KELLER'S WWE WRESTLEMANIA 26 REPORT - HOUR THREE
MARCH 28, 2010
LIVE FROM PHOENIX, ARIZ.
PAY-PER-VIEW

HOUR FOUR

The match continued with back and forth methodical action. At 7:00 Cena got an intense mixed reaction as he went into the You Can't See Me routine. Batista countered with a spinebuster and then shook the top rope and stomped the mat. He signaled for the Batista Bomb. Cena countered with an STF, though. At 10:00 they had a test of strength on the top rope. Cena headbutted Batista to the mat and then took a few deep breaths and then flew off the top rope with fistdrop. He set up an Attitude Adjustment, but Batista grabbed the top rope. Batista countered with a Batista Bomb on Cena for a near fall at 11:00. Batista gasped with his mouth wide open, bordering on cartoonish, but maybe just short of that. He was in shock and looked up at the ref, asking, "Are you kidding?" Good sales job.

Cena countered another Batista Bomb attempt with the Attitude Adjustment for a near fall of his own. Huge crowd heat as Batista kicked out. "Maybe Cena can't beat Batista!" declared Cole. Cena dove at Batista off the top rope at Batista, but Batista caught him and slammed him. Batista celebrated. Striker said that's how Batista broke Cena's neck last time. Batista then set up the Batista Bomb. Cena flipped over and sunset flipped Batista and then shifted immediately into an STF. Cole asked if we'd see a new champion. He said Batista was in trouble. Batista tried to power his way out, but seemed to fade, and then he tapped out. Cena popped up and celebrated as Cole yelled, "John Cena has done it!" Cena leaned in to celebrate with fans who were in the front row wearing a "We Hate Cena" t-shirt. Do they sell those? Cena smiled as those fans gave him a thumbs down, but had a good time doing it.

WINNER: Cena in 14:00 to capture the WWE Title (his ninth world title).

STAR RATING: ***3/4 -- Very good match. Like the rest of this show, a notch or two short of beinga WrestleMania classic, but still very good and I'm sure in particular satisfying to the masses of WWE fans who were rooting for Cena. Cole called a very good match, especially hitting some emotional highs at the end.

-A commercial aired hyping WWE Extreme Rules. I'm especially happy they don't spell it "Xtreme Rulz" or any of that late-'90s nonsense that's well past its expiration date.

-A video package aired on the Michaels-Taker saga.

10 -- SHAWN MICHAELS vs. UNDERTAKER -- Retirement vs. Streak

Michaels had a standard ring entrance. The announcers said as excited as everyone is, this could be Michaels's last ring entrance. Undertaker rose up from a hole in the stage. The camera panned back and his music filled the stadium and lightning and fog flashed and hovered everywhere. During the pre-match mid-ring staredown, Michaels did the throat cut gesture. They exchanged punches and chops aggressively at the start. Michaels did a Flair flip into the corner early. Taker gave Michaels a big boot, then splashed Michaels in the corner. He followed with an armbar and an early attempt at the top rope walk, but Michaels yanked him down. Taker tried again and succeeded. He leaped off the ropes and landed a forearm to Michaels's arm. He favored his ankle or knee afterward. When he went for a chokeslam, Michaels slipped free and Taker again favored his leg. Taker set up a Tombstone. Michaels wiggled his way out and tried to leverage Taker to the mat. Taker resisted and went to an armbar.

At 2:00 Michaels teased a superkick, but Taker backtracked. Lawler said Michaels is noticing Taker's bad knee. Michaels kicked at his left leg repeatedly. Taker countered by clotheslining Michaels over the top rope to the floor. Taker then teased flying over the top rope, but Michaels slipped back into the ring and tripped Taker before he could attempt the leap to the floor. Michaels yanked Taker back to center-ring and went for a figure-four. Taker kicked Michaels off of him and to the floor. Taker followed Michaels to ringside and rammed him back-first into the ringpost. Taker gave Michaels a guillotine legdrop. Cole showed signs of his throat giving out at this point. Four hours is a long time to expect an announcer's voice to hold up. Michaels applied the figure-four at 5:00. Taker got bug-eyed and tried to fight the pain. Taker reversed the figure-four to force a break. They went to a beautiful wide shot of the stadium as Cole called this "the most anticipated match in WrestleMania history."

They had a stand-up battle of punches and chops. Taker knocked Michaels down first. Michaels kipped up. Taker hit a chokeslam for a near fall at 7:00. Taker went for another Tombstone, but Michaels slipped out and into an anklelock submission attempt. Taker kicked his way free. Michaels dove at Taker, clotheslining him to the floor. Michaels springboard dove off the second rope at Taker, but Taker caught him on the floor. He then gave him a Tombstone on the mat at ringside. Cole said the move is legal in this match, but the pin must take place inside the ring. There are no DQ and no countouts. That came into play here. Referee Charles Robinson called for some help. A medic checked on Michaels, but Taker suddenly threw Michaels into the ring and went for a pin. Michaels kicked out just before three.

Taker went for a Last Ride, but Michaels threw Taker off balance and they both landed awkwardly. Michaels got up first. He climbed to the top rope and went for his flying elbow. Taker, though, lifted his knees and caught Michaels on the ribcage. Taker surprised Michaels with a Hell's Gate. Michaels flipped over to counter it into a leverage pin attempt. Taker countered just before three. Cole said nobody has ever countered that move. Michaels and Taker both got up. Michaels quickly nailed Taker with Sweet Chin Music. Taker kicked out just before three.

At 13:00 Michaels stood in the corner and began stomping the mat . Taker blocked it somewhat awkwardly and then lifted Michaels for a Last Ride. He slammed Michaels hard and Michaels seemed KO'd. Michaels, though, lifted his shoulder at the last second. That was a believable near fall and flash back to last year's match's late-drama. Taker looked frustrated and threw Michaels over the top rope to the floor. Taker then began pulling apart the announce table. He lifted Michaels and set up a Last Ride onto the table. Michaels leaped over Taker and then nailed Sweet Chin Music to Taker's chin, sending Taker onto the table at 16:00. Michaels climbed to the top rope and backflipped onto Taker's legs. Lawler said he thought Undertaker's leg was broken.

Michaels chased Taker down and threw him into the ring. Michaels hit Sweet Chin Music. Cole declared: "The streak is over! The streak is over! Michaels has done it!" which completely ruined the near fall because announcers never call actual finishes ahead of time. Michaels went for another Sweet Chin Music, but Taker countered with a chokeslam. Taker then hit the Tombstone. He folded Michaels's arms over his chest and the ref counted, but Michaels kicked out before three. The crowd exploded. Taker freaked out. Cole said something has to give. Taker slowly gained his composure and stood over Michaels. He did the throat slice. Michaels crawled up Taker's leg and did the throat slice gesture himself. He then slapped Taker hard across the face. Taker fired right back with a Tombstone for the win. Cole said the match lived up to its hype and so much more.

WINNER: Undertaker in 24:00.

STAR RATING: ****3/4 -- No complaints. I least expected Michaels to lose clean, but it was tough to make the call for any of the possible finishes.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

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