Vincent Michaels
My weapon of choice? A green onion.
Last Week:
The grandest Friday of them all
CHICAGO With the biggest night in WWE looming large, SmackDown played host to a final battle before an all-out war on Sunday.
Cody Rhodes def. Chris Masters
Despite his might, Chris Masters could not stop a hard-charging, WrestleMania-bound Cody Rhodes who beat Masters with the Cross Rhodes. After the match, Rey Mysterio rushed in and was poised to strike with a 619. However, Rhodes managed to escape Mysterios wrath. Will Rhodes be able to do the same come Sunday?
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler vowed to shut Michael Cole's mouth
Emotions have definitely surpassed the boiling point between WrestleMania opponents Jerry The King Lawler and Michael Cole. Full of confidence and shooting straight from the hip about Cole, Lawler declared: I promise, Im going to shut your mouth. Will special referee Stone Cold Steve Austin be able to maintain order in this heated battle?
Kofi Kingston def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett by Disqualification in a Non-Title Match
As The Corre gets ready to compete at WrestleMania, the group offered one more ugly look at its preferred fighting style gang warfare. As Kofi Kingston fought valiantly against Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, the group rushed the ring and assaulted Kingston. With the match over due to disqualification, the group unloaded on Kingston. But coming to his aid were The Corres WrestleMania opponents: Big Show, Kane, Vladimir Kozlov and Santino Marella. Who will prevail when they clash in an epic Eight-Man Tag Team Match at WrestleMania?
The Bella Twins and Todd Grisham reported from WrestleMania Axxess
Live from Atlanta, The Bella Twins and Todd Grisham offered a look at the fun and excitement of WrestleMania Axxess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight:
WrestleMania Rematch
After losing an Eight-Man Tag Match at WrestleMania, The Corre pounced on John Cena and The Rock on Raw, only to be beaten down. What will the renegades do against their 'Mania foes in an Eight-Man Tag 2-out-of-3 Falls Match this week on SmackDown?
Find out this and more, on WWE Friday Night SmackDown! on The SyFy Network!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SmackDown! Side Results:
World Heavyweight Champion Edge def. Alberto Del Rio
ATLANTA At WrestleMania, in front of more than 70,000 ecstatic members of the WWE Universe, World Heavyweight Champion Edge reigned supreme over Alberto Del Rio. After shattering the aristocratic adversarys self-proclaimed moment of destiny, The Ultimate Opportunist and Christian delivered a merciless facelift to Del Rios prized luxury automobile. Historically, 70 percent of Superstars who have triumphed in the Royal Rumble Match proved victorious at The Show of Shows as well. But, for Alberto Del Rio, it was not meant to be. Though interference from Brodus Clay paved the way for Del Rio to lock in the Cross Arm Breaker, the heart of a champion allowed Edge to escape and apply his own excruciating submission move. While Christian delivered a mesmerizing DDT of retribution on Clay, Del Rio managed to use his resilience to escape. But this too backfired on the challenger, as Edge instantly hit his opponent with the Spear for the three-count. However, much to the delight of the WWE Universe, the destruction did not end with the bell. Sensing that a World Title victory on The Grandest Stage of Them All required an extraordinary celebration, Edge and Christian turned the full scope of their mischievous attention to Del Rios classic Rolls Royce Silver Spur. While his partner-in-crime kept the emotionally pain-stricken Del Rio at bay, The Rated-R Superstar left his defeated foes six-figure ride as broken as his WrestleMania hopes and dreams. On The Road to WrestleMania, it seemed almost inevitable that Del Rio was on a path with championship destiny. In his short time with WWE, his monumental list of accomplishments included winning The Biggest Royal Rumble Match in History and brutally putting Christian out of commission. While the first catapulted him into the main event at WrestleMania, the second helped reunite the celebrated tag team of Edge & Christian against a common enemy for the first time in more than a decade. Despite losing to the returning Christian several times in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, the ruthless Del Rio painfully roared back time and time again. Aided by his protégé of devastation Brodus Clay, the elitist grappler punished both Edge and Captain Charisma weekly armed with his devastating Cross Armbreaker, a steel chair and a relentless appetite for aggression. Despite his incredible career, Edge had a lot to prove, having never successfully defended a World Title at WrestleMania. And as The Master Manipulators No. 1 contender was mapping his road to glory, the 11-time World Champion was busy raising the stakes complementing his earth-shattering Spear with a dangerous new submission maneuver. Then, just when it looked like the anticipation over the epic showdown could not get any greater, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long dropped a bombshell. Nine days before WrestleMania, the esteemed head of SmackDown proclaimed that both Christian and Brodus Clay would accompany their respective allies to ringside at The Showcase of the Immortals. But, Teddy could not have predicted the insanity that would ensue as a result. Amidst the towering grandeur of WrestleMania, The Rated-R Superstar proved, without a doubt, that your destiny can change just like that. Its too bad that Alberto Del Rio didnt already know that.
