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EditorialWrestlemania I-XXX Series. (19/30)

Wrestlemania I-XXX Series. (19/30)

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*Edited as of January 2019. Removed broken pictures/videos*

Wrestlemania XIX (tagline: Dare To Dream) drew 54,097 fans (record-breaking attendance) to the Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, on March 30th 2003. The event was the first Wrestlemania to be held in the state of Washington. It was also the first Wrestlemania under the “WWE” banner and brand extension, which split the wrestlers into two rosters for Raw & Smackdown. Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler provided commentary for Raw, and Michael Cole & Tazz for Smackdown.

Limp Bizkit’s new song “Crack Addict” was used as the PPV’s theme, and the band performed Crack Addict and Rollin’ live on stage. Lance Storm and Chief Morley defended their World Tag Team Championships against Kane and Rob Van Dam in a Heat match before Wrestlemania started. The main card consisted of nine matches, five of which were contested for championships.

Wrestlers making their Wrestlemania debut: Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Shannon Moore, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas & Chavo Guerrero.

Wrestlers making their Wrestlemania returns: Shawn Michaels, Big Show

Absentees due to injuries/losing contract: Edge (surgery)


Match #1Matt Hardy (c) (with Shannon Moore) vs. Rey Mysterio for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Boom 619! So this is where Wrestlemania XIX begins, talking about Rey Mysterio’s first Wrestlemania match against “Version 1” Matt Hardy. I always loved the graphics for Matt’s entrance, and I believe the snippets of information given on the side were “Matt is appearing in his 4th Wrestlemania”, and “Matt often wonders how they did Wrestlemania without him”. Easily the best version of Matt Hardy.

Sadly, the entrances were more entertaining than the match. It’s a standard five-minute Matt Hardy vs Rey Mysterio match, ending with Matt getting a roll up after a missed 619. Kept Matt Hardy’s momentum going, but five minutes? C’mon.


Match #2The Undertaker vs. Big Show and A-Train

Nathan Jones! Remember him? The guy who was meant to be the next big thing? His original character was nixed, and instead became a rookie protege to The Undertaker. He was taken out before the match, making it a handicap match. In reality, Nathan Jones didn’t have the skills to pull off a match at Wrestlemania, so his role was limited, and his career was doomed.

But you know, I remember watching this back in 2003 and not giving a care in the world. I was majorly disappointed The Undertaker was being used as a mentor instead of the force he really was, and I wasn’t scared for his streak, it’s Big Show and A-Train; there’s no way. In typical heel fashion, A-Train played with The Undertaker’s bike mirror, distracting him long enough for the Big Show to ambush. But to no avail as Taker fended him off and choke slammed Albert anyways.

The match continued, with Taker doing wrestling holds, and Big Show doing an abdominal stretch, and yeah, it just kept going on, and on, for nine minutes, until Nathan Jones appeared (awoken from his nap) to assist The Undertaker by spin kicking the Big Show like a Power Ranger. POW! Then The Undertaker did his thing by giving Prince Albert A-Train Tensai a TOMBSTONE! CRUNCH! 1-2-3. Undertaker 11-0.

Not a bad match, but Nathan Jones could have made it dreadful .. so I guess it was about damage limitation, and keeping the streak alive for another year.


Match #3Victoria (c) (with Steven Richards) vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jazz for the WWE Women’s Championship

Loved Victoria’s theme back then, suited her rather well. The match is not as bad as the triple threat from Wrestlemania X8 (only difference is Victoria in the match instead of Lita), but it was still an average contest. Trish Stratus was still the least talented wrestler, and while Jazz’s personality was clearly showing through, the fans didn’t care enough. So yeah .. Trish won the match, Steven Richards tried to interfere and messed it up for Victoria. It was inevitable, Trish was the face of the Women’s/Divas division going forward.

So we were saved by “The Great One”, in a backstage interview with Coach. Rocky was in Hollywood heel mode, and doing his best to get the fans to hang on/loath every single word. I’m sure he called Austin a “bald-headed bastard” at one point, which was rather amusing. The Rock emphasized the importance of defeating Austin for the first time at Wrestlemania.


Match #4Team Angle (c) vs. Los Guerreros vs. Chris Benoit and Rhyno for the WWE Tag Team Championship

As you would expect, the best parts of the match were largely dominated by Benoit vs Guerrero (Jim Ross reminded us of their history), and short doses of Rhyno. It was just another standard match, until Rhyno picked it up and GOOOORRRE’d the hell out of Chavo and Haas, Eddie pulled Rhyno to the outside, which gave Shelton Benjamin the opportunity to steal the win. I understand they were trying to give Team Angle credibility, but the match was far too short, and only got exciting near the end. You would expect a little more at Wrestlemania. The disappointed look from Eddie Guerrero and Rhyno was the same look I had back in 2003 when I saw it live.


