WWE WrestleMania 23 PPV Results - 4/1/07
Location: Detroit, Michigan (Ford Field)
Announcers: Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole & JBL and Joey Styles & Tazz

- The WWE promo hits.

- A video package then opens showing images of past WrestleMania events featuring Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, The Undertaker and others. A deep voice notes, "And now, WrestleMania returns to Detroit 20 years later...all grown up."

- We go to video footage from WrestleMania 3 in 1987 with Vince McMahon welcoming the crowd. This fades into a live shot of the Ford Field in Detroit. Vince McMahon then introduces Aretha Franklin. Franklin sings "America The Beautfil" sitting at a piano while images are shown of American soldiers.

- A video then runs with the "All Grown Up" theme showcasing various WWE stars and the importance of WrestleMania to them. Very good video package.

- A graphic opening then hits welcoming us to WrestleMania 23. We go live where a HUGE display of pyro goes off inside Ford Field. The pyro was displayed above the entrance area over the crowd and among the huge stage. Very impressive.

- Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler first welcome us to the 23rd WrestleMania. They pass it on to Michael Cole and JBL. And finally, it gets passed on to Joey Styles and Tazz.

- Lilian Garcia announces that the opening contest tonight will be the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match. Jeff Hardy is out first.

- Mr. Kennedy won the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match over Edge, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, King Booker, Finlay & CM Punk. The Raw, Smackdown and ECW announcers are all talking during the matches and look to be doing so throughout the night. One big spot early on saw Finlay go up to the top rope and take out a majority of the competitors on the outside. Edge setup a ladder quickly and everyone took shots at trying to go up. Everytime it would get knocked down, someone else would come in to break it up. King Booker went for a ladder, but pulled out a small step ladder instead. Edge launched the step ladder at CM Punk's face. Punk came back with a snap suplex on the outside on Edge. Booker with lots of offense on Kennedy, Punk and Finlay. Booker even pulled out a spinarooni. The Hardy's then came in and took out Booker with two ladders. The Hardy's setup two ladders as they did at Armageddon to take out Edge, but Finlay broke it up and Edge suplexed Matt onto the two ladders. Kennedy went for a Kenton Bomb on Matt over a ladder, but Matt moved and Kennedy smacked the back of his neck on the ladder. Jeff followed that up with a Swanton Bomb. The Hardy's worked together more taking out Finlay and Orton with a ladder. The Hardy's then setup a ladder, climb up and exchange lefts and rights. Finlay pushes both off. Finlay with tons of offense on Booker, Punk and others. Edge with a Spear on Finlay, Orton, Booker, Kennedy, Matt, Jeff and misses a final attempt on Punk when Punk jumped out of the way. Punk puts the ladder over his head and spins it around picking everyone off. Edge then takes down Punk with a big Spear, taking out Finlay and Orton in the process. Edge then brings in a taller ladder and sets it up. Orton comes in and pushes Edge off. Jeff sets up the big ladder again and Matt drapes Edge across a ladder from the ring apron to the ring barricade. Jeff goes up to the top, jumps and crashes on Edge cracking the ladder holding Edge in half! JBL said that was 20 feet. Just an amazing spot. Stretchers are brought out and Edge is put on one. Inside the ring, Orton hits an RKO on Matt, Finlay and Kennedy. Orton gets another ladder up, but Punk breaks it up with another ladder. We see a shot of Edge being taken away on a stretcher. Orton and Punk get up on two ladders and Orton jumps off with Punk hitting an RKO! Orton and Booker then get up on the ladders and Booker brings Orton off hitting a Book End! Booker gets up a ladder, Matt Hardy goes up as well, Sharmell comes in, Matt grabs Sharmell and threatens to hit her with a Twist of Fate. Booker jumps off and Matt takes him out. Finlay tosses Matt off a ladder after this. Finlay is busted open on his face and head. Finlay hits a Celtic Cross on Matt over a ladder on the mat. Hornswoggle (The Little Bastard) appears and starts to climb up a ladder with Finlay slightly injured. Kennedy takes out Finlay and sees Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle punches Kennedy at the top of another ladder. Kennedy then grabs Hornswoggle, puts him on his shoulders and does his flip dive! Finlay then starts to climb and Punk takes out the ladder with a dropkick. Punk gets the top and touches the briefcase. Kennedy comes up and both exchange punches. Punk kicks Kennedy off, reaches, but Kennedy hits Punk in the face with a ladder. Kennedy then sets up the ladder better, goes up to the top and gets the "Money in the Bank" briefcase. Kennedy has now secured a World Title shot of his choosing for a year.

- Highlights are shown from the premiere of WWE Films' "The Condemned" in Detroit, MI this past Friday night.