The Undertaker def. Triple H (No Holds Barred Match)
ATLANTA The King of Kings came to WrestleMania XXVII to do something that no man has ever done before. In front of more than 70,000 screaming fans in Atlantas Georgia Dome, he planned to walk into the ring against The Undertaker and walk out as the only man to ever defeat The Last Outlaw on The Grandest Stage of Them All. It was a showdown every bit as epic as expected two Superstars who defined an era in WWE clashing in a battle for the ages. But Triple Hs obsession with burying The Deadman was not to be. Just like 18 other brave souls did before him, The Game fell to The Undertaker at WrestleMania, becoming No. 19 in the most legendary streak in all of sports-entertainment. The drama of this No Holds Barred Match started on Feb. 21 when Undertakers return to the ring was interrupted by a confident Triple H. No words were spoken between the two legends, but a heated stare down in front of the WrestleMania XXVII banner sent a clear message to the WWE Universe the war of wars was on. It was an unforgettable moment, but, in truth, the build to this match began long before that fateful night. Sixteen years ago, Triple H arrived in WWE and immediately learned to respect and revere The Undertaker as an unmatched performer and a true leader. Their paths would cross from time to time as they both went on to achieve monumental success and, eventually, legendary status, but one triumph would always elude The Game the ability to say he was the man who beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Defeat The Deadman at The Show of Shows? Its something thats never been done before and a challenge thats claimed the souls of icons like Ric Flair, Kane, Edge and, most famously, Shawn Michaels. Its also a near impossibility. HBK himself even expressed his doubts about Triple Hs chances at stopping The Undertaker only one week before this bout. Still, The King of Kings would not be deterred. And on April 3, the last bastions of a disappearing era in sports-entertainment met in the Georgia Dome like two old gunslingers, fighting it out until one man couldnt go on. Entering to the bombast of Metallica with an army of warriors leading the way, Triple H marched to the ring with the stirring intensity that makes him The Cerebral Assassin. Not to be outdone, The Deadman rose through a dense cloud of fog while the sounds of Johnny Cash moaning, Aint no grave can hold my body down, echoed throughout the massive stadium. The spectacle gave every living soul in the WWE Universe chills, but once all the pomp of the entrances was out of the way, it came down to two Superstars. No disqualifications. No count-outs. No holds barred. That things got out of hand quickly should have surprised no one. Fighting as if their very lives were at stake, the two icons annihilated one another, smashing bodies through ringside tables and bashing limbs with steel chairs. Still, no matter how brutal the action got, each man refused to quit. Triple H executed a Pedigree. The Undertaker kicked out. The Deadman hit The Last Ride. The Game fought back. But when two straight Pedigrees failed to stop The Last Outlaw, Triple H seemed to lose his mind. What could he possibly do to defeat this man? Red-faced and frustrated, he threw his game plan out the window and viciously wrapped a steel chair around his opponents head before nailing The Undertaker with his own maneuver The Tombstone. Still, The Deadman would not stay down. When The Game grabbed his sledgehammer, it looked like the most famous streak in all of WWE was about to come to an end. Thats when The Undertaker locked in Hells Gate. Trapped in the horror of this punishing maneuver, The Game fought hard to escape, but his battered body could take no more. After making one final attempt to break free, Triple H finally lost his will and gave in, tapping twice on The Undertakers thigh to signal the end. Fireworks exploded and a giant 19-0 flashed across the Georgia Dome as the bell rang, but there were no celebrations. Instead, two of the greatest warriors in the history of WWE lay motionless in the center of the ring, their bodies exhausted after the war the WWE Universe just witnessed. The Deadman may have won the bout, but it was The Game who rose to his feet. As Triple H defiantly walked back up the entrance ramp, Undertaker attempted to stand, but collapsed in a heap on the arena floor. The Phenom was so battered after the night's confrontation, he could not exit under his own power and had to be carted away from ringside. It was a shocking sight. Not only did it remind the WWE Universe that The Deadman is most certainly a mortal, but it made it clear that The Streak was nearly ended on this remarkable night.
