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WM30 PRESS CONFERENCE REPORT 4/1: Complete coverage of WrestleMania event in New York City

Apr 1, 2014 - 10:45:27 AM
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WrestleMania Press Conference Report
April 1, 2014
New York City at Hard Rock Cafe
Aired on WWE Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch editor


The WM30 press conference opened with Josh Mathews standing inside the Hard Rock Cafe setting the stage for the press conference. Mathews then brought in the Bella Twins to discuss the 14-Divas match for the Divas Title at WrestleMania. Nikki Bella said she thinks she will win. Brie wasn't so sure.

Mathews then asked Brie about her fiancee, Daniel Bryan, returning last night on Raw to attack Triple H. Brie said she's certain Bryan will become WWE World champion at WrestleMania. Mathews then jumped the gun on calling John Cena Nikki's "fiancee." Oops. Nikki helped Mathews recover with hype for Cena facing Bray Wyatt on Sunday. Back to Brie discussing Bryan's "Yes! Movement," including Bryan remaining humble despite becoming part of pop culture. Brie then took a dig at Nikki/Cena that the audience is feeling something organic with Bryan that they haven't seen in a while.

Summer Rae then jumped into the camera shot to pick a bone with Brie Bella. She transitioned to hyping the Divas Title match at WrestleMania. Mathews thanked Summer and the Bellas for being cordial here, then Summer left. The Bellas asked Mathews to pick which Bella would be better champion and Josh diplomatically said there is a history of co-Divas champions.

Mathews, flustered by the previous bit, brought out Mark Henry as his next guest. Henry hyped WrestleMania Axxess and the Andre Battle Royal. He said it would be a great honor to represent WWE as the Andre winner.

The press conference then began with Michael Cole introducing WrestleMania Week.

- Stephanie McMahon was up first. Stephanie reflected back on WrestleMania I on closed circuit television, including sitting next to Andre the Giant. Now, WM30 is available on WWE Network, which she described as "forever." Stephanie said WWE is committed to entertaining content and putting smiles on people's faces. She then broke down WWE's "pro-social" events during Mania Week in New Orleans.

- Next up was Hulk Hogan. Hogan was in full Hulkamania Mode asking the gathered crowd to make some noise. Hogan calmed down and reflected on WM1, then talked about the drama, spectacle, and glory of WrestleMania. Hogan went back to press-slamming Andre the Giant at WM3. He said Mania is also about pushing ahead to the future. Hogan said we're all immortal now because it's going down on WWE Network. "Thank you, guys, it's great to be home," Hogan said. One final pose before leaving the podium.

- Next was Triple H. Hunter noted the crowd is a little subdued today. He said if Hulk Hogan can't fire them up, then he's in trouble. Hunter said he wears a few different hats in WWE. He said he's also a fan with a dream to be part of WWE. Hunter said he started out watching wrestling on his local TV station. Now, it's global. Hogan said WrestleMania started as one man's dream, but now it's every wrestler's dream to make a moment on the Mania Stage.

Hunter transitioned to hyping NXT, where wrestlers's dreams start and are molded. Hunter hyped the Wyatts, The Shield, and Big E. Langston starting in NXT. This year, a whole crop of NXT stars will make their way to New Orleans to be part of Mania Week. Hunter said they will watch and hope to make the big stage one day. Hunter then hyped Mania Week programming on WWE Network. Hunter summed up his executive speech that all of WWE's history "lives forever" on the Network.

Hunter then put on his "talent hat" to discuss his role at WrestleMania. Hunter said no one exemplifies the dream of becoming WWE champion like Daniel Bryan. Hunter said the "Yes! Movement" is part of Bryan's dream to headline Mania. Unfortunately for Bryan, his dream intersects with his. Hunter said Bryan had a dream now. Now, he is going to headline WM30 and step into the ring with The Game. "Here's the thing. Only The Game is forever," he said.

