March 25, 2008 – Fayetteville, North Carolina
Brian Kendrick, Chuck Palumbo, Deuce, Domino, Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Mark Henry, Matt Striker, Snitsky, The Great Khali, The Miz & Trevor Murdoch def. Cody Rhodes, Festus, Hardcore Holly, Jamie Noble, Jesse, Jim Duggan, Jimmy Wang Yang, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Shannon Moore, Tommy Dreamer & Val Venis
There were enough guys in here (everyone in the battle royal at WrestleMania) to keep this from slowing down at any point. Snitsky pinned Dreamer after a big boot. The ring announcer saying, “Here is your winner, Snitsky and his team!” was hilariously lazy. **
Shelton Benjamin def. Carlito
The final minute of this was good, but otherwise it was an eleven minute slog that was shockingly boring given this was the go-home sell on this show for Money in the Bank. Benjamin won with an avalanche inverted DDT. **
Layla & Mike Knox def. Kelly Kelly & Stevie Richards
Knox won with the Roll of the Dice after a meaningless mixed tag match. Knox’s former relationship with Kelly was barely touched upon. This was the jobberiest feud in WWE at the time anyway, so to be honest I didn’t really pay much attention to it. *½
Chavo Guerrero def. Tommy Dreamer {Lumberjack Match}
Guerrero ripped on Dreamer backstage earlier in the show backstage to set this up. They didn’t book it as a lumberjack match, but the rest of the battle royal guys were on the apron acting as lumberjacks so, that’s the drill I guess. Fuck this show. Guerrero won with a Frog Splash after a nothing match. Everyone that’s going to be in the battle royal attacks Guerrero and ineffectually brawls with one another to close the show.*
Okay, now the WrestleMania battle royal and resulting title match.
March 30, 2008 – Orlando, Florida
Kane def. Brian Kendrick, Chuck Palumbo, Deuce, Domino, Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Mark Henry, Matt Striker, Snitsky, The Great Khali, The Miz, Trevor Murdoch, Cody Rhodes, Festus, Hardcore Holly, Jamie Noble, Jesse, Jim Duggan, Jimmy Wang Yang, Kofi Kingston, Shannon Moore, Tommy Dreamer & Val Venis {Number One Contender Battle Royal}
Kane last eliminated Mark Henry to win this very average battle royal. This match was one of those early indications that WrestleMania was going to start existing outside of the standard WWE timeline in order to get as many guys featured on the show as possible. I think it’s one of the worst things to happen to wrestling in the last ten years. **
Kane def. Chavo Guerrero {ECW Championship Match}
Kane hit the chokeslam at the opening bell and won the title. Out of the frying pan and into the fire (as far as crappy champions go) so to speak. I’m sorry, and they should also be sorry. N/A