Michael Cole def. Jerry "The King" Lawler
ATLANTA - The outrage festering within the Georgia Dome threatened to wash over the stands and engulf Michael Cole. After what appeared to be a rightful victory, Jerry The King Lawler was denied by the anonymous Raw General Manager who, instead, rewarded Cole the win due to interference on behalf of special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin. Lawler, Austin and more than 70,000 fans were infuriated by the decision. After all, Coles trainer, Jack Swagger, had interfered in the match early on, snapping an ankle lock on Lawler and allowing Cole to work over his rival before snapping on his own An-Cole Lock. Despite the intense pain, Lawler refused to tap out. Through sheer will, the WWE Hall of Famer turned on his back and broke free of the weasel-like announcer. When Lawler finally made it to his feet, Swagger wisely threw in the white towel of surrender on his clients behalf. The problem? Guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin rejected the request, and the match carried on. When The All-American American stepped in Austins face, he received a Stunner for his troubles. A vulnerable Cole begged for mercy, but was forced to continue. In satisfying fashion, King himself fastened an ankle lock on his rival, who quickly tapped out. As Lawler and the WWE Tough Enough host celebrated, the anonymous Raw GM chimed in with the reversal of fortune. Unfortunately for announcer Josh Mathews, who read the GMs fateful message, both Lawler and Stone Cold were in a mood to punish the messenger, which they did. Cole may have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, but its unlikely hes heard the last of it from the jaws of Jerry The King Lawler.
Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio
ATLANTA An eye for an eye. Its the most basic form of punishment man has known, an archaic type of justice that is no longer followed in the civilized world and the phrase that Cody Rhodes repeated to himself as he sought revenge against the person who accidentally disfigured him Rey Mysterio. At WrestleMania XXVII, the bitter Superstar would get this vengeance when he met The Master of the 619 in the center of the ring and beat him using the very knee brace that destroyed his face two months prior. Demented and detached, Rhodes sadistically grinned as he stood above his fallen rival, making it very clear to the WWE Universe that things have changed drastically since the days in which he called himself Dashing. Once chosen as the most handsome Superstar by the Divas, the vain egoist underwent a jarring personality change when Rey Mysterio busted his perfect features with his knee brace while performing the 619. Now hating the disfigured freak he saw in the mirror, the second-generation competitor donned a mask to hide his shame and went on a brutal warpath, destroying opponents and viciously attacking Mysterio on multiple occasions. It was a cruel side of Rhodes that the WWE Universe had never seen before and a dangerous reality that worried The Master of the 619. Did Rey have what it takes to stop this marauding monster? That question was answered at WrestleMania XXVII when the two masked men faced off in a bout that pushed each Superstar to their physical limit. From the opening bell, the aggressive Rhodes targeted his attack on Mysterios tender knee, clinically tearing at the vulnerable tendons and ligaments. It was a sick-style of offense that nearly took away The Ultimate Underdogs incomparable agility, but the little big man refused to go down. Dressed in a costume inspired by the Marvel Comics character Captain America, Mysterio looked downright heroic as he nearly put Rhodes away by using Codys facemask as a weapon. But it was the sadistic SmackDown Superstar who stole the win, striking Rey in the head with his own knee brace for the victory. An eye for an eye. Just like Rhodes had said. Now that hes beaten Rey Mysterio on The Grandest Stage of Them All, will Cody Rhodes bring an end to his sadistic streak? Or has the satisfaction of tonights victory only sent him deeper into his own dementia? It all depends on what Rhodes sees the next time he looks in the mirror.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus & Snooki def. Dolph Ziggler & Lay-Cool
