DALLAS – Not even a 20-foot box of Booty-O’s could fuel WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day with the necessary boost to overcome The League of Nations at WrestleMania. Yet before Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio and King Barrett left the WWE Universe with a sour taste at The Show of Shows, the WWE Hall of Fame trio of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley served a balanced, nutritious beatdown of The League that fortified the spirits of the capacity crowd inside Dallas’ AT&T Stadium.
Even prior to their arrival in the colossal, unicornflaked box of cereal, no one could deny Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods’ uncanny ability to energize an audience, make a spectacular entrance, dress like Super Saiyans or pick a Twitter fight with a faction comprised of brawlers, bruisers, boasters and brutes. After weeks of persistent jabs and jousts at The League’s expense, followed by consecutive nights of successful WWE Tag Team Title defenses against two League pairings, the frustrated foursome unleashed a vicious assault on Raw that left Kingston, Woods and Big E down, out and officially challenged to a match at WrestleMania.
The New Day was quick to accept The League’s challenge, and enjoyed the majority of singles success against them in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. Even as their Show of Shows showdown started, it quickly looked like the 3-on-3, non-title matchup would go the way of the Day. King Barrett, supporting his “lads” from ringside, watched helplessly as Kingston, Big E and Woods Unicorn Stampeded The Celtic Warrior almost through their corner of the ring.
The momentum, however, soon switched over to The League of Nations. Sheamus, Del Rio and Rusev employed numerous tags and taunts to keep Woods in their iron-clad clutches for nearly half the match. It was a merciless thrashing that almost assured a bad night for The New Day, until Woods somehow made the tag to Kingston. The fired-up Kofi brought both Rusev and Sheamus down to the canvas, and kept them there with a dual leg drop. The League rallied back briefly, until Kingston tagged in Big E, who speared all three League members to the outside floor.
Big E's move left him hurting as well, however, and after Del Rio neutralized Kingston on the outside, Woods was on his own. He still almost pulled out the victory with a rollup on Sheamus, but the ensuing kickout sent the Francesca 2-tooting Superstar to the ropes. It was there Barrett, unnoticed by the official, caught Woods with a devastating Bull Hammer Elbow from the apron, leaving him open to a monstrous Brogue Kick that decided the match in The League’s favor.
WWE Hall of Famers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley make a surprise appearance at The Show of Shows: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
As the lads relished in their victory, Barrett made one fatal mistake: He opened his mouth, declaring to anyone who would listen that “no three men in history could go toe-to-toe” with The League of Nations. Moments later, Shawn Michaels, dressed in full ring gear for the first time since his retirement, came out from the back, with his home state emphatically cheering him on. Then came Mick Foley, ready for a fight that was right up the alley of his Cactus Jack persona. And after Foley came “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, wearing a “Dallas 3:16” shirt and getting the capacity AT&T Stadium crowd on its feet.
The three WWE Hall of Famers – all of whom either battled one another or partnered together to win championships during WWE’s Attitude Era – came to the ring and briefly engaged The League in a 3-on-4 staredown. But when The New Day evened the odds by dragging Barrett to the outside floor, the WWE Legends struck. Del Rio, Sheamus and Rusev quickly earned themselves a Mr. Socko Mandible Claw, some Sweet Chin Music and a Stone Cold Stunner, respectively. And when Foley, HBK and Austin were done with them, The New Day served up a dazed Barrett for a WWE Hall of Fame beatdown.
The New Day looks to overcome the odds as they challenge The League of Nations at WrestleMania 32.
Left with no other choice, the reeling rogues withdrew, while Kingston, Woods and Big E joined Austin, HBK and Foley in the ring. Despite their non-title defeat, a grateful New Day went into full celebration mode, inviting the Hall of Famers to join them in dancing and chanting “New Day rocks!” The Legends watched for a moment, and it looked like they might even join in the revelry as Austin actually began to dance alongside Xavier Woods. Moments later, though, Woods found himself two-stepped by a Stunner that sent him reeling and his teammates exiting the ring. Now on their own, Austin, Michaels and Foley celebrated this incredible WrestleMania moment with the WWE Universe – and, of course, a few Steveweisers.
In the end, the arrogant League of Nations was still victorious. The brash New Day still rocked. But it was three WWE Hall of Famers who reminded both sides – and the world – that they can still bring the Attitude.
