Posted in: The Classroom The Classroom - History Of: WrestleMania Part 21
By Sean Taylor
Mar 25, 2009 - 1:36:26 AM
"If I was a hot chick, I’d be giving it away for breakfast."
Ladies, gentlemen, children of all ages, and homeless people on laptops with an Internet connection, welcome back to The Classroom. For those of you who don’t visit the LOP Columns Forum on a regular basis, (first off shame on you) there is a bonus History Of column there which was posted as a part of the CSI Tournament. If you’ve ever wanted to know more than you’ll ever need to know about the WWE Diva Search, click here. Don’t make that face at me. I didn’t choose that topic.
Ok, enough of the shameless self-promotion. Let’s get to what you’re all waiting for – the events and happenings surrounding WrestleMania 21. Let’s get right to it.
WrestleMania 21: WrestleMania Goes Hollywood
Date: April 3, 2005
Venue: Staples Center (Los Angeles, California)
Commentators: Jim Ross (Raw), Jerry “The King” Lawler (Raw), Michael Cole (SD), Tazz (SD)
Attendance: 20,193
Being the fifth WrestleMania to emanate from Southern California, WrestleMania 21 had big shoes to fill. It started off on the right foot by selling out in less than a minute (thanks to online and over-the-phone orders). At the time, it set the record for the fastest sell out in WWE and Staples Center history. Being that the event was held in the shadows of the famous Hollywood sign, it was not surprising that celebrities littered the live audience. Celebrities included Adam Sandler, Rob Scheider, Carmen Electra, Sylvester Stallone, Will Sasso (Mad TV), Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, and even former WCW World Champion David Arquette. The world of music was also represented with the attendance of Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ice Cube, The Black Eyed Peas, and WrestleMania alumni Motörhead.
Heading into WrestleMania 21, the WWE began airing television ads featuring WWE superstars parodying famous movie scenes. The movie parodies included “Forrest Gump” (Eugene/William Regal), “Braveheart” (Triple H/Ric Flair), “Basic Instinct” (Stacey Keibler/Chris Benoit/Chris Jericho/Christian/Fabulous Moolah/Mae Young), “Pulp Fiction” (Eddie Guerrero/Booker T), “A Few Good Men” (John Cena/JBL/Coach), “Dirty Harry” (The Undertaker), and “When Harry Met Sally…” (Kurt Angle/Christy Hemme). A poll was held on WWE.com asking fans to vote for their favourite movie parody and the winner was the “Taxi Driver” promo. It was set as an audition process where numerous superstars – Heidenreich, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, The Basham Brothers, Big Show, Candice Michelle, Carlito, Tajiri, Orlando Jordan, Joy Giovanni, Gene Snitsky, Paul London, Tazz, Chavo Guerrero, Hardcore Holly, Molly Holly, and Michael Cole – performed their interpretations of Robert DeNiro’s “You talking to me?” speech.
The night before WrestleMania 21, the WWE inducted a new class into the Hall of Fame. The event was held at the Universal Amphitheatre and was opened to a large number of fans. Inductees included The Iron Sheik (inducted by Sgt. Slaughter), Nikolai Volkoff (inducted by Jim Ross), “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (inducted by Bobby Heenan), manager Jimmy Hart (inducted by Jerry Lawler), “Cowboy” Bob Orton (inducted by Randy Orton), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (inducted by Ric Flair), and Hulk Hogan (inducted by Sylvester Stallone). Hogan teased possibilities of future matches with both “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and “Macho Man” Randy Savage although neither match has happened as of this writing.
Prior to the actual pay-per-view, the WWE started another WrestleMania tradition of holding a battle royal that would only be seen on the DVD. The battle royal was an interpromotional match pitting Raw and SmackDown superstars against each other while wearing t-shirts of their home brand. Booker T outlasted Paul London, Heidenreich, Spike Dudley, Nunzio, Funaki, the Basham Brothers, Orlando Jordan, Maven, La Resistance, Gene Snitsky, The Hurricane, Rosie, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns, Scotty 2 Hotty, Charlie Haas, Hardcore Holly, Billy Kidman, Akio, Tajiri, Simon Dean, William Regal, Rhyno, Val Venis, Tyson Tomko, Chris Masters, and Viscera to win the match. The theme songs for WrestleMania were “Bigtime” by The Soundtrack of Our Lives and “Behind Those Eyes” by 3 Doors Down.