ATLANTA - From bar brawls to Twitter wars with Vickie Guerrero, Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler, the build-up to Snookis first WrestleMania match has certainly been entertaining. But when push came to shove at the sold-out Georgia Dome for WrestleMania XXVII, Snooki and her brunette mafia of Trish Stratus and John Morrison disposed of the Mean Team of Dolph Ziggler, Michelle McCool and Layla with the grenade Vickie Guerrero in their corner. No longer the Princess of Poughkeepsie, this guidette is now the Princess of the Peachtree State! Fist pump! From Entertainment Weekly, to People Magazine and numerous television shows, everybody wanted a piece of Nicole Snooki Polizzis debut in the ring. And the pint-sized Poughkeepsie powerhouse was not about to disappoint. She told the world from Hard Rock Café in New York City at the WrestleMania Press Conference that she was so ready and with a little training from seven-time Womens Champion Trish Stratus, she was. Helping train Snooki for her debut inside the ring, the Canadian stunner showed some impressive moves of her own sending Michelle McCool tumbling to the outside floor from the top rope, and taking both members of Lay-Cool out from the apron. The sure-fire Hall of Famer next brings her talents out to California, as Americas new toughest trainer helps to find WWEs next Superstar on WWE Tough Enough, debuting Monday night after Raw on USA Network. But when Stratus tagged Snooki into the match - that's when all bets were off. As McCool tried to gather herself in the corner of the ring, the Jersey Shore star hit a side-flip and back-flip combination, pinning the snarky Michelle McCool while Guerrero looked on in horror. Crashing the party as special guest star of Monday Night Raw less than three weeks before The Show of Shows, the Jersey Shore juggernaut struck up an immediate rapport with The Prince of Parkour. Although Morrison is an admitted Jersey Shore fanatic, WWEs grenade Vickie Guerrero made it clear that she was unimpressed by the pint-sized party girls outrageous MTV antics. When Vickie confronted Snooki in the locker room area and threatened to slap the reality star, the poof-coiffed powder keg unleashed on Vickie with a hard slap of her own. As they say in Seaside Heights, it was on, and an impressive Thesz press on Layla on Raw and a drag-out brawl with LayCool inside a Jersey bar with her new BFF Trish Stratus later, Snooki and the Mean Team were ready to settle the score on The Grandest Stage of Them All. But Guerrero's plan backfired in a packed Georgia Dome. John Morrison, Trish Stratus and the Poughkeepsie powerhouse with the victory? Now thats a Shore bet to turn Atlanta into Hotlanta on the biggest night in entertainment. Party time!
Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella & Kofi Kingston def. The Corre
ATLANTA - Wade Barrett reigns as Intercontinental Champion. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater claim the WWE Tag Team Titles. And Ezekiel Jackson, well, the guy is just plain frightening. Despite their accolades and intimidation, however, The Corre members could not prevail in the most important match of their collective careers. Instead, Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella & last-minute entrant Kofi Kingston triumphed in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Just 24 hours earlier, the ferocious faction of equals attempted to ensure their victory by ambushing Vladimir Kozlov at a WWE Axxess event. As a result, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long declared that Kingston would replace the injured Moscow Mauler. The Dreadlock Dynamo appeared eager to enlist, motivated by the loss of his Intercontinental Championship to Barrett less than two weeks earlier. Kingston, however, was hardly alone in his loathing. The Big Red Monster and The Worlds Largest Athlete had attempted to dismantle The Corre when the group began to terrorize Friday nights. The four Corre members managed to overwhelm the two giants, though, and soon after trained their crosshairs on Marella & Kozlov. When The Italian Stallion defeated Justin Gabriel on Raw, the group appeared ready to stomp Marella like a grape. Their attack was thwarted, however, when Kane and Show joined Kozlov and his partner, each united in their common goal of destroying The Corre. Although the groups demise is not assured in the wake of the defeat, the four nonetheless suffered a serious blow to their aspirations and egos when Big Show delivered a devastating Knockout Punch to Slater and covered him for the victory. As The Corre slunk away from the squared circle in defeat, the crowd of more than 70,000 cheered as The World's Largest Athlete, Kane, Marella & Kingston relished their monumental victory.
