the rail and slap him in his face. The camera showed a lot of Shamrock (Ken's brother). Rourke stood up and made his way to the ring. The crowd cheered as he took off his jacket and made his way into the ring. He took his time and shadow boxed a little bit in the corner.
Ross noted that Rourke was a pro boxer at one time. Lawler said for a number of years he boxed. They circled mid-ring. Rourke threw a few rapid-fire jabs at him. Jericho looked surprised and the crowd cheers got louder. Rourke landed a punch and Jericho collapsed to the mat faster than you can say Bart Gunn. Flair raised Rourke's arm in victory as Flair's music played. With all of Rourke's wrestling training, it'd have been cool to see him do a wrestling exchange for Jericho, but even his getting in the ring was more than most expected going into this. Flair had a nice WrestleMania 25 moment by being in the spotlight with Rourke.
-A commercial aired for the National Guard.
-They showed Ross, Lawler, and Cole at ringside. Ross commented on the previous segment, then threw to Lawler for analysis of the Hardys match. A lot video package aired on the Hardys.
4 -- MATT HARDY vs. JEFF HARDY -- Extreme Rules match
Matt wore actual long wrestling tights instead of those pants. Jeff smacked Matt after some trash talking mid-ring. Matt rolled out of the ring. Jeff hit Matt with a framed WrestleMania poster he found under the ring. Lawler: "Matt finally got his face on a WrestleMania poster." Funny line, actually. Ross said, "Matt can say he was framed at WrestleMania." Matt dominated for a few minutes, wrapping Jeff around the ringpost at 4:00. Matt struggled to pull a table out from under the ring, then set it up at ringside. Jeff kicked Matt into the ringside steps. Jeff hit Matt with a kendo stick and crutches, then kicked a trash can over his head. Ross talked about brother vs. brother matches at WrestleMania - Owen vs. Bret and Undertaker vs. Kane. It's annoying that Kane and Taker is talked about as a "legit" brother vs. brother match. I'd rather ignore that "fact" than actually say it. Matt surprised Jeff with a Twist of Fate at 7:00.
Jeff came back with a superplex. Jeff hit Matt with an unprotected chairshot to the side of his head. Jeff put Matt on a table at ringside and then set a chair on him. Then he grabbed another table from under the ring and set it up on top of the table that Matt was on. Hardy then played to the crowd and leaped of the table with a splash through both tables, with Matt in the middle. They replayed it a couple times. Jeff pulled two ladders out from under the ring. It took a while, but Hardy leaped off of one ladder in the ring over an even taller ladder and went for a big legdrop. Matt moved and Jeff landed hard on his ass. Matt slowly got up and put Jeff's head in the chair and then gave him a Twist of Fate while in the chair for the win. Ross wondered if Jeff took once big chance too many. Lawler said the answer is yes.
WINNER: Matt Hardy in 13:00.
STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Some big spots and a memorable finish.
-A commercial aired for the the Legends of WrestleMania videogame.
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