Welcome to the latest edition of our WrestleMania Rewind series, written by yours truly, exclusively for everyone here at SLTD Wrestling. The aim of WrestleMania Rewind is to review every WrestleMania in roughly 2,000 words. Click here to read the series so far.
Today’s journey back into the space-time continuum takes us to WrestleMania 19, which came to us from Safeco Field in Seattle in front of over 54,000 fans on March 30th, 2003.
It also marked a couple of firsts for the Vinnie Mac’s international media juggernaut. It was their first Mania under the WWE moniker, and for the first time, they had 2 commentary teams. One to cover Raw matches – JR and Lawler – and the other to cover the SmackDown side of things – Michael Cole and Tazz. Without any further ado, let’s take a look back at the 19th instalment of WrestleMania!
Match 1: WWE Cruiserweight Championship – Rey Mysterio vs Matt Hardy (c) (w/Shannon Moore)
Mysterio gets an early 2-count off a corkscrew plancha. Hardy replies with a couple of 2’s of his own, and he gets another from a Side Effect. Mysterio lands a seated senton and a springboard crossbody for 2, and gets another from a tornado DDT. Shannon Moore trips Mysterio as he goes for the 619, and Hardy gets another nearfall from a Twist of Fate. Mysterio counters a crucifix powerbomb into a hurricanrana for 2. Hardy rolls through a victory roll and uses the ropes to retain his title.
Opinion: A great opener for the show. This was back in the days when Mysterio could still go pretty much full-pelt. He was phenomenal but, to be fair, so was Hardy. They had excellent chemistry together and it was a privilege to watch them go at it. I’d forgotten how good this was.
Match 2: Handicap Match – Undertaker vs Big Show & A-Train
***This was originally scheduled to be a tag-match pitting Nathan Jones & Undertaker against Big Show & A-Train, but Jones was taken out beforehand, turning it into a handicap match***
Taker lands a chokeslam on A-Train early for a 2 before A-Train lands a sit-out powerbomb. Show assaults Taker on the outside before rolling him back in. A-Train gets another nearfall before Show gets the tag. Taker counters a chokeslam into an armbar. The heels use the numbers game to wear Taker down.
Taker gets back into it with right hands and a swinging DDT for 2. A-Train lands a bicycle kick on Taker. Show follows up with a chokeslam. Nathan Jones magically appears and wipes out Show before delivering a big boot to A-Train and Taker picks up the win with a Tombstone.
Opinion: This wasn’t good. At all. They tried hard, but I just couldn’t get into it. The crowd was hot for the comeback though, and for Nathan Jones’ appearance towards the end. The funniest bit was Fred Durst trying to hype the crowd during Limp Bizkit’s performance of Rollin’. Summing it up in a phrase – not a fuck was given.
Match 3: Triple-Threat Match for the WWE Women’s Championship – Trish Stratus vs Jazz vs Victoria (c) (w/Stevie Richards)
Jazz is on the attack early and gets a 2-count from a dropkick on Trish. Victoria pulls Trish off the apron, then follows up with a somersault legdrop for 2. Jazz lands one of her own for another 2. The heels double-team Trish. Victoria gets a 2-count off a powerslam on Jazz.
A miscommunication between the heels leads to Jazz heel-kicking Victoria. Trish rolls up Jazz for 2. Jazz puts Trish in a half-Boston Crab, then an STF. Trish and Victoria exchange nearfalls. Victoria misses a moonsault. Trish slides out of the Widow’s Peak and gets the win, courtesy of a Chick Kick.
Opinion: An enjoyable women’s match. Guess what the common themes were? All three of them could WRESTLE and none of the women involved – Trish, Jazz or Victoria – had POINTY faces. Top stuff!
Match 4: Triple-Threat Match for the WWE Tag-Team Championships – Los Guerreros vs Benoit/Rhyno vs Team Angle (c)
Unsurprisingly for a triple-threat match, the start’s chaotic. Eventually, it settles down to Haas and Chavo. Chavo dropkicks him and tags Benjamin in. After a collision with Eddie, Benjamin tags Rhyno, who gets a 2 off a powerslam. Benoit tags in and gets a 2-count from an elbow.
