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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE NWO COMES TO THE WWF, BRUNO VS. BABA, SID WINS THE WORLD TITLE AND MORE

By Buck Woodward on 2011-02-17 08:00:00

February 17th

On this day in history in ....

1964 - WWWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results: 
- Sky Low Low & Billy The Kid defeated Sonny Boy Cassidy & Farmer Pete.
- Don McClarity defeated Magnificent Maurice.
- Bill Watts defeated Klondike Bill.
- Hans Morier defeated Gino Brito.
- Dr. Jerry Graham defeated Tony Marino.
- Bobo Brazil & Argentina Apollo defeated Killer Kowalski & Gorilla Monsoon via DQ.
- WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Giant Baba with a backbreaker. 

1969 - WWWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Arnold Skaaland defeated Bob Harmon.
- Carlos Colon & Pete Sanchez defeated Tony Altimore & Lou Albano.
- John Sullivan defeated Johnny Rodz. 
- Dominic DeNucci defeated Angelo Savoldi.
- Victor Rivera & Haystacks Calhoun defeated Gorilla Monsoon & Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino vs. Killer Kowalski ended in a double DQ. 

1975 - WWWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results: 
- Manuel Soto & Pete Sanchez defeated Jack Evans & Johnny Rodz.
- Joe Nova defeated Bill White.
- Victor Rivera defeated Hans Schroeder.
- Tony Garea & Dean Ho defeated Killer Kowalski & Bobby Duncum via DQ.
- The Wolfman defeated El Olympico.
- Pedro Morales defeated Butcher Vachon.
- WWWF Tag Team Champions Johnny & Jimmy Valiant defeated Gorilla Monsoon & Chief Jay Strongbow.
- Spiros Arion defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino via DQ. 

1981 - El Canek defeats Tiger Jeet Singh in Mexico City, Mexico to win the UWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Singh's second reign as champion and starting Canek's second run with the belt.

1986 - The third straight Madison Square Garden match between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage sold out the venue in New York City.  Here are the full results of the show: 
- Lanny Poffo defeated Rene Goulet.
- King Tonga (Haku/Meng) defeated Les Thornton.
- The Hart Foundation vs. The Killer Bees ended in a draw.
- King Kong Bundy defeated George Wells. 
- Ricky Steamboat defeated The Magnificent Muraco in a Martial Arts match. 
- Tony Atlas defeated Barry O. 
- Adrian Adonis defeated George Steele via DQ. 
- The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated Corporal Kirschner & Dan Spivey. 
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage in a Lumberjack match when George Steele tripped Savage as the lumberjacks were fighting on the floor, allowing Hogan to legdrop Savage for the win.  Only the World Title was on the line. 

1989 - Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden defeat Kevin & Kerry Von Erich in Dallas, Texas to win the World Class Tag Team Title, ending Kevin & Kerry's third reign as champions. Fuller & Golden won the match via disqualification, which under World Class rules meant the title changed hands.

1996 - Lex Luger defeats Johnny B. Badd (Marc Mero) for the WCW World Television Title in Baltimore, Maryland at a non-televised event, ending Badd's second reign. Badd would win it back the next day.

1996 - PG-13 defeat Jesse James Armstrong & Tracey Smothers for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, winning back the titles they had lost only three days earlier. This would mark the beginning of JC Ice & Wolfie D's eleventh run with the straps.

1996 - ECW ran their Cyberslam event (held in conjunction with a fan convention) at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- Judge Dredd & Bad Crew defeated Dino Sendoff, Don E. Allen & Shark Attack Kid. The Sandman then ran out and caned all six men.
- Spiros Greco defeated El Puerto Ricano with a side slam.
- Taz defeated Joel Hartgood in under two minutes with the Tazmission. Following the match, Taz took down several other wrestlers, and fought with Mikey Whipwreck.
- Brian Pillman makes his ECW debut, appearing in the ring to cut an obscenity laced promo against Eric Bischoff and WCW, claiming he had been fired by the company. Pillman would end up being carted off by security after threatening to urinate in the ring. As he was carted off, Pillman attacked a "fan" and stabbed him with a fork. This was part of Pillman's famous work/shoot with WCW, trying to convince fans he really was fired from WCW and was a "loose cannon". Pillman would later get WCW to actually give him his release (to make the angle "more believable" as they were trying to work everyone with it) and jump to the WWF.
- Buh-Buh Ray Dudley defeated Mr. Hughes with a splash off the top rope.
- The Gangstas were scheduled to wrestle The Headhunters, but New Jack was unable to appear. Mustafa fought the Headhunters alone, and lost. This led into the next match.
- The Bruise Brothers (Ron & Don Harris) defeated The Headhunters.
- An injured Tommy Dreamer confronted Raven, and the Bruise Brothers (who were there to back up Dreamer) turned on Dreamer, pulling him groin first into a ringpost.
- JT Smith defeated Axl Rotten after a chairshot.
- Francine & The Pitbulls defeated Stevie Richards & The Eliminators (John Kronus & Perry Saturn) in a Triple Dog Collar match when Francine pinned Richards after the Pitbulls gave him a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo.? After the match, the Eliminators gave the Pitbulls and Francine Total Elimination.
- ECW Television Champion 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Sabu went to a 30-minute draw.
- Shane Douglas defeated Cactus Jack. Mark Curtis was the special referee, and handed Douglas handcuffs during the match. With Foley cuffed, Douglas hit him with chairshots and put him in a figure four, with Cactus refusing to submit. Cactus called for Mikey Whipwreck to help him, and Mikey came in and blasted Cactus with a chairshot to give Douglas the win.
- ECW World Champion Raven defeated The Sandman with a DDT on a chair.

