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.
The latest stop on our journey to WrestleManias past comes on April 3rd, 2005 when WrestleMania 21 went Hollyweird…er…Hollywood. The annual extravaganza was held at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles in front of around 20,000 people. Raw and SmackDown were again represented by their respective commentary teams – JR & Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole & Tazz. Let’s get down to bidnis!
Match 1: Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio
It’s a rapid start that sees Eddie using an armbar and other various submission moves to work Rey’s arm. Eddie controls the vast majority of proceedings, until Rey counters a powerbomb with an armdrag that sends him outside. Rey follows him with a corkscrew plancha.
Eddie gets back in control with a backbreaker for 2 and follows that with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another nearfall. Eddie lands the 3 Amigos, but misses the Frog Splash. Rey lands a drop toehold into the 619, however, Eddie counters the West Coast Pop into a powerbomb for 2. Rey picks up the win with a hurricanrana from out of the blue.
Opinion: I actually forgot that I was supposed to be reviewing this match halfway through it. I got totally caught up in the match and was just enjoying it. It had bits of everything in it – mat-based grappling, submission moves and lucha-style offense – and the crowd popped for it all. A terrific match that showcased the talent that both men undoubtedly possess.
Match 2: Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Chris Jericho vs Kane vs Chris Benoit vs Shelton Benjamin vs Edge vs Christian (w/Tyson Tomko)
Kane’s targeted by the other 5 from the get-go. Each man lands a big move from the turnbuckle/ropes on his counterparts outside, culminating in Kane joining in on the “launching myself outside” theme by clotheslining everyone from the top rope. It’s not long before the ladder is being consistently used as a weapon by Kane and Jericho. Kane wears out Benoit’s arm with it. He turns into a Spear from Edge. Edge and Christian kindly provide Kane with a ladder sandwich. Mmmm…Steely!
Christian rests a ladder halfway up another one. Benjamin runs up it and clotheslines Jericho off. Almost 10 years on, that spot’s still cool as fuck. Tomko enters the fray and wipes out Kane before helping Christian climb the ladder. Kane and Jericho crash and burn off one of the ladders. Benoit lands a diving headbutt off the top of the ladder on Kane, then headbutts him off it. Benoit’s fingertips away, but Edge blasts him in the arm with a chair! Edge is the one to pick up the briefcase.
Opinion: You know how they always say the original is the best? That’s definitely the case with the MiTB match. This was a terrific match that was so original in its time. It’s been watered down now, but this was top-class entertainment. Nothing too violent, just a lot of cool spots that showcased each man.
Match 3: Randy Orton vs The Undertaker
Taker weathers the early storm and knocks Orton outside, where he legdrops him on the apron. He misses a big boot in the corner though, which gives Orton the advantage and he gets a 2 from a clothesline. Orton counters a Dragon Sleeper with a DDT for another 2. Orton walks into a big boot, but powerslams Taker for 2.
Orton lands some mounted punches in the corner. Taker goes for the Last Ride, but Orton slips out and there’s a ref bump. Cowboy Bob Orton appears and blasts Taker with the cast, which only results in a 2-count. Taker boots Cowboy off the apron. Orton counters a chokeslam into an RKO for 2. Taker counters a Tombstone into one of his own to pick up the win and extend the Streak.
Opinion: This was a high-quality match and it showed just how good Orton can be. You can criticise his promo skills, but there aren’t many better natural wrestlers in the industry than Orton, even 10 years ago. Taker, as usual, was phenomenal and gave the relatively inexperienced Orton more than enough offense to shine.
Match 4: WWF Women’s Championship Match – Christy Hemme (w/Lita) vs Trish Stratus (c)
Trish throws Christy into the steps. Christy blocks the Chick Kick to get a 2-count. Trish lands some chops, but Christy gets another 2 from a Sunset Flip. Trish sends Christy outside with a Spear. She rolls Christy back in, but she’s too busy jaw-jacking with Lita and gets rolled up by Christy for 2. Christy lands a series of kicks and the Twist of Fate for another 2. Christy rolls through a roll-up, but walks into a Chick Kick and Trish retains.
Opinion: As good as Trish was, she wasn’t able to carry Christy to a good match. Having said that, this was still better than most Divas matches that you see today. It was good, but not great.
Match 5: Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels
Michaels outwrestles Angle early. Angle powers out of a short arm-scissors, only for Michaels to rolls into a Sunset Flip for 2. Michaels gets another nearfall before once again returning to the side headlock. Angle gets up to the corner where they exchange right hands. Angle cheap shots Michaels and puts him into the Angle Lock. Michaels rolls through and a clothesline takes both men outside, where Angle Angle Slams Michaels into the ringpost.
