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WWE WrestleMania 40 Night One: The Rock and Roman Reigns Beat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins Setting Up Epic Battle

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: WWE

It was a new era of the WWE firmly under Triple H’s creative control, the merger of the WWE with UFC forming TKO, and the company set to deliver the biggest WrestleMania of all-time.

If night one on Saturday April 6th was the appetizer for what was to come on night two on Sunday, wrestling fans in attendance and watching on Peacock at home, were clearly in for a memorable two-night affair.

Night one featured the return of The Rock to in-ring action, something the biggest star in the world has not done in 11 years. Coming into Saturday’s main event tag match with Roman Reigns as his partner against babyfaces Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, this version of The Rock is a mega-heel now known as “The Final Boss.” So much was on the line. If Cody and Seth lose, it would be “Bloodline” rules where everything goes for Sunday night’s main event between “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship.

Photo: WWE

After riveting ring entrances and introductions done with the highest live-entertainment production value, all four men stared each other down trying to determine who would start the match. Ultimately, it was former “Shield” members Rollins and Reigns who went into battle first.

However, The Rock used his power as member of the board of TKO to influence the referee, going so far as telling the ref he will be fired, if he continues to do a count not in favor of The Rock and Reigns. Ultimately, “The Final Boss” pulled the referee out of the ring so he was unable to count when Reigns was about to be pinned following a stomp by Seth and Cross Rhodes by Cody.

Photo: WWE

Next, Reigns rendered a spear on Rhodes but he kicked out, leaving The Rock to use the Mama Rhodes belt while taunting Rhodes’ mother at ringside. After Cody was down, The Rock went for the People’s Elbow, but Rhodes cut him off with a Cody Cutter.

In a pivotal moment, Roman Reigns accidentally speared The Rock. Setting up what could be an inter-family feud down the road.  Then, in an OMG moment, Rhodes Rock-Bottomed The Rock through a table (even at 51-years-old, Dwayne Johnson was taking major bumps) while Reigns speared Rollins through a barricade.

Photo: WWE

The match came to its conclusion when The Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Rhodes, and followed it with People’s Elbow for the win. That means that Sunday’s WWE Universal Championship match between Cody and Roman will be “Bloodline” rules.

In a poetic callback, Cody Rhodes sat dejected in the ring, while Reigns and The Rock walked back up the ring ramp. It was exactly one-year ago that “The American Nightmare” found himself in the same position with the same reaction after losing to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles. This was as they say, “cinema.” This was the essence of professional wrestling at its highest level; giving the WWE universe as compelling a product as they ever have with stories that connect, while laying the groundwork for major payoffs along with wild athleticism.

Photo: WWE

If that match wasn’t enough, being in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you had to have your Rocky story, right? WrestleMania 40 delivered that too with a fantastic match between Gunther defending his WWE Intercontinental Championship against fan favorite Sami Zayn.

Photo: WWE

It has been 666 days that “The Ring General” held the belt, becoming the longest reigning IC champ in history. Could the underdog Zayn defeat one of the great technical wrestlers and heels of our time? The answer was YES! With Zayn’s wife at ringside, and Gunther taunting her, it gave Sami more impetus to takedown the champ. Eventually, Sami gave a Helluva kick and a brainbuster that stunned Gunther, and with two more Helluva Kicks, Zayn pinned him to win the title.

Photo: WWE

The opening match of the night gave a showcase to two of the greatest women wrestlers of the world, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and “The Man” Becky Lynch.  It was revealed during the livestream on Peacock, that Becky had strep throat and a fever and was working the match anyway. With the scrappy Lynch trying to unseat Ripley from her title throne, it wasn’t to be, when Rhea delivered two Riptides to knock “The Man” out.  The match proved it’s Rhea Ripley’s world and we all live in it.

Photo: WWE

In the six-man ladder match, the eventual winners and new tag champs became a split decision with A-Town Down Under – Austin Theory and Grayson Waller – nabbing the SmackDown titles, while R-Truth and The Miz took down the RAW tag titles.

Photo: WWE

Leave it to Philly and the WWE to bring in some hometown heroes for a match. Former Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce, and Lane Johnson came to the aid of Rey Mysterio and Andrade donning wrestling masks with the Eagles logo on them at ringside. They helped the LWO members defeat Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio as the crowd went crazy.

Photo: WWE

One of the coolest entrances of WrestleMania 40 weekend belonged to Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi, when they appeared almost statue-like harkening to a Beyonce concert! The mighty trio defeated Damage CTRL.

The only match that left us cold was the brother vs. brother match of Jey vs. Jimmy Uso. With an opening video package that set-up the match beautifully, the actual action left a lot to desired. There were a multitude of superkicks throughout, and a lot of yelling going on, but it ended with Jey pinning Jimmy. However, it left us with nothing of substance to remember it by.

So, what did you think of seeing The Rock back in action in the tag match with his cousin Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins? What did you think of Sami besting Gunther for the IC belt? Let us know your favorite moments from night one of ‘Mania’40 in the comment section. But first, check out some of the highlights from night one below.

