Black Widow
04-13-2008, 12:18 PM
BELFAST was treated to a spectacular night of wrestling action – as the WWE kicked off its UK tour.
The crowd were more than pumped up for what was billed as the “greatest show in the world” by RAW announcer Lillian Garcia.
Paul Burchill took on Brian Kendrick in the opening bout, berating the crowd before the high-flying Kendrick took to the air and snagged a sneaky pin.
It was diva time next with Val Venis relishing his role as special referee while Katie Lea and women’s champion Beth Phoenix took on crowd favourites Mickie James and Maria in an exciting near-fall bonanza.
The divas’ high-spots included the ever-popular Maria bronco buster, before James hit the hot-tag and netted the pin for her glamorous team.
Next up Carlito had the unenviable task of battling Mr Money in the Bank CM Punk, Punk receiving a huge pop that must make management think they really have to put a major strap on this guy soon, after some good back and forth action the GTS halted Carlito’s momentum, Punk won to the ringside-rushing crowd’s approval.
Canadian Bulldog DH Smith seems to have fallen into old British Bulldog territory, his opponent being the large and immobile Snitsky.
Marella showed how to bait a crowd
Smith gave his all though, hitting a perfect missile dropkick before falling to the heelish Snitsky’s pump handle slam.
The ever-improving Santino Marella showed Burhcill how to bait a crowd as he tore into the Irish fans, before unlikely saviour William Regal (The Raw GM) showed his own skills by ripping the Italian apart verbally before doing the same in the ring.
At one point, he apparently pulled a chuck of hair from Marella’s head, Regal nailed a big knee to finish off the cocky European.
Lillian Garcia helped in the humiliation by leading a chorus of ‘na na na goodbye’ as he slunk backstage.
Tag team time followed as champions Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly defended their belts against long-time thorns in their sides Cade and Murdoch.
This was a typical to-and-fro match, Rhodes taking a hammering before Holly cleaned house and stole a small package win.
Pop of the night went to Chris Jericho. The IC champion had the crowd in the palm of his hand, he would need that energy as he was facing Samoan Bulldozer Umaga.
This was perfect heel-face stuff, Umaga took the fight outside the ring. Chris, head-butted and pummelled, made his big comeback and against the odds kept his belt. After the bell Umaga beat-down Jericho, leaving him face down in the ring.
In a Wrestlemania Revenge match, ECW champion Kane took the man he beat in seconds, Chavo Guerrerro. Thankfully this match lasted longer, showcasing both nicely, before Kane caught Chavo in the choke slam and pinned him with ease.
Then the climax of the evening was the main event – for the world title.
Triple H was bidding to win his belt back from the arrogant Randy Orton. Triple H was clearly the fans’ favourite and worked the crowd perfectly, posing, strutting and flexing before he took the fight to his foe.
This quickly became a real war as both men traded moves, took the fight to ringside and shared some near falls.
The atmosphere was electric, there was a ref bump, Orton tried to nail HHH with the belt, Regal ran in, distracted the revived ref and caused a DQ.
Triple H went ballistic, taking out both Regal and Orton, posing with what surely will be his title again soon, leaving both beaten in the squared circle.
WWE had done it again, no one was leaving here feeling short-changed, roll on the next tour.
thesun.co.uk
The crowd were more than pumped up for what was billed as the “greatest show in the world” by RAW announcer Lillian Garcia.
Paul Burchill took on Brian Kendrick in the opening bout, berating the crowd before the high-flying Kendrick took to the air and snagged a sneaky pin.
It was diva time next with Val Venis relishing his role as special referee while Katie Lea and women’s champion Beth Phoenix took on crowd favourites Mickie James and Maria in an exciting near-fall bonanza.
The divas’ high-spots included the ever-popular Maria bronco buster, before James hit the hot-tag and netted the pin for her glamorous team.
Next up Carlito had the unenviable task of battling Mr Money in the Bank CM Punk, Punk receiving a huge pop that must make management think they really have to put a major strap on this guy soon, after some good back and forth action the GTS halted Carlito’s momentum, Punk won to the ringside-rushing crowd’s approval.
Canadian Bulldog DH Smith seems to have fallen into old British Bulldog territory, his opponent being the large and immobile Snitsky.
Marella showed how to bait a crowd
Smith gave his all though, hitting a perfect missile dropkick before falling to the heelish Snitsky’s pump handle slam.
The ever-improving Santino Marella showed Burhcill how to bait a crowd as he tore into the Irish fans, before unlikely saviour William Regal (The Raw GM) showed his own skills by ripping the Italian apart verbally before doing the same in the ring.
At one point, he apparently pulled a chuck of hair from Marella’s head, Regal nailed a big knee to finish off the cocky European.
Lillian Garcia helped in the humiliation by leading a chorus of ‘na na na goodbye’ as he slunk backstage.
Tag team time followed as champions Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly defended their belts against long-time thorns in their sides Cade and Murdoch.
This was a typical to-and-fro match, Rhodes taking a hammering before Holly cleaned house and stole a small package win.
Pop of the night went to Chris Jericho. The IC champion had the crowd in the palm of his hand, he would need that energy as he was facing Samoan Bulldozer Umaga.
This was perfect heel-face stuff, Umaga took the fight outside the ring. Chris, head-butted and pummelled, made his big comeback and against the odds kept his belt. After the bell Umaga beat-down Jericho, leaving him face down in the ring.
In a Wrestlemania Revenge match, ECW champion Kane took the man he beat in seconds, Chavo Guerrerro. Thankfully this match lasted longer, showcasing both nicely, before Kane caught Chavo in the choke slam and pinned him with ease.
Then the climax of the evening was the main event – for the world title.
Triple H was bidding to win his belt back from the arrogant Randy Orton. Triple H was clearly the fans’ favourite and worked the crowd perfectly, posing, strutting and flexing before he took the fight to his foe.
This quickly became a real war as both men traded moves, took the fight to ringside and shared some near falls.
The atmosphere was electric, there was a ref bump, Orton tried to nail HHH with the belt, Regal ran in, distracted the revived ref and caused a DQ.
Triple H went ballistic, taking out both Regal and Orton, posing with what surely will be his title again soon, leaving both beaten in the squared circle.
WWE had done it again, no one was leaving here feeling short-changed, roll on the next tour.
thesun.co.uk