WrestleMania XXIV

Infobox Wrestling event
name=WrestleMania XXIV


tagline=The Biggest WrestleMania Under the Suncite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20070705173523/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/planwrestlemania24|title=WrestleMania 24 Tagline| accessdate=2007-06-27]
theme="Light It Up" (Rev Theory) "Snow ((Hey Oh))" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/|title=WrestleMania XXIV website| publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-02-06]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown
ECW
date=March 30, 2008
city=Orlando, Florida
venue=Citrus Bowl
attendance=74,635
lastevent=No Way Out (2008)
nextevent=Backlash (2008)
event=WrestleMania
lastevent2=WrestleMania 23
nextevent2=WrestleMania XXV|

WrestleMania XXIV was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which took place on March 30, 2008 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. It was the twenty-fourth annual WrestleMania event and was the first to be held in the state of Florida,cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wmxxivfacts|title= What you need to know about WrestleMania XXIV|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2007-10-13] and the second WrestleMania to be held entirely outdoors, the first being WrestleMania IX. The event featured ten professional wrestling matches, performances with pre-determined outcomes between wrestlers with fictional personalities that are portrayed as real, were featured on the event's card. The buildup to the matches and the scenarios that took place before, during, and after the event were planned by WWE's creative staff. The event starred wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown and ECW brands: storyline expansions of the promotion where employees are assigned to wrestling brands under the WWE banner.

The event featured a supercard, a scheduling of more than one main event. The first was a standard wrestling match featuring wrestlers from the SmackDown brand. The Undertaker defeated World Heavyweight Champion Edge to win the title. The second was a standard match involving three wrestlers from the Raw brand, in which WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated challengers Triple H and John Cena to retain his championship. The other match featured wrestlers from the ECW brand, in which Kane defeated ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero to win the title.cite web|date=2008-04-08|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/articles/6349672/contractsigning|title=Backlash pre-lash|first=Louie|last=Dee|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-04-10|quote=After all, he did defeat Chavo in eight seconds at WrestleMania to win the gold] Three featured bouts were scheduled on the undercard. In a No Disqualification match, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. defeated The Big Show.cite web|date=2008-03-28|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008NewsRelease.jsp|title=Mayweather vs. Big Show – "There Is Going To Be A Winner"|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate|accessdate=2008-03-29] Another match had wrestlers from all three brands fighting in a Money in the Bank ladder match, where the objective is to climb a ladder and retrieve a briefcase. CM Punk won the match. The other bout featured wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown in a Career Threatening match, a stipulation that applied to Ric Flair, in which he would be forced to retire from professional wrestling if he lost the match. Shawn Michaels defeated Flair, and thus forced Flair to retire.cite web|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6464438/results/|title=The End|accessdate=2008-03-30|date=2008-03-30|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

Tickets went on sale to the public on November 3, 2007.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wmxxivfacts|title=What you need to know about WrestleMania XXIV|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2007-10-01] For the second year in a row, WrestleMania broke the record for the highest-grossing pay-per-view in WWE history as well as for the Citrus Bowl, grossing in $5.85 million in ticket sales. The record-breaking Citrus Bowl attendance record of 74,635 consisting of people from twenty-one countries, all fifty states, and five Canadian provinces, pumped an estimated $30 million into the local economy.cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/WrestleManiaXXIVCrushesRecordsCareers.jsp |title=WrestleMania® XXIV Crushes Records, Careers|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-03-31] The Central Florida Sports Commission estimated that the event created numerous jobs, and brought around 60,000 visitors to the city for the event.cite web|url= http://www.cityoforlando.net/elected/mayor/pressreleases/07_03_21_wrestlemania.htm|title=Orlando To Host WrestleMania 24 At Citrus Bowl In 2008|accessdate=2007-10-27] WWE and the city of Orlando hosted festivities that spanned a five-day period within the central Florida region, bringing numerous branding opportunities and television coverage, leading up to the event at the Citrus Bowl.cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Entertainment/HeyJohn/2007/3/19/wrestlemania_24.html|title= WrestleMania 24 Coming To Orlando|publisher=Central Florida News 13|accessdate=2007-03-20] 1,058,000 people ordered the event, grossing $23.8 million in revenue.cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/documents/1Q2008PressRelease_000.pdf|pages=3|title=WWE Reports 2008 First Quarter Results|date=2008-05-06|accessdate=2008-05-06|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

