WrestleMania XXVIII Results (4/1/12) – Miami, Florida

We open with Lilian Garcia singing America the Beautiful, then we flip to the opening video, and then we’re off to Miami for this year’s edition of the Granddaddy Of Them All, Wrestlemania 28!

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus

Bryan gets a good luck kiss from AJ, then turns around and catches a Bro Kick from Sheamus, who covers and gets the three count.

Winner and new World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus

Team Johnny is backstage getting hyped up for tonight’s match, and Miz says that losing is not an option. Just like he won the main event of Wrestlemania last night, they’re going to win tonight. David Otunga introduces John Laurinaitis, who says that by winning the match tonight, they’re going to make Wrestlemania history like when Hogan slammed Andre, like when Austin refused to submit to Bret Hart’s Sharpshooter, tonight will become known as the night John Laurinaitis became the GM of both Raw and Smackdown.

Kane vs Randy Orton

Orton fires off on Kane right at the bell and they duke it out in the corner, Kane goozles Orton but Orton fights his way out and beats Kane down and puts the boots to him. Orton trires to do the DDT off the second rope, but Kane elevates Orton onto the top rope and comes in with a big boot to the head. Kane with a snapmare and a basement dropkick for 2, the gets Orton in a rear chinlock. Orton makes it to his feet and they trade blows in the middle of the ring, but Orton comes off the ropes right into a chop to the throat. Kane covers for 2, then gets a side suplex for another 2 count. Orton gets out and gets a neckbreaker for 2, then starts unloading with more right hands. Kane runs Orton into the cornerand gets a delayed vertical suplex for 2. Kane back to the rear chinlock, Orton gets out and counters a side suplex attempt to the over the back backbreaker. Orton with a clothesline, then another one, but Kane stays on his feet so Orton hits a snap powerslam and rams Kane shoulder first into the ringpost. Ortongoes for an RKO, but Kane shoves him off into the ropes and hits a big boot for 2. Kane goes up top and comes off with a clothesline attempt, but Orton dropkicks him on the way down and sets up again for the punt. He charges in, but Kane catches Orton and hits a chokeslam for 2. Kane pummels Orton in the corner with right hands, Orton ducks a clothesline and goes for the RKO, but Orton shoves Kane off into the corner. Kane lands a back elbow and goes to the second rope, but Orton just batters him with right hands and goes up to the second with him. He stops to look out at the fans, but the delay costs him because Kane grabs him by the throat and hits a chokeslam off the second rope for the win.

Winner: Kane

Santino Marella is backstage with Mick Foley and some guy from Deadliest Catch, and Santino promotes a WWE appearance on Deadliest Catch as Foley extolls the virtues of his new low carb diet. Foley puts Mr Socko on, Santino puts on the Cobra sock, and they dig into their crab dinners. Okay.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs Big Show

Cody bails out to the floor as soon as the bell rings, Show goes after him and Cody rolls back inside and tries a baseball slide, but Show catches him coming out of the ring and press slams him back inside. Show goes back inside and pummels Cody, hits a Beell across the ring, followed by a big bodyslam,and then chops Cody’s chest in in the corner. Show with a big ass to Cody’s face in the corner, but Cody dodges a charge in the corner and dropkicks his knees out from under him. Show tries to fire back at Cody, but another dropkick to the knee and Show goes back down. Cody fires repeated right hands to the skull of Show and goes for a cover, but Show easily presses him off at 2, so Cody goes back to the knee. I guess Cody has watched tapes of what Ric Flair did to his dad. Cody goes for a boot to the head, but Show catches his foot and fires back with big right hands. Show charges Cody in the corner and runs into Cody’s boot, but Cody goes up top and Show grabs him by the throat. Cody grabs Show’s hand and drops down to the floor, then comes back in and hits the Beautiful Disaster kick, but Show counters another one with a spear and knocks Cody out with the WMD for the win.

Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Big Show

Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres vs Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Eve takes Kelly to the ropes and nails her, but Kelly slides between the legs and hits a Frankensteiner for 2. Eve sends Kelly to the corner, but Kelly ducks out of the way and rams Eve fact first into the corner. She goes for her cartwheel back elbow, but Eve gets the elbow up and goes up top for a moonsault. Kelly nails her and Eve tumbles down to the mat and then Maria tags in so they can give Eve a double stinkface. Beth nails Maria from the outside and Eve chokes Maria on the second rope. Eve gets a bodyscissors and a rear chinlock, then realizes Maria doesn’t know how to take a rear chinlock and gives up. She tags out to Beth, who comes in and boots Maria right in the injured ribs before locking her in a side bearhug. So a non-wrestler with injured ribs is able to survive a bearhug from a girl with arms the size of Beth. RIIIIIIIIIIGHT. Beth drops to hold to knock Kelly off the apron, then tags out to Eve so she can hit the standing moonsault, but Maria kicks Eve out to the floor and crawls over to make the hot tag to Kelly, who comes in and goes after Beth. She knocks Eve off the apron, hits a flying headscissors on Beth, followed by a neckbreaker. Kelly comes off the top rope with a Molly Go Round, but Eve breaks it up at 2. Beth is angry now and goes for the Glam Slam, but Kelly counters to a bulldog. Kelly crawls over to the injured Maria and tags her in, and Maria slowly climbs up top,but takes so much time that Beth comes over and nails her, picks her up in a press slam, but Kelly comes into the ring and spears Beth, allowing Maria to roll up the Divas Champion for the win.

Winners: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Backstage: Matt Striker was with Shawn Michaels. Michaels nearly jumped into the camera, which was zoomed in too close on HBK, who was sporting a referee t-shirt. Michaels repeated the “end of an era” lines about The Undertaker and Triple H.

In-ring: Justin Roberts was center-ring. He said Sun Life has hosted numerous big events since opening in August 1987. He said WrestleMania has set a new record of 78,363. That seems like a stretch. Cole called it the all-time attendance record.

After a pause, Jim Ross’s music played to begin the second hour after a, quite frankly, disappointing first hour. Ross, still sporting The Goatee, joined Cole and Lawler on commentary to start the main event portion of the PPV.

In-ring: Roberts announced the “End of an Era” match up next. Out first was Shawn Michaels, who danced out on-stage with a referee t-shirt untucked over black pants. Michaels got his shine as Mr. WrestleMania by dancing and prancing in the ring as the referee earpiece hung out from his ear.

After a pause, Triple H’s music played and a giant King of Kings skull set was shown on-stage. Hunter emerged through the skull a la an NFL team running through a giant mascot head. Ross talked up Taker-Hunter and the high-stakes match-up as Hunter did his usual ring intro. Of note, Hunter appears to be in WrestleMania shape after looking flabby and slow the last time he wrestled on TV a few months ago. Once Hunter’s music stopped, Hunter locked eyes with Michaels, who paced around the ring.

The bell then tolled for The Undertaker. After a pause, Taker emerged with a hood covering his head. His outerwear looked like something Shredder would wear with giant spikes coming from all sides of his jacket. The announcers remained quiet, then Ross spoke first about the stakes for Undertaker, with The Streak on the line. When Taker approached the ring, the lights came up, then Taker approached Hunter center-ring. Taker grabbed the hood, flipped it back, and revealed his shaved head. There was a patch of hair running down the middle, like a mini-mohawk. He looked like a combination of Stone Cold, Batista, Rock, and 2012 Ultimate Warrior.

After the crowd got in their reaction for Taker’s new hair, Hunter and Taker looked up toward the sky and the HIAC structure lowered as Metallica played. Taker and Hunter continued to lock eyes before Michaels stepped near them, gave instructions, and called for the bell.

