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What was the buyrate for the Elimination Chamber pay per view in Canada last night? I’m going to go out on a limb and say zero. For those of you that wish you would have watched WWE instead of the loss to the United States (snicker...), trust me you made the right decision. In fact, tonight we get to see the aftermath, and I’m pretty sure we are going to see a Diva championship match. (Oh, joy!)
The hosts in Indianapolis, Indiana, are Jewel, a singer, and her husband, Ty Murray, a rodeo star; both were most recently seen on Dancing with the Stars. The only reason I can figure why they are hosting is because the cross over audience with wrestling is HUGE!
Chris Jericho, whose ban from RAW didn’t last long, walks to the ring with his new World Heavyweight Title and announces he is going to Wrestlemania. Jericho brags about beating the Undertaker, but forgets to mention the help he got from Shawn Michaels. Edge interrupts the celebration, coming out of the crowd and spearing Jericho. The champ rolls out of the ring, and Edge tells him that he will be facing him at Wrestlemania.
After Edge and Jericho clear out, John Cena enters the ring, and he is not happy. Batista committed a robbery last night, and Cena cannot be pleased. Cena says he should be added to the list of people Vince has screwed. If that’s how Vince wants to do business, that is fine, and Cena wants to cash in his rematch, right now. Instead of the champ Batista, he gets Vince. The chairman says he is all about business, and since Batista took care of Bret Hart, Vince gave him a title shot that he could use anytime he wanted to. Cena says he is taking the title back tonight, but Vince has other ideas. He tells Cena that Batista won’t defend the belt until Wrestlemania, and he adds the Sheamus also has a return clause. So tonight, Cena will have a match; if he wins he gets his Wrestlemania rematch, but if he loses Sheamus gets the title shot. Cena cuts off Vince, and wants to know who he is going to face. Vince only says one word: Batista.
#1 Gail Kim vs. Maryse – Divas Tournament Finals
Maryse drops Gail off the ropes, and hits the French Kiss DDT for the win.
Winner via pinfall and new Divas Champion: Maryse
Are we in for a treat tonight! Ty Murray has brought in a mechanical bull, and the divas are going to take a crack at it. Jewel and Ty are with the divas in the back, when Jillian drops in. She says that people say she can sing better then Jewel. Jillian wants to be shown some respect, but Jewel just slaps her. Jillian runs off crying.
All is not well in Legacy. Cody Rhodes tells Randy Orton he knew Ted DiBiase would double cross him. Rhodes sells out his partner, and doesn’t know how they can co-exist tonight. Orton says he is at fault for what happened last night; he has taught Legacy too well. Orton asked for this six man tag tonight, to show Legacy can still work together. Orton wants Ted to know that he is sorry. DiBiase walks in as Orton leaves, and Cody tells him it went well, almost too well. DiBiase wants to know if they are sticking to the plan, and Cody says yes.
Match #2 – Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, and Yoshi Tatsu vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase
DiBiase kicks Tatsu in the gut, but can’t slam him. Tatsu responds with an arm bar into and arm drag. Bourne tags in, connecting on a low drop kick. Ted hits a suplex, and tags in Cody. Bourne connects with a series of kicks. Bourne elbows Rhodes in the face and Bourne goes up top. Rhodes catches him on the ropes and hits a back slam.
After the break, DiBiase hits a hard clothesline on Bourne. Ted lifts Bourne, but he counters and drives DiBiase into the mat. Bourne crawls to the corner, and Kofi gets the hot tag. Kingston looks for the Boom Drop, but Orton yanks him down from the apron. Orton tags in and slams Kofi to the mat, repeatedly. Kofi tries fight out of the corner, but Orton takes him down with an uppercut. Orton hits the backbreaker, and then turns to his corner. Cody gets the tag, but Orton hits him with the elevated DDT off the middle rope. DiBiase gets in Orton’s face, demanding to know what it going on. Orton responds with on RKO, and walks off.
Back in the ring, Bourne tags in and hits Rhodes with Air Bourne. He covers for the win.
