WWE Cruiserweight Title Match - Matt Hardy Version 1.0 (w/Shannon Moore) (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
There was no big build to this which shouldn’t come as to a surprise given the Cruiserweight title isn’t a priority. However Matt Hardy has been doing his famous V1/CW/making weight gimmick and has gotten fairly over the past few months. That and Rey Mysterio is still hot since showing up in June and has been mixing it up with the top stars of the brand, so it’s only natural that Rey gets a showcase at Wrestlemania. A super brisk opening to kick off the show. Matt Hardy adopts more power moves with tons of impact to compliment Rey’s aerial prowess. Hardy at one point tries to hit a Splash Mountain Bomb off the top rope which Rey countered into a beautiful hurricanrana. They rush through some of their key spots that would’ve had more build on tv like Rey kicking out of the twist of fate before quickly moving on to the next move. Rey at times looks like he’s going to win before Shannon Moore interferes, eventually leading to Hardy recovering and getting the roll up pin. Rey was kept strong but you want more from these two oh. **1/4
I have nostalgic love for Limp Bizkit but their performance for Taker's entrance received zero noise. It wasn't even noticeable until Taker came out and the crowd reacted. Still love them, though.
The A-Train & The Big Show vs. The Undertaker
This was initially a feud between Undertaker and Big Show after Big Show threw Taker off the stage on the SD after No Mercy when he debuted on the show. Then they transitioned into a tag feud to put over newcomer Nathan Jones but he was awful so he got taken out. Hilarious. Big Show and A-Train work over Taker with classic heel offence. Abdominal stretch applied with added pressure from A-Train pulling from the outside. Fairly standard but does a job. Taker is over with the crowd and builds to an effective comeback. Nathen Jones comes out for a finish and takes out Big Show getting revenge for the assault he and the FBI did on Heat, allowing Taker to beat A-Train. **1/2
World Women's Title Triple Threat Match - Victoria (w/Steven Richards) (c) vs. Jazz vs. Trish Stratus
I didn’t like this much. It’s harmless but it’s something that hardly registered any insightful takes while watching it, nor did it grow on me afterwards. NR
Rock cuts the best promo of all time!!! Gah! Just had to mention it
WWE Tag Team Title Triple Threat Match - Team Angle (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. Chris Benoit & Rhyno vs. Los Guerreros (Chavo Guerrero & Eddie Guerrero)
This was a really good match. Awesome seeing these guys all in the ring together producing their magic with each other. Team Angle especially was great with the double team moves, all while acting like sneaky heels. Benoit and Rhyno had some great explosive offences. Rhyno with his constant gores and Benoit with his cross face. One of the first super good matches of the night. Team Angle and Loss Guerrero having a few amazing matches too. I definitely should revisit those. ***1/2
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
This was a match built around Jericho rejecting his previous fandom of Shawn Michaels, wanting to shoot ahead of him and create his own legacy. The build was super heated with Jericho bloodying Shawn up at the Rumble and then using Stacey Keiblier as bait to attack Shawn with the chair again. The story of the match plays out fairly similar to the feud which is always a plus for me. Jericho coplies Shawn’s signature moves like the Skin The Cat, Sweet Chin Music usually leading to Shawn gaining back control and then doing it better. So they played the big picture stuff super well. Jericho has a good nuanced, heelish way of doing his HBK spots, like the little crisscross he does before the Superkick and he’d do a pose after a kip-up. Like I said, the story notes in the match were really good but I feel this was lacking depth past the high spots of the match. Jericho had some good heel work as he usually does and his counters were good but Shawn’s performance was kind of empty. I’m not sure if you can say that Shawn was being lazy or dogging it since it’s his first Wrestlemania and I can’t see Shawn doing that on purpose. But his side of the wrestling felt very uninspiring. There were some bright sparks here and there like his Superkick out of nowhere which drew a very good nearfall but the rest wasn’t clicking with me at all. ***
World Heavyweight Title Match - Triple H (w/Ric Flair) (c) vs. Booker T
I’m conflicted on where I stand on this match. It’s booking is awful. HHH totally sandbags Booker T for the finish and the feud is built upon Booker T not being championship material due to being black, no matter how much they try to push it being HHH saying those comments being about Booker T’s criminal past. The match is also rather disjointed with virtually two haves that don’t link together at all. The first half was all about the counters being exchanged. Neither would get the edge on the other past a few seconds. It was a constant struggle back and forth. A battle of parity. HHH counted an axe kick attempt by ducking and hanging Booker T, groin first, on the ropes. Booker T had an awesome super kick counter for HHH’s axe handle attempt. All this was compelling action. But then HHH took control and the match lost all of its momentum with listless targeting of the leg by Triple H. The dreaded indian deathlock messed up the flow of the match and the match didn’t really recover. Booker T had some good selling after a Houston Hangover but the work nor selling was worth it. The aforementioned finish is deserving criticism too. ***1/4
Street Fight - Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon
The real main event of Wrestlemania XIX! A 57 Yr Old Vince McMahon vs 49 Yr Hulk Hogan in 2003 sounds like a total disaster, right? But it works like total magic. And it comes disguised in a brutal, bloody mess of a brawl. You can see Vince’s philosophy regarding wrestling being implemented as the match progresses. The match has some big moments and they build them up super well. Vince’s leg drop off the ladder through the spanish announce table was insane. And the shot of a bloody Vince is pure gold. His character work from start to finish was great. Big credit to him. for holding up his end of the match despite not being a non-wrestler. Hogan’s selling is great as well. Hogan’s mobility is shot but he knows how to sell and make everything Vince throws at him seem so impactful. Plus his comeback had me cheering along with him. The Hulk-Up is fantastically done and played out to perfection. Who says Hogan sucks? This was so great. ****
Steve Austin vs. The Rock
This was a hell of a last match for Austin to go out on. Against one of his biggest rivals, playing the biggest hits. The first match is a small scale version of the old AE style of brawling but it’s super intense and filled with energy. Rock pinballs around for Austin big time and Austin ramps up the speed to follow that tempo. Rock then takes control and mocks Austin by wearing his vest which was awesome. I loved them not only hitting their best shots, but then taking the others' moves as well. Rock doing the Stunner was great. Austin doing the Rock Bottom was just as awesome. The Rock hitting Rock Bottom after Rock Bottom until Austin finally stayed down was a classic finish and pretty much perfect to close the book on the feud and a career. Fantastic match. ****1/2
WWE Heavyweight Title Match - Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar
I loved this match. I’ve heard some people say it’s basically a spot fest and no story which is clearly not the case here. Angle works on the ribs for most of the match. Lesnar sells really well too. A lot of his offence is respected as a result and all he can do is hit the F-5 but he can’t capitalise almost every time. Sure at the end, both were just hitting moves but it came across as desperation to me. Angle is flawed as a wrestler but he was great here. Honestly I think Brock is the weaker of the two in this match. ****
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