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Once In A Lifetime: John Cena vs The Rock
Michael Cole notes that not only is this Rock's first Wrestlemania appearance in eight years, but also his first singles match in nearly nine. They tie up, and Cena shoves Rock off. Rock pauses for a moment to consider his options as we have dueling "let's go Cena" and "Cena sucks" chants, then they tie up again and Cena now gets shoved off, and stops to smile like an idiot before going back to circling Rock. Rock with a side headlock, then they trade wristlocks, Rock rolls through and whips Cena to the ropes and gets a series of armdrags and La Magistral cradle for 2. Cena backs off and looks bewildered, but adjusts his armbands and goes back to getting headlocked by Cena. Cena shoves Rock off to the ropes, Rock takes Cena down with a shoulderblock, but Cena comes back with a hiptoss and takes Rock down with a side headlock. Rock makes it back to his feet and shoves Cena off to the ropes, Cena gets a boot to the head, and Rock cracks him with a right hand. Cena gets flustered and charges Rock, but Rock takes him down with a double leg and Cena bails to the floor to a round of boos. Cena tries to shoulderblock through the ropes coming back in, but Rock sidesteps Cena and kicks him hard in the chest.
Cena finally catches a break as he rams Rock into the corner and charges in with shoulderblock to the midsection a couple of times, then runs him over with a clothesline and covers, but only gets 1. Cena gets a laying bearhug, and keeps the hold as Rock gets back to his feet and punches Cena in the face until he breaks the hold. Rock charges Cena, but Cena ducks and pulls down the top rope, sending Rock tumbling out to the floor. Cena goes out after Rock and drops him chest first onto the barricade, then picks him back up and does the same thing onto the announce table. Cena kicks Rock in the ribs and rolls him back inside to cover for a 2 count, then waits for Rock to get back to his feet so he can drill him in the skull with a big right hand. Cena plants Rock with a belly to belly suplex for 2, Rock fires back with right hands, but Cena shoots Rock to the ropes and catches him coming back in a bearhug. Rock tries to fight his way free, but Cena cinches up on the bearhug and Rock again screams in agony. Rock finally manages to punch his way free and hits a quick DDT for 2.
Cena tries unloading with a flurry of punches on Rock, but Rock starts firing back, hits a flying clothesline and a spinebuster, and goes for the People's Elbow. Cena grabs the ankle and tries countering to the STF, but Rock escapes so Cena hits a Blue Thunder Driver and does You Can't See Me and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Instead of going for the cover, he waits for Rock to regain his footing and picks him up for the Attitude Adjustment, but Rock slips out and a double clothesline leaves both men laying.
Both men get back to their feet and they trade blows in the middle of the ring, but Cena ducks a big bomb and hits the Attitude Adjustment. Cena goes for a cover, but Rock is out at 2. Cena picks Rock up, but Rock hits a Rock Bottom out of nowhere and covers for a 2 count. Rock unloads on Cena with kicks and elbows in the corner, but Cena reverses a whip into a side suplex for 2. Cena rolls out to the apron and climbs to the top rope, waits for Rock to regain his feet, and hits the top rope Fameasser, but he still only manages to get 2. Cena goes for another Attitude Adjustment, Rock slips out and picks the legs, and gets Cena in the Sharpshooter. Cena makes the ropes, so Rock pulls him back out to the middle of the ring and tries to reapply, and he is successful. Rock seems to kind of lose the hold, and Cena manages to get back to the ropes and roll out to the apron. Rock goes out to the floor and pounds on Cena as he's straddled out on the apron, and Cena finally tumbles completely out to the floor. Rock whips Cena into the ring steps, and Cena is in a bad way as Rock picks him up and smashes his face into the steps a second time. Rock puts Cena back on the apron and rolls inside, and Cena gets a sunset flip over the top rope and rolls Rock right into the STF. Cena screams at Rock to tap, but Rock still manages to crawl toward the ropes. Cena drags Rock back out to the middle of the ring and goes back into the STF on Rock, and Rock starts to fade out. The referee checks the arm, but the Rock stays alive and manages to drag himself to the ropes and force the break.
Cena crawls over to the ropes to try and regain some strength, but staggers back over to the Rock and walks right into a Samoan drop. Rock unloads on Cena with right hands, Cena fires back, Cena blocks the Rock Bottom, Rock blocks the Attitude Adjustment, and then Rock hits the spinebuster and he hits the People's Elbow. Rock covers, but Cena again manages to kick out at 2. Rock gets back to his feet and picks Cena up, and Cena gets a quick small package for 2. Crowd is split for both men as Cena tackles Rock and catapults him into the top turnbuckle and rolls him up for 2. Cena hauls Rock back to his feet and drives him back into the corner, then sits him on the top rope. Cena goes up and tries for a superplex, but Rock fights Cena off and tosses him into the middle of the ring. Rock is exhausted, but digs deep and comes off the top with a crossbody. Cena rolls through, powers Rock up into the Attitude Adjustment, and covers for a very close 2. Crowd is going nuts as they thought that was it. Cena slowly gets to his feet, goes to do You Can't See Me, but gets booed by the crowd, so he stops and sets Rock up, throws his armband into the crowd and goes for the People's Elbow, but runs right into the Rock Bottom and Rock covers him for the win.
Winner: The Rock
Cena sits on the entrance ramp looking like someone just stole his girlfriend as Rock's music plays and the real top star in WWE celebrates in the ring. That's what happens when you try to be a smartass! Fireworks are going off as Rock raises his fist to the crowd in victory and we go off the air.
Thank you all so much for following our live coverage of Wrestlemania 28, we'll be back in just a little while in the Elite section with the Wrestlemania 28 postgame show!
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