Post by hbkshawn88 on May 14, 2013 22:08:07 GMT
Battle of the Billionaires
Bobby Lashley vs. Umaga
WrestleMania 23
April 1st 2007
The Facts: This match happened at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on April 1, 2007. The attendance at Ford Field for WrestleMania 23 was 80,103.
Donald Trump was with Bobby Lashley. Vince McMahon and Armando Alejandro Estrada were with Umaga.
Lashley was the ECW Champion and Umaga was the Intercontinental Champion. Neither title was on the line in this match.
This was a Hair vs. Hair match. If Umaga won, Trump would lose his hair. If Lashley won, McMahon would lose his hair.
The McMahon-Trump feud started on January 27, 2007 on RAW when thousands of dollars dropped from the ceiling of the arena. The money came from Trump. It was fan appreciation night and McMahon didn’t like that the fans appreciated Trump more than they appreciated McMahon.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special guest referee for this match. It was announced on RAW on March 5 that the Board of Directors voted for Austin to be the referee.
Lashley was released from WWE on February 4, 2008. He became a mixed martial arts fighter and made his MMA debut on December 13, 2008.
Umaga died on December 4, 2009 after suffering two heart attacks. He was 36 years old. Umaga had recently returned from Australia where he had wrestled on the Hulk Hogan tour. The cause of death was acute toxicity due to combined effects of hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and diazepam. According to author Irvin Muchnick, “Hydrocone is a painkiller. Carisoprodol, commonly called soma, is a muscle relaxer. Diazepam, commonly called Valium, is an anti-anxiety medication.”
Jim “JR” Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler were the announcers for this match.
The time length of this match was 13:04.
The Match: Bobby Lashley gets Umaga to the corner and clothslines Umaga. Austin pulls Lashley away from corner. Lashley is whipped in the corner. Umaga tries to attack Lashley in corner, but Lashley gets out of the way. Lashley hits Umaga with a flying shoulder block. Pin attempt and Armando Alejandro Estrada puts Umaga’s foot on the rope to break the count. Lashley brings Estrada in the ring and slams him. Lashley throws Estrada out of the ring. Umaga runs at Lashley and Lashley avoids him. Umaga falls out of the ring and gets back in the ring. Lashley runs at Umaga, Umaga avoids him, and Lashley dives out of the ring. Umaga throws Lashley back in the ring. Splash by Umaga gets a two count. Umaga chokes Lashley by the ropes. Austin breaks it up. Umaga goes back to choking Lashley and Austin breaks it up by grabbing Umaga’s hair. Umaga clotheslines Lashley. Umaga sits on Lashley after jumping off the middle rope. Lashley fights back and Umaga stops the comeback with a Samoan Drop. Lashley lifts Umaga but he can’t slam him and Umaga falls onto him. Lashley kicks out of a pin. Umaga is on the top rope and Lashley slams him off the top. Lashley clotheslines Umaga. Both men are down. Austin counts them. The count gets to 9 and he stops the count. Austin will not end the match on a countout. Shane comes down to the ring and distracts Austin. Umaga hits Austin and Austin is out of the ring. Shane gets involved in the match. Umaga and Shane double team Lashley. Vince gets a trash can and Shane goes for his Coast to Coast move. Shane flies from one turnbuckle to the other and kicks the trash can in Lashley’s face. Shane takes off his jacket and reveals that he’s wearing a referee’s shirt. Umaga goes to the top rope. Big splash by Umaga. Shane counts the pin, but Austin pulls Shane out of the ring. Austin throws Shane into the ring steps. Austin enters the ring and Umaga hits Austin again. This isn’t a no disqualification match so I don’t know why Austin didn’t disqualify Umaga and announce that Lashley is the winner. Vince talks to Austin at ringside while Austin is down on the mat and Trump takes down Vince. Umaga gets Austin to his feet. Austin ducks Umaga’s attack. Austin hits the stunner on Umaga! Lashley spears Umaga! Lashley pins Umaga and Austin counts to three.
Winner: Bobby Lashley