| WrestleMania 23: Official Event Thread; Batista/Taker, Michaels/Cena | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 18 2007, 12:28 PM (532 Views) | |
| Stinger | Feb 18 2007, 12:28 PM Post #1 |
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Posted Image Posted Image WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: BATISTA © vs. UNDERTAKER The Deadman made his decision in loud fashion on Monday Night Raw Feb. 5 when he Chokeslammed The Animal, and made it clear that he would challenge Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 23. With his incredible victory in the 30-man Royal Rumble Match, the Phenom earned the right to choose his opponent for sports-entertainment’s grandest stage — WrestleMania. Undertaker will put his unprecedented undefeated streak on the line, all in hopes of capturing his first World Heavyweight Championship. For The Animal, a lengthy odyssey which saw him capture, relinquish and then recapture the World Heavyweight Championship will add another dramatic chapter as he attempts to succeed where no WWE Superstar before him has. Batista hasn’t backed down before in his accomplished career, and he has no intentions of doing so now. What will happen when two of SmackDown and sports-entertainment’s greatest stars meet for the industry’s richest prize? Watch WrestleMania 23, live from Detroit, to see it all unfold for yourself. Posted Image WWE CHAMPIONSHIP: JOHN CENA © vs. SHAWN MICHAELS Thanks to his victory in a Triple Threat Match on the Feb. 5 Raw, Shawn Michaels will challenge WWE Champion John Cena for the gold at WrestleMania 23. On the last Raw before the Royal Rumble, HBK said that no mortal man would stop him from headlining WrestleMania 23. However, in the Rumble Match itself, he ran into 28 mortal men…and Undertaker. Despite his best effort, HBK was the last man eliminated as the Deadman won the match and the guaranteed WrestleMania title opportunity. The following night, HBK eagerly awaited Undertaker’s decision of which champion to face, telling Cena that he wanted a piece of the WWE Champion if he wasn’t the Deadman’s choice. Randy Orton and Edge both interjected, and the aftermath saw Cena & HBK defeat Edge & Orton to become World Tag Team Champions. When Feb. 5 rolled around, Undertaker made his decision and chose Batista as his WrestleMania opponent. Once again, HBK, Orton and Edge all lobbied to challenge Cena at WrestleMania. Mr. McMahon, tired of the bickering, ordered a Triple Threat Match later that night, with the winner to challenge for the WWE Title at WrestleMania. In the Triple Threat Match, HBK took advantage of a miscue to claim victory. Edge intended to spear Michaels, but HBK sidestepped him, sending the Rated-R Superstar crashing into Orton. After nailing Edge with Sweet Chin Music, Michaels pinned the still-prone Orton to win the match and earn the title opportunity. As he celebrated, though, Cena entered the ring, and the two had an uneasy staredown. Now, HBK has the opportunity he has craved for, and will face Cena on April 1. Last year at WrestleMania, Cena made HBK’s fellow DX member Triple H tap out to the STFU; will he make it 2-for-2 against the degenerates on April 1, or will Michaels leave Detroit as a five-time World Champion? Posted Image BATTLE OF THE BILLIONAIRES: LASHLEY w/DONALD TRUMP vs. UMAGA w/VINCE McMAHON There will be a high-stakes Battle of the Billionaires between Donald Trump and Mr. McMahon at WrestleMania 23. ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley (representing Trump) will take on Intercontinental Champion Umaga (representing Mr. McMahon) with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. But bragging rights aren't the only thing at stake; it will also be a bad hair day for either Trump or McMahon, as the winning billionaire will get to shave the losing billionaire's precious hair. The challenge was laid out on the Raw Thursday Night special. Trump challenged McMahon to a match, but the WWE Chairman cited that injuries suffered at Unforgiven months ago would prevent him from any further in-ring combat. Instead, he made Trump an offer of his own: “I have a proposal for you,” muttered the Chairman. “Why don't I find someone to represent me, and you find someone to represent you?” “You’re on!” responded Trump. “But let’s make this a little more interesting. As you know, I have quite possibly the most famous head of hair in the world, and for years, people have questioned if yours is even real!” Seemingly driven by the encouraging pleas of Portland’s WWE fanatics, Trump continued. “At WrestleMania, if my guy loses, you can shave my head,” said the fired-up billionaire. “But if your guy loses, I’m going to shave your head!” McMahon rejected the offer, but after Trump questioned his guts, he accepted the match and the two shared a bitter handshake. On the Feb. 19 Raw, McMahon announced Umaga as his choice. Moments later, the Samoan Bulldozer gave WWE fans a glimpse of how dangerous he can be by destroying Jeff Hardy to become Intercontinental Champion. The following week, "The