April 2008 News Archive (Page 12)

As the new ECW champion, Kane starts the show off by making his way to the ring. He says that ECW has seen some spectacular moments in sports entertainment, but nothing compares to what Kane has in store for all his combatants.

Music of CM Punk hits the arena and he walks down the ramp with the MITB Briefcase in hand. Kane sees it and comments “So you had a good day Sunday too. BUT, if you’re going to do what I think you’re about to do, I think you’re not going to have such a great night tonight.” CM Punk says that he doesn’t mind cashing in the title at anytime, which includes tonight.

Chavo Guerrero’s music hits and he tells both men in the ring to stop all the talking because no one is going to get a title match before Chavo does. Chavo tries backing himself up by saying that he had to do what no other man had to do for Sunday and that was that he had to prepare for 24 different opponents and that next time, he will be ready. In the meantime, Chavo says he got a match from GM Estrada and will feature Punk teaming up with Kane and taking on Chavo and his partner, Shelton Benjamin.

Stevie Richards vs. Mike Knox
Knox grabs his feet and lifts Richards up and hits a powerful backbreaker. Knox picks up the dead weight of Richards and hits the Corkscrew Faceplant to get the win.
Winner: Mike Knox

It's announced again that on April 5, 2009, Houston, Texas will be the home of the grandest spectacle of them all as they host WrestleMania 25: The Silver Anniversary.

Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney. Delaney says that he wishes to have a match at next year’s WrestleMania because of his hard work. GM Estrada comes down and says that he has some good news for the rookie. He says he is glad to see Delaney’s work and offers him his first ever WWE Contract. Delaney is over-excited and jumps around the ring. Estrada then informs him that he has just been fooled on April Fools Day! Delaney is strongly disappointed. Estrada states that if Delaney really wants the contract, he has to defeat his opponent tonight: The Big Show.

Colin Delaney vs. The Big Show
Bell rings and Delaney is afraid to look up. He tries walking away, but Big Show stands in his way. Delaney turns around and tries to leave, but Show grabs onto his shoulders and hits the Showstopper (Inverted facelock slam) for the quick win.
Winner: The Big Show

Main Event: Chavo Guerrero & Shelton Benjamin vs. CM Punk & Kane
Following a commercial break, we see Kane deliver an elbow drop to Benjamin for a 2 count. Punk is tagged in and he dropkicks Benjamin right on the noggin. Benjamin plays possum momentarily and kicks the chest of Punk and follows it by a clothesline. Chavo tagged in and he uppercuts Punk. Chavo runs to the ropes, but is countered into a tilt-a-whirl slam. 2 count only. As Punk lifts Chavo up, Chavo connects with a jaw breaker and the two fight it out in the corner. After some time, Punk has Chavo in position of the GTS, but Chavo holds onto the ropes, and Benjamin intervenes by side kicking Punk in the jaw. Chavo then hits a slingshot knee drop and applies a reverse STF. “Chavo Sucks!” chants emerge from the crowd. Chavo continues to apply pressure by switching to a surfboard life maneuver. Chavo releases and tags in Benjamin, but Punk somehow locks in a quick small package for the two count.

Chavo is back in and applies an arm lock. After a more minutes, Punk finds a way to counter the 3 amigos and tags in Kane. The Big Red Machine sends both Chavo and Benjamin the corner and hits multiple uppercuts and clotheslines. Kane then signals for the chokeslam and grabs Benjamin. Chavo tries to help, but is big booted in the face. Benjamin capitalizes off the distraction with a big boot of his to Kane, but Kane immediately retaliates with a thunderous big boot of his own, knocking Benjamin down. Kane goes up top for his signature clothesline, but Chavo splits Kane’s leg on the top rope. Punk blind tags Kane and hits a flying clothesline to Benjamin. Afterwards, Punk hits the GTS on Benjamin and this one is over.
Winners: Kane and CM Punk

This week's edition of WWE Monday Night Raw drew a final 3.9 cable rating. The first hour earned a 3.77 rating, while the second hour drew a 4.05 rating. This is a big jump from last week's 3.4 rating.

The event, of course, was highlighted by a tribute to Ric Flair.

Now that he's back in the WWE, looks like The Big Show is in line for a major push. With that in mind, here's a photo tribute to the giant:

It might as well be Ric Flair month in the wrestling world.

As the Nature Boy retires, fans can relive much of his stories career in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated issue that comes out on April 15. Here's the cover for it:

As you can also see, the magazine says Brock Lesnar is a UFC flop. Do you agree?

