Wrestlmania 24

In many ways, the Triple Threat Match between Triple H, John Cena and WWE Champion Randy Orton at WrestleMania XXIV has been brewing for years. When you have three elite Superstars who all want the same thing, there’s bound to be an explosion.

These Superstars are not strangers to one another. Their careers have intertwined as they have all pursued the WWE Championship. But their dynamics with one another are very different.

Evolution of a Rivalry
Triple H and Orton were once friends. When they were teammates in Evolution, one of the greatest factions of all-time, Orton was the student, the diamond in the rough whose potential The Game noticed almost immediately. Back in those days, Orton was the student and Triple H was the teacher.

But their relationship was destroyed because they both wanted the same thing – World Championship gold. Both wanted to be the best, but there could only be room for one at the top. Triple H has been a constant thorn in Orton’s side whenever he has won a world title. When the Legend Killer became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history in 2004, he was immediately targeted by The Game – and lost the gold to his former mentor. Years later, in 2007, when Orton was named WWE Champion at No Mercy after John Cena’s injury, The Cerebral Assassin challenged – and defeated him – again.

Orton regained the gold that same night, but some say he has never stopped looking over his shoulder. Triple H has rained on his parade during all of his career-defining moments, the third-generation Superstar believes. But at WrestleMania, the Legend Killer wants Triple H front and center for yet another career-defining moment.

The self-proclaimed “one-man dynasty” is not the same student that shadowed Triple H in Evolution. Orton has evolved into a sadistic champion who has mastered mind games and will do anything to keep his title. He has cemented his hold on the WWE Championship in recent months by turning back the challenges of Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho and even The Game. Orton learned his lessons well from The Cerebral Assassin, and he believes he has surpassed his former teacher. He considers Triple H a nuisance and wants to humble The King of Kings once and for all – and can’t think of a better stage than at WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando, Fla.

The Champion-sized Thorn
Orton would also love to vanquish John Cena. These two have never been friends and have waged a personal war over the WWE Championship. The Legend Killer tried to end Cena’s career, and was responsible for putting him on the shelf with a torn pectoral tendon, forcing him to relinquish the WWE Title. He has attempted every underhanded, cowardly trick to keep “The Champ” away from the gold. However, Cena has continued battling back.

If Orton can put both Cena and The Game away in one night at WrestleMania, it will be difficult to argue with his claim that he is a “one-man dynasty.” But Cena is not about to let that happen. He wants Orton to pay for taking away everything he held dear. For Cena, the only way he will find redemption is if he leaves WrestleMania XXIV with the gold he never lost in the ring.

A King's Return to the Throne?
Triple H also has that same vision of redemption. WrestleMania XXIV represents his return to his favorite stage – The Grandest of Them All. Last year, he missed WrestleMania due to a career-threatening injury. He has overcome all sorts of obstacles, gauntlets and five opponents in the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out to make it back to The Grandest Stage of Them All.

The Game has headlined WrestleMania several times before, but this year is different. He wants – needs – to show that he is still truly The King of Kings. His 11th title reign was way too short. Triple H wants to win his 12th World Championship and kill the growing legend of Randy Orton. But The Game is also haunted by Cena, a man he has never defeated. He still remembers tapping out to Cena’s STFU at WrestleMania 22. Surviving both Orton and Cena at WrestleMania XXIV would show that Triple H is truly back and at the top of his Game.

Who will leave the Citrus Bowl with sports-entertainment’s Holy Grail? Who will exorcise their personal demons and find redemption at WrestleMania XXIV? There is only room for one king atop the WWE mountain. The only way to find out the answers to these questions is to catch WrestleMania XXIV, live on pay-per-view, on Sunday March 30 at a special start time of 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT.
MATCH-JOHN CENA VS. RANDY ORTON VS. TRIPLE H

A telltale hour for the World Heavyweight Championship at No Way Out foretold the SmackDown main event at WrestleMania XXIV: The Rated-R Superstar vs. The Phenom, title vs. streak.

Within sixty minutes of witnessing The Phenom’s triumph in a grisly Elimination Chamber Match, the Ultimate Opportunist capitalized on an injured Rey Mysterio to retain the gold with an ample WrestleMania-based knot in his Rated-R gut.

The Deadman has pursued the World Heavyweight Title since May 8, 2007 – an evening on which infamy was defined by Edge’s opportunistic championship seizure. That night, the Ultimate Opportunist moniker was born as Edge cashed in Money in the Bank (which he craftily seized from Mr. Kennedy) at the most inopportune moment for Undertaker.

