UMAGA VS. BOBBY LASHLEY

I had something witty here, since the US Election news was starting to hit the UK, but that seems pretty far away now. The Coronavirus has hit both sides of the Atlantic and started infecting as many aspects as it can reach. Stick to the adivice, stay in, stay safe and let's get it out of the way and move on, it's something that can't be taken lightly. With that out of the way, on to some unnecessary information before the match!

Commentary for Raw is Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler, who were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the previous night. They announce this match. Smackdown announcers John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Michael Cole and ECW announcers Joey Styles and Tazz. It's ECW's debut at Wrestlemania. They got a few spots and an 8 man tag. The theme song for this show was “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva.

Back in 2007, Mr. McMahon had buddied up with Umaga and his `handler' Armando Alejandro Estrada. First to try and take the WWE Championship off John Cena at New Year's Revolution and Royal Rumble (which failed, becauseSuperCenasorrypal!). On 8^th January edition of Raw (Network Episode) Vince McMahon staged a match between Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell impersonators. 3 weeks later Donald Trump was shown on the Titantron and dropped money into the arena, because he can. On 19^th February they chose representatives to wrestle and signed a contract for the match. Donald Trump chose ECW Champion Bobby Lashley to represent him against Umaga. Umaga would go on to beat Jeff Hardy later that night to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The losing billionaire would have his head shaved and as the cherry on the cake, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was introduced as a Special Guest referee.

Everyone gets an entrance, so 15 minutes are spent getting everyone to the ring so we can reminisce on the creepy promo Vince cut to his grandchild in a pram, seriously check it out. It goes down before the ECW 8-man match. It goes without saying but here it is anyway, Austin got the biggest pop of the match. JR says he was up with Austin till 4am partying after last night's Hall of Fame ceremony and Austin is not a happy man when he hasn't slept.

UMAGA VS. BOBBY LASHLEY (Battle of the Billionaires)

WWE Wrestlemania 23 (1^st April 2007)

The bell rings and Umaga charges at Lashley, they collide in the middle of the ring and neither man budges. They exchange right hands, Lashley backs Umaga down but gets shoved away. Lashley is back on him, clotheslining Umaga in the corner and going back to right hands. Austin counts in the corner before forcibly removing Lashley. Bobby Lashley gets in Austin's face and the distraction allows Umaga to boot him in the face. Umaga sends Lashley into the corner and charges, but Lashley moves out of the way, Bobby Lashley hits a shoulder block from the middle rope and covers, but Armando Estrada puts Umaga's foot on the bottom rope. Estrada is brought into the ring and Lashley hits a powerslam on him before sending him back out. Umaga charges at Lashley, but is low-bridged and sent out, following his handler over the top rope. Lashley follows to the floor but is immediately cut off and they take it back into the ring. Umaga hits some right hands, Lashley fight back but his Spear attempt is cut off with a knee lift. Umaga dumps Lashley through the ropes, much to the delight of Mr. McMahon at ringside, we get a replay as Umaga hits a splash or a nearfall.

Umaga starts choking Lashley against the bottom rope, Austin starts counting, then clubs Umaga across the back to force a break. Umaga goes straight back to it, so Austin pulls him back by the hair. There's a tense staredown as Lashley teaches himself to breathe again and he elbows Umaga in the gut. Bobby Lashley gets to his feet in the corner and fights out with rights but is flattened with a clothesline. Umaga stomps on Lashley and hits a cannonball from the second rope. McMahon asks for another and gets it. Bobby Lashley gets a shot in on Umaga but the Samoan Spike drops him. Bobby Lashley tries to slam Umaga but Umaga falls on him, covering for a nearfall. Mr. McMahon tries to motivate Umaga from the apron but Lashley lands on his feet from a scoop slam attempt and hits the ropes, knocking Mr. McMahon to the floor. Lashley looks concerned for reasons I'm still confused about and turns around into a flatliner by Umaga. Umaga makes it to the top rope but is thrown across the ring, Lashley sends him inside out with a clothesline! Austin starts counting both men down but stops at 9 refusing to end the match that way.

Shane McMahon runs down to check on his father as Lashley and Umaga are getting to their feet in the ring. Umaga gets the first attack, with an uppercut to Lashley. He starts hitting rights and choking Lashley in the corner before Referee Austin drags him away by the hair again. Stone Cold cuts off Shane's attempt at interference but the Samoan Spike gives us a referee bump because why not? Shane jabs at Lashley, but is grabbed for a belly to belly suplex, Umaga saves Shane and sets Lashley up in the corner. Shane stomps to soften him up for a running ass attack by Umaga. Mr. McMahon retrieves a trash can from under the ring and Shane O Mac hits the Coast to Coast as Umaga holds the trash can! He reveals a referee's shirt, Umaga hits a Samoan Splash from the top rope and covers Lashley, but Austin has recovered at ringside and pulls Shane O Mac before the 3, sending him into the steps. Umaga hits Austin with a right hand as Trump decks McMahon at ringside and the billionaires brawl on the floor! Umaga signals for the Samoan Spike but Austin ducks it, hitting a Stunner on Umaga, Lashley hits the Spear on a groggy opponent and keeps him down for Austin to count the three!

WINNER: BOBBY LASHLEY (DONALD TRUMP)

After the match Bobby Lashley, Donald Trump and Steve Austin all contribute to shaving Mr. McMahon bald.

This was what Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar three years previously should have been. The ending was McMahon overbooking that was actually reasonable and made sense considering what was on the line and the history between McMahon and everyone else involved in the match. The result was never in doubt, but they made it an enjoyable experience getting there bell to bell, even if I could have done without sitting through the entrances. It was a decent ** ½ match, 2/5 match personally.