WrestleMania XXIV Recap & Results

- Prior to the start of the show, a 24-man over-the-top-rope battle royal to determine the challenger for the ECW Championship was shown on wwe.com. Kane won the battle royal by last eliminating Mark Henry from the match.

- The show starts with John Legend singing America the Beautiful.

Belfast Brawl: JBL vs. Finlay - Finlay came to the ring with Hornswoggle who is making his first appearance since JBL beat him up in the hospital. This match featured shillelaghs, kendo sticks, trash cans, a table, and the ring steps used in the ring. This “slobberknocker” ended when JBL hit Finlay in the knee with a kendo stick and then followed it up with the clothesline from hell. Winner: JBL

Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Mr. Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Carlito vs. MVP vs. CM Punk vs. John Morrison - When it appeared that MVP was about to win the match, Matt Hardy made his return and cost MVP his chance to win the match. The match ended with Chris Jericho and CM Punk battling atop the ladder and using the briefcase against each other. When it appeared that Jericho was about to win, Punk trapped Jericho’s leg in a rung of the ladder and grabbed the briefcase which gives him the right to a title shot whenever he wants within the next year. Winner: CM Punk

- Highlights from last night’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony are shown. The Class of 2008 is then introduced to the crowd.

- Snoop Dogg is interviewed in the back. He is with his new friend Festus when Santino Marella starts talking smack. Snoop Dogg rings a bell which causes Festus to fly into a rage and chase Santino Marella away. Snoop Dogg reveals that Mick Foley gave him the bell. Foley then tries to talk in fischizzlle language to Snoop Dogg.

Umaga vs. Batista - Batista stopped Umaga from hitting the Samoan Spike. A few minutes later he hit the Batista Bomb on Umaga to get the win. Winner: Batista

ECW Title: Champion Chavo Guerrero vs. Kane - Kane hit a choke slam on Chavo and then pinned Chavo. That was the entire match and it might be a new record for the shortest match in WrestleMania history. Winner and new ECW Champion: Kane

- Raven-Symoné entered the ring and talked about the Make a Wish Foundation. 50 children from 50 states are at the event and they are cheered by the crowd.

Flair's Career on the Line: Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels - During the match, Shawn hesitated delivering the Sweet Chin Music to his idol. That hesitation caused him to be put in the figure-four leg lock. Later on in the match, before delivering his third Sweet Chin Music of the night, Michaels mouthed: “I’m Sorry. I Love You.” before hitting the move and sending his idol into retirement. After the match, Flair hugged his family that was sitting at ringside and was given a great send-off by the fans. An era has ended and wrestling is not the better for it. In honor of my favorite wrestler’s final match, I’d like to give him a final “Woooooo!” Winner: Shawn Michaels

BunnyMania: Ashley & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina - During the match, the stadium lights went out. The WWE then used spotlights to light the ring. When Maria was about to win the match, her ex-boyfriend, Santino Marella, interfered. This infuriated announcer Jerry Lawler who left the announce position and punched Santino. However his help came too late and Beth Phoenix pinned Maria. After the match, Snoop Dogg gave Santino a clothesline and then made out with Maria in the center of the ring. Winners: Beth Phoenix & Melina

WWE Championship: Champ Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H - This year’s special John Cena entrance consisted of a marching band playing his theme song. As is the case with most triple threat matches, several times during the match a wrestler would be incapacitated outside of the ring and would reenter the match when it appeared that someone might win the match. The match ended when Triple H hit the pedigree on John Cena. Orton broke up the three count attempt by punting Triple H in the head. He then covered Cena to retain the title. Winner: Randy Orton

Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - The rules of this match are anything goes and can be won by pin, submission, or knock out. For the first few minutes of the match, Mayweather taunted Show with his speed, but once Show got a hold of Mayweather things changed. Show slowly and methodically beat-down Mayweather and was about to deliver the choke slam when his posse dragged him out of the ring and tried to leave the stadium. Big Show followed, beat down many of Mayweather’s handlers and dragged the WBC Champ back into the ring. He was about to deliver a choke slam when several members of Mayweather’s posse interfered. Mayweather hit Show in the head with a chair several times then used a pair of brass knuckles to knock out the Big Show. Winner: Floyd Mayweather

- WrestleMania XXV will be taking place on April 5 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

- Kim Kardashian entered the ring and announced that this show set a Citrus Bowl attendance record with an attendance of 74,635.

World Heavyweight Championship: Champion Edge vs. The Undertaker - This match featured Edge kick out of the choke slam and last ride and reverse many of the Undertaker’s famed moves. At one point of the match, the referee got knocked out and Edge used a camera to knock out the Undertaker. However, there was no referee to make the count. A few moments later, the Undertaker hit the tombstone and a new referee dashed 50-yards but didn’t make it to the ring quick enough to make the three count. The Edgeheads made a brief appearance but were quickly disposed of by the Undertaker. Edge hit the spear but the Undertaker kicked out at the last possible moment. He immediately hit another spear and when he relaxed for a second, the Undertaker hooked in his still unnamed submission hold to get the win via submission. The Undertaker is now 16-0 at WrestleMania and the new World Heavyweight Champion. Winner & New Champion: The Undertaker

What does this event mean for the future?
On RAW, Randy Orton is now a serious main event player. No one gave him a chance to win and in one night he beat the two biggest stars on RAW. On the SmackDown side of things, this year’s event ends the same way last year’s did, with the Undertaker being crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion. As far as ECW goes, a new champion was crowned and their biggest star, CM Punk might have made the move up to the main event by virtue of his Money in the Bank victory. Sadly, due to the events of tonight, an era of wrestling is now officially over with the retirement of Ric Flair. Ric Flair was the last of the old-school wrestlers that was a main eventer during the territorial era of the sport.

Overall Thoughts
I’ve seen better and I’ve seen worse WrestleMania events. I would rank this one in the middle. The matches ranged from mediocre to very good. Years from now, this event will be remembered for Flair’s retirement and not much else. However, the event was still worth the purchase price.

Match Results

• Belfast Brawl: JBL beat Finlay
  
• Money in the Bank Ladder Match: CM Punk beat Chris Jericho, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, Carlito, & Mr. Kennedy
  
• Batista beat Umaga
  
• ECW Title: Kane beat Chavo Guerrero to win the title
  
• Flair’s Career on the Line: Shawn Michaels beat Ric Flair
  
• BunnyMania: Beth Phoenix & Melina beat Maria & Ashley
  
• WWE Title: Champion Randy Orton beat Triple H & John Cena
  
• Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat Big Show
  
• World Heavyweight Championship: The Undertaker beat Edge to win the title

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