Background

The prominent rivalry written into WrestleMania on the Raw brand was between Randy Orton, John Cena and Triple H (Paul Levesque), over the WWE Championship. At the Royal Rumble in January, Cena won the Royal Rumble match, a match where thirty superstars compete in a ring and are eliminated by being thrown over the top rope, by last eliminating Triple H to become the number one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXIV. Instead of challenging Randy Orton for the title at WrestleMania, he decided to challenge him at No Way Out. There, Orton got himself intentionally disqualified after slapping the referee, thus retaining the WWE Championship.cite web|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/6235888/results/|title=Robbery on the Strip: 'Mania Gamble Goes Bust|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment| date=2008-02-17|accessdate=2008-03-10] The same night, Triple H became the new number one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania by defeating five other men in an Elimination Chamber match, a match that features wrestlers fighting in a ring surrounded by chain and girders.cite web|first=Corey|last=Clayton|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/5908216/results/|title=The Game gets his title match at WrestleMania|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-02-17|accessdate=2008-03-10] The next night on "Raw", one of WWE's primary television programs, after Cena argued that he deserved another WWE Championship match, Raw General Manager William Regal (Darren Matthews), a portrayed matchmaker and rules enforcer, announced that Cena would face Orton later in the night with the stipulation being if Cena won, he would be added to the WrestleMania match between Triple H and Orton, making it a Triple Threat match, or a standard match that involves a three wrestlers. If Orton won, however, the main event would stay as Orton versus Triple H in a standard wrestling match. Cena won the match, pinning Orton after lifting him onto his shoulders and slamming him down to the mat, a move that Cena dubbed the "FU". After the match, Triple H, who was the Special Guest Referee, executed a Pedigree to both Cena and Orton, a move where Triple H tucks the opponent's head between his knees and jumps up to slam their head down to the mat.cite web|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02182008/articles/triplegauntlet|title=Triple the Threat, Double the Gauntlet|publisher= WWE|date=2008-02-18|accessdate=2008-03-10]

The predominant rivalry on the SmackDown! brand was between Edge (Adam Copeland) and The Undertaker (Mark Calaway), over the World Heavyweight Championship. On the February 1 episode of "SmackDown!", WWE's other primary television programs, Assistant General Manager Theodore Long announced that at No Way Out, an Elimination Chamber match would be held to determine the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.cite web|first=Lennie|last= DiFino|title=Chamber mates|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02012008/|title=Chamber Mates|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date= 2008-02-01|accessdate=2008-03-10] Undertaker won the match, last eliminating Batista (Dave Batista) after lifting him upside down and dropping his head down to the mat, a move called the Tombstone piledriver.cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/6364982/results/|title=The Deadman doubles down|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-02-17| accessdate=2008-03-10] On the following episode of "SmackDown", Edge claimed that The Undertaker's 15-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania would come to an end once he defeats him at WrestleMania. [cite web|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|date=2008-02-22|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02222008/|title=Two roads diverge|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-04-26|quote="You think I’m afraid," Edge asked our fans, only to vehemently state: "I’m not afraid. Undertaker is an opportunity to cement my legacy." The Rated-R Superstar then made the boldest statement of his career, telling our fans and The Deadman that "The Streak" would be broken this year. "I will not fall like those before me."] [cite web|first=Brad|last=Borchardt|date=2008-02-22|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/69638/411%5C%5Cs-WWE-Smackdown-Report-2.22.08.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown Report 2.22.08|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-04-26] Two weeks later, on the March 7 episode of "SmackDown", the team of Edge, Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers), and Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona) defeated The Undertaker in a Handicap match, in which one wrestler faces a team of two or more wrestlers, after Edge pinned Undertaker following a takedown variation called the spear. [cite web|first=Mitch|last=Passero|date=2008-03-07|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03072008/|title=Fired-up for Florida|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-04-26] [cite web|first=Brad|last=Borchardt|date=2008-03-07|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/70545/411%5C%5Cs-WWE-SmackDown-Report-03.07.08.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown Report 03.07.08|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-04-26] The following week, Edge, Hawkins, Ryder, and Chavo Guerrero, a group of wrestlers, defeated Ric Flair (Richard Fliehr) and Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) in a Steel Cage match, a match where the ring is surrounded by walls of steel. During the match, Undertaker interfered and attacked Hawkins, Ryder, and Guerrero. Undertaker chokeslammed, lifted both Hawkins and Ryder by the throat and slammed them down to the mat, while he executed a Tombstone piledriver on Guerrero. As Undertaker was attacking Guerrero, however, Edge escaped the cage and won the match for his team. [cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|date=2008-03-14|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03112008/articles/runningnumbers|title=Running the numbers|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-04-26] [cite web|first=Brad|last=Borchardt|date=2008-03-14|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/71014/411%5C%5Cs-WWE-SmackDown-Report-03.14.08.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown Report 03.14.08|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-04-26] The next week on "SmackDown", Edge, along with Vickie Guerrero, Hawkins and Ryder, held a burial, entitled "Burial of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Undefeated Streak," to celebrate Edge's early victory over The Undertaker. During the "burial," however, Undertaker emerged from a casket, which was inside the ring, and attacked Edge, Hawkins and Ryder, knocking Hawkins and Ryder outside the ring and chokeslamming Edge through the casket. [cite web|first=Mitch|last=Passero|date=2008-03-28|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03282008/articles/livingdead1|title=Night of the living dead|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-04-26] [cite web|first=Brad|last=Borchardt|date=2008-03-28|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/71983/411%5C%5Cs-WWE-Smackdown-Report-03.28.08.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown Report 03.28.08|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-04-26]

