With a record breaking 74,635 on hand at the Citrus Bowl in Florida, the sports entertainment extravaganza known as Wrestlemania XXIV took place. HipHopDX was ringside to witness the festivities first hand as a heavy Hip Hop influence found its way into the sport of professional wrestling.
With the world patiently awaiting the high profile matchup between pound for pound boxing king Floyd "Money" Mayweather and the 7ft giant known as The Big Show, a series of entertaining matches took place in front of the thousands in attendance and the millions watching on Pay-Per-View.
John Legend kicked off the festivities by singing “America The Beautiful” in front of the sellout crowd and Hip Hop’s influence would manage to find its way into the evening.
Snoop Dogg would be the Master of Ceremonies for the "Bunnymania Lumberjack Match" that found Beth Phoenix and Melina defeating Playboy cover girls Maria and Ashley. But it would be Snoop who would get the last laugh as Maria’s ex boyfriend, Santino Marella, would find himself on the receiving end of a clothesline delivered by the Doggfather after the match ended. Never one to leave the ladies hanging, Snoop then proceeded to deliver lip service to Maria as the crowd roared in appreciation.
In a match that had the entire sports world curious, Floyd “Money” Mayweather found himself toe to toe with The Big Show in a match that would be decided by KO, pin fall or submission. Mayweather began the match forcing the gigantic challenger to chase him around the ring. It wouldn’t last long however as Big Show finally caught up to Mayweather and pummeled the 5’8”, 140lbs boxing champion. Mayweather’s posse also caught a beatdown as Show pounded through his entourage. After one of his handlers dragged the best boxer in the world from the ring, it seemed as if Team Mayweather would toss in the towel and head for the showers. Big Show cut them off before they could make it backstage and continued his assault on his smaller opponent. Show would wrap his hands around the tiny neck of the pint sized challenger but found himself on the receiving end of a swift kick below the belt by the champion. Mayweather would then wield a steel chair across the dome of the super sized Show and would finally finish him off with a brass knuckle assisted blow to the jaw. The referee counted Show out and thus made Mayweather victorious.
Mayweather KOs Big Show & More From Wrestlemania 24
Snoop Dogg's Album Pushed Up to March
Snoop Dogg's upcoming album Ego Trippin', which was originally due in May, has been pushed up to a release date of March 11.
Interscope announced that they would be pushing the album up, which is reportedly to capitalize on the success of Snoop's current single for the album, "Sensual Seduction." The song, which is making its rounds on radio and television, is currently No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ego Trippin' also features "Never Hafta Worry," a recently leaked track that has Snoop giving an account of his storied career has an emcee. The song touches on, among other things, his time at Death Row Records and his murder trial.
Ego Trippin' will also feature the songs "Hollywood Nights" and "Press Play," the latter of which uses a sample from the Isely Brothers' "Atlantis."