1997 - Psycho Sid (Vicious) defeats Bret Hart for the WWF World Heavyweight Title during a live edition of Raw from Nashville, Tennessee after Steve Austin interferes and hits Hart with a chair, allowing Sid to powerbomb Hart for the win. This ended Hart's fourth title reign after only one day as champion, having won the belt the previous night at the "Final Four" Pay-per-view event. It began Sid's second, and final, WWF Championship run.  After the match the Undertaker, who had been named number one contender to the title for Wrestlemania, came out and stared at Sid. 

1997 - During a live edition of Nitro from Tampa, Florida, Prince Iaukea defeats Steven (William) Regal for the WCW World Television Title, ending Regal's third run with the belt.

1998 - During an edition of Raw in Waco, Texas, The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) defeat The Rock N' Roll Express to win the NWA World Tag Team Title.  Prior to the match, Commissioner Slaughter replaced NWA referee Tommy Young with WWF referee Earl Hebner, who refereed the match under WWF rules (no over the top DQs).  At the end of the match, Jim Cornette hit Thrasher with his tennis racquet, but Thrasher fell forward onto an unconscious Ricky Morton for the pin.  Also on Raw, Goldust wrestles in full Dusty Rhodes WWF attire (yep, polka dots) and does an impersonation of his father during a losing effort to Bradshaw. 

1998 - Randy "Macho Man" Savage receives Harvard Lampoon's "Real Man" of the Year Award.? The humor magazine gives out the award every year to "that male specimen of the human species who best exemplifies universal manliness." Past honorees include John Wayne, Aerosmith, John Candy, and others.

2000 - Flash Flanagan defeats Rico Constantino for the Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

2001 - Steve Blackman defeats Raven to win the WWF Hardcore Title in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  However, as Blackman is leaving the ring, Raven cradles him and scores a pin to take back the title due to the "24/7" rule. 

2002 - WWE held their No Way Out Pay-per-view in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, highlighted by the entrance of the New World Order into the WWF (and Hulk Hogan's first appearance on a WWF show in almost a decade). Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:

WWF's No Way Out was one of the weaker WWF PPV's in a long time. Having said that, it wasn't really a bad show per se. It just didn't reach the level of most recent shows. It was just kind of so-so. Part of the problem was a cold Milwaukee crowd, which was dead for most of the undercard and also died for much of the main event. When they did pop, it was huge, but they really didn't pop all that much. The three top matches were all good, but not great. This is just my opinion, but they're already ruining the NWO angle. When Jerry Lawler, on commentary, began siding with the NWO, while Jim Ross ran them down, it signaled that they're going to be just another heel group. That cancels the entire previous hype, which was that they were an extraordinarily virulent poison who were going to run the WWF out of business. If that were the case, everybody in the WWF, heel or babyface, should oppose them. Bringing them in wasn't the smartest move to begin with, but once that decision was made, at the very least they should be depicted as legit threats to promotional survival. From what I saw on this show, they come off as three older guys who are kind of funny on the mic, and will attack the top babyfaces while the heels cheer them on. Their only threat to promotional survival will be when the main event match quality deteriorates when they start taking top spots on future PPV's. There is an inherent problem built into the angle. The things Hogan & Co. did to help kill WCW can't be shown on TV. How do you build TV and PPV off of backstage maneuvering? Do they plan to show Kevin Nash encouraging Austin not to sell for Jericho? Or are they gonna send Hogan on some talk show to claim that Kurt Angle can't work, or to insist that no Olympic wrestler ever drew money? And if they did, how would THAT draw money? 

Other aspects of the show were handled well. They did a better job than usual of portraying Chris Jericho as the equal of the established upper tier. They handled the Triple H vs. Kurt Angle deal very well, with Stephanie's role being well booked. 

The show opened with Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall coming out to their old NWO music. JR went off on how they did more to destroy WCW than anyone else. Lawler said it's Ric Flair who's to blame for them coming in. There was a moderate crowd pop, but no one seemed to know how to react. Nash spoke first about how much heat they have backstage with the boys, and talked about how they've been called poison, cancer, and even "company killing bastards". He said that hurts their feelings and all they want is a chance to start with a clean slate. Hall got the mic and earned a pop for saying, "Hey-Yo". He said the NWO aren't bad guys, but are just "marks" and fans like everyone else. He said they just want a chance to work with the WWF superstars, hang out with them, take photos, and drink beer with the boys. Nash and Hogan both reacted to the beer comment and Hall then joked that maybe the beer part wasn't a good idea. That would be funny, I suppose, to the miniscule portion of the audience who are aware of Hall's record in that area, including recent activity since signing with the WWF. Hogan, who looked about 65 years old, said he's just like all the fans except for being rich and famous, and asked everyone to give them a chance. He said, "God bless Vince McMahon" for giving them a chance. He also gave "God blesses" to the fans and to America. During this segment, Lawler did a 180 and by the end was siding with the NWO and saying they've changed and deserve a chance. JR said he didn't believe a word they said. 

