Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

Maybe Andrew's right about his predictions. There's always Backlash for HBK to retaliate.

Yeah, why is the World Heavyweight Championship Match not the main event? I thought that's the Royal Rumble prize?

And yay for 15-0. Always wanted to see Taker hold the belt.

To the WWE, anything that's not RAW or John Cena is inferior and should be second always. Only exception is Triple H. But nonetheless, good thing the Taker keeps his streak

Well it's now over, and I have to say that the show was half alright.

Mr. Kennedy defeated Edge, CM Punk, King Booker, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Randy Orton (Money in the Bank Ladder Match): That match was as entertaining as ever until Jeff Hardy broke Edge (not to mention the ladder Edge was lying on) in half. It was a scary moment as both men were wheeled off on stretchers. I was hoping that one of the Hardy's or CM Punk would have won it! But unfortunately it was Mr. Kennedy. The way he won the bout was a shame and a real anti-climax to such an enthralling match!!!

Great Khali defeated Kane: Disappointing! It was a really boring match that should get booed as a dark show! It didn't even deserve Wrestlemania! Khali won this match, which I guess only continues Khali's push as an unstoppable force, but it was boring...

Chris Benoit defeated MVP (WWE United States Championship): This match was probably the 3rd best match of the night, with Benoit and MVP one-upping each other with old school mat moves. Benoit won after a diving head butt to MVP's heart.

Undertaker defeated Batista (World Heavyweight Title): Great match! Wrong place in the programme! Definately the best match of Wrestlemania! What can I say to describe the match? The fans wanted Undertaker to win, could tell by the way the fans were booing each time Batista connected and cheering each time Undertaker connected. Undertaker 15 - 0 at Wrestlemania after a Tombstone Piledriver to end Batista's World Heavyweight Title run.

ECW Originals (Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, The Sandman and Rob Van Dam) defeated The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker and Kevin Thorn): Average match, pretty predictable for a tag match. The New Breed single out one of the ECW Originals, beat him down, Originals make a tag, all hell breaks loose, ECW Originals get a win after a Five-Star Frog Splash. Bragging rights to the ECW Originals.

Bobby Lashley representing Donald Trump defeated Umaga representing Vince McMahon with Stone Cold Steve Austin as Special Guest Referee (Battle of the Billionaires, Hair vs Hair Match): Alright match, was getting a little bored with all the hype surrounding the match, but I guess it lived up to its billing with Vince McMahon getting his head shaved by Donald Trump and Bobby Lashley. Main highlight of the match though was Stone Cold Steve Austin giving Shane McMahon, Umaga, Vince McMachon, and Donald Trump Stunners!

Melina defeated Ashley (WWE Womans Championship, Lumber-Jill Match): Disappointing match again. Ashley was the popular choice to win the match! And she should have won it! I kinda felt it was a bit of a screw job against Ashley for some unknown reason (the 3 count was awfully fast)!

John Cena defeated The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels (WWE Championship): Really disappointing! I am sick of the push that John Cena is getting! His spinner belt is getting really old and so is his appeal. He was ok when he was feuding with Edge but it's time for a new Champ! This match had me believing that it was going to happen!!! Then to have HBK tap out to the STFU??? If it was the other way with Cena tapping out to the Sharp Shooter it would have been a great match!!! But no that didn't happen, so we are all stuck with Cena and that damned spinner belt for goodness knows how long!!!

Anyway that is my Wrestlemania 23 wrap up, thanks for reading.

To the WWE, anything that's not RAW or John Cena is inferior and should be second always. Only exception is Triple H. But nonetheless, good thing the Taker keeps his streak

I noticed that too. Although that is a bit disappointing, that match has so much promotion, yet it is placed even before Melina and Ashley's match.

And Andrew will have to hate the spinner belt more.

If people continue to cheer Michaels and boo Cena after HBK eliminates Cena from the battle royal, thereby giving away the World Tag Team Championships and further devaluing them, then I give up.

Well it's now over, and I have to say that the show was half alright.

Mr. Kennedy defeated Edge, CM Punk, King Booker, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Randy Orton (Money in the Bank Ladder Match): That match was as entertaining as ever until Jeff Hardy broke Edge (not to mention the ladder Edge was lying on) in half. It was a scary moment as both men were wheeled off on stretchers. I was hoping that one of the Hardy's or CM Punk would have won it! But unfortunately it was Mr. Kennedy. The way he won the bout was a shame and a real anti-climax to such an enthralling match!!!

