Disclaimer: I do not own WWE
WrestleMania 23: 1/4/2007
Match Card
1. CM Punk vs Edge vs Randy Orton vs Matt Hardy vs Jeff Hardy vs King Booker vs Mr. Kennedy vs Finlay in a Money in the Bank ladder match.
2. The Great Khali vs Kane in a singles match.
3. Chris Benoit (c) vs MVP in a singles match for the WWE United States Championship.
4. Batista (c) vs the Undertaker in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
5. The ECW Originals vs the New Blood in a eight man tag team match.
6. Bobby Lashley (w/ Donald Trump) vs Umaga (w/ Vince McMahon) in a Battle of the Billionaires match.
7. Melina (c) vs Maria in a Lumberjill match for the WWE Women's Championship.
8. The Jackal vs Bloodwolf in a No Holds Barred match.
9. The Bladewolf (c) vs Shawn Michaels in a singles match for the WWE Championship.
WrestleMania 23 was live at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. In the first match that aired, Raw's Edge, Randy Orton, and Jeff Hardy SmackDown's King Booker (with Queen Sharmell), Mr. Kennedy, Matt Hardy and Dave Finlay and ECW's CM Punk competed in the third annual Money in the Bank ladder match.
The match featured many notable spots, including points where Edge performed the Spear on all the other opponents, followed by Randy Orton doing the same by performing the RKO later in the match. Mr. Kennedy missed a Kenton Bomb, landing on a ladder, and received a Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy.
Several dangerous ladders spots were also featured, including Orton performing an RKO on CM Punk off a ladder, and King Booker performing a Book End to Orton off the ladder as well. Midway through the match, Jeff Hardy climbed a fifteen-foot-high ladder inside the ring and on his brother, Matt Hardy's urging, he performed a leg drop off of that ladder onto Edge, through another ladder bridged between the ring apron and the barricade.
They were carried off on stretchers by the paramedics. Later, when Booker was about to retrieve the contract briefcase, Matt Hardy held Booker's wife, Queen Sharmell as a hostage, threatening to perform a Twist of Fate on her.
Booker went to her aid and received the Twist of Fate from Matt. Finlay fought Matt for some time in the ring, and also performed the Celtic Cross to Matt onto a ladder. Finlay's associate Hornswoggle emerged from under the ring and attempted to retrieve the briefcase for Finlay.
He was stopped by Kennedy, who performed his Green Bay Plunge on Hornswoggle. Kennedy went on to win the match, only after knocking CM Punk off a ladder by hitting him with another ladder.
The next match was billed as a "SmackDown versus Raw Interpromotional match". Raw's The Great Khali faced SmackDown's Kane. It was a short match but contained a notable spot. In homage to Hulk Hogan slamming André the Giant twenty years earlier at WrestleMania III, Kane picked up Khali for the first time and body-slammed him to the mat.
The match ended with Khali pinning Kane after a Giant Chokeslam. After the match, Khali choked Kane out with Kane's chained hook, which was a reference to Kane's movie, See No Evil, where his character used said hook as a signature weapon.
A backstage segment was featured next, which involved Cryme Tyme persuading Eugene to dance with Extreme Expose instead he danced with Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah, who were dressed as strippers as Cryme Tyme danced with Extreme Exposé. Also featured in the segment were WWE Legends Slick, Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Hart, Irwin R. Schyster, Dusty Rhodes, Sgt. Slaughter, Howard Finkel, Gene Okerlund, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, many of whom had not been seen on television in years until Farooq interrupted the festivities with his signature "DAMN!" catchphrase.
In the fourth match, Chris Benoit faced Montel Vontavious Porter for the United States Championship. The match started off with a chain of takedowns, holds, and reversals, with MVP keeping up with Benoit, even going for some submission holds. The match lasted almost ten minutes, with Benoit attempting to lock in some of his signature submission holds, but MVP successfully reversed them, including the Crippler Crossface. The two exchanged suplexes and holds until Benoit executed a Diving headbutt on MVP, which led to Benoit getting the pinfall victory to retain the WWE United States Championship.