THE A.P.A. won a six team "Tag Team Turmoil" match to earn a tag title shot at Wrestlemania at the 16:36 mark. Two teams chosen at "random" started off. When one team lost, another came in. They started with Scotty 2 Hotty & Albert vs. Christian & Lance Storm. Albert did the power moves. Scotty took a high bump out to the floor. Scotty tried for the worm but ended up pinned by Christian with the unprettier at 2:56. The Hardys came in and the pace picked up. Christian got pinned at 6:11 after Matt hit the twist of fate and Jeff did a swanton. The Dudleys arrived. They got heat on Jeff. Stacy Keibler went in but Lita tackled her. Lita sent Bubba Ray out with a Litacanrana, with Jeff then doing a somersault plancha on him. Meanwhile, Matt pinned D-Von with a simple roll-up at 10:50. The Dudleys did a 3D on Jeff on the floor before leaving. Billy & Chuck came out (no pun intended). With those little blond braids, Chuck looks like either Heidi or the girl on the Swiss Miss cocoa package. Lawler said JR needs to get braids like that to go with his cowboy hat. With Jeff KO'ed on the floor, they doubled on Matt and Billy got the pin with the famouser at 12:20. The APA arrived as the final team. They brawled with Billy taking a hard bump from Faarooq. Billy got pinned after spin bumping off Bradshaw's lariat from hell. A solid opener. 

Michael Cole interviewed Ric Flair, who didn't buy the NWO's crap. Undertaker walked up and shoved Cole into a wall, making some intimidating threats toward Flair. I guess we'll see them fight soon, probably at Wrestlemania. 

ROB VAN DAM beat GOLDUST in 11:05. Goldust attacked early but then bailed out. RVD did some of his usual spots, but this time the crowd wasn't into it. The whole thing seemed to have too slow of a pace for an RVD match. JR and Lawler started talking about other things, such as recent movies, which is their tactic when a match isn't very interesting. They did some rest spots. RVD missed a five star frog splash, but after a little more brawling and some kicks, he hit a second five star and got the pin. 

The NWO encountered Steve Austin in a hallway. They sort of sarcastically called him the toughest S.O.B. in the WWF. Hall, of all people, offered him a six pack of beer. Austin said he wasn't thirsty. Hall told him he could save it for later. Austin tossed the six pack down and walked off. 

SPIKE DUDLEY & TAZZ beat BOOKER T & TEST to retain the WWF World Tag Titles in 7:16. Not all that good, and no heat, either. As usual, the heels doubled on little Spike. Test tried to use the ropes to get a pin on Tazz. The ref wouldn't count, so Test shoved him. The ref shoved back and Tazz caught Test in the Tazzmission for the tap out. 

Rock did a promo vowing to kick Undertaker's candy ass. It was nothing special for a Rock promo. 

WILLIAM REGAL defeated EDGE in a Brass Knux on a Pole match in 10:26. Slow paced with no heat. Edge attacked Regal as the ref was searching him, which later proved to be a mistake on Edge's part. They just sort of brawled around in the ring and on the floor, with occasional attempts to climb the pole. Regal gave Edge a powerbomb on the floor. Edge juiced from the mouth to sell his "internal injuries". They've tried to heat this feud up but it just doesn't click with the fans. Regal took a bump to the floor when Edge blocked an attempted powerbomb off the apron. Regal got the knux but Edge attacked him and the knux ended up on the floor. Edge retrieved them and began cursing at Regal, but Regal surprised him with a blow from a second set of knux he had hidden in his tights. Edge was pinned once again. 

Kurt Angle told Lilian Garcia that Stephanie will be an unbiased ref. He said it's a good thing she isn't pregnant because HHH would be a terrible father. Of course, Angle was confident of victory in his upcoming match. 

ROCK beat UNDERTAKER in 17:23. They paced this well and it was a decent match which got some heat. Rock attacked immediately but UT came back with fists and stomps. They went to the floor and brawled out through the crowd. Back in the ring, they stayed active for a while and traded some two counts before UT went to a long bearhug. Rock fought back and laid UT out for the People's Elbow but UT caught him by the throat. Rock gave UT a low blow to escape. UT still chokeslammed Rock but was slow to make the cover and only got a two count. UT went out and got on his motorcycle like he was going to leave. He laid the ref out when he tried to stop him. He then retrieved a pipe he had hidden on the bike. Ric Flair ran down and chopped UT, who no-sold and beat Flair up. UT swung the pipe at Rock, but Rock ducked and managed to put the sharpshooter on UT. Vince McMahon ran out and got on the apron. Rock released the sharpshooter to beat Vince up. UT nailed Rock from behind and got him up for a tombstone piledriver but Flair laid UT out with the pipe. The ref revived and Rock got the pin. Good closing sequence which did draw a big pop. 

Mr. Perfect appeared at WWF New York. He ran down the fans as not being up to his level of perfection. He said even the rats there are ugly, and I don't think he meant rodents with long tails. 

KURT ANGLE beat HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY in 14:39 to win HHH's Wrestlemania World Title shot. Special (as in, VERY special) referee Stephanie came out wearing a designer ref outfit which nicely displayed her assets. When Howard Finkel introduced her as Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, she corrected him, noting she's no longer a Helmsley. She applauded Angle when he came out. She also made a point of reminding HHH who the ref is. Angle started with some matwork and scored a quick two count. He stomped HHH, but HHH brawled back with fists and lariats. Angle rebounded off the ropes, going for a lariat but HHH ducked and Steph took the blow, crashing all the way out to the floor. That got a pop, probably the biggest of the show. HHH smiled as Steph had to be helped to the back. Tim White took over as ref. That was good because Steph really couldn't have worked the entire match. Angle went on big time offense and scored twos with some great suplexes. HHH came back and scored twos with spinebusters and powerbombs. Angle "accidentally" laid the ref out. He gave HHH a low blow and hit the Olympic Slam. Steph ran in, holding her neck in pain, but HHH kicked out at two. HHH sent Angle crashing into Steph and she took another bump. HHH hit a DDT but there was no ref. He helped White up but Angle attacked and White took a bump to the floor. Angle swung a chair but missed, and HHH then nailed him with the Pedigree, White revived and started counting but Steph dropped an elbow on him. HHH was about to Pedigree Steph but Angle hit him with two hard chairshots and an Olympic slam, with Steph counting one-two-three. Angle and Steph left up the aisle together, both jubilant, as HHH sold the beating in the ring. Angle didn't wait around for HHH to revive. He lef very quickly, still in his tights as he went out into the cold Milwaukee winter night air to drive off fast in his car. 

