MuscleMania XV PREVIEW

MuscleMania...it's like the Superbowl of professional wrestling. It's the biggest event on the calendar, and this year it's emanating from Wembley Arena. Tickets are sold out completely but you can catch it on April 30th, live on PPV. Here is the line up, and a preview of the action.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TRIPLE CROWN:

Matt Morgan Vs Kurt Angle Vs Randy Orton

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Ever since winning the Triple Crown title at Neon Blue 2005, "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan has steamrollered through some of the toughest competition the IWF has to offer. The likes of Chris Kanyon, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and The Big Gee have all left title matches with Morgan as losers. But the one man he's tried to avoid since winning the title has been the very man he beat for the belt, Kurt Angle. Angle was refused a rematch by IWF Commissioner Eric Bischoff, but was allowed to enter the Robo Rumble, with its traditional prize of a main event MuscleMania spot. However, on that night in January Angle came close, but not close enough as he was eliminated last by the winner Randy Orton. It seemed like the dream was over, but Commissioner Bischoff had different ideas. He set up a 20 man battle royale on Warfare with the stipulation that the winner would be added to the MuscleMania main event. Despite tough competition, Angle won, and thus set up this intriguing three way match. Morgan and Orton agreed to an uneasy truce to attempt to eliminate Angle on the road to MuscleMania, but Orton soon turned the situation to his advantage, attacking Morgan and laying him out with an RKO in a memorable Warfare moment. It's firmly every man for himself, as the biggest prize in professional wrestling goes on the line. Angle has the MM experience and the fans on his side...Orton has memories of his classic victory on the big stage against Dean Roberts at MM XIV...Morgan is on a roll that shows no signs of stopping any time soon. This one really could be too close to call.

Xavier Vs Hulk Hogan

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We don't know what lit a fire under former World Champion Xavier, but something led to him calling out the legendary "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan...and when Hogan didn't answer Xavier got more and more determined to goad him into it. He criticised Hogan Knows Best....he attacked Hogan's best friend Ed "1001 gimmicks" Leslie...he beat a Hogan impersonator to a bloody pulp...but it seemed like nothing would work. Until Xavier started "stalking" Hulk's daughter Brooke. The video that Xav aired on Warfare of Brooke stirred a hatred inside Hogan's soul and he finally came face-to-face with his tormentor and agreed to the match. Xavier's mind games have given him the advantage, but Hogan is a player for the big stage. For the first and only time, two worlds collide as Xavier and Hogan meet one-on-one.

Dean Roberts Vs Triple H

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Despite all his accomplishments in the PFW and the IWF, one thing has constantly eaten away at the psyche of Triple H...his lack of respect from the IWF fans. And Dean Roberts, the most decorated superstar in IWF history and the only man to have held the World Title on five separate occasions is the man who has felt the brunt of this anger. The start came when the two were on opposite sides of a tag match at Breaking Point and continued with a thrilling altercation during the Robo Rumble. The mind games escalated at February's Shoot Out pay-per-view, where Dean cost HHH his world title shot against Matt Morgan. Since then the two have traded both physical and mental blows. HHH claims Dean's career amounts to being lucky and being in the right place at the right time; Dean looks back to MuscleMania XII and says he's beaten Triple H before and that he can do it again. This is a match between two men who have just as much to prove to each other as they have to the wrestling world in general.

WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES:
Alias Storm & Haas Vs America's Most Wanted

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Chris Harris and James Storm shocked the world when they traded in contracts with MMK's fledgling Total Wrestling Action Today promotion to sign with the IWF. But they made quite a splash in the IWF by winning the tag team titles at Breaking Point, in their first IWF ppv appearance. However their early success came to an abrupt end at Corporal Punishment when Alias Storm & Haas regained the belts, albeit by beating The Second City Saints in a three way match. IWF Commissioner Eric Bischoff decreed that AMW would have to earn their title rematch, and earn it they did. They beat the best that Pro Wrestling Noah had to offer at Shoot Out and survived the Tag Team Gauntlet at One Night Stand to get the opportunity to take the tag team titles on the grandest scale of them all. But Eric Bischoff had one last sting in the tail...the losers of this match must spilt up from being a tag team. So it really is now or never for both teams.