Champions, Friends, Adversaries
After Lillian Garcia opened the event with her rendition of “America The Beautiful” and the opening video montage, a new movie parody was unveiled starring “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in Russell Crowe’s role in “Gladiator”. The first match of the night was a WrestleMania first. Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio were the WWE Tag Team Champions after defeating the Bashams in February. An argument had broken out between the two men over whether or not Eddie could beat Mysterio in a one-on-one match. The two decided to face each other at WrestleMania 21. The match was very technical in nature and was a classic mix of mat wrestling and lucha libre styles of wrestling. In the end, Eddie countered the West Coast Pop into a powerbomb and an unsuccessful pin attempt. Mysterio caught Eddie in a hurricana and pinned Eddie to win the match. After the match, both men shook hands but left separately.
Guaranteed Title Shot
In January of 2005, Chris Jericho played on Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff’s love of creating new concept matches by pitching the idea for a special multi-man ladder match at WrestleMania 21. The winner of the match would be the one who retrieved a briefcase hanging from the ceiling. Inside the briefcase would be a contract for a title shot that the winner could cash in at any time he chose over the next year. He called it the Money In The Bank Ladder Match. Bischoff loved the idea and immediately announced that Jericho would join Chris Benoit, Kane, Christian, Edge, and WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin.
As the competitors were introduced, they walked past six ladders set up on the entrance stage. When Kane’s music hit, two fireballs erupted on the stage setting the ladders ablaze. The match itself was the next evolutionary step in the history of ladder matches. The action centered around the competitors performing high action and hard hitting “spots”. More often than not, the ladders were used as weapons rather a means to obtain possession of the briefcase thus winning the match. Eventually Kane and Benoit battled on the top of a ladder until Benoit knocked Kane off with a head butt. As Benoit was about reach the briefcase, Edge nailed him in the back with a chair. Benoit fell off the ladder, Edge climbed up it, and unhooked the briefcase. Edge was announced as the winner and he ran to the back clutching the briefcase tightly in his arms. Later on, Edge would proclaim himself “Mr. Money In The Bank” – a name that future winners would use.
The Hulkster Saves The Day
Following the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, Eugene came to the ring. Eugene was the mentally challenged nephew of Eric Bischoff played by former OVW Champion Nick Dinsmore. Eugene grabbed a microphone and recounted his favourite WrestleMania moment from WrestleMania III when the midget wrestlers ganged up against King Kong Bundy. But Eugene was quickly interrupted by Mohammed Hassan and Daivari. Hassan and Daivari were heel characters of Middle Eastern heritage who claimed that they were be discriminated against because of their looks and background following the events of 9/11. Hassan berated Eugene and the live crowd before attacking Eugene. Hassan placed Eugene in his Camel Clutch but was interrupted by “Real American” playing over the speakers. Hulk Hogan marched to the ring, cleared Hassan and Daivari from it, and posed for the crowd one last time at WrestleMania.
Killing The Legend of The Streak
The next match was an interpromotional match featuring Randy Orton from Raw challenging The Undertaker from Raw. This was the first time that challenged The Undertaker for the purpose of ending his WrestleMania undefeated streak. Orton called himself the “Legend Killer” claiming that he had killed the legends of Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, and ECW (by defeating Rob Van Dam) among others. On March 14th, Orton met up with Jake “The Snake” Roberts on Jericho’s Highlight Reel interview segment. Roberts advised Orton to take The Undertaker lightly but Orton hit him with his RKO. A couple of weeks later, Orton RKO’d his girlfriend Stacey Keibler to send a message to everyone who thought he couldn’t beat The Undertaker. After slapping Undertaker across the face, Orton would duck and run every time the lights would go out or lightning struck signaling Undertaker’s presence.
