Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania XXII: HHH Does It Again
Wrestlemania XXII
Date: April 2, 2006
Location: Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 17,159
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross
The opening video is a Wrestlemania montage set to I Dare You by Shinedown. Awesome song and an awesome video.
We also get the usual kind of opening video with hype for the major matches.
Raw Tag Titles: Carlito/Chris Masters vs. Big Show/Kane
The losers argue post match.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Finlay vs. Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley
US Title: Chris Benoit vs. John Bradshaw Layfield
Rating: C+. Just like the opener this was pretty meh but JBL was an awesome heel here. The part of this that sticks in my mind though is Benoit hitting that headbutt. After it hit he was grabbing his skull and was clearly in pain. Every time I see him hit something like that I cringe a little bit more and wonder if that was the point of no return.
Joey Styles jumps in on commentary for the next match.
Mick Foley vs. Edge
Backlash ad. Hey I was there.
Some celebrities are here.
Booker T/Sharmell vs. Boogeyman
Mickie is challenging and has those awesome skirts that go all over the place. Trish is looking great too with the usual attire but showing her stomach as well. Trish is all aggressive here and chops Mickie down into the splits. They head to the floor but the Chick Kick hits the post. Mickie wraps the leg around the post and is still looking very psycho. Back in and a dropkick to the knee takes Trish down again, as does a dragon screw leg whip for two.
Undertaker vs. Mark Henry
We recap Vince vs. Shawn. Back in December, Vince had been talking about Montreal again and Shawn finally said let it go before nearly superkicking Vince. This led to Vince basically declaring war on Shawn, eventually leading to a street fight here tonight.
Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
Wrestlemania 23 is coming to Detroit.
Smackdown World Title: Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton
Chavo and Vickie celebrate with Rey.
Cena and HHH are getting ready in the back.
Candace Michelle vs. Torrie Wilson
Rating: F. Were you expecting more here? Next.
Video on the Wrestlemania press conference.
Raw World Title: HHH vs. John Cena
Back to the floor we go and Cena is whipped hard into the steps. They head inside again for a facebuster from the challenger and a big old clothesline for two. A neckbreaker gets the same as the fans alternate between “screw you Cena” and “Cena sucks.” Off to a neck crank by the Game which is transitioned into a sleeper and then a chinlock. The champ shoves him off and hits a clothesline to put both guys down again. Back up and Cena fires off some more clotheslines followed by a powerslam for no cover.
A highlight package ends the show.
Ratings Comparison
Big Show/Kane vs. Carlito/Chris Masters
Original: D+
Redo: C
Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Ric Flair vs. Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley
Original: B
Redo: B
John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Chris Benoit
Original: D+
Redo: C+
Edge vs. Mick Foley
Original: A
Redo: A
Boogeyman vs. Booker T/Sharmell
Original: F
Redo: F
Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus
Original: B
Redo: B-
Undertaker vs. Mark Henry
Original: D
Redo: D+
Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon
Original: C+
Redo: C+
Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton
Original: D+
Redo: C-
Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle
Original: F
Redo: F
HHH vs. John Cena
Original: A-
Redo: B-
Overall Rating
Original: B
Redo: D+
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