WrestleMania 22

Infobox Wrestling event
name=WrestleMania 22

---

tagline=Big Time
theme="Big Time" by Peter Gabriel [cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/|title=WrestleMania 22 history page|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-02] "I Dare You" by Shinedown [cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/|title=WrestleMania 22 history page|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-02]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
date=April 2, 2006
venue=Allstate Arena
city=Rosemont, Illinois
attendance=17,159
lastevent=No Way Out (2006)
nextevent=Backlash (2006)
event=WrestleMania
lastevent2=WrestleMania 21
nextevent2=WrestleMania 23

WrestleMania 22 was the twenty-second annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on April 2, 2006 at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Rosemont.

WrestleMania 22 was a joint-promotion pay-per-view, as it featured performers from the Raw and SmackDown! brands. There were two main events which were the main matches for each brand. The main match on the Raw brand was John Cena versus Triple H for the WWE Championship, which Cena won after forcing Triple H to submit to the STFU.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/14160262/results|title=WWE Champion John Cena def. Triple H|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10] The predominant match on the SmackDown! brand was a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship between champion Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton. Mysterio won the match and the World Heavyweight Championship after pinning Orton following a 619 and a West Coast Pop.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/141602621/results|title=Rey Mysterio def. Kurt Angle and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat Match (new World Heavyweight Champion)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10] Featured matches on the undercard included a No Holds Barred match between Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon, a Casket match between The Undertaker and Mark Henry, and an interpromotional Money in the Bank ladder match, which featured six participants.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22203221/results|title=Shawn Michaels def. Mr. McMahon (No Holds Barred Match)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10] cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22203223/results|title=Undertaker def. Mark Henry (Casket Match)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10] cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2220322/results|title=RVD wins the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

Following his win against Mick Foley, Edge began pursuing the WWE Championship, as he faced off against Cena and Triple H in a Triple Threat match at Backlash. Mysterio started an angle with John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) following the event and defeated him two months later at Judgment Day. On the April 14 edition of "SmackDown!", Angle kayfabe broke Orton's ankle. Upon his return, Orton lost to Angle at One Night Stand, but defeated him two weeks later at Vengeance.

Background

The main feud heading into WrestleMania on the Raw brand was between John Cena and Triple H over the WWE Championship. After failing to win the Royal Rumble match,cite web|date=2006-01-29|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/2006/matches/31409413/results/|title=Rey Mysterio wins the Royal Rumble match|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] Triple H participated in the 2006 Road to WrestleMania Tournament, where the winner would become the number-one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. In the final match of the tournament, held on the February 20 edition of "Raw", Triple H faced Rob Van Dam (RVD) and The Big Show in a Triple Threat match. Triple H won the match after pinning RVD following a Pedigree. [cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|date=2006-02-20|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/02/21/1454932.html|title=Raw: Gee, Triple H wins, surprise, surprise|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01]

The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton over the World Heavyweight Championship. Mysterio won the 2006 Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Orton, to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania. At No Way Out, Orton defeated Mysterio to win his WrestleMania 22 world championship match. [cite web|first=Chris|last=Sokol|date=2006-02-19|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/02/20/1452714.html|title=Main events salvage No Way Out|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01] Five day later, on the February 24 edition of "SmackDown!", SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long announced that the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 22 would be a Triple Threat match involving Mysterio, Orton, and champion Angle. [cite web|date=2006-02-24|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02242006/|title=Back in business|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] On the March 24 edition of "SmackDown!", Orton interfered in Mysterio's and Angle's respective match. During Mysterio's match against Finlay, Orton interfered and executed an RKO on Mysterio, allowing Finlay to pin Mysterio for the win.cite web|first=Andy|last=McNamara|date=2006-03-24|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/03/24/1503536.html|title=SmackDown: Orton runs wild|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01] Later that night, during Angle's match against Mark Henry, Orton attempted to execute an RKO on Angle, but Mysterio attacked him. Mysterio then attempted to perform a springboard hurricanrana on Orton, but Orton moved out of the way and caused Mysterio to execute the move on Angle. Henry executed a splash shortly after to gain the pinfall victory. After the match, Mysterio executed a 619 on Angle. The following week, after Angle defeated Mysterio, Orton came out and executed an RKO on Mysterio.cite web|date=2006-03-31|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03312006/|title=Can Angle be stopped?|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] Shortly after, Angle executed an Angle Slam on Orton and locked him in the ankle lock.