Benoit and Rhyno exchange quick tags. Benoit gets a nearfall from a superplex. Eddie gets one from a Brain-Buster. Benoit lands FOUR German Suplexes on Chavo. Benjamin’s in and gets a 2 off a superkick. Guerrero and Benoit are down. Benjamin gets a 2 from a legdrop. Rhyno GORES Chavo, and Benjamin covers him for the win.
Opinion: Three great teams who busted their ass to deliver. It won’t be a shock for you to learn that the more experience pro-wrestlers crafted the match, allowing the recently-debuted Team Angle to retain. Wrestling’s at its best…when it’s simple. Like this.
Match 5: Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels
Good chain wrestling to start. Jericho rolls through a top-rope crossbody for 2 and lands a spinning heel kick. Michaels gets a figure-four in on Jericho, who reverses it and Michaels breaks the hold. Michaels is busy working Jericho’s left leg when he’s sent shoulder first into the ringpost. They fight outside, where Jericho puts Michaels in the Walls.
Jericho starts to target Michaels’ back and dictates the pace with a chinlock. Jericho lands a flying forearm and nips up, a la Michaels. Michaels lands one of his own and makes a comeback to get a 2 from a moonsault. They exchange nearfalls. Jericho gets another 2 from a backdrop and a Lionsault. He counters a hurricanrana into the Walls. Michaels gets to the ropes for a break and gets 2 from an inside cradle.
Jericho gets another nearfall from Sweet Chin Music. Michaels sends Jericho into the ringpost and rolls him up for 2. Michaels counters a top-rope back suplex into a crossbody for another 2, and lands an elbow from the top rope. Jericho counters Sweet Chin Music into the Walls! Michaels gets to the ropes. Jericho bitches at the ref and turns round into Sweet Chin Music for 2. Jericho goes for a back suplex, but Michaels rolls through it and gets the 3.
Opinion: One of the best wrestling matches of all-time. Something for everyone. Great mat wrestling, great drama and terrific psychology. It’s made even more incredible given the fact that this was Michaels’ first match at Mania in FIVE years, and he’d only had a handful before this. Tremendous, but no surprise considering the guys working the match.
Match 6: World Heavyweight Championship Match – Triple H (c) (w/Ric Flair) vs Booker T
Neither man is able to get any clear-cut advantage in the early going. Booker gets the first nearfall from a clothesline. H sends Booker into the ringpost from the apron to the outside. H is in control now and gets a couple of 2’s from a neckbreaker and an AA spinebuster. Booker gets back into it with a DDT and gets a 2 from a spinning elbow. They exchange nearfalls in quick succession.
H comes off the top rope into a kick from Booker for 2, but he avoids the scissors kick and Booker flies outside. H distracts the ref and Flair drops Booker onto the steps. H puts an Indian Death Lock on Booker, who gets to the ropes to force the break. H works Booker’s left leg, but Booker gets a couple of 2’s, including one from his scissors kick. He lands a somersault legdrop from the top rope, but he’s done himself in and H picks up the win with a Pedigree.
Opinion: Some of you might remember the build to this match centred around Triple H saying to Booker “someone like…YOU…doesn’t deserve to be champion”. Racism? Perhaps. Ignorance? Indeed. Especially since H was GIVEN the World Championship and didn’t WIN it. Booker did great here. The somersault legdrop that led to the finish was cool, and Booker sold the damage to his leg REALLY well.
Match 7: Street Fight – Hulk Hogan vs Mr McMahon (if Hogan loses, he has to retire)
McMahon has the best of the opening 5-10 minutes, working Hogan’s arm both in and out of the ring. H gets back into it when McMahon misses a chair shot, so Hogan busts McMahon open with it and wears him out. McMahon gets back into it with a low-blow and sets up a ladder between the announce tables. McMahon lands a legdrop off the ladder and sends Hogan crashing through the Spanish Announce Table!
McMahon rolls Hogan in the ring and gets a couple of 2-counts. Hogan low-blows him. Roddy Piper appears from nowhere and wallops Hogan with a lead pipe, but McMahon only gets a 2 so he wipes the ref out. He gets another 2-count from a legdrop and Hogan HULKS UP. He lands a big boot and three legdrops to get the win.
Opinion: The match stipulation gave the result away. If Hogan loses he has to retire…He’ll NEVER retire. This was pretty violent, but McMahon was on top form and at his evil best. His facial expressions are almost unmatched. It was two old men scrapping. Not fancy, or pretty, but the crowd LOVED it.