The NWO encountered Rock. They acted friendly toward him. Hogan said Rock's his son's favorite wrestler and asked for a picture with him. Rock posed with Hulk as Hall took a photo. Hogan then sneeringly said "so much for the people's taste". Rock told all three of them they can shove the camera up their candy asses. 

CHRIS JERICHO beat STEVE AUSTIN to retain the Undisputed World Title in 21:33. They chopped the hell out of each other in this match. Literally, they must have seen a circa 1986 tape of Flair vs. Ron Garvin, because they never missed an opportunity to chop each other. They did a spot where Austin rammed Jericho into the turnbuckles a zillion times, with the crowd shouting "what" each time rather than counting. The first few minutes had heat but the crowd was dead after that, except for the finishing sequence. They brawled up the aisle and took shots into parked trucks and other objects. They did a creditable job of presenting Jericho as Austin's equal. Austin did three superplexes on Jericho. They traded some two counts. Austin blocked a chairshot attempt. They teased going through the announcers' desk, but didn't. Jericho hit two lionsaults but had to stretch to do it as Austin was way across the ring. Jericho hooked the walls but Austin made the ropes. Jericho got the belt but Austin ended up giving him a spinebuster on it for a near fall. Jericho gave Austin a breakdown on the belt for a two count. There was a big ref bump. Austin put the walls on Jericho, who tapped, but there was no ref. They really didn't need to do that spot after making Jericho look so good up to that point. Austin gave Jericho a stunner, and in ran the NWO. Austin briefly fought them but they overpowered him and Hall gave him a stunner. The ref revived and Jericho got the pin. After Jericho left with his belt, the NWO continued pounding Austin, including a second stunner from Hall. The show ended with Hogan spray painting the NWO tag on Austin's back.

2002 - Pro Wrestling Noah ran a show at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan, drawing a sellout crowd of 16,500 fans to see New Japan's Yuji Nagata team with Jun Akiyama to defeat Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi when Akiyama pinned Kobashi.

2003 - During an edition of Raw from Columbus, Ohio, Eric Bischoff (with the help of a cinderblock and Sean Morley) defeats Jim Ross in a no disqualification match, despite attempts by Jerry Lawler to make the save.

2008 - WWE held their No Way Out PPV.  Here is the original report from the show:

No Way Out opened with a video package highlighting the WWE and World Title matches as well as the two Elimination Chambers, pushing the fact that tonight's winners will be going to Wrestlemania. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the show, and they went to the ring for the opening contest. 

ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk.

Joey Styles and Tazz reviewed the Guerrero-Punk feud and threw it to a video package as Punk entered the ring.  There was some sort of audio error, as during the video package on the feud, you could hear Tazz asking someone about the "go home" portion of the match.  That audio feed quickly cut off.  Chavo Guerrero, wearing his new T-Shirt, then made his entrance as the announcers played up that Punk has scored pinfalls over Chavo with the GTS. 

There was a chant for Punk at the bell as the two men went nose to nose.  Chavo slapped Punk, and Punk kicked Chavo in the head.  Punk hit a back elbow and a tilt-a-whirl slam for a two count.  Chavo backdropped Punk to the apron and kicked him to the floor.  Chavo attacked Punk as he got back into the ring and hit a series of elbows to the back of the head, then decked Punk with an uppercut for a two count.  Chavo kicked Punk in the chest, then in the gut.  Punk battled back with kicks, but Chavo gave Punk a drop toe hold and then hit a somersault splash to his back.  Chavo hit a backdrop driver, then applied a bodyscissors.  

Punk got out with a catapult into the corner, then hit a back kick to the gut and a kneelift.  Punk backdropped Chavo, then ran into a boot by Guerrero.  Guerrero charged Punk, who hit a powerslam for a two count. Punk went for the GTS, but Chavo countered it into a rana. Chavo hit a Tornado DDT for a two count.  Chavo did the old Guerrero dance.  Chavo went for a running kick, but Punk caught it and hit an enzugiri for a two count.  Punk mocked Chavo's dance, then hit two vertical suplexes.  The fans, who were behind Punk for the whole match, booed the attempt at the Three Amigos.  Chavo blocked the third suplex, but Punk hit a bulldog for a two count.  Punk went for the GTS, but Chavo grabbed the ropes to block it.  Punk dropped Chavo to the apron, then kicked him in the head.  Chavo collapsed onto the floor.  Punk rolled Chavo back into the ring for a two count. Punk set up Chavo for a superplex, but Chavo shoved him off.  Punk then crotched Chavo on the top rope.  Punk went for a rana off the ropes, but Chavo hooked the top rope and Punk crashed to the mat.  Chavo hit the frog splash and got the clean pin at the seven minute mark. 

Winner: Chavo Guerrero. 

Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman reviewed the Edge-Mysterio feud, and noted that Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero would not be here as a result of Rey knocking her out on Smackdown.  Mike Adamle interviewed Rey Mysterio, who claimed Edge doesn't care about Vickie.  Rey said his hitting Vickie was an accident, but he's not going to say he is sorry again.  They talked about his torn bicep, and Rey showed off his bruised arm.  Rey said it is torn, and it can't get any worse.  Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked in and he and Rey exchanged pleasantries.  Mayweather was accompanied by two huge bodyguards.  Rey and Mayweather walked off together. 

