Show opened with Ashanti performing “America the Beautiful,” which was quite emotional for most of us during this time. Excellent job, great voice. Shots of the Coalition forces got a large reaction from Safeco, as well it should.
Triple H, Kurt Angle, Taker, Booker T, Austin, Lesnar, Rock, Hogan, and Jericho all expressed true feelings of the meaning of Wrestlemania to the industry.
MATCH 1: REY MYSTERIO VS. MATT HARDY (W/ Shannon Moore) (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
Rey with gear that is strikingly different than anything we’ve seen from him… a top on it, looks like Daredevil even to the extent of the horns and the color scheme. “Matt is Appearing in his 4th Wrestlemania” and “Matt Wonders How They Did Wrestlemania Without Him” if you’re keeping score at home. Mattitude had issues early as Moore tried to attack from behind but was caught, then Matt attempted a charge and was backdropped to the floor, where then Rey flew on him and the little MFer. Matt got himself back on track about a minute in and Moore ran interference and put the Champion in good position. Twist of Fate countered by Rey into a rollup but only a two count from Mike Sparks. Side Effect at 2:08 off a missed catapult attempt from Rey and Matt nearly retained quickly. Fan response is still hand-sitting, there’s a buzz but this isn’t sounding all that good yet. Rey flew and Matt stayed a bit grounded and the mix was nice, good fast paced but Matt kept a story in it amongst the mayhem. Swinging DDT from Rey at 3:45 got a two count. 619 coming but Moore tripped Rey up at the ropes… Twist of Fate at 4:11 but Rey kicked out of it and Matt was absolutely in shock. Second rope splash mountain bomb coming from Matt but Rey countered it into a hurracanranna and had it not been for Moore putting the foot on the rope for his pal, it would have been over. Matt then knocked Moore out accidentally… 619 on Matt at 5:18 but Matt ducked the West Coast Pop… then fought off one, landed on top, grabbed the bottom rope and retained.
RATING: 5.5, Decent… but I cannot believe that match only got 5:39.
MEMORABLE: How short that was… I am in shock, I really am.
CROWD: 6, Really not a great crowd early, which is another shock.
OUTCOME: More from these two for sure, but I am dismayed that match got 5:39, the women will no doubt get more than that, which is a crime.
WINNER(S): MATT HARDY AT 5:39
Catfight girls arrived in their limousine and got into it over which match would be better… McMahon/Hogan or Rock/Austin… but they cut it off with a “don’t start” as I’m sure we’ll see more later.
Limp Bizkit was introduced and performed “Rollin” and for some reason… I wasn’t feeling it. Durst came down the ramp as he performed away from the band, interacting with fans who seemed to be enjoying it… as you know, the history of music acts at wrestling shows is not exactly stellar in the least. Before the final chorus, the Undertaker’s bike rolled out and he made his way to the ring with pyro shooting off as Durst was in charge of it… actually the performance got better. Taker had an American flag on the back of his bike. Durst ended up in the ring with the female dancers… Taker came in and hugged Fred and then it was time for match two.
MATCH 2: UNDERTAKER VS. BIG SHOW & A-TRAIN
Proves the company is leery of Jones on the main stage in a full match… so this one became a handicap match at the start, of course the run-in will cause the finish. Taker dedicating the match to his nephew, fighting in Iraq, as Cole explains it. Taker got a near fall in the first ten secs with a choke slam, but a save was made. Derailer from Train at 1:50 and it was DEAD SILENT when Taker was being worked over. It was slow… then it was slower as Taker was worked over by the behemoths. This was, in one word, as nice as I can be… bad. Taker got the crowd behind him to fight off the Big Show’s abdominal stretch along with Train for leverage… Show finally gave up the hold and the two continued to pound on Big Evil. Even if Jones wasn’t ready, a handicap match at Wrestlemania just was not cutting it, especially considering Rey and Matt got robbed of time and exposure… we’re now at 5:45. Belly to back suplex from Undertaker that Michael Cole called a gutwrench… show thusfar has been a huge disappointment. Train hit a partial version of his flying DDT off the ropes on the A-Train, then caught Show by the throat but had to fight Train off at 8:22. Taker walked right into Train’s bicycle kick at 8:38… then caught the choke slam from the Big Show. Cue Nathan Jones, floored the Big Show with a spin kick on the floor… then on the floor cheering Taker on, entering and putting a foot through the A-Train. Tombstone for A-Train polished things off.
RATING: 2, This was absolute sh** for a Mania match, fans popped for Jones coming out, proving he should have at least been in the corner from the start.
MEMORABLE: Bicycle kick from A-Train was well-timed.
CROWD: 5.5, Very ugly… and I don’t blame them.
OUTCOME: Taker and Jones will team soon, but why against these two on SD now that Taker just won basically by himself? Jones debut should be Thursday.
