March 21, 2010- March 27, 2010
Welcome to the ninety-ninth edition of the WWE Week in Review. Feel free to contact me on TWO or Wrestling 101 anytime with comments, questions, and anything in between. Make sure to check out the section at the end of the article highlighting a different WWE Superstar or Diva every week. I have also added a section that lists where WWE will be hosting their weekly shows.
Next week, the WWE Week In Review article will be celebrating the 100th edition of the article and a lot has happened in the WWE world in those 100 weeks. In addition to the familiar format of the WWE Week In Review, there will be some changes and additions to the article starting with next week’s Week In Review article. The 100th Week In Review will also feature a look back at some of the most memorable moments, matches, and other happenings in the WWE in those last 100 weeks. In other words, prepare yourself for a WrestleMania-sized Week In Review next week!
You can follow me on Twitter at Wrestling101com. I will be posting the latest news from the wrestling world via my Twitter account, as well as Wrestling101.com.
New Hall of Fame Inductee Announced: WWE.com announced on Monday that “Mr. Baseball” Bob Uecker will be inducted into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame. While he is best known for his radio work for the Milwaukee Brewers, “Mr. Baseball” has made several WrestleMania appearances as well.
The 878th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Six nights before the biggest WWE show of the year, WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer and legendary baseball player Pete Rose would take the helms as Guest Host of RAW. On the final RAW before they go one-on-one for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, WWE Champion Batista and John Cena will have their final face-off before their WrestleMania showdown. Two of the WrestleMania grudge matches would collide as “The Game” Triple H would team with the former antagonist to his family, “The Viper” Randy Orton as the former Evolution teammates would face their respective WrestleMania opposition in former WWE Champion Sheamus, Cody Rhodes, & Ted DiBiase in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match. RAW would also see the tenth and final Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match participant be determined as Kofi Kingston would go up against “The Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov with the winner joining Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Kane, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Swagger, MVP, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, & Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre in the match in six nights at WrestleMania.
Monday Night RAW
Good Week For: John Cena (got a piece of Batista six nights before their WWE Title match at WrestleMania)
Bad Week For: Batista (was embarrassed by John Cena in their final face-off before WrestleMania)
In what could be the final RAW of his storied career, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels kicks off the show on RAW! Michaels proclaims that he’s got a “feeling”; a feeling that he can do “absolutely anything”! HBK then vows that, after WrestleMania, he will be known as the “one and only man who ended The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak”! Following this bold proclamation, HBK is interrupted by the lights fading as a video highlighting the twenty-five career of Shawn Michaels; a video that ends with The Undertaker vowing that the career of Shawn Michaels will “rest in peace”! A confident Michaels responds by saying that he “appreciates” the “attempt” at intimidation by The Undertaker, but if Undertaker really wants to “intimidate” him, he should come out there and face him! However, Shawn Michaels is not greeted by The Undertaker, but the Guest Host of RAW, Pete Rose! The legendary baseball player wishes Michaels luck and calls him the “right man” to end The Undertaker’s streak! The Guest Host then announces that he wants Shawn Michaels to face The Undertaker’s brother, Kane, in a No Disqualification match and says that he needs HBK to get “revenge” for Rose for Rose’s run-ins with “The Big Red Machine” over the years! Michaels then agrees to the match by vowing to get “revenge” for himself, as well as Pete Rose! Can Shawn Michaels beat Kane in a No Disqualification match six nights before he puts his career on the line against The Undertaker at WrestleMania?
Six nights before he and Big Show would defend the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles against R-Truth & John Morrison at WrestleMania, United States Champion The Miz would go one-on-one with one-half of the opposing WrestleMania team and former tag team partner, John Morrison! In the end, it was John Morrison hitting Starship Pain on The Miz en route to picking the momentum-building win! After the match, Big Show shoved R-Truth on the outside, which led to John Morrison knocking Big Show down! An enraged Big Show then chased Truth & Morrison out of the ring! With this win, R-Truth & John Morrison are rolling towards WrestleMania, but will the duo be able to unseat The Miz & Big Show as the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions on the grandest stage of them all?