At No Way Out, The Big Show (Paul Wight) made a surprise return to the company. In his return promotional interview, Big Show threatened to give Rey Mysterio (Oscar Gutierrez) a chokeslam. Professional boxer and WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who was in attendance and a close friend of Mysterio's, came to his aid and confronted Big Show. Big Show then got on his knees to allow Mayweather to punch him, which Mayweather did, by hitting him with a combination of punches, which caused Big Show to bleed from the nose and mouth.cite web|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/exclusives/showtimeinvegas|title=Showtime in Vegas|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-02-17|accessdate= 2008-03-10] The following night on "Raw", the Big Show challenged Mayweather to a match, which Mayweather accepted.cite web|first=Corey|last=Clayton|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02182008/articles/mayweatherbigshow|title=‘I Accept!’: Mayweather Accepts Big Challenge| publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-02-18|accessdate=2008-03-10]

On the February 25 episode of "Raw", 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Ric Flair challenged Shawn Michaels to a match at WrestleMania.cite web|first=Corey|last=Clayton|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02252008/|title=A Showstopper for Orlando|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-02-25|accessdate=2008-03-10] Michaels accepted after some reluctance, knowing that due to a previous announcement from WWE chairman Mr. McMahon (Vince McMahon) the next match Flair loses would result in a forced retirement for Flair.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11262007/articles/spacemountainopen|title=Win or go home - for good|date=2007-11-26|last=Robinson|first=Bryan|date=2007-11-26|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Flair also said that "It would be an honor for him to retire at the hands of Shawn Michaels." During a press conference before his induction into the Hall of Fame, Flair mentioned that he was asked about having his match as the main event for the show. However, Flair refused and insisted that "the world champions go on last."cite video |people= |date2=2008-03-31|title= Ric Flair Hall of Fame Press Conference|url=http://www.betweentheropes.com/content/view/237/39/ |publisher=Between the Ropes|accessdate=2008-04-29 |time=7:04-7:46 |quote=I've been asked that a thousand times too. The world champions go on last, as it would be. If I were the world champion and they tried to put someone before me, I wouldn't care who it was, I wouldn't be going on. The world champions go on last and I'm very happy to be where I'm at on the card."]

