I cannot celebrate 15 years of
being a wrestling fan without reviewing at least 1 Wrestlemania and I’ve picked
arguably the best, WM 19. Now I love 17 as well but to me 19 was just that
little bit better and I actually have it. Taking place March 30th
2003 in SAFECO Field in Seattle, Washington. Now Mania’s are long so expect
this review to be long as well. We have JR & King commentary the Raw
matches and Tazz & a much less annoying Michael Cole for Smackdown. The
opening video is pretty much the regular opening video now where everyone puts
over how big and meaningful Mania is. Limp Bizkit’s “Crack Addict” is the theme
and we would hear it so much on this show. I will also note that I won’t review
the Cat Fight girls who are all over this show but everything was awful, can’t
believe Lance Storm got bumped for them. With that said let’s start.
Matt Hardy (c) w/Shannon Moore vs. Rey
Mysterio for WWE Cruiserweight Title: JR & King welcome the show
and they are in the Nitro position, always felt that was weird. I think Rey is
meant to be dressed as a Marvel superhero, I’m guessing Hawk Eye. Matt has his
Media Player entrance, as much as this screams mid-card I really felt he could
be a main event at the time I loved Version 1 Matt. The running story is that
Matt has to make weight to be champion. Match opens with Rey back dropping
Matt, very quickly, over the top and following with a twisting plancha. Moore
interferes early when Rey attempts a Sunset bomb to the outside. Matt delivers
a back suplex with an elbow drop, not sure what that’s called. Matt & Moore
are drinking tea now, as an Englishmen I approve. Very fast paced match. Rey
attempts a float over and is caught into the side effect. Rey comes back with a
Seated Senton and starts his comeback. Rey gets tripped up and runs into a
Twist of Fate for a near fall. Matt goes for a Splash mountain, I only ever see
that move come out when Rey is in a match, shock horror Rey reverses it into a
Head scissors. He then hits a 619 and after some reversals goes for a Victory
Roll but Matt sits on him and grabs the rope for the win. A great opening match
and makes more sense than putting your WORLD title on opener.
Undertaker vs. A-Train & Big Show: This was meant
to be a tag with Nathan Jones but WWE were so worried that he got pulled on the
night. Oh hey look it’s Tensai, I mean Albert, I mean A-Train. Poor guy. Cole
brings up the Undefeated streak, it only became important at the last Mania I
think when Taker counted his wins. Taker quickly hits a chokeslam on Train but
Show pulls him out. Train yells “Kick his Ass” that’s how wrestling usually
works. Taker with a leap frog, that was impressive. We get Old School early, if
this was Michael Cole it would be called Vintage School. The heels get
advantage after Show distracts Taker and Taker is hit by the Baldo Bomb. Show
goes for a Chokeslam but is reversed into a fujiwara armbar and then he locks
in a Crossarm breaker on Train, this was when Taker really started to change
his style. Train yells a lot while he works and during this match you can hear
a train, that’s how little action is going on. Taker hits his weird running DDT
which Cole calls a clubbing blow to the back. Show hits a Chokeslam but Jones
comes out, and gets a reaction, and spin kicks Show. He comes in and hits a big
boot and Taker hits the Tombstone for the win. Pretty slow at parts and not
that good but I think it was wise to use Jones how they did in this match.
Victoria (c) w/Stevie Richards vs. Jazz
vs. Trish Stratus for the Women’s Title: Victoria comes out to Tatu’s “All
the Things She said” which is an amazing song and is this seriously the best
they had for Stevie? Jazz attacks both before the bell to start. Jazz locks in
a version of the Last Chancery on Trish. Trish hits a Lou Thez press, weird to
do knowing Austin was going on later. Victoria hits a slingshot flip leg drop
but is pulled off. I really liked Victoria’s Insane gimmick. Victoria &
Jazz attempt, that being the key word, a double shoulder breaker on Trish.
Trish does a roll up and goes for a bridge as well and the ref doesn’t count
until the bridge is done, that always bugged me he should count anyways. Trish
hits the Chick Kick on Jazz but the pin is broken up. Victoria takes a nasty
spill to the outside and Jazz locks in a sick looking single crab and then into
a STF but Stevie interferes. King pops when we see the slightest glimpse of
Victoria’s ass on a roll up. Jazz hits a version of the Glamslam but walks into
a superkick by Victoria who then misses a top rope moonsault. Stevie does the
goof spot and hits himself with a chair. Victoria tries for Widows Peak but its
reversed and Trish hits the Chick Kick for the win. Watching this I miss this
kick of women’s wrestling, thank God for Shimmer. A great match and it got a
reaction something today’s Divas can only hope for. Afterwards we get a Rock
promo backstage, he does a great heel promo. And his T-shirt says “Hit it
Strong” what is “it”, it that sexual?