Donald" presented Lashley as his representative. The ECW World Champion and the Samoan Bulldozer stared down in the ring before igniting a massive brawl that took nearly two dozen security officers, referees and officials to break up. This prompted the WWE Board of Directors to get together and announce that they would appoint a special guest referee for the bout. On March 5, Mr. McMahon thought he would hear his son Shane's name called to be the guest referee. But after Eric Bischoff, Mick Foley and Shane faked him out, none other than Stone Cold charged to the ring. Austin was in fact the WWE Board of Directors' choice, and he celebrated by giving Mr. McMahon an ice cold beer bath. So at WrestleMania, it will be Champion vs. Champion, Extremist vs. Bulldozer, Billionaire vs. Billionaire. Which side will claim victory, and which billionaire will leave Ford Field with a new look? Posted Image MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH: EDGE vs. CM PUNK vs. KING BOOKER vs. JEFF HARDY vs. MR. KENNEDY vs. MATT HARDY vs. FINLAY vs. RANDY ORTON For the third consecutive year, WrestleMania will feature a Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Eight WWE and ECW Superstars will do battle on April 1, and the one who climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase hanging from the ceiling of Ford Field will earn a guaranteed opportunity at the World Championship of his choice anytime over the next year. On the Feb. 19 Raw, Edge became the first man to qualify for the match. In a battle pitting the winners of the first two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, the 2005 winner speared and pinned 2006 winner Rob Van Dam to gain his entry. With the win, the Rated-R Superstar guaranteed himself a slot at WrestleMania, an event at which he has never lost. The following night on ECW on Sci Fi, CM Punk defeated Johnny Nitro to earn a place in the match, securing his participation in his first-ever WrestleMania. As he represents ECW on April 1, CM Punk now has a golden opportunity to reach the pinnacle of ECW and sports-entertainment. That Friday, SmackDown saw King Booker qualify for the match by defeating Kane. With a hand from The Great Khali, King Booker stopped the Big Red Monster in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, putting himself one step closer to a potential WWE, ECW or World Heavyweight Championship Match. Jeff Hardy qualified on the Feb. 26 Raw, defeating Shelton Benjamin. The win put Hardy into his third career WrestleMania Ladder Match, both of which have also featured Edge. On Feb. 27, Mr. Kennedy qualified in the first-ever Extreme Rules Qualifying Match on ECW on Sci Fi. He defeated ECW Original Sabu to earn his ticket to WrestleMania, where he will bring with him an impressive seven-win record against World Champions. March 2, on Friday Night SmackDown, Finlay and Matt Hardy qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 23. Hardy defeated Joey Mercury while Finlay was able to defeat Chris Benoit and MVP in the first-ever Triple Threat Qualifying Match. Randy Orton claimed the final spot on the March 12 Raw, defeating Ric Flair and Carlito in a Triple Threat Elimination Match. Flair and Carlito had their first qualifying attempt interrupted by The Great Khali, but both fell victim to the RKO and were unable to make good on their second chance. Who will claim the briefcase this year? Can Edge stay undefeated at WrestleMania by repeating and becoming Mr. Money in the Bank again, or will one of the other participants step up and seize the brass ring? Regardless of who wins, they will have some big footsteps to fill, as both Edge and Rob Van Dam won the WWE Championship the night they cashed in their Money in the Bank. Will this year’s winner make it a three-peat when he cashes in? Posted Image THE ECW ORIGINALS (RVD, SABU, TOMMY DREAMER & SANDMAN) vs. THE NEW BREED (ELIJAH BURKE, KEVIN THORNE, MARCUS COR VON, & MATT STRIKER) When Mr. McMahon visited ECW on Sci Fi for the first time in January, he immediately made it clear that he looked upon the pioneers of ECW – men like Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, Sabu and Rob Van Dam – with disdain. The key to ECW future, he said, was new blood, young, polished, smart athletes like Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von and Kevin Thorn. And so the turf war between the ECW Originals and the New Breed – a clash between ECW’s past and present – began. The members of both teams may hate to admit it, but they may have more in common than they realize. Once upon a time, as Dreamer pointed out on ECW on Sci Fi, he and the other ECW Originals were young, innovative and considered brash upstarts, just like the New Breed. And the members of the New Breed are hungry, eager to make their mark and to show their opponents and the sports-entertainment world that they are the present and the future in the Land of the Extreme. When ECW began in Philadelphia more than a decade ago, the ECW Originals were that hungry. Now, the New Breed may have reignited that