Great Khali defeated Kane: Disappointing! It was a really boring match that should get booed as a dark show! It didn't even deserve Wrestlemania! Khali won this match, which I guess only continues Khali's push as an unstoppable force, but it was boring...

Chris Benoit defeated MVP (WWE United States Championship): This match was probably the 3rd best match of the night, with Benoit and MVP one-upping each other with old school mat moves. Benoit won after a diving head butt to MVP's heart.

Undertaker defeated Batista (World Heavyweight Title): Great match! Wrong place in the programme! Definately the best match of Wrestlemania! What can I say to describe the match? The fans wanted Undertaker to win, could tell by the way the fans were booing each time Batista connected and cheering each time Undertaker connected. Undertaker 15 - 0 at Wrestlemania after a Tombstone Piledriver to end Batista's World Heavyweight Title run.

ECW Originals (Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, The Sandman and Rob Van Dam) defeated The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker and Kevin Thorn): Average match, pretty predictable for a tag match. The New Breed single out one of the ECW Originals, beat him down, Originals make a tag, all hell breaks loose, ECW Originals get a win after a Five-Star Frog Splash. Bragging rights to the ECW Originals.

Bobby Lashley representing Donald Trump defeated Umaga representing Vince McMahon with Stone Cold Steve Austin as Special Guest Referee (Battle of the Billionaires, Hair vs Hair Match): Alright match, was getting a little bored with all the hype surrounding the match, but I guess it lived up to its billing with Vince McMahon getting his head shaved by Donald Trump and Bobby Lashley. Main highlight of the match though was Stone Cold Steve Austin giving Shane McMahon, Umaga, Vince McMachon, and Donald Trump Stunners!

Melina defeated Ashley (WWE Womans Championship, Lumber-Jill Match): Disappointing match again. Ashley was the popular choice to win the match! And she should have won it! I kinda felt it was a bit of a screw job against Ashley for some unknown reason (the 3 count was awfully fast)!

John Cena defeated The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels (WWE Championship): Really disappointing! I am sick of the push that John Cena is getting! His spinner belt is getting really old and so is his appeal. He was ok when he was feuding with Edge but it's time for a new Champ! This match had me believing that it was going to happen!!! Then to have HBK tap out to the STFU??? If it was the other way with Cena tapping out to the Sharp Shooter it would have been a great match!!! But no that didn't happen, so we are all stuck with Cena and that damned spinner belt for goodness knows how long!!!

Anyway that is my Wrestlemania 23 wrap up, thanks for reading.

Hardy was not wheeled off on a stretcher!! Edge didn't get hurt either. He had originally broke his jaw against RVD in the MITB qualifier, and he didn't want to re-injure his jaw in the MITB.

It probably wasn't the best Wrestlemania top to bottom but nearly everyone seems to lift their game at this time of the year and it's always a grand spectacle. I don't think I've ever been disappointed by a Wrestlemania, at worst it's been average by its own standards. Wrestlemania 23 in my book was easily above average to say the very least.

As far as my predictions go, I went 4-4. That's the last time I make predictions based on Internet buzz. I was surprised to see Benoit and the ECW Originals win given the rumours that have been circulating though. I guess Benoit is staying on Smackdown for the moment (or perhaps dropping the title in a rematch and heading to RAW) and there's a little bit of life in the ECW Originals yet. The outlook for the Originals still looks bleak though, which is why I expected them to lose in the first place. Oh well.

A few thoughts on the matches...

What can I say about MITB that I'm sure hasn't been said elsewhere? Awesome spots, particularly the Jeff Hardy/Edge one. I think everyone knew something crazy would happen when that ladder just happened to be placed in that position. Commentary during this match was fun too, I'm glad they avoided the usual back and forth brand rivalry jabs and just called the match. Looks like Kennedy will be getting a main event push. I'm still not sold on him being at that level but he'll be a new face in the scene. Hopefully it doesn't come too soon though.

Excellent move putting Kane/Khali on second. After such a thrilling opener the second match was almost guaranteed to be anti-climactic so it was a wise decision to make that match the bowling shoe (as JR would say). They get points for bringing back memories of Hogan/Andre with the bodyslam and Khali doing Andre's "caught in the ropes" spot but it was about as good as expected. Khali better not be in line for any kind of major push.

Benoit/MVP was well up to the Rabid Wolverine's usual standard, I don't think Benoit has ever had a bad match or even slightly below average one. As I said I was surprised by the outcome because rumour has it that Benoit is making the move to RAW but he has lost the last three years at Wrestlemania and while his character doesn't need protecting to keep him over, it's about time he ended that streak.

