RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Sports and Wrestling Wrestlemania 21: Wrestlemania Goes Hollywood

In the RAW version of the main event, Triple H will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against his former Evolution running mate Batista. The last time WrestleMania hailed from California, Triple H walked in and out of the event as WWE Champion. Can Triple H recreate the same magic he had at WrestleMania 2000? Or will Batista's momentum propel him to a the biggest victory of his career? Watch WrestleMania 21 to find out.

SmackDown's WWE Championship will also be on the line at WrestleMania 21 when JBL defends the championship against John Cena. JBL has proven himself as the most successful WWE Champion of last decade, holding the championship an amazing 277 days. Can JBL continue to win? Or will Cena dethrone the dominant champion?

Stone Cold Steve Austin will make his highly anticipated return to WWE at WrestleMania 21 when he makes an appearance on Piper's Pit. Both Stone Cold and WWE Hall of Famer "Rowdy" Roddy Piper have been known to say absolutely anything, regardless of who they anger. What will these two legends have to say when they have a microphone in their hands on live television? There's only one way to find out.

In a cross-promotional match, the self-proclaimed Mr. WrestleMania Shawn Michaels of RAW will finally battle SmackDown's Kurt Angle. Since Royal Rumble, these two Superstars have been chomping at the bit to get at each other, highlighted by surprise appearances on each other's brand.

Y2J had an idea. Eric Bischoff capitalized on it. When Chris Jericho had an plan for WrestleMania, which included six Superstars, a chance of a lifetime and a ladder; a light in Bischoff's head went off. The RAW General Manager immediately picked five other Superstars to participate in the match -- Shelton Benjamin, Edge, Chris Benoit, Christian and Kane -- and assigned the prize, a future opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship. Who will walk away from the Money-In-The-Bank Ladder Match with the opportunity of a lifetime? Watch WrestleMania to find out.

The legendary Undertaker puts his perfect 12-0 WrestleMania record on the line April 3 when he faces off against the Legend Killer Randy Orton. Can the Deadman make it 13 in a row? Or will Orton turn back yet another legend of sports-entertainment? Click here for more.

In the largest match in WrestleMania history, Big Show will compete in a Sumo Match against Sumo champion Akebono. Show admits he is out of his element in this type of match, but claims that he is the only man on the planet that Akebono cannot push around. Find out if this is true at WrestleMania 21.

Additionally, Trish Stratus will put the Women's Championship on the line at WrestleMania when she faces off against Playboy cover girl Christy Hemme. In recent weeks, Christy has been training with former Women's Champion Lita. Will Lita's tutelage be enough for Christy to dethrone Trish? Or will the six-time Women's Champion continue her dominance over the women's division?

And I guess you would all like me to review it huh?

The show as usual opens with Lillian singing the American national anthem!
We then get a collage of all the WM ads.

We also get an all new Gladiator one with Austin as Maximus!
S'ok,but coulda been better!

I think ZZ Top is sitting behind JR & King!

Eddie Guerrero is the first man to the ring,so we should be kicking off the show with one of the potential top matches of the night.
(For my money its gonna be between this one,HBK/Angle & the ladder match)

Rey makes his way out wearing some weird colourful boiler suit!
Thankfully he isnt wrestling in it!

This match is gonna be impossible to do a play by play as the speed of both guys is phenominal!

These guys are working so well together,trading moves back & forth & the usual Mysterio improvised moves are evident as usual!

Eddie is definetley looking like the heel in this match possibly foreshadowing a heel turn maybe!

I have to say the mask Rey has picked harks back to his WCW days when he was feuding with Eddie & Malenko but it just doesnt work as he is constantly adjusting it,and it keeps coming undone!

Fucking amazing corkscrew over the top rope from Rey!

Although Rey is taking most of the punishment,neither guy really has the upper hand.
Eddie is really going for some power moves.

Eddie misses a frog splash!

Rey hits a 619 after the first one missed earlier,then goes for the west coast pop but Eddie cathes him & reverses it into a powerbomb!

Out of nowhere Rey hits a hurricarana on Eddie & gets the pin!

Eddie looks totally gutted but shakes hands with Rey!

JBL,The Bashams & Orlando bump into HHH & Flair in the corridor!

HHH & JBL trade insults!