fire in the Originals. We’ll know for sure only after the smoke clears following the clash between both factions at WrestleMania 23. Both sides have traded victories in singles and tag team competition for months on ECW on Sci Fi and neither has been able to gain a decisive advantage. But their Eight-Man Tag Team showdown at WrestleMania 23 may decide once and for all who will rule today’s ECW and take it into the future. Posted Image WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: MELINA © vs. ASHLEY In a match fueled by jealousy, two of the Sexiest Women on TV will battle it out at WrestleMania 23 when Playboy cover girl Ashley challenges Melina for the WWE Women's Championship. But this won't be just any old match; no, this will be a Lumberjill Match, with a dozen delicious Divas lurking at ringside. Reigning champ Melina has been noticably bitter in recent weeks, upset over the fact that Ashley was chosen to represent the WWE Divas on the cover of Playboy magazine. You can also be sure that every bit as jealous Melina is of Ashley for appearing in Playboy, the cover girl is just as jealous of the gold that Melina wears around her waist. On a recent episode of SmackDown, the rivalry was taken to the next level when a catfight broke out between the feisty Divas on the inaugural edition of Miz TV. Just days before WrestleMania, it was announced that the Women's Championship Match would be contested as a Lumberjill Match; the match will have Lumberjack Match rules, but instead of burly Superstars, the WWE Divas will be surrounding the ring to keep the combatants in the squared circle. Who will walk out of Detroit with the gold? Posted Image KANE vs. THE GREAT KHALI The showdown between SmackDown’s Kane and Raw’s The Great Khali at WrestleMania 23 will be a true battle of WWE monsters. The road to their WrestleMania encounter began when Khali complained on Raw that he wanted competition. Since his Raw debut, no Superstar has been able to budge the 7-foot -3 inch, 420-pound giant from India. He invaded SmackDown in search of a challenge and attacked Kane, costing him a victory against King Booker – and a potential opportunity at a World Championship – in their Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. The Big Red Monster retaliated the following week on Raw, surprising Khali and showing him that he could match his power. Khali then returned to SmackDown and attacked and bloodied Kane with headbutts following his match with World Heavyweight Champion Batista. Kane and Khali have many similarities. They’re both creatures out of a horror film who intimidate their opponents with their sheer size and sadism. Fans watched in astonishment as a gleeful Big Red Monster laughed when he set MVP on fire last December in their Inferno Match at Armageddon. And since his memorable rivalry with Kane’s brother, Undertaker, last year, the Punjabi warrior has wreaked havoc on ECW on Sci Fi and on Raw. Both Kane and Khali have come out of wars with Undertaker more sadistic – and hungry. In his matchup with Khali, Kane is at a size and strength disadvantage, a rarity for the former WWE Champion. In Kane, Khali has an opponent who is not intimidated by his presence and will going to any lengths to maim his foes. Only an event like WrestleMania is big enough for these two giants. Who will be left standing? Order WrestleMania 23, live on pay-per-view and find out. Posted Image UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP: CHRIS BENOIT © VS. MVP Montel Vontavious Porter – MVP – loves gold and has called himself a franchise player since signing sports-entertainment’s most lucrative contract ever with SmackDown last year. He will prove he is truly SmackDown’s most valuable player if he wrests the United States Championship from “The Crippler” Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 23. Though he’s brash and cocky, it’s difficult to argue with MVP’s claim. Since debuting on SmackDown last September, he has scored a series of victories over some of SmackDown’s greatest Superstars. MVP believes the grandest stage in sports-entertainment would not be the same without him and that the Rabid Wolverine is “too boring and uncharismatic” to be the U.S. Champion. Benoit is not as flashy as MVP. He is a man of few words – he prefers to do his talking in the ring. The five-time U.S. Champion and former World Champion is one of the greatest in-ring technicians in sports-entertainment history and dazzles his opponents with a treasure chest of moves. Benoit loves to make his foes tap out to the Crippler Crossface, which he attempted to place on MVP on a recent edition of SmackDown. MVP and Benoit are proof-positive that opposites don’t always attract. Benoit will either extend his latest U.S. Title reign into its sixth month at WrestleMania 23 or MVP will win his first major title of what he believes will be a Hall of Fame career. |
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| Stinger | Mar 29 2007, 10:09 AM Post #2 |
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The Admin is Here!