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler discussed the Raw Elimination Chamber, and they showed Chris Jericho backstage taping up his wrists.  The Elimination Chamber was slowly lowered as Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman talked about the Smackdown Elimination Chamber. They showed a video package on the Chamber. 

Elimination Chamber for a World Title match at Wrestlemania: Undertaker vs. Batista vs. Finlay vs. Big Daddy V, with Matt Striker, vs. MVP vs. Great Khali, with Ranjin Singh.

MVP entered first, then Big Daddy V, then Great Khali, then Finlay (no Hornswoggle) all of whom entered pods. So, it is starting with Batista vs. The Undertaker.  Batista made his entrance, going to each pod and trash talking the wrestlers inside of them.  Undertaker then made his entrance, slamming the Chamber door shut behind him.  

Taker and Batista started out punching in center ring.  Batista got the better of it and worked over Taker in a corner with shoulderblocks.  Taker hit a kneelift to block a shoulderblock, then threw Batista over the top rope and onto the steel floor of the chamber.  Undertaker rubbed Batista's face into the chain wall.  Batista fought back with a punch, then kicked Taker back into the ring. Batista whipped Undertaker hard into a corner, then hit a clothesline for a two count.  Undertaker came back with a boot to the face, then punched him into a corner.  Undertaker choked Batista, then stomped him down. Taker hit some elbows in a corner, then kicked at Batista's legs.  Undertaker continued to stomp Batista, then stood on his throat.  Batista got to his feet and battled back with punches, to boos from the crowd.  Batista hit a back elbow for a two count.  Batista missed a clothesline, and the two men kicked each other in the head, knocking them down as the time period elapsed. 

Big Daddy V entered the match. 

Big Daddy V went to work on Batista, hitting a clothesline, then gave on to the Undertaker.  BDV slammed Undertaker, then chopped Batista in the corner.  BDV gave Undertaker a Samoan Drop, then stood on his stomach and chest.  BDV went back to Batista, hitting chops and slamming him.  Undertaker recovered outside the ring.  Big Daddy V chopped Batista, then headbutted Undertaker.  Taker fell into the door, which broke open and Undertaker fell to the outside.  The referees kept BDV from going outside, and Taker got back in the cage.  BDV avalanched Undertaker against the cage wall.  You know, for such an awesome structure, you'd think there would be more than one small bolt lock keeping the door shut.  Big Daddy V turned his attention to Batista in the ring, hitting an avalanche in the corner.  Big Daddy V went for a Samoan Drop, but Batista ducked it and hit a spinebuster.  Big Daddy V was knocked through the ropes by Batista, and Undertaker DDT'd him on the steel floor.  Batista covered Big Daddy V, on the steel flooring, and got the three count. 

Big Daddy V is eliminated. 

Great Khali entered the match. 

Khali went back and forth between opponents, chopping Batista down as Khali worked over Undertaker with elbows.  A "You Can't Wrestle" chant broke out. Undertaker hit some shots and went for a chokeslam, but Khali blocked it and hit a double handed chokeslam on Undertaker for a two count.  Khali then gave Batista a clothesline for a two count.  Khali chopped Undertaker, then put Batista in the Vice Grip.  Batista broke out with a low kick and hit a spear on Khali.  Taker then knocked Batista down.  Singh climbed up on the cage wall, but Taker kicked him down.  Undertaker put Khali in the gogoplata (or, as I like to call it, the Bloody Shin Choke) and Khali tapped out (and bled from the mouth).

Great Khali is eliminated. 

Undertaker worked on Batista outside the ring and got a two count on the steel floor. Undertaker dragged Batista's back across the steel flooring. 

Finlay entered the match.  

Undertaker immediately hit Finlay with a jumping kick and whipped him into a corner, but then missed a running kick and got caught in the ropes.  Finlay hit Undertaker, then went after Batista and threw him through the ropes and onto the steel floor.  Finlay gave Undertaker the Celtic Cross in the ring for a two count, then hit a kneedrop.  Finlay and Batista slugged it out on the steel floor, then Batista grabbed Finlay's legs and catapulted him into the cage wall.  Finlay fell into the ring and Undertaker stomped him.  Batista and Undertaker began slugging it out in the ring, and Batista tried a backdrop, but Taker kicked it away, then nailed him with a clothesline.  Finlay crawled onto the downed Batista for a two count.  Finlay dropped an elbow on Batista, then threw Undertaker over the top rope and onto the steel floor.  Finlay rammed Undertaker into the cage wall. Finlay kicked Undertaker in the head and got a two count on the steel floor. Finlay rammed Taker into the plexiglass wall of the chamber where MVP was.  Finlay rammed Taker into an empty pod, and the plexiglass broke.  Batista, from the ring, grabbed Finlay and rammed him into the ringpost.  Batista pulled Finlay into the ring with a cradle suplex for a two count.  

MVP entered the match. 

Undertaker was waiting for him, so MVP tried to hold his door shut.  Taker got it open and pounded down MVP in his pod.   As Taker returned to the ring, Batista attached him and hit some shoulderblocks in the corner. Batista hit a clothesline on Taker, but ran into a boot to the face.  MVP came in and hit a Shining Wizard on Batista and a running kick on Undertaker.  MVP got a two count on Undertaker.  MVP took off his medallion and used the chain to choke Finlay and get a two count.  MVP punched down Undertaker and hit a series of shots, using the medallion as a weapon.  Taker was busted open.  MVP kicked Finlay in the face, then kicked Batista.  Undertaker got to his feet, and MVP blasted him over and over with the medallion.  Taker wouldn't go down, and dared MVP to hit him again.  MVP threw more shots, then seeing the Undertaker not go down, jumped up on top of the pod.  MVP threw punches from there, as Taker climbed the ropes to try and reach him.  Undertaker grabbed MVP by the throat, and threw him off the top of the pod and into the ring.  Finlay crawled onto MVP for the pin. 