Flair ends it all with a "WOOO!"

Next match is the ladder match!

Jericho is first out!
Next Benoit!
Then Christian accompanied by the big gay pharoah!
Then IC champ Benjamin!
Next is Edge!
And finally Kane!
(All the ladders around the titantron are now on fire)

Everyone runs out & attacks Kane before he gets to the ring!

Benjamin & Benoit double suplex Kane outside the ring!

Jericho hits Christian with a ladder!
Benjamin now attacks Jericho!
Bulldog on Benjamin from Jericho followed by a drop kick to Edge & Benoit!
Jericho jumps over the rope onto Edge & Benoit,Christian jumps on top all three,Banjamin jumps on all four & Kane of course jumps on all five!

Kane hits people with a ladder,but Jericho missle drop kicks it into Kanes face!
Next he hits Benjamin & Edge with it!
Benoit suplexes Jericho & the ladder flys out of the ring as Jericho is still holding it!
Benoit goes up the ladder but Kane tries to chokeslam him only to be crossfaced!
Edge then gets crossfaced!
Kane crushed Benoits arm in the ladder,but gets speared by Edge!
Edge & Christian Concerto Kane with two ladders!
Missile drop kick to E&C by Benjamin!

Spinning heel kick from Benjamin into the ladder held by Christian!

Edge Irish whips Benjamin into a ladder in the corner but goes to spear him only to be dropped face first into it!
Benjamin then smashes Edges head into it a few times followed by a stinger splash with Edge still laying on the ladder!

Benjamin climbs the ladder but Jericho is up the other side!
Christian sets up another ladder & climbs it,Benoit climbs the other side!
Edge is up another ladders as well!
Everyone is knocked down but Edge & Benjamin!
Benjamin T-bones Edge from the top of the ladder!
HOLY SHIT MOMENT!

Jericho now kicks Christians head into a ladder!

Jericho is up a ladder but the other ladder is leaning against it like a ramp & Benjamin runs up it clothelining Jericho off the top!

Benjamin climbs the ladder but Christian hits him with another ladder only to be kicked by Kane!
A chokeslam from Kane ends with Benjamin tied up by the leg in the ropes!
Tomko carries Christian up the ladder but Kane removes him!

Kane tips the ladder & Christian falls over the top rope onto Tomko!

Kane climbs the ladder but Jericho is up as well.
The ladder tips & Jericho falls outside the ring,Kane in the ring!

Benoit now sets up a ladder in the corner or the ring!
He climbs it to do what I assume is gonna be a flying headbutt to Kane!
HOLY SHIT!
Flying headbutt from the top of a ladder & his head is busted open!

Benot now sets the ladder in the middle of the ring & climbs it!
Kane also gets up & climbs it too!
Kane sets up a chokeslam but Benoit headbutts him a million times til he falls!
Edge hits Benoit with a chair,climbs the ladder & gets the case!

Edge spends the least time in the ring & he wins!
What a pile of shit!
Even Kane worked harder than him!

Andre the giant promo for Fanatic series!

Eugene comes out!

He says his fave WM moment is when King Kong Bundy fought the midgets!
Out comes the Arabs!

Hassan snatched the mic from Eugene!

He talks to Eugene very slowly!
Then of course he starts shouting about not having a match!

What? chants start but nobody seems to know when to say them!

Lil arab shouts German stuff!

The arabs attack Eugene!

Hassan locks in the camel clutch while lil arab shouts German!
Out comes Hogan!

I told you all it would be Hogan not Austin.........I thank you!

The arabs attack him but he cracks their skulls together!
He then opens a can of "old age" whup ass on Hassan!

A big boot to Hassan & then throws him over the top rope!
Lil arab hits him with a chair from behind but Hogan big boots him as well,then he is over the top rope as well!

He starts posing & yes Rob,he has put on weight,thats some fucking huge gut he has now!

His daughter is in the audience & thankfully she looks better than him!

Eugene seems to have vanished!
Thought they woulda had him in the ring with Hogan for the posing!

Looks like the hip replacement has put paid to the leg drop!

This is the greatest Wrestlemania review ever!

Next up is the match with arguably the most important outcome!
Will Undertakers undefeated streak be ended by a talentless cock smoking waste of space called Mandy Shortone?

