WWE Heat Report: 30th March 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Commentators: Jack Korpella & Josh Mathews
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Greetings. It's here at last. The Grandaddy of them all is upon us. WrestleMania XXIV. I've enjoyed the buzz online all week as everyone gets in on the action. Unfortunately, Robbie McAllister got a little too much action. Seriously though, I do feel bad for him as it wasn't his fault and was a tasteless act from TNA putting him on screen, knowing it would get him in trouble. Reading all the positive fan comments after meeting superstars has left me wishing I could sample the WrestleMania experience. Someday...hopefully, I can. I thought the Hall of Fame was good viewing. The Rock stole the show for me. It was great seeing him back, if only for one night. Back to today and Heat is the final stop before Mania. Four matches on hand, with three of them showcasing talent in the 24 man Battle Royal. On with the show. We start with..................................
Super Crazy vs Paul Burchill w/Katie Lea
This is a rematch from one month ago on Raw. Both competitors are sitting on the sidelines for WrestleMania. Katie introduces her big brother Paul to the booing crowd. Paul says in England, the competition is so much tougher than in this country (America). He always thought America was the land of the brave? Paul says there isn't one American here tonight who will get in the ring with him. The crowd start chanting USA He says maybe it's because no-one is brave enough. That's why he's standing here with Crazy. A Mexican. The referee holds Crazy back. Paul says no offense, but everyone knows that Crazy's people will do anything for money. Just like he'll do anything for his sister Katie. Unfortunately for Crazy, tonight Katie doesn't want Mexican take-out. Tonight she wants him to take out a Mexican. Good promo. Burchill backs Crazy to the corner before breaking. Burchill uses an armbar to ground Crazy. The crowd chant for Crazy. Crazy tries to roll into a reversal but Burchill uses the hair to take Crazy down for a one count. Chinlock by Burchill. Burchill sends Crazy off the ropes. Crazy ducks underneath, Burchill swats away a dropkick attempt. Burchill goes to a front facelock. Crazy reverses a head ram attempt in the corner before charging into a forearm. Burchill lifts and drops Crazy down across the top rope. Burchill reels Crazy in for a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall. Burchill re-applies the chinlock. Scattered Crazy chants. Burchill yells no as Crazy gets up, punching his way free. Burchill cuts Crazy off with a slam. Burchill misses a kneedrop as Crazy goes to the corner. Burchill charges into a high kick. Crazy ducks a clothesline. Crazy lands a heel kick and dropkick. Crazy fires up but Burchill cuts off a rope whip with a knee to the gut. Crazy ducks a short-arm clothesline and lands an enziguiri kick. Crazy misses a top rope moonsault. Burchill hits the curbstomp for the 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: PAUL BURCHILL. A nice showcase for Burchill. Post match, the Burchills pose in the ring.
A short package airs from Big Show's perspective on his bout with Floyd Mayweather. It covered Show's strategy and training.
Lance Cade vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Cade comes out alone as Murdoch is preparing for a bout later on. Hacksaw gets the usual fanfare and does his usual spiel. Cade will only start once Hacksaw puts his 2x4 down. Smart man. Cade applies a side headlock. Cade ducks a backelbow off the ropes, then goes outside, upon seeing a Hacksaw clenched fist. Back inside, Hacksaw hits a side headlock, shoulder tackle, atomic drop and two clotheslines. Cade goes back outside. Hacksaw yanks Cade onto the ring apron so Cade hangs Hacksaw up on the top rope. Cade gets a nearfall off a legdrop. Cade drops a fist then applies a chinlock. Hacksaw attempts hair pulls and backelbows, but Cade keeps the hold locked in. Hacksaw finally escapes with more backelbows and punches, but runs into a knee to the gut. Cade shakes off the cobwebs but misses an elbowdrop. Cade recovers first, but Hacksaw manages to reverse a head ram attempt in the corner. Hacksaw punches Cade into another corner then mounts him for a three punch assault. Hacksaw gets down to argue with the referee before punching Cade and sending him off the ropes. Cade telegraphs a backbodydrop with a boot to the head. Cade runs into a clothesline. Hacksaw goes for the three point stance clothesline but Cade moves out of harms way. Hacksaw hits the corner, Cade rolls him up and gets the 1-2-3. Disappointing. Why is it that whenever he loses on Heat, Hacksaw never takes anyone's finisher? Here is Your Winner: LANCE CADE. Post match sees Cade immediately roll out and head up the ramp. Hacksaw teases going after him with his 2x4 before motioning for Cade to come back. Cade simply poses as Hacksaw paces the ring.
A funny video promo by Santino Marella airs. It's called 'Greatness by Santino Marella.' Marella does all the narrations, boasting about himself, Italy and how 2008 will be his year. The wording sounded familiar. I think he cut a similar promo during his run on Heat a few months back.
A short package airs from Floyd Mayweather's perspective on his bout with Big Show. Mayweather talking smack and slapping a Big Show action figure is pretty funny.