Then it was time to determine the tenth, and final, entrant into the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania as Kofi Kingston would go one-on-one with “The Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov. In the end, it was the quickness of Kofi Kingston that allowed Kofi to defeat Vladimir Kozlov and earn the final spot in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match! Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Kane, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Swagger, MVP, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Drew McIntyre, and, now, Kofi Kingston will all compete in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match this Sunday at WrestleMania, but which Superstar will earn the career-changing Money-in-the-Bank title opportunity in six nights?
Then it was time for the 3-on-2 Handicap Match that would see WrestleMania opponents compete as reluctant partners Triple H & Randy Orton would face the team of Sheamus, Cody Rhodes, & Ted DiBiase. In the end, the numbers game was too much for Triple H & Randy Orton as a distraction by Cody Rhodes allowed Sheamus to hit the pump kick on Randy Orton en route to picking up the win for himself and Legacy! After the match, Sheamus tried to lay Triple H out, but “The Game” dodged the pump kick, but Triple H was able to fire back and send Sheamus careening out of the ring! Will Triple H be the one standing tall in the ring this Sunday at WrestleMania or will Sheamus get the upset win over Triple H in his first WrestleMania?
Six nights before he faces WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon in a No Holds Barred Match that is thirteen years in the making, Bret “The Hitman” Hart makes an appearance on RAW to address his WrestleMania opponent! The Hall of Famer states that, leaving the WWE in 1997 left a bad “taste” in his mouth, but now he gets the chance to leave on a high note and vows that, starting next week, “Bret screwed Bret” will become “Bret beat Vince”! Bret then states that Vince has managed to “drive” half his family out of the WWE, but that the Hart family will be in Phoenix in “full force” when he gives Vince the “beating of his life”! Bret then states that he has waited a “long time” to get his hands on Vince McMahon and he will do just that at WrestleMania! Bret then lays out the promise that, at WrestleMania, he will be “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be”! Before “The Hitman” could leave the ring, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon comes out to simply and diabolically state that, “one way or another”, Bret will be “screwed” this Sunday at WrestleMania! What does the WWE Chairman have in store for Bret Hart this Sunday?
In a match made by Guest Host Pete Rose, Shawn Michaels would compete in what could be the final match on RAW in the career of “The Heartbreak Kid” as Michaels would face “The Big Red Machine” Kane in a match with no disqualifications and no count-outs just six nights before Michaels puts his career on the line against the undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker in the same type of match at WrestleMania! Shawn Michaels looked poised for victory as he was prepared to put Kane down with Sweet Chin Music, but the lights fade and the familiar gong of The Undertaker sounds before “The Phenom” appears in the ring in front of Michaels before Undertaker plants his WrestleMania opponent with a thunderous chokselam! The lights then fade again and when the lights come back on, it is Kane standing over HBK and “The Big Red Machine” pins Michaels, but HBK is able to kick out despite interference by The Undertaker! Kane then sets Michaels up for the Tombstone Piledriver, but HBK escapes and finally hits Sweet Chin Music on “The Big Red Machine” en route to picking up the essential win! Shawn Michaels defeated Kane in the no disqualifications and no count-outs environment, but can Michaels do the same when his storied career is on the line against the undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker this Sunday?
Backstage, Guest Host Pete Rose is having a conversation with Christian and Rose tells “Captain Charisma” that he feels his “luck” is turning around, but when the Guest Host opens the door to his office, he is met by Kane, who grabs Rose by the throat and drags the Guest Host into the office as a beating by “The Big Red Machine” is easily audible!
Following the Divas brawl last week, RAW hosted a 6-Diva Tag Match as the Women’s Champion Michelle McCool, Layla, & Divas Champion Maryse (with SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero & Alicia Fox in their corner) took on “The Glamazon” Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim, & Eve Torres (with Kelly Kelly & Mickie James in their corner)! Michelle McCool was able to make short work of the contest as she hit Gail Kim with the Faith Breaker to win the match for her team! How will Vickie Guerrero fare in her match against Beth Phoenix this Friday on SmackDown?