We get a promo of the build up to this match!
I am still pissed off that the RKO had such a devastating effect on Taker on Smackdown this week!

Taker comes out to the full torch bearer entrance,although they surround the ring instead of lining the entrance ramp,and he doesnt actually walk,he glides to the ring on some kind of trolley being pulled,that you cant see under all the dry ice!
Nice bit of showmanship there!

Mandy makes his way to the ring buts all a bit sad after that great Taker entrance.

Cole reels off a list of legends Mandy has taken out & includes RVD in the list!

Mandy slaps Taker again & runs around a bit!
Mandy drop kicks Taker,then back drops him!
Finally one punch from Taker knocks him down!

Taker hits him in the corner!

Mandy tries for an RKO but Taker catched him & throws him over the top rope!
Taker puts him back in the ring then leg drops on him off the apron.

Old school!

In fact,BIG Old school!

A running big boot into the corner misses as Mandy ducks & Taker is hung up on the rope!

Mandy hits him a few times!
Taker hits him back!
Mandy short clotheslines him down!

Taker DDTs Mandy!

Mandy totally fails to sell an irish whip into the corner then gets sidewalk slammmed!
He is then whipped into the corner then Taker splashes him twice!
Snakeyes from Taker but Mandy recovers to hit him with a back elbow!

Mandy punches Taker in the head then Taker sits up!

Mandy punches him some more!

Big punches from Taker!

Mandy fucks up a Taker clothesline but still falls!

Dragon sleeper is applied to Mandy!
Mandy reverses it into a DDT!

Rear choke from Mandy!
Taker on his knees punches Mandy til he lets go!

Mandy locks in a sleeper but Taker suplexes him!

Mandy really is making himself look bad in this match!

Running slam onto Taker!

Punches to Taker in the corner with Mandy standing in 2nd rope,he poses & Taker goes for a last ride!
Orton misses an RKO & hits Hebner!
Last ride fucks up!
Cowboy Bob runs in & hits Taker with a cast,drags Mandy onto Taker but Hebner only counts 2!

Taker sits up then punches the shit outta Mandy!
He then big boots Bob off the apron!
Taker goes to chokeslam Mandy but he reverses it into an RKO,but only gets a 2 count as Taker kicks out!

Mandy tries to tombstone Taker but Taker reverses it into a Tombstone of his own & gets the three count..........thank fuck!

This match was all Taker,Mandy was fucking useless,the only good thing he did was reverse that chokeslam,and even that could not have been done without a lot of help from Taker!

Match of the nite so far for me is the ladder match,although the Rey/Eddie match was good!

Next is gonna be the worst match I reckon!

Out comes Skanky Hemme accompanied by Chita!
If Trish loses it will be a farce,if she loses cause Chita interferes that will be even worse!

Well,here comes one hot fucking bitch!
Trish looks great as usual!

Despite her heel status,the fans still love her!

Skanky seems to be having trouble standing as Trish hits her!
Trish whips her into the steps outside the ring!

Back in the ring she whips her into the corner & hits her!

Skanky catches a chick kick then kicks Trish between the legs & tries to pin her!

Trish hits her some more then taunts Chita!

A sort of sunset flip from Skanky but Trish spears her!

Outside the ring Trish kicks her in the stomach!
Chits helps Skanky up so Trish hits her!
Trish shouts at Chits so Skanky does a roll up!

Skanky kicks Trish then smashes her face into the turnbuckle!
Twist of fate to Trish but she kicks out!

Skanky mounts Trish & punches her!

Roll up from Trish is reversed & ref slow counts as Skanky refuses to ket Trish kick out!

Chick kick from Trish & its all over thank god!

Skanky was an embarrassment!

Next we have what could usurp my match of the night so far!
HBK vs Angle!

We get a build up promo!

HBK is first out!
What the fuck is he wearing?
He looks like a gay bondage freak!

Angle makes his way to the ring to the usual "You suck" chants!

They talk trash to each other!

HBK slaps Angle so Angle takes him down!

They both roll around the floor a bit & HBK grabs the ropes!

HBK gets Angle in a headlock!

Angle suplexes him but HBK keeps the lock on!

A should block by HBK then a side headlock take down!

Angle tries to fight back but no luck!
(I'm sure the audience are cheering "Lets go Angle")

So far this has been pretty boring!