The grandest Friday of them all
CHICAGO With the biggest night in WWE looming large, SmackDown played host to a final battle before an all-out war on Sunday.
Cody Rhodes def. Chris Masters
Despite his might, Chris Masters could not stop a hard-charging, WrestleMania-bound Cody Rhodes who beat Masters with the Cross Rhodes. After the match, Rey Mysterio rushed in and was poised to strike with a 619. However, Rhodes managed to escape Mysterios wrath. Will Rhodes be able to do the same come Sunday?
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler vowed to shut Michael Cole's mouth
Emotions have definitely surpassed the boiling point between WrestleMania opponents Jerry The King Lawler and Michael Cole. Full of confidence and shooting straight from the hip about Cole, Lawler declared: I promise, Im going to shut your mouth. Will special referee Stone Cold Steve Austin be able to maintain order in this heated battle?
Kofi Kingston def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett by Disqualification in a Non-Title Match
As The Corre gets ready to compete at WrestleMania, the group offered one more ugly look at its preferred fighting style gang warfare. As Kofi Kingston fought valiantly against Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, the group rushed the ring and assaulted Kingston. With the match over due to disqualification, the group unloaded on Kingston. But coming to his aid were The Corres WrestleMania opponents: Big Show, Kane, Vladimir Kozlov and Santino Marella. Who will prevail when they clash in an epic Eight-Man Tag Team Match at WrestleMania?
The Bella Twins and Todd Grisham reported from WrestleMania Axxess
Live from Atlanta, The Bella Twins and Todd Grisham offered a look at the fun and excitement of WrestleMania Axxess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight:
WrestleMania Rematch
After losing an Eight-Man Tag Match at WrestleMania, The Corre pounced on John Cena and The Rock on Raw, only to be beaten down. What will the renegades do against their 'Mania foes in an Eight-Man Tag 2-out-of-3 Falls Match this week on SmackDown?
Find out this and more, on WWE Friday Night SmackDown! on The SyFy Network!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SmackDown! Side Results:
World Heavyweight Champion Edge def. Alberto Del Rio
ATLANTA At WrestleMania, in front of more than 70,000 ecstatic members of the WWE Universe, World Heavyweight Champion Edge reigned supreme over Alberto Del Rio. After shattering the aristocratic adversarys self-proclaimed moment of destiny, The Ultimate Opportunist and Christian delivered a merciless facelift to Del Rios prized luxury automobile. Historically, 70 percent of Superstars who have triumphed in the Royal Rumble Match proved victorious at The Show of Shows as well. But, for Alberto Del Rio, it was not meant to be. Though interference from Brodus Clay paved the way for Del Rio to lock in the Cross Arm Breaker, the heart of a champion allowed Edge to escape and apply his own excruciating submission move. While Christian delivered a mesmerizing DDT of retribution on Clay, Del Rio managed to use his resilience to escape. But this too backfired on the challenger, as Edge instantly hit his opponent with the Spear for the three-count. However, much to the delight of the WWE Universe, the destruction did not end with the bell. Sensing that a World Title victory on The Grandest Stage of Them All required an extraordinary celebration, Edge and Christian turned the full scope of their mischievous attention to Del Rios classic Rolls Royce Silver Spur. While his partner-in-crime kept the emotionally pain-stricken Del Rio at bay, The Rated-R Superstar left his defeated foes six-figure ride as broken as his WrestleMania hopes and dreams. On The Road to WrestleMania, it seemed almost inevitable that Del Rio was on a path with championship destiny. In his short time with WWE, his monumental list of accomplishments included winning The Biggest Royal Rumble Match in History and brutally putting Christian out of commission. While the first catapulted him into the main event at WrestleMania, the second helped reunite the celebrated tag team of Edge & Christian against a common enemy for the first time in more than a decade. Despite losing to the returning Christian several times in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, the ruthless Del Rio painfully roared back time and time again. Aided by his protégé of devastation Brodus Clay, the elitist grappler punished both Edge and Captain Charisma weekly armed with his devastating Cross Armbreaker, a steel chair and a relentless appetite for aggression. Despite his incredible career, Edge had a lot to prove, having never successfully defended a World Title at WrestleMania. And as The Master Manipulators No. 1 contender was mapping his road to glory, the 11-time World Champion was busy raising the stakes complementing his earth-shattering Spear with a dangerous new submission maneuver. Then, just when it looked like the anticipation over the epic showdown could not get any greater, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long dropped a bombshell. Nine days before WrestleMania, the esteemed head of SmackDown proclaimed that both Christian and Brodus Clay would accompany their respective allies to ringside at The Showcase of the Immortals. But, Teddy could not have predicted the insanity that would ensue as a result. Amidst the towering grandeur of WrestleMania, The Rated-R Superstar proved, without a doubt, that your destiny can change just like that. Its too bad that Alberto Del Rio didnt already know that.