WINNER(S): UNDERTAKER AT 9:47
Catfight girls vs. Acting, the real match… then they ran into Stacy and Torrie, and folks, it’s the blind leading the blind. Stacy with a new marketing campaign for Test takes off with them to explain it… they got the Playboy over for a few seconds.
(Comment: Scratching my head… HORRIBLE show so far. I’m 2-0 on the predictions thus far though.)
We see what we saw on HeAT, with the 3D on Storm and then the elbow to Rob to leave the retaining. Oh good… the women follow a horrible start.
MATCH 3: TRISH STRATUS VS. JAZZ VS. VICTORIA (W/ Richards) (WWE Women’s Championship)
Jazz got no heat at all, Trish got a decent pop, Victoria got a pretty good reaction as well. Jazz attacked both before the bell but it was Victoria that had the advantage , though this was pretty much a cluster. Jazz and Vic kind of struck a deal and began to double team Trish… pretty gruesome looking double shoulderbreaker, then the two teed off on each other. Vic with a powerslam on Jazz got a near fall at 2:15. Trish with a bridging rollup on Victoria scored a near fall, but she quickly went down off a vile clothesline. Jazz hit a sit out slam, almost a driver… Ross called it a powerbomb, got a two count nonetheless. Trish helped Victoria and Jazz to a meeting of the minds, then attacked everything she could find, letting Jazz crush the Champion with a spin kick after ducking it… rollup on Jazz for a near fall, then a victory roll for another two count. Vic came off the second rope… but did so thanks to the Stratusphere. Trish booted Vic to the floor and then was caught in the half crab and later the STF by Jazz at 5:11. Richards came in as the referee’s back was turned, chucking Jazz out of the ring to stop Trish from submitting and costing Victoria the title. Victoria pants came down thanks to Trish on a rollup but still only a two count. Jazz with her chickenwing face drop at 6:16, but Victoria laid her out when she turned around from attacking Trish. Vic missed a nice looking moonsault but backdropped Jazz to the floor. Trish was up and looking… let Richards hit himself with a chair after the ropes, then put him down with a horrible Stratusfaction, which was all his fault. Victoria then up had Trish up for the Widow’s Peak… counter and then a hard kick and a new Champion.
RATING: 5.5, This wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t great… but it wasn’t all that bad and the right person got the marquis victory. Trish looked like a superstar throughout.
MEMORABLE: Double shoulderbreaker, not perfect but looked devastating.
CROWD: 5, Into Trish and Vic got some heat
OUTCOME: Trish and Jazz should get into it shortly.
WINNER(S): TRISH STRATUS NEW CHAMPION AT 7:17
(Comment: Six matches left and over three hours of time… plus catfight of course with Stacy/Torrie vs. Miller Lite and most likely another Limp performance. Seems they are stacking the final matches and are counting on all of them to have twenty minutes or so and to try and carry the entire event.)
Coach with the Rock outside his dressing room. “People, the people, the same people who booed the Rock at last year’s WM?” He went on to talk about the boos during his concert, the chants of “sellout.” “Oh the Rock is a sellout. The Rock has sold out this and every WM he’s ever been in.” He could care less about the people. The one thing he has never done is defeat Austin at WM (that will change later) and he calls their rivalry the best the industry has ever seen. He does a usual Rock rhyme and guarandamntees to defeat the “bald bastard” tonight.
MATCH 4: LOS GUERREROS VS. RHYNO & CHRIS BENOIT VS. TEAM ANGLE (WWE Tag Team Championship)
First pin or submission wins the title, no matter who gives up or who gets it. Chavo and Haas kicked it off but it would be Benoit after Charlie tagged him in and caught a breather. Benoit chopped the fire out of Guerrero, tagged in Rhyno, who powered Latino Heat around with a powerslam at 2:15. Team Angle double teamed Rhyno with a double dropkick at 3:12 and the match really began to heat up. Eddie hit a beautiful standing dropkick off a crouch to catch Rhyno napping, just a perfectly executed maneuver and then a textbook belly to back suplex on Benoit. Superplex at 5:24 from Benoit to Eddie as these six guys were moving so fast it was ridiculous. Benoit hit the spot of the night, pressing Eddie up and bringing him down right in the Crossface… Haas made the save in order to save his own title, and Guerrero planted Benoit with a suplex… partial brainbuster. Chavo stepped through the Crossface but Benoit turned it into the rolling Germans as this match was amazingly quick and accurate. Four straight on Chavo but he tagged Shelton Benjamin in before he went over the fourth time and Shelton laid Benoit out with a superkick to the chest. Benoit and Eddie collided on an Irish whip, hitting heads and leaving Team Angle as the freshest of the six. Guerrero broke up Benjamin’s cover with the frog splash at 8:14 as Charlie took Chavo over with an overhead suplex. Rhyno put Haas down with the Gore, signaling for one on Chavo and taking him out of boots. Eddie yanked Rhyno out of the ring and Benjamin rolled on top of the fallen Chavo and got the pin.
RATING: 7, Excellent 8:46, but WAY too quick again… not the best any of them has looked.