Six nights before they go one-on-one for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, WWE Champion Batista & John Cena would have their final face-off before WrestleMania! With his security force by his side, WWE Champion Batista comes out first and proclaims that John Cena will “never beat” him and reiterates that, whenever they are in the same ring, “bad things” happen to Cena and it will be no different at WrestleMania! The confident WWE Champion continues that he is seen as the “bad guy” because he is “honest” before proclaiming that the fans mean “nothing” to him; all that matters to him is titles and money! Batista then proclaims that the fans hate him for his “honesty”, but they all pay to see him because he is “greatness”! Batista then confidently proclaims that Cena will “disappoint” the fans at WrestleMania and says he is done talking before inviting John Cena to come to the ring; a request that Cena wastes no time in fulfilling as the #1 Contender makes his way to the ring! Cena states that he has already “disappointed” the fans and it happened when Batista became the WWE Champion! The #1 Contender continues that he has lost “confidence” in himself and the fans have as well before saying that he has tried to stop Batista every week to no avail! Cena then states that, even with all of the “fight” in the world, he may not stand a chance at WrestleMania! Cena then tells Batista that he is tired of Batista’s “garbage” before stating that Batista thinks he is “The Animal” and that he is “proof positive” that Batista is not good at his “job” and that is proven by the security surrounding him! Cena continues that, if Batista was good at his “job”, then he would not be standing there and says that he does not see “The Animal”, he sees Batista and proclaims that Batista “can be” and “will be” beaten before vowing to win the WWE Title this Sunday! The words then ceased as champion and challenger clashed in a brawl that took Batista’s security and several referees and officials to restore any semblance of order! What will happen in this heated battle over the WWE Championship this Sunday? Who will emerge from WrestleMania as the WWE Champion?
The fifth edition of WWE NXT came to you from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. One week before the first round of voting for the NXT Rookies commences, all eight NXT Rookies would be in action on NXT in two separate tag matches. The first tag match would see the reluctant NXT Rookie of United States & Unified WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz, Daniel Bryan, team with the NXT Rookie of Carlito, Michael Tarver, as they face the team of R-Truth’s Rookie, David Otunga, and the Rookie of CM Punk, Darren Young. The other tag match would see Christian’s NXT Rookie, Heath Slater, team with the Rookie of Matt Hardy, Justin Gabriel, as the exciting young team would face World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho’s NXT Rookie, Wade Barrett, and William Regal’s Rookie, Skip Sheffield.
WWE NXT
Good Week For: Heath Slater (took advantage of a mistake by Wade Barrett to win the match for himself and Justin Gabriel)
Bad Week For: Daniel Bryan (lost once again, this time due to his partner, Michael Tarver, having his attention elsewhere)
The opening match of the night would see NXT Rookies compete in tag team action as Christian’s NXT Rookie, Heath Slater, would team with Matt Hardy’s NXT Rookie, Justin Gabriel, to face the NXT Rookie of World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho, Wade Barrett, and the Rookie of William Regal, Skip Sheffield. In the end, it was an inadvertent big boot by Wade Barrett that led to Heath Slater pinning Skip Sheffield to pick up the win for himself and Justin Gabriel! How will this tag team victory weigh with the WWE Pros when the first round of NXT voting takes place next week? How will the mistake by Wade Barrett factor in to the voting?
Then it was time for the main event as the NXT Rookie of The Miz, Daniel Bryan, would team with the NXT Rookie of Carlito, Michael Tarver as the duo faces off with R-Truth’s Rookie, David Otunga, and CM Punk’s Rookie, Darren Young. With Michael Tarver taking issue with Luke Gallows of The Straightedge Society on the outside, Daniel Bryan was unable to make a much-needed tag to Tarver and it led to David Otunga planting Daniel Bryan en route to picking up the win for himself and Darren Young! Daniel Bryan continues to be a victim of circumstance and it has resulted in Bryan being on a losing streak since his NXT debut. How will this and other factors weigh in when the first round of NXT voting gets underway next week?
The 49th edition of WWE Superstars came to you from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Three nights before they go one-on-one at WrestleMania, CM Punk & Rey Mysterio would be in action as CM Punk would face off with one-half of Cryme Tyme, JTG, and Rey Mysterio would go one-on-one with The Hart Dynasty’s Tyson Kidd.
