Wrestling Fandom

“I’m not sad that I won’t be wrestling.” Ric went on to say, “I want to thank you for the memories, thank you for the support, and most of all thank you for making me who I am today. Woooooo.”

The Game came out and told Ric Flair that he had to come out and say Thank You. The Game brought of the Four Horsemen, Ric’s former bad boy crew. Batista also came out to salute the Nature Boy. Some of Ric’s old nemesis and friends also came out such as Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, Greg The Hammer Valentine, Harlie Race, Dean Malenko, John Cena, Y2J, and Sean Micheals. In a touching moment, the whole Raw staff, referees and wrestlers, and fans chanted ‘Thank You Ric’

Tonight on Raw Randy Orton came out to gloat about his big win last night at WrestleMania XXIV. In the middle of his self-love-fest, JBL came out to chew him out and challenge Orton for a chance at the title. JBL said, “you can’t beat me, you will never beat me.”

As JBL walked away, Orton yell back “I am the most successful champion this show has ever seen.” In the middle of his tirade, Matt Hardy came out and started pounding on Randy Orton.

I’m Ric Flair! The Stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun!

John Legend sang the America the Beautiful to start off WrestleMania XXIV. A record 74,000-plus fans where in attendance including Freddie Prinze Jr, Snop Dogg, Kim Kardashian.

The first match of the night was a Belfast Brawl between JBL and Finlay. Finlay didn’t even make it into the ring, as JBL attacked Finlay as soon as he was near the ring in this anything goes match. There was no count out disqualification in this match. At some point Finlay threw in garbage cans, a table, and other metallic objects. There was so many items in the ring that it looked like a tornado had gone threw there. JBL came out the winner in this match after a he clothe-lined Finlay for the 1-2-3 count.

Chris Jericho executed the Walls of Jericho on John Morrison on top of the ladder. The Money in the Bank ladder match was the most violent match I have seen. In a shocking development, as MVP was about to grab the briefcase Matt Hardy pop up out of no where to pummel MVP. The final two contestants left where CM Punk and Chris Jericho and they battled it out all the way to the top of the ladder. In the end, CM Punk grabbed the suitcase to win the match.

In what has probably been the quickest and shortest lived match in WWE history, Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Championship in less than 30 seconds. Kane walked into the ring, slammed Chavo, and walked away with the championship belt.

In a match that brought a tear to everyones eyes, Sean Micheals beat Ric Flair in one of the toughest matches of the night to end the career of the Nature Boy. The Nature Boy, or as I should say, the Nature Retiree battled it out to bitter end but in the end youth prevailed over experience.

Snop Dogg had the best seat in the house for the BunnyMania Lumberjack Match. He sat in a throne at ringside, with a big smile in his face as the girls fought it out. Ashley and Maria battled the Glamazon and Melina. The Glamazon was about to be pinned but Santino interfered in the last second given the Glamazon the perfect opportunity to beat Maria.

The triple threat match for the WWE championship was a fast and furried battle between John Cena, Tripple H, and the current WWE champion Randy Orton. This was a no disqualification or count out match, and the first one to pin an opponent wins. Both John Cena and Tripple H have made great strides to come back from devastating injuries. Orton dominated the first half of the match, but he was the hunted. Ultimately John Cena and Tripple H focused against each other allowing Randy Orton to recover and come in at the right time to pin John Cena and win the match, retaining his championship belt.

The battle between the Big Show and Floyd Money Mayweather ended up being a street brawl between the Big Show and Floyd Money Mayweather’s whole crew. Floyd got slammed, tossed, throwen around like a bag of potatoes. The Big Show dominated the fight, as expected, so much so that Floyd’s people pulled him out of the ring in an attempt to rescue him but the Big Show gave chase. Ultimately, everyone of Floyd’s people got into the ring but they too got slapped around until someone introduced a chair into the ring, giving Floyd enough time to gather his wits. Floyd, perhaps in a cheap shot, pull gold plated brass knuckles and knocked the Big Show out.

The final match of the night was between Edge and the Undertaker. This was one of the toughest battle of the night, the referee was knocked out cold by the Undertaker so that a second referee had to come out. The Undertaker won the battle and the championship title by submission.

Here are the final results of WrestleMania XXIV.