Another primary feud from Raw was between Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon. At the Royal Rumble, during the Royal Rumble match, Vince distracted Michaels as his music started to play. During that time, Shane McMahon, who was not an official entrant in the match, eliminated Michaels after attacking him from behind. One month later, on the February 27 edition of "Raw", Shane hit Michaels with a steel chair and forced him to "kiss" Vince's ass, thus joining Vince's "Kiss My Ass Club."cite web|date=2006-02-27|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02272006/|title=Joing the Club|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] Vince then announced that him and Michaels would face off against each other at WrestleMania. On "Raw" two weeks later, Vince forced Michaels to take a public drug test. During the test, however, Michaels threw his urine on both Vince and Shane.cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|date=2006-03-13|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/03/14/1487424.html|title=Raw: Testing the HBK-McMahons feud|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01] Later that night, Michaels faced off against The Spirit Squad in a Steel Cage match. The Spirit Squad won the match by pinning Michaels after Shane interfered and slammed the cage door on Michaels. After the match, Shane continued attacking Michaels, causing him to bleed in the process, and executed a corner-to-corner missile dropkick. On the March 18 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", Michaels faced off against Shane in a Street Fight. Near the end of the match, Shane locked Michaels in the sharpshooter and Vince ordered the match to end.cite web|date=2006-03-18|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/march182006/matches/2220096/results/|title=Shane McMahon def. Shawn Michaels (Street Fight)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] Vince screwed Michaels, claiming he submitted to the move, and declared Shane the winner via submission. On the March 20 edition of "Raw", Vince announced that his match against Michaels at WrestleMania would now be a No Holds Barred match. [cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|date=2006-03-13|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/03/21/1498517.html|title=Raw: McMahons remain in spotlight|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01]

One of the featured matches on the undercard was a Casket match between The Undertaker and Mark Henry. On the March 3 edition of "SmackDown!", Undertaker challenged Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship. During the match, after Undertaker executed a Tombstone piledriver, Henry came out and attacked Undertaker, causing the match the end via disqualification.cite web|date=2006-03-03|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03032006/|title=World's Strongest Splash|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] Undertaker won the match, but since a championship cannot change hands via countout or disqualification, he did not win the title. The following week, on "SmackDown!", Undertaker challenged Henry to a Casket match at WrestleMania. [cite web|date=2006-03-10|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03102006/|title=The Deadman responds|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-01] On the March 18 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", Henry, along with his manager Daivari, called out The Undertaker. Undertaker came out, accompanied by Druids carrying a casket, and the two started attacking each other. Shortly after, Undertaker executed a chokeslam, followed by a Tombstone piledriver, to Daivari on the casket. [cite web|first=Jon|last=Waldman|date=2006-03-18|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/03/19/1495900.html|title=Saturday Night has disappointing fights|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-06-01]

Event

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, a dark match was held which was an 18-man interpromotional battle royal. Viscera won the battle royal last eliminating Snitsky. After winning the battle royal, he kissed Lilian Garcia. Michelle Williams sang the annual rendition of "America the Beautiful" before the show.

The opening match was for the World Tag Team Championship between champions Kane and The Big Show and Carlito and Chris Masters. Kane hit Masters with a big boot, then chokeslammed Carlito to get the victory and to retain the World Tag Team Championship.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2259320/results|title=World Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane def. Chris Masters & Carlito|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The second match was the Money in the Bank ladder match between Rob Van Dam (RVD), Shelton Benjamin, Ric Flair, Finlay, Bobby Lashley and Matt Hardy. RVD climbed the ladder, but was stopped when Benjamin springboarded onto RVD and delivered each other blows back and forth. Hardy came out with a second ladder and joined the two. RVD pushed Hardy and Benjamin's ladder over with his feet and pushed them sending them both smashing on the floor. RVD grabbed the briefcase and went on to win the 2006 Money in the Bank ladder match.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2220322/results|title=RVD wins the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

Howard Finkel introduced the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2006. First of all, he announced that Bret Hart would not be coming to attend the event, as he did not fell comfortable. "Mean" Gene Okerlund, "Sensational" Sherri Martel, Tony Atlas, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza) attended the class while Eddie Guerrero was represented by his wife Vickie Guerrero who was supported by Eddie's nephew Chavo Guerrero.

