Posted in: The Classroom The Classroom - History Of: WrestleMania Part 22
By Sean Taylor
Mar 26, 2009 - 5:42:04 PM
"You laugh because I'm different . . . I laugh cause I just farted!"
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to The Classroom. Yeah, it’s only been a short time since the last lesson but the deadline of April 5th is coming up fast. It seems like I’ve been writing this series forever and because of that, I’m wondering what it’s going to be like when they’re all done. I do have some ideas for some different style of columns but I’d like to hear from you the readers what topic you’d like to see for my next History Of series. I’d like to stay away from the major pay-per-views for a while but if there’s an aspect of professional wrestling that you’ve always wanted to know more about, email me and let me know. I’ll consider every topic and the most interesting one will be the subject of my next history lessons.
Today’s lesson is all about WrestleMania 22. This event was so big, I could write an entire column about it. As a matter of fact, I did. Let’s get to it.
WrestleMania 22: Big Time
Date: April 2, 2006
Venue: Allstate Arena (Chicago, Illinois)
Commentators: Jim Ross (Raw), Jerry “The King” Lawler (Raw), Michael Cole (SD), Tazz (SD), Joey Styles (Foley/Edge Match)
Attendance: 17,159
2005 and early 2006 was a unique time in the WWE. Fans began to reject the superstars the storylines told them to cheer. They started to get behind the superstars that they decided was worthy of their accolades. It was similar to the reaction to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin back in 1997 with the exception that fans were more vocal when they were against someone. It seemed like fans were never satisfied with the blasé characters and storylines they saw on Monday and Friday nights. But in November, fans and wrestlers were united when the sad news of Eddie Guerrero’s untimely passing was announced. Guerrero was found unconscious in his hotel bathroom after falling victim to heart failure arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The wrestling world mourned his passing and celebrated his life and career with tribute shows replacing the scheduled episodes of Raw and SmackDown. Other promotions like Total Non-Stop Action, Ring of Honor, and New England Championship Wrestling also paid tribute to Guerrero.
On April 1, 2006, Eddie Guerrero led an emotional and entertaining Hall of Fame ceremony. Guerrero was inducted by his close friends, Rey Mysterio and Chris Benoit as well as his nephew, Chavo Guerrero. Guerrero’s Hall of Fame class also included “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas (inducted by S.D. Jones), “Sensational” Sherri (inducted by Ted DiBiase Sr.), “Mean” Gene Okerlund (inducted by Hulk Hogan), and celebrity William “The Refrigerator” Perry (inducted by John Cena). There were two other inductees that really stood out because of their personal and business dealings with Vince McMahon. The first was Verne Gagne (inducted by his son Greg). Verne was the owner and promoter of the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and was one of the last territories McMahon put out of business during his national expansion in the 1980s. To honour Verne with an induction to his Hall of Fame, it showed that Vince McMahon was beginning to acknowledge wrestling’s true history rather than just WWE history. The other inductee was Bret “The Hitman” Hart, who made his return to WWE programming for the first time since the 1997 Survivor Series “Screwjob”. Bret’s appearance and induction proved once again that, in the wrestling business, never say “never”.
When the WWE came to Chicago for WrestleMania weekend, the invaded media outlets, shopping centers, and public spaces. The superstars littered the city with promotional campaigns including radio interviews with national radio host Mancou and appearances on local television shows. The WWE created a “gotta be there” event that drew millions of dollars into the Chicago economies, which led to cities actually bidding the WWE to bring future WrestleManias to their area. Over the years, WrestleMania would generate economic boosts that rivaled