Long-time ring announcer Howard Finkel then introduced the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2007. The next match featured Batista defending the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker. The match started with Batista performing a Spear on Undertaker as the bell sounded. The match went back and forth, with both men countering each other and performing their finishers.
Undertaker performed a Chokeslam, but Batista kicked out of the pinfall attempt. The Undertaker was then able to perform a Last Ride to Batista for a near-fall. Midway through the match, Undertaker performed an Over The Top Rope Suicide Dive on Batista. At one point, Batista was able to perform a running powerslam on The Undertaker through a broadcast table.
Back in the ring, Batista executed a Spinebuster followed by a Batista Bomb for a near-fall. Undertaker then pinned Batista following a Tombstone piledriver to become the World Heavyweight Champion and emerge from WrestleMania with his winning streak intact.
The Undertaker's win made him the second wrestler to have won both the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, with Bladewolf being the first after winning the World Heavyweight Championship at last year's WrestleMania and the WWE Championship WrestleMania 14.
The ECW Originals (Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and The Sandman) took on The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von, and Matt Striker) next. The match started off with Cor Von working over Sabu. That changed when Cor Von tagged Striker, who missed an elbow after whipping Sabu into the ropes, allowing The Sandman to get tagged.
The Sandman dominated Striker, and eventually tagged Van Dam. Van Dam used also dominated Striker but was poked in the eye, allowing Striker to tag in Burke. Burke had early success, but Van Dam regained the advantage and tagged The Sandman again. The Sandman worked on Burke until tagging Dreamer.
Dreamer also beat down Burke until Cor Von received a blind tag and hit Dreamer from behind. Cor Von attacked Dreamer relentlessly and went over and punched Sabu, which distracted the referee and allowed Dreamer to be triple-teamed by Thorn, Burke, and Striker. Cor Von tagged in Burke who almost pinned Dreamer. Thorn entered next and almost performed his finishing move called the Original Sin.
Dreamer managed to escape but was unable to tag his partners. Thorn tagged in Cor Von again who also almost pinned Dreamer. Cor Von tagged Thorn again, and Thorn resumed the beat down on Dreamer. Thorn tagged Striker next, and Striker attempted a suplex that Dreamer blocked and Dreamer suplexed Striker instead. Striker did not try to tag his partners and tried to stop Dreamer, but Dreamer tagged in Sabu. Sabu began to manhandle Striker and executed a leg drop from the top rope.
Van Dam was then tagged in. Burke broke up Van Dam's pin attempt, which led to all competitors entering the ring. While the referee was distracted, Ariel gave Striker a chair. But Van Dam gave Striker an Van Daminator when he kicked the chair into Striker's face. Van Dam pinned Striker after a Five-Star Frog Splash to win the match for The Originals.
The match that WWE billed as the "Battle of the Billionaires" was next, as Intercontinental Champion Umaga (accompanied by Vince McMahon and his handler Armando Alejandro Estrada) fought ECW Champion Bobby Lashley (accompanied by Donald Trump). Stone Cold Steve Austin served as the special guest referee.
Trump was attended to by Tara Connor. Midway through the match, Austin was attacked by Umaga, causing him to become incapacitated and was taken out of the match for several minutes. Shane McMahon, who attempted to replace him as the referee, called the match while being biased towards Umaga. After Umaga got a near-fall on Lashley, Austin pulled Shane out of the ring, gave him a Stunner, and continued refereeing the match. Lashley won the match after a Stunner from Austin and a Spear. After the match, Trump and Lashley shaved McMahon's head bald, followed by Austin executing a Stunner on Trump.
The next match was Melina against Maria in a Lumberjill Match for the WWE Women's Championship. The match wasn't long but it wasn't short. Maria became a 3-time Women's Champion after hitting a Spear then a Tombstone Piledriver to score the win and become the new Women's Champion.
The next match was Jackal against Bloodwolf in a No Holds Barred match. The two former friends and tag team partners didn't waste time in attacking each other and began beating the holy hell out of each other. They countered and kicked out of big moves, including finishers and signatures. The match ended when Jackal bashed a sledgehammer across Bloodwolf's skull and pinned him for the win.
And now the next match was the Main Event for the WWE Championship.
