Blog Entry

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

Posted on: March 31, 2008 12:38 am
Edited on: March 31, 2008 2:11 pm
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Here at CBSSports.com, it's rare for us to cover a pro wrestling event. Then again, it's kind of a special occasion when almost 75,000 people converge in one venue for something other than a football game. It's also a special occasion when a household name like "Nature Boy" Ric Flair wrestles his last match, one day after going into the WWE Hall of Fame while still a full-time member of its roster.

And it's rare for boxing superstar Floyd "Money" Mayweather to do something other than box in a ring, especially against an "opponent" three times his size.

WWE is sports entertainment, not sport. But when you witness the sheer spectacle that is WrestleMania first-hand, you see many of the same traits that the fans of competitive sports love. At the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Sunday evening, you had it all. The smell of overpriced hot dogs. Every kind of licensed WWE merchandise you could every possibly want to own. A jam-packed stadium full of fans. A contingent of legit wrestling legends, one night removed from entering the Hall of Fame. A full crew of performers backstage -- some of them tremendously gifted athletes, others over-the-top characters or flashy crowd pleasers, and one guy in a class all by himself in Ric Flair -- who left it all in the ring during their matches.

On this night, WWE had a guy we follow very closely here at CBSSports.com, who also happens to be a charismatic entertainer. In the latest effort by Floyd Mayweather to broaden his celebrity status beyond the sport of boxing, his dance partner was decidedly uglier.

For his "David vs. Goliath" match against the 440-pound Big Show, Mayweather strutted down the aisle with his full posse backing him up. In a fitting special effect, it rained cash on the fans during his saunter to the ring. (By the way: If you think Mayweather is really getting $20 million for this, you're dreaming.)

The only thing big about Mayweather were his XXL trunks -- even his gloves were smaller than the norm. He danced around Big Show and tagged him with quick jabs while the big guy swatted at him to no avail. Show upped the ante by dragging one of Mayweather's cornermen into the ring and slapping him with a bare-chested chop. When he caught up to Mayweather, he tried to stomp on his hand (making good on an earlier promise to end his boxing career). He failed, and Mayweather responded by climbing the turnbuckles and putting Show in a sleeper hold. Show walked around the ring trying to shake him off, and when he finally did so, he got that hand stomp he was looking for.

Show then slapped Mayweather's chest in the corner with a chop. Mayweather fired back with some shots, but fell victim to a side slam. He stood on Mayweather's fallen body with both feet, drawing some gasps from the crowd. Show landed an elbow drop, and at that point Mayweather looked dead. His corner dragged him out of the ring by the feet and tried escaping back down the aisle. Show chased them, and dragged Mayweather back to the ring for more abuse. The crowd was laughing at Mayweather, probably mostly due to the downright comical size difference.

Show lifted Mayweather off the ground with a choke, but before he could finish the choke slam, a cornerman hit Show in the back with a steel folding chair. Show turned and choke slammed that guy, then turned around to eat a pair of chair shots from Floyd himself (one gut, one back). On a third swing of the steel, Show grabbed Mayweather by the neck again. This time, Mayweather escaped with that old boxing standby: a kick in the crotch.

Mayweather got his biggest reaction out of the crowd with a right hand that dropped Show face-first to the canvas. Mayweather, by the way, was holding a foreign object (brass knuckles) when he threw the punch. With that, Mayweather scored the pinfall for his first -- and possibly only -- pro wrestling win.

Full results from WrestleMania 24 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando:

  • World Heavyweight Title: The Undertaker defeated Edge via submission to a gogoplata to win the title and remain undefeated at WrestleMania.
  • Floyd "Money" Mayweather beat The Big Show via knockout after a right hook with a foreign object.
  • Triple Threat Match: WWE Champion Randy Orton retained his title against Triple H and John Cena after he kicked Triple H as he was pinning Cena after a pedigree, and then pinned Cena himself.
  • BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Beth Phoenix & Melina beat Ashley & Maria when Phoenix pinned Maria after a fisherman's suplex. During the match, the main lighting above the ring went out and the match went a few moments in the dark. They finished the match with the use of spotlights.
  • Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair via pinfall after a superkick. The match was Ric Flair's final performance as an active wrestler.
  • Kane pinned ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. after a choke slam to win the title.
  • Batista pinned Umaga after a powerbomb.
  • Money in the Bank Ladder Match: C.M. Punk defeated John Morrison, Carlito, Shelton Benjamin, Mr. Kennedy, MVP and Chris Jericho to earn the right to challenge for any title in WWE at a time of his choosing within the next year.
  • Belfast Brawl: John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Finlay via pinfall after the clothesline from hell.
  • Kane won a 24-Man Battle Royal for a same-night shot at the ECW Championship.


John Legend opened the show with his rendition of "America the Beautiful." Kim Kardashian served as honorary backstage interviewer. Raven Simone came out to the ring to thank WWE for working closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Snoop Dogg acted as the "Master of Ceremonies" for the BunnyMania women's tag team match, featuring the team of Ashley Massaro and Maria Kanellis, both of whom have bared all for Playboy.