Angle finally fights back but HBK fights back with a short arm scissors!

Angle reverses him,but HBK does the same!
Angle reverses again,and so does HBK!
Another Angle reverse as he picks him up but HBK reverses that!

Another headlock from HBK!

This is really boring!

Angle pushes HBK into the corner & both guys try hitting each other until HBK hugs Angle!

Angle locks in an ankle lock but its countered!
HBK clotheslines them both over the top rope.
HBK rips the announcer table apart!
Angle hits HBK!
He tries to suplex HBK onto the table but HBK reverses,the Angle does a modified Angle slam into the ring post with HBKs lower back hitting hard!

Things are getting more intersting!

Angle suplexes HBK in the ring,then locks in the body scissors!

HBK is whipped into the corner then gets hit with a belly to belly suplex!

Another belly to belly!

Angle buries the knee into HBKs back & hits a camel clutch on him!

HBK gets up but Kurt holds on until HBK hits him!
They trade punches!

HBK slaps him in the face again so Angle clotheslines him!

Angle puts HBK on the top turnbuckle & tries to suplex him but HBK pushes him off & climbs to the top & misses a flying elbow!

The straps are down!

HBK reverses an Angle slam with an arm drag then back drops Angle over the top rope!
A cross body from HBK onto Angle outside the ring!

HBK tries to reenter the ring & Angle tries to suplex him off the apron but HBK holds onto the ropes!
HBK low blows Angle......the audience are not impressed!
Angle gets up & gets kicked in the face knocking him onto the table!
HBK spring boards onto Angle but the table doesnt give!
Both guys are now asleep!

They both crawl into the ring so they dont get counted out!

Angle is bleeding from the mouth now (HBK started bleeding earlier).

HBK slaps Angle & hits him with a flying forearm!

HBK has a second wind & hits an inverted atomic drop!
Bodyslam to Angle & HBK hits a flying elbow from the top turnbuckle!

Tuning up the band!

Angle catches the sweet chin music & locks in an ankle lock!
HBK rolls out but Angle holds on!

HBK reaches for the ropes and Angle is forced to let go!

Another ankle lock is reversed into a roll up but no pin!
Angle slam but HBK kicks out!

The straps are up,now they are down again!

Angle misses a moonsault from the top turnbuckle!

HBK crawls up to the top turnbuckle,Angle runs up & Angle slams him but HBK kicks out! (I hate it when people kick out of finishers like this as it devalues them)

Angle talks trash to HBK & gets hit with a quick sweet chin music but both men are down!

HBK crawls over to Angle after a long wait & Angle kicks out (now that made more sense as the pin was late).

Both guys are still laying down!

HBK starts getting up!

Angle jumps up & hits the ankle lock!
HBK tries to kick out several times but Angle will not let go!
HBK goes for the ropes but Angle pulls him back!
Angle then lays down still applying the ankle lock,making it harder to get out of!

He goes to tap out buts tops himself!

Finally he taps out.........the audience love it!

This match was all Angle!
Started real slow but once Angle was allowed to put a stop to Mr.Showboat,it certainly picked up!

HBK is still in the ring!
He stumbles to his feet & the audience clap him,but its still isnt anywhere near as big as you would have expected!

Now we have the results of the WM promo votes!

Next up must be the sumo match!

I cannot believe they put this above the matches we have already seen!

Well its time for Pipers Pit!

So lets see if Roddy will get a stunner tonight!

Big cheers for Roddy!

He says all the hype about Austin being the toughest guy & a rebel etc is bullshit!

Out comes Austin!

Roddy slaps Austin round the face!
Austin smiles!

Austin slaps him back!

Roddy says he respects him for sticking up against Vince!
He does beg to differ on the fact that Austin wasnt around at the original WM & says there is no way he is a bigger rebel than himself!

Austin does his usual insults!

Roddy "What we have here is failure to communicate!"

Carlito comes out!

He says they are like little girls & neither is cool!

Austin tells him to get into the ring!
Roddy says he looks like Alfala & asks who he is!

Carlito says he would like them both to leave!

Roddy catches Carlitos apple & spits it in Carlitos face!

Carlito attacks Roddy & Austin laughs but then picks him up & stomps a mudhole in him!
Roddy hits a thumb t the eye & Austin hits a stunner!
Roddy throw Carlito over the top rope!
Austin & Roddy share a beer!