Minutes after The Phenom’s Steel Cage encounter with Batista and a savage assault by Mark Henry, the Rated-R Superstar stole the gold from the war-torn Deadman. The Ultimate Opportunist continued to be a bane to Undertaker for months on SmackDown, keeping the grim Superstar from reclaiming the championship. Now, more than one year later, life proves to be ironically cyclical for Edge, as his date with the devil has been inked for WrestleMania.

Speaking of cycles, The Phenom is certainly reaching the peak of another for himself. This time last year, SmackDown’s resident demon pursued a quest toward a championship encounter with Batista at WrestleMania 23. In an epic clash of two indelible titans, The Phenom maintained his venerable win streak on The Grandest Stage of Them All, and more importantly, captured his fifth World Title.

This impressive 15-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania casts an ominous, intimidating shadow over the Ultimate Opportunist’s reign. However, Edge himself bears his own notable record at WrestleMania (5-1), at which he has never been pinned or forced to submit. But, this imminent collision isn’t about streaks; it’s about the highly coveted World Heavyweight Championship.

Can even the most ideal opportunity keep the gold around the Rated-R Superstar’s waist at WrestleMania XXIV? Or will the Ultimate Opportunist find the angle he needs and make history by burying The Deadman once and for all as The Granddaddy of Them All emanates from the Florida Citrus Bowl?MATCH-THE UNDERTAKER VS. EDGE

The showdown between WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV is more than a clash of titans. It’s more than your classic “David vs. Goliath” battle. It’s a showdown between the greatest fighter in the world and one of the largest athletes on Earth. It’s a high-stakes battle for pride that neither man can afford to lose – and that only The Grandest Stage of Them All could contain. Video Preview

The seeds of the Mayweather-Show rivalry were planted at No Way Out, when the 7-foot, 400-pound Superstar taunted the six-time boxing champion, and was left bloodied with a broken nose. Mayweather, a longtime WWE fan and friend of Rey Mysterio, was in attendance trying to enjoy the show, but couldn’t stand by and watch Big Show bully Mysterio and try to “punk him out” with a challenge. No Way Out Photos

Big Show, who was returning to WWE after a 14-month absence, was attempting to make a statement, but in the end, he may have gotten more than he bargained for. His melee with Mayweather may have sparked headlines around the world, but it also left him embarrassed. That’s why Show laid down the gauntlet. And Mayweather, who admits he “loves publicity,” couldn’t help but emphatically accept – as a fighter, a showman and a man. A Challenge Accepted: Video

Risk Versus Reward
Yet could Mayweather regret embracing the Big Show’s big challenge? Some of his managers are very concerned about this matchup. Show outweighs him by approximately 250 pounds and has more than a foot height advantage. The former WWE and ECW Champion argues that “Money” was only able to bloody him because he gave him a “free shot.”

However, at WrestleMania, there will be no more free shots. Show has been seething since Mayweather broke his nose. He is meaner and nastier than ever. He demolished Rey Mysterio on SmackDown just to prove a point. Show wants to prove an emphatic point on The Grandest Stage of Them All – and that worries some of “Money’s” confidantes. They are concerned that Mayweather is risking his career and millions in potential future earnings by taking on a pissed off, motivated giant in front of thousands upon thousands in Orlando's Citrus Bowl.

They Love Publicity
Mayweather’s skeptics should remember that he can never be underestimated. He loves the bright lights and worldwide publicity that only WrestleMania can bring. “Money” is money in the ring. He is 39-0 and has battled – and defeated – the best in the world.

"This used to be Big Show's house, but this is my house now," Mayweather said at the WrestleMania pres conference. "This used to be WWE. But now I'm going to turn this upside down and make this 'Money Mayweather Entertainment.'"

As shown at No Way Out, his fists can do major damage, even to a monolith like Big Show. And Mayweather has tons of heart and pride – he won’t allow Show to embarrass him in the ring. Still, Big Show, while he is a veteran of several WrestleManias, wants to have a special "WrestleMania Moment" – and Mayweather could give it to him.

"The only way you could hurt me was when I was on my knees," Big Show told Mayweather at the press conference. "At WrestleMania, I'm gong to show you that wrestling can hurt. ... Look at the size of my fist. It's the size of your head. Once you get a load of this, it's 'BOOM!' You're out."

What will happen when the greatest fighter in the world battles the biggest Show in WWE at the world’s greatest extravaganza? Will Floyd Mayweather bust up Big Show, or will Show cash in at “Money’s” expense? The only way to find out is to catch Mayweather vs. Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV, live on pay-per-view from Orlando, Fla. on March 30.