MEMORABLE: Press into the Crippler Crossface.
CROWD: 6-7, Mania crowd is complacent, boy is this show disappointing people.
OUTCOME: More SD good tag matches to come, they’re all looking the same these days.
WINNER(S): TEAM ANGLE RETAINED AT 8:46
(Comment: I’m 4-0, but and I really don’t get this… 8:46 for that match? Could easily have had twenty, guess they were worried about showing up some of the later guys… but Taker’s match has been the longest thus far and is one of the worst Mania matches we’ll ever see.)
Catfight girls and Stacy/Torrie enjoying themselves… Stacy puts over McMahon’s grand vision and Torrie corrects her, it was Hogan that made Wrestlemania what it was. They began to argue but Stacy walked off before they fought… more to come later. Kitana and Tanya then had the same argument by themselves. “Let’s settle this catfight in the ring… no let’s settle this in bed, in the ring, in bed. Fine. Fine.” (Are you freaking kidding me?)
(Comment: Finally I’m smiling, here’s the match I wanted more than any on this card.)
MATCH 5: SHAWN MICHAELS VS. CHRIS JERICHO
If my clock doesn’t get to twenty here, there’s no explanation for it. It’s 9:06 and we’re now past the halfway point in the card, every one of the remaining matches should get twenty bell to bell, not including entrances… but I’m not sure that’s what is going to happen. Music has sounded badly all night… big building, acoustics sound like baseball background on-deck music, not well-oiled machinery. Shawn had several set up Johnny B Badd confetti guns that he fired on the way to the ring, two that did not fire at all… pretty much like this show. Shawn’s pyro fired behind him, and all across the back wall of Safeco, that was set up for the entrance. Major feeling out period to start… Shawn took a rest on the corner turnbuckle in his old fashion and the fans enjoyed it. The two jawed at each other as they went, basic chain wrestling in the first two minutes… neither man could gain an advantage and the two stood up together ready to go again. Crowd was again not excited here… maybe it was a mistake to run this building as far as how it looks on PPV. Chris slapped Shawn, but caught a right hand and was tossed over the top, rolling into the announce table and then catching a baseball slide from Shawn, who was on his psychological Showstopper game on this evening. Shawn off the top with a crossbody but Jericho floated over and Michaels kicked out. Jericho with chops on HBK and then a hard Irish whip as Chris seemed content to work on the lower back, which of course makes total sense. Shawn countered a bulldog at 4:52 and Jericho ended up straddling the middle turnbuckle, then was locked in a figure four at ring center. Jericho reversed the leverage and Shawn broke the hold… Michaels continued to work Jericho’s left leg but was boot shoved into the ring post hard on his shoulder. Shawn did his usual over the top catch and save… Jericho tried to stop it and ended up flipped to the floor on a headscissors takeover… then a pescada to the floor at 6:32 and the fans began chanting “HBK” somewhat. Michaels went for a dropkick on the floor and Jericho countered it, locking on the Walls at 6:57 and broke it at Robinson’s eight count, breaking it up and Michaels’ lower back had already felt the assault. Jericho sent Michaels’ back twice into the post and deposited him hard on the floor, reentering the ring and mugging for the crowd in celebration. Chris let Charles get to 6, then dropkicked Shawn off the apron with his springboard variation and followed him to the floor… bringing him in to try and finish the job. Belly to back suplex on HBK at 8:40 and then a nice standing vertical suplex that got a two and a half from Charles Robinson. Jericho with a backbreaker at 9:26 that looked devastating… match was smart, methodically paced, but entertaining. Jericho’s cocky cover only got a two count and Jericho put on a rear chin lock. The building got louder than it’s been all night trying to will Michaels to his feet, and HBK responded, but Jericho raked his eyes. Michaels stopped a backdrop, hooking Jericho and using the momentum to pull Chris down in a flashy DDT variation at 10:55. Fistfight won by Michaels, but he went down to a flying forearm and then Jericho mocked Michaels, looking hurt… kip up and then the Michaels pose. Fans went crazy but behind him… Michaels did the same thing, put Jericho down, and did the kip up and pose once again. Back body drop at 12:03 from the Heartbreak Kid and Michaels tried to pump the crowd up, corner boot and then the trademark top rope moonsault that got a very close near fall. Michaels used a crucifix to go for a pin and the two went into a very well executed fish out of water spot but Jericho was up first, looking for the Walls but Michaels’ leg strength fought it off. Nice Northern Lights suplex at 13:20 got a near fall, then Michaels bridged out of another cover but went down after a clothesline from Jericho. By far the best match of the night, intense, deliberate, old school in style and the fans were coming alive. Jericho hit a bulldog at 14:01 and scored with the Lionsault but could not go right for the cover, hurting himself a bit and