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Tag: WrestleMania XXX

  • WWE legend Ultimate Warrior passes away

    WWE legend Ultimate Warrior passes away

    MUMBAI: In a rude shock to the WWE universe, news broke that the latest and much deserved inductee to the Hall of Fame class of 2014, The Ultimate Warrior is no more.

     

    A press statement from the company said: “WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior.”

     

    Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history. Warrior became WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI, defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter.

     

    “We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans. WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends and fans,” the release added.

     

    Death is always a sobering topic to deal with. In Warrior’s case, however, it was his final public appearance – eerily serving as own eulogy – on Monday Night Raw and a quote that will forever send chills down the spines, “Every man’s heart one day beats it final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath.”

     

    Warrior was 54 and is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.

  • WWE Network on track to hit a million subs by end 2014

    WWE Network on track to hit a million subs by end 2014

    MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on 6 April showcased the first pay-per-view (PPV) on its WWE Network with WrestleMania XXX. 

     

    It was on 24 February this year that WWE commenced its first-ever 24/7 streaming network and ever since then it has generated immense traction and buzz among its fans.

     

    The company recently announced in a release that WWE Network has 667,287 subscribers (as of 7 April) and is well on its way to reaching its goal of a million subscribers by the end of 2014 just 42 days after launching in US. It claims to be the fastest-growing digital subscription service.

     

    This announcement comes on the heels of a historic WrestleMania XXX, which aired live on WWE Network as well as on pay-per-view through satellite and cable providers from a sold-out Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

     

    The Network was first rolled out in the US and will soon travel to Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics in late 2014 or early 2015.

     

    WWE Network is the first 24/7 streaming network that provides access to live and scheduled programming, including all 12 live pay-per-view events, as well as the most comprehensive video-on-demand library. Available for a price of $9.99 a month – with a six month commitment – fans can subscribe to WWE Network at WWE.com.

     

    WWE Network is available on connected devices including Apple TV, Roku streaming devices, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360. WWE Network is also available through the WWE App on iOS devices, including Apple iPad and iPhone, Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices and Android devices, as well as on desktops and laptops via WWE.com.

  • The stage is set for WrestleMania XXX

    The stage is set for WrestleMania XXX

    MUMBAI: The biggest and grandest event from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is here with a bang. This time around WrestleMania XXX is taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday in New Orleans.

     

    Estimates of 70,000 people are expected to attend the main event on Sunday, while 125,000 take in all the events surrounding the wrestling spectacle. The ‘Super Bowl of Wrestling’ will be hosted by the WWE legend Hulk Hogan and there are also rumors doing rounds of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin being a part of the mega event.

     

    The Rock appeared at last year’s ‘Mania, being defeated by John Cena in a rematch of the previous year’s show. But Austin has not appeared at the biggest pay-per-view since 2011. And we’re guessing he wouldn’t fly all the way across the country to NOT Stone Cold stun some jabroni… and that’s the bottom line.

     

    And they are not the only big names that could be at this weekend’s big ticket event. There is a high possibility of Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Roddy Piper also being involved at some point during the Mania. 

    But before the Sunday action begins, the wrestlers – current and former – will be seen in their best suits and gowns on Saturday night to witness the ‘Hall of Fame’ induction ceremony from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This time around the list of inductees include Mr. T., Jake “The Snake” Roberts, the Ultimate Warrior, Razor Ramon, Lita, Paul Bearer and Carlos Colon.

    Coming to the Mania itself now, the show looks set to focus on nostalgia, with the inaugural Andre the Giant battle royal being held. And of course, The Undertaker is again returning to defend his 21-0 streak, this time against former MMA bruiser and the beast, Brock Lesnar.

    The following matches are scheduled to take place this Sunday at the 30th edition of WrestleMania:-

     

    Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar

     

    This story has changed from week to week but it’s settled on a great angle. Undertaker has struggled more and more to keep the streak alive as the years have gone by, after marathon battles with Shawn Michaels and Triple H. The story is well scripted with Brock ‘the beast’ Lesnar having slaughtered both the wrestlers earlier. Let’s see if the company really wants to end the streak of the phenom this Sunday.

     

    Randy Orton vs Batista vs the winner of the Triple H vs. Daniel Bryan in a Triple Threat for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

     

    Batista won the Royal Rumble and Orton has been rolling around insecure about his being the face of WWE for long. The thing about this is neither of them is on solid footing right now because the really hot feud is the Bryan vs Triple H match that will culminate at this event earlier in the night. The winner will be inserted into this match and the result will certainly be something interesting.

     

    The 30-Man Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

     

    This is the inaugural event at WrestleMania and will feature 30 wrestlers in an old fashioned over the top sope battle royal. So far, here’s who has been announced to be a part of this segment: The Miz, Goldust, Cody Rhodes, Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, Sheamus, Christian, Titus O’Neil, Big Show, Damien Sandow, Big E, Curtis Axel, Fandango, Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio and Mark Henry.

     

    John Cena vs Bray Wyatt

     

    This match is like those dishes on a menu card which don’t really matter and are never really ordered but just act as fillers. For WWE to really slate such a match for John Cena on the grandest stage of them all is hard to believe.