On February 18, WWE announced via its website that the fourth annual Money in the Bank ladder match would take place at WrestleMania XXIV, a match where the objective is to retrieve a briefcase suspended in the air using a ladder. The match involved wrestlers from all three WWE brands. The winner would earn a contract to challenge for any of the three WWE World Championships (the WWE Championship of Raw, the World Heavyweight Championship of SmackDown, or the ECW Championship) from ECW at any time and any place over a one-year period. Qualifying matches occurred to determine the participants in the match, starting on the edition on that night's edition of "Raw" with Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy (Ken Anderson) respectively defeating Snitsky (Gene Snitsky) and Val Venis (Sean Morley) to qualify. Shelton Benjamin became the third participant when he defeated Jimmy Wang Yang (James Yun) on the following episode of "SmackDown". During the next two editions of "Raw", Chris Jericho defeated Jeff Hardy and Carlito (Carly Colón) defeated Cody Rhodes (Cody Runnels) to qualify. At a non-televised SmackDown/ECW house show held on March 8, Montel Vontavious Porter (Alvin Burke, Jr.) qualified when he defeated Jamie Noble. On the March 11 edition of "ECW", CM Punk became the seventh person when he defeated Big Daddy V (Nelson Frazier, Jr.) John Morrison (John Hennigan) was the final person to qualify when he beat The Miz (Mike Mizanin) on the March 14 edition of "SmackDown". Jeff Hardy was later removed from the match after being legitimately suspended by WWE for violation of the company's wellness policy. WWE decided not to fill his spot with another superstar, making this year's Money in the Bank ladder match the first year to have seven participants.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/jeffhardysuspended|accessdate=2008-03-11|title=Jeff Hardy Suspended|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-11]

Event

Production

As the second WrestleMania to be held entirely outdoors, WWE chairman Vince McMahon early on announced that the show will go on, regardless of the weather risks.cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news-journalonline.com%2FNewsJournalOnline%2FOpinion%2FColumnists%2FAngle%2FcolJAW032708.htm&date=2008-04-25|title=It's time for Wrestlemania XXIV |author=Jeff Wilen Jawbreaker|publisher=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online (archived by WebCite)|date=2008-03-27|accessdate=2008-04-25] In the March 2008 issue of WWE Magazine, WWE set designer Jason Robinson revealed that a steel rig with a tarpaulin roof would be built above the ring itself to prevent rain.cite journal|year=2007|month=March|title=WrestleMania XXIV Set Design|journal=WWE Magazine|pages=34–35] cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-wrestling1608mar16,0,5091124.story|accessdate=2008-03-15|title=Countdown to WrestleMania: Citrus Bowl's transformation is already underway|last=Adelson|first=Andrea|publisher=The Orlando Sentinel|date=2008-03-16] In that same issue, an initial design of the ring setup was revealed showing a larger rig surrounding the tarpaulin rig, with lighting and two giant screens attached. The final design had the lighting and video screens on the tarpaulin rig as well as the sound system.cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Entertainment/HeyJohn/2008/3/28/the_stage_is_set_for_wrestlemania_xxiv.html|accessdate=2008-03-29|first=John |last=Handiboe|title=The Stage Is Set For WrestleMania XXIV|publisher=Central Florida News|date=2008-03-28] During an interview, WWE production manager Brian Petree mentioned that video reinforcement should prevent anyone from being obstructed by the steel structure. Up to seven generators were used to power up the show.

The set design for the entrance stage was at the north end of the stadium and consisted of another steel structure with various video screens hanging from it. The steel beams for the structure were custom built in Belgium and shipped over to Orlando. According to WWE Magazine, the amount of pyrotechnics used would be ten times that of the amount used on "Raw". Without the restriction of a roof, the pyrotechnics for the show shot as high as 2,000 ft as compared to WrestleMania 23's height of 150 ft.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/exclusives/sundaynightlights |accessdate=2008-03-30|first=Aubrey|last=Sitterson|title=Sunday night lights|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30] The fireworks were set off from boats on one of the lakes nearby the stadium. WWE has been said to have spent an estimated $300,000 on the fireworks alone.cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/custom/wrestling/orl-wrestlemania3008mar30,0,3096674.story |accessdate=2008-03-30|first=Andrea|last=Adelson|title=Tonight, WrestleMania makes Citrus Bowl center of the professional wrestling world|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=2008-03-30] After the show, WWE was criticized for a malfunction in the pyrotechnics during The Undertaker's victory celebration. During the celebration, a hot cable for pyrotechnics was sent flying into audience members in the upper seating bowl of the stadium, leaving 45 injured with some hospitalized. The accident was apparently due to a cable which fireworks were travelling across snapping, thus resulting in the fireworks exploding into the top rows of the upper bowl of the stadium.cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23877310/ |accessdate=2008-03-31|title=45 Injured During WrestleMania Fireworks|publisher=MSNBC|date=2008-03-31] cite web|url=http://www.wftv.com/news/15748647/detail.html|accessdate=2008-03-31|title=Dozens Injured At WrestleMania When Fireworks, Cables Fall On Crowd|publisher=WFTV|date=2008-03-31] WWE's corporate website released a statement afterwards stating that they will investigate the incident. [cite web| url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/200_03_31.jsp| title=WWE® Statement On Fireworks| publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment| date=2008-03-31| accessdate=2008-03-31]