The Undertaker def. Triple H (No Holds Barred Match)
ATLANTA The King of Kings came to WrestleMania XXVII to do something that no man has ever done before. In front of more than 70,000 screaming fans in Atlantas Georgia Dome, he planned to walk into the ring against The Undertaker and walk out as the only man to ever defeat The Last Outlaw on The Grandest Stage of Them All. It was a showdown every bit as epic as expected two Superstars who defined an era in WWE clashing in a battle for the ages. But Triple Hs obsession with burying The Deadman was not to be. Just like 18 other brave souls did before him, The Game fell to The Undertaker at WrestleMania, becoming No. 19 in the most legendary streak in all of sports-entertainment. The drama of this No Holds Barred Match started on Feb. 21 when Undertakers return to the ring was interrupted by a confident Triple H. No words were spoken between the two legends, but a heated stare down in front of the WrestleMania XXVII banner sent a clear message to the WWE Universe the war of wars was on. It was an unforgettable moment, but, in truth, the build to this match began long before that fateful night. Sixteen years ago, Triple H arrived in WWE and immediately learned to respect and revere The Undertaker as an unmatched performer and a true leader. Their paths would cross from time to time as they both went on to achieve monumental success and, eventually, legendary status, but one triumph would always elude The Game the ability to say he was the man who beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Defeat The Deadman at The Show of Shows? Its something thats never been done before and a challenge thats claimed the souls of icons like Ric Flair, Kane, Edge and, most famously, Shawn Michaels. Its also a near impossibility. HBK himself even expressed his doubts about Triple Hs chances at stopping The Undertaker only one week before this bout. Still, The King of Kings would not be deterred. And on April 3, the last bastions of a disappearing era in sports-entertainment met in the Georgia Dome like two old gunslingers, fighting it out until one man couldnt go on. Entering to the bombast of Metallica with an army of warriors leading the way, Triple H marched to the ring with the stirring intensity that makes him The Cerebral Assassin. Not to be outdone, The Deadman rose through a dense cloud of fog while the sounds of Johnny Cash moaning, Aint no grave can hold my body down, echoed throughout the massive stadium. The spectacle gave every living soul in the WWE Universe chills, but once all the pomp of the entrances was out of the way, it came down to two Superstars. No disqualifications. No count-outs. No holds barred. That things got out of hand quickly should have surprised no one. Fighting as if their very lives were at stake, the two icons annihilated one another, smashing bodies through ringside tables and bashing limbs with steel chairs. Still, no matter how brutal the action got, each man refused to quit. Triple H executed a Pedigree. The Undertaker kicked out. The Deadman hit The Last Ride. The Game fought back. But when two straight Pedigrees failed to stop The Last Outlaw, Triple H seemed to lose his mind. What could he possibly do to defeat this man? Red-faced and frustrated, he threw his game plan out the window and viciously wrapped a steel chair around his opponents head before nailing The Undertaker with his own maneuver The Tombstone. Still, The Deadman would not stay down. When The Game grabbed his sledgehammer, it looked like the most famous streak in all of WWE was about to come to an end. Thats when The Undertaker locked in Hells Gate. Trapped in the horror of this punishing maneuver, The Game fought hard to escape, but his battered body could take no more. After making one final attempt to break free, Triple H finally lost his will and gave in, tapping twice on The Undertakers thigh to signal the end. Fireworks exploded and a giant 19-0 flashed across the Georgia Dome as the bell rang, but there were no celebrations. Instead, two of the greatest warriors in the history of WWE lay motionless in the center of the ring, their bodies exhausted after the war the WWE Universe just witnessed. The Deadman may have won the bout, but it was The Game who rose to his feet. As Triple H defiantly walked back up the entrance ramp, Undertaker attempted to stand, but collapsed in a heap on the arena floor. The Phenom was so battered after the night's confrontation, he could not exit under his own power and had to be carted away from ringside. It was a shocking sight. Not only did it remind the WWE Universe that The Deadman is most certainly a mortal, but it made it clear that The Streak was nearly ended on this remarkable night.
