There is simply no denying that there has never been a better time to be a wrestling fan. Heck, it is always a good time to be a wrestling fan, but this weekend really is going to top the charts. With NXT TakeOver: New York and WrestleMania 35 the weekend is going to be an all-out action packed dream for wrestling fans all around the world. However, there is one lesser-known brand that is going to make history this weekend. For the first time in fifty years, there is going to be a non-WWE promotion headlining at Madison Square Garden. Ring of Honor in conjunction with New Japan Wrestling is going to bring their G1 Supercard to Madison Square Garden.
A Bit About ROH And NJPW
Most wrestling fans are probably familiar with ROH and NJPW, however, there are some newer fans that might not know that much about the two promotions. Well, for 16 years, Ring of Honor has created some of the top stars in professional wrestling. In addition to this, New Japan Wrestling is a promotion that has been around for nearly 50 years. And, they are responsible for bringing the Japanese Strong Style to the wrestling world. These companies alone have already down great things and put on many amazing shows like War of the Worlds, Strong Style Evolved, Global Wars, Honor Rising, and G1 Special. However, now the two powerhouses are going to join forces and bring wrestling fans the ultimate supershow.
How Can You Watch The G1 Supercard?
It probably goes without saying that you can hit up Ticketmaster and get your tickets right now to the show while there are still some left. However, if you are not fortunate enough to make the event in person, you can still partake in the hard-hitting action. The G1 Supercard is going to be exciting as playing online Powerball lottery and it certainly isn’t something that wrestling fans are going to want to miss out on. Both Ring of Honor and New Japan Wrestling offer a streaming service that cost right around $10 a month. ROH’s service is actually $9.99 a month, while NJPW’s streaming service is $9.00 per month. You can easily sing up for these services and open one of the pre-shows that starts at 6:30 PM Eastern on Saturday, April 6th. However, if you do not want to sign up for the streaming service, you can order the event through pay per view on Fite TV, which will cost you right around $40.00.
The Honor Rumble
One match that is going to be on the pre-show that fans are not going to want to miss is the Honor Rumble. This is a match that is similar to the battle royal that WWE is so famous for. The match will begin with two wrestlers who have drawn entry numbers one and two. The remaining wrestlers will wait with their entry numbers and enter the ring when their time comes. Every two minutes a new competitor will enter the ring keeping the action going. Contestants are only eliminated when they are thrown over the top rope and both feet hit the floor.
Cruіѕеrwеіght Chаmріоnѕhір: Buddу Murрhу (c) vѕ. Tony Nеѕе (Kісkоff Shоw)
Adam Sіlvеrѕtеіn, Brіаn Campbell аnd Jack Crоѕbу: Congratulations tо Nеѕе fоr gеttіng thіѕ орроrtunіtу, but hе dоеѕ nоt сlіng tо Murрhу іn tеrmѕ оf аbіlіtу оr futurе іn WWE. Unlеѕѕ thе company іѕ planning tо mаkе a bіg сhаngе аnd push Murphy tо thе mаіn lіѕt аftеr thіѕ gаmе, hе muѕt hоld thе tіtlе thrоugh рау-реr-vіеw. Murphy іѕ a unіquе tаlеnt wіth аn еxtrеmеlу high ceiling, аnd thе initial show іѕ a good орроrtunіtу fоr hіm tо ѕhоw thіѕ tо thе wоrld wіth retention. Choose: Buddy Murphy rеtаіnѕ thе tіtlе. Meanwhile, joker123 is also played in common where one can choose to play with their favorite players.
Former Impact World champion Eli Drake is gone after seemingly getting fired according to the words used in a short statement by the company.
“Impact Wrestling announced today that it has terminated its relationship with Shaun Ricker, known as Eli Drake,” the straight-to-the-point announcement said.
Drake had refused to wrestle Tessa Blanchard in a one-on-one inter gender match which was set for the company’s United We Stand iPPV this past Tuesday and Joey Ryan took his place. Drake had been working for Impact since 2015 and during his four-year stint there, he won the Impact World, Tag Team, and King of the Mountain and titles.
The 36-year-old participated in the March television tapings for Impact in Canada.
When Ronda Rousey makes her entrance at WrestleMania 35 tonight, she will be one of the dozen or so Superstars who get a live performance of their theme song at the biggest WWE show of the year.
Joan Jett, the singer/songwriter who performs Rousey’s theme song Bad Reputation will be singing in front of her largest audience as the WWE Universe welcomes – or boos – the Raw Women’s champion to the MetLife Stadium.
There have been 12 artists – and a marching band – who performed a live theme song at WrestleMania in the past, with Triple H getting the majority of them – four in total.
For WrestleMania 14, Chris Warren and the DX band performed twice on the show, once for Triple H, and once for Shawn Michaels. Two years later at WrestleMania 2000, Ice-T sang for The Godfather and D’Lo Brown. Motorhead did two different WrestleManias, performing both for Triple H at WrestleMania 17 and 21.
The band Saliva performed The Dudley Boyz’ theme song at WrestleMania 18 and Drowning Pool also did the honors for Triple H that night. Limp Bizkit had an awesome performance at WrestleMania 19 for The Undertaker.
At WrestleMania 22, P.O.D. did Rey Mysterio’s theme song. The Jones High School Marching Tigers marching band did a version of John Cena’s theme song at WrestleMania 24. Living Color performed CM Punk’s theme at WrestleMania 29 and Mark Crozer was impressive at WrestleMania 30 doing Bray Wyatt’s theme. Rev Theory also performed at WrestleMania 30 doing Randy Orton’s theme song.