With the Citrus Bowl's locker rooms on the south side and the entrance set on the north side, a tented 40,000 ft² mini-city outside the north end served as the show's backstage area and included air conditioning, trailers, VIP areas, showers and restrooms. As a consequence, the road next to the north end zone, W. Church Street, was closed down until a day after the event.cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Traffic/OnTheMove/2008/3/23/wrestlemania_festivities_to_close_roads_downtown.html|accessdate=2008-03-23|title=WrestleMania Festivities To Close Roads Downtown|publisher=Central Florida News|date=2008-03-27] Numerous other roads were also closed to allow trucks and fork lifts to move in mega equipment for the event.cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Entertainment/HeyJohn/2008/3/24/wrestlemania_construction_under_way_at_citrus_bowl.html|accessdate=2008-03-24|first=John |last=Handiboe|title=WrestleMania Construction Under Way At Citrus Bowl|publisher=Central Florida News|date=2008-03-27] The ring itself was built on the 50-yard line of the Citrus Bowl to give the best view for fans. Heavy-duty plastic flooring had been put over the field, to protect the turf, provide seating and serve as the steel structures' foundation.

Development on the set design began in the middle of 2007.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/exclusives/citrusbowl|accessdate=2008-03-17|title=WrestleMania XXIV: A Logistical Challenge|last=Zeigler|first=Zack|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2007-11-09] The building of the actual set began in the middle of March. 100 people worked 16 hours a day to construct the set for the event. The construction finished on March 29.

WrestleMania XXIV was the first WrestleMania event to be filmed in high-definition. It will also be the first WWE show and sports related title to be released on the Blu-ray Disc format by WWE Home Video.cite web|url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/WWE/Disc_Announcements/WWE_Comes_to_Blu-ray_with_Wrestlemania_XXIV/1586|accessdate=2008-03-27|title=WWE Comes to Blu-ray with 'Wrestlemania XXIV'|publisher=High-Def Digest|date=2008-03-25] cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_04_24.jsp|accessdate=2008-04-26|title=WrestleMania XXIV On Hi-Definition Blu-ray Disc|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-24]

WrestleMania also led to an increase in sales for musical artists related to the event, including the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' album "Stadium Arcadium", John Legend's album "Live from Philadelphia", Rev Theory's single "Light It Up", and Fuel's single "Leave the Memories Alone" (which was used in tribute to Ric Flair).cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_04_09a.jsp|accessdate=2008-04-09|title=WWE’s WrestleMania Rocks Music Sales|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-24]

Pre-show

Before the show aired live on pay-per-view, Kane (Glen Jacobs) won a 24-man Interpromotional Battle Royal, an elimination style match where the last person remaining is the winner, to win an ECW Championship match against Chavo Guerrero (Salvador Guerrero) later that night. In this matchcite web|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|title=Big Red challenger|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6625174/results/|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-08] The event officially began with John Legend singing a rendition of "America the Beautiful."cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/exclusives/legendarymania|accessdate=2008-03-10|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|title=A Legend-ary 'Mania|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-03]