Match #5Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

Such a great buildup for this. Michaels returned to Wrestlemania after so many years away, and Jericho played the heel. Jericho was disappointed with his “hero”, and wanted to prove Y2J was better. Ironically, considering the match wasn’t for a belt, or a main event, it was given the most time (22 mins).

This is a definite highlight of the show. There was far too much action to call here. It was more enjoyable watching it again twelve years later, the storytelling was top-notch, and the pacing was excellent. Some bad selling from Shawn on occasion, but that’s to be expected. Some fans may see the ending as a disappointment, but I thought it was brilliant; the finish was as good as it could be.

Cat Fight Girls

Something I forgot to add earlier, the Miller Lite Cat Fight girls spent a good amount of the show walking down corridors, talking to divas like Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson, and arguing over who was better: Hulk Hogan or Vince McMahon? Keibler offered a business proposal to them, which turned into the infamous “Fatal Four-Way Pillow Fight” on a bed (placed on the stage).

So it started with the Cat Fight girls, Torrie joined in, then Stacy showed up, and a pillow fight massacre broke out. It took a wrong turn when Coachman got involved, and one of the girls pulled his trousers down. While Coach struggled to figure out how to stand and get his trousers up, the girls stopped and posed. End..


Match #6Triple H (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. Booker T for the World Heavyweight Championship

The feud had a controversial feel surrounding it, as Michael Cole asked HHH a fan question about his racist remarks when he told Booker T “his type would never be World Champion”, which HHH disputed by saying it was Booker’s criminal past he was referring to.

It’s a match which Booker T needed to win to move up the ladder in WWE. It wasn’t a bad match, but there was a lack of hatred shown from both sides. The first thing I remember is Triple H’s Indian Deathlock, which is a move he rarely used. Needless to say, a submission in the middle of a match with no heat? And hardly any work on Booker T’s legs before applying?

Of course, HHH had Ric Flair in his corner, and the Nature Boy interfered several times. A good moment from Booker was his Harlem Hangover (the old WCW finisher) barely managing to connect. Triple H recovered before Booker, delivered a pedigree, and slowly crawled over to his body for the win. Triple H goes over!


Match #7Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. McMahon in a Street Fight; had Hogan lost, he would have been forced to retire

Wow, I see a lot of negativity surrounding this, and I can see why, but if anyone tells you this is the worst part of the PPV, they are telling porkies. Hogan and McMahon were the oldest two men on the card, but that didn’t stop them from putting on a show. Hulkamania mode got a very nice reception from the fans, as he did air guitar to Voodoo Child. I got to say that the buildup had elements of truth to it, as Hogan did leave WWF for WCW, and Hogan did testify against McMahon, so Vince had legitimate reasons to hate Hogan, while Hogan had no reason to hate McMahon.

Very rarely will you see Vince ready to go into a singles match by himself. There’s always some interference, some trick, but not this time, Vince was so pissed with Hogan he wanted to do all the work himself. Vince entered with a crazy maniacal look in his eyes (which never went away), and his physique .. was actually bigger than Hogan’s. Vince was the big scary heel, not wimpy in the slightest; he was there to cause severe pain.

The match started with Vince dishing out some damage. Then we were sent back to 1990 as Vince (now showing his inner Warrior) and Hogan locked up in a test of strength. After some brawling on the outside, Hogan split Vince open by smashing him in to the ring post. Vince sold Hogan’s punches by flying to the outside; then Hogan worked him over with a chair (who’s the real babyface here?). Hugo Savinovich (Spanish commentator) took a chair shot to the head after Vince dodged Hogan; it’s not the Spanish announce table, it’s the commentators themselves taking punishment.

Vince turned the tide with a low blow and brutal chair beat down. I could literally see the wheels turning in Vince’s head as he looked for the next weapon of choice .. a ladder! So Vince set Hogan up on the Spanish announce table, placed the ladder between the announce tables .. then, in what can only be described as unbelievable, Vince managed to climb the ladder and deliver a flying leg drop to Hogan through the table! I’m sure I heard HOLY SHIT chants.

Vince managed to drag Hogan’s lifeless body back to the ring, for a two-count. Vince was selling the entire match with his eyes, as once again the evil genius searched frantically for something to kill Hulkamania. After looking around outside, the bloodied chairman found a lead pipe. Vince slowly lifted his head from the ring apron, with the most sadistic and evil grin you can imagine.

Somehow Hogan kept in there, and outta’ nowhere a WILD RODDY PIPER appeared .. looking rather chubby. Of course, the fans popped at the sight of Piper. So he struck Hogan and told him to kiss his ass, and walked off. His offense wasn’t effective, as Vince failed to keep Hulkamania down. Ref bump after the silly ref tried stopping the boss from using a pipe in a street fight … there’s no rules! So Vince called to his French referee to take over.