Snoop Dog walked out with and sang Sasha Banks’ theme song at WrestleMania 32 and Nita Strauss had an epic performance at WrestleMania 34 doing Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme song.
But if history suggests, getting a live theme song performance at WrestleMania, more often than not it does not mean good news. Out of all the performances, 11 of those who got the special treatment were on the losing end of their match. In fact, you have to go all the way back to WrestleMania 22 and Rey Mysterio’s World Heavyweight title win to associate a live theme song performance with a win. And websites such as s1288 are already predicting that Becky Lynch will walk out with the titles at WrestleMania so the trend seems to be continuing with Ronda Rousey!
Music is a huge part of WrestleMania and obviously these are not the only individuals who ever performed live at the show. Other performers such as Kid Rock, Pitbull, Skylgar Grey, David Guetta, Travis Barker, Flo Rida, Machine Gun Kelly, and many others all had their “WrestleMania moment” performing songs which were used as WrestleMania theme songs.
HAPPY WRESTLEMANIA DAY! It’s your boy @TheMagnumDA with the biggest show of the entire year, WrestleMania XXXV, which will be LIVE on the WWE Network in just a few short hours.
We ended the Pick’em Contest last year in controversy: Both Tom and Don ended up as co-champions, but we are going to break that up and decide ONE champion. They will be the holder of the prestigious BEARER CUP (ohhh yessss!!!) Tonight, we have Tricky Tom, Heel Turn Don, Colin, Brother Bull, and myself battling for the crown. WINNER TAKES ALL.
With that, I say ON WITH THE PICKS!
Pre-Show: Raw Tag Team Championship
The Revival (c) vs. The Major Brothers (Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins)
Heel Turn Tom: The have been booking The Revival weak, so who knows. I am leaning on the Major Brothers getting the win and a WrestleMania moment.
Tricky Don: Remember that line in “It’s a Wonderful Life” about bells ringing and angels getting their wings? Well, every time Ryder’s music plays at WrestleMania, he wins a championship. So give me the Major Brothers in an all-time shocker. Hawkins FINALLY gets his victory.
Colin: Can lightning strike twice for Zack Ryder at WrestleMania? Considering there’s Curt Hawkins…highly unlikely LOL! I think The Revival retains.
Brother Bull: Hoping Ryder and Hawkins come out as Edgeheads, but I highly doubt that. The Revival has brought some respect and workmanship back to the titles. I’m sticking with The Revival on this one to retain.
Magnum: This was a last-minute addition to the Pre-Show card, but it’s also the perfect opportunity for Curt Hawkins to finally break away from the losing streak. Face the facts, people: the Top Guys are getting turfed, and the Major Brothers are walking out with the straps. Congrats Zack on your engagement!
Pre-Show: André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal for the André the Giant Memorial Trophy
Heel Turn Tom: As I write this, I counted only 29 names for the battle royal. Who will be the surprise entrant? Bray, Gronkowski, Cena…? If it’s The Undertaker, it would be a sad use of him, but he’d definitely be my pick. Based who is officially in, I will pick Strowman to win.
Tricky Don: I feel that Braun Strowman will win this one, after eliminating his former tag team partner Nicholas. Just kidding on that last part, haha!
Colin: This does ZERO to anyone who wins, does it? They should make it for a shot at the IC title or US title in the future. Anyway, my pick is Jeff Hardy.
Brother Bull: I’ll go with Braun, even though I’m feeling he won’t win, and they’ll pull some shenanigans. I’m hoping someone GETS THESE HANDS, leading to the big man getting the win.
Magnum: If Braun was in this match without the ‘Saturday Night Live’ baggage, he’d be the easy pick. But the appearance of SNL’s Colin Jost and Michael Che means that there will be chicanery. So I’m going with a dark horse: Otis Dozovic of Heavy Machinery! Time for the World’s Largest Caterpillar, folks.
Pre-Show: WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal for the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal Trophy
Heel Turn Tom: As they introduce all the competitors, Lacey Evans will walk out, never enter the ring, and walk back up the ramp. I see Asuka making the last elimination and thinking she won, but then Lacey Evans will sneak in and toss out Asuka for the win.
Tricky Don: I am going to go out on a limb and pick Trish Stratus. Hey, maybe they will rename this the Trish Stratus Battle Royal!
Colin: Considering the few women which have been announced so far, it’s hard to pick one. But I say Mandy Rose.
Brother Bull: It’s been a helluva weird build for this Battle Royal. What better way than for Lacey Evans to show off her in-ring ability than by sneaking in for a WrestleMania victory? Lacey for the win.
Magnum: This is the opportunity for Lacey Evans to finally enter the ring and make her mark. As Tom pointed out, they could even stretch this out to have Asuka win the match, only for Lacey to come in and steal her thunder. Either way, Lacey takes it all.
Pre-Show: WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese
Heel Turn Tom: I never bet against my Buddy. Buddy Murphy will win again and remain WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Tricky Don: This is the 3rd year in a row the Cruiserweight Championship has been defended on the preshow. There’s a lot of title matches and possible title changes tonight, so I don’t think this one will change hands. Buddy Murphy retains.
Colin: Once again, the Cruiserweights do the job and get relegated to the Kickoff. I think it’s time for a new champ. Murphy has been the champ for six months, hasn’t he? So Nese is my pick.
Brother Bull: Buddy, Buddy, Buddy…not sure if he’s still with Alexa Bliss, but I’ll pick him, since he was able to apply his finisher a few times to her. 😉 Buddy Murphy will be victorious.