- Backstage, Todd Grisham was with Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy congratulates himself for winning "Money in the Bank" tonight. He added that he would like to send a message to anyone in the back with championship gold in that they should have eyes in the back of their heads because he is coming after that.

- An "All Grown Up" promo about Batista airs.

- The Great Khali defeated Kane. The match starts with both men locking up and Khali pushing down Kane with ease. Khali then takes down Kane again with a big shoulder block. Khali then tosses Kane through the ropes to the outside. Kane responds by dropping Khali's head off the top rope from the ring apron. Khali responds with a big clothesline. Khali continues his offense on Kane with plenty of kicks and elbow strikes in the corner. Kane fights back with a clothesline in a corner. Kane comes off the top with a flying clothesline, but Khali wouldn't go down. Kane then kicks Khali back against the ropes and Khali gets tied up. Kane then left the ring and brought out his hook on a chain. Khali took out Kane with a big chop to the head. Khali then exposed a top turnbuckle. With the referee distracted, Kane low blowed Khali with the chain and then took out Khali with a big scoop slam! JR puts over how this was the first time we had ever seen The Great Khali slammed in WWE. Kane and Khali both choke each other, it gets broken up, Khali then grabs Kane and connects with his double-handed chokeslam. Khali puts his foot on Kane's chest and gets the pinfall. After the match, Khali grabbed the chain and started choking Kane with it. The referees eventually broke it up.

- An "All Grown Up" promo airs about the WWE Divas.

- A promo for AT&T Mobile airs.

- Backstage, Cryme Tyme is with Eugene. They understand he is upset about being shaven bald. They try to cheer him up when we see "Extreme Expose" dancing. It gets worse with The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young appearing. Slick, Dusty Rhodes, Jimmy Hart and I.R.S. all show up. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat then shows up quickly followed by Ron Simmons stopping everything with our "DAMN" moment of the evening.

- A shot of the Detroit Tigers are shown in the crowd.

- Chris Benoit defeated MVP to retain the WWE United States Championship. The match starts with Benoit taking MVP to the mat, but MVP is able to counter Benoit and get back to his feet. MVP blocks a german suplex attempt by Benoit and sends Benoit to the outside. The announcers are really trying to put MVP over as an equal to Benoit. JBL said only people like Bret Hart and Eddie Guerrero could go toe-to-toe with Benoit and said he was impressed by MVP tonight. Benoit takes down MVP again in an armbar and MVP gets the ropes. Benoit gets MVP up on the top rope, gets in a few chops, MVP breaks up a superplex attempt and jumps off allowing Benoit to bounce off the top rope back to the mat. MVP continues his offense in on Benoit and the crowd is dead. Crowd gets back into it when Benoit hits three german suplexes on MVP. MVP then hits a big superplex on Benoit off the top rope, but Benoit hooks MVP's leg and nearly gets a three count. MVP responds with a rollup from the corner, but Benoit kicks out. MVP levels Benoit with a boot to the face, covers and Benoit kicks out again. Benoit then dropped MVP attempting a Crossface, but MVP counters and stands up saying, "Hell no!" MVP drops an elbow on Benoit, but Benoit responds with two german suplexes, blocks a third, but Benoit is able to hit three more after coming off the ropes. Benoit goes up to the top rope, jumps and connects with a flying headbutt. Benoit covers MVP and retains the WWE United States Title. After the match, Benoit celebrates with the U.S. Title as JBL puts this over as another WrestleMania Moment for Benoit.

- A promo centering around The Undertaker for WrestleMania 23 airs.

- Backstage, we see Donald Trump on a cell phone. Trump calls McMahon bad news and mentions he has the former Miss USA with him. Trump said he might leave when we hear The Boogeyman's music hit. The former Miss USA runs away. Trump isn't scared of Boogeyman and asks him for a sandwich. Boogeyman asks what about a worm sandwich? Another bad backstage promo for the night.

- Michael Cole & JBL plug the WWE Backlash PPV on April 29.

- We then go to a highlight video from last night's WWE Hall of Fame - Class of 2007 induction ceremony in Detroit at Fox Theatre.

- Lilian Garcia plugs tonight's attendance: 80,103. It is a new record for Ford Field in Detroit. Garcia then introduces legendary ring announcer Howard Finkel. Finkel introduces the WWE Hall of Fame - Class of 2007 to the stage: Jim Ross, Curt Hennig's family, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Nick Bockwinkel, Mr. Fuji, The Wild Samoans, Joyce Farhat - the wife of The Original Sheik and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.

- AT&T Mobile Poll: 82% to 18% feel The Undertaker will win the World Title tonight.

Click here for Part 2