allowing Michaels the time to kick out twice in a row. Jericho was frustrated and Michaels went for a telegraphed Hurracanranna but Chris held onto the ankles and turned it right into the Walls of Jericho. Shawn was far from the ropes as the fans… some Jericho, more Michaels. Shawn reached the ropes at 15:29 and got the break, but Jericho tried to pull him back to the center and do it again, but was nearly pinned following an inside cradle. Jericho hit his double underhook backbreaker, an old favorite, and went up top thinking it was just about over. Michaels stumbled up and caught a flying back elbow in the jaw and Chris mocked Sweet Chin Music, tuning up his own band in the corner. Shawn up again and caught the superkick right in the mush, beautiful on both guys’ parts. Michaels raised a shoulder at 16:58 and the match continued. Shawn off a corner whip leapt up and springboarded back with a crossbody and it was another fistfight, but Michaels with a double legged takedown and he tried to go for the Walls… blocked and Shawn decided to catapult him into the post instead… near fall was the result. Jericho put Michaels up top backwards at 18:22, going up after him thinking belly to back suplex… but Shawn landed on top and both men were down. Shawn draped an arm over Jericho but it wasn’t enough, so he scaled to the top rope. Jericho used his boot and kicked Robinson into the ropes to straddle HBK at 19:25. Superplex from the top rope coming but Michaels hooked the rope and let Jericho go face down into the canvas… perched up and off with the trademark elbow drop and right up. Michaels in the corner tuning up the band at 20:06, missed it and Jericho took him down… Walls of Jericho at 20:25 and Shawn in immense pain trying to make it to the ropes. Shawn so close but Chris pulled him back to the center and Shawn began fighting again, not giving it up… reaching out and making it to the bottom rope at 21:08. Jericho near tears thought it was over, irate at Robinson telling him he tapped out, grabbing him by the shirt but letting it go. Jericho then turned right into Sweet Chin Music at 21:32. Michaels slow to make the cover and Chris kicked out of it, what a wrestling match… on all levels. Both guys stealing the show and still four matches to go… but I trust none of them will be this good. Jericho reversed a corner Irish whip and Shawn flipped into the corner, came back out, caught Jericho charging, reverse victory roll and the clean 1-2-3. Applause needed, massive amounts of drama and you could just tell these two wanted to have this match. Shawn looked up at Jericho and whispered “awesome,” then offered his hand. Jericho crying hugged Shawn and then low blowed him as Shawn fell to the ground.
RATING: 10, I loved it, and boy did this show need it desperately.
MEMORABLE: Sweet Chin Music on Michaels from Jericho was picture perfect. Low blow after the hug was hilarious and Shawn sold it absolutely right.
CROWD: 6-9, Got way into it by the end. Just awesome.
OUTCOME: We’ll see what happens from here, but the two just put on a hell of a show.
WINNER(S): SHAWN MICHAELS AT 22:33
(Comment: My predix are now 5-0 as I’m feeling a little better, though I could go 1-3 in the last four according to the information. What a great match with Michaels and Jericho, I add that to my predix and call myself 6-0… that was the match of the night, I guarantee it. With Angle out for a year, the most talented guy the company has is by far Chris Jericho… he has picked up the ball, even when it hasn’t been handed to him, and has put on some hellacious performances lately, this one stands apart from those. One of the most dramatic, smart… not full of risks, full of intelligence, timing, and exactly what I wanted to see. I bet both loved it.)
Sylvan Grenier (the No Way Out ref) knocked on Vince’s door
Goldberg video package… the speculation is over. It was a pay per view ad for Backlash… came back live and the fans were chanting for him.
Total attendance of 54,097, a new Safeco Field attendance record.
Limp Bizkit then performed “Crack Addict,” the Wrestlemania theme song.
The Coach came out and announced the Wrestlemania Catfight. They brought out Kitana Baker and Tanya Ballinger as they came to a side stage where a HUGE bed was set up. Rules are simple… but yet complicated according to Coach. No heavy metal objects, only any of the many pillows on the bed. Stacy’s music hit after the rules and out she came… I’m sure Torrie will be next… 2 on 2. She figured the only thing better than two girls in bed would be three… she made it a triple threat. Then came Wilson’s music obviously, and she came out… fatal four way. Torrie peeled off her top to reveal a pink bra, then ripped Stacy’s top off also and tried to roll her up… nope, just to reveal a thong and spank her. The Miller Lite gals stripped each other down on the bed and jumped together, swinging pillows. Coach was taken down by Torrie and Stacy, who rolled over him… then the Miller Lite gals stripped his pants off and Stacy pinned him. The four then left together after attacking Coach with the pillows. Torrie in the pink bra looked good… all of them did, still worthless segment unless you like that kind of thing.