Val Venis vs Snitsky
Snitsky's music interrupts Val during his towel routine. Snitsky paces the ring before telling the fans urging him to brush his teeth to shut up. Val just tosses his towel. Lockup, Snitsky shoves Val to the corner but charges into a backelbow. Val lands forearms to the face. Snitsky knees the gut then scoops Val up. Val gets down, shoves Snitsky face first into the corner then goes after the arm with several armwringers and headbutts. Val hits some shoulder thrusts until Snitsky knocks him down with a forearm. Snitsky rams Val's head into the corner before Irish whipping. Snitsky charges but misses a big boot attempt. With his foot tied up in the ropes, Val rolls Snitsky up for a nearfall. Val lands some forearms before running into a clothesline. Snitsky fires up before stomping on Val, picking him up and driving him back first into the corner. Snitsky hits two battering rams in separate corners. Snitsky delivers a slam then three successive elbowdrops. Snitsky gets Val up, talks a little trash and boots him back down. Snitsky puts Val out of his misery with a pumphandle slam as Korpella tells us of Snitsky's past as an abusive doorman at a club. 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: SNITSKY. This would have been fine if I hadn't just watched Batista squish Snitsky inside a minute on SmackDown! Post match, Snitsky snarls around the ring before leaving with a wry smile on his face.
Cody Rhodes vs Trevor Murdoch
Both men come out without their respective partners. Murdoch starts with a side headlock and shoulder tackle. Murdoch breaks out a small dance jig. Not pretty. Murdoch telegraphs a backbodydrop with a slap to the back. Murdoch talks trash and goes for a slam. Rhodes slips behind and hits a back slap/punch to the face combo. Murdoch reverses off the ropes, Rhodes ducks a clothesline before coming back with an armdrag and slam. Murdoch tosses the charging Rhodes over the top rope. Rhodes hangs on, catches Murdoch, eventually bringing him outside with a headscissors. Rhodes skins the cat back in then starts to gloat. Rhodes turns around and gets knocked down by a Murdoch punch. Murdoch unleashes some stomps then backelbows Rhodes down off the ropes for a nearfall. Murdoch lands slugging crossface blows to Rhodes' head. Murdoch delivers a suplex for a nearfall. Rhodes hits elbows to the gut so Murdoch hits Rhodes with a knee to the head. Murdoch hits an inverted atomic drop and running big boot off the ropes for a nearfall. Murdoch ties Rhodes up in an armlock. Rhodes gets to his feet and tries to muscle free. Murdoch stops the momentum with a boot to the gut and Irish whip. Rhodes avoids a charge as Murdoch hits the corner face first and hangs outside the ropes. Rhodes steps out to the apron to kick Murdoch in the arm. Rhodes scales to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick. Rhodes crawls into a cover for a nearfall. Rhodes rams Murdoch's head into the corner twice before unloading with a flurry of punches to the gut and head. Rhodes Irish whips then connects with a flying clothesline. Rhodes ducks a chop and hits a bulldog. Rhodes goes up top again. Rhodes lands a cross body but Murdoch rolls through 1-2-no. Rhodes ducks a Murdoch swing, catching him in a backslide. 1-2-no. Murdoch with a rollup 1-2-no. Murdoch sends Rhodes off the ropes, Rhodes gets a sunset flip 1-2-no. Both men stand toe to toe and duck the others punches until Rhodes quickly plants Murdoch with a DDT. Korpella remarks, shades of Jake 'The Snake' Roberts. Touche. 1-2-3. A very good match to end Heat. Here is Your Winner: CODY RHODES. Rhodes showed a lot of personality during the match as did Murdoch. Post match, Rhodes gets his breath back then holds up his World Tag Team title.
Korpella tells us all to enjoy WrestleMania before thanking us for watching to end the show.
Best Match: Cody Rhodes vs Trevor Murdoch.
Worst Match: Lance Cade vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
Show Verdict: Thumbs in the middle. The show served its purpose. To hype WrestleMania and showcase some of the guys in the Battle Royal. The in-ring work was good sans Hacksaw.
Here's who I want to win at WrestleMania: RANDY ORTON: EDGE: FLOYD MAYWEATHER: SHAWN MICHAELS: CM PUNK: FINLAY: TOMMY DREAMER (Battle Royal & Title) UMAGA: MELINA & BETH PHOENIX.
Here's who I think will win at WrestleMania: TRIPLE H: UNDERTAKER: FLOYD MAYWEATHER: RIC FLAIR: MVP: FINLAY: KANE (Battle Royal & Title) BATISTA: MARIA & ASHLEY.
I feel bad for Mickie James not getting in on the Divas match but applaud the effort to get as many of the talent onto the PPV card. I wonder if Hornswoggle will return? Or if the entire roster will come out to pay homeage to Ric Flair? What exactly will happen in the Mayweather/Big Show match? Will there be a Match of the Year candidate? Lots of questions but I for one am going to enjoy watching it all unfold tonight. Bit of Pizza. Drinks on Ice. WrestleMania. I love being a wrestling fan. I know we all call them out on their faults but WWE is number one and no-one else can put on a show like them. Enjoy WrestleMania and I'll see you next weekend for Heat. Shaun.
If anyone wants to sound off, chew the fat or talk wrestling get in touch. Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