At WrestleMania 21, Undertaker dominated the beginning of the match until “Cowboy” Bob Orton interfered hitting Undertaker with his famous loaded wrist cast. Undertaker kicked out of the pinning attempt. Randy whipped Undertaker into the ropes where Bob was waiting with the cast but Undertaker booted the elder Orton. Undertaker attempted to chokeslam Randy but he reversed it into a RKO. Undertaker kicked out again and Randy signaled for a Tombstone. Randy scooped up the Undertaker but Undertake reversed it into a Tombstone of his own allowing him to pick up the pinfall victory. The Undertaker’s undefeated streak went to 13-0.
Heh Heh. I Seen You Nekkid!
In the summer of 2004, the WWE held the Raw Diva Search looking for the next sexy woman to join the company. Christy Hemme was voted as the winner and received a contract worth $250,000. Following the tradition of Sable and Torrie Wilson, Christy posed for the April 2005 edition of Playboy Magazine. When she unveiled the cover of the magazine on Raw, WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus interrupted and defaced the blown up cover with spray paint. Christy attacked Trish but Trish knocked her out and spray-painted the word “slut” on her back. Weeks later, Christy challenged Trish to a Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 21. Trish came out and scoffed at Christy saying that she wasn’t a real women’s wrestler. Christy said that someone had been training her for in-ring competition and then Trish longtime rival Lita came out. With Trish distracted, Christy hit Trish with a Twist of Fate.
At WrestleMania 21, Christy’s training actually impressed the fans. While still not on a par with Trish, Christy pulled out some impressively executed moves. After the match spilled to the outside, Trish rolled Christy back into the ring and taunted Lita. Christy rolled up Trish for a pinfall attempt but Trish kicked out. Eventually though, Trish hit Christy with the Chick Kick and pinned her to retain her title.
Gold Medallist Meets Mr. WrestleMania
At the 2005 Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels eliminated Kurt Angle and dashed his hopes of wrestling for the WWE Title at WrestleMania 21. Angle jumped back into the ring and illegally eliminated Michaels. Angle later said that his beef with Michaels went back further than just the Rumble match. Angle claimed that when he won the gold medal for amateur wrestling, fans would continually ask him what he thought of Shawn Michaels’ zip line entrance at WrestleMania XII. Angle respected Michaels’ talent but said that he was better. Michaels accepted claiming that Angle was a phenomenal athlete but he’d never faced Michaels at WrestleMania where he was at his best. Michaels challenge Angle to a match at WrestleMania 21 and Angle accepted the following week after attacking him during a Street Fight with Edge. With both men being on different brands, they would often show up on each other’s shows committing sneak attacks and run-ins. Angle eventually decided to get personal by bringing in Michaels’ former tag team partner Marty Jannetty and manager Sherri Martel and putting them both into his Anklelock.
With two superstars as athletically gifted as Michaels and Angle, the fans knew their match was going to be a classic. Like Michaels versus Jericho and Angle versus Lesnar from two years previous, this match delivered exactly what the fans wanted to see. Michaels started off the match using technical wrestling moves to dominate Angle rather than the high-risk moves that made him famous. The action went to the outside where Angle drove Michaels into the ring post with an Angle Slam. Back in the ring, Angle utilized a series of suplexes and submission holds to wear down Michaels. Later, after Angle unsuccessfully attempted to German suplex Michaels off the ring apron, Michaels kicked Angle onto the SmackDown announce table. Michaels leapt off the ropes and landed a splash on Angle but the table didn’t break and both men slid off into the barricade. After crawling to the center of the ring, they stood and engaged in the slugfest before Michaels took Angle down with a flying forearm. Michaels hit Angle with a body slam and the landed a top rope elbow. Michaels attempted the Superkick but Angle blocked it and turned it into an Anklelock. Michaels escaped but after a series of false finishes, Angle went to the top rope for a moonsault. Michaels rolled out of the way and went to the top rope himself but this time, Angle caught him and hit an Angle Slam off the ropes. Angle picked up Michaels and started badmouthing him and Michaels shoved him off and hit a Superkick. With both men down, the crowd was split cheering for both men. Michaels got to his feet first but Angle played possum grabbing Michaels’ leg and putting on the Anklelock. Michaels attempted to kick free but Angle held on leaving Michaels no choice but to tap out.