MATCH 6: TRIPLE H (W/ Ric Flair) VS. BOOKER T (World Heavyweight Championship)
My prediction was Hunter as Steiner makes the turn… we will see if I am right. By the info, I’m not, but I’d love to be wrong, would love to see Booker get this victory. Hunter in purple version of his tights, not the leather style either… more Flair everyday in his own eyes with the color changes and the new aura around him. Booker with a back drop and won a fistfight as Hunter got himself on track long enough to come off the top rope… thanks to a top rope armdrag from the challenger. Booker sent the Game off the ring post but entered the ring and caught a boot and a shoulder takedown. Booker held on and barely touched the floor on a back drop from the Game in the ring but Hunter fired him down the apron and put him off the post. The pace slowed as the game sadistically went to work on Booker, putting him down with a hangman’s noose neckbreaker and scoring a near fall. Triple H scored with a nice spinebuster, certainly trying to spin into the Arn Anderson style and it did look good… near fall and a vicious corner clothesline from the Game. Picture perfect DDT from Booker T that Triple H took like a real pro at 6:43. Booker won a fistfight, chopped Hunter to the corner, and connected with a spinning heel kick. This match LOOKED like a Wrestlemania match and was delivering, not up to the level of the previous but almost nothing could… both these guys really coming through. Hunter baited Booker T into thinking he could go for the scissor kick… locking on a sleeper, but ramming Hunter’s face into the top rope on leverage… then turning and catching a high knee from the Game. Facebuster from Triple H but Booker hit a spinebuster near the ropes and got a two count. Big kick from Booker got a near fall at 9:43… only knock on this one is that it was slower than you’d think, Hunter was not moving all that freely. Booker went for the scissor kick but the Game ducked it, then ducked the Harlem sidekick… Booker straddled the top rope and then Flair assaulted the challenger on the floor and against the steps. Indian deathlock put on by Triple H that was absolutely beautiful and Ross and King did a fabulous job of putting it over to everybody. Booker reached the ropes a minute and a half in… looking to be in immense pain after a very well-done submission segment. Booker fought off another leg hold, turned the old Flair leg drop into a rollup and got a near fall. He then countered the Pedigree and nearly won on another rollup at 14:59. Back elbow off the ropes from the challenger, then the scissors kick that looked AWESOME… but no cover as it took all Booker had, and he hit the leg. Flair on the apron tried to stop Booker up top… but he got knocked down… Hunter up in time and Booker straddled the top rope. The Game went for a superplex but the Book blocked it with rights and a big one knocked the Champion down hard. Flair on the apron again and again knocked down. Booker scored with the Harlem Hangover… I love it every time he gets it, but again the left knee took a lot of impact there and he couldn’t go for the cover in time to win. Flair put Hunter’s foot on the ropes at 17:22. Booker to his feet as was the Game… Booker’s leg gave way and Triple H put him down with the Pedigree… out of desperation, and it was another fatigued cover and the challenger kic…………….. was pinned clean at 18:48.
RATING: 9, Another very good match there… my predictions have been PERFECT tonight (not the details, but the victors), the info people have given out either was changed or was faulty thus far. Shocked it was clean, but both guys worked their rear ends off.
MEMORABLE: Harlem Hangover of course.
CROWD: 6-7, Fans enjoyed it but weren’t super loud by any means.
OUTCOME: Might not be over just yet… could be a rematch, I’d have no problems seeing it again.
WINNER(S): TRIPLE H AT 18:48
Madison Square Garden ad package… finishing by announcing Wrestlemania XX will be back at MSG next year. (As it was for I and then X).
MATCH 7: MR. MCMAHON VS. HULK HOGAN (Street Fight)
Nice that they have decided not to main event with this one, to let Brock (the new standard bearer for the time being) and Mr. Guts get the glory in what will most likely be an AMAZING match. Crowd went nuts as the two stared each other down, Vince smacked Hogan, and Hulk took Vince down. Clothesline from Hogan and mounted right hands rocking the chairman. Brian Hebner refereeing… but I will bet money that changes before this one is over. Vince put Hogan down with a McMahonline and went to the ribs with a boot. Corner shoulder blocks and knee lifts from McMahon on Hogan, then short back elbows to the side of the head. Vince jawing at Hogan as he scored with short rights and lefts to the body and the head. Short knees to the arm as Hogan was on the met… right on the joint of the elbow. Vince utilized the post and wrapped Hulk’s arm around it a few times before entering the ring and continuing to work on the left arm. Test of strength from Vince to a kneeling Hogan… Hulk came to life along with the Hulkamaniacs and McMahon stopped it with a shot to the gut… Hogan came back up again and pulled Vince in chest to chest twice… another shot to the gut from Vince and Hulk back to his knees. Again he fought up to his feet… another shot to the gut, but this time McMahon tossed Hogan out of the ring and followed him to the floor. Clubs to the back and then Vince put on a hammerlock and rammed Hogan’s shoulder into the post… then posed like a