The third match was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Chris Benoit for WWE United States Championship. During JBL's entrance, the entrance ramp was raised and JBL's limousine drove out from underneath. JBL hit Benoit a Clothesline From Hell but Benoit avoided the move and applied in the Crippler Crossface. JBL flipped Benoit over on his back and used ropes for leverage to get the pinfall and the victory.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22203222/results|title=JBL def. Benoit (new United States Champion)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/2440006|title=JBL's first United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The fourth match was a hardcore match between Edge and Mick Foley.Near the end of the match, Foley had Edge in control and pulled out a table. Lita then hit Foley in between the legs with a barbed wire bat, and lit the table which then allowed Edge to hit a Spear to Foley through the ring ropes through the flaming table on the outside, and pinned Foley to get the victory.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2258060/results|title=Edge def. Mick Foley (Hardcore Match)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The fifth match was a handicap match where Booker T and Sharmell faced The Boogeyman. Boogeyman hit Booker a Falling Chokebomb and pinned Booker to get the victory.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22593201/results|title=The Boogeyman def. Booker T & Sharmell (2-on-1 Match)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10]

The sixth match was a divas match between Trish Stratus and Mickie James for the WWE Women's Championship. At the end of the match, Mickie hit a Mick Kick on Trish's head which knocked out Trish and then Mickie pinned Trish to win the match and the WWE Women's Championship.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22593202/results|title=Mickie James def. Trish Stratus (new Women's Champion)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/2439826|title=Mickie James' first Women's Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The seventh match was a Casket match between The Undertaker and Mark Henry. Undertaker took advantage and hit Henry with a Last Ride. While Henry was out of the ring, Undertaker hit him with a suicide dive over the top rope. Undertaker went on to hit Henry with a Tombstone Piledriver and then pushed him into the casket to win the match and keeping his undefeated WrestleMania streak alive improving his WrestleMania record to 14-0.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/undertaker/wrestlemanialegacy/wrestlemania22/matchrecap|title=Undertaker def. Mark Henry (14-0)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The eighth match was a No Holds Barred match between Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon. Shawn went to deliver McMahon a Sweet Chin Music but instead he got a trash can and a table. He put McMahon on a table and put a trashcan over McMahon's head. Michaels then climbed on the top of the ladder and hit McMahon a diving elbow drop. Michaels then hit McMahon with a Sweet Chin Music. Michaels pinned McMahon to win the match.

The ninth match was a Triple Threat match between Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. During Mysterio's entrance, P.O.D. performed Mysterio's music entrance live. At the end, Mysterio went on to hit Orton a 619 followed by a West Coast Pop pinfall victory. As a result, Rey Mysterio became the new World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Mysterio celebrated with Chavo Guerrero and Vickie Guerrero.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/2439318|title=Rey Mysterio's first World Heavyweight Championship|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16]

The tenth match was a Playboy Pillow Fight between Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle. Torrie pulled Candice's dress and pinned her with a roll-up to get the victory.cite web|date=2006-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2341766/results|title=Torrie Wilson def. Candice (Playboy Pillow Fight)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-10]

The main event and last match on the night was for the WWE Championship between reigning champion John Cena and Triple H. Both men came in different styles during their entrances. Triple H came out on a throne dressed as a Conan the Barbarian-type king while Cena came out with a tommy gun and was accompanied by a group of "gangsters" in a 1940s Chicago-era vehicle. Near the end, Triple H tried to deliver Cena a Pedigree, but was countered by Cena into an FU. Triple H kicked out on a 2 count. Cena then locked Triple H into the STFU. Triple H got to the ropes. Cena then locked Triple H into the STFU again, Triple H then tapped out, and as a result, Cena retained the WWE Championship.