The match was two minutes and thirty-five minutes shy of thirty minutes long. This first meeting between Michaels and Angle was titled “Match of the Year” by not only the WWE, but also thousands of wrestling websites from around the world.
Now That’s . . . Cool
As a special attraction for WrestleMania 21, the WWE announced that Hall of Fame inductee “Rowdy” Roddy Piper would hold a special Piper’s Pit with guest “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. After some sarcastic pleasantries and face-slapping Piper and Austin were interrupted by Carlito Caribbean Cool (son of wrestling legend Carlos Colon). For his untimely entrance, Carlito received apple sit in his face from Piper and a Stunner from Austin. After that, Austin and Piper shared more than a few beers before Austin hit Piper with a Stunner as well.
Anyone Watching The Richter Scale?
As a way to attract the lucrative Japanese pay-per-view market, the WWE scheduled a Sumo Wrestling Match for WrestleMania 21 pitting the Big Show against Sumo Grand Champion Akebono Tarö. Akebono had been a champion sumo wrestler for nearly eight years before switching to mixed martial arts and professional wrestling. In preparation for the match, Big Show rolled over a jeep driven to ringside by Luther Reigns.
Akebono and Big Show came dressed to the match in traditional sumo kesho-mawashis and performed all of the traditional preparations. The ropes were taken off the ring and it was announced that the winner would be the man who caused his opponent to leave the circle or have any body part touch the mat other than his feet. The actual match only lasted a little over one minute and ended with Akebono throwing Big Show out of the ring. After the match, the two shook hands out of respect.
The Time Is Now
When Ron Simmons was released from the WWE in early 2004, his APA partner Bradshaw re-invented his character into a ring-wing, self-made millionaire (which was not unlike himself in real life) and called himself John “Bradshaw” Layfield (John Layfield being his real name). As a heel, JBL defeated Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship at the Great American Bash in a Texas Bull Rope Match. He then established his Cabinet, a group of undercard wrestlers unified for the purpose of keeping the title around his waist. During his reign, he successfully defended the title against SmackDown’s top contenders like Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, and The Undertaker. After defeating Big Show and Kurt Angle at the 2005 Royal Rumble, JBL proclaimed himself to be a “Wrestling God”. Fans hated JBL making him the perfect heel champion going into WrestleMania 21.
John Cena was SmackDown’s fastest rising star in 2004. His white-boy rapper gimmick had really gotten over with the fans. After winning the United States Championship back from Carlito in November, he had the look changed to be the “spinner belt”. After Cena was the last man eliminated from the 2005 Royal Rumble match, he was booked into a number one contender’s match at No Way Out against Kurt Angle for the right to challenge JBL at WrestleMania 21.
The feud was the classic storyline of rich man versus street thug. Soon after being named the number one contender, Cena defended his US Championship against Cabinet member Orlando Jordan. JBL interfered hitting Cena in the head with the WWE Title allowing Jordan to become the new US Champion. The following week, Jordan came out wearing the old-style US Championship and watched as JBL put the spinner belt into a trashcan and blew it up remotely. Cena vowed a violent revenge but SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long decreed that until WrestleMania, Cena was not allowed to touch JBL or else he would lose his title shot. Conversely, if JBL touched Cena, Cena’s restriction would be lifted. JBL got into Cena’s face and personally insulted him and his family in an attempt to taunt Cena into hitting him but Cena held back. Cena retaliated by spray-painting JBL’s limo, cutting off his tie with scissors, dumping water on his head and spray-painting JBL with a yellow streak on his back and the letters “FU” on his chest. The week before WrestleMania, JBL had Cena arrested for defacing his limo and when Cena was in handcuffs, JBL kicked Cena in the groin.
As JBL arrived at WrestleMania 21, thousands of fake $1000 bills with JBL’s face on them floated down from the rafters. When the match started, JBL got off to an early advantage. JBL wore down Cena with his very aggressive, hard-hitting brawling style of wrestling. To break out of a sleeper hold, Cena hit JBL with a desperation side suplex and then started to mount a comeback but JBL took the control back. After Cena reversed a top rope attack by JBL, Cena hit the champion with a series of attacks. Cena set up JBL with the Five Knuckle Shuffle, ducked JBL’s Clothesline From Hell, and hit his FU finisher. Cena covered JBL and the referee made the three count. After the match, Cena celebrated with the fans but little did he know what a difference a year would make.