The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – Hell in a Cell Match

Undertaker pulls his hood off to reveal a shaved head and stares Triple H down. They go nose to nose in the middle of the ring and then look up as Metallica plays and the Cell is lowered over the ring, then Shawn calls for the belland we’re off. They go toe to toe in the middle of the ring and Undertaker gets the advantage. Undertaker takes Hunter to the corner and pummels him with right and left hands, but Hunter gets a boot to the face when Undertaker charges him in the corner and responds with right and left hands of his own. Undertaker with another flurry of fists and he dumps Hunter out to the floor. Undertaker goes out after Hunter and rams him face first into the ring steps, then Hunter kicks Undertaker and rams him into the cage. Hunter goes for another whip into the cage but Undertaker reverses and Hunter crashes into the steel mesh, then turns around and gets backdropped on the floor. Undertaker with a series of headbutts and then he rams Hunter into the cage again before choking him out against the ring apron. Shawn tries to get Undertaker to back off on Hunter, but Undertaker shoves him off and rams Hunter into the cage again. Undertaker whips Triple H into the ring steps so hard they crash around to the other side of the ring, then rolls Triple H back inside. Triple H reverses a whip to the ropes and nails Undertaker, then gets a facebuster that the Undertaker no-sells, and Undertaker takes Triple H out with another clothesline. Undertaker with the wristlock and he goes to the top rope for Old School, and he nails it. Undertaker dumps Triple H back out to the floor and follows him out, picking up the ring steps and bashing Triple H in the head with them. Undertaker lays Triple H on the ring apron and catches him with a running legdrop. Undertaker brings the steps inside the ring and turns to grab Triple H, but Triple H gets a boot to the gut and a DDT, and just that quickly, the tide turns.

Undertaker goes to reach for the ring steps again, but Triple H stops him and rams him face first into the steps over and over and then goes for the Pedigree on the steps, but Undertaker backdrops him off the steps and onto the canvas. Undertaker with more right hands and now he rams Triple H’s face into the steps and comes off the ropes, but Triple H catches him coming in and he hits a spinebuster onto the steps. Triple H goes to grab him and Undertaker catches Hunter in Hell’s Gate, which he beat Triple H with last year, but Triple H powers Undertaker up and powerbombs him and then covers for 2. Triple H goes under the ring and gets a steel chairand rams it into Undertaker’s ribs, then bashes Undertaker over the back with it. Triple H picks the steps back up and sets them up in the corner and whips Undertaker into them. Triple H dumps the steps out to the floor, then picks the chair back up and nails Undertaker with it over and over until Shawn steps in and tells Hunter to back off. Hunter shoves him out of the way and goes back to demolishing Undertaker with the chair. Hunter yells at Shawn to end it if he wants it over, and Shawn tells him that he knows Undertaker isn’t going to quit. Shawn goes to ask Undertaker, but Undertaker shoves him away again, so Triple H with more chairshots and then he tells Shawn to end it or he will. Undertaker tells Shawn not to stop it, so Triple H yells at Undertaker to stay down. Undertaker makes his way to his feet regardless, so Triple H with a chairshot to the midsection and another one over the back, and he covers for 2. Triple H picks the chair back up and nails Undertaker again, and Shawn checks on Undertaker again and Undertaker repeats to Shawn that he doesn’t want him to stop it. Triple H goes under the ring and gets the sledgehammer, and Shawn tries to talk sense into him, but Triple H tells him to end it because Triple H will if he won’t. Shawn tells Undertaker to please let him ring the bell, but Undertake again shoves him away, so Hunter bashes him in the face with the sledgehammer and makes a cover, but only gets 2. Shawn again tries to tell Hunter to stop, but Hunter shoves him out of the way and tries to bash Undertaker’s skull in, but now Shawn grabs the sledgehammer out of his hand and throws it away.