WWE Superstars
Good Week For: CM Punk & Rey Mysterio (picked up some essential momentum for their match at WrestleMania)
Bad Week For: Tyson Kidd (despite an impressive showing and the backing of The Hart Dynasty, was unable to defeat Rey Mysterio)
On a night where his WrestleMania opponent, Rey Mysterio, would go one-on-one with The Hart Dynasty’s Tyson Kidd, CM Punk would open the show as he faced off with Cryme Tyme’s JTG. In the end, it was CM Punk sending a message to Rey Mysterio before their WrestleMania showdown as “The Straightedge Savior” successfully hits the GTS en route to picking up the win over JTG! Can CM Punk do the same to Rey Mysterio in three nights’ time at WrestleMania to force Rey to join The Straightedge Society?
Then it was time for the main event as, three nights before he faces CM Punk at WrestleMania, Rey Mysterio would go one-on-one with The Hart Dynasty’s Tyson Kidd. In the end, it was Rey picking up an impressive win over fellow high-flyer Tyson Kidd to gain momentum heading into his WrestleMania match against CM Punk! Can Rey Mysterio defeat CM Punk in three nights at WrestleMania or will Rey be forced to join The Straightedge Society?
The 553rd edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Just two days before they all compete in the WrestleMania tradition known as the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, SmackDown would feature a huge RAW Vs. SmackDown 10-Man Tag Match as Christian, MVP, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, & Kofi Kingston would represent RAW as they face Kane, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, & Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre from SmackDown. Before he and John Morrison challenges The Miz & Big Show for the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania, R-Truth would be in action as he would face one of his WrestleMania opponents in “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show. After being laid out by Beth Phoenix two weeks ago, SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero has challenged the two-time Women’s Champion to a one-on-one match on SmackDown in Vickie’s first one-on-one match against a Diva. SmackDown would also present exclusive footage of the festivities of WrestleMania Axxess in Phoenix, where the fans get the ultimate WrestleMania and WWE experience.
Friday Night SmackDown
Good Week For: R-Truth & John Morrison (were able to lay out both The Miz & Big Show before their WrestleMania showdown)
Bad Week For: Vickie Guerrero (was humiliated by Beth Phoenix)
The show kicks off with the opening match of the night as the participants in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match would square off in a huge 10-Man RAW Vs. SmackDown Tag Team Match as the reluctant team of Kane, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, & Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre would represent SmackDown against Christian, MVP, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, & Kofi Kingston from RAW! After the match broke down with all ten Superstars squaring off, it was a blind tag by the opportunistic Intercontinental Champion that led to Drew McIntyre hitting the Future Shock DDT on Christian en route to picking up the win for his team! After the match, McIntyre pulled a ladder out from under the ring and set it up in the ring before climbing it in a symbolical move to what could be the scene this Sunday night at WrestleMania, but the other nine competitors sent a message to McIntyre, as well as each other, by tipping the ladder over, sending McIntyre to the mat before slamming McIntyre with the ladder! Which of these ten Superstars will win the Money-in-the-Bank title shot this Sunday at WrestleMania?
Then it was time for SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero to compete in her first ever Divas Match as Vickie would face two-time Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix! Before the match begins, Vickie announces that, in the “spirit of competition”, the match will be a 5-on-1 Handicap Match as Vickie would be joined by Women’s Champion Michelle McCool, Divas Champion Maryse, Layla, & Alicia Fox! Following a vicious kick to the head by Michelle McCool, SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero demanded that she be tagged in before pinning Beth Phoenix to pick up the win! After the match, Vickie was coaxed to do a frog splash off of the top rope, but the “festivities” were interrupted by the former Women’s Champion Mickie James, Gail Kim, Kelly Kelly, & Eve Torres, who cleared the ring of McCool, Maryse, Layla, & Alicia Fox, which left Vickie Guerrero alone with Beth Phoenix! “The Glamazon” then proceeded to humiliate the SmackDown Consultant by ripping off the bottoms of Vickie’s ring gear! How will Vickie respond to this utter humiliation at the hands of Beth Phoenix?