The Animal Lets Loose
After the 2005 Hall of Fame class was showcased in front of the live audience, it was time for the main event of WrestleMania 21. After winning the 2005 Royal Rumble, Batista was faced with a decision. Switch brands and challenge JBL for the WWE Championship or stay on Raw and face fellow Evolution member and World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H. Triple H made his decision for him and told Batista to go to SmackDown so that Evolution would have champions on both brands. But Batista had doubts.
At the 2004 Survivor Series, Triple H, Batista, Edge, and Gene Snitsky took on Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Maven, and Randy Orton (who had been ex-communicated from Evolution after SummerSlam) in a traditional Survivor Series match. The winners of the match would be the General Managers of Raw for the following weeks while Bischoff was on vacation. The heels lost causing Triple H to blame Batista for not performing better. Over the following weeks, Batista began to show babyface tendencies. At New Year’s Revolution in January of 2005, Triple H defended his World Title in an Elimination Chamber. The final three were Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista. When Orton had Batista pinned, Triple H chose not to save his stablemate and that led to Batista’s elimination. After Batista showed uncertainty over which champion he wanted to face, Triple H and Flair planned to have Batista nearly run over by a limo similar to JBL’s. They alerted Batista and pretended to save him from the vehicular attack. Later, Batista overheard Triple H tell Flair that Batista wasn’t “smart enough to know what is good for him”. During the official contract signing, Batista faked like he was going to sign with SmackDown. Triple H and Flair gave Batista the thumbs up and Batista returned it. But Batista turned it over into a thumbs down (similar to how Orton was kicked out of Evolution) before powerbombing Triple H through the table and signing the Raw contract.
Motörhead once again played Triple H’s theme live at WrestleMania as he and Flair walked to the ring. The match was a match up of experience and technical skill against raw power and brute strength. Batista powered to an early advantage until Flair distracted Batista on the outside allowing Triple H to attack from behind. Triple H then kept the pace of the match to a slower tempo, continually keeping Batista off his feet, and giving Flair ample opportunity to interfere. In the end, Batista took over control over a bloodied Triple H. The referee tried to hit Batista with a chair on the outside but the referee dove to take the chair out of his hands. With the referee hurt, Flair attempted to hit Batista with the championship belt but Batista caught him in a spinebuster. The referee rolled Flair out of the ring as Triple H hit Batista with the belt. Batista kicked out of the pin attempt but was quickly low blowed by Triple H behind the referee’s back. Triple H set up Batista for a Pedigree but Batista powered out and dropped Triple H with a back slam. Batista gave the thumbs down signal and hit Triple with his Batista-bomb for the three count. After the match, Batista posed on the turnbuckles as fireworks went off inside the arena.
Over the next year, there would be many ups and downs in the WWE. One favourite wrestler would be lost while another scorned favourite would come home – both to be honoured. It would all culminate in the Windy City with a hated champion taking on a challenger who had all of the fans behind him . . .
. . . sort of.
That’s it for Part 21 of this series. I couldn’t help but go back and enjoy the parody trailers again. Break out performances of Big Show and Christian. If you’ve seen them, let me know your favourite. I’d also like to know what you thought of this or any of my columns – even if you hated them. You can email here or if you’re a member of the Columns Forum, post feedback here. I’ll be posting again real soon so keep your eyes peeled.
Pop Quiz
Congratulations to Matt Snyder and Michael McDonald for correctly answering the two questions from the last quiz. They knew that Jesse Ventura interviewed Donald Trump and the Fatal Four Way Matches were contested with the unannounced "Outlaw Rule". The Outlaw Rule stated that partners of the same team could not pin each other in order to win the match. This was created because the New Age Outlaws pulled the trick to win a match in 1998. There were a lot of good/close guesses too. Try your hand and this quiz. 1) During the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, who accompanied Christian to the ring?
2) Who advised Orton to challenge the Undertaker at WrestleMania 21?