Hunter tells Shawn to end it, and Shawn almost decides to ring the bell, but Undertaker catches Shawn in the Hell’s Gate to stop him from ringing the bell. Triple H comes to his best friend’s rescue by bashing Undertaker’s head in with the sledgehammer. Triple H goes to check on Shawn, then goes after Undertaker, but Undertaker kicks him low and catches Triple H in Hell’s Gate. Triple H gets ahold of the sledgehammer, but he drops it. Triple H fades out, but he gets the sledgehammer again…and then fades out and drops the sledgehammer. This was the exact same finish as last year, but this time there’s no referee, so the Undertaker is forced to drop the hold. Another referee runs into the Cell to take over as Undertaker chokeslams Triple H, but Hunter kicks out at 2. Undertaker grabs the referee and chokeslams him, then collapses into the ropes from exhaustion. Undertaker picks Triple H up for the Tombstone, but Hunter slips out the back and Shawn suddenly pops up and hits the Sweet Chin Music on Undertaker, followed immediately by Triple H hitting the Pedigree, and Hunter goes for the cover but Undertaker is out at 2.

Triple H has the sledgehammer againand Undertaker is prone on the mat. Shawn tries to shove Hunter back, but Hunter now tosses Shawn out to the floor and then turns around as Undertaker sits up and unloads on Hunter with right hands. Undertaker with a running clothesline in the corner, Snake Eyes, and a big boot. Undertaker with a legdrop and then the Tombstone, and Shawn makes it back into the ring to make the count, but now Triple H is out at 2. Shawn looks completely torn as he sits in the corner watching both men try and get to their feet. Triple H and Undertaker get to their knees and trade blows, then they make it to their feet and continue going toe to toe. Undertaker goes for another Tombstone, but Triple H slips out the back and hits the Pedigree, but Undertaker once again kicks out at 2. Undertaker sits up and grabs a chair as Triple H again gets ahold of the sledgehammer. Undertaker makes it to his feet and steps on the sledgehammer, then bashes Triple H in the skull with the chair, then continues destroying Hunter with repeated chairshots. Now Shawn tries to tell Undertaker to drop the chair, but Undertaker brandishes the chair and drives it into Triple H’s ribs before bashing him over the back, then does it again. Shawn tells Undertaker to back off, so Undertaker drops the chair and covers Triple H…for 2.

Shawn pleads with Triple H to stay down, but he still reaches for the sledgehammer as Undertaker slowly stalks him. Triple H tries to drag himself up, but Undertaker blocks the shot with the hammer and looks Triple H right in the eye before pulling the sledgehammer away. Hunter shoves Undertaker off and shakes his head at him, then gives a crotch chop, so Undertaker bashes Triple H in the skull with the sledgehammer, tosses it out of the ring, and stands over Triple H as Shawn looks mournfully out at the crowd. Undertaker pulls the straps down and waits for Triple H to pull himself to his feet, then picks him up for a Tombstone. He hits and makes the cover and Shawn counts 3.

Winner: Undertaker

Both Undertaker and Triple H lie prone in the ring as the Cell raises and Shawn stares down at the both of them with a look of regret. Undertaker sits up and Shawn holds his hand out to Undertaker, and Undertaker reaches out and lets Shawn help him back to his feet where the two men embrace. Shawn raises Undertaker’s handand then goes to check on Triple H as fireworks erupt to celebrate Undertaker reaching 20-0 at Wrestlemania. Triple H is still laying on the mat, and now Shawn and Undertaker help him to his feet and help walk him to the back in a great show of respect. All three men stand at the top of the ramp soaking in the cheers and share a hug.

We look at last night’s Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, featuring the inductions of Ron Simmons, Yokozuna, Mike Tyson, the Four Horsemen, Mil Mascaras, and Edge. We then see the inductees at the top of the ramp as Howard Finkel introduces them one by one, ending with Edge getting his entrance music for his announcement.
Josh Matthews is backstage hyping tonight’s appearance by Flo Rida, but he is interrupted by Heath Slater, who puts himself over as the One Man Southern Rock Band. Flo Rida comes in and Slater suggests that they do a duet. Flo Rida says no, so Slater suggests that he be Flo Rida’s DJ and then a backup dancer, but Flo Rida isn’t having it. Slater asks what he can do, so Flo Rida says he can hold his mic, and Slater gets ready to get in his face, but Slater straight up launches him into the wall and walks off as Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks come in and make fun of Slater for getting his ass kicked by Flo Rida.