Chris Kanyon Vs Jay Reso

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One man is a multi-time World Champion, with nothing left to prove in this business, other than the fact that he is still one of the best in the world. The other man is a former European champion out to prove that he can shine against the world's top superstars and really make 2006 the year he makes a real name for himself. Kanyon has headlined MuscleMania in the past and has ambitions to do so again. Jay Reso believes his time has finally come to stand out in the spotlight. The two have matched each other blow-for-blow in the build up to this one, and it's no exaggeration to say that this could be one of the matches of the night.

Matthew Mercy & PJ Love Vs MNM

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Take one of the hottest new tag teams in the IWF, add in an IWF Hall Of Famer then complete the mix with a Hollywood superstar and you get one of the most intriguing matches on this year's MuscleMania card. The hottest new tag team are European Tag Team Champions Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury, aka MNM. The Hall Of Famer is the ever entertaining PJ Love and, for one night only, he is rekindling the classic tag team title winning combination with "Walk The Line" star Matthew Mercy. PJ returned to the IWF to announce this years entrants for the IWF Hall Of Fame, and was immediately taunted by the cocky MNM. He then thought he had charmed the lovely Melina in to bed, but it was all an MNM ruse and they ambushed him and left him in a bloody mess. MNM challenged PJ to a MuscleMania match but Melina then added something she may now regret..."and you can pick any partner you want!" Rumours abounded around the wrestling world as to who that man would be, but no-one expected that Hollywood superstar, and three-time former World Champion, Matthew Mercy would answer PJ's call. So for one-night only, and without the Spice Girls, the classic tag team combination of Matthew Mercy and PJ Love reform. Will the old magic carry them through to victory, or will the young upstarts pull off one of the upsets of the decade?

Shawn Michaels Vs Carlito

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Carlito has called Michaels a "has-been whose time in the spotlight is over". HBK has retaliated by suggesting Carlito "is a young kid who isn't nearly as good as he think he is". Carlito showed the ultimate disrespect by spitting his apple into Shawn's face, but Carlito soon felt the force of Sweet Chin Music. Will the Show-Stopper take the glory, or will the night be "cool" for Carlito?

WORLD WOMEN'S TITLE:
Melina Vs Alexis Laree Vs Annalise Roberts

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The three preminient women's wrestlers in the world today collide with the World Women's Championship on the line. Melina has been the champion since July 2005, when she defeated Annalise Roberts for the belt at Xtreme Overload but now she faces her toughest challenge yet as both Annalise and Alexis Laree stand in her way. Only one woman can survive and only one woman can leave MuscleMania as champion.

Raven & Paul Wardle Vs Mick Foley & Phil Jackson

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The rivalry between "The Phenomenon" Paul Wardle and Phil "The Graduate" Jackson has been one of the most intense ever seen in the IWF. The two have clashed over the UK and European Titles and have wowed IWF fans with numerous classic battles. The rivalry took on a darker edge in 2006 though as Wardle enlisted the help of former IWF World Champion Raven and this relationship has given Wardle a new demonic edge. Jackson battled on but the 2-on-1 disadvantage was too much. Wardle and Raven challenged Jackson to find himself a tag team partner, but they couldn't have expected Jackson to enlist the help of the Hardcore Legend Mick Foley (himself a former IWF World Champion himself in his Cactus Jack days). And so the scene is set for this No Holds Barred battle which given the history of the participants could be one of the most "Insane "MuscleMania matches in history.

Brock Lesnar Vs The Big Gee

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Two big men collide in the ultimate test of power and strength. Lesnar made his triumphant return to the IWF at Corporal Punishment and has been steamrollering through opponents left right and centre ever since. He may, however, have hit a brick wall in the form of former World Champion The Big Gee. Gee has done it all in the IWF and doesn't fear his opponent. It's the F-5 versus the Gee-Spot...only one man can walk out a winner.

Twenty Man Battle Royale





20 men, with one goal in mind. The winner of this battle royale will get a World Title shot, at whomever may be champion, on the Warfare directly following MuscleMania, (Wednesday 3rd May). Former IWF World Champions Kane, Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit battle former PWF World Champions Booker T and former ICW Champion Rhyno amongst others, including current IWF UK Champion Shelton Benjamin and current Cruiserweight Champion Rick Shaw. New IWF signing Finlay makes his IWF debut in this match as well.