Austin stunners Roddy!

Backlash gets mentioned!

Another WM promo vote result!

Now its sumo time!

Sonny Bono is the first guy out!
The fat cunt can barely walk!

The ropes have been removed from the ring!

Big Show comes out & looks slim by comparison!
He appears to be wearing the traditional garb,lets see if he has the huge diaper on when he removes his kimono!

Yep,he does!

Show is definetley the underdog here!

They are obviously trying to drag this out!

Finally Sonny Bono wins!

They shake hands,hug & show raises his hand!

Promo for the build up to the JBL/Cena match!

This is the problem with two heavyweight titles.
If Cena wins his celebration will be somewhat mooted as there is still another match!
This leads to the possibility that Cena will not win,so when he does he will be able to celebrate properly!

I hope this is not the case,but it will be slightly unfair if he isnt able to do a traditional celebration!

JBL comes out in his limo with a police motorcycle escort!
Orlando is with him but gets back in the limo!

100 Dollar bills with JBL on them fall from the ceiling!

Here comes Cena!

They lock up!
JBL has Cena in a headlock!
Shoulder block from JBL followed by the same from Cena!

JBL punches Cena!
Clubbing blow to Cenas back!

More punches & kicks from JBL!
Two swinging neck breakers from JBL!

JBL chokes Cena with the top rope!
A guillotine on the ropes to Cena!

They trade punches & JBL hits Cena with a spinebuster!

Another neck breaker from JBL!

More kicks!

More trading punches!
JBL splashes Cena in the corner!

Clothesline to Cena but he gets his foot on the rope stopping a pin!

JBL locks in a sleeper hold!
Cena reverses it into a slam!

Double clothesline & they are both down!

JBL throws Cena between the ropes!
JBL does another neckbreaker,this time outside the ring!

Back in the ring Cena kicks out of a pin!
JBL pust Cena on the top rope & hits him!
Superplex to Cena!
Pin,but Cena kicks out!

JBL goes to top rope & goes for cross body but Cena reverses it into a slam!

Cena punches,kicks & headbutts JBL!
Clothesline,back body drop,hiptoss & sidewalk slam all from Cena on JBL!
Five knuckle shuffle from Cena!
Follows it by running into JBLs boot!
Quick FU & Cena wins the belt!

I am glad Cena is champ but this match was weak!
I dont think either guy was to blame though,I blame WWE & this two titles bullshit!

Cena really does respect the fans with his celebration,which is really cool as he passes the belt to guys in the crowd!

Hall of fame clips!

Mean Gene is in the ring!
He brings out this years hall of famers!
Jesus,how small is Orndorf now!

Well here we go,the first ad for WM22......only a year to go!

Promo of the build up to the HHH/Batista feud!

Now with Mandy Shortone losing,that could lead to Robs prediction of him helping HHH as suddenly he is no longer the legend killer.

Motorhead play "The Game" live!
The sound is terrible & you can hardly hear the guitars!

HHH rises from the middle of the stage!

Lemmy seems to not know the song!

Both HHH & JBL tried to go for impressive entrances but neither of them came anywhere near beating Undertakers!

Heres Shatista............ok,seeing as its Wrestlemania & its his first title shot I will call him Batista..........just this once!

Another thing to consider is whether Edge will now get involved as well seeing as he has a title shot!
Would he prefer to face HHH or Batista?

They face eachother down & HHH trash talks!

They lock up!

They lock up again!

Batista pushes HHH across the ring!

Shoulder block from Batista!

Shoulder block from HHH!

Attempted pedigree is reversed into a powerslam!
Batista punches HHH!
Big back body drop to HHH!

Running knee from HHH knocks Batista out of the ring!

Flair trys to sneak up on Batista but ref stops him.
HHH knocks Batista into steps while he is distracted by Flair!
In the ring HHH hits Batista in the head with an elbow from the second rope!
HHH chokes Batista with the ropes then Flair chokes him with his jacket while HHH distracts ref!
HHH runs Batista into crowd wall then ring apron!

Back in the ring HHH keeps dropping the elbow on Batista!

A suplex to Batista & a one count!

HHH keeps hitting Batista with fists & knees,then hits a back breaker!
Flair chokes Batista again!