MATCH-FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS. BIG SHOW

When Shawn Michaels looks at Ric Flair, he sees his inspiration – a man he idolized as a young boy who dreamed of one day being the best in the squared circle. When the “Nature Boy” looks at Michaels, he sees his living legacy. He is proud to know that he had such a great influence on all-time greats such as HBK and was in part responsible for careers. If Flair had to end his career, he couldn’t think of a better opponent than Michaels – and that’s why this inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2008 challenged The Showstopper to a Career Threatening Match at WrestleMania XXIV.

Flair has been fighting for his career since November, when Mr. McMahon gave him a win-or-you-must retire ultimatum. The next match Flair loses in singles competition in any way will be his last. He will be forced to retire.

Any normal man would have crumbled under that pressure. But the 16-time World Champion seems to have been reinvigorated by the challenge. He has defeated much younger and stronger Superstars such as Mr. Kennedy, MVP, Umaga, William Regal and even Triple H, one of his greatest admirers, as he’s battled to keep his career alive. (Relive Flair's Fight for his Career)

No Greater Honor
In most of the previous Career Threatening Matches, Flair has been the hunted. Superstars have issued the challenge, hoping to forever etch their names in history as the man who ended the legendary “Nature Boy’s” career. But in this WrestleMania encounter with HBK, Flair was the hunter. Flair challenged Michaels, who has admitted that he’s not sure he’s ready for a world of sports-entertainment without “Naitch.”

Who knows why Flair challenged HBK – perhaps it was his way of taking control of his destiny. But Flair also knows that HBK is one of the greatest Superstars to ever compete at WrestleMania. Perhaps no one has had more show-stealing, unforgettable matches on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Meanwhile, Michaels knows that there has been perhaps no greater champion in history than Flair. HBK and “Naitch” consider it an honor to wrestle each other – and on what better stage than WrestleMania.

Heartbreak for HBK?
What range of emotions will Flair feel before his showdown with Michaels? The night before WrestleMania, he will become the first-ever active competitor to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He will be looking back upon his incredible 36-year career while trying to look forward and concentrate on winning his match with HBK and keeping “Space Mountain” open.

And for HBK, he will have to come to terms with the fact that he may have to end the career of a man he truly loves and considers a father figure. Michaels doesn’t need to make a name for himself; his own legacy has been firmly established. In many ways, he’s paying homage to Flair by wrestling him at WrestleMania.

There has never been anyone like HBK in WWE. And no one will ever style and profile like Ric Flair. At WrestleMania, this battle between new and future WWE Hall of Famers promises to give our fans something they will never forget.

MATCH-SHAWN MICHAELS VS. RIC FLAIR

The Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania has become one of WWE's most coveted opportunities because of its golden track record – almost all previous winners have ultimately won a World Championship.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, a collection of Superstars battle for possession of a briefcase that’s held high above the ring and contains a contract for a World Championship Match. The winner of Money in the Bank can cash in the contract at any time – and previous victors have used that opportunity to win gold. Edge and Rob Van Dam have used the Money in the Bank Ladder Match victories to etch their names in World Heavyweight and WWE Championship history. (Watch: Money in the Bank Ladder Match Highlights)

But you have to be in it to win it, and Superstars on Raw, SmackDown and ECW are battling for the opportunity to compete in the Money in the Bank Match at WrestleMania. Video Preview

Jeff Hardy: Ladder-Day Saint
Jeff Hardy, who competed in last year's contest, became the first to qualify for this year's Money in the Bank by defeating Snitsky on Raw. The Intercontinental Champion desperately wants to fulfill his childhood dream of winning a World Championship. Will he take a pivotal step at WrestlleMania XXIV?

WrestleMania Is Jericho Again!
By defeating Hardy in a hard fought battle on Monday Night Raw, Chris Jericho qualified for his opportunity for Money in the Bank. Y2J, the first Undisputed Champion in WWE history, could renew his mission to regain the WWE Championship with a victory at WrestleMania XXIV. Jericho created the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and would love to make his first appearance at WrestleMania in three years a memorable one.

Mr. Money in the Bank Again?
And what about last year's winner, Mr. Kennedy? The Green Bay, Wis., loudmouth not only wants to make history by becoming the first to win back-to-back Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, but he also wants a chance at redemption. Kennedy lost his Money in the Bank opportunity last year when an opportunistic Edge took advantage of his injury (and sizable ego) and eventually defeated Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Kennedy believes he is entitled to a World Title opportunity. He is desperate to prove that he is what he says he is – the future of sports-entertainment. By winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match again at WrestleMania XXIV, Kennedy can skyrocket himself back into the title hunt – and put all world champions on notice. He also wants to eradicate the dubious distinction of being the only Money in the Bank winner to not win a World Championship. But he must face other equally-hungry Superstars.