Two nights before he defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Edge at WrestleMania, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho makes an appearance on SmackDown! The confident champion wastes no time in proclaiming that he will defeat Edge at WrestleMania to retain the World Heavyweight Title before touting that Edge has the “tools” to defeat him at WrestleMania, but Edge does not have the “DNA”! Jericho continues by claiming that his “superior DNA” makes him better than Edge and everyone else! Jericho then calls Edge a “reject” and says he will use Edge’s “inferior genetics” against him at WrestleMania and will end the career of Edge! Jericho then tells Edge to “blame” Edge’s “defective DNA” for his loss! Having heard enough of Chris Jericho, Edge comes out with a purpose as he lays Jericho out with a big boot before setting up for the Spear; a Spear that Jericho narrowly avoids by exiting the ring! Edge then picks up the World Heavyweight Title and stands in the middle of the ring holding the championship! Will this be the scene come WrestleMania or will Jericho make good on his promise to end the career of Edge at WrestleMania?
Then it was time for the main event as, two nights before they, and their respective partners, face off for the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania, R-Truth would go one-on-one with one half of the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show! After John Morrison took out The Miz on the outside of the ring, R-Truth & John Morrison were faced with Big Show and the lightning-quick duo was able to take down Big Show and, after Truth laid The Miz out with the Lie Detector, the #1 Contenders for the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles were the ones standing tall over the fallen champions! Will R-Truth & John Morrison earn the same result this Sunday at WrestleMania to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles or will ShoMiz prove their dominance in their biggest title defense to date?
Superstar of the Week: John Cena
This Sunday, World Wrestling Entertainment presents: WrestleMania XXVI, which will come to you, live, with a special start time of 7/6c, from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
The match that everyone will have their eyes on this Sunday has to be the no disqualification and no count-out WrestleMania rematch between Shawn Michaels & The Undertaker as Shawn Michaels has agreed to put his legendary twenty-five year career on the line against the unmatched 17-0 undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker! Shawn Michaels has stated in the past that, if he can not beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, then his career is over and, this Sunday, “The Heartbreak Kid” is willing to put it all on the line for the chance to be the only man in history to have defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania. The 17-0 record of The Undertaker has seen Triple H, Batista, Kane, Ric Flair, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Mark Henry, Big Boss Man, Giant Gonzalez, Diesel, A-Train, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Sycho Sid, Big Show, Edge, Randy Orton, and even Shawn Michaels all fail to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but can Shawn Michaels cash in on his second attempt to end the legendary undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker or will The Undertaker make good on his promise to make the career of Shawn Michaels “rest in peace” this Sunday at WrestleMania?
In a WWE Championship match that has become more and more personal over the last few months, WWE Champion Batista will defend against the man he stole the title from at WWE Elimination Chamber, John Cena! The involvement of Batista all started after John Cena publicly took the side of Bret Hart in Bret’s feud with Mr. McMahon, who offered Batista a title opportunity in exchange for the “services” of Batista. After Batista’s shocking assault on John Cena several weeks ago, the WWE Chairman gave Batista his end of the deal at WWE Elimination Chamber where, after John Cena survived a hellacious Elimination Chamber Match to regain the WWE Title, Mr. McMahon came out and surprised everyone, most of all John Cena, by announcing that Cena must immediately defend his newly won WWE Title against the fresh Batista. “The Animal” was able to easily defeat the weakened Cena to claim the WWE Championship for the second time in his career. The night after his highway robbery of the WWE Championship, Batista intentionally got himself disqualified in a match against John Cena where, if Cena won, then he would get a shot at Batista and the WWE Title at WrestleMania! Since their WrestleMania showdown was made official, Batista has exhibited a seemingly unbreakable heir of confidence. The WWE Champion has repeatedly reminded his WrestleMania challenger that, every time they step into the ring together, “bad things” happen to John Cena. “The Animal” has gone as far to say that Cena can not defeat him and that Cena knows it to be true! On the final RAW before WrestleMania, Cena got inside the head of the WWE Champion by telling Batista that he has “failed” at his “job” of being known as “The Animal” and that, not only “can” Batista be defeated at WrestleMania, but Batista “will” be defeated at WrestleMania! When these two powerhouse Superstars step into the ring this Sunday, who will emerge as the WWE Champion? Will Batista prove that Cena can not beat him or will Cena get his revenge on Batista?