 

 

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Beyond the Gates

BEYOND THE GATES: A Tornado Hits Fairmont Crest Part 1: Eva and Martin on Seriously Injured List

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On the Thursday, June 11 episode of Beyond the Gates the highly-anticipated tornado struck the Fairmont Crest Country Club while Martin Richardson was holding a fundraiser with the most prominent citizens of Genoa City and the D.C./Maryland area attending.

Martin tells the guest that weather reports indicate a tornado warning, and as he tells them to exit the ballroom to safety, the twister strikes sending everyone into peril,. Richardson and Dupree and Abbott family members are calling out for each other as chaos ensues.

Here is who got stuck with who: Dani and Bill are stuck in an elevator and begin to get hot and bothered after trying to escape. Hayley is stuck in a closet with Kyle Abbott and they makeout, and then to pass the time she puts on some tunes and they dance.

Courtesy/CBS

THOSE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION

Things are much more serious for Kat and Eva who winds up in a closet but a mental wall comes crashing down upon them. As Kat rails at her sister, Eva says she doesn’t feel well and begins to spit up blood. Kat is a wreck and is trying to deal with her sister’s plight, but they are trapped.

Leslie is helping Anita with her injured ankle, while Vernon goes to try to restore some power, get walkie-talkies and do what he can for everyone inside Fairmont Crest. Nicole and Smitty hear a noise and realize Andre is buried under the rubble in the ballroom. As it turns Andre’s leg was injured when a piece of metal got stuck in it. Ted gets Andre stitched up and tells him to stay put.

The Genoa City contingent can’t locate Victor Newman or Kyle Abbott, as Jack and Diane try to help others. Meanwhile, suddenly yells out that someone is under the tree. Smitty and Nicole gasps as its Martin! He is not moving in and needs medical attention. Smitty fighting back tears asks Martin to squeeze his hand if he can hear him. But there is no response.

Abby Newman worried for the whereabouts of her father, walks away just as chandelier begins to fall from the ceiling, Diane screams out to Abby to watch out. We fade to black.

Beyond the Gates delivered as they had promised, a riveting episode and one of the best soap opera tornadoes harkening back to the days of All My Children. But what did you think of part one? Martin and Eva as the two characters currently most in trouble? What about Dani and Bill getting hot and heavy and Hayley kissin on Kyle? What was your favorite part of part 1? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell is Set Up By Lucas and Company, Cassius is in the Right Place at the Right Time

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On the Wednesday, June 10 episode of General Hospital, after Sidwell (Carlo Rota) shoots Lucas (Van Hansis) three times, he is surrounded by PCPD commissioner Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna), Joe (Jonathan Bennett) and other uniformed cops. Laura (Genie Francis) and Sonny (Maurice Benard) show up and the mayor runs to Lucas as Joe checks his vitals.

Lucas comes to and reveals (as we all predicted) that he was wearing a bulletproof vest. That reveal sets Sidwell off that he was played as Dante says there is evidence enough to arrest him for attempted murder.

Sidwell though, tells Dante that he needs to arrest Laura and his father, the mobster Sonny Corinthos, for Professor Dalton’s murder, but admits he no longer has the proof because Lucas broke into his safe and stole the evidence.

Courtesy/ABC

LUCAS GETS BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS

Just then, “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) shows up wondering what he missed. Sidwell says his lawyer will get the charges thrown out since Dante, Laura, Sonny and Lucas conspired against him. However, Dante mistakenly allows “Nathan” aka Cassius to be in charge of taking Sidwell to the PCPD and to book him.

Lucas is still uneasy. Laura wants him to go to GH to be checked out. Dante asks Laura and Sonny and Sonny about Dalton’s death, but they play dumb as if they know nothing about it, which is not lost on Dante that they are lying.

Later, none other than Joe takes Lucas to the hospital, and for the first time we see the two characters truly in a one-on-one moment together. Lucas talks about Marco and Joe waits around till the nurse comes to get Lucas to get checked out. Do you get a sense that Joe likes Lucas, or is that all in our minds?

Courtesy/ABC

SIDWELL GETS AWAY

Taking a side road, Cassius gets Sidwell out of his vehicle, and tells him he cannot protect him from an attempted murder charge, so the only thing Jenz can do is to get out of the country and disappear for good. Sidwell says he has many contingency plans in place, and also warns Cassius that he will expose him if he does not comply with what he needs him to do.

To make it look good, Sidwell asks for Cassius’ gun. In the final moments of the show, Cassius is seen with a gash on his head calling Dante, and informing him that Sidwell’s thugs jumped him and Jenz got away!

Courtesy/ABC

THE PLAN TO BLACKMAIL DREW BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

Elsewhere, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) is freaked out that Jack (Chris McKenna) is able to grab her arm and talk! Just then, Nina (Cynthia Watros) shows up. Willow learns her mother hasn’t been injecting Brennan with the paralytic drug. Jack says he can stop Sidwell and Cullum from coming after her and has evidence she can leverage against Drew.