maniac and grabbed a chair… pushing an attendant off his seat to get it. McMahon tried to tee off on Hogan against the post but caught the post alone and Hulk fired him off the post… then picked up the chair himself at 6:53. He gave Vince a shot to the forehead with it… on target but not a full swing, safe but effective. That busted McMahon open, Vince bleeding pretty severely as Hogan rolled him into the ring and felt in control. Hogan with three right hands, the third knocked Vince down and out of the squared circle. Hogan with a fresh chair put his all into a shot to the back… one of the best chair shots he’s ever given… followed by one that was even better. He went for a head shot but Vince ducked and one of the Spanish announcers got nailed and was down. McMahon with a low blow on the floor at 9:17 and picked up the chair, crushing Hogan in the head with it… which was enough to open the Hulkster up. McMahon from under the ring brought out a ladder… setting it up on the floor near the announce tables… for a purpose, believe me. McMahon putting the boots into Hogan behind the Spanish table and moving the ladder into position, putting it between the two announce tables. He prepped the Spanish table… sent the monitor hard off of Hogan’s skull, which put him down on the table… well half of him, the lower half was off and Hogan’s feet were on the floor. Vince scaled the ladder at 11:43 and the fans went ballistic. Vince mocked Hogan’s ear taunt atop the ladder and came off with a leg drop that broke the table and caught Hogan. Nice job using a leg drop, the mocking holds in this and the earlier match has made for much more heat. Attendants came out and got the fallen and bleeding Spanish announcer Hugo… Vince picked Hogan up and rolled his carcass into the ring, slowly entering after him going for the cover. The Hulkster raised a shoulder at 13:34 and McMahon was shocked, hooking the leg and going for another cover, but it just wasn’t enough. Vince looked maniacal, in shock as he went to the floor wondering what to do… from under the ring he found a steel pipe and had one of the absolute most classic Vince looks you will ever see… and stalked into the ring after Hogan. Hulk went low between the legs, knocking the pipe out of Vince’s hand and putting him down at 14:43. Quite frankly, this match had absolutely no right to be as good as it was, we knew it would be entertaining but it was fun and I guarantee shocked a lot of “smart” people, not me however. No way these two would do it if they wouldn’t do it right. From literally nowhere at 15:13… in the ring came a man in a trenchcoat, who took it off to reveal a white t-shirt and a kilt… that’s right folks, Roddy Piper has returned. Piper kicked McMahon in the rear end as the building came unglued for the Rowdy One. He urged Vince to get up… spitting on him, you know where this is going right. He turned and absolutely clocked the Hulkster at 16:17 and then gave a not so nice gesture to him with a frown as he thought that was it for sure. Hogan’s definitely going over now. Vince over slowly for the cover but Hulk raised his shoulder at 17:00 just in the nick of time. Safeco is officially loud now. Vince saw the pipe and went for it… Hebner stood on top of it and Vince was irate, trying to toss him over the top… first time Brian didn’t get any air and didn’t get it done, so Vince tried again and the second time it worked. A standing McMahon urged Hogan to stand up and was waving to whom, of course Grenier… who came sprinting down towards the ring. Mike Sparks came running behind to try and stop it but Grenier laid him out… McMahon clocked Hogan and just for good measure dropped the leg… 1-2… kickout and it was time to Hulk up at 19:06. What an amazingly fun spectacle that made a lot of sense. Nothing could hurt the Hulkster at that point and the fans were eating it up… the point would come shortly thereafter… right hand and Vince went down. Grenier took three and then Hogan sent him flying to the floor. Vince used the pipe on Hogan’s back but this time it was ineffectual… big boot from Hogan after three rights. Leg drop time and Hebner was stirring by this point… connected at 20:34… a second at 20:39… and a third at 20:44 and folks that was it.
RATING: 8.5, Say what you want, that was so entertaining and satisfying for fifty thousand people. It wasn’t a wrestling match, Vince was right… it was a fight, and it was so well structured and Vince solidified once again that he is the greatest heel in the history of the business.
MEMORABLE: Hmmm… perhaps Piper, just maybe? Only thing I hope is it doesn’t mean Hogan vs. Piper in WWE, let em talk, give em power, but not in the ring, 1996 was the last I could take of it.
CROWD: 9-10, Got crazy midway through this match.
OUTCOME: Hogan/Piper situation on SmackDown, but I don’t know about ring stuff, we’ll just see where it goes. Hulkamania continues to thrive.
WINNER(S): HULK HOGAN AT 20:51
Hogan posing in the ring to the delight of the fans as a dapper Shane McMahon came out in a full suit with a look that did not change at all… staring Hogan down. The Hulkster noticed him and Shane put up hands on the floor, as if to say there was no animosity. Hogan held the middle rope open for Shane, as if to say according to Cole that the issue was with his father and not him. Hogan then rolled out of the ring and left Shane in with Vince… very odd. Shane leaned down to check on his father, who held his head up long enough to flip Hogan off before falling back down.