Brie Bella introduces Team Johnny and Nikki Bella introduces Team Teddy for our next match, with everyone of course wearing color coded t-shirts so we morons know whose team everyone is on.

Team Teddy (Santino Marella, Mofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, R-Truth, Booker T & Great Khali) vs Team Johnny (David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, Mark Henry & The Miz)

Kofi and Ziggler start us off, Ziggler snapmares Kofi hard and whips him to the corner, but eats boot on a charge and Kofi gets a crossbody out of the corner for 2. Truth tags in and he and Kofi hit a double hiptoss on Ziggler, followed by the dancing legdrop from Truth for 2. Ziggler with a standing dropkick out of nowhere and then he tags out to McIntyre, who quickly gets flattened by Truth with a spinning forearm. Khali tags in and he unloads on McIntyre, ramming him into the corner and bashing him in the chest with a big chop and a clothesline. Booker T comes in and unloads on McIntyre, hitting a back elbow and a thrust kick. Booker with a side suplex for 2, but Otunga nails Booker from the outside. Booker goes through Team Johnny one by one with right hands, but Otunga hangs Booker up on the top rope and then Swagger tags in and covers for 2. Swagger with a snapmare and a top wristlock on Booker as Cole informs us that this is the first 12 man tag in Wrestlemania history. Swagger with a clothesline to Booker for 2, then tags out to Mark Henry, who slams Booker hard and then tags out to the Miz, who rams knees to the skull of Booker before connecting with a kneelift for 2. Miz with a rear chinlock and a suplex attempt, but Booker reverses to a suplex of his own. Ziggler with a big elbowdrop, but Booker kicks out at 2, so Miz tags back in and goes back after Booker with another rear chinlock. Booker fights his way free and hits an ax kick, but Henry comes in and hits the World’s Strongest Slam on Booker. Khali comes in and lays Henry out with a chop, Swagger and McIntyre hit a double flapjack on Khali, and all heck continues to break loose with member of Team Johnny getting dumped to the floor before Kingston and Ryder hit stereo dives to the floor. Looks like someone’s been watching their Dragon Gate USA DVDs! Oksana goes after Vickie Guerrero, the Bellas get involved, and they roll around on the floor as Booker makes the hot tag to Santino, who comes in and cleans house on Miz. Santino with a hiptoss and then he goes up top and hits a diving headbutt. Santino takes the cobra sock out of his tights, goes after Johnny on the apron, then nails Miz with the Cobra and makes a cover, but Ziggler breaks it up at 2. Ryder tags in and cleans house on Miz and Ziggler, and he goes for the Rough Ryder, but Miz elevates him overhead and he takes out Ziggler instead. Eve gets into the ring with him to do WOO WOO WOO, but Miz comes out of nowhere and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Ryder and gets the win.

Winners: Team Johnny

Ryder looks mad as he gets up and turns around to look at Eve, who kicks him low and walks off looking real pleased with herself.

ext PPV: Extreme Rules. The video package opened with a scrolling list of standard WWE rules, which do not apply on Extreme Rules.

Ringside: Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson and Alex Rodriguez were shown sitting ringside. … WWE rolled the standard WrestleMania Week video package highlighting all of the big events from the week in Miami, including celebrity involvement.

Backstage: C.M. Punk was rolling his wrists before the Team Johnny parade stormed past Punk. Laurinaitis paused to talk to Punk, saying he looks kind of angry tonight. He said it appears Punk wants to beat up Jericho, but he wants a wrestling match, not a brawl. So, he’s going to ensure it by noting that if Punk loses his temper and gets DQ’ed, he will lose the WWE Title to Jericho.