Magnum: Buddy seems like an obvious pick to retain the title. At the same time…Tony Nese is a Long Islander. Similar to when Buddy Murphy won the title in his backyard, I like Tony Nese shocking the world and becoming the Cruiserweight Champion near his hometown. Big pop when it happens.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Bálor
Heel Turn Tom: The Demon never loses and not for the first time at WrestleMania. Finn Bálor will walk out as the new Intercontinental Championship.
Tricky Don: Balor is 0-1 at WrestleMania, so it is time to start a new streak with the Demon King. Balor takes the strap.
Colin: With Balor busting out his demon gimmick, I can’t see him losing. Can’t wait to see his entrance. Should be epic. New champ.
Brother Bull: Demon Balor with the W. No way he’s putting all that paint on without winning. He’s due for a WrestleMania Championship Victory.
Magnum: I don’t believe we’ve seen the Demon King lose since he’s been called up to the main roster, and to be honest, I don’t see that changing. Give me Finn to win the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE United States Championship
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
Heel Turn Tom: A match the fans want to see. At the end Samoa Joe taps out Rey Mysterio to stay the US Champion.
Tricky Don: With Rey injured, give me Samoa Joe to retain the gold.
Colin: Is this match even happening due to Mysterio’s injury? If it is, then I still see Samoa Joe coming out on top.
Brother Bull: Really looking forward to this match, and while I respect Rey Rey, this is Joe’s moment and time. A big title defense and win propels him forward and hopefully to bigger things. Samoa Joe retains.
Magnum: The United States Championship is one title that has eluded Rey Mysterio (similar to Chris Jericho a few years back), so I’m sure that’s the story they’ll run with. That said, this will be a great power showcase for Samoa Joe, who will christen his WrestleMania debut with a victory.
Falls Count Anywhere
Shane McMahon vs. The Miz
Heel Turn Tom: Nothing against Shane, but so much talent is not getting time on the main show…and it feels like WWE is making the Miz a babyface when he is a great heel. The Miz will try to make Shane’s punches look good. But in the end, The Miz will win.
Tricky Don: Since Shane turned heel, it feels like they are trying to replace the Mr. McMahon character form the Attitude Era. It has been three years since Shane took a big bump at WrestleMania, so watch for him to take the bump of the night. Shane McMahon wins in an upset!
Colin: I kinda like The Miz being a babyface. I think he deserves another run with the WWE title. After everything that has happened, The Miz has to win here.
Brother Bull: I wish the roles were reversed here! Credit to Mike Mizanin for working face here and doing a good job with it. This will probably be the Spotfest of the show, so look for Shane-O to steal the show, and in doing so, cost himself the match. Miz Wins.
Magnum: This needed a “Falls Count Anywhere” stipulation (Though I’ll admit…from a perverse comic standpoint, I’d love to see a “technical” match between these two). Miz beat up 12 MEN (!!!) in an angle prior to this, so give me Mr. World Beater, Mike Mizanin. I can’t say that with a straight face.
Farewell Match
Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin
Heel Turn Tom: Nothing against Corbin, but I wish Angle was wrestling someone else. Maybe it will be Cena or Undertaker. But as the card stands, Angle wins and gets the WWE in-ring sendoff he deserves.
Tricky Don: The way I would book this match? Cena comes down and interrupt Elias earlier in the night, so the fans think he is not going to wrestle. From there, Cena attacks Corbin backstage, and replaces him in the match (to a huge pop). A lot of back and forth action, with Angle pinning Cena with a double chicken wing into a roll up just like the finish of Cena’s first match in 2002. Either way, Kurt Angle wins.
Colin: Poor Kurt. Having to share the ring with Baron freakin’ Corbin for his last match. It’s already a punishment to have him wrestle Corbin, so anything but a decisive win won’t cut it here. Angle for the victory.
Brother Bull: Angle wins, and hopefully real quick. I’m also hoping he faces a more suitable opponent shortly thereafter. Cena? Undertaker? Time will tell.
Magnum: Gotta agree with Brutus Beefcake: Baron is a shitty wrestler’s name. Haha! 😀 I also agree with everyone on Twitter and Instagram – this match makes no sense, so they better have a backup plan in mind. If they don’t, this could be brutal. I’m hoping for Angle vs. Cena in an impromptu classic, but for now I’ll take Angle to win it.
Fatal Four Way tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley and Sasha Banks) (c) vs. The Divas of Doom (Beth Phoenix and Natalya) vs. The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce) vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
Heel Turn Tom: WWE needs to give the The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection a new name. Maybe the Best Friends? Too many people to make this a great match. I want to see The Divas of Boom to win, but The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection will win and it will be a Wild Wacky Inflatable Wavy-Arm good time.
Tricky Don: I think they have to keep the titles on The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection until a worthy team can beat them. The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection retain the belts.
Colin: This should be a fun match. Great to see Beth Phoenix back, she still can go. But Bayley and Sasha Banks will walk out of this still the champions.
Brother Bull: What better way to showcase the Women’s Tag Titles than to put them on a couple up-and-comers? Bayley and Sasha don’t need the titles, IMO. Taking The IIconics here in an upset to become new cchhaammppss. See what I did there? 😀
Magnum: Very funny, Bull Broski! But I’m right there with you. Sasha and Bayley won a wild Elimination Chamber match to earn the titles, but I’ve gotta roll with The IIconics in a YYUGE upset. I don’t know how they’ll get there, but I have the Aussies coming away with gold.