MVP is eliminated. 

Undertaker went for a top rope elbowdrop on Finlay, but Finlay moved out of the way.  Hornswoggle popped up by the ringpost, in an opening in the Chamber floor, and handed Finlay a shillelagh.  Finlay used it on Undertaker and Batista.  Batista tried to lift Finlay for a powerbomb, but Finlay hit Batista in the head with the shillelagh and got a two count.  Undertaker grabbed Finlay and chokeslammed him over the top rope and onto the steel floor.  Undertaker pinned Finlay. 

Finlay is eliminated. 

Batista, who was bloodied by the shillelagh, and Undertaker, also bloody, went at it in the center of the ring.  They traded punches, with Taker's getting cheers and Batista's getting boos.  Batista hit a kick to the gut and powerbombed Undertaker, to a pop.  Undertaker kicked out at two, to a bigger pop.  Batista punched Undertaker in a corner, but Undertaker grabbed Batista and hit the Last Ride powerbomb.  Undertaker collapsed after hitting the move, then slowly crawled onto Batista for a two count.  Undertaker mounted Batista and hit a series of punches.  Undertaker called for the tombstone.  Batista floated over it and threw Undertaker over the top rope.  Batista went out onto the steel floor with Undertaker and rubbed his face against the cage. Batista put Undertaker over his shoulder and threw Undertaker head first into the cage.  Batista went to do it again, but Undertaker blocked it with his hands.  Undertaker, from over Batista's shoulder, pushed off the cage and as Batista fell backwards they tumbled over the top rope into the ring, with Batista now in Undertaker's arms.  Undertaker nailed the tombstone piledriver for the three count at the twenty-nine minute mark. 

Batista is eliminated. 

Winner: The Undertaker. 

Undertaker struggled to his feet, then pointed at the Wrestlemania sign. 

Backstage, Edge and the Edgeheads looked very concerned about Undertaker earning the Wrestlemania title match.  Edge tried to get back on track and work out a plan for his match tonight.  Theodore R. Long entered, and told Edge that since Vickie Guerrero wasn't present, he was in charge.  Long told Edge that both Edgeheads were banned from ringside tonight. 

The Kelly Kelly-Mae Young Wrestlemania commercial was shown. 

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talked about how Maria needs to decide between Playboy and Santino Marella tomorrow. They showed a video package of Maria and Ashley at a Playboy Mansion party, including appearances by the legendary David Hasselhoff and Hugh Hefner.  

Ric Flair vs. Ken Kennedy.

Kennedy hit Flair with a shoulderblock at the start, then mocked Flair's strut.  Flair, who has his knee bandaged, chopped Kennedy down and strutted.  Flair hiptossed Kennedy, then hit a series of chops.  Kennedy dropkicked Flair's bad knee. Kennedy put Flair in a half crab.  Flair made the ropes, and Kennedy took his leg and rammed it into the ringpost.  Kennedy put Flair in a figure four leglock around the ringpost to further weaken the leg.  Back in the ring, Kennedy put Flair in a figure four.  Kennedy blocked Flair from chopping his way out of it. Flair made the ropes to break it.  Kennedy hit his rolling Samoan Drop for a two count, then went for another, but Flair floated over it and hit a chopblock on Kennedy's knee. Flair chopped Kennedy and hit another chopblock, then went for a figure four.   Kennedy kicked it away, then cradled Flair with a handful of trunks and his feet on the ropes for leverage, but the referee caught him.  Flair hit a shinbreaker and went for a figure four, but Kennedy rolled him into a small package for a two count.  Flair grabbed Kennedy's leg again and tripped him to the mat.  Flair applied the figure four leglock for the tap out win at the eight minute mark.  

Winner: Ric Flair.

Flair got on the mic and announced himself as the winner, then noted he will never retire. 

Backstage, Vince McMahon walked in on Finlay, who was being checked on by a trainer.  Vince pointed out that Finlay won't be able to help Hornswoggle tomorrow night when he gets him in a steel cage.  Vince emphasized that he will show his son "tough love". 

A video package on the Mysterio-Edge feud was shown. 

World Champion Edge vs. Rey Mysterio.

Rey came out with his arm bandaged and padded.  Mayweather was shown seated at ringside.  Edge came out alone.  Edge backed Rey into a corner and smiled at Rey, motioning at his bad arm.  Rey hit some kicks to the legs, then hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors.  Rey kicked Edge in the head, then pounded Edge with some left hand punches.  Rey leapfrogged Edge, who took Rey down with a boot to the face.  Rey went to the floor to regroup, and Edge hit him with a baseball slide.  Edge threw Rey into the ringsteps, then applied an armlock in the ring.  Edge put Rey on the top turnbuckle and went for Rey's mask, but Rey elbowed him away.  Edge hung Rey in the Tree of Woe, but Rey sat up as Edge went for a baseball slide and Edge crotched himself on the ringpost.  Rey hit a moonsault onto a standing Edge for a two count.  Rey hit a second rope swinging DDT for another two count, as Edge got his foot on the ropes.  Edge went for a sunset flip, but Rey rolled out of it.  Edge rolled back to avoid a Rey kick, but Rey instead gave Edge a drop toe hold into the ropes.  Rey gave Edge the 619.  Rey was slow to get up, and went for a springboard off the middle rope in the ring, but Edge hit him with a spear as he came at him off the ropes and got the clean pin at the five minute mark. 