On-stage: After the lights turned out in the stadium, Chris Jericho appeared on-stage with a new light-up jacket that looked like a fancy Christmas tree. Jericho then slowly made his way to the ring to challenge for the WWE Title in the semi-main event.

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship

They tie up and fight over a rear waistlock, Punk takes Jericho down and tries to go behind, Jericho escapes but Punk sits out and goes behind, then fires forearms into Jericho’s face. Punk sends Jericho to the ropes and lands a knee to the midsection, then drills Jericho in the face with knees and stomps in the corner. The referee backs Punk off, and Jericho stands up and slaps Punk in the face, so Punk goes back to stomping Jericho’s face out in the corner. Jericho with another pair of slaps and then he backs off to the corner, and Punk again goes after him with right hands and knees before the referee backs him off yet again. Jericho asks Punk how his father is, and that enrages Punk, who traps Jericho’s arms and rams elbowsmashes into his face American Dragon-style. Punk with a slam and then he goes up top, but Jericho rolls out to the floor, so Punk adjusts and hits a clothesline to the floor. Jericho asks Punk how his sister is, so Punk grabs a chair from ringside and chases Jericho into the ring with it, but catches himself at the last second. He stands there holding the chair over his head as Jericho yells at him that his father’s a drunk and his sister’s a drug addict, but Punk tosses the chair aside and gives Jericho an opening to hit a dropkick from the second rope.

Now Jericho has the advantage and rams kneestrikes into Punk and then catches him with a running back elbow. They go out to the apron and Punk goes for GTS on the outside, but Jericho slips out and clotheslines Punk into the ring, then picks him up and suplexes him out to the floor, and Punk takes it full on in a cringe-inducing moment. Jericho hits a running punt to Punk’s ribs, then quickly rolls him inside and covers him for 2. Jericho with elbowdrops to Punk’s ribs and then gets a double underhook backbreaker, a move Punk used many times in his pre-WWE days to welcome people to Chicago, but that only gets 2 for the challenger. Jericho gets a rear chinlock and Punk fights his way out, but Jericho catches him in a spinning backbreaker for 2 and then kicks him in the back and follows up with a senton for a two count. Punk again fires back with right and left hands and tries a crossbody off the top rope, but Jericho grabs Punk by the tights and yanks him down onto the back of his head. Jericho covers and gets 2, then traps Punk in a standing surfboard. Punk mulekicks his way out, then uses Jericho’s momentum against him off a bulldog attempt by ramming him into the corner. Punk has the momentum and starts firing back with chops and kicks, a leg lariat, a clothesline, and a neckbreaker for 2. Punk with a running high knee in the corner and then comes out with a bulldog attempt, but Jericho shoves him off and goes for a Lionsault, Punk tries to get the knees up, but Jericho blocks and goes right into the Liontamer, and Punk escapes that and gets a high kick to the head for 2. Punk with a slam and then he goes to the top rope and goes for the Macho elbow, but Jericho gets the knees up and hits a Codebreaker that sends Punk spilling out to the floor.

