Around the Ring: Flair makes WrestleMania an emotional brawl

I have to say that I am impressed with this year's WrestleMania. I had low expectations going into the show and perhaps that's what made it even better (that and the numerous beers). Let's take a quick look at what happened.

WrestleMania results

Finlay vs. JBL - Belfast brawl
Some good action to start the night. These two hit each other with many great shots and it really made it look like they hated each other. The weird thing about this match was that Finlay had his shillelagh the whole time and used it once! He should have just kept hitting JBL! Fulfilling match, though!
Winner: JBL

Money in the bank ladder match
This match was actually one of the better ladder matches at WM! Shelton Benjamin took the big bump of the night, while John Morrison helped prove himself once again (these two should be back on Raw). In the end, John called it last week when he said it would come down to Y2J and CM Punk. In a surprising (for me) outcome, CM Punk got the briefcase and the future title shot.

SmackDown vs. Raw: Batista vs. Umaga
This match was expected to be one of the lower matches on the card and it was a little above average. The two fighters had a few good spots but the best was when Batista power bombed Umaga at the end to pick up the win.

Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero
Squash match. Kane wins the belt in less than 10 seconds. Meh...

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Career Threatening Match)
Wow. Just wow. These two told such a good story through their match. The “OMG” moment of the night came when HBK did a back-sault from the ring and landed so poorly on the announcer's table. I swear HBK broke his ribs (or at least knocked the wind out of himself and bruised his ribs). The two went back and forth until HBK had the upper hand. He delivered sweet chin music on Flair and while Flair begged to HBK to give him all he could, HBK, from the corner said, “I'm sorry. I love you” and then smacked Flair with one last kick to get the win. HBK hugged Flair, gave him a kiss on the head and then they both started crying. HBK, in a very tasteful manner, left the ring immediately and walked teary eyed to the back. The announcers said absolutely nothing for about five minutes and let Flair bask in the crowd's applause. I was teary eyed and the crew that I was watching the show with said nothing as well until WWE cut to the back. Too bad he lost, but what a way to go. Props go to HBK for delivering at WM once again.

BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Ashley & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina
I don't remember what really happened here except that Santino helped the heel ladies score the pin and then Snoop Dogg clotheslined him. It was a WWE women's match featuring two women who really aren't good wrestlers.

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship
This one was way better than expected but I don't recall seeing Randy Orton too much in this match. HHH and John Cena beat the hell out of each other and then Orton capitalized on his own sneakiness by covering Cena after HHH gave him the Pedigree. Good ending to the match. (Oh yeah, John called this one, too).

Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs. Big Show
Mayweather and Show both put on an entertaining match. It was nice to see Mayweather selling (and probably really hurt from Show's monstrous chest chops). It took Mayweather's crew, numerous chair shots and then brass knuckles for Mayweather to get the win over the Big Show. You knew a knockout was going to be the move that finished the match because the announcers wouldn't stop reiterating that the match could be won by a knockout.

World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Undertaker
I didn't expect this to end the show but it was a pretty good closer. I guess they wanted it to be as dark outside as possible to make Taker's entrance as evil looking as possible. This match was pretty good and made it look like Edge had a good chance of winning. The only thing I don't get is that Taker is now a submission specialist and won the belt with a submission move!

All in all, I have to say that this year's WM gets an 8.5 out of 10.