DX's theme hits and Shawn Michaels makes his way to the ring for this big Main Event. He enters the ring and waits, sitting on the top turnbuckle as he looks up the entrance ramp.
The lights go out and a eerie red light shines across the arena and crowd. Four wolves come out onto the stage and sit down as a figure rises from the stage in a Superhero landing position. They had a black sleeveless vest on with the hood up. The figure then raised their head and let's out a loud howl and the wolves copied before the lights went out again.
OOOOOOWHOOOOOO!
The lights came back on to show the Bladewolf standing where the figure was, revealing he was the figure. He had red and black face paint on that resembled a Wolf's face. Instead of The Vengeful One playing, his very first theme played. The Devil's Wolf started up to a pop from the crowd.
(AN: It's an unused theme of Kane's. Just go on YouTube, look for the title 'Kane Titantron Type O Negative Theme' by vpwvids, it's that version I'm using)
As the theme played, Bladewolf began raising his arms. At the 0:11 second mark, Bladewolf threw his arms down and fire exploded on the stage and he began walking down the ramp. He had the WWE Championship around his waist.
The Demon Wolf had arrived. The Bladewolf has unleashed his Demon side. The much more sadistic, and evil side of himself. His darker alter ego.
The Demon Bladewolf made his way down the ramp, his eyes never leaving Michaels as he coldly stares the Heartbreak Kid down. Once he enters the ring, Bladewolf takes off his coat then hands his title to the referee as HBK jumps down from the turnbuckle.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
HBK went for a hand shake but Bladewolf wasn't falling for it and tackled HBK into the corner, delivering multiple shoulder thrusts to the gut as Michaels tries fighting back with elbows to the back but Bladewolf lifted Michaels up and slammed him onto the mat where he delivers nasty knees to the ribs of HBK. Bladewolf then grabs Michaels from behind and hits a German Suplex. He holds on as he delivers six more German Suplexes to Shawn Michaels.
Bladewolf laughs sadistically as he gets to his feet before booting Michaels in the face. Bladewolf grabs Michaels again and delivers three more German Suplexes. Bladewolf goes for another German Suplex but HBK fights back with a quick chest chop to Bladewolf. HBK with more chops to Bladewolf and backs off. HBK fights with elbows after dodging more offense from the WWE Champion. Another big chop from HBK. Bladewolf blocks a right hand from HBK and tosses him with force to the corner. HBK jumps over Bladewolf, fakes a knee injury and then tackles Bladewolf.
Bladewolf grabs Michaels and delivers some hard rights to the ribs then a German Suplex. Bladewolf pulls HBK to his feet before he tosses HBK to the corner with force again and gets in some big body shots. Bladewolf hits a big uppercut that levels HBK then delivers a hard right hand and headbutt to HBK in the corner. HBK reverses their position ans retaliates with chops to Bladewolf in the corner. Bladewolf ducks a choo and grabs HBK to deliver another German Suplex. He lifts HBK up and takes him down with a high back body on HBK.
Bladewolf lifts HBK up and slams him down with a big press slam. Bladewolf rebounds off the ropes, hits an elbow, goes for the cover and HBK kicks out quickly. Bladewolf delivers a fee more knees to the ribs, then hard lefts and rights to Michaels' front, csusing him to cover up. Bladewolf lifts Michaels right onto his shoulders but HBK fights out of it and Bladewolf turns around...INTO SWEET CHIN MUSIC! HBK HOOKS THE LEG! ONE! TWO! THRE-! BLADEWOLF KICKS OUT!
HBK hits Bladewolf's shin across his knee and then trips him up after hitting the ropes. HBK with a big kick to Bladewolf's head. HBK with shots to the gut of Bladewolf and applies the Figure Four Leg Lock. Bladewolf fights out of it then dodges a pinfall attempt quickly sitting up. HBK forcing Bladewolf back to his shoulders and Bladewolf sits up each time during a pinfall attempt.
Bladewolf with a few right hands to HBK. HBK with a kick to Bladewolf's knees taking him off his feet. Bladewolf grabs HBK and throws him with force into the corner where he attacks with big right hands to the head and gut of HBK. Bladewolf with a running clothesline to HBK in the opposite corner. Bladewolf charges and hits another clothesline. Bladewolf lifts HBK onto his shpulders...AND HITS SNAKE EYES! He rebounds off the ropes...AND DELIVERS A HARD CLOTHESLINE!
