WWE WrestleMania 30 PPV Results
April 6, 2014
New Orleans, La. at the Superdome
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WM30 First Hour - 6:00 p.m. CST local time

WrestleMania started with a video package on New Orleans's night life setting the stage for WrestleMania.

Live inside the Superdome, Hulk Hogan's music played to bring out the WrestleMania guest host. Hogan made his way down to the ring as WWE showed audience members singing and bobbing their heads to Hogan's "Real Americans" theme. On commentary, Cole claimed attendance of over 75,000. He said it's all come full-circle for Hogan.

In the ring, Hogan said he's glad to be back at the Silverdome (boos) and on WWF - WWE Network. Hogan re-directed back to saying he's glad to be in New Orleans at the Superdome. He said he's glad to back in the Silverdome a second time. The crowd tongue-in-cheek chanted, "You f----ed up." Hogan laughed, smiled, and said "Superdome" to a pop.

Hogan was suddenly interrupted by broken glass to bring out "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin marched down to the ring sporting a Broken Skull Ranch t-shirt. Austin posed in all four corners, then walked right up to Hogan. Austin popped the crowd saying it's great to be back here in the Silverdome, which popped Hogan.

Austin continued by asking the crowd if they want him to open up a can of whoop ass on Hulk Hogan. He said that's what he thought, then flashed back to the Hall of Fame last night. Austin went through WM1, WM2 (what?), all the way to WM10. "You get the picture," he said. Austin said they've been very protective of their legacies during their career. He said he's got nothing but respect for Hogan and appreciates what he's done for this business.

Hogan asked the crowd to give Stone Cold a "hell yeah," then Austin said tonight is about the WWE stars coming out here and busting their asses like what he and Hogan did. Austin said tonight is for the current regime to come out here and put everything they got on the line.

Suddenly, The Rock's music played. Rock came out dressed in jeans and a cut-off t-shirt looking skinny. Rock bounced up and down on the stage, then marched down to the ring to join Hogan and Austin in the ring. Rock greeted his mom at ringside as the announcers described this as Mt. Rushmore coming together.

In the ring, Rock said it feels good to be back in New Orleans ... and the Superdome. He smiled toward Hogan, who turned his back to laugh. Rock hyped Hogan and Austin's career and referenced Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect to boos, then the Yes! Movement to cheers. Rock then rhymed about so many wrestling fans being born nine months after WrestleMania because everyone is inspired to go home and start making Rock Babies. He told everyone to just wait until January. Rock said it's boots to asses time... if you smell what The Rock is cooking.

Austin added: "And that's the bottom line 'cause Stone Cold said so." Hogan closed: "So, whatcha gonna do, brothers, when The Rock, Stone Cold, Hogan, WrestleMania, and ... the Superdome (big pop) run wild on you?" Hogan with the ultimate babyface comeback. Austin called for beers and the trio shared a round in the ring as JBL said his career is complete. Hogan's music played, then Austin's to close the segment. That was a huge opening.

Video Package: Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H feud.

Back in the Superdome, Stephanie McMahon was standing by with a big, fake, heel smile on her face. Stephanie said she is honored to announce the most powerful man in WWE, the COO and next World Hvt. champion, the Cerebral Assassin, the King of Kings, The Game, Triple H. Dramatic, symphony music played and a giant throne was shown on the stage. Triple H was shown seated at his throne sporting a big kingly mask surrounded by females. The females removed Hunter's robe, then he dramatically removed his mask to reveal his face. Hunter paused for a reaction, then his music played and he marched down to the ring as Stephanie applauded.

Hunter hit the ring and posed on the ring apron while Stephanie continued to applaud in the background. Hunter spewed water into the crowd as Cole said this looks like a mis-match on paper. After a pause, Daniel Bryan's music played and the Superdome erupted in "Yes!" chants. Bryan ran down to the ring doing the "Yes!" chant as the text flashed across the entrance ramp. Bryan paused to soak up the atmosphere as Stephanie sneered in the ring.

Bryan hit the ring and led the Superdome in "Yes!" chants. Strong visual. Bryan removed his ring jacket to reveal a taped shoulder. The crowd broke into a loud "Daniel Bryan" chant as Hunter shared a kiss with Stephanie. Hunter then paced the ring and sneered down at Bryan, not taking him seriously. Ref Charles Robinson called for the bell.

1 -- TRIPLE H (w/Stephanie McMahon) vs. DANIEL BRYAN -- winner advances to the WWE World Title main event

Hunter continued to sneer at Bryan, then smirk toward the crowd as the two wrestlers felt out the crowd. Hunter then walked toward Bryan and extended his hand, but Bryan responded with a kick to the hand. A roll-up produced a two count, freaking out Hunter. Bryan followed with rapid-fire kicks in the corner, sending Hunter scampering to the floor for a breather. As Steph tried to help Hunter calm down, Bryan extended his hand in the ring. Nice opening.