Winner: Edge. 

Rey was tended to by doctors at ringside after the match.  

The Big Show's music hit, and he walked out, wearing street clothes and smiling.  Show opened his jacket and to show that he has lost a lot of weight. Show got on the mic and said "Guess who's back?"  Show said he "missed this place".   Show said he would be a champion again.  Show said he has already been a champion on Raw, Smackdown and ECW, and that it is only a matter of time that he will be champion again.  Show said he has lost 108 pounds.  Show was distracted that Mysterio was still at ringside, so Show went out and grabbed him by threw throat.  Show said "Does your arm hurt?" and slapped Rey's arm.  Show held Rey in front of Mayweather and asked if he was going to "do something".  Show got in the ring with Rey and held him by his throat.  Mayweather motioned to get in the ring, but his entourage held him back.  Show dared him to do something.  Show picked up Rey for a chokeslam, and Mayweather ran into the ring.  Show dropped Rey, and the ring filled with people for a pull apart with Mayweather and Show.  They ended up going face to chest, and Show shoved Mayweather back.  Mayweather shoved Show, who didn't move.  Show got down on his knees, so he would be eye level with Mayweather.  Mayweather hit two punches on Show, then ran out of the ring with his crew.  Big Show gave chase, but was stopped by Shane McMahon.  Show was bleeding from the mouth and nose, and went back to ringside with Shane.  Show kept spitting blood out of his mouth, and talked with Shane as they went to the back.  Show said "It's my ring".  A replay showed it was actually three punches that landed. 

They showed Jeff Hardy in the back getting ready for the Elimination Chamber. 

Mike Adamle introduced a video package on the Orton-Cena feud. 

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena.

They locked up at the bell, and Cena tripped Orton into a small package for a one count.  The crowd is louder and more active than they've been since the Undertaker entrance.  There were dueling chants for Orton and Cena. Orton knocked Cena down and stomped his head.  Orton hit some punches to the head, and kicked him down.  Cena reversed a whip into the corner then hit a bulldog for a two count.  Cena hit a back elbow, then delivered an elbowdrop for a two count.  Orton kicked Cena's arm, and decked Cena as he tried to come back.  Orton punched Cena in the ropes and knocked him to the apron.  Cena snapped Orton's head on the ropes from the apron, then hit a top rope Rocker Dropper for a two count.  Cena ran into an Orton elbow, then Orton choked him against the bottom rope.  Orton punched Cena, and Cena grabbed for an FU from nowhere.  Orton wriggled out of it and hit an uppercut.  

Orton stomped Cena's sneaker-clad ankles.  Orton continued the stomping, targeting the arm and shoulders.  Orton then began punching Cena's surgically repaired pectoral muscle. Orton set up for a kneedrop, but Cena moved out of the way.  Orton grabbed a headlock, then turned it into a sleeperhold, then into a chinlock.  Cena battled up out of it, and hit a pair of shoulderblocks, then a back suplex into a powerbomb.  Cena did the Five Knuckle Shuffle, and hit the fistdrop.  Cena went for the FU, but Orton rolled out and went to the floor. Cena followed him outside, and they slugged it out. They were almost counted out, and both men dove into the ring at the nine count.  They stared at each other, then began slugging it out.

Orton hit a side neckbreaker on Cena. Orton put Cena on the top turnbuckle, and hit a series of punches.  Orton went for a superplex, but Cena shoved it off.  Cena went for the top rope Rocker Dropper again, but Orton moved out of the way and Cena crashed to the mat.  Orton set up for an RKO, but Cena slammed it away and applied the STFU.  Orton struggled in the hold, then made the ropes. Orton rolled to the floor, and complained about his knee.  The referee asked if he could continue.  Orton told the referee to count him out.  Cena came out, saying he knew Orton wasn't hurt to the referee, who tried to stop him.  Orton grabbed Cena and hit an RKO on the floor, then rolled into the ring.  The referee got up to a nine count, and Cena rolled back into the ring.  Cena yelled at Orton to get to his feet.  Orton slapped the referee, and the referee called for the bell at the seventeen minute mark.  Orton smiled. Cena complained to the referee, then gave Orton an FU and applied an STFU.  Orton tapped like crazy, but the referee had already left the ring. Cena finally walked off in disgust. Orton got his belt and walked off as they announced that Cena was the winner, but Orton was still the champion.

Winner via disqualification: John Cena.

Backstage, Shawn Michaels approached Triple H.  Michaels said this is normally where they deliver witty lines and shill merchandise.  They both agreed that they would do whatever they had to do in order to win tonight. 

Elimination Chamber for a WWE Title match at Wrestlemania: Jeff Hardy vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho vs. JBL vs. Umaga.

Triple H entered first, then Umaga, then JBL, then Jeff Hardy.  So, it will start with Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. Jericho came out and taunted JBL, who was in a pod. Michaels made his entrance, and the match began.

Jericho grabbed a hammerlock, but Michaels got out and they traded chops.  Michaels grabbed a sunset flip and the two traded reversals for two counts. Jericho went for a German suplex, but Michaels blocked it and Jericho hit a Northern Lights suplex for a two count.  Michaels bridged up and grabbed a backslide for two, then Jericho nailed him with a clotheslines.  Jericho hit a side backbreaker, then punched Michaels and slapped him on the mat.  Jericho hit punches and chops, then Michaels ducked a clothesline and hit a flying forearm.  Michaels kipped up and hit a reverse atomic drop, then slammed Jericho.  Michaels went for a top rope elbow, but Jericho got his knees up.  Jericho hit a bulldog and went for a Lionsault.  Michaels got his knees up, but Jericho stopped himself and went for the Walls Of Jericho.  Michaels reversed it and went for a Sharpshooter, but Jericho tripped out of it and dropped an elbow.  They traded shots and Michaels hit some chops.  They collided on simultaneous bodypress attempts as the clocks ran out. 