Fatal Four Way tag team match for the Smackdown Live WWE Tag Team Championship
The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. Ricochet and Aleister Black vs. The Bar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev
Heel Turn Tom: Another match with too many people in it. I hope WWE doesn’t keep the trend of calling up and crapping on NXT favorites. I see Ricochet and Aleister Black capturing the Smackdown Live WWE Tag Team Championship.
Tricky Don: Ricochet and Aleister Black will make history and win the tag titles at WrestleMania.
Colin: Tricky. I’m kinda liking Nakamura and Rusev together. That’s because it means there’s more Lana on my television screen! 🙂 I’m picking The Usos to retain here as a thank you for re-signing and not fleeing to AEW or something.
Brother Bull: Last year, The Usos were satisfied just being on the show. This year, they will be even happier defending *and* retaining the gold.
Magnum: What a fall from grace for Shinsuke Nakamura. I saw Summerslam 2017 just the other day – people were *so* into him. Then they beat him into the ground. Sad. Anyways, I’ll take The Usos to retain – Not even a DWI or an altercation with police can stop them from going over.
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
Heel Turn Tom: If both guys go all out, this may be the show stealer match. AJ re-signed so WWE can keep him in the mix. I don’t see Orton getting the Styles Clash, but maybe a missed RKO into a Phenomenal Forearm for the Styles win.
Tricky Don: There will be a bunch of big finishes tonight, including this match. This is how it will end: Phenomenal Forearm off the ropes caught by a RKO out of nowhere. Randy Orton wins.
Colin: It’s hard to have a bad match with AJ Styles. Orton always steps up as well. I think this feud is far from over and Randy Orton will win this round.
Brother Bull: AJ just re-signed, Kofi is gonna need a new opponent (shhh, don’t tell anyone), and Orton has been relatively quiet, in the big picture. The Viper will be victorious.
Magnum: Bull nailed it again. This match is certainly connected to Kofi vs. Bryan, even though the Superstar Shakeup is only weeks away. That means…if Kofi’s going over in the WWE Title match, then you’ll need a new #1 Contender. Kofi and RKO have history…so give me an RKO outta nowhere to beat AJ. Orton wins.
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
Heel Turn Tom: Roman Reigns being in remission from leukemia is the feel-good story of the year so far. I hope Roman is back to his main event form. Tonight, Roman will have the fans cheering for him at WrestleMania. Roman will hit a Spear and the Superman Punch for the win.
Tricky Don: Roman has won every WrestleMania match he has been in, except the matches that included Brock Lesnar. Tonight will be no different. Roman Reigns wins.
Colin: If they really want to put over Drew as the monster, then he should win this. But you know he won’t. Roman Reigns wins, and I can bet money on that.
Brother Bull: I really wanted to pick Drew here, but even I don’t think the WWE would be that cruel. Roman has already defeated cancer (twice!), and at WrestleMania he will defeat Drew McIntyre.
Magnum: Under normal auspices, I would say that this is a great opportunity for Drew McIntyre to be elevated to the next level. However, given Roman’s miraculous recovery, we’re looking at a huge babyface push coming for Roman. How huge? Read my pick for ‘Rollins vs. Lesnar’ to learn more.
Career Threatening Match – No Holds Barred (Triple H will retire if Batista wins)
Triple H vs. Batista
Heel Turn Tom: The best intros of the night will be on this match. My guess is HHH will do some Thanos/Infinity gauntlet intro. I will be curious how well Batista will do. But at the end of the day, don’t bet against HHH. He will win this match.
Tricky Don: Triple H cannot retire. Triple H defeated Sting in his WWE debut, and he also spoiled Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania return. Keeping that in mind, there is no reason to put Batista over for a one-off. Triple H has to get his win back against Batista from their WrestleMania XXI match. Triple H has lost at the last three WrestleMania events, so give me Triple H for the win.
Colin: This should be a brutal match. I’m hoping we see blood too. Triple H has never beat Batista one-on-one…but that will change come Sunday. Triple H wins.
Brother Bull: Hoping Saliva comes back to play the Batista intro! Spoiler Alert…HHH wins. Snooze, Rinse, Repeat.
Magnum: Oh yes…there will be blood. God, that promo last Monday by Batista was amazing. “Hunter, kiss my ass.” That alone warranted a massive roar from the hometown DC crowd! Batista has always said that the final chapter between he and Hunter would end with Hunter finally beating him. So give me the H’s. Many H’s.
WWE Championship Match
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston
Heel Turn Tom: All championships can’t change hands. I think Kofi can and will be a WWE Champion. But this feud has a little more in the tank to go. I see the Bludgeon Brothers fighting the New Day outside the ring. In the confusion, Bryan hits a running knee for the win.
Tricky Don: It’s Awesome to see Kofi in the title picture at WrestleMania and well-deserved. My personal thought – Since this match is not going on last, it will not be a mirror image of WrestleMania XXX. I think Kofi chasing the belt can still build anticipation – so give me Daniel Bryan to retain.
Colin: Daniel Bryan was in this exact position five years ago at WrestleMania 30. A feel-good moment…and after so many obstacles, he HAD to win. And I feel Kofi will do just the same thing. #AndNew
Brother Bull: See above. It’s Kofi’s time, but IMO, it should have happened at Fast Lane. Career Achievement Award goes go Kofi as he finally gets his WrestleMania Moment.