MATCH 8: THE ROCK VS. STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
Predix still perfect, but and this time I think it will happen… Rock gets the win he certainly deserves at Mania against Austin to set up for Goldberg… should be another good match. Rock needs to knock it off with the tattoos… the new Samoan tribal symbol is now enlarged and over the shoulder partially on the chest and back now… calm down on that Rock. Rock dodged the Stunner at 0:39 and was walking as if he didn’t want anymore and Austin caught him on the carpet and knocked him back, then bounced his head off the steps. Austin pounding Rock around the announce tables and dropping the sternum across the barricade… then firing him off HARD against the steps, which detonated on impact. As I had said in the predictions, these two would NEVER be able to duplicate what they did two years ago, but comparing it to that match is completely unfair… because neither is crisp right now in the ring as they were at that time. The Rock went low with a chop block on Austin at 3:51 and Stone Cold bailed to the floor to try and recover from it… Austin was talking to Earl Hebner and was distracted. Rock to the floor did it once again and then dropped Steve’s knee on the television monitor as he was laying on the table. Back in the ring Austin tried to fight back but was taken down with another shot to the leg. Rock taunted the crowd and they responded to it… back where he needs to be. Sharpshooter locked on at 6:51 by the Brahma Bull and Hebner right in position to make sure Austin wanted to keep it going. Rock wrapped Austin’s leg around the post and continued to dissect it… putting on Stone Cold’s vest at 8:19, drinking water and returning in the ring wearing the vest, which was hilarious. Double clothesline and both men down at 8:50. Both up and Rock’s right was blocked and Austin connected with three and caught the Rock off the ropes with the Lou Thesz Press at 9:45. Somewhere near a hundred rights from Austin, who was on fire, hitting an extended version of his old elbow drop and coming very close to the win at 10:06. Mudhole stomp as the fans gave the “What” on each blow… Rock since putting on the vest is having issues… but connected with his flying clothesline and kipped up to his feet, again mocking the crowd and taunting them. He turned around and Austin planted him with the Rock Bottom at 11:03… 1-2-2.99999. As expected, Austin set up for the Stunner but it was blocked and Rock gave him one… 1-2-2.99999 as these two really were clicking as they always do. They looked a little tired but were putting on another extremely solid match together. Rock on his feet with a few words for the crowd and catching Austin with his huge right hands… hitting tons but going for the spit punch and ending up flipped over off a thunderous Stone Cold Stunner. Kickout at 13:12 by the Great One, crowd reaction was huge for this whole thing, especially the major moves. Low blow from Rock to Austin as Hebner’s back was turned… he tried to get the crowd to clap for him and then gave them an unkind gesture before noticing Austin was in position for the People’s Elbow at 14:20… he thought about it for a second before going for it. It missed the mark at 14:31 but Rock shoved Austin off the Stunner and executed a spinebuster, ripped off the vest finally and then did the Austin mock version of the People’s Elbow. 1-2- 2.99999 at 15:00 but Austin kicked out of it. Rock to the fans again, telling them to watch what was about to happen… prepping for the Rock Bottom and dropping the Rattlesnake at 15:44 but Austin kicked out in time and the Rock was in absolute shock. The Rock then set up once again, looking like it would be Rock Bottom II, Austin slowly rising to his feet but breaking this one with elbows… but then running right into Rock Bottom II, as Ross used my term moments after I did. Again Austin kicked out of it and the Rock rolled off like he saw a ghost, in complete dismay at not being able to finish the job. Rock prepped for Rock Bottom III, waiting for Austin to get up… and Stone Cold did, pulling himself up slowly. This time Rock with a delay but Austin down with the third one at 17:50 and this time he got the win.
RATING: 9.5, Another great effort from the two of them… I am very surprised it was clean, as has been just about everything tonight. Applause, Mania’s last three hours have been nearly flawless.
MEMORABLE: Rock with a clean three… Three Rock Bottoms and the aftermath, as Rock stood up you could barely tell unless you knew what to look for but Rock had a few kind words for Stone Cold for the effort and the piece of business they did.
CROWD: 9-10, Ballistic, not quite as hot from start to finish as Hogan/McMahon but close.
OUTCOME: Rock vs. Goldberg at Backlash in a bank account dream for Vince. Not sure where Austin goes, but for sure he gave it all he had… and if he is truly hurting as reports are saying, respect him big time on that one.
WINNER(S): THE ROCK AT 17:52
After the match and Rock left, his music stopped and Austin was on his feet, walking out as his music hit and he left a proud man. Shocked it was clean, but it was special once again. So much drama.