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The card is finalized, so this thread is now open and other other one is closed. |
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| Chad Matthews | Mar 29 2007, 12:29 PM Post #3 |
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CMV1
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I'm pretty excited... If you can't get excited for Wrestlemania, no matter what the card, you should seriously consider taking some time off from watching wrestling... I liken it to college football. We all have our favorite teams, but if UGA or Notre Dame or OSU or 'Bama or Va Tech aren't having great seasons, does that mean we shouldn't care about the team and get pumped for their big games? Obviously, we aren't quite as excited as when are teams are hitting on all cylinders, but don't we still get pumped for the big ones (ND-USC...OSU-UM...Va-Tech-Miami or Virginia...State-UNC...UGA-UF or UT)? Mania is the big one...and even though the boys aren't really doing as well as they have done in the past, I'm still pumped about watching the "big one" |
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| Crim | Mar 29 2007, 02:25 PM Post #4 |
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The 2nd era of Y2J has begun
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How does Matt Striker get on the card and not Nitro or Carlito? |
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| dawsey28 | Mar 29 2007, 06:36 PM Post #5 |
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Ariel's chattel
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What in the HE--ELLL is the point in making the Woman's Championship match a "LumberJill" match? Oh well, not really a match I cared about anyway. Although, I don't know what has come over me, but I'm finally getting excited about 'Mania. I actually can't wait. |
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| Crim | Mar 29 2007, 08:47 PM Post #6 |
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The 2nd era of Y2J has begun
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Probably to get Mickie James involved in some way. She probably had a fit when she figured out she wasn't on the card. You know what they say... hell have no fear but a woman's scorne. ;) |
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| Chad Matthews | Mar 30 2007, 05:59 AM Post #7 |
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CMV1
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I'm thinking the point was to make a match that wasn't interesting into something more interesting... |
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| Q-BZ | Mar 30 2007, 09:43 AM Post #8 |
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And it still doesn't make that much difference, even at that. |
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| Snowman | Mar 30 2007, 01:13 PM Post #9 |
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The Snowman Cometh
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What really has pissed me off the last few years, is that...The Woman's Title...the most pointless title in the WWE....the one title that no one cares about. Is defended each and every wrestlemania. And yet other titles are left out of the damn show. Cruiserweight: Wrestlemania 20 WWE Tag Team: Wrestlemania 20 Intercontinental: Wrestlemania 18 <<this is rediculous! |
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| Q-BZ | Mar 30 2007, 01:20 PM Post #10 |
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Yup. |
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| Q-BZ | Mar 30 2007, 01:35 PM Post #11 |
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Ok, so let me get this straight: A 4 hour PPV, the so-called Super Bowl of wrestling, and neither Flair or Carlito are even going to make it on the @#$%ing card? I do like that they are starting this thing at 7pm instead of 8pm. It is 4 hours is it not? Even if it were 3 hours, this is ridiculous.