Michael Cole def. Jerry "The King" Lawler
ATLANTA - The outrage festering within the Georgia Dome threatened to wash over the stands and engulf Michael Cole. After what appeared to be a rightful victory, Jerry The King Lawler was denied by the anonymous Raw General Manager who, instead, rewarded Cole the win due to interference on behalf of special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin. Lawler, Austin and more than 70,000 fans were infuriated by the decision. After all, Coles trainer, Jack Swagger, had interfered in the match early on, snapping an ankle lock on Lawler and allowing Cole to work over his rival before snapping on his own An-Cole Lock. Despite the intense pain, Lawler refused to tap out. Through sheer will, the WWE Hall of Famer turned on his back and broke free of the weasel-like announcer. When Lawler finally made it to his feet, Swagger wisely threw in the white towel of surrender on his clients behalf. The problem? Guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin rejected the request, and the match carried on. When The All-American American stepped in Austins face, he received a Stunner for his troubles. A vulnerable Cole begged for mercy, but was forced to continue. In satisfying fashion, King himself fastened an ankle lock on his rival, who quickly tapped out. As Lawler and the WWE Tough Enough host celebrated, the anonymous Raw GM chimed in with the reversal of fortune. Unfortunately for announcer Josh Mathews, who read the GMs fateful message, both Lawler and Stone Cold were in a mood to punish the messenger, which they did. Cole may have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, but its unlikely hes heard the last of it from the jaws of Jerry The King Lawler.
Cody Rhodes def. Rey Mysterio
ATLANTA An eye for an eye. Its the most basic form of punishment man has known, an archaic type of justice that is no longer followed in the civilized world and the phrase that Cody Rhodes repeated to himself as he sought revenge against the person who accidentally disfigured him Rey Mysterio. At WrestleMania XXVII, the bitter Superstar would get this vengeance when he met The Master of the 619 in the center of the ring and beat him using the very knee brace that destroyed his face two months prior. Demented and detached, Rhodes sadistically grinned as he stood above his fallen rival, making it very clear to the WWE Universe that things have changed drastically since the days in which he called himself Dashing. Once chosen as the most handsome Superstar by the Divas, the vain egoist underwent a jarring personality change when Rey Mysterio busted his perfect features with his knee brace while performing the 619. Now hating the disfigured freak he saw in the mirror, the second-generation competitor donned a mask to hide his shame and went on a brutal warpath, destroying opponents and viciously attacking Mysterio on multiple occasions. It was a cruel side of Rhodes that the WWE Universe had never seen before and a dangerous reality that worried The Master of the 619. Did Rey have what it takes to stop this marauding monster? That question was answered at WrestleMania XXVII when the two masked men faced off in a bout that pushed each Superstar to their physical limit. From the opening bell, the aggressive Rhodes targeted his attack on Mysterios tender knee, clinically tearing at the vulnerable tendons and ligaments. It was a sick-style of offense that nearly took away The Ultimate Underdogs incomparable agility, but the little big man refused to go down. Dressed in a costume inspired by the Marvel Comics character Captain America, Mysterio looked downright heroic as he nearly put Rhodes away by using Codys facemask as a weapon. But it was the sadistic SmackDown Superstar who stole the win, striking Rey in the head with his own knee brace for the victory. An eye for an eye. Just like Rhodes had said. Now that hes beaten Rey Mysterio on The Grandest Stage of Them All, will Cody Rhodes bring an end to his sadistic streak? Or has the satisfaction of tonights victory only sent him deeper into his own dementia? It all depends on what Rhodes sees the next time he looks in the mirror.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus & Snooki def. Dolph Ziggler & Lay-Cool