Back in the ring, Hunter tried to work on Bryan's shoulder, but Bryan responded with a take-down into a side headlock. Hunter responded with a take down, but Bryan responded with uppercuts. Meanwhile, Lawler said he thinks Hunter put this match on first so that if he wins, he could rest up for the main event. Bryan went for kick strikes, but Hunter grabbed Bryan's foot and leg-wrenched him. Hunter thought he was in control again, but Bryan knocked him to the floor. Steph checked on Hunter, then Bryan came off the top turnbuckle with a flip dive aimed for Hunter, but Bryan seemed to take the worst of it.

Back in the ring, Bryan covered Hunter for a two count. "You're never going to win!" Steph shrieked from ringside. On the floor, Hunter took Bryan to the announce table and yanked Bryan shoulder-first down onto the announce table. "Yes!" Steph mockingly shouted. Back in the ring, Hunter went to work on Bryan's shoulder as the announcers said this looks like all of Bryan's hard work coming to an end. But, Bryan responded with a strike that sent Hunter to the floor. Bryan prepared for a suicide dive, but Hunter responded with a strike to the face. Hunter then smashed Bryan across the ring apron.

Bryan made it back into the ring just before ten, then Hunter applied a cross-face chicken wing. "Daniel Bryan" chant as Bryan tried to fight off the hold. Hunter then flowed into a cross-face submission, looking to avenge WM20. Bryan made it to the bottom rope, though, to get a rope break. Hunter then yanked down on Bryan's shoulder to keep working on the injury. Suddenly, Bryan fought back with strikes. Hunter responded, then Bryan knocked down Hunter with a flying attack.

Reset at 13:30. Bryan followed with a German Suplex for a nearfall. Then a second with a bridge for another two count. Bryan tried a third German, but Hunter blocked and nailed a German of his own. Both men sold the effects of the sequence, then Hunter covered for a two count. The match then moved to the top turnbuckle, where Bryan fed off "Yes!" chants to block Hunter and deliver a big sunset flip powerbomb. Both men sold on the mat.

At 16:30, Bryan got up and delivered two running knee strikes in the corner, but Hunter responded to the third attempt with a big lariat. Both men sold on the mat as Steph exclaimed, "Yeaaaah!" Hunter was slow to his feet and approached Bryan for the Pedigree, but Bryan blocked and jack-knifed Hunter for a two count. Kick strike to the head and the crowd rallied hard behind Bryan. Bryan climbed to the top for a diving headbutt, but Hunter got his leg up to block. Hunter immediately went to the cross-face submission, Bryan crawled across the ring, but Hunter rolled them over to the center of the ring. Bryan managed to escape and also reverse into a cross-face of his own, popping the crowd. Hunter flailed his arm, but Bryan locked it on tighter as Steph sold concern ringside. Hunter teased tapping, but finally reached the bottom rope for a break.

Hunter rolled to the floor for a breather, then Bryan got up and delivered a suicide dive. Then, a second suicide dive to the outside. Bryan took Hunter back into the ring and followed with a top-rope missile dropkick. Bryan kipped up like Shawn Michaels, then delivered one Yes! Kick. A second. A third. A fourth. Big wind-up for a fifth to the head. But, Hunter kicked out just before three as Steph seemed to be out of energy ringside.

Bryan wanted to end it with the big running knee, but Hunter responded with a spinebuster. Hunter flowed right into a Pedigree, but Bryan kicked out at two. The crowd popped, then erupted into "Yes!" chants as Steph sold concern that maybe she underestimated Bryan. Steph tried to give Hunter a pep talk, but Bryan caught Hunter with a roll-up for a close two count. Hunter responded by unloading on Bryan with right hand strikes. He then went for a second Pedigree, but Bryan countered with a bridge pin for a close two count. Hunter maintained the Pedigree grip, though, and Bryan blocked a second Pedigree attempt. So, Hunter drove knees to Bryan's head.

Hunter again gripped Bryan for a Pedigree, but Bryan reversed into a wind-up kick to the face. Bryan tried a big kick, but Hunter blocked. Bryan blocked a follow-up from Hunter, created separation, and smashed Hunter with a big running knee. Cover and a three count. Clean win for Bryan.

Post-match: The crowd erupted in "Yes!" chants as Bryan and Hunter recovered on the mat. Bryan stood up and celebrated by holding up one finger that he's got one more to go. Suddenly, Steph entered the ring and slapped Bryan. Bryan smiled, so Steph kept slapping him. Hunter then attacked Bryan from behind and posted him. Hunter grabbed a chair and smashed it across Bryan's shoulder, creating questions over whether Bryan can make the main event. Hunter and Steph then left the ring as Bryan was tended to by the ringside doctor.

WINNER: Bryan at 25:58. Very good WrestleMania match. The post-match attack now sets up the show-long question of whether Bryan will make the main event. Well done all-around. Of course, the other question mark is how Stephanie gets her comeuppance in this. Does Brie Bella become involved? (****)

END OF THE FIRST HOUR. SECOND HOUR CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM.

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