Preliminary matches

The first match that aired live on pay-per-view was a Belfast Brawl between Finlay and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), a match where there are no disqualifications and match outcomes can occur anywhere. Finlay was accompanied to the ring by his storyline son, Hornswoggle (Dylan Postl), who was returning from a scripted injury suffered by JBL.cite web|first=Ben|last=Zoldan|title=JBL picks up brutal win in Belfast Brawl|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6515958/results/|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-08] The match featured several sports, which included JBL hitting Finlay with a trash can lid when the latter was about to perform a suicide dive on him through the ropes on the outside.cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|title=Mayweather, Orton survive Mania; Edge, Flair don't|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania24/2008/03/31/5148416.html|publisher=SLAM! Sports|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-08] Later on, Finlay tossed JBL through the table that he had set up earlier on the turnbuckle. Hornswoggle would also get involved during the match, hitting JBL's with a kendo stick while later on he would get attacked by JBL with a trash can thrown at him. Attacking Finlay's knee with a kendo stick, JBL then quickly hit a high impact attack with his forearm to score a successful pinfall.

The next match of the evening was the fourth-annual Money in the Bank ladder match, where the objective is to climb a ladder to retrieve a briefcase. The match featured Chris Jericho, Mr. Kennedy and Carlito from the Raw brand; CM Punk, Shelton Benjamin and John Morrison from the ECW brand; and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) from the SmackDown brand. The match featured many dangerous spots. Early in the match, Morrison climbed a turnbuckle and performed a back flip on others outside while holding a ladder against his chest. Later, Mr. Kennedy and Morrison did battle on top of a ladder; Benjamin climbed another ladder placed adjacent to the first one, and sat Kennedy on his shoulders and slammed him down, who in turn vertically slammed Morrison from the top of the ladder. Later, Carlito and Kennedy flipped Benjamin off a ladder, sending him crashing through another ladder set-up between the barricade and the ring apron. When MVP was close to retrieving the contract briefcase, Matt Hardy returned to action through the crowd, entered the ring and off the ladder, he grabbed and slammed MVP's head down to the mat over his shoulders off the ladder.cite web|first=Corey|last=Clayton|title=Perseverance makes Punk ‘Mr. Money’ in Orlando|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6464426/results/|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-08] As soon as Morrison started to climb a ladder, see-sawing with another ladder, Jericho flipped the other one and Morrison landed on the ring-ropes groin-first. In the end, Jericho and Punk fought each other on a ladder, but Punk trapped Jericho's one leg in the ladder's steps and himself retrieved the contract briefcase to win the match.cite web|first=Eric|last=Cohen|title=WrestleMania XXIV Recap|url= http://prowrestling.about.com/b/2008/03/30/wrestlemania-xxiv-recap-results.htm|publisher=About.com|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-08]

The next match which was billed as a "Battle for Brand Supremacy", was between SmackDown's Batista (Dave Batista) and Raw's Umaga (Eddie Fatu). Early in the match, both Batista and Umaga exchanged blows and Batista threw Umaga outside with a shoulder block. Umaga later delivered a high-impact kick to Batista, which caused him to fall back-first outside the ring from the ring-apron.cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wm24review.htm|first=Alexander|last=Settee|title=WrestleMania XXIV review|date=2008-04-08|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=The History of WWE] Hence, Umaga started targeting Batista's injured back. But in the end, when Umaga tried to hit Batista's throat with his taped thumb, Batista countered the attempt and slammed Umaga by picking him up by the waist. Batista won the match by pinning Umaga after he sat Umaga on his shoulders and slammed him down in a sitting position.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6515946/results/|first=Michael|last=Dinan|title=Animalistic bulldozing|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] The fourth match for the event featured Chavo Guerrero defending his ECW Championship against Kane. Kane surprised Chavo by emerging from underneath the ring instead of from the entrance stage.cite web|first=Ryan|last=Murphy|title=Big Red champion|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6514336/results/|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-10] Kane instantly pinned Chavo after he lifted Chavo by the throat and slammed him down to the mat (termed as a chokeslam) and won the ECW Championship in eight seconds.

