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WWE News
WWE News: Mainstream coverage of WrestleMania focused on Mayweather vs. Big Show spectacle match Mar 31, 2008 - 12:29:28 AM
The majority of mainstream press thus far on Sunday night/early Monday morning has been for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show spectacle match. Boxing and general sports websites have covered it, except for ESPN thus far.
- Sports Illustrated's Arash Markazi published a behind-the-scenes look at what led to the Mayweather vs. Big Show match, right down to the pre-match walk-through five hours before the PPV was set to begin. He said Vince McMahon walked Mayweather and his manager, Leonard Ellerbe, from the ring entrance to the ring and laid out how the match would go.
"My ultimate goal is to entertain the fans and entertain the people," said Mayweather. "A lot of people on the outside say that wrestling is not this and it's not that, but believe me, wrestling is real. They're not just entertainers, they're athletes. There are hard slaps and hard punches."
At the same time, Randy Orton, Triple H, and John Cena were walking through their match in street clothes. Orton commented on what Mayweather brings to the table. "I think he respects what we do and I respect what he does," said Orton. "He's a tough guy. I wouldn't want to fight him. I wouldn't want to box him. I think he's good for the wrestling industry."
Mayweather sounded like Lawrence Taylor after WrestleMania 11. "Before I got involved with the WWE, I thought this stuff was easy but no, it's hard work," he said. "I saw The Undertaker walk around with an ice pack on his back and Shawn Michaels walk around with an ice pack on his knees. This stuff is crazy. It's not as easy as you think. Who knows? It's possible I could be here to stay."
The SI article also notes that NFL players Reggie Bush and Lendale White were backstage for the show visiting with Kim Kardashian and Snoop Dogg. Article link.
- The Sweet Science published a reaction piece for boxing fans to take a deep breath that Mayweather was not killed in the ring. From their report: "Mayweather looked comfortable in the world of masculine soap operas, the sports entertainment arena, and the effort looked considerably more credible than some other boxers' entries into the semi-scripted world of pro rasslin." Article link.
- Boxingscene.com posted a recap of the match and Ric Flair's retirement. This one will be heavily debated, but from their report: "In one of the most hyped WWE events in decades, close to 70,000 fans filled the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida to witness Floyd Mayweather Jr. knock out "The Big Show" in a no-holds barred wrestling match at WrestleMania XXIV." Article link.
- The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press, which has been covering the match hype with it being Mayweather's hometown, published a quick summary of the match. The official time of the match is going to be 11:44. Article link.
***
WWE's WrestleMania 24 has been covered in Florida newspapers for the last month, and the Orlando Sentinel published several reaction pieces to the PPV.
- Lynn Hoppes published a story on being backstage for the event. Hoppes noted that there was talk of Big Show vs. Mayweather ending the show with a schmoz between Mayweather's posse and WWE wrestlers, but they decided to move it to the semi-main event. Mayweather reportedly stayed in his trailer throughout the show before coming out for his match. Hopppes also noted that Vince McMahon wasn't seen much, as he stayed in a separate room for Gorilla position during the show. Article link.
- Columnist Jerry Greene published a blog on his first experience ordering a wrestling PPV. The "I'm Sorry, I Love You" from Shawn Michaels might go down as one of the most memorable quotes in wrestling history. Article link.
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