Magnum: I’ve said on Twitter how much this build has bothered me. Kofi could have won at the Chamber or Fastlane to give him instant credibility as a top challenger. Instead, they’ve jerked him (and the New Day) around in these goofy Gauntlet matches. Even with the BS, that won’t stop Kofi-Mania from running wild all over New Jersey. Kofi wins!
WWE Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Heel Turn Tom: I’ve wrongly picked against Brock too many times. As I write this I haven’t heard of any new contract for Brock. I see Lesnar rag dolling Rollins. Out of nowhere, Rollins hits a pedigree and then the Curb Stomp for the 1-2-3. Davenport, Iowa will become Titletown, USA, as Seth Rollins will become the Universal Champion.
Tricky Don: I feel that if Lesnar can reverse a Curb Stomp into a F5 (Like the curb stomp into a RKO from Wrestlemania 31), he will get the win. Hopefully Brock wouldn’t botch the finish in TWO title matches at WrestleMania. Remember XIX vs. Kurt Angle? Anyways, Brock Lesnar retains.
Colin: I think we’re in for another surprise with this match. I may be in the minority here, but I believe Brock Lesnar will win this match and retain the Universal title.
Brother Bull: Of the big 3 title matches, this can and will be the one where we don’t see a title change. I say that, but where this match is on the card, will say alot about the winner (see WWE Title match). Regardless, we know Brock has an August UFC match, but he’ll retain and possibly drop the title on Monday night!
Magnum: You’re stealing my thunder, Bull! Haha…this whole thing with Rollins seems too good to be true. Rollins has never lost to Lesnar, and with Cormier vs. Lesnar planned for this summer, it only makes sense for Rollins to slay “The Beast.” That said, it’s not happening. Lesnar retains. Bold Prediction: Roman takes the title the following night on Raw.
Winner Take All – Raw and Smackdown Live Women’s Championships
Ronda Rousey (Raw Women’s Champion) vs. Charlotte Flair (Smackdown Women’s Champion) vs. “The Man” Becky Lynch
Heel Turn Tom: This will be a great match as it is a first time three champions face-off. Both ‘Four Horsewomen’ groups will fight outside, keeping Charlotte out of the ring. This allows Becky will get the pin over Rousey. Becky stands on the ramp holding both belts as the fireworks go off.
Tricky Don: I am sure this can go either way, but we will all be talking about this 20 years from now. Rousey is one of the biggest names in history for MMA, and she will stand tall at the end of the night. Ronda retains!
Colin: Can you imagine if they let Lesnar and Rousey retain the titles tonight? LOL! Mayhem. This all depends if Rousey is staying or not. If she’s leaving, then she has to do the job. I think Charlotte winning would cause more chaos than Rousey retaining. But Becky wins.
Brother Bull: The Man wins. If not, WWE may have a NY/NJ sized riot on their hands!
Magnum: I know that Vince tries to be cute with some of his booking decisions, but he better not screw this one up. I’m serious – if Becky loses, the fans will trash the ring, and the scene will be even worse than when Big Show first won the ECW Championship. Take it home, Becky! The Man finally comes around and wins both Championships.
Well there you have it folks! It’s time for WRESTLEMANIA! Grab your drinks, grab your food, and enjoy the spectacle! @TheMagnumDA signing off.
The MetLife Stadium is ready to host its second WrestleMania in the span of six years as WrestleMania 35 rolls into town today.
Opened in April 2010 at a cost of $1.6 billion, the stadium is jointly owned by the New York Giants and New York Jets under a company known as MetLife Stadium Company, LLC. While it sits 8 miles outside New York City, the stadium is the home of the NFL Giants and Jets and is currently the only NFL stadium shared by two clubs.
The stadium does not have a roof, so any event, even maybe WrestleMania, will be subject to mother nature. It has a capacity of 82,550 in a football setting and fans can follow the action via four 30 feet x 116 feet HD video displays which hang from each corner of the upper deck. MetLife Stadium is the largest NFL stadium in total seating and has 10,000 club seats and 218 luxury suites surrounding it.
The massive building is also somewhat environmental friendly and has 1,350 photovoltaic solar panels on the upper rim of the stadium. These solar panels illuminate with LED lights during events and generate 25 times the amount of electricity required to power the LEDs.
Two years ago, MetLife Stadium was named “Venue of the Year” by the Stadium Business Summit, an award which goes to the world’s best stadium, arena or sports venue, that deserves recognition for an outstanding performance over a 12-month period.
In 2013, WWE hosted WrestleMania 29 at the venue, drawing 80,676 fans, the third highest attendance for a WrestleMania. In 2020, the stadium will also be the home of the New York XFL team.
Live tonight from the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, WWE presents its biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 35 on the WWE Network and pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair in a triple threat winner-take-all match for the Raw and Smackdown Women’s titles; Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston for the WWE title; Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins for the Universal title; Bobby Lashley vs Finn Balor for the Intercontinental title; Samoa Joe vs Rey Mysterio for the United States title; The Usos vs The Bar vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev vs Aleister Black and Ricochet for the Smackdown Tag Team titles; The Revival vs Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins for the Raw Tag Team titles; Sasha Banks and Bayley vs Beth Phoenix and Natalya vs Tamina and Nia Jax vs The Iconic for the Women’s Tag Team titles; Triple H vs Batista in a no holds barred match with the stipulation that if Triple H loses he has to retire; The Miz vs Shane McMahon in a falls count anywhere match; Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin; AJ Styles vs Randy Orton; and Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre.