     

    Other matches include: The Shield vs Kane and New Age Outlaws in a six-man tag; The Uso Brothers vs Ryback and Curtis Axel vs The Real Americans vs Los Matadores in a four-way for the WWE Tag Team Championship and finally, A.J. Lee will defend her WWE Divas Championship in a single-fall match against Naomi, Cameron, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Eva Marie, Emma, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Summer Rae, Rosa Mendes, Layla and her ‘bodyguard’ Tamina in a single-fall match for the WWE Divas Championship.

     

    Indian fans can catch the action exclusively on Ten Sports on Monday 7 April at 6:00 pm, just a day after WrestleMania XXX takes place live in New Orleans.

  • WWE’s PPV ‘Elimination Chamber’ this Sunday

    WWE’s PPV ‘Elimination Chamber’ this Sunday

    MUMBAI: The next pay-per-view (PPV) on the WWE calendar is the Elimination Chamber event set to take place on this Sunday. This showcase features a cage match, complete with pods and countdowns and, really, just the final stop before WrestleMania.

     

    Another reason that makes this PPV a historic one is – the fact that it represents the final PPV that will ever take place before the launch of the WWE Network.

     

    So with just a few days remaining for the final PPV, here is what one could expect to see this Sunday.

     

    Elimination Chamber WWE world heavyweight championship match (Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian)

     

    Cena, Sheamus, and Bryan all qualified by way of a disqualification win on Monday Night Raw over The Shield. Cesaro and Christian got in by winning qualifying matches over Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger respectively on Friday Night SmackDown later that same week. Orton is currently running the gauntlet with matches against all of these opponents. He has his work cut out for him as he faces his final opponent in Shemus today Monday Night Raw after losing to Bryan, Cena, and Cesaro and with the lone pin-fall win over Christian.

     

    The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family

     

    The disqualification win for Cena, Sheamus, and Bryan came by way of The Wyatt Family interfering in the match with The Shield. So in return for some retribution Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins demanded a match with the Wyatts. After a staredown on Raw this past week it has gone onto build this match as the fight to know the best team in the WWE.

     

    Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio

     

    “The Animal” has been unleashed and is all set to take center stage at WrestleMania XXX, but his road to the big stage has a small roadblock in the face of Alberto del Rio. Del Rio represents a former champion who can present a mostly credible opponent to catapult “The Animal” to his big title match at WrestleMania 30. The match was booked after Batista beat Del Rio to pulp on Raw and Triple H tried to calm him down by giving him the match.

     

    Big E vs. Jack Swagger for the Intercontinental Championship

     

    A Fatal 4-Way was randomly booked on SmackDown this past week that featured Swagger defeating Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, and Mark Henry to earn top contender status.

     

    All the action can be caught on Ten Sports – the official broadcaster of the WWE – in India.

  • Dave Batista to headline Wrestlemania XXX, conquers Royal Rumble 2014

    Dave Batista to headline Wrestlemania XXX, conquers Royal Rumble 2014

    MUMBAI: He came. He saw. He conquered.

     

    Dave Batista a.k.a The Animal made his come back after nearly a four-year absence from WWE. And he proved he hadn’t lost any of his killer instinct as he eliminated Roman Reigns to win the 2014 Royal Rumble Match.

     

    Batista  With his epic victory – his second in the 27-year history of the over-the-top-rope brawl – Batista began his calculated march toward WrestleMania XXX, where he will attempt to achieve the one goal that led to his return: win the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

     

    It was a commanding performance from The Animal, who entered the fray at No. 28 and eliminated four Superstars to stand tall. Long before that, however, it was CM Punk who kicked things off, entering at No. 1 for the second time in his career.

     

    The first Royal Rumble shocker came at No. 14 when the massive Kevin Nash returned to WWE and immediately eliminated Jack Swagger before going after both Rollins and Dean Ambrose of The Shield at the same time. Big Sexy didn’t last long, though, as the No. 15 entrant – Roman Reigns – tossed Nash, Kofi and Dolph Ziggler in short order. It was just the beginning of what would become a legendary Rumble Match performance for the muscle of The Shield.

     

    The next unforeseen entrant was JBL, as he left the commentary table at No. 24, and entered the ring in a shirt and tie. Yet by the time he handed off his coat to Michael Cole, he was sacked by the domineering Reigns. Despite his limited appearance, JBL still inspired chants of “You still got it!” from the WWE Universe. With that, Punk, Batista, Sheamus and Reigns stood as the final four, but The Straight Edge Superstar didn’t last long as Kane reemerged and pulled Punk out of the ring (thus tying Shawn Michaels for all-time Royal Rumble Match eliminations with 39). The Director of Operations continued his vicious assault on the former WWE Champion by chokeslamming him through the Spanish announce table.

     

    Sheamus was the next to go as he was dispatched by Reigns, who eliminated 12 Superstars – 40 per cent of the contest’s participants – to break Kane’s 13-year-old record for the most competitors eliminated in a single Royal Rumble Match. With anticipation reaching a fever pitch, Batista and Reigns squared off. Bone-jarring spears followed as the upstart tested the veteran’s resolve; ultimately, though, it was The Animal who survived as he launched Reigns out of the ring with one arm.

     

    With the ring now clear of every Superstar but one, Batista stood supreme as the winner of his second Royal Rumble Match. As many greats have done before him, The Animal pointed into the rafters where the WrestleMania XXX sign hung. What awaits him there remains to be seen, but the Road to WrestleMania has begun, and a determined Animal is leading the stampede to New Orleans.