To finish, Vince smashed Hogan with a pipe and a leg drop for two. Hogan started hulking up, and after two decades of watching Hogan hulk up, Vince still had no answer for it. Big boot and THREE LEG DROPS to ensure the chairman wasn’t getting up anytime soon. Shane McMahon appeared, just to check on Vince, and Hogan reluctantly allowed Shane to enter the ring. As Hogan celebrated, Shane consoled Vince, who eventually came round and gave Hogan the “middle-finger” salute; a very fitting end.

So while the match was overbooked, Hogan showed his limitations, and Vince essentially carried it by himself, the fight was entertaining. It’s probably Vince’s best match, and I was more entertained than the three opening matches. I understand why it’s rated so low, as Hogan and Vince were too old to think they were relevant to fight at Wrestlemania XIX, but it didn’t stink. I’ve seen worse from better wrestlers.


Match #8The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

A tough match for both, as they knew Steve Austin was heading for retirement. Rocky wanted his win over Austin at Mania, and Austin just wanted to see it through. I already reviewed their previous match from Wrestlemania X-7, so I was looking to compare. It was an interesting contest, as the fans were split on cheering Austin and Rocky, despite Rocky playing the heel for the previous few months. I think the fans knew it would be their final encounter.

Typical Rock vs Austin, it was all about the fighting, and stealing each others moves. Rocky stole Austin’s vest at one point, and it suited him. Although the match didn’t have much variety to it, it was more about who could hit who’s finish on who, as many times as possible in-between rest holds. After 18 minutes of Stone Cold Stunners, Stone Cold Bottoms, Rock Stunners, and Rock Bottoms, the third Rock Bottom on Austin finished the rattlesnake. The Rock celebrated his win at each turnbuckle, and the fans responded positively.

The Rock showed respect to Austin and left him in the ring to soak up the atmosphere. Austin reluctantly made his way to the back after some beers. On the titantron stage, Austin raised both “birds” (two middle-fingers) in the air, signalling the end of his last match. I’m sure many fans in attendance were unaware of its significance, but looking back on it, you can see it on his face; it was time to hang up the boots.

An end of an era. One of the greatest rivalries in WWE history coming to an end. Another definite highlight of Wrestlemania XIX, and that’s the bottom line.


Match #9Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (c) for the WWE Championship; had Angle been counted out or disqualified, he would have lost the championship.

Two legitimately athletic wrestlers going toe-to-toe in a singles match for the main prize. We actually got to see chain wrestling in the main event of Wrestlemania, and both men showed their amateur experience, and intensity. To be honest, it has far too much action for me to call it here. As you can imagine (or remember) this one had lots of suplex, wrestling holds, explosive brawling, and sick spots. Considering it was Lesnar and Angle’s first Wrestlemania main event, they got the job done.

The match is not remembered as much for its quality, as it is for the ending. Brock Lesnar, who had done the Shooting Star Press flawlessly in OVW, decided to try it out one more time. The only problem? Kurt Angle was laid out on the other side of the ring, and even a beast like Brock Lesnar, can’t make a Shooting Star Press stick when the landing zone is on the other side of the ring. So Lesnar attempted the press, and landed square on top of his head, barely making contact with Angle.

It’s very possible the Shooting Star was meant to be the defining Wrestlemania moment for Brock Lesnar, but due to the historic botch, the ending had to be changed, and Lesnar finished Angle off with his trusty F-5. Luckily, Brock didn’t break his neck, and he continued on as WWE Champion. The “Next Big Thing” had arrived, and luckily Angle and Lesnar continued to tear it up on Smackdown.


Conclusion

On this occasion, some of the matches fell flat, and it simply wasn’t as great as some reviews from the time made it out to be. Apparently Wrestlemania XIX was one of the greatest Wrestlemania’s of all time. I’m not sure about that, but It definitely had its moments.

Bad moments: Catgirls pillow fight. The opening match. Booker T not getting his push, Limp Bizkit’s “I’m a CRACK ADDICT!!!!!!!”

Average moments: Women’s match, tag team match, Taker’s handicap match, overbooked Vince vs Hogan street fight

Best moments: Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho stole the show, Lesnar vs Angle was a great main event, Austin’s last Wrestlemania match, Vince’s evil grin.

Another historic moment occurred at the event, a Goldberg vignette, which announced his WWE wrestling debut at Backlash. The fans responded positively, and he debuted on the following Monday Night Raw by spearing The Rock.

So while I agree Wrestlemania XIX is one of the better outings, it was really long, and you have to wait til match #5 for a decent contest. But to end on a lighter note, the event was all about the matches, there were no BS celebrity segments (unless you include Limp Bizkit), and the brand extension was working as intended; WWE used two rosters to create a competitive atmosphere. Thanks for reading, Wrestlemania XX will be posted in the next few days.

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