Setting the Gold Standard
Hunger has never been a problem for one of the purest athletes in WWE, Shelton Benjamin. Like his fellow competitors, Benjamin is hoping that his dreams of championship gold will come one step closer after WrestleMania XXIV. ECW's "Gold Standard" has the experience necessary, having been a part of two previous Money in the Bank matches. But for Shelton to climb the ladder and achieve his dreams, he will have to go through seven other Superstars looking to do the same thing.

One Cool Customer
No stranger to championship competition, Carlito is a past holder of the United States and Intercontinental Championships. He has climbed the title ladder on several occasions in the past, but can the cool Caribbean Superstar rise to the top of the 15-foot-high ladder in the center of sports-entertainment’s grandest stage to claim the Money in the Bank briefcase and its championship contract?

Who else will qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania? Stay tuned to WWE programming on Raw, ECW and SmackDown and find out.

MONEY IN THE BANK MATCH

Ever since WWE was separated by brands during the first Draft in 2002, there has been a brewing rivalry between SmackDown and Raw. As the flagship show in WWE, Raw has been considered the superior brand among some observers – a perception that has always irked the SmackDown faithful.

Now, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero officially has laid down the gauntlet to Raw GM William Regal and she wants the question of brand superiority answered once and for all on The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania XXIV. One representative from Raw and a competitor from SmackDown will battle one-on-one for bragging rights and brand supremacy.

Bulldozer on the Warpath
Regal’s handpicked representative for Raw is Umaga. Arguably, the Brit couldn’t have chosen a better soldier for this war.

The Samoan Bulldozer has an appetite for destruction and is just salivating at the opportunity to make his mark. This was apparent at No Way Out during Raw’s Elimination Chamber Match, which seemed to re-ignite the primal rage in the monster from Samoa. At times, the other five competitors in the match – who are among WWE’s elite – appeared helpless against the 348-pounder. It took four Superstars and their devastating moves – HBK’s Sweet Chin Music, Y2J’s Codebreaker, Triple H’s Pedigree and Jeff Hardy’s Swanton Bomb from nearly the top of the Chamber – to eliminate Umaga.

Though he came up short in his quest to earn an opportunity at the WWE Title at WrestleMania XXIV, he re-established himself as a dominant force in WWE.

Some observers have perceived Umaga as a simple, primitive monster, but he is nobody’s fool. This monster has held the Intercontinental Championship before and has shown he appreciates gold. Umaga’s dominance in the Elimination Chamber proved how much he wants the WWE Championship. At WrestleMania, on top of establishing Raw as the superior brand, he may want to make an example of the SmackDown Superstar before him and put all World Champions on notice.

The Animal's Roar
It only took Batista a handful of days to come forward to represent the SmackDown brand at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Following Regal's response to Vickie's initial challenge, The Animal made it his personal mission to march into the GM's office and request to be the SmackDown Superstar to engage Umaga - one of Raw's most feared forces. Though hesitant at first due to her own previous issues with Batista, Guerrero agreed to elect the former World Heavyweight Champion - undoubtedly a good business decision.

Loyal to the Friday night brand since the summer of 2005, The Animal has not backed down from a single beast in sports-entertainment - from The Great Khali to Mark Henry. At WrestleMania, Batista adds Umaga to his list of savage opponents and The Animal may just be the Superstar to tame the Samoan Bulldozer.

These two beasts collide at the Biggest Spectacle of Them All with the weight of their respective brands on their meaty shoulders. Locker room pride, bragging rights and - for Batista and Umaga, individually - a chance to instantly propel toward a future World Championship opportunity are all at stake.

Come WrestleMania XXIV, will The Animal thwart the Samoan savage? Or will Batista be one bulldozed brand representative?

MATCH-SMACK DOWN VS. RAW-BATISTA VS. UMAGA

Finlay has been in plenty of fights on several continents in his long career, but perhaps none will be as personal as the war he will wage with JBL at WrestleMania XXIV.

The self-proclaimed “wrestling god” has done something no other opponent has ever been able to accomplish – he exposed Finlay’s heart. JBL uncovered a deep secret held by the Belfast brawler – that his ever-loyal sidekick, Hornswoggle, was not the illegitimate offspring of Mr. McMahon, but really Finlay’s son. By decimating Hornswoggle and putting him in a hospital bed, JBL revealed how black his own heart is – and the lengths he is willing to go to prove a point. But the self-made millionaire better be careful. If he thinks he has exposed a weakness in Finlay, he may be mistaken. He may have poured gasoline on a simmering rage within the man who loves to fight.