In July of last year, Edge suffered an Achilles tendon injury and was forced to forfeit his half of the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles that he held with then partner, Chris Jericho. Ever since this injury, Chris Jericho has relentlessly mocked, insulted, and berated “The Rated-R Superstar for his injury, but following a surprise return at the Royal Rumble in January, Edge eliminated Chris Jericho on Edge’s path to becoming the winner of the 2010 Royal Rumble to earn a shot at either the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. While winning the World Heavyweight Title at WWE Elimination Chamber was, no doubt, a big night for Chris Jericho, it also allotted Edge the opportunity to set his sights on Jericho and make his decision to challenge Jericho for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania! Since his decision, Edge has repeatedly laid the World Heavyweight Champion out with the Spear, while Jericho has also gotten the better of the #1 Contender. The cunning Chris Jericho has repeatedly said that he does not believe that Edge is fully recovered from his Achilles tendon injury and that Edge being less than 100% will lead to his downfall come WrestleMania. Is Chris Jericho right about the status of Edge or will Edge prove Chris Jericho wrong at WrestleMania en route to claiming the World Heavyweight Championship?
The date was November 9, 1997, the place was Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the event was Survivor Series; on this night, the state of the wrestling world was forever changed as, in a WWE Championship match where Bret Hart defended the gold against Shawn Michaels, Michaels placed Bret in Bret’s own Sharpshooter, which led to Vince McMahon forcing the bell to ring for the submission that did not even take place, thus forcing the WWE Title out of the grasp of “The Hirman”! After that night, Bret Hart vowed to never return to the WWE, but in January, Vince McMahon reluctantly allowed “The Hitman” to return to the company. After successfully finding “closure” with Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart turned his attention to putting the past between him and McMahon to rest. After it looked like Bret & Vince did just that, Vince shocked Bret and the fans by kicking Bret in the mid-section! After originally agreeing to a WrestleMania showdown with Bret Hart, Vince McMahon backed out of the match, which prompted Bret to say his “goodbyes” to the fans since a match with the WWE Chairman at WrestleMania did not look like a possibility any longer. However, when Bret tried to leave the arena that same night, he was the victim of a car accident in the arena’s parking lot that left Bret’s leg broken! Following Bret’s accident, Vince McMahon suddenly found his courage and challenged the hobbled Hall of Famer to a match at WrestleMania! After kicking the crutch out from under “The Hitman”, an angered Bret agreed to face McMahon at WrestleMania, despite his condition! However, the night of their official contract signing for the match, Bret got McMahon to agree to their one-on-one WrestleMania encounter becoming a No Holds Barred contest shortly before he revealed that the car accident and his subsequent broken leg was all an elaborate ruse to make the Chairman believe Bret was hurt! On the final RAW before WrestleMania, McMahon sent the stern message to Bret that, come WrestleMania, Bret would be “screwed”! Now it all comes down to WrestleMania where, after twelve long years, Bret Hart will finally get his hands on the man who screwed him out of the WWE Championship back at the 1997 Survivor Series as he faces Vince McMahon in a No Holds Barred Match. Will “The Hitrman” get his long-awaited revenge on the WWE Chairman or does the evil genius, Vince McMahon, have a plan for Bret Hart in their No Holds Barred match this Sunday?