Team Angle (Charlie Haas & Shelton
Benjamin) (c) vs. Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo) vs. Chris Benoit &
Rhyno-Triple Threat for WWE Tag titles: One of these things just doesn’t
belong here. Rhyno comes out and Team Angle’s Titantron video is frozen behind
him. It’s amazing to think how quickly Team Angle climbed the WWE and how
quickly they fell, the Team were in the main event the last PPV and hung with
everyone easily. It breaks down early but it finally starts with Chavo and
Haas. Benoit gets back suplexed by Chavo and Eddie hits his beautiful slingshot
to come in. Benoit’s chops are sick I forgot how hard he hits. I wonder why
Rhyno never got pushed, his work was good and he looked like a beast, no
company really used him well. Lots of tags going on, no one seems to be in for
long. Benoit hits a very quick Top tope Superplex on Eddie and then goes on to
press Eddie up and locks in the crossface as he comes down but it’s broken up
quickly. Chavo comes in and cleans house, wouldn’t have picked him for that
spot, but is cut off by Benoit’s Multi-German’s. Shelton has the pin but Eddie
breaks it up with a Frog Splash. Rhyno Gores Chavo and Shelton steals the pin
to retain. Very good, fast paced match with a lot of action and Team Angle come
off as sneaky heels.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho: The story here
is that Y2J looked up to HBK but he now wants to surpass him. This was Shawn’s
first Mania since returning from injury. Shawn comes out and he has confetti
guns on his way but many don’t work, also he probably got the most pyro of anyone
entering at this Mania. The King brings up the camera’s shooting “The Mania
behind Wrestlemania” if you haven’t watched it just don’t it’s pretty
meaningless and depressing. Chain wrestling to start, King says “Wrestling, wow”
sums up how rare it was to see this I guess. Shawn goes for a crossbody but it’s
rolled through, a spot you usually see as a near fall later in matches. Chris
whips Shawn into the corner and attempts a bulldog when he comes out but Shawn
launches him into the corner where he’s crotched. Shawn skins the cat and
catches Chris with a head scissors, he follows that with a plancha. They fight
on the outside and Shawn tries for a dropkick but Chris locks in the Walls of
Jericho for a good amount of the count, Chris breaks the count though. This
starts the attack on the back as Chris we then ram Shawn into the post back
first. Chris hits his trademark dropkick when Shawn tries to get in the ring.
Chris did his posing pin which got a pop from the crowd. Chris attempts to
flapjack Shawn but he hangs there and hits a DDT to start coming back. Chris
hits a forearm, kip up and then does Shawn’s pose, Shawn then does it to Chris.
Shawn hits a top rope moonsault for a near fall. The two do the endless covers
spot which ends with Chris trying for the Walls but is countered. Chris hits
the Lionsault for a near fall. Shawn goes for a hurricanrana but is put in the
Walls. Chris hits his Double Underhook backbreaker and follows with a top rope
reverse elbow, he then teases the Sweet Chin Music and hits it for a near fall.
Chris goes for a superplex but Shawn throws him off and hits his gorgeous elbow
from the top. Shawn attempts Sweet Chin Music but is countered into the Walls.
Chris screams at the ref but he then walks into the Superkick for a near fall.
Shawn flips over Chris and catches him in a roll up for the win, afterwards the
two hug but Chris quickly kicks him low. Just a fantastic match between these
two and you can argue they stole the show. Personally I think they did steal the
show as this was the best match on the card.
Triple H (c) w/Ric Flair vs. Booker T
for the World title: This was the “You’re a criminal because you’re black”
storyline. Triple H didn’t have the greatest storylines or opponents at this
time. Flair looks so much younger here and he wasn’t really young. Little fact
for you, Triple H would win Worst Wrestler of the Year in 2003, he must be one
of the only guys to win best and worst. Booker hits a Top Rope Armdrag early, a
unique spot. Triple H finally gets some offence by throwing Booker into the
post. JR brings up that Triple H was awarded the title, that would be a good
point if he hadn’t lost it and regained it since he was originally given the
belt. Triple H hits a great spinebuster, really looked like Arn Anderson’s and
his was the greatest. Triple H kills Booker with a clothesline in the corner.
Booker hits a high DDT, really looked like Triple H landed on his head. We get
the high knee/Harley Race reference. Booker hits an awful looking spinebuster,
didn’t help that the earlier one looked great. Flair interferes after Booker
misses a Scissors kick, and hits a Knee breaker onto the steps. Triple H looks
in an Indian Deathlock, JR sounds truly surprised to see it and it’s a move
that should be used more often it looks great. They tease a ref bump when
Booker is kicked off into the corner but he’s fine. Booker then hits the
scissors kick but can’t get the pin. Booker damn near kills Triple H when his
Harlem Hangover lands right on his head, Triple H must hate gets coming off the
top on him as just a few months earlier RVD seriously injured him in the
Elimination Chamber in a similar fashion. Booker’s leg gives way and he gets
hit by the Pedigree for the win. This match seriously dragged. I think Triple H
has the worst luck at Mania as he always seems to go on after matches that
steal the show. Honestly the finish was really flat as Triple H didn’t cover
Booker for a good 10 seconds after the Pedigree.
Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan-Street
Fight: I
had to add the video promo for this match, it has to be one of the best videos
I’ve ever seen to help build up a match. We actually get Voodoo Child for Hogan.
Hulk hits the Axe Bomber (Japan reference for you there). Vince works on Hulk’s
left arm randomly. The fans get up when Vince locks in a test of strength and
Hulk fight back, which lasts a while. Vince gets thrown into the post and then
gets murdered by a chair shot, no surprise he’s busted open. Hulk kills Hugo
(the Spanish announcer) when Vince ducks and Vince hits a low blow, I wonder
what made them decide to kill Hugo who was bleeding as well. Hulk is now
bleeding as well. I hear the 3rd train of the night. Vince drops a
leg off a ladder through the Spanish Announce table in an insane spot. Vince
finds a pipe and peaks over the apron in a great visual, Hulk nails a low blow
before the pipe is used. A very fat looking Roddy Piper enters and the fans go
crazy. This seems to go on forever, Piper is teasing hitting Vince and hits
Hulk instead. The ref takes an awful bump into the ropes this leads to the French
ref (Sylvan from La Resistance) to come down. Hulk begins to Hulk up and the
fans erupt, I still love watching that especially at the “YOU” point. Big boot and 3 Leg drops leads to Hulk
winning. This was pretty good, Vince shines in this no rule matches and that
freedom helped Hulk I think.
Steve Austin vs. The Rock: Austin returned
the prior month and this would be his last match. The build to this was that
Rock finally wanted to beat Austin at Mania. The promo video would be the “Theme
song” video which we would get on every PPV. I loved the heel Rock especially
his entrance theme. Little fact while this was their 3rd match at Mania
it was the first straight match as the other two were officially No DQ matches.
Also this was originally going to be the main event but Austin had a health
scare the night before and so it was put on as the Semi-Main. They brawl on the
outside to start. Rock goes into the steps with some force. We get some “What”
chants, I would like them to die. Rock clips the knee twice to get the
advantage. The cameraman falls down, it’s not a good night for the
non-wrestlers. Rock locks in the Sharpshooter, one of his better looking ones I
have to say. Rock puts on Austin’s vest and this lead to a double clothesline
and a double down. Austin hits the Lou Thez press to a pop and more “What” chants.
Austin hits the Rock Bottom. Rock then counters a Stunner with his own but
before then he gets up and is wobbly but has the time to adjust the vest.
Austin hits the Stunner for a near fall, no one sells that like the Rock.
Austin shoves the ref and gets low blowed for his trouble. Rock misses the
People’s Elbow but then quickly hits a spinebuster and hits the Elbow for a
near fall. Rock hits the Rock Bottom for another near fall, he tries for
another which gets countered but he then hits one for another near fall. Rock
hits a 3rd one after Austin struggled to get up for the win. While
you could argue that was overkill it made sense since these 2 have wrestled so
much in the past. A really good match and a great conclusion to their series.
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar for WWE
title: This
was Brock’s first Mania, it’s amazing to think how much he did in such little
time. Watching the build video they did nothing but do Brock vs. Kurt on TV for
weeks. Brock has a tiny bandage on his ribs, to sell an injury. Very nice chain
wrestler that gets applause for the fans. Kurt hits a very high German suplex.
Brock actually grabs his ribs after delivering some moves, it’s something
simple but worth doing. Kurt German’s Brock into the corner to get the
advantage. Taz showing a lot of knowledge with holds here, something TNA can
only hope to get from him these days. Kurt runs into a spinebuster and both men
are down. It’s suplexs galore in this match. Kurt hits the multi-Germans
hitting 4, the same number that Benoit hit earlier. Brock reverses the Angle
slam and goes for the F5 which is reversed into the Ankle lock. In a nice spot
Brock tries to kick him off but Kurt catches him and locks in a Single leg
Crab. Kurt hits a German which sees Brock flip over and land on his front, fans
loved that. Kurt hits the Angle slam for a near fall. Brock hits the F5 fall a
near fall where Kurt barely kicks out. Brock hits another F5 after a series of
reversals between the 2 but he goes outside for the now famous Shooting Star
botch where he lands on his head. Brock then hits a 3rd F5 for the
win. A really great main event that I feel gets overshadowed too much.
Everything was great until the Shooting Star but the match ended soon after.
Overall: This was a
really solid show and you got the feeling it was a big time show as everything
HBK/Y2J onwards felt like a true main event. There were some drawback in terms
of matches, I’m never a fan of bands performing several times (like they did on
here) and the Cat Fight girls took up so much time for nothing of meaning it
was truly painful to watch. If you stick to the in ring work this show is great
but everything outside was pretty bad.
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