ATLANTA - From bar brawls to Twitter wars with Vickie Guerrero, Lay-Cool and Dolph Ziggler, the build-up to Snookis first WrestleMania match has certainly been entertaining. But when push came to shove at the sold-out Georgia Dome for WrestleMania XXVII, Snooki and her brunette mafia of Trish Stratus and John Morrison disposed of the Mean Team of Dolph Ziggler, Michelle McCool and Layla with the grenade Vickie Guerrero in their corner. No longer the Princess of Poughkeepsie, this guidette is now the Princess of the Peachtree State! Fist pump! From Entertainment Weekly, to People Magazine and numerous television shows, everybody wanted a piece of Nicole Snooki Polizzis debut in the ring. And the pint-sized Poughkeepsie powerhouse was not about to disappoint. She told the world from Hard Rock Café in New York City at the WrestleMania Press Conference that she was so ready and with a little training from seven-time Womens Champion Trish Stratus, she was. Helping train Snooki for her debut inside the ring, the Canadian stunner showed some impressive moves of her own sending Michelle McCool tumbling to the outside floor from the top rope, and taking both members of Lay-Cool out from the apron. The sure-fire Hall of Famer next brings her talents out to California, as Americas new toughest trainer helps to find WWEs next Superstar on WWE Tough Enough, debuting Monday night after Raw on USA Network. But when Stratus tagged Snooki into the match - that's when all bets were off. As McCool tried to gather herself in the corner of the ring, the Jersey Shore star hit a side-flip and back-flip combination, pinning the snarky Michelle McCool while Guerrero looked on in horror. Crashing the party as special guest star of Monday Night Raw less than three weeks before The Show of Shows, the Jersey Shore juggernaut struck up an immediate rapport with The Prince of Parkour. Although Morrison is an admitted Jersey Shore fanatic, WWEs grenade Vickie Guerrero made it clear that she was unimpressed by the pint-sized party girls outrageous MTV antics. When Vickie confronted Snooki in the locker room area and threatened to slap the reality star, the poof-coiffed powder keg unleashed on Vickie with a hard slap of her own. As they say in Seaside Heights, it was on, and an impressive Thesz press on Layla on Raw and a drag-out brawl with LayCool inside a Jersey bar with her new BFF Trish Stratus later, Snooki and the Mean Team were ready to settle the score on The Grandest Stage of Them All. But Guerrero's plan backfired in a packed Georgia Dome. John Morrison, Trish Stratus and the Poughkeepsie powerhouse with the victory? Now thats a Shore bet to turn Atlanta into Hotlanta on the biggest night in entertainment. Party time!
Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella & Kofi Kingston def. The Corre
ATLANTA - Wade Barrett reigns as Intercontinental Champion. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater claim the WWE Tag Team Titles. And Ezekiel Jackson, well, the guy is just plain frightening. Despite their accolades and intimidation, however, The Corre members could not prevail in the most important match of their collective careers. Instead, Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella & last-minute entrant Kofi Kingston triumphed in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Just 24 hours earlier, the ferocious faction of equals attempted to ensure their victory by ambushing Vladimir Kozlov at a WWE Axxess event. As a result, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long declared that Kingston would replace the injured Moscow Mauler. The Dreadlock Dynamo appeared eager to enlist, motivated by the loss of his Intercontinental Championship to Barrett less than two weeks earlier. Kingston, however, was hardly alone in his loathing. The Big Red Monster and The Worlds Largest Athlete had attempted to dismantle The Corre when the group began to terrorize Friday nights. The four Corre members managed to overwhelm the two giants, though, and soon after trained their crosshairs on Marella & Kozlov. When The Italian Stallion defeated Justin Gabriel on Raw, the group appeared ready to stomp Marella like a grape. Their attack was thwarted, however, when Kane and Show joined Kozlov and his partner, each united in their common goal of destroying The Corre. Although the groups demise is not assured in the wake of the defeat, the four nonetheless suffered a serious blow to their aspirations and egos when Big Show delivered a devastating Knockout Punch to Slater and covered him for the victory. As The Corre slunk away from the squared circle in defeat, the crowd of more than 70,000 cheered as The World's Largest Athlete, Kane, Marella & Kingston relished their monumental victory.