Ever since WWE Elimination Chamber last month where he was eliminated by Rey Mysterio inside the Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Championship, CM Punk has had his sights set on Rey Mysterio and their budding feud took a personal and uncomfortable turn on a recent edition of SmackDown. On that night, Rey brought his wife, son, and daughter to the show with him and brought his family into the ring, where Rey would lead the crowd in signing Happy Birthday to his daughter, who was turning nine years old. The touching family moment was interrupted by CM Punk & The Straightedge Society as Punk would insult Rey in front of the Mysterio family before challenging Rey to a match at WrestleMania. “The Straightedge Savior” even went as far as to slap Rey across the face right in front of Rey’s family! The following week, Rey challenged Punk to a Street Fight at WrestleMania and Punk responded by telling Rey that, if Rey could defeat his right hand man, Luke Gallows, in a one-on-one match, then Rey would get his Street Fight, but if Gallows won, then their match would be a standard match with the stipulation being that, if Rey lost the WrestleMania match, then Rey would be forced to join The Straightedge Society! Later on the same night, some key interference by CM Punk & Serena would lead to Luke Gallows defeating Rey Mysterio! This Sunday at WrestleMania, Rey Mysterio will get his chance at revenge for, not only himself, but his family, but if Rey is defeated by CM Punk, then Mysterio will have no choice but to pledge his allegiance to CM Punk and The Straightedge Society! Will Rey Mysterio get revenge at WrestleMania or will CM Punk defeat Rey and force Mysterio to join The Straightedge Society?
At WWE Elimination Chamber last month, Triple H derailed Sheamus’ road to WrestleMania by eliminating “The Celtic Warrior” inside the Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship and Sheamus responded by assaulting Triple H on RAW! This Sunday at WrestleMania, Sheamus will go one-on-one with the legendary Triple H in Sheamus’ first WrestleMania, but can Sheamus defeat Triple H or will “The Game” teach Sheamus a valuable lesson in respect?
For over a year, the trio of Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, & Ted DiBiase had seemingly been unstoppable in the WWE, but over recent months, Randy Orton & Legacy have crumbled as a team with the final blow coming at WWE Elimination Chamber where, with the help of Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase shockingly eliminated Randy Orton inside the Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship! This Sunday at WrestleMania, the once dominant trio will face off in a Triple Threat Match as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, & Ted DiBiase look to settle things once and for all! Will Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase use the Triple Threat Match against their former mentor, Randy Orton, to propel themselves to a whole new level at WrestleMania or will dissention between Legacy lead to Rhodes & DiBiase’s downfall at the hands of Randy Orton?
In the biggest Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match ever, ten Superstars from RAW & SmackDown will compete in a match where, the first combatant to successfully pull down the Money-in-the-Bank contract will guarantee themselves a shot at either the WWE or World Heavyweight Titles at any time from the moment they win the briefcase until next year’s WrestleMania. Ladder Match veterans Christian & Matt Hardy will be among the field of competitors, along with “The Big Red Machine” Kane, Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre, the Money-in-the-Bank show stealer Shelton Benjamin, “The Platinum Superstar” Dolph Ziggler, the ever-exciting Kofi Kingston, two-time United States Champion MVP, as well as WrestleMania first-timers Jack Swagger & Evan Bourne. While all of these Superstars are more than capable of winning the match, the question still remains; who will walk out of WrestleMania as “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank”?
WrestleMania will also see the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles be put up for grabs as United States Champion The Miz & “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show will defend their Unified WWE Tag Team Titles on “The Grandest Stage of Them All” against a team who has had the champions’ numbers as of late, R-Truth & John Morrison. Can ShoMiz prevail or will the exciting and entertaining team of R-Truth & John Morrison take home the gold this Sunday at WrestleMania
Superstar Profile of the Week
Name: Drew McIntyre
Born On: June 6, 1985 in Ayr, Scotland
Age: 24
Billed From: Ayr, Scotland
Wrestler Since: 2001
Trained By: Mark Sloan, Colin McKay, James Tighe, Justin Richards, & Spinner McKenzie
Accomplishments
One Time & Reigning Intercontinental Champion
Did You Know?
Drew McIntyre has a degree in Criminology from the Glasgow Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland.
Next Week’s WWE Television Schedule
Sunday, March 28: WWE Presents: WrestleMania XXVI, LIVE from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
Monday, March 29: RAW, LIVE from the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ
Tuesday, March 30: WWE NXT, LIVE from the Thomas & Mack Center at the UNLV in Las Vegas, NV
Thursday, April 1: WWE Superstars from Phoenix, AZ & Las Vegas, NV
Friday, April 2: The Thomas & Mack Center at the UNLV in Las Vegas, NV Hosts SmackDown