Wrestlemania 22


release year: 2006
genre: vintage wrestling pay-per-view
viewing setting: home DVD 7/7-10/24

synopsis: This 22nd annual wrestling mega-event was the 2006 edition.

where it happened: Chicago

impressions: This one had a total of 10 competitions: 9 actual wrestling matches plus some sort of pillow fight. As always, I won't go into great detail, but just mention the highlights:
  • primary commentators were again Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, with secondary work from Taz and Michael Cole
  • far too much play of the song "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel
  • a squash match featuring Kane and Big Show against Carlito and Chris Masters who did a lot of slapping and cheating
  • a 6-way ladder match including a 57-year-old Ric Flair
  • this year's Hall of Fame inductees (minus Bret Hart, who didn't feel comfortable attending due to past real-life issues with WWE)
  • Chris Benoit vs JBL and his valet, who screams a lot and cheats
  • Mick Foley vs Edge in a hardcore match, with tacks and barbed wire and a table and fire
  • an inane Booker T match against some bozo who chews on worms (and shares)
  • a womens' championship match with Trish Stratus and some crazy woman, which was surprisingly athletic
  • a fairly boring casket match between the Undertaker and Mark Henry
  • Shawn Michaels vs a buff Vince McMahon, no holds barred...which meant lots of blood and antics...highly entertaining!
  • some stupid rapping song concert nonsense due to the next match having Rey Mysterio
  • a triple match between Mysterio, Randy Orton, and Kurt Angle
  • a "Playboy pillow fight" that not surprisingly saw both contenders end up in their undergarments
  • the main event, a fairly physical match between Triple H and John Cena
    •



    fun quote #1: 
    "The pecs are being assaulted!"
    "Sounds like some fireworks there."

    fun quote #2: 
    "It's gonna go from bad to worse for Carlito and the Masterpiece."

    fun quote #3: 
    "I'm gonna tell you something...Carlito was just absolutely launched into midair there."

    fun quote #4: 
    "These guys had a plan before the match...but it just didn't work out."

    fun quote #5: 
    "Let's take another look here...the amazing athletic ability by Benjamin."
    "That's phenomenal, but it could've been suicide!"

    fun quote #6: 
    "You can almost feel the brain of Mick Foley swelling inside his skull."
    "I bet Mick Foley can't hear anything right now...maybe a loud ringing."

    fun quote #7: 
    "There's only so much damage a human body can take! Or...or is Foley human? I don't know."

    fun quote #8: 
    "The table will be the next weapon of choice for Edge."
    "You never know what's under a WWE ring. It's usually bad."

    fun quote #9: 
    "Ladies and gentlemen, he is ejecting live worms."

    fun quote #10: 
    "McMahon is losing blood...every time his heart beats, it spurts!"

    fun quote #11: 
    "Right now, Candice Michelle is dominating...and there's nothing wrong with that."

    fun quote #12: 
    (after the lingerie match) "I wonder how much these sheets and pillows are gonna sell for on WWE.com"

    fun quote #13: 
    "Cena may not be the best wrestler, but he can damn sure fight!"

    fun quote #14: 
    "Cena elevates the Game...whose lower back and kidneys go splat on the steel. The steel didn't care, but the Game's anatomy certainly does."

    final word: Decent but not spectacular Wrestlemania.

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