Batista gets his throat dropped on the top rope!

More punches to Batista in the corner!

Batista fires back but gets hit with a big spinebuster!

Neckbreaker to Batista!

Another attempted pedigree is reversed into a backdrop!
HHH hits the facebuster on Batista but Batista kicks out of another pin attempt!
HHH goes to top turnbuckle and jumps off only to meet a Batista clothesline!
Batista hits a sidewalk slam,but then runs into HHHs boot in the corner!

Batista stops an irish whip & launches HHH over the top turnbuckle!
HHH whips Batista into the steps again!

Batista is being made to look weak!

HHH tries to pedigree Batista onto the steps but Batista reverses it & catapults him into the ring post!
HHH is busted open!

Batista smashes HHHs head into the steps three times!

Back in the ring HHH is on his knees & Batista punches him in the head over & over again then kicks him in the back of the head!

An irish whip into the corner & a clothesline,then the same into the opposite corner!

Batista hits him some more,does another irish whip & clothesline again!

Powerslam to HHH but he kicks out of a pin!

HHH is out of the ring!
Batista hits Flair as he runs at him!
HHH runs at Batista with a chair but ref grabs it!

Batista throws HHH back in ring!
In comes Flair but gets a spinebuster from Batista!
Ref moves Flair so HHH hits Batista with the title belt that Flair brought in!
Batista kicks out of a pin!
Ref is down!
Spinebuster on HHH!
Batista goes for Batista bomb but HHH low blows him (ref is still out)!

Ref us back up as HHH tries to pedigree Batista but he cant lift him!
Batista picks him up & drops him in some way I've not seen before!

He finally hits the Batista bomb & gets the pin!

We have two new heavyweight champions in one night!

Similar to the HBK/Angle match with a gloryhound hogging the early going but the other guy comes through to win!

HHH rolls out the ring,a bloody mess,into Flairs arms!

Well once again,it wasnt the greatest WM,but it was far superior to last years debacle & for the most part we actually got the right result in most of the matches!

I'd give this one a 7 out of 10!

I'm just glad Hogan kicked Arab ass.

Thanks, I'm glad I didn't pay for it..good thing about Cena winning, and HHH losing (I don't like shitista much more than HHH).

I saw Cena on the cover of a muscle magazine today as I was passing the magazine rack to get a coffee..and thought " They are plugging cena cause he's going to win."

interesting that it played out that way..

Great play-by-play. Thanks

yeah I forgot to say Thank You.....Thanks Nowhereman great play by play......I'm only dissapointed that Edge won.....he is such a douche.

but women like his long hair..bleh...

nice recap nowie!

my biggest complaint with the show was the decision to block crowd noise. one of my favorite parts of any wrestling event is hearing the crowd go crazy at certain moments, be it a suprise guest, an amazing finisher, or whatever. for mania, we were treated to none of that -- only muted, distant crowds over the crystal clear announcing team. great.

some of my favorite moments:

orton's reversal of taker's finisher. that was sweet. one of the best RKO's ever. that whole match i was expecting to be pretty bad, and it really impressed me, delivering far more than what i thought.

kurt takin the straps down... then pullin'em back up... then down again! the 7 angle locks were just amazing. he's friggin awesome. and hbk wore his gayest gladiator gear to the ring yet. ...send his ass to smackdown!

the ladder match was frustrating, just because it seemed like 4 outta the 6 guys would simply disappear for huge blocks of time on end. for no reason! ...and yet they kept adding more ladders to the ring! 4 laddres and 2 people? dumb.

i was off on batista winning 'clean.' actually, i did sorta expect him to win clean, but its not at all what i wanted. that was a pretty good match.

i was also off on the arabs squashing hogan -- and was delighted with what we got instead!

My impressions, match by match...

Eddie vs. Rey -- Eddie is actually a good opponent for Rey. Some people don't realize Eddie can be just as agile as Rey for his size. The better athlete Rey's with, the more unorthodox he can get. I was happy with the outcome, but surprised it didn't end with Eddie's heel turn. I guess they want to build that slower.