Match 8: The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
It kicks off with a flurry of right hands. Austin teases the Stunner, but no dice, although he does get the best of a ringside brawl, sending Rock crashing into the steps and gets a 2-count off a back suplex. Rock goes on to work Austin’s left knee. Rock puts Austin in a Sharpshooter, but Austin gets to the ropes to force a break. Rock continues to work Austin’s knee before they both go down following a clothesline.
Back up, Austin does the Thesz Press and gets a 2 from an elbow. Rock lands a flying clothesline, but Austin gets a 2 from a Rock Bottom! Rock blocks a Stunner with one of his own for 2. Rock lands a succession of HARD right hands, but Austin gets a 2 from a Stunner. Rock low-blows Austin behind the ref’s back. Rock gets a 2-count from the People’s Elbow. He gets another nearfall from a Rock Bottom and gets the win from a THIRD Rock Bottom.
Opinion: Two of the best of all-time, and arguably the best feud WWE ever had between two of (essentially) their own stars. It’s sad looking back at it because Austin couldn’t really do a lot. Rock controlled almost the entire match and this match was the perfect way to end their rivalry. Even though Austin lost the match, he won their WrestleMania war 2-1. Brilliant stuff.
Match 9: WWE Championship Match – Kurt Angle (c) vs Brock Lesnar
There are loads of good chain wrestling early doors as they trade holds, with neither man getting the advantage. Lesnar gets the first nearfall off a powerslam. Angle zones in on, and works, Lesnar’s ribs, getting a 2-count from a side suplex. Angle puts Lesnar in a series of submission holds, targeting the ribs. Brock lands a spinebuster to create separation. Lesnar picks up the pace with a series of power moves and gets a 2-count off an overhead belly-to-belly throw.
Angle lands FOUR German Suplexes. They counter each other’s finishers before Angle gets Lesnar in the Ankle Lock, then a half-Boston Crab. Lesnar fights out and back body drops Angle on the outside. Back in the ring, Angle lands a HUGE release German suplex for 2. Lesnar kicks out of the Angle Slam at 2. Lesnar replies with an F5, which Angle also kicks out of at 2.
Angle goes back to the Ankle Lock, but Lesnar gets to the ropes again. Lesnar counters an Angle Slam into another F5. He goes up top, misses a Shooting Star Press and Angle covers him for 2. Lesnar picks up the win with a third F5.
Opinion: Who says WRESTLING matches have no place in the WWE? This was terrific. It’s usually hard to get behind bigger guys when they’re working babyface, but Lesnar did an excellent job here and, as usual, Angle was outstanding. He could very well be the best of all-time. The spot where Lesnar missed the Shooting Star Press is sickening when you look back at it – uncomfortable at best – but this was a great match.
Summary: You never usually hear people talking about this WrestleMania and I don’t quite know why that is. From top to bottom, every match on the card delivered…in spades. The quality was outstanding and there was something for everyone.
It’s hard to pick a match of the night because they were all excellent in their own way. Michaels/Jericho probably just shades it over Angle/Lesnar, but you could make an argument for either one to be honest.
I hope you’ll indulge the following part about Limp Bizkit. Tony Chimel announced them as “WWE’s favourite band in the whole world”. Twice. Any cool factor they had (which wasn’t a lot, to begin with) dissipated after Chimel said that. It’s like your dad saying he likes a band/artist who is current.
Here’s an example. George Snr (my dad) claims to like David Guetta’s music. Or as he calls him David Gwett, just cos he likes the Guetta song they used in the Football Factory (for those of you who haven’t heard of it, it’s a film about football hooligans featuring Danny Dyer). No. Just…no.
“Cool Dad” band performances aside, if you’ve not seen this WrestleMania for a while, I’d highly recommend that you go back and watch it. In my eyes, it’s a forgotten classic and it’s about time people remembered it as such. It ticks all the boxes.
Hopefully you enjoyed that quick look back at WrestleMania 19. Leave your comments/feedback via the usual channels, and join me again tomorrow to revisit WrestleMania 20!
SLTD Wrestling's resident Scottish Nightmare. Some of my content may not be suitable for younger readers or those who are easily offended!
Recent Comments