Random Wrestling Match Review (February 25, 2012)

Welcome to my Random Wrestling Match Review. Each match I review is randomly selected by using a random number generator to select a number. After getting my random number, I go to my list of 445 wrestling matches on DVD and review the match that has that number. For this review, I selected the number 333. The match I will review is...

JBL vs. Finlay [Belfast Brawl] (WrestleMania 24- March 30, 2008)

This match is very special to me because the JBL-Finlay feud was one of the first two WWE feuds I remember watching after I became a WWE fan again in February 2008 (the other feud was Big Show and Floyd "Money" Mayweather). I was a wrestling fan from 1999 to 2002 and then I stopped watching wrestling right around the time the WWF became the WWE. I remember watching Mr. McMahon telling Hornswoggle to kiss his ass on RAW on February 4, 2008. Before then, the only things I saw on RAW since 2002 were the Edge-Lita Live Sex Celebration in 2005 and Stone Cold stunning the McMahon family during the USA Homecoming RAW in 2006. I also remember watching the Mr. McMahon vs. Hornswoggle steel cage match on the February 18, 2008 episode of RAW. I started watching RAW every week after that so that RAW was my official return to wrestling. What does Mr. McMahon and Hornswoggle have to do with JBL and Finlay? During the steel cage match on RAW, JBL entered the cage and attacked Hornswoggle. At the time, Mr. McMahon was recognized as Hornswoggle's father, but then it was revealed by JBL that Finlay was Hornswoggle's father. Hornswoggle had to go to the hospital and was attacked by JBL in the hospital. I forget why JBL was attacking Hornswoggle, but it led to a JBL vs. Finlay match at WrestleMania. I enjoyed the feud and it will always be memorable to me because it happened when I made my return to wrestling.

The Facts:

• This match happened at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The attendance was 74,635. The Cirtus Bowl was the home arena for the XFL's Orlando Rage.
• Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler were the announcers for this match.
• This was JBL's last WrestleMania win.
• This was the opening match of WrestleMania XXIV.
• This match had a 08:35 time length.

The Match:

WrestleMania 24 was outdoors so there was daylight during this match. It made the match look unique and that's something we will see again at WrestleMania 28 because Sun Life Stadium in Miami is an outdoor venue. After Finlay was introduced, Finlay ran to the ring, but JBL attacked him before Finlay could enter the ring. JBL and Finlay fought outside the ring for a little bit and when Finlay and JBL were both in the ring, the bell rang to start the match. This was a Belfast Brawl which is basically another word for a Street Fight. After weakening JBL in the ring, Finlay went outside the ring and he got some weapons that included trash cans and kendo sticks from under the ring. Finlay tossed those items into the ring. Bad idea! When Finlay re-entered the ring, JBL picked up one of the trash cans and whacked Finlay on the head! JBL then picked up a trash lid and a cooking sheet. JBL whacked Finlay on the head with the trash lid and then hit Finlay again on the head with the cooking sheet. JBL went outside the ring and tossed the top part of the ring steps into the ring. JBL got back into the ring and tried to piledrive Finlay's head onto the steel steps, but Finlay countered it with a backdrop. Finlay picked up a cooking sheet and just like JBL, Finlay whacked JBL on the head with it. I can't believe this match was only three years ago. Headshots are banned in the WWE today. Finlay thought one headshot wasn't enough so he used the cooking sheet two more times to hit JBL on the head. Finlay went for a cover, but JBL kicked out at two.

After the two-count, Finlay bounced off the ropes, but JBL hit Finlay with a big boot. JBL took control of the match and started beating the crap out of Finlay. JBL picked up Finlay's shillelagh, but Hornswoggle entered the ring and hit JBL on the back with a kendo stick. JBL turned his back on Finlay to stare at Hornswoggle and when JBL turned around, Finlay hit JBL on the head with the shillelagh. JBL fell out of the ring. After Finlay brought JBL back into the ring, Finlay placed a trash can on JBL's head and stomped on the trash can. So many attacks to the head in this match. Finlay went back outside to look under the ring. What is Finlay going to get? Finlay pulls out a table and the fans cheer. Finlay places the table in the corner of the ring by the turnbuckles. Finlay tries to Irish Whip (how appropriate) JBL into the table, but JBL reverses it. However, Finlay is able to stop himself from being whipped into the table so JBL whips Finlay into the opposite turnbuckle instead. Finlay bounces off the turnbuckle and hits JBL with a clothesline. Finlay grabs the steel steps in the ring and JBL leaves the ring before Finlay can attack JBL with the steel steps. JBL gets distracted by Hornswoggle which gives Finlay enough time to get outside the ring and start attacking JBL. Finlay slams JBL's head onto the announce table a few times and then gets JBL back into the ring. JBL leaves the ring again, but this time leaves the ring towards the entrance ramp. JBL grabs a trash lid outside in the ring, but does it quietly so Finlay doesn't notice. Finlay bounces off the ropes and does a suicide dive outside the ring. JBL swings the trash lid like a baseball bat and hits Finlay right on the head!! Spot of the match!

JBL rolls Finlay back into the ring, covers Finlay, and gets a two-count. JBL picks up a trash can and throws it outside the ring at Hornswoggle! The trash can hits Hornswoggle and Horny goes down. JBL picks up another trash can and hits Finlay on the head with it. JBL bounces off the ropes, but Finlay picks up the trash can and throws it at JBL's head from point blank range. I don't know which WrestleMania match holds the record for most headshots, but it might be this match. I don't think even the Mick Foley vs. Edge hardcore match at WrestleMania 22 had this many headshots. Finlay picks up a trash can and delivers another headshot to JBL. One is not enough so he delivers three more headshots. I wish I had counted how many headshots were in this match. It feels like 100. Finlay picks up JBL and, like a bouncer throwing a drunken idiot out of a bar, throws JBL at the table in the corner and JBL goes through the table. Finlay goes for the cover and JBL kicks out. Finlay picks up the steel steps, but JBL hits Finlay's leg with a kendo stick and Finlay drops the steps. JBL bounces off the ropes and hits Finlay with the Clothesline From Hell. JBL covers Finlay and gets the three-count. JBL wins.

Winner: JBL

Rating: ***3/4

Great match. It was less than nine minutes long, but it didn't feel like a short match. JBL and Finlay didn't waste time and they were able to have a great WrestleMania match in a short amount of time. WrestleMania 24 was a great event and I think it helped a lot that this match was the opener. This match was entertaining and I didn't expect that from JBL and Finlay. I was not really a fan of Finlay. I liked JBL's character, but I wasn't very impressed by his in-ring ability. JBL was over 40 years old and Finlay was over 50 years old during this match so expectations had to be low for this match, but these two guys had a great match. WrestleMania 24 was not the last appearance for either men, but their next WrestleMania appearances were not as memorable as WrestleMania 24. JBL was at WrestleMania 25, but his match against Rey Mysterio lasted only 21 seconds. Finlay also competed at WrestleMania 25, but he was in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and the focus was more on guys like CM Punk, Shelton Benjamin, Christian, and Kofi Kingston than Finlay. WrestleMania 24 was JBL and Finlay's last chance to have a memorable performance at WrestleMania and two veterans had a match that both of them should be proud of. It was not a classic match, but it was very entertaining in my opinion and I think both JBL and Finlay performed to the best of their abilities. I think they knew they weren't going to steal the show because it was Ric Flair's night, but they were able to have a great performance for the last time in their careers at WrestleMania.