Jericho goes out and gets Punk and rolls him back into the ring, but Punk gets the Go To Sleep out of nowhere and slowly crawls over to make the cover, but takes too long and Jericho is able to get his foot on the bottom rope. Punk unloads with more kicks, then catches Jericho with a snap powerslam for 2. Jericho escapes a suplex attempt and dumps Punk gut first onto the top rope, then hits the Lionsault for 2. Jericho fires forearms into Punk’s unprotected head and then goes up top, but Punk makes it to his feet and unloads on Jericho, even pulling out the legendary Mongolian chop. Punk goes to the top rope and goes for a Frankensteiner, but Jericho holds onto him on the way to the mat and goes right into the Walls Of Jericho. Punk is trapped right in the center of the ring, but fights his way to the ropes and forces the break. Jericho protests with the referee, then charges Punk and gets backdropped to the floor. Punk hits a dive through the ropes and wipes out Jericho, then connects with the running high knee against the ringpost. Punk rolls Jericho back into the ring and goes for a springboard move back in, but Jericho catches him coming in with a Codebreaker and makes the cover, but Punk is out at 2. Punk goes for the GTS another couple of times, but Jericho fights his way out and shoves Punk into the corner and unloads with a running forearm to the back of the head and a kick to the ribs. Jericho goes back to the top rope, but takes too long and Punk hits a leaping enziguiri. Punk carries Jericho out to the middle of the ring, yells “BEST IN THE WORLD!” and goes for the GTS, but Jericho blocks and gets Punk in the Liontamer. Punk doesn’t tap, so Jericho turns it into the full Walls Of Jericho, and Punk fights to get to the ropes, but Jericho drags him back out to the middle of the ring. Punk slips out and counters to a small package, Jericho counters to a small package of his own for 2, and Punk counters that to the Anaconda Vice, Jericho uses the hair to roll Punk to his back for 2, but Punk counters back to the Anaconda Vice and Jericho uses kneestrikes to escape and go back to the Walls Of Jericho. Punk tries to punch and kick his way out and finally succeeds and goes back to the Anaconda Vice and Jericho is finally forced to tap out.

Winner: CM Punk

Punk’s celebration was brief after the match, then Cole and Lawler slowed things down before Brodus Clay’s music hit. Clay stopped the music on-stage and asked the crowd to pull out their phones and call their mommas. They cut to a shot of a guy innocently-enough on the phone mouthing a conservation. Clay then hopped on his phone and called his momma. Clay hung up, then introduced Momma Clay. Out came a woman in a sundress who danced in front of Clay. Suddenly, about 15 women dressed like Clay’s momma came out behind Clay and company to do a dance number on-stage.

Puff Daddy comes out to introduce MGK, who performs the Wrestlemania 28 theme song and gets booed out of the building, and then John Cena makes his entrance and gets booed out of the state. He gives some old bag in the front row his room key and pauses to soak in the…uh, adulation of the crowd, and then Flo Rida comes out to perform the other Wrestlemania theme song. Finally, the Rock comes out to a thunderous ovation from his adopted hometown.

John Cena vs The Rock

Michael Cole notes that not only is this Rock’s first Wrestlemania appearance in eight years, but also his first singles match in nearly nine. They tie up, and Cena shoves Rock off. Rock pauses for a moment to consider his options as we have dueling “let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” chants, then they tie up again and Cena now gets shoved off, and stops to smile like an idiot before going back to circling Rock. Rock with a side headlock, then they trade wristlocks, Rock rolls through and whips Cena to the ropes and gets a series of armdrags and La Magistral cradle for 2. Cena backs off and looks bewildered, but adjusts his armbands and goes back to getting headlocked by Cena. Cena shoves Rock off to the ropes, Rock takes Cena down with a shoulderblock, but Cena comes back with a hiptoss and takes Rock down with a side headlock. Rock makes it back to his feet and shoves Cena off to the ropes, Cena gets a boot to the head, and Rock cracks him with a right hand. Cena gets flustered and charges Rock, but Rock takes him down with a double leg and Cena bails to the floor to a round of boos. Cena tries to shoulderblock through the ropes coming back in, but Rock sidesteps Cena and kicks him hard in the chest.

Cena finally catches a break as he rams Rock into the corner and charges in with shoulderblock to the midsection a couple of times, then runs him over with a clothesline and covers, but only gets 1. Cena gets a laying bearhug, and keeps the hold as Rock gets back to his feet and punches Cena in the face until he breaks the hold. Rock charges Cena, but Cena ducks and pulls down the top rope, sending Rock tumbling out to the floor. Cena goes out after Rock and drops him chest first onto the barricade, then picks him back up and does the same thing onto the announce table. Cena kicks Rock in the ribs and rolls him back inside to cover for a 2 count, then waits for Rock to get back to his feet so he can drill him in the skull with a big right hand. Cena plants Rock with a belly to belly suplex for 2, Rock fires back with right hands, but Cena shoots Rock to the ropes and catches him coming back in a bearhug. Rock tries to fight his way free, but Cena cinches up on the bearhug and Rock again screams in agony. Rock finally manages to punch his way free and hits a quick DDT for 2.