Ladder Match -- Some great moments here. Shelton really shined with his T-bone of Edge off the ladder and then using it as a ramp to clothesline Jericho. Benoit's headbutt was the "holy shit" moment of the night. I'm surprised Edge won. Not because of what's gone on inside the ring lately, but outside of it. Word is management is VERY unhappy with the whole Edge/Lita/Matt Hardy triangle. Edge was the one guy I DIDN'T think would win because of the backstage stuff. Kind of a weak ending with the chair to the back being all he needed to get the briefcase uncontested, but otherwise a decent match.

Taker vs. Orton -- They should have let Orton come in first. Let the bigger entrance be last. This match COULD have been so much better. Orton didn't sell half the moves properly, and not just the big stuff. He couldn't even take an Irish whip properly tonight. I think he was still hung over from partying after daddy's induction ceremony last night. Still, the reversal of the chokeslam into the RKO was memorable, as was his attempted tombstone before Taker pulled a reversal of his own. The undefeated streak is intact.

HBK vs. Angle -- I was surprised by the outcome, but not disappointed. This match had a VERY slow buildup, and it was disappointing the table didn't break for them, but once they got going it lived up to the hype. HBK took a long ass time to tap out, which is true to his character whether we like it or not. I'm glad Angle just walked out when it was over and didn't try to decimate HBK further. I called the reversal of sweet chin music into the ankle lock and my friends wondered if I read the script or something since I called Hogan's earlier appearance too.

Trish vs. Christy -- I was surprised Trish retained. I was afraid they would try to legitimize the Diva Search travesty by putting Hemme over. Thankfully they didn't. The math was mercifully quick with no interference from that slut Lita.

Sumo Match -- Big fat waste of time. They spent about ten minutes with pomp and circumstance, then about ten seconds wrestling. It was funny to see the contrast of Akebono's flab jiggling to Show's solid frame.

Cena vs. JBL -- Similar to when Cena dropped the US title to Orlando Jordan, you got the feeling JBL was saying goodbye to the belt before the match. I was pleasantly surprised with JBL's performance in this match considering most of the time he displays minimal talent in my eyes. He wasn't a lumbering oaf tonight and that's the best compliment I can give him. The offense was pretty even, legitimizing JBL's run and Cena's right to challenge. Cena's celebration might have been muted, but it was still pure Cena going into the crowd with the belt.

Batista vs. HHH -- LOVED Hunter's entrance. I'm sorry Nowhereman couldn't hear the music well. I was at a bar watching this on the big screen and the speakers actually picked up the live band quite well. Again though, Batista should have come out first. A good match with the champion proving his mettle early, then the turning point on the steel steps giving the Animal a victory. The only question is how long until he drops the belt right back to Trips?

Other -- Piper's Pit was hilarious. Loved how he pretended to get sloshed. Carlito didn't sell the stunner very well, but Roddy did even worse. The Hall of Fame stuff was overblown. They took their bows last night. This is a long show even without that, so just get to the matches. I called Hogan taking down Hassan, just didn't know Eugene would be there or that it wouldn't be an official match. I agree Eugene should have posed with Hogan, at least briefly, but I guess Hulkster's ego is too big for that.

I've never watched a Wrestlemania, and while the show wasn't perfect, I walked away happy and will watch the next one should the opportunity present itself. Sorry for the long post.

Ok,just to show I am a fair & just man,here is my unbiased opinion of the guys tonight,in no particular order.

Big Show/Akebono:Sorry but this was a pointless match for Show,but at least we saw he isnt as fat as we have always thought.

JBL:Did well considering the limitations that were obviously put on this match.
Was one of the times when he showed that he could be a good champion.

Cena:Although he won,he was totally wasted in this match,spending in most of it getting beaten like a bitch!

HHH:A solid performance but nothing compared to his matches with Benoit or HBK!
This was just as showcase for him to say "I might be handing over the title,but I am the one with the backstage pull!"

Batista:Surprisingly good performance from him with no botches that I could notice. Just a shame they had to destroy his monster image by having him take a massive beating for most of the match just like Cena before him!

Christian:Good performance but never really shone!

Kane:A man nobody expected much from in a ladder match,but really got into it & was one of the highlights of the match!

Edge:Did absolutely nothing during the match & then won it......a travesty!

Y2J:He was the glue that held this match together. He may not have been as impressive as Benoit or Benjamin but he probably spent the most time in the ring & took a hell of a lot of the holy shit moments!