Angle starts working Michaels’ back and gets a couple of nearfalls from a pair of suplexes before using a legscissors. Angle sends Michaels into the turnbuckle and lands an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the way out for 2. They exchange right hands and chops with Angle getting a 2 from a clothesline.
Michaels misses the top rope elbow. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, which Michaels counters with an armdrag, then elevates Angle over the top rope. Michaels lands a top rope crossbody on the outside. Angle tries to German Suplex Michaels from the apron to the floor, but Michaels avoids it with a low-blow behind the ref’s back. Michaels kicks Angle off and springboard crossbodies him onto the announce table. Both men beat the 10-count.
Michaels lands a flying forearm and hits his signature moves, including the top rope elbow. Angle counters Sweet Chin Music into the Angle Lock, but Michaels gets to the rope to force the break. Angle goes back to the Angle Lock, which Michaels rolls through for 2. Angle counters Sweet Chin Music into the Angle Slam for a nearfall of his own. Angle goes high risk and misses a moonsault.
Michaels climbs to the top rope, but Angle cuts him off and lands the Angle Slam from the second rope for 2. Angle trash-talks Michaels, only to get Sweet Chin Music for his trouble! Michaels gets a 2-count. Angle locks in the Angle Lock and grapevines it. Michaels can’t escape and has to tap.
Opinion: A wrestling masterpiece from two of the best wrestlers of my generation, and Angle’s third four-star Mania match in a row. These two men are just sensational and they told a great story here. Michaels wrestled more of a Kurt Angle-style, and Angle wrestled more like Michaels would. Eventually, Angle’s nous won the day and this is one of the most under-rated matches ever. A beautiful creation.
Match 6: Sumo Match – Akebono vs Big Show
Unsurprisingly, the ACTUAL Sumo wrestler wins fairly quickly.
Opinion: If the Angle/Michaels match was a beautiful creation, this was more like the afterbirth. Or an abortion. I’ll leave it up to you to decide which.
Match 7: WWE Championship Match – John Cena vs JBL (c)
JBL gets the early advantage thanks to a big boot and a shoulder tackle. He dominates and gets a succession of nearfalls before working Cena’s back and neck, and locking him in a Sleeper. Cena can’t get into it and JBL dumps him outside, where he lands his FOURTH neckbreaker of the match to earn another nearfall. He continues his attack and decides to go high risk. It doesn’t pay off and Cena powerslams him in mid-air. Cena makes his comeback, signature moves and all, ducks a Clothesline from Hell and connects with the F-U to win the title.
Opinion: JBL utterly dominated the match with his bowling-shoe ugly style offense, but ultimately, one mistake cost him. This was like a throwback to old-school wrestling. The heel dominates the match, yet loses to the plucky babyface. Really enjoyable.
Match 8: World Heavyweight Championship Match – Triple H (c) (w/Ric Flair) vs Batista
H teases the Pedigree early, but sends Batista outside with a knee. H follows him and sends him into the steps to get control and dictate things. H works Batista’s back to negate his power. Sound strategy. Naitch is also wearing Batista out whenever the ref’s back is turned. H cuts off Batista’s comebacks at almost every opportunity until Batista counters a Pedigree on the steps by catapulting H into the ringpost and busting him open.
Batista’s dominating now and gets a 2 from a powerslam. There’s a ref bump. Flair brings the belt in, but gets spinebustered by Batista. H drills Batista with the belt as the ref sees to Flair to get a 2-count. Batista lands a spinebuster and goes for the Batista Bomb, but H low-blows him behind the ref’s back. Batista counters the Pedigree with some form of driver-type move, and picks up the win with the Batista Bomb.
Opinion: The match was solid, if not spectacular. Both men worked hard to make it great, but something just didn’t click. Maybe because it’s hard to cheer for a bigger guy who’s a babyface? I dunno, but I just felt like there was something missing.
Summary: This was another really good show from WWE, continuing the run they’d been on since WM X-Seven. The show flowed together tremendously well, but once again, they’d killed the crowd by the middle of the card.
I understand the decision behind making Cena and Batista’s respective title reigns important parts of the show, but the event peaked with the Michaels/Angle match. Everything else after that felt a wee bit anti-climactic if I’m honest. Don’t let my interpretation put you off though. WM21 is another under-rated, but pretty well-rounded show. You’ll be pleasantly surprised if you go back and rewatch it.
Hopefully, you enjoyed that quick look back at WrestleMania 21. Leave your comments/feedback via the usual channels, and join me again tomorrow to revisit WrestleMania 22!
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