This idea should never have come up in the first place. People need to be beaten within an inch of their lives for coming up with it. EDIT: Snow, you gotta read closer. Look at the first part of my post here. ;) I'd be looking maybe to either add CCC to the ladder match or I guess they could whip up some tag team match of some sort. This is just plain senseless, any way you cut it. |
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| Snowman | Mar 30 2007, 06:09 PM Post #12 |
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The Snowman Cometh
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The smart thing would have been to strip Cena and HBK of the tag titles.... Then at Mania you could have an Elimination match for the tag titles...one team starts, when they lose, they are gone and someone takes their place. TWGTT Cryme Tyme Flair and Carlito Cade and Murdoch You could have Carlito and Flair win it...and then they can split later and feud. But once again...WWE DROPS THE BALL!!! Not to mention you have the longest reigning tag champs in over a decade NOT ON THE CARD! |
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| Q-BZ | Mar 31 2007, 07:19 AM Post #13 |
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That pretty much shows you how dead tag team wrestling is in the WWE when they didn't even bother to get the straps off of Cena and HBK so the titles could be up for grabs by everyone else you just named. So those titles aren't even in the running at WM at all. Ridiculous. |
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| Snowman | Mar 31 2007, 07:11 PM Post #14 |
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The Snowman Cometh
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http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/excl...wrestlemaniaset WOW! |
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| Chad Matthews | Apr 1 2007, 08:10 AM Post #15 |
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CMV1
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Yeah, it seems that they might try to dazzle us with the set and pyro to keep us from noticing such matches as Kane vs. Khali. I'm pumped about tonight's show. Love it or hate it, the card could very well deliver. Word has it that HBK vs. Cena will close the show, so at least the main-event will deliver. Batista has been saying he and Taker are going to steal the show...at least Bat's has the motivation...I'd love to see him deliver...tonight, of all nights, would be the night to do that... |
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| Stinger | Apr 1 2007, 11:18 AM Post #16 |
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The Admin is Here!
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I've finally gotten pumped up for Mania myself, mainly whilst writing a WrestleMania 23 column at LoP (you can read it HERE!) Now I just hope I get to watch it. Hasn't rained in over three weeks here, and now tonight we're suppose to have heavy thunderstorms. And with shitty Alabama Power and Charter Cable, either is more than likely to go out. |
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| Q-BZ | Apr 1 2007, 11:25 AM Post #17 |
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Indeed. |
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| Chad Matthews | Apr 1 2007, 01:16 PM Post #18 |
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CMV1
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Nice column, Stinger...I feedbacked it on LOP... Well, I just got a call from a friend of mine that recently left school and moved back to Detroit...he's going to the show tonight, so maybe we can get a live report of what went down... Looking forward to doing my first Mania review... |
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| Chad Matthews | Apr 1 2007, 02:11 PM Post #19 |
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CMV1
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From Dave Meltzer... John Cena will have the biggest entrance on the show, something "Motor City" themed with cars. - The Money in the Bank match will open 'Mania which pretty much shows WWE want it to steal the show and go down in history. - The Undertaker/Batista match will likely be a "powerhouse" brawl with both extra motivated because they wanted to be the main event. - Shane McMahon wanted to open the show with the same role that Vince did, to stand in the squared circle and perhaps introduce Aretha Franklin. His sister Stephanie wasn't too impressed with the idea and tried to bury it to anyone who would listen. - Eugene, Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, and Dr. of Style, Slick are just some of the individuals who will be in some sort of a dance contest. Pretty interesting that MITB will open the show...that could challenge Hart vs. Hart for best Mania opener of all-time... I'm excited about this show. MITB as the opener guarentees that the good matches will be spaced out and jumbled all together...something that's plagued past Manias.. |
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| Q-BZ | Apr 1 2007, 02:45 PM Post #20 |
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Yup, I'm starting to like the way this thing's shaping up. |
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| dawsey28 | Apr 1 2007, 03:04 PM Post #21 |
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Ariel's chattel
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That "dance competition pisses me off. They can't find time for Carlito, Nitro, London & Kendrick, Shelton ect... Not enough to kill the excitement for me, though. I can't wait. |
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| Chad Matthews | Apr 1 2007, 03:38 PM Post #22 |
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CMV1
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I love Wrestlemania day! Damn, it just makes me feel like a kid again. I get all pumped up and ready to go... Only an hour and a half! |
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| Q-BZ | Apr 1 2007, 03:40 PM Post #23 |
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I agree. 4 hours to kill and they put up bullshit like that instead of obvious talent, like you cited. But even at that: I'm looking forward to this, all the same. |
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| dawsey28 | Apr 1 2007, 05:52 PM Post #24 |
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Ariel's chattel
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WTF!!!!! My cable went out. And it keeps saying "Unable to complete Your Order. Please call *** *** ****" I call them and they say we can't do anything about it until Monday. So I can't even watch 'Mania. WTF?!!! :angry: And now I can't seem to get on LOP. What the Hell ?!!! Money in the Bank #3
Khali v Kane
Chris Benoit v MVP
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| Chad Matthews | Apr 1 2007, 07:08 PM Post #25 |
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CMV1
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Batista vs. Undertaker....MOTY candidate...no shit! |
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2:23 AM Jul 11