Aftermath

The next night on "Raw", Triple H came out and said to John Cena that he underestimated the champ, because he lost at WrestleMania 22 to Cena. Edge then came out and said to Triple H that he deserved another WWE Championship match because he defeated Mick Foley in a Hardcore match. Over the next few weeks, all three men faced each other in Handicap matches, which all three men won over the three week period by pinning and making each other submit respectively. [cite web| url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060403.html|title=Raw results - April 3, 2006|accessdate=2007-12-06| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060410.html|title=Raw results - April 10, 2006|accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060417.html|title=Raw results - April 17, 2006| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] It was then announced that the main event at Backlash would be a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship between Cena, Edge and Triple H. [cite web|url= http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060410.html|title=Raw results - April 10, 2006|accessdate=2007-11-28|publisher= Online World of Wrestling] At Backlash, Cena won the match and retained the WWE Championship via pinfall on Triple H with a Jackknife roll-upcite web|date=2006-04-30|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2006/backlash2006/matches/228510611/results/|title=WWE Champion John Cena def. Triple H and Edge (Triple Threat Match)|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-16] , but after the match Triple H attacked Cena, Edge and the referee with a sledgehammer and did a couple of DX crotch crops to Cena and Edge.

After Wrestlemania, Shawn Michaels would continue to feud with Vince McMahon. At Backlash. Michaels teamed up with "God" to face Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon. At Backlash, Michaels suffered a loss, when the Spirit Squad interfered on behalf of The McMahons (Vince and Shane). On the June 12 2006 edition of "Raw", Vince McMahon announced that Triple H would face the Spirit Squad in a 5 on 1 Handicap Gauntlet match.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060612.html|title=RAW results- June 12, 2006|accessdate=2007-12-10|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Vince called Mitch out last, who throughout the match he called all four members one-by-one, instead Mitch was thrown out from the curtain by Shawn Michaels. Michaels run down the ramp and started bashing the Spirit Squad with Triple H, marking the return of D-Generation X. At Vengeance, DX faced the Spirit Squad in a 5 on 2 Handicap match, which DX won after both Michaels and Triple H pinned Kenny and Mikey respectively.cite news|first=Brett|last=Hoffman|title=DX breaks down the Spirit Squad|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/2006/matches/25900123/results/|publisher=WWE|date=2006-06-25|accessdate=2007-07-29]

Rey Mysterio would go on and feud with John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) over the World Heavyweight Championship. On the May 5 edition of "SmackDown!", after Rey Mysterio expressed his feelings about being World Heavyweight Champion, John "Bradshaw" Layfield came out and declared himself the number one contender.cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|date= 2006-05-05|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05052006/|title=A Man of his word|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-13] cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060505.html|title=May 5, 2006 SmackDown! Results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-12-13] Mysterio reacted by saying that he'd fight anyone at anytime. In turn, JBL announced that Mysterio would face off against Mark Henry later that night. Henry won the match via pinfall. The next week on "SmackDown!", JBL announced that Mysterio would take on The Great Khali later that night. Khali won the match via pinfall.cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|date=2006-05-12|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05122006/|title=Tragic Homecoming|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-12-17] cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060512.html|title=May 12, 2006 SmackDown! Results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-12-17] At Judgment Day, Mysterio defeated JBL by pinfall after performing a Frog Splash. After the pay-per view the feud ended between the two.cite web|first=Ed|last=Williams III| date=2006-05-21|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2006/matches/23848441/results/|title=Rey Mysterio's dream ride somehow continues|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-23]

Results

Notes

*Other celebrity guests in attendance for WrestleMania 22 included Joe Theismann and P.O.D..
*One of the gangsters in John Cena's entrance was CM Punk, who was wrestling in WWE's "farm territory" Ohio Valley Wrestling at the time.cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania22.html|title=WrestleMania 22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-12-16]

References

* [http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2006/2006_04_02.jsp WrestleMania 22 Is Highest Grossing One-Day Event Ever At Allstate Arena]

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/ The Official Website of WrestleMania 22]