DALLAS – Not even a 20-foot box of Booty-O’s could fuel WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day with the necessary boost to overcome The League of Nations at WrestleMania. Yet before Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio and King Barrett left the WWE Universe with a sour taste at The Show of Shows, the WWE Hall of Fame trio of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley served a balanced, nutritious beatdown of The League that fortified the spirits of the capacity crowd inside Dallas’ AT&T Stadium.
Even prior to their arrival in the colossal, unicornflaked box of cereal, no one could deny Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods’ uncanny ability to energize an audience, make a spectacular entrance, dress like Super Saiyans or pick a Twitter fight with a faction comprised of brawlers, bruisers, boasters and brutes. After weeks of persistent jabs and jousts at The League’s expense, followed by consecutive nights of successful WWE Tag Team Title defenses against two League pairings, the frustrated foursome unleashed a vicious assault on Raw that left Kingston, Woods and Big E down, out and officially challenged to a match at WrestleMania.
The New Day was quick to accept The League’s challenge, and enjoyed the majority of singles success against them in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. Even as their Show of Shows showdown started, it quickly looked like the 3-on-3, non-title matchup would go the way of the Day. King Barrett, supporting his “lads” from ringside, watched helplessly as Kingston, Big E and Woods Unicorn Stampeded The Celtic Warrior almost through their corner of the ring.
The momentum, however, soon switched over to The League of Nations. Sheamus, Del Rio and Rusev employed numerous tags and taunts to keep Woods in their iron-clad clutches for nearly half the match. It was a merciless thrashing that almost assured a bad night for The New Day, until Woods somehow made the tag to Kingston. The fired-up Kofi brought both Rusev and Sheamus down to the canvas, and kept them there with a dual leg drop. The League rallied back briefly, until Kingston tagged in Big E, who speared all three League members to the outside floor.
Big E's move left him hurting as well, however, and after Del Rio neutralized Kingston on the outside, Woods was on his own. He still almost pulled out the victory with a rollup on Sheamus, but the ensuing kickout sent the Francesca 2-tooting Superstar to the ropes. It was there Barrett, unnoticed by the official, caught Woods with a devastating Bull Hammer Elbow from the apron, leaving him open to a monstrous Brogue Kick that decided the match in The League’s favor.
WWE Hall of Famers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley make a surprise appearance at The Show of Shows: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
As the lads relished in their victory, Barrett made one fatal mistake: He opened his mouth, declaring to anyone who would listen that “no three men in history could go toe-to-toe” with The League of Nations. Moments later, Shawn Michaels, dressed in full ring gear for the first time since his retirement, came out from the back, with his home state emphatically cheering him on. Then came Mick Foley, ready for a fight that was right up the alley of his Cactus Jack persona. And after Foley came “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, wearing a “Dallas 3:16” shirt and getting the capacity AT&T Stadium crowd on its feet.
The three WWE Hall of Famers – all of whom either battled one another or partnered together to win championships during WWE’s Attitude Era – came to the ring and briefly engaged The League in a 3-on-4 staredown. But when The New Day evened the odds by dragging Barrett to the outside floor, the WWE Legends struck. Del Rio, Sheamus and Rusev quickly earned themselves a Mr. Socko Mandible Claw, some Sweet Chin Music and a Stone Cold Stunner, respectively. And when Foley, HBK and Austin were done with them, The New Day served up a dazed Barrett for a WWE Hall of Fame beatdown.
The New Day looks to overcome the odds as they challenge The League of Nations at WrestleMania 32.
Left with no other choice, the reeling rogues withdrew, while Kingston, Woods and Big E joined Austin, HBK and Foley in the ring. Despite their non-title defeat, a grateful New Day went into full celebration mode, inviting the Hall of Famers to join them in dancing and chanting “New Day rocks!” The Legends watched for a moment, and it looked like they might even join in the revelry as Austin actually began to dance alongside Xavier Woods. Moments later, though, Woods found himself two-stepped by a Stunner that sent him reeling and his teammates exiting the ring. Now on their own, Austin, Michaels and Foley celebrated this incredible WrestleMania moment with the WWE Universe – and, of course, a few Steveweisers.
In the end, the arrogant League of Nations was still victorious. The brash New Day still rocked. But it was three WWE Hall of Famers who reminded both sides – and the world – that they can still bring the Attitude.
