Sheamus, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase def. Triple H & Randy Orton in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match
There hasn’t been this much animosity between partners since Tiger Woods’ last marriage counseling session. Triple H was forced to team with his despised enemy, Randy Orton, when the two faced off against their respective WrestleMania opponents, Sheamus as well as Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match.
Before the bout, Rhodes and DiBiase, who will face one another – along with The Viper – in a Triple Threat Match, made it clear that their alliance had frayed somewhat. During the match, Orton nearly punished Rhodes for his seeming betrayal, but the Irishman kicked him square in the jaw, sending him to the canvas and pinning him for the win. His WrestleMania foe was sure to send a message, though, as The Game sent Sheamus over the top rope.
With the memory of their epic main event match from last year’s 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania still fresh, Triple H and Randy Orton took up the gauntlet one more time. The two, however, would never reach a conclusion. Instead, their respective WrestleMania foes – Sheamus, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes – interceded. The three attacked, kicking up a five-man melee that resulted in The Game and The Viper being left motionless on the canvas.
- In honor of WrestleMania XXVI, the April 2010 issue of WWE Magazine features twenty-six different collectible covers. It's worth noting that the WWE Divas, who haven't been prominently feature on a cover of WWE Magazine since 2006, were shut out here too as all twenty-six covers were given to male wrestlers. Among those featured with their very own cover are Batista, Big Show, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Christian, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Edge, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, John Cena, John Morrison, Kane, Kofi Kingston, MVP, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Shawn Michaels, Sheamus, Ted DiBiase, The Miz, Triple H and Undertaker. The cover bearing Shawn Michaels is apparently the only one being sent out to subscribers, so fans of the likes of Bret Hart and Drew McIntyre will have to hunt newsstands for theirs.
Sheamus challenged Triple H to a WrestleMania Match
The tension between Triple H and Sheamus all started when The Game effectively ended The Celtic Warrior’s reign as WWE Champion inside of Satan’s Structure. Fitting since a clash between the two should be hell on earth for each man. After suffering a devastating attack by Sheamus last week, Triple H declared that his nemesis would lose his first match ever at WrestleMania – to him! Before the tension became overwhelming, the two collided both inside and outside of the ring.
We already know that WWE icons Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker are scheduled to take time off after Wrestlemania, Triple H may not be far behind them. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Hunter has been having problems with one of his quadriceps. He isn't expected to miss any time right now, but could end up requiring a break this summer.
DX invoked Unified Tag Title rematch clause Shawn Michaels appeared pretty steamed when “Mr. WrestleMania” addressed the WWE Universe regarding his rematch with The Undertaker. HBK told the crowd inside the Ford Center that his fellow Superstars think he lost the plot when he put his career on the line against The Deadman’s 17-0 WrestleMania streak. He even challenged anyone in the locker room who felt that way to face him, and one man did: Triple H.
Rather than belittle his DX partner, however, The Game encouraged Michaels epic undertaking, so to speak. He even felt the two should build momentum by invoking their rematch clause for the Unified Tag Team Championship. Michaels was on board, and so later tonight the duo will clash in a title match against champs Big Show & The Miz.
Unified Tag Team Champions Big Show & The Miz def. DX In what could possibly be their last match together, DX had hoped to exit on a triumphant note. A couple of black and white distractions, however, left the duo seeing red. Triple H & Shawn Michaels appeared to be holding their own against Unified Tag Team Champions Big Show & The Miz during their title match. Not surprisingly, The Undertaker would prove to be the death of their momentum. When The Deadman appeared on the arena’s TitanTron, HBK became distracted, allowing himself to get pinned. An enraged Michaels stormed off leaving his partner behind. That, too, would be regrettable.
Alone and unwitting, The Game was ambushed by former WWE Champion Sheamus, who clotheslined Triple H out of the ring. And, for good measure, The Celtic Warrior kicked him again over the announcer’s table.
This week Triple H moved up to the #9 position of the Power 25.