Main event matches

Ric Flair put his career on the line next against Shawn Michaels. At the start of the match, both superstars engaged in a series of counters, and then Flair shoved Michaels in a corner, making "Old Yeller" comments to him. In retaliation, Michaels slapped Flair in the face, which caused him to start bleeding from the mouth. Later, Flair performed a crossbody onto Michaels from the top rope for a two count. Then, in a very dangerous spot, when Flair was on the outside, Michaels performed a springboard backflip onto Flair, but missed and landed hard on the Raw announcers' table rib-first. With Flair later on outside the ring again, Michaels successfully attempted another moonsault from the top-rope onto Flair. Back in the ring, Michaels tried to go for his superkick, but stopped in the process and Flair capitalized by trapping him in his figure four leglock. Afterwards, Michaels finally delivered a Sweet Chin Music to Flair, but the latter kicked out to the pinfall attempt. Michaels then, trapped Flair in his modified figure four leglock, but Flair delivered a thumb to the eye to Michaels to break the submission. As Flair was delivering chops to Michaels' chest, the latter hit a second Sweet Chin Music. After getting up on his feet with a worried face, Michaels said to Flair "I'm sorry, I love you", before nailing a final superkick and thus pinning Flair to end his 35-year long wrestling career. After the match, Michaels left quickly and Flair got a standing ovation from the crowd. An emotional Flair embraced his family at ringside and then, as he proceeded to go backstage, thanked the crowd for their support.

The sixth match was the Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match, in which Maria and Ashley faced Beth Phoenix and Melina, who were accompanied to the ring by Santino Marella (Anthony Carelli). Rapper Snoop Dogg served as the official "Master of Ceremonies" for this match. In this match, several WWE Divas surrounded the ring and were able to interfere the match without disqualifications.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6522694/results/|first=Michael|last=Burdick|title=Santino tamed by rabid Dogg|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-03-30|date=2008-03-30|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Due to some technical difficulties, the lights at Citrus Bowl temporarily went out during the match. Near the end, a pin attempt by Maria was prevented when Santino pulled Maria's leg. In response, Raw commentator Jerry Lawler approached and knocked Marella down with a punch. Phoenix hooked Maria's leg and vertically lifted and slammed her to the mat and pinned Maria to win the match. After the match, Snoop Dogg hit Marella with his forearm in the ring and kissed Maria, before leaving with her and Ashley.

Randy Orton defended his WWE Championship against Triple H and John Cena in a Triple Threat match, or a standard match involving three wrestlers was next. For his entrance, Cena had the Jones High School Marching Tigers marching band perform an instrumental version of his theme song "The Time Is Now" live.cite web|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seekingmuses/2382324954/|title=Picture of marching band|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=FlickR] During the match, when Triple H had held Orton in a sleeper hold, Cena picked up both Orton and Triple H to flip and drop them down to the mat, a move Cena dubs the FU, but Triple H dropped down and hit Cena's groin. Orton dominated the match for some time. One highlight of the match featured Orton performing a crossbody from the top rope on Cena, while the latter was held on Triple H's shoulders in an electric chair position. Also, Orton drove both Cena and Triple H's head to the mat from the second rope simultaneously. Orton then tried to jump and grab Cena's head to drive it over his shoulders (a move called the "RKO" by Orton), but he countered and threw Orton onto Triple H. Then, Triple H started targeting Orton's legs and using some submissions on him. The match came to an end when Cena had Triple H on his shoulders for the FU but was countered into a maneuver in which Triple H jumps and slams the opponents head positioned between his knees to the ground, a move called the "Pedigree". As Triple H was in the pin, Orton come across and punted Triple H in the head and pinned Cena to win the match and retain the WWE Championship.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6199854/results/|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|title=One-Man Dynasty Indeed?|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

The next match was the No Disqualification match between The Big Show and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.. Early in the match, Mayweather repeatedly escaped Big Show's grasp and delivered body shots to him. Soon, Mayweather applied a sleeper hold on Big Show, but the latter escaped out of it before passing out and stomped on Mayweather's hand. Mayweather and his accomplices tried to "walk out" of the match, but Big Show walked up the ramp and brought Mayweather back in the ring. As Big Show was about to chokeslam Mayweather, one of Mayweather's accomplices struck a folding chair on Big Show's back, and the latter chokeslammed him in retaliation. Capitalizing from this distraction, Mayweather grabbed that chair and hit Big Show multiple times on the head with it. Finally, Mayweather removed his right glove and put on a pair of brass knuckles to hit Big Show in the face. Thus, Big Show was knocked out as he could not answer the referee's ten count and Mayweather was declared the winner.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6464482/results/|first=Louie|last=Dee|title=Show-n up|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