The World Heavyweight title match was probably one of the best matchups of its type in recent memory. Undertaker usually works better with smaller wrestlers but he and Batista put on a good show that made them both look very strong and the title important, despite its position on the card. Of course, it should be noted that the Ric Flair/Randy Savage championship match at Wrestlemania XVIII wasn't the main event either despite being one of the best matches on the card. At any rate, good stuff with the brawling outside the ring, the table spots and Taker's plancha. Awesome to see Taker with gold once again.

ECW Originals vs The New Breed was...underwhelming. It highlighted the key problem with the revived ECW brand; it isn't extreme at all. It wasn't fought under Extreme rules, it was a standard four on four tag match and there was more blood and extreme spots in the main event, which wasn't even billed as No DQ. As I said before, the future of the new ECW looks bleak.

I think everyone who made serious predictions picked the winner of the Battle of the Billionaires except perhaps for a select few. Kind of an average match until Umaga knocked Austin out and Shane-O Mac got involved. Umaga sold the Stunner almost as badly as Donald Trump. Entertaining stuff though.

Melina vs Ashley wasn't anything we haven't seen on TV. Should have been Mickie James vs Victoria for the belt.

That brings us to the main event. I didn't really care for Cena's entrance. If they're going to do these special entrances every year then they're not really that unique or special. At least he didn't rise up from the stage on a throne with skulls in what felt like a parody of professional wrestling. It's tempting to call it a wasted effort though because it didn't help him get over as a face.

The match itself was probably the best of Cena's career. It's become fashionable to hate Cena and criticise his abilities but he gives 110% and he does usually deliver in big matches even if they aren't five star classics. The fact he was working with HBK helped a lot but bottom line is both men put on a great show with the right amount of traditional wrestling, violence, memorable spots and ring psychology. HBK's exit after the match would seem to suggest that the feud isn't over.

All in all, a great show. I wouldn't rate it as the best but I think it lived up to the hype.

I think the ECW Originals won as some sort of going away present before most of them get fired.

More than likely. Still, would've been nice if a match featuring ECW wrestlers was a little more extreme.

If it went extreme, they could have stolen the show (except for 'Taker vs. Batista).
Vince probably didn't want that to happen especially in Wrestlemania.

No resemblance of the old ECW at all.

Well if you saw ECW on Sci-Fi, the New Breed won in an Extreme Rules rematch after an Elijah Express on Sabu through a table propped up in the corner. Plenty of great spots, but probably a sign of the Originals being phased out ultimately.

smackdown spoiler

Well if you saw ECW on Sci-Fi, the New Breed won in an Extreme Rules rematch after an Elijah Express on Sabu through a table propped up in the corner. Plenty of great spots, but probably a sign of the Originals being phased out ultimately.

Haven't seen that one yet, the shows are out of order on Foxtel here in Australia. RAW is shown on Wednesday afternoons (with repeats at the weekend), Smackdown airs on Fridays afternoons (which would actually be late Thursday night/early Friday morning for you guys, with repeats at the weekend) and ECW airs Saturday afternoons after a repeat of RAW. They are all up to date though, airing the same week they're shown in the US and Canada.

smackdown spoiler

You just ruined my Sunday viewing.

Who was in the main event on Wrestlemania 22?

John Cena and Triple H.

smackdown spoiler

You just ruined my Sunday viewing.

Who was in the main event on Wrestlemania 22?

LoL!! its not my fault you click on the link.

Anyway Lean, is there any chance they gonna air WM23 in cable or RPN9?

No chance in hell.

they showed it in SM theaters..but so many fools keep going there

Almost everything WWE-related ends up on Dailymotion, not that I endorse it.

they showed it in SM theaters..but so many fools keep going there

That's why there's no chance in hell it will be shown on the telly. People watch it in droves at the cinema. It's profitable for the station that hold the WWE rights here.

They've shown it last April 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th. In other words, we missed it. Darn life.

John Cena and Triple H

Uhh, Mysterio won last year's Rumble. And as far as I know, the Rumble prize is to be in the main event of Wrestlemania.

You putzes missed it, I didn't.

The Rumble prize is to have a shot at the championship. It's up to the Rumble winner (or Vince) whether it be the WWE belt or World belt.

Main events are the WWE and World championship matches and/or the final match of the PPV.

Know your wrestling Lean, Null17 would lay the smackdown on you if he was still here.

No way would a weak 9-minute match like that be the main event of a WM.

You putzes missed it, I didn't.

Know your wrestling Lean, Null17 would lay the smackdown on you if he was still here.

I barely remember everything, coz the last 'Mania I saw was Wrestlemania 21.