Benjamin:Man of the night! Another guy like Kane,who was an unknown in this enviroment,and he really came thru! After a pretty uneventful run as IC champ,this match showed exactly why I was so high on him months ago!

Benoit:Despite his neck injury,this guy is not afraid to risk it all with some heavy bumps. Didnt do as much as some of the guys,but when he did,you sat up & took notice!

Hogan:What he did made total sense & although it wasnt really a match it was exactly what the audience wanted to see!

Trish:Did all she could but was working with someone who just couldnt wrestle!

Christy:Useless!

Rey:Rey is always great,but when he works with a guy like Eddie,he gets even better!

Eddie:Good performance from Eddie but you cant help but feel he could have given more,and was quite happy to let Rey grab the limelight!

Undertaker:Carried the match! Sold Ortons moves & kept the pace going. Solid performance but couldnt really do any more with Orton.

Orton:This was one of the most piss poor performances I have seen from him in ages. Just as you think he is getting past all the botches,he fails to sell two simple moves,a clothesline & an Irish whip. The reversal of the chokeslam was impressive but Taker should take a lot of credit for that. Give Orton his due,he is strong,but thats about it!

Piper/Austin/Carlito:A humorous distraction!

Angle:Frikkin awesome!

HBK:Too much show boating,and when he tried mat wrestling he was just boring!
Glad he redeemed him self somewhat by taking some heavy bumps,but his early domination forshadowed the same treament of both heavyweight title matches!
Angle,Cena & Batista were all made to look weak in the early going of their matches showing where the true power base is in WWE.


Best part of the night though,is although there was some interference in matches,all the matches ended clean!

That's why you are the Wrestling God.

Here's my verdict on the matches, complete with marks out of 10.

Eddie/Rey: Opened the night on fine form. Eddie deserved the win to my way of thinking, but I wouldn't have too pissed off if Rey had taken the victory. 9/10

Akebono/Big Show: It was a good sumo match, but made for poor wrestling. Not the worst idea the WWE's ever pushed (that goes to Doink the clown), but didn't work. 6/10

Undertaker/Orton: Orton was so far off form he couldn't even see it with binoculars. Undertaker was great, and if Randy had been on form it would've been a really memorable match. But as I've said he really wasn't, so the match was a dissapointment. 6/10

Christy/Trish: Not great, sure, but Christy showed a lot of potential. Tonight she wasn't that good, but there was something there, and given proper training and some seasoning in OVW she could be pretty good. Overall, the match was better than the previous one, but neither equalled 'Taker. 7/10

Ladder match: A great match, but didn't match Eddie/Rey earlier in the match. Christian was underused, and Jericho seemed to be not putting his best in, but neither of them were particularly bad. Benjamin and Kane shone, and Benoit was good despite being heavily wounded. Unlike some people, I didn't object to Edge winning, but would have preferred Kane to win. 8/10

I'm not gonna rate Piper's pit or Hogan's appearance, as they're not matches.

JBL/Cena: JBL was back on form after what seems like months of substandard performances, and Cena showed a rare quality. Came close to equalling the opener, but an unsatisfying opening hampered it. 8/10

Batista/Triple H: Batista was good, Triple H was average. A dissapoitning closer to the night, but only due to better matches directly before it. Batista pulled off a great finale with his Batista Bomb, though, and thad the rest of the match been as good as this it would've ruled. 7/10

What about Angle/HBK?

Match of the night.

I know I've seen it before but when Kurt put the straps on his tights back up so he could put them back down I laughed my ass off.

Kurt Angle is a true hero.

I have to give props to HBK too. I didn't think he had some of the shit he pulled out last night left in him. His balding has left his long hair looking pritty stupid.

If they had just not bothered with the first ten minutes of HBK mat wrestling,I would have agreed with you,but that nearly put me to sleep!
Top marks for HBK trying to show he can mix it up with Kurt on his level,but sadly he just could not do it with any conviction!
Once Angle was allowed to get some offense the match was brilliant!
From that point Angle stole the match!
He out stopped the show stopper!

Anbody have an injury report yet?

I think Benoit broke his arm.

Either that or Christian broke Benoits arm.

Either way when they hit the mat it was Christian who waved over the ref and it was Benoit who dissappeared for a bit. Then showed back up with his arm looking pritty bad.