Winner via pinfall: Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, and Yoshi Tatsu
Shawn Michaels enters the ring in street clothes. HBK says his explanation is real simple. He did what he had to do; what he needed to do. HBK isn’t hoping for a reaction out of the Dead Man; he is counting on it. As those words cross his lips, the arena goes dark, and the bells toll. The Undertaker walks out in “Ministry” era outfit. (Probably to cover up the burn on his chest. If you haven’t see the video yet, search for it online. Taker was engulfed in flames, and still wrestled!)
Undertaker tells HBK he has his attention. Michaels can’t come to grips with the fact that one mistake cost him the match with Undertaker last year, and he can’t live it. HBK tells Undertaker since he refused a rematch that is why Shawn had to cost him the title. HBK tells the Dead Man he can get his revenge at Wrestlemania. Undertaker accepts, but on one condition, HBK has to put something on the line, his soul. If HBK wins the streak is over, but if Undertaker wins, HBK’s career is over. The streak vs. a career. Shawn says if he can’t beat Undertaker at Wrestlemania he has no career. Shawn accepts the terms.
Match #3 – Christian vs. Carlito - Money in the Bank Qualifier
As Christian heads to the ring we meet the rookie he will be mentoring on WWE NXT, Heath Slater. We then meet Carlito’s student Michael Tarver.
Christian drops Carlito with a punch, and Carlito rolls to the outside. Christian runs into an elbow in the corner, but recovers to drop kick Carlito from the second rope. Carlito ducks a flying body press, but Christian is able to hit an inverted DDT. Carlito pulls Christian out of the corner, and hits a swinging neck breaker. Carlito blocks the Killswitch, but Christian drives him into the ring post. Christian connect on the second try, and covers for the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Christian
Jewel and Ty Murray walk out on stage, and it’s time for the Diva Bull Riding Challenge. (This is one of those things that is better seen live, I can’t do it justice.) Big Show and The Miz spoil the party. Miz can’t believe what RAW has turned into. Big Show says the bull isn’t that hard to ride, so Ty tells him to get on up there. Show gets tossed in about three seconds. Miz says the bull was going much faster than before. Miz tries to talk Show down, but the bull is taunting him. Show takes a swing at the bull, and Show falls into the pit. Miz says this segment failed, just like the Colts in the Super Bowl. Ty and Jewel tell them not to hurry off, because they have a match versus MVP and Mark Henry, and it's next.
Match #4 – Big Show and the Miz vs. MVP and Mark Henry
MVP wastes little time going after Miz. Show tags in, and MVP takes it to him. Miz is knocked off the apron, but it allows Show to spear MVP. Show chops away at MVP in the corner, and then slams him to the mat. Miz tags back in, but MVP catches him with big boot. Henry and Show tag in, and Henry splashes Show in the corner. Henry catches Miz coming off the top rope, and hits the World Strongest Slam. Show is still the legal man, though, and decks Henry and lays him out with on punch. Show covers for the win.
Winner via pinfall: Big Show and The Miz
Wendi Richter is the next wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Bret Hart saga is recapped, and we get a statement from Vince. He says he was thinking about facing Hart at Wrestlemania, and he had nothing to do with the accident last week. He tells Bret to come back next week, to say a proper farewell.
Match #5 – John Cena vs. Batista
Batista wants nothing to do with Cena, and keeps ducking into the corner. As the ref tries to hold Cena back, Batista kicks Cena in the nether regions. The ref calls for the bell, and Batista is disqualified.
Winner via DQ: John Cena
Batista continues to beat on Cena, stomping him into the corner. Batista heads up the ramp, but then returns to the ring. He tosses Cena into the ring post, and Cena hits the floor. Batista whips him into the security barrier and then drives him into the ring post. Batista walks up the ramp as WWE officials check on Cena. The champ isn’t done; he grabs a chair and smashes it across Cena’s back. Every time Cena tries to get up, Batista smashes him back to the floor. Batista poses on the top of the ramp as the show goes off the air.
Dale Plummer has been writing for SLAM! Wrestling since 2003. Dale is going to start his own curling because of the embarrassing performance of the U.S. team. If would like to donate equipment or money please email Dale @ DPlummer627@yahoo.com