The announced attendance was 74,635.
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Comments

Since: Mar 15, 2008
Posted on: October 30, 2008 3:25 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

Mayweather kicked Big Show's butt Big show had no chance espically with the brass nuckles



Since: Mar 19, 2008
Posted on: April 8, 2008 4:26 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

i thought fm was gonna fight in ufc? gues he's asraid of a reeeeeeal opponet.



Since: Jan 20, 2008
Posted on: April 5, 2008 10:08 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

Maybe Floyd has had brass knuckles in his gloves all along. Hmmmmm?

I wondered how he stayed undefeated this long in boxing.  What's the saying....Art imiates reality?

 




Since: Mar 8, 2007
Posted on: April 5, 2008 6:16 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

I didn't get the event, I refuse to pay $54.95 for essentially 4 hrs of acting. The Big Show being used as a loser in David vs. Goliath matches is getting ridiculous. WWE needs to get a little more realistic. The Big Show,Kane,Batista,Umaga,Undertaker & the Great Kali should be obvious headliners. As an adult I can't believe John Cena's fake rapper military wannabe character ever took off, but kids love him.To turn him heel would give WWE a shot in the arm as far as creating interest, although it didn't work with Stone Cold. John Cena(as a heel) vs. the Rock(as a face) as a main event of a WrestleMania would be huge. I don't know why Mayweather would do this, he has plenty of money.



Since: Mar 15, 2008
Posted on: April 1, 2008 7:44 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

I dont know what Mayweather was doing with gloves on in the beggining. I thought he was finished when big show steped on his chest... lol. But when mayweather got the brass knuckles big show was finished.




Since: Dec 30, 2006
Posted on: April 1, 2008 6:12 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

In my opinion, its about time they get Kane back to a championship reign. He has been off the Title contender list far too long and got his succeeded on his opurtunity.



Since: Apr 11, 2007
Posted on: April 1, 2008 2:31 pm
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

As a wrestling fan ... I didn't order WMXX4 for Mayweather vs Big Show, let's face it ... its a gimmick match much like when LT vs Bam Bam years ago.  I ordered it knowing it was Ric Flair's last match, might as well order the last pay per view with The Nature Boy since I've ordered countless others in both WWE/WCW.  Last night on Raw as a emotional of a wrestling event and as a Ric Flair fan ... a tough weekend to take but a classy way to end a historic career. 

I don't think the numbers of pay per view orders should be attributed to getting Floyd to "wrestle" as it was that for wrestling fans - fake sport or not - to go WOOOO one more time



Since: Jan 18, 2008
Posted on: April 1, 2008 2:52 am
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

I admit to being a long time wrestling fan, I will disagree that the WWE will not survive because of John Cena.  I'm amazed at the amount of merchandise he sells at events.  Older wrestling fans may find his gimmick dull but he sells tons of merchandise to kids.  In fact my girlfriend and I were at the mall the other day and we saw a few kids were Cena merchandise and the WWE hasn't been in michigan in a while.  The reason his gimmick has grown old is because they cannot turn him heel.  With kids gobbling up Cena stuff you can't kill that cash cow and make him a bad guy. 

I think people tend to forget the point of sports-entertainment.  You have to suspend normal reality and sit back and enjoy the ride.  If you view it as a legit sporting event you will be disappointed but if you take it for what it is, you will find some enjoyment.  I won't trade WWE for NBA or NFL, but I will still DVR it on monday's so I have something to watch after work. 

 




Since: Jan 23, 2008
Posted on: April 1, 2008 12:38 am
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

I watched and read online about the HOF ceremony. The actual ceremony went 4 1/2 hrs with Flair going 90 minutes. I would love, LOVE to see the ROCK come back and wrestle one of the 3 he mentioned (HBK, Cena, & Mysterio.) But that would be a dream. WM 25 HBK vs ROCKY. What a match that would be!

I think Taker would retire 1st followed by HBK then HHH. HHH still has a few good years left.




Since: Apr 1, 2008
Posted on: April 1, 2008 12:20 am
 

Mayweather branches out at WrestleMania 24

I rate the show a solid B.  No real shockers,  No blood.  What lacks in WWE is the ability of the new talent to rise up.  Flair and HBK were the pop of the show.  Taker was the obvious choice but Edge is coming along.  He needs to quit doing these stupid pranks and gimmicks.

Pretty soon, HBK, HHH and Taker will retire just like Flair.  There doesnt seem to be a Rock, Stone Cold or Hogan type of performer waiting in the wings. 

WWE will not survive with clone Ortons, Batistas and Cenas.  They cant carry the crowds because they really cant wrestle and they cant sell the product.

(Example...did anyone notice how much time The Rock got during the Hall of Rock...er...Fame special?)  Wow is he missed!!!



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