Willow learns, that according to Brennan, Drew misappropriated federal funds and he has the proof, and if that should come to light, Drew would be sent to prison. Nina says Drew won’t risk being sent to prison again, so Willow can stop drugging him.

However, Jack has a plan. He says he’s the only one with the information on Drew. He thinks they should continue to let Cullum and Sidwell believe he’s still in a locked-in state to give him cover. Willow is told as much as she hates continuing to drug Drew, she will only need to do it 1 or 2 more times, to give Jack time to set everything in motion.

So, were you annoyed that Cassius freed Sidwell when he was caught shooting Lucas Jones? Where do you think Sidwell will go? Do you think Joe and Lucas might be potential boyfriends, and what do you think of Jack’s plan? Did Drew really misappropriate federal funds? Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, check out the scenes between, Nina, Willow and Jack.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Obrecht Learns Cassius is Her Son; Lucas is Shot By Sidwell

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In a riveting and intense episode of General Hospital, the Tuesday June 9 episode brought with it a standout performance by Kathleen Gati as Dr. Liesl Obrecht, as she finally learns the truth that “Nathan” is really the twin she thought had died at child birth, Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey).

Couple that with the fact that Lucas (Van Hansis) lured Sidwell (Carlo Rota) into a massive showdown where ultimately three shots were fired and Dr. Jones went down.

But first, in the secret room at Wyndemere, Obrecht learns the true identify of Cassius as Josslyn (Eden McCoy) looks on. We also finally learn the backstory of how Cassius came to be and Obrecht had no idea she had another son. Cassius tells his mother that Nathan’s twin wasn’t stillborn. It was none other than Liesl’s evil sister Madeline (formerly played by Donna Mills) who covered it up.

Courtesy/ABC

However, Madeline handed Cassius over to Cesar Faison in exchange for leaving Liesl alone. Madeline never told Faison that Cassius was indeed a twin, and she never told Liesl that her baby survived. Sadly, when Liesl asked what happened to Nathan, it’s then Cassius reveals that his brother died when Faison shot him over 7 years ago and he has been impersonating him since arriving in Port Charles.

CASSIUS SPILLS THE TEA

But that’s not all, Liesl! Next, she learns how Cassius has been involved in Britt faking her death and that Britt has known this whole time that Cassius was alive and never told his mutter. At that point, Obrecht lost it and bitch-slapped Cassius across the face. However, it was Josslyn who came to Cassius’ defense, giving him credit where credit was due for saving her life and Britt’s.

Cassius admitted that he has been trying to protect Britt, and that the plan was for the two to get out from under Sidwell and Cullum, once Faison’s final project was completed. However, with Britt running off with Rocco, all bets are off. It’s then, Liesl realizes the reason she was kidnapped. They are forcing her to finish the cold fusion-based project. Cassius warns Liesl that if she doesn’t comply, Sidwell and Cullum will kill her. He makes a vow to his mutter that he wont let anything happen to her, because he’d die before he let her go down. At that moment, Liesl, in tears, accepted her current fate stating, ‘Then I will do what needs to be done. Because I have no intention of letting you die, my son!”

Courtesy/ABC

TENNIS ANYONE? HOW ABOUT SOME BULLETS INSTEAD?

Meanwhile, Sidwell has caught up with Lucas at the Marco Rios Tennis Center. He then confronts him for stealing the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. Lucas admits he took them and laid into Sidwell for making Marco an accomplice to his criminal activities when Marco wanted out. So he volunteered to help Sonny and Laura get rid of the evidence Sidwell was holding over their heads.

Next, Jenz pulled out a gun and accused Lucas of killing Marco and framing Pascal to cover up his crime. Lucas spewed venom at Sidwell, telling him to look at himself, for he is to blame for his own son’s death. When Lucas shouted that Marco would want nothing to do with his father if he has lived, Sidwell shot Lucas three times in the chest and he went down.

Courtesy/ABC

WILLOW IS IN FOR A WSB SURPRISE

In yet another tense moment, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) showed up at Turning Woods to inject Jack (Chris McKenna) with another dose of the paralytic to keep him in his “locked-in” state, only as she went to do the deed, Willow was shocked when Jack grabs her hand and begs her not to inject him. What will Willow do now that she is caught and Jack can fight back?

And, after faking out Willow, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) met up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) where they are concocting a plan to make Willow look like the guilty driver who ran Jordan (Tanisha Harper) off the road to try to make Willow looks bad in Chase’s (Josh Swickard) eyes, and to keep her away from BLQ’s husband.

So, what did you think of the performance of Kathleen Gati as Liesl learns the shocking truth about Cassius? What are your thoughts on the backstory of Cassius and Nathan, Madeline, Faison and Obrecht? Do you think Lucas is wearing a bullet proof vest, all in the attempt to get Sidwell arrested for the crime of shooting him, or do you think he will be rushed to surgery? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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