Belfast Brawl - Finlay vs. JBL: JBL
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: CM Punk
SmackDown vs. Raw - Batista vs. Umaga: Batista
24-Man Battle Royal - Winner faces ECW Champion: Kane
ECW Championship - Chavo Guerrero vs. Kane: Kane
Career Threating Match - Sean Micheals vs. Ric Flair: Sean Micheals
BunnyMania Lumberjack Match - Ashley & Maria vs. The Glamazon & Melina: The Glamazon & Melina
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship - John Cena, Tripple H, and Randy Orton: Randy Orton
Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Big Show: Floyd Mayweather
World Heavyweight Champion - Edge vs. Undertaker: Undertaker

An attentive blogger at Sociological Images noted that some of the WresleMania billboard poster do not have any nipples. It was speculated that the nipples were photoshopped off of the WWE superstars because of a law in Florida that prohibits nipples being displayed.

The WWE 2008 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony where held on the Saturday before WrestleMania. Current and former WWE wrestlers and superstars where in attendance and in a tuxedo, unlike their regular work clothes.

The Rock was there to induct his father and grandfather, Rocky Johnson and High Chief Peter Maivia, respectively. The Rock started with a few remarks and noting some of the WEE stars in attendance. The Rock said that he has heard that Chris Jericho is still gloating and talking about the night Y2J beat the Rock and Steve Cold Austin to become the undisputed champion. The Rock joked that talking about that victory is better than talking about Jericho’s new hair cut, which makes him “look like a 12 year old boy.” The Rock compared Jericho to the Back Street Boys. The Rock also roasted John Cena, saying that the illegal torture in Iraq was then they tied up insurgents and made them watch copies of The Marine.

The Rock, a third generation wrestler, said that inducting his father and grandfather into the Hall of Fame brought his career full circle. He first introduced ‘Soulman Rocky Johnson’. To induct his grandfather, the High Chief, the Rock introduced his mom, ‘real rock of our Family’, Ata Johnson. The High Chief Peter Maivia was referred to as the Samoan Mohammad Ali.

After the Rock inducted his father and maternal grandfather, John Cena made some remarks and he was followed by an Tripple H’s introduction of Ric Flair. Tripple H said of Ric Flair that he does not only belong in the Hall of Fame but that he deserves to have his own wing. Ric Flair’s career spans 36 years and 16 world championships.

The induction of Gordon solie, May Young, Eddit Graham, and Brisco Brothers was not televised.

On the Smackdown before WrestleMania, Edge came out to eulogies the Undertaker. Edge came out to the ring in a cheap suit and read some quick remarks, “We are gather together this evening, not to honor a man but to celebrate the demise” of the Undertaker and his perfect 15-0 WrestleMania record. Edge went on to say, “At WrestleMania, I will bury the Undertaker and his winning streak.”

Vicky Guerrero and the Rated R Superstar’s minions were in attendance. Vicky was wearing all black and a veil, such as if she was in a wake. Vicky had a few things to say about Edge, “He is what men inspire to be, intelligent, strong, determined, tender, loving, and sexy.” Their public demonstration of their affection is disturbing, and at a wake. Edge, with his eyes flattering to Vicky’s flatery began to kiss her passionately. Edge was about to hit second base right there in center ring but all of a sudden the Undertaker’s theme music startled the couple. Edge and his crew attentively look toward the entrance giving the Undertaker the perfect opportunity to pop up from the casket! The Undertaker came out, Vicky ran for her life as did Edge, but Edge’s side kicks got the tombstone.

Will Edge run like a little girl at WresleMania? He has no were to run!a

We reported earlier that Vince McMahon was honored with a star in the Hollywood Star of Fame. On Raw, Vince McMahon was gloating about his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Apparently, Mr. McMahon’s star is right next to Kermit the Frog. The Chairman was so happy with his new accomplishment that he wanted to top the night by ending Ric Flair’s career in a street fight, meaning anything goes.

McMahon had the upper hand, and garbage can, and sticks, and wooden tables as he beat the Nature Boy down. Blood was flowing from Ric Flair’s forehead as he was consistently hit over the head so much that he must have seen stars himself. In the end, McMahon gamble with a wrong move and he ended up losing the match so his career is safe, at least until WrestleMania.

At the start of Monday Night Raw, Chris Jericho was interviewing the Big Show regarding his WrestleMania battle against Floyd Money Mayweather. The Big Show is soo full of himself that he challenged Jericho for a title match for later that evening.

Chris Jericho and the Big Show battled it out for the Intercontinental Championship. Big Show dominated the match and Jericho knew he couldn’t win against the world’s largest athlete and disqualified himself. It was a bitter-sweet, but mostly bitter, victory for the Big Show.