WWE WRESTLEMANIA XXIV PPV

image: courtesy wwe.com

WRESTLEMANIA24 = ECW TITLE FOR KANE
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Orlando, FL
source: wwe.com - While Kane is revered for a combination of size, strength and agility that has allowed him to dominate WWE rings for the past decade, his in-ring strategy is often overlooked. But a brilliant plan is exactly what the Big Red Machine used to defeat Chavo Guerrero and walk out of WrestleMania XXIV as the new ECW Champion.

After entering the ring, Guerrero was greeted by the fiery blaze of Kane’s pyro. But instead of making his usual entrance through hellfire and brimstone, the Big Red Machine appeared from under the ring and took the ECW Champion completely by surprise. Before Guerrero even had a chance to react to the 7-foot monster, he was hit with a thunderous chokeslam and pinned. Guerrero never saw it coming. In a matter of seconds, Kane was declared the winner, adding a new championship to his [impressive] collection.

WWE WRESTLEMANIA XXIV FREEVIEW

image: courtesy wwe.com
KANE TO GO FOR ECW TITLE AT WRESTLEMANIA24
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Orlando, FL
source: wrestlescoop.com and wwe.com - Kane became the No. 1 contender for Chavo Guerrero’s ECW Championship at WrestleMania XXIV last night, outlasting 23 other Superstars in the 24-Man Battle Royal during the WrestleMania FreeView on WWE.com.

Kane would go on to challenge Guerrero for the gold later in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl, and if his dominance in the Battle Royal was any indication, The Big Red Monster would soon taste championship gold. Up against the likes of behemoths such as The Great Khali and Mark Henry, Kane used his strength to eliminate, survive and earn the golden opportunity.

While the Battle Royal seemed destined to vault an up-and-coming Superstar to the championship match, Kane displayed the dominant power and poise of a true ring veteran. In his tenth WrestleMania appearance, the Big Red Monster used his experience to place himself in prime position to capture his first major singles title in nearly three years.

The WrestleMania Battle Royal Freeview kicked off with the WWE Superstars making their way to the ring, faces coming down first then the heels. The last man out was Snitsky. All men came down to the same WrestleMania theme song. The place looked awesome with the sun shining down.

The match started off with Festus knocking a few guys down to kick it off.
Festus eliminated Deuce then Domino, throwing them over the top rope. Khali worked on Hacksaw Duggan eventually eliminating him to a chorus of boo's from the crowd. The Miz fought Stevie Richards on the ring apron until Elijah Burke eliminated Stevie, Elijah turned around into a chokeslammed over the top rope by Kane.

The Miz just was eliminated by Jamie Noble who then tried to eliminate Cody Rhodes but Rhodes hung on taking Noble over the top rope to the apron but both men escape elimination and return to the fray. Meanwhile, Mark Henry eliminated Jimmy Wang and Shannon Moore. Jesse was then eliminated and Brian Kendrick was eliminated by Kofi Kingston who is then thrown over the top rope by Mark Henry! Kofi landed on two other Superstars on the floor, and was followed bu Jamie Noble who'd gottn caught up in a battle between Khali and Henry. Noble landed on Kofi's back and walked on the backs of the other fallen Superstars to get back into the ring - hey, technically, his feet didn't touch the floor! He was promptly eliminated by Palumbo who was in turn eliminated by Khali.

There was Dreamer, Holly, Kane, Khali, Henry and Snitsky at this point. Khali goes over the top rope followed by Holly and Dreamer. We were down to Kane, Snitsky and Mark Henry! Snitsky and Henry double teamed Kane then Snitsky took a break to taunts the fans and was eliminated by Mark Henry. Kane walked into a powerrslam by Henry, but The Big Red Machine countered with a big boot that sent Henry over the top rope to win the match!

WWE WRESTLEMANIA XXIV FREEVIEW

image: courtesy Qayin

March 29, 2008 - Orlando, FL
source: WWE.com at 6:30pm on Sunday - Ready for the GranDaddy of all Pay-Per-Views . . . WrestleMania XXIV with its highly anticipated matches? Well, you won't be watching the 24 Man Battle Royal - supposedly booked in honor of the 24th 'Mania Event - on PPV. No, the match that will provide the challenger to Chavo Guerrero's ECW Title will not be a part of the televised PPV, but a FREE-VIEW streamed on wwe.com prior to Big Event going live.

The participants will be: *KANE (sd) *Brian Kendrick (raw) *Chuck Palumbo (sd) *Cody Rhodes (raw) *Deuce (sd) *Domino (sd) *Elijah Burke (ecw) *Festus (sd) *Hacksaw Jim Duggan (raw) *Hardcore Holly (raw) *Jamie Noble (sd) *Jessie (sd) *Jimmy Wang Yang (sd) *The Great Khali (sd) *Kofi Kingston (ecw) *Lance Cade (raw) *Mark Henry (sd) *Matt Striker (ecw) *The Miz (ecw) *Shannon Moore (sd) *Snitsky (raw) *Tommy Dreamer (ecw) *Trevor Murdoch (raw) and *Val Venis (raw)

NEXT STOP: WRESTLEMANIA

photo: courtesy wwe.com

March 28, 2008 Fayetteville, NS

source: WWE.com - On SmackDown, four Superstars who will take part in the 24-Man Battle Royal at WrestleMania competed in an Over-the-Top-Rope Challenge. Kane, The Great Khali, Mark Henry and Chuck Palumbo all were in Fayetteville to improve their stock for WrestleMania, with ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero looking on from ringside. After Kane held his own against the other three goliaths and dumped Palumbo over the top rope, The World’s Strongest Man displayed the intensity and strength that has always made him one of WWE’s most feared competitors, eliminating Khali and Kane to win the challenge.

MAYHEM BEFORE MANIA

photo: courtesy wwe.com

March 25, 2008 Fayetteville, NC

From wwe.com - Just five days before The Granddaddy of Them All, Superstars got a taste of what’s in store for them Sunday at WrestleMania XXIV.

In addition, 24 other Superstars got a pay-per-view preview. ECW on Sci Fi kicked off with a 24-Man Tag Team Match, featuring all participants of WrestleMania’s 24-Man Battle Royal, which will broadcast exclusively on WWE.com. Sunday’s humongous contest will determine who faces Chavo Guerrero for his ECW Title later that night. Snitsky earned the victory for his team at the expense of Tommy Dreamer, who sprang up from the canvas and wasted no time in challenging Guerrero to a non-title bout later in the night.

The ECW Original wasn't able to prove himself in the main event, as Guerrero hit him with the three-count. Before anyone could leave the ring, each of the 23 other competitors in the 24-Man Battle Royal joined the action in an all-out brawl, suggesting ECW may be a preview that the “Mexican Warrior” should keep in mind in seeing two dozen Superstars hungry for gold.

Whose momentum will carry into The Grandest Stage of Them All? Don’t miss WrestleMania XXIV, Sunday at 6:30/5:30 CT with a special FreeView of the 24-Man Battle Royal, streamed exclusively on WWE.com