The main event of the night had Edge putting his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against The Undertaker. The early going in this match was slow-paced with some counters by both men. One high point had Undertaker run and leap over the top rope from the ring onto Edge on the outside. Near the end, Edge was able to counter numerous signature moves of The Undertaker's including the chokeslam and the Last Ride, a variation of the powerbomb. Although, The Undertaker was able to land both these moves, Edge was able to kick out of both.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matches/6208634/results/|first=Craig|last=Tello|title=Sweet Sixteen|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Referee Jim Korderas was hit by The Undertaker inadvertently which gave Edge the opportunity to hit Undertaker with a video camera. An attempt by Edge to drop Undertaker on his head in an upside down position was reversed into Undertaker's own Tombstone Piledriver. Referee Charles Robinson sprinted down to the ring to replace the hurt Korderas and began the three count, but Edge kicked out. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder came to the ring for Edge's aid. Because of their distraction, Edge was able to hit a takedown maneuver on The Undertaker, followed by an unsuccessful pin attempt. Soon after Edge hit the Spear for a second time, Undertaker locked in the Gogoplata submission hold and forced Edge to tap out to become the new World Heavyweight Champion and improve his WrestleMania record to 16-0.

Aftermath

About 1,058,000 people ordered WrestleMania XXIV, grossing $23.8 million in revenue. This was less than the 1,188,000 buys that WrestleMania 23 achieved.cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/documents/PressReleaseAugust18pmweb.pdf|pages=3|title=World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Reports 2007 Second Quarter Results|date=2007-08-02|accessdate=2008-05-06|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

On the following episode of "Raw", Ric Flair made his farewell speech, which led to Triple H introducing various people from Flair's past, such as the Four Horsemen, a former group of wrestlers, Ricky Steamboat, and others, each coming out to give an emotional farewell. Afterwards, the entire WWE roster came out to say thank you to Flair. Shawn Michaels, who was clearly upset about retiring Flair, was forgiven by Flair.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/03312008/articles/longgoodbye|first=Greg|last=Adkins|title=The Long Goodbye|date=2008-03-31|accessdate=2008-04-11|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Despite this, Flair's former protégé Batista later started a feud with Michaels, citing Michaels' "selfishness" at WrestleMania for not laying down for Flair.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/04042008/|first=Mitch|last=Passero|title=Mixed Emotions|date=2008-04-04|accessdate=2008-04-11|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04072008/|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|title=For honor or ego?|date=2008-04-07|accessdate=2008-04-11|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] The two had a match booked at Backlash, WWE's next scheduled pay-per-view event, and after a confrontation between Michaels and Chris Jericho, Jericho was later into the match as a Special Guest Referee.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04072008/|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|title=Intercontinental interjections|date=2008-04-14|accessdate=2008-04-28|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Michaels won with a superkick.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/6826876/results/|title=Play It Again, Shawn|first=Greg|last=Adkins|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28]

The feud between Randy Orton, John Cena and Triple H continued after WrestleMania with the added involvement of John "Bradshaw" Layfield leading to a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match between all four at Backlash, an elimination style match where the last person remaining is the winner. At the event, Triple H won his seventh WWE Championship by last pinning Orton.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/6803660/results/|title=Twelfth Knight|first=Craig|last=Tello|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28] With Matt Hardy's return at WrestleMania, his feud with Montel Vontavious Porter over the WWE United States Championship that started since last July was revived with a match booked at Backlash which Hardy won.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/6842240/results/|title=Better than the Baller|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28] The rivalries between The Undertaker and Edge and the one between Kane and Chavo Guerrero both continued with successful title defenses at Backlash, however on the May 2 episode of "SmackDown", General Manager Vickie Guerrero stripped The Undertaker of the World Heavyweight Championship because of his continued use of his illegal chokehold, claiming she did it to protect the superstars.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/6347966/results/|title=Second verse, same as the first|first=Louie|last=Dee|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/6752876/results/|title=Flames continue to fly in ECW|first=Andrew|last=Rote|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28]

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/ The Official Website of WrestleMania XXIV]