While we prefer to stick with WWE spoilers and WWE rumors, this bit of gossip is too juicy to pass up:

It didn't take Hulk Hogan long to get over mistress Christiane Plante or wife Linda. The Internet is buzzing with photos of the former WWE champion and new girlfriend Jennifer McDaniel.

While we know little about McDaniel - IMDB lists a Jennifer McDaniel as a make-up artist, but there's no photo attached to her page - there's one fact we can report on:

Jennifer looks exactly like Hulk's daughter Brooke Hogan! And we mean, EXACTLY like her. See for yourself:

Here are a couple more Jennifer McDaniel photos, as she walks through Los Angeles with Hulk Hogan. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged versions...

Last night's WWE RAW was all about Ric Flair, as it ought to have been. Here's a quick recap of events:

Cryme Tyme vs. Lance Cade and Trevor Murdock
Cryme Tyme? Since when were they back on the roster? Who knows, but JTG rolls up Murdoch for the win.
Winners: Cryme Tyme

Shawn Michaels comes out and says that beating Ric Flair is a burden that he will have to carry for his entire life. It's also announced that Matt Hardy will go against Randy Orton tonight.

Brian Kendrick vs. Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly
Kendrick roll up on Rhodes for the win. Non-title match.
Winners: Brian Kendrick and Paul London

Chris Jerico vs. CM Punk
Jericho applied the code breaker to Punk for the win. Wouldn't it be great if they turned Y2J heel and this was a longtime feud?
Winner: Chris Jerico

Big Show’s music hit and he came out to the ring with a smile on his face. Show came out and congratulated Floyd Mayweather. But he then talked about how much Ric Flair meant to him. He said Flair looked him in the eye this weekend and told him he was the greatest big man he was ever in the ring with. Show almost started to cry.

He talked a bit about being a monster before the Great Khali’s music hit and he came waltzing on down to the ring.

Show demanded he get out of his face. Show backed up and he and Khali squared off. Khali backed down, apparently willing to fight, but only on his terms. So now Big Show is a face?!?

Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy
Outside the ring Hardy Twist of Fate on Orton. Matt rolls Orton into the ring. As Hardy gets up, Orton comes out of his phony faint for an RKO.
Winner: Randy Orton

Santino Marella vs. Maria Kanellis
Santino earlier insulted all of the WWE Divas, saying that they should just stay home. The match starts and after one knockdown, most of the WWE Divas come down and attack him. Maria dives right between his crotch and gets the roll up.
Winner: Maria

Flair comes to the ring and says he enjoyed the best career in pro wrestling history. He thanks the fans, who then thank him. Triple H comes down to the ring and says that more people want to think him. Out come Tully Blanchard, JJ Dillion, Arn Anderson and Barry Windhan - the 4 Horseman …but that isn't all.

Next out are Batista, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Harley Race, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, John Cena, Ric's wife Tiffany, his kids Reagan, David, Reid, and Ashley, then Shawn Michaels, who gives him a huge hug. From there, all of the wrestlers in the back come down to the ring, chanting “thank you Ric."

This could become a huge story over the next few days, one that may lead to horrific publicity for the WWE.

Reportedly, Nancy Benoit complained of Chris Benoit's steroid abuse and referred to WWE's Wellness Policy as a "joke" in text messages retrieved from her husband's cell phone just weeks before his murderous spree.

"I will not accept this steroid induced roller coaster ride of emotional abuse," Nancy wrote in a text message on May 9, 2007. "Ignoring the problem or running away isn't going to help you face it. You need professional (help) and only if you're fully honest about all of it."

Benoit and his family were found dead a few weeks later, on June 24.

In a text message later that same day, Nancy pointed to WWE's wellness program: "Get off the stuff," she wrote to her husband. "It's obvious (you're on). I'm probably not the only one who can see and we both know the wellness program is a joke."

We hate to bring this topic up again, but the tragic warnings and words of Nancy Benoit are chilling to recount.

According to Prowrestling.net, Rick Flair was offered the main event spot at Wrestlemania XXIV, but turned the down.

There was a pitch made by a creative team member to have the final shot of WrestleMania be a spotlight on Flair's boots and robe. However, Flair strongly disagreed with those sentiments when the idea was brought up to him during a press conference held prior to the WWE Hall of Fame convention.

The admirable reasoning? Flair told reporters that nothing is more important than the title belts and insisted that his match with Shawn Michaels did not belong in the main event slot.

Ric Flair has wrestled his final match. Do you think he was the best of all-time?