Cena tries unloading with a flurry of punches on Rock, but Rock starts firing back, hits a flying clothesline and a spinebuster, and goes for the People’s Elbow. Cena grabs the ankle and tries countering to the STF, but Rock escapes so Cena hits a Blue Thunder Driver and does You Can’t See Me and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Instead of going for the cover, he waits for Rock to regain his footing and picks him up for the Attitude Adjustment, but Rock slips out and a double clothesline leaves both men laying.

Both men get back to their feet and they trade blows in the middle of the ring, but Cena ducks a big bomb and hits the Attitude Adjustment. Cena goes for a cover, but Rock is out at 2. Cena picks Rock up, but Rock hits a Rock Bottom out of nowhere and covers for a 2 count. Rock unloads on Cena with kicks and elbows in the corner, but Cena reverses a whip into a side suplex for 2. Cena rolls out to the apron and climbs to the top rope, waits for Rock to regain his feet, and hits the top rope Fameasser, but he still only manages to get 2. Cena goes for another Attitude Adjustment, Rock slips out and picks the legs, and gets Cena in the Sharpshooter. Cena makes the ropes, so Rock pulls him back out to the middle of the ring and tries to reapply, and he is successful. Rock seems to kind of lose the hold, and Cena manages to get back to the ropes and roll out to the apron. Rock goes out to the floor and pounds on Cena as he’s straddled out on the apron, and Cena finally tumbles completely out to the floor. Rock whips Cena into the ring steps, and Cena is in a bad way as Rock picks him up and smashes his face into the steps a second time. Rock puts Cena back on the apron and rolls inside, and Cena gets a sunset flip over the top rope and rolls Rock right into the STF. Cena screams at Rock to tap, but Rock still manages to crawl toward the ropes. Cena drags Rock back out to the middle of the ring and goes back into the STF on Rock, and Rock starts to fade out. The referee checks the arm, but the Rock stays alive and manages to drag himself to the ropes and force the break.

Cena crawls over to the ropes to try and regain some strength, but staggers back over to the Rock and walks right into a Samoan drop. Rock unloads on Cena with right hands, Cena fires back, Cena blocks the Rock Bottom, Rock blocks the Attitude Adjustment, and then Rock hits the spinebuster and he hits the People’s Elbow. Rock covers, but Cena again manages to kick out at 2. Rock gets back to his feet and picks Cena up, and Cena gets a quick small package for 2. Crowd is split for both men as Cena tackles Rock and catapults him into the top turnbuckle and rolls him up for 2. Cena hauls Rock back to his feet and drives him back into the corner, then sits him on the top rope. Cena goes up and tries for a superplex, but Rock fights Cena off and tosses him into the middle of the ring. Rock is exhausted, but digs deep and comes off the top with a crossbody. Cena rolls through, powers Rock up into the Attitude Adjustment, and covers for a very close 2. Crowd is going nuts as they thought that was it. Cena slowly gets to his feet, goes to do You Can’t See Me, but gets booed by the crowd, so he stops and sets Rock up, throws his armband into the crowd and goes for the People’s Elbow, but runs right into the Rock Bottom and Rock covers him for the win.

Winner: The Rock

Cena sits on the entrance ramp looking like someone just stole his girlfriend as Rock’s music plays and the real top star in WWE celebrates in the ring. That’s what happens when you try to be a smartass! Fireworks are going off as Rock raises his fist to the crowd in victory and we go off the air.

*WRESTLEMANIA PHOTOS* – See Undertaker’s new look