- Daniel Bryan, in a suit, was next. Bryan noted they had a whole arena rocking with "Yes!" chants last night on Raw. Bryan responded to Triple H's "dream" comments. He said it's not what's going through your brain when you're sleeping, but what you wish for right before you go to sleep. Bryan said he plans to beat Triple H at WrestleMania, but the problem is Hunter hates him. Not as a person, but from a business perspective.

Bryan said he's not here because of Triple H or The Authority, but because of the people. Because people would not let their voices be denied. Bryan said people have way more power than they think. Bryan said the 70,000 people in the Superdome in New Orleans have more power than the people in the back. He said this Sunday he will truly live out the dream he had as a kid. Can he do that? "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Bryan said WrestleMania 30 will be awesome.

- Next was Royal Rumble winner Batista, who hit the podium with purpose to knock this out. Batista asked the crowd if they're excited about WM30. Batista then pulled out a piece of paper with his scripted notes. He said he's going to speak from the heart instead. Batista said he doesn't really want to be here, then mocked Daniel Bryan. Batista acknowledged awkward, uncomfortable silence. He tongue-in-cheek said he had some time in-between movies and decided to come back and become WWE World champion. More silence. Batista then turned up the volume by entering heel mode facing the podium to play the role of fans booing him and telling him he sucks and mocking his skinny jeans.

Batista got serious that he loves being a pro wrestler and wanted to be part of WrestleMania 30. He said it's more special than he can explain. Batista said it kind of sucks that it's turned into a triple threat main event, but he'll deal with it. Batista told everyone to take a good look at him because it's the last time he will not be WWE World Hvt. champion. That was really something. Or "that was interesting," as Michael Cole put it.

- Next was WWE World champion Randy Orton dressed in all-black with both title belts over his shoulders. Orton said not only is he the WWE World champion, but the Face of WWE. Orton said The Authority hand-picked him to lead this era, then noted a triple threat match at WrestleMania 30 does present a challenge, but he's ready. Orton said fans with even half a brain know that he will retain his title on Sunday and everyone will want to witness it. Orton told Batista, Bryan, and Hunter that he will see them in New Orleans.

Cole then brought out Bryan, Hunter, and Batista to join Orton for a photo-op. Bryan was first out and offered some choice words to Orton. The line-up was Batista left, Hunter left center, Orton right center, and Bryan on the far right. Hunter tried to take the spotlight, drawing a look from Batista, which made Hunter uneasy. Bryan put his arms in the air for a "Yes!" pose, then Orton and Batista left for Hunter and Bryan to have a face-to-face confrontation. Bryan and Hunter finished with "Yes!" and "No!" poses, which some of the non-press audience joined in on. Hunter sarcastically said now people are making noise.

- John Cena was introduced next to transition away from the WWE Title picture. Cena said he sees a lot of fans and media here. Cena said he's been thinking and listening, especially to that "brilliant display of spoken word" by Batista. He said nothing hit him, but he spent the morning with Hulk Hogan. They were at a TV show and no matter where Hogan goes, people's faces light up. Cena recalled a fan telling Hogan that he was there at WrestleMania 3. He said the fan emphatically shouted, "You don't get it; I was there!" Cena said it hit him that WrestleMania is about moments that you never forget.

This year, Cena said, WM30 is revolutionary because it allows everyone to say they were there. Because WrestleMania will be available on the Network, which is everywhere. Cena said he hopes Daniel Bryan kicks the teeth down Triple H's throat, which was interesting. He said this year they honor their past, accept and look excited at the present, and look ahead to their future. Cena said he has one question: "Where you gonna be, brother, when you say this Sunday that I was there?"

Cole then invited the press conference participants onto the stage for a final photo-op. Hunter greeted Cena with mock anger, then they shook hands. Stephanie and Bryan were prompt to follow Hunter on-stage, then Orton followed out. Hogan was next. No sign of Batista. From left to right, it was Hogan, Orton, Stephanie, Hunter, Cena, and Bryan. Batista then came out last to stand next to Hogan on the left.

Great Khali showed up next to stand next to Bryan with the cast of Total Divas and Mark Henry. Bryan found Brie Bella and posed with her as if they were posing for a promo photo. The stage filled up with stars as the press conference ended after 45 minutes.


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