A two-hour Kickoff show at 5PM ET will have the Andre The Giant Memorial battle royal, the Women’s WrestleMania battle royal, and Buddy Murphy vs Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight title.
WrestleMania 35 is free for first-time subscribers to the WWE Network. To start your 30-day trial go to http://w-o.it/wwentwrk.
The two-hour WrestleMania 35 Kickoff show will be airing live starting at 5PM ET with the first hour airing on the WWE Network and WWE’s social media channels and the second hour also airing on USA Network.
This year, the Kickoff show will also stream live via virtual reality through the Oculus GO or any Gear VR headset. You will need to download the Oculus Venues app or the NextVR app for the immersive 3D virtual reality experience. And if you need a break from the seven-hours-plus of wrestling that’s coming your way, you can always play poker online!
Three matches are scheduled to take place during the Kickoff show including the Andre The Giant Memorial battle royal, the Women’s WrestleMania battle royal, and the Cruiserweight title match with Buddy Murphy vs Tony Nese.
The men participating in the battle royal so far include Braun Strowman, Ali, Andrade, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Curtis Axel, EC3, Gran Metalik, Heath Slater, Jeff Hardy, Jinder Mahal, Kalisto, Karl Anderson, Konnor, Lince Dorado, Luke Gallows, Matt Hardy, No Way Jose, Otis, Rhyno, Shelton Benjamin, Titus O’Neil, Tucker, Tyler Breeze, Viktor, and SNL’s Colin Jost and Michael Che.
The women announced so far are Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Nikki Cross, Sonya Deville, Zelina Vega, Dana Brooke, Carmella, Lana, Naomi, Ruby Riott, Asuka, Mandy Rose, and Sarah Logan.
The Kickoff show will be anchored by Jonathan Coachman and he will be joined by several WWE Legends on the panel.
Speaking to TMZ, WrestleMania host Alexa Bliss said that she hopes that WrestleMania goes smoother than her weekly Moment of Bliss segment, as her Raw talk segment always gets interrupted and fights break out.
Bliss is also bringing a couple of outfit changes for the broadcast after she got the idea from when she attended the American Music Awards and saw that the host changed the outfit a few times.
Asked if it’s a bittersweet moment for her because she’s not in the ring, Bliss said, “Well, medically, I’m completely cleared to wrestle.” She said she’s been concentrating on being talk show host and a host for WrestleMania. “So it’s not that I’m injured. I’m completely fine, doing well and feel great. Been doing all the live events but just right now I’m really focusing on hosting because I don’t want to go out there and make a fool out of myself,” she continued.
The former Raw and Smackdown Women’s champion also said said that she hopes to get back to wrestling on television after WrestleMania and has her eyes on on whoever wins the main event…who she hopes will be Charlotte Flair. Bliss has not wrestled on WWE television since the Royal Rumble.
While getting to WrestleMania today by car might be the most convenient, finding parking at the amount of traffic there will be might not be the smartest way to go.
The shuttle bus service from Secaucus Junction (Platform #10) to MetLife Stadium will begin at 11AM and will operate at approximately 15 minute intervals until rail service begins. Rail service from Secaucus Junction to the stadium kicks off at 2:41PM and will continue to operate every 8-20 minutes from 3:14PM to 7:18PM.
For fans coming from New Jersey, all NJ Transit rail lines connect through Secaucus Junction. Upon arrival at Secaucus Junction, transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line on Tracks G or H. Tickets should be purchased from originating station to Meadowlands Station and travel tile is approximately 10 minutes with the round trip fare costing $4.50.
If you are in New York, you can head to New York Penn Station on 34th Street and board the NJ Transit train that stops at Secaucus Junction Station. The information screen will say “SEC” next to the line name. After you arrive at the station in Secaucus, transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line and go upstairs into the concourse. Then follow the signs to Tracks G or H. The approximate travel time for the whole journey is around 22 minutes and the round trip fare costs $11.
Coach USA will also offer an express bus service from Port Authority on 42nd Street at Gate 411 and 412 to MetLife Stadium. The 351 Meadowlands Express will begin at 1:30PM and will end one hour after the conclusion of WrestleMania. Round trip tickets cost $14.00.
A lot of items will be prohibited from entering the MetLife Stadium for WrestleMania today. The less items you have on you, the quicker you will get through security.
Apart from the bags and seat cushions outlined earlier, items which will also be prohibited upon entrance are glass bottles, cans, coolers of any kind, thermoses or ice chests, alcohol of any kind, banners and signs of any size, flags that are not the official flag of a country, ones that are displayed on a stick or a pole or cannot reasonably be hand-held by a single person, umbrellas, strollers, laser pointers, and balls of any kind including full-sized footballs, single purpose video cameras or still-photography cameras with a lens longer than 6″, weapons, any item that may be used as a projectile or one that is deemed dangerous by Stadium management, any animal with the exception of any US service animals, and any other item deemed inappropriate by stadium management.
But there are certain items that you can get in the stadium! Items such as food of any kind that is contained in a clear plastic bag, factory-sealed, plastic bottles of water or soft drinks that are 20 oz. or less in size, still-photography cameras with a lens that is 6″ or less in length not contained in a case, hand-carried jackets, blankets, or other items, which will be patted down or searched, and official national flags that can reasonably be hand-held by a single person and do not obstruct the view of other guests.
All bags and other permissible items will be subject to multiple screenings prior to entering MetLife Stadium. Those who refuse to be screened or have their bags checked by Safety Services team members will be denied entry into the stadium.