Umaga entered the match. 

Umaga went back and forth, knocking down both opponents.  He clotheslined both men, then lifted Jericho in a fireman's carry.  Michaels hit Umaga with some punches.  Michaels charged, Umaga bent over, then lifted Jericho and Michaels and hit a double Samoan Drop. Umaga kicked Michaels over the top rope and onto the steel flooring, then gave Jericho a diving headbutt.  Umaga gave Michaels a Bonsai Drop to the back of the head on the steel floor from off the cage wall.  Umaga went back after Jericho in the ring and hit a series of shots.  Umaga hit another drop on Michaels off the cage, then went back into the ring.  Jericho hit some chops, but Umaga decked him with a shot to the throat.  Umaga missed a second rope headbutt on Jericho, and Michaels dove off the top rope with an elbowdrop on Umaga.  Jericho turned Umaga into the Walls Of Jericho. Michaels added a Crippler Crossface to Umaga's front end as the clock ran out. 

JBL entered the match.  

JBL kicked Jericho in the face, then gave Michaels a big boot  as well. JBL gave Jericho a clothesline, then one for Michaels, who was a bloody mess.  JBL gave Jericho a neckbreaker. They replayed to show that Michaels got busted open when he collided with Jericho earlier.  Umaga started fighting with Michaels on the steel floor, slamming him, while in the ring, Jericho gave JBL a tornado DDT.  JBL and Jericho ended up on the same side of the ring with Michaels and Umaga when JBL backdropped Jericho out of the ring.  Soon, Michaels and Umaga were in the ring, with Umaga whipping Michaels hard into the corner and out of the ring.

Triple H entered the match. 

Triple H tackled Umaga and hit some punches, then went after JBL and gave him a facebuster on a knee.  HHH gave one to Umaga, then rammed him into JBL.  Triple H gave Jericho a spinebuster, then one for Umaga.  Triple H gave JBL a DDT for a two count.  Umaga cut off HHH's momentum, but HHH rammed him over the turnbuckles and into a pod.  Jericho went for a Lionsault on Triple H, but Triple H got the knees up.  Triple H went for a Pedigree on Jericho, but JBL gave HHH the Clothesline From Hell.  Jericho then gave JBL the Codebreaker for a pin. 

JBL is eliminated. 

JBL ran back into the Chamber with two chairs, and plastered Jericho and Michaels with chair shots.  He paused when he saw Umaga, then blasted him with a chair anyway.  JBL then left, leaving behind the two chairs. Jericho was busted open.  

Jeff Hardy entered the match. 

Everyone was down, except Umaga, who had just gotten up.  Hardy hit a back heel kick on Umaga, splashed Michaels in a corner, gave Jericho a gourdbuster, and Triple H a forearm shot.  Hardy jumped off of Jericho's back to hit Umaga with Air Hardy.  Triple H and Michaels grabbed Hardy and whipped him across the ring, and Hardy jumped onto the ropes and hit Whisper In The Wind on both men.  Umaga gave Hardy a thrust kick.  Umaga gave Jericho a spinning side slam.  Umaga hung Triple H in the Tree Of Woe.  Umaga whipped Michaels into HHH, then hit a headbutt on Triple H for good measure.  Umaga kicked Jericho, then pounded Triple H on the steel floor.  Umaga hit the posterior ram on Jericho against a pod, breaking through it.  

Umaga took Jericho in the ring and set up for the Samoan Spike, but Michaels gave Umaga a superkick.  Jericho gave Umaga the Codebreaker, then Triple H gave Umaga the Pedigree.  Hardy gave Umaga a Swanton off the top of a pod, and Jericho covered Umaga for the pin. 

Umaga is eliminated. 

Michaels gave Jericho a superkick, and Hardy covered Jericho for the pin. 

Chris Jericho is eliminated. 

Hardy gave Shawn Michaels a Twist Of Fate.  Triple H threw Hardy out of the ring, then gave Michaels a Pedigree for the pin. 

Shawn Michaels is eliminated. 

Triple H invited Jeff Hardy into center ring.  They slugged it out, and Triple H sidestepped Hardy and threw him out of the ring.  They fought on the steel floor, and Hardy rammed Triple H into the cage wall, then hit a DDT on the steel.  Hardy pounded Triple H on the outside, then rammed the now bloody Triple H into the cage over and over.  Hardy stomped Triple H, then went to the top rope and dove off at Triple H.  Triple H blocked it with a kick, and set up for a Pedigree on the steel floor.  Hardy backdropped Triple H into the ring.  Hardy went for the Swanton, but Triple H moved out of the way.  Triple H hit Hardy with a Pedigree, but Hardy kicked out at two.  

Triple H grabbed a chair and set up for a Pedigree on it. Hardy hit Triple H with a low blow.  Hardy went for a Twist of Fate on the chair, but Triple H threw Hardy down on it. Triple H then hit a Pedigree on the chair for the pin at the twenty four minute mark. 

Jeff Hardy is eliminated. 

Winner: Triple H. 

Triple H pointed at the Wrestlemania sign and gestured that he wanted the belt as the show ended. 

So, as of right now, here are your Wrestlemania main events:
- WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H.
- World Champion Edge vs. The Undertaker. 

 


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