Bladewolf hits a elbow over HBK's chest, hooks the leg but HBK gets a shoulder up after two. Bladewolf gets to his feet before lifting HBK up by the throat, looking for a Chokeslam but HBK counters the Chokeslam attempt into the Crossface! Bladewolf grunted as he tried fighting out of it before he rolls HBK over to his back with the Crossface still in, HBK pushes back over after a two count and keeps the Crossface locked in.
Bladewolf fights to his knees, to his feet, HBK is still hanging on and Bladewolf hits a big side slam. A cover by Bladewolf and HBK gets a shoulder up after two. Bladewolf delivers multiple punches before getting to his feet and pulls HBK to his feet but HBK retaliated with a kick to the gut, chops, more chops then takes Bladewolf. HBK goes to the top rope before jumping off...AND HITS THE FLYING ELBOW DROP!
HBK flips up and heads to the corner. HBK walks forward, hits an atomic on Bladewolf, another atomic and a flying clothesline after hitting the ropes. HBK starts climbing up to the top turnbuckle when Bladewolf sits up. HBK jumps, but Bladewolf catches HBK, attempts a Chokeslam, HBK breaks it up, attempts a Figure Four but Bladewolf reverses it...AND LOCKS IN THE WOLF CLUTCH!
HBK Yells as he tries fighting out of it and soon reaches the ropes.
HBK is able to push his body over and get to the ropes to break it up. HBK bails to the outside and Bladewolf follows. Bladewolf gets in a few shots on HBK, lands an elbow across the chest before grabbing him and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex. Bladewolf grabs Michaels by the hair and the referee gets involved but runs out the ring when Bladewolf takes a step towards him. Turning his attention back to Michaels, Bladewolf stomps on HBK's chest a few times before he grabs him and lifts him onto his shoulders... BEFORE HITTING THE WOLF'S HOWL!HE HOOKS THE LEG! ONE! TWO! THRE-! HBK KICKS OUT!
Bladewolf sighs as he wipes some of the face paint off before grabbing Michaels and sets him up for the Wolf's Howl again but Michaels fights out of it and slides off Bladewolf's shoulders. Bladewolf turns around... INTO A SECOND SWEET CHIN MUSIC! HBK HOOKS THE LEG! ONE! TWO! THRE-! BLADEWOLF KICKS OUT!
HBK slaps the mat in frustration before he gets to his feet and gets into a corner where he begins tuning up the band one more time. Bladewolf gets to his feet and turns around... INTO A THIRD SWEET CHIN MUSIC! HBK HOOKS THE LEGS! ONE! TWO! THRE-! BLADEWOLF KICKS OUT AGAIN!
Michaels couldn't believe it as he holds his head in disbelief. Michaels then begins going to the top rope as Bladewolf stumbles to his feet. Michaels... GOES FOR THE MOONSAULT-NO!BLADEWOLF CAUGHT HIM! Bladewolf sets Michaels up into a Fireman's Carry...BEFORE HITTING THE WOLF'S HOWL!
Bladewolf gets to his feet and grabs Michaels by the throat before lifting him straight up...AND PLANTS HIM WITH A CHOKESLAM! Bladewolf stands up and does the cutthroat taunt before lifting Michaels onto his right shoulder and positions him upside down in front of him...BEFORE HITTING THE TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER! HE HOOKS THE LEG! ONE! TWO! THREE! THE BLADEWOLF RETAINS THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP!
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
The Devil's Wolf plays as Bladewolf lays on his back. "Here is your winner and STILL WWE Champion... THE BLADEWOLF!" Bladewolf is now 10-0 at WrestleMania and is still the WWE Champion.
Bladewolf gets to his feet and is given his Championship. Bladewolf raises it as the fans cheer for him. Bladewolf's reign continues at 125 days and heads in day 126 as WWE Champion.
And that's it for WrestleMania 23. Maria has become a 3-time Women's Champion, Jackal defeated Bloodwolf, and Bladewolf retains the WWE Championship. Other than that, everything else was the same.