Visions of Rage ... and Self-Guilt
What does Finlay see when he looks at JBL? He probably sees Hornswoggle’s lifeless form after the former WWE Champion savagely beat him. He may relive JBL repeatedly throwing the lovable Superstar into a steel cage like a lawn dart.

Finlay could never forget the cold look in JBL’s eyes as he stared at the Irishman, who was handcuffed to the cage, and made him watch Hornswoggle’s systematic destruction. Belfast’s favorite son may never forget how JBL refused to confront him face-to-face about the true nature of his relationship with Hornswoggle and instead attacked his son in the hospital.

Or perhaps Finlay sees JBL as the manifestation of his own self-guilt. The former U.S. Champion wiped away tears and repeatedly said, “I’m sorry” to Hornswoggle after the attack. He may blame himself for what has happened to WWE’s resident leprechaun. He may fault himself for putting Hornswoggle in harm’s way.

Merciless 'God'
This is all blood in the water to a shark like JBL. He doesn’t care about the 20 years of friendship he says he has had with Finlay. He came out of a two-year retirement to make a statement and has shown no one – not even a 4-foot Superstar, not even a man’s family and his most personal secret – is out of bounds. Nothing is sacred to JBL. At WrestleMania XXIV, Finlay and the world will see “the wrestling god” at his best and worst – it depends on your perspective.

However, the same can be said of Finlay. WrestleMania XXIV may be the most important match of his career. He will be seeking revenge for himself, his family and most of all, for Hornswoggle. Finlay may not be content until he has JBL’s blood on his hands and the Texan-turned-New Yorker is left in a crimson-laced, broken heap.

The Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., may not be enough to contain this most personal of showdowns between Finlay and JBL. The only way to witness their battle is live on pay-per-view on Sunday, March 30.
MATCH-FINLAY VS. JBL

Maria’s posing in Playboy Magazine has stirred jealousy in the Divas locker room. Some, like Women’s Champion, The Glamazon Beth Phoenix, and Melina, resent the attention Maria has attracted.

They believe that they – not “one-dimensional eye candy” like Maria – deserve the spotlight. They hate the fact that former Women’s Champion Candice Michelle was one of the women who paved the way for Divas like Maria to get an opportunity in Playboy. So, these four beautiful women will have a point to prove to one other and the world when they square off at in the first-ever Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack Match at WrestleMania XXIV. WWE Divas will surround the ring while the four ladies battle inside the squared circle. But there will be a very special guest at BunnyMania - Snoop Dogg will make a special appearance and will be the Master of Ceremonies at the BunnyMania Lumberjack Match.

Proving They Have Style and Substance
BunnyMania will be personal for Candice. Last year, Beth Phoenix took her Women’s Title and then put her out of action with a broken collar bone.

Candice wants to extract a beating on The Glamazon and give her a black and blue receipt for putting her on the disabled list. For years, GoDaddy.com’s leading lady has battled criticism that she is just eye candy and showed our fans that she was champion within the squared circle by winning the Women’s Title from Melina. She also wants to start her road back to the Women’s Championship with a strong showing against The Glamazon.

Maria also wants to prove that she is much more than a pretty face. Playboy has opened her eyes and given her more exposure than perhaps she ever dreamed. Maria has worked hard at becoming a force in WWE inside and outside the ring. She has become a close friend of Candice – the two have a lot in common. Playboy’s new cover girl is ready and willing to show Beth Phoenix and Melina that she has many tricks up her sleeve.

Not Just A Couple of Pretty Faces
The Glamazon & Melina, meanwhile, want to batter Maria & Candice’s pretty faces. These two Divas believe Candice and Maria had their fame and prestige handed to them. Melina and Beth came up, as they would tell you, “the hard way” and spent years honing their craft. They don’t – and have never needed – Playboy.

Beth Phoenix especially wants to prove a point at WrestleMania XXIV, her first appearance on The Grandest Stage of Them All. She believes she is the “uber-Diva” – the epitome of beauty, grace and skill. To Beth, Candice and Maria are pretenders to her throne, and she wants to vanquish both of them (especially Candice) at the “uber-event” in sports-entertainment.

The fur is bound to fly when The Glamazon & Melina battle Candice & Maria in Playboy BunnyMania at WrestleMania. The only way to catch it is live on pay-per-view from Orlando, Fla., on March 30.MATCH-CANDICE MICHELLE & MARIA VS. BETH PHOENIX & MELINA