If you can make it to the MetLife Stadium without a bag, it might save you some hassle and extra security checks. But if you do need a bag with you, there are several restrictions in place which you have to adhere to, otherwise you will have to take the bag back to your car.
Bags which are permitted to enter the stadium include any type of clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that are 12” x 6” x 12” or less in size. Non-clear and small purses/handbags (clutch-type bags) that are 4.5” x 6.5” or less in size are also allowed. Other kinds of bags allowed are one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (like Ziploc), and bags which are a medical necessity. Only one bag per person is allowed and medical bags will be inspected at a designated place.
Any type of non-clear bag exceeding 4.5” x 6.5” in size including non-clear purses/handbags, camera or binocular cases, backpacks, fanny packs, diaper bags, and briefcases/computer bags are not allowed to enter the premises. Seat cushions of any size are also banned except those for medical needs.
If you are attending WrestleMania today at MetLife Stadium and you are not a citizen of the United States and are planning to consume alcohol inside the stadium, note that there are different rules for international fans.
While a driver’s license is enough to confirm identity if you are a U.S. citizen, if you are a foreigner, you must have a valid passport in order to purchase any kind of alcohol. The stadium will only accept a driver’s license from Drivers Association. And even if you are in possession of your passport, you might be subject to an additional age verification to complete a transaction so make sure you have two forms of picture IDs.
And as a reminder, if you’re drinking…don’t get drunk or chances are your WrestleMania night will end early as you might get ejected from the building!
The individual who attacked Bret Hart yesterday at the Hall of Fame ceremony was identified as Zachary Madsen, a 26-year-old from Nebraska according to CBS New York.
The CBS affiliate adds to the story that Madsen caused minor injuries to a security guard who was helping diffuse the situation and punched Bret, but the two-time Hall of Famer did not require any medical attention.
Madsen apparently has been training for mixed martial arts and has a very wicked – and not in the good sense – Twitter account where he frequently tags Triple H and Vince McMahon with crazy messages. His latest tweet, sent on April 4, is now filled with replies from wrestling fans tearing him a new one for what he did.
He was arrested last year for violating a protection order and yesterday he spent the night in a jail cell at the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn where he was charged and was nursing the blows from Travis Browne, Shane McMahon, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Dash Wilder, and many others who whopped his ass following his assault.
Madsen had also been arrested late last year for violating a protection order. pic.twitter.com/GKCSXzhmgh
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 7, 2019
Former 16-time world champion John Cena made a surprise appearance last night at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony to help induct Sue Aitchison and present her with the Warrior Award.
Cena, who has not been seen on WWE television since January, showed up in a dark suit and a much more controlled hair style as fans chanted “John Cena sucks” along with his theme song. Despite being there to honor his friends, that did not stop fans from the usual dueling “Let’s go Cena / Cena sucks” chant. That prompted Cena to take a dig at the crowd saying he’s thankful that he managed to wake them up finally. Ouch!
John was also at the WWE Make-A-Wish event yesterday morning after he wasn’t initially advertised for it. Cena always hosts this event during WrestleMania weekend but in the official press release, only Finn Balor, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Sin Cara were mentioned. Along with the help of Cena, the WWE family hosted 30 Wish kids and their families at the National Geographic Encounter as Cena was informed that he surpassed the number of 600 wishes, more than anyone in the world.
A tweet from Make-A-Wish read, “Today we celebrate @WWE Superstar @JohnCena for becoming the first celebrity ever to grant 600 wishes. We thank you, John, your 15 years of dedication to our mission and for continuing to transform the lives of wish kids and their families around the world!”
Cena is rumored to have a match at WrestleMania today although against who remains to be seen. Fans at the Hall of Fame started a “Face Kurt Angle” chant which got a chuckle from the leader of the Cenation.
.@JohnCena made a surprise appearance at the @MakeAWish Circle of Champions…little did he know he’d be the most surprised one there as he was recognized as the first celebrity to grant 600 wishes! pic.twitter.com/IXmY64h5IY
Members of the Hart family took to Twitter to address the unfortunate incident from yesterday at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony after Bret was attacked by a fan from behind while he was giving his speech.
Natalya, who took the bump with Bret after the attacker dragged both of them, wrote, “I’m so proud of my uncle @BretHart tonight during our HOF ceremony. Bret is a cancer survivor, a stroke survivor and one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He didn’t deserve to be attacked or have his moment or my dad’s diminished. We got it back on track. Thank you, guys.”
Several of Nattie’s friends came to the rescue, including Ronda Rousey and Beth Phoenix, who helped calm down the situation.
Georgia Smith, the daughter of The British Bulldog, also tweeted, “Everyone is ok. But f*ck that asshole!!!! And thank you to my brother for running in and knocking that prick out. Cannot believe that happened.”
Her brother, Harry Smith, better known as Davey Boy Smith Jr, unloaded on the individual while he was on the ground. “Glad I was able to help my Uncle @BretHart tonight at the WWE Hall of Fame,” he wrote. “That ‘fan’ was lucky I was being held back. As Rickson Gracie said ‘If we fight for money, I’ll stop hitting you when you ask me to. If we fight for honor, I’ll stop hitting you when I feel like it.'”
Bret Hart has not publicly commented about what happened yet.
The fan who attacked Bret “Hit Man” Hart live during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony yesterday is currently arrested at NYPD’s 78th Precinct in Brooklyn.
A law enforcement official told The Associated Press a 26-year-old man was in custody and facing criminal charges – two counts of assault in the third degree and disorderly conduct. The official was not authorized to discuss to the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. No name was released.
