Expect Triple H, Undertaker to shine at Wrestlemania 24

The world title matches for Wrestlemania 24 are etched in stone. The results, barring a swerve from Vince McMahon, also appear to be fairly predictable.

Triple H and The Undertaker look like virtual locks to wrest the respective Raw and Smackdown brand titles from the current champs.

It's been a long time since Triple H, an 11-time WWE world champion, has carried the gold. And although many fans would no doubt love to see Randy Orton retain the title, if only to lose it to popular Jeff Hardy, WWE's main program for the summer will involve Triple H and John Cena. Cena will be busy through May filming his new movie, '12 Rounds,' which is scheduled to be released in 2009.

The Undertaker, who boasts a perfect 15-0 mark at Wrestlemania, also is expected to gain his sixth WWE world title with a victory over current champ Edge. A plan for a lengthy title reign for Taker last year was scrapped due to a serious arm injury that sidelined him for several months.

Boxing star Floyd 'Money' Mayweather won't be the only celebrity at Wrestlemania 24. MTV.com reported that 50 Cent will second Mayweather in his special match with Big Show. 50 Cent rapped 'I Get Money,' which is Mayweather's WWE entrance music, before last year's fight with Oscar De La Hoya.

'We got a friendship,' Mayweather told MTV.com. 'We talk about business a little bit.'

John Legend will sing 'America the Beautiful' to kick off Mania. Snoop Dogg will be the ring announcer for BunnyMania. Actress Raven-Symone ('That's So Raven') will participate in the Sunday morning charity event.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform the theme to this year's event.

The site for next year's Wrestlemania will be Reliant Stadium in Houston on April 5.

WWE has reached an agreement with cable network MyTV to carry Smackdown once its deal with the CW expires.

TNA performer Matt Morgan has been offered a contract to appear on the upcoming season of 'American Gladiators.'

Former WWE performer Chris Masters also auditioned for a role, but did not make the final cut.

Old School Championship Wrestling will hold a show tonight at Weekend's Pub, 428 Red Bank Road, Goose Creek.

Main event will be a four-corner tag-team battle for the OSCW title. Semifinal will pit Italian Ice vs. Johnny Blaze for the Universal title. Bell time is 6 p.m. Adult admission $8; kids 12 and under $5. For more information, call 743-4800 or visit www.oscwonline.com.

The Wrestling For Jesus promotion will hold a free event at 6 p.m. March 29 at Abundant Life Church, 1945 Bees Ferry Road, West Ashley.

Main events will be T-Money vs. Malachi, and Ace Hardy vs. Dynamite Dave for the cross division title. For more information, contact 460-7003.

Ric Flair memories

The Ric Flair memories continue to roll in, and due to popular demand, here is another. It's from Randal Wallace of Myrtle Beach: 'When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my dad got me backstage before the matches at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. I had a little James Bond briefcase full of wrestling magazines. This was in the late 70's so Flair was not yet the world champion. He was feuding with Blackjack Mulligan. Flair was really nice but in a hurry, so he told my dad and me to come back after the matches and he would sign the magazines and visit with me. He was unquestioningly my hero when I was a child.

The main event was Mulligan and the Masked Superstar vs. Flair and Big John Studd. Flair was beat up and bloody. You know the last thing that guy wanted to do was talk to a starry-eyed little boy. However, they took me back to the kitchen of the concession stand, and there stood Ric Flair. I still remember it like it was yesterday. He signed every one of those magazines, though he had blood and sweat all over himself.

Then he got down on one knee so that he was now standing eye level with me and talked to me about doing whatever my dad said, and being a good kid, etc. To this day I have never forgotten it. I am now 37 years old and serve on the Myrtle Beach City Council. I have been fortunate to meet a lot of famous people, and none have impressed me with their true kindness to people as a bloody, tired Ric Flair did that night to take the time to talk to tiny, little, hero-worshiping 6-year-old.

It will be especially sad for me to see Ric Flair retire at Wrestlemania. It will be like a part of my childhood that never went away is finally over. This and the passing of Johnny Weaver truly marks the passing of an era that will never be repeated in my lifetime.

It is great to see people showing him the respect an appreciation he deserves.'