MATCH 9: KURT ANGLE VS. BROCK LESNAR (WWE Championship)
I hate that this one is so obvious… but we know it’s going to be fantastic regardless. And with Angle having to be out for a year, the way this show ends may be the most memorable we’ve ever seen at Wrestlemania. This is truly the main event of this show, it’s what should be considered that way and it feels right… and satisfying, and it will NOT disappoint. Cole’s voice is almost shot before the opening bell rings, he’s been working hard. Face to face, words from Angle and Brock with a stare, Chioda with the duties of calling it. Tazz told us he talked to Tito Ortiz, who’s at the event, and is superbly looking forward to this one over all others. Brock using an armbar but Kurt switched it over with a fireman’s carry and went with his own armbar, basic early. Both guys on their feet at 1:25 ready to go back at it. Brock with an amateur takedown and Angle with an armdrag off a dual standing switch, side headlock takeover off the ropes from Kurt. Fan response did not match what we’ve seen in the past hour or so to start, but that will change. Brock with a hard shoulder knockdown, his ribs are taped up as a result of the Angle Slam on the chair and the 2x4 to the ribs just three days ago. Brock with an armdrag at 2:59 as I think the fans were expecting more hard hitting stuff, but with amateur wrestlers in there together, this is the right story to tell. Angle with a knee to the ribs and then hard shots to the lower back… but a back elbow from Brock at 3:37. Powerslam from Brock caught a charging Kurt out of the corner and Angle barely got his shoulder up in time to save a three count. Kurt brought Brock over with a release German suplex but as soon as Kurt turned around, Brock was back up to his feet delivered a successful clothesline. Angle baited Brock out and back into the ring, catching him with a boot… Brock shortly thereafter with a nice stalling press slam but Kurt caught him with a corner boot to the ribs and did a German suplex in the corner, sending Brock right onto the top turnbuckle on the lower back… great move to use and the fans saw it as hugely devastating. Kurt rammed Lesnar’s back into the barricade, all attacks on the ribs, throwing forearms to the lower back as Brock was draped partially off the apron at 6:17. Nice belly to back suplex on Lesnar from Angle, who went for a cover and got a two count from Mike Chioda. Floatover vertical suplex from the Champion, who then locked on a freestyle version of a bow and arrow at 7:19. The move was held on and Brock tried to fight off it, but began to fade at 8:18, throwing desperate but less than impactual short elbows. Angle flipped Brock to his stomach, which Tazz said actually would help him… but it was turned into a rear naked choke with a knee driven into the ribs for move torque. Lesnar’s right hand up as if he thought of tapping but he did not do so, doing basically a short pushup to get to a seated position. To his knees, then to his feet, Angle jumped on Brock’s back and held onto the move… Brock spun and ran into the corner, then across the ring to the other corner, driving Kurt’s back into it twice and breaking it up. Overhead throw from Angle, who felt very confident at that point and drove a vile leaping knee into the lower back, then another one and this one knocked Brock through the ropes and hard onto the floor in front of Cole and Tazz. Brock hit a spinebuster out of desperation and bought himself some time… both men down at 11:05. Brock picked up the pace after absorbing an eye rake… manhandling Kurt into the corner and driving in the punishing and weakening shoulders into the midsection… then a huge overhead suplex that nearly put Kurt out of the ring, followed up by another one. F-5 would be blocked at 13:43 and Angle with an inside trip turned it into the ankle lock after Kurt had executed several straight German suplexes on the Vanilla Gorilla. Angle changed to a half crab, to attack the ribs as this match was SO smart it was almost sickening. Dramatic though the crowd wasn’t excited as they were earlier… just a solid match with two pros. Angle charged Brock at 15:09 and took a backdrop over the top rope… Brock used it to try and recover more… Angle came back in with a corner charge but came up empty, but would turn a German suplex on Brock that put Lesnar down on his chest and face cutting a full flip. Angle Slam connected at 16:20 but Brock kicked out of the cover and Kurt looked a mix of desperate and irate, begging Brock to get up and fight. Second Angle Slam but Brock turned it into an amateur cradle… kickout but then Brock laid Angle out with the F-5 at 17:08. Cover after fatigue but Angle raised his left shoulder just in time and even Brock was surprised. Ankle lock again and Kurt put on a scissors with it to keep Brock from having any chance to make it to the ropes, but superhuman strength allowed Lesnar to drag the Champion along with himself to the ropes and break the hold… boot shove as Angle tried to put the hold on again. Second F-5 coming and found the mark at 19:16 but again Brock took extra time going for the cover… in fact did not go for it at all, backed into the corner and started smiling freakishly. He left the ring and scaled to the top (shooting star maybe) and yes, went for the Shooting Star Press but Kurt moved and Brock almost didn’t get over all the way, Kurt was way way out… still unbelievable air on it. Lesnar kicked out of the cover though and hit Kurt with a boot… third F-5 connected at 20:58 and one arm on top for the cover and that was it.
RATING: 9-9.5, Very very good and dramatic match where Angle was protected well.
MEMORABLE: Shooting Star… even as dangerous as it ended up being… just amazing.
CROWD: 6-7.5, Not what you might have expected, but it had several tough acts to follow in a row.
OUTCOME: Brock should hold the gold for a LONG time most likely now.
WINNER(S): BROCK LESNAR NEW CHAMPION AT 21:06
After the match, Kurt stumbled over to Brock and shook his hand, then the two embraced and it ended there, so no real injury angle. Fireworks went off and then we got the highlight package we usually get to close a huge night.
***end of Show***