Third degree assault is prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor and in many states, they are punishable by a maximum of one year in a county jail and a criminal fine. Description of third degree assault includes, “The person knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person or with criminal negligence the person causes bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon.”
In a brief statement, WWE said, “An over-exuberant fan surpassed our security at ringside and made his way briefly into the ring. The individual has been turned over to the proper authorities.”
With less security around the ring due to the new set-up of the Hall of Fame, inductees had to give their back to the crowd during their speech as they had to face the hard camera. This prevented Bret and his niece Natalya from noticing the attacker until it was too late.
Here are the results from last night’s historic ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard show which took place from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Kagetsu, Jenny Rose and Hazuki defeated Hana Kimura, Stella Grey and Sumie Sakai in a six-woman tag team match; Kenny King won the Honor Rumble for a future shot at the ROH World title; Jeff Cobb defeated Will Ospreay in a winner-takes-all match for both the NEVER Openweight and ROH World Television titles; Rush defeated Dalton Castle; Kelly Klein defeated Mayu Iwatani to become the new Women of Honor champion; Flip Gordon and Lifeblood defeated Bully Ray, Shane Taylor and Silas Young in a six-man New York City street fight; Dragon Lee defeated Taiji Ishimori and Bandido in a three-way match to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion; Guerrillas of Destiny defeated Villain Enterprises, Los Ingobernables de Japon, and The Briscoe Brothers in a winners-take-all four-way tag team match for both the IWGP Tag Team and ROH World Tag Team titles; Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the British Heavyweight title; Kota Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito to become the new IWGP Intercontinental champion; Matt Taven defeated Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll in a three-way ladder match to become the new ROH World champion; Kazuchika Okada defeated Jay White to become the new IWGP Heavyweight champion.
A hilarious D-Generation X acceptance speech capped off a different-look Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night, which thankfully was kept largely in control and did not last more than four hours.
With a new set design in place, DX came out in their jeep throwing out hundreds of glow sticks to fans. They started by roasting Vince McMahon, quoting a real rule that no one should mention or thank Vince McMahon during their HOF acceptance speech. That, obviously, didn’t happen as for the first five minutes, all DX did was mention Vince McMahon. When Billy Gunn noted that Vince can’t fire him now, Triple H joked that Vince could buy that “pissant company” just to fire him again to a big pop from the crowd. Gunn is now employed by All Elite Wrestling. Another AEW mention came when Shawn Michaels told Billy that they always appreciate that he’s “all in” whenever they do something.
Things turned serious for a minute when Shawn Michaels addressed Chyna and her effect on the group. The fans gave the late 9th wonder of the world a massive standing ovation, a welcomed sight by her family who were all there sitting ringside.
As all members of DX took the podium for their acceptance speech, Triple H was the last one, thanking his family, mom, and dad, and then blamed his mother for writing all the penis jokes during the DX era! Triple H got emotional as well when he mentioned Chyna.
The DX podium was brought out for the last segment as they each tried to make a heartfelt apology for corrupting a whole generation of kids during the years with their silly segments. That did not end well though, with saggy boobs shown on screen, more penis jokes, sexual innuendos, and other juvenile stuff taking over. They all finished by saying their catchphrases and the night was over when they all got their huge super soaker guns and sprayed everyone at ringside with water, causing all the women to bolt faster than the speed of light. Bad hair, you know! Baron Corbin was the ultimate victim as Triple H decided to empty his water gun on him, chasing him around ringside as Corbin tried to – and failed – to escape.
The ceremony this year was somewhat different, with only Honky Tonk Man, Torrie Wilson, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, and Sue Aitchison getting someone to induct them. The Hart Foundation, Harlem Heat, and DX were simply introduced to the fans after their HOF video ran.
Stacy Keibler, 13 years after her last appearance on WWE television, was the one who inducted her friend Torrie Wilson. Now mother of two, the 39-year-old Maryland native left WWE in July 2006 after a successful five-year stint with the company. Torrie soldiered on two days after her father Al passed away, something she mentioned towards the end of her speech.
John Cena also showed up to help induct Sue Aitchison and present her the Warrior Award. Aitchison works closely with Cena after he has granted over 600 wishes for Make-A-Wish.
Several wrestlers at ringside were having too much fun, namely The New Day, who didn’t stop being goofs all night…apart from when Hulk Hogan came in. WWE cameras also had fun playing the “Booo” and “Yeah” game with The Miz/Maryse and Shane McMahon and Kofi and Daniel Bryan, resulting in some funny exchanges.
Unfortunately, the event got sidetracked a little bit after Bret Hart was attacked by a fan. Several wrestlers at ringside jumped to the ring to beat the crap out of the individual and Hart, always the professional, resumed where he was left off before he was rudely interrupted.
It’s WrestleMania Sunday and to allow fans enough time to make it to the stadium, there’s only one Axxess session set for this morning, starting at 8AM till Noon.
Only one Superstar, Dean Ambrose, will be the VIP guest at 8AM while The Bella Twins will be the Premium VIP guests starting at 10AM.
General admission meet and greets include Sting, Kevin Nash, Ruby Riott, Ivory, Pete Dunne, Sami Zayn, Zack Ryder, Sin Cara, Cedric Alexander, Lana, and WWE Legends. There will certainly be a lot of long lines for these individuals and you can kill some time by playing on Togel Singapore website while waiting.
The main ring will feature two battle royals featuring 20 men and 20 women from the NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live brands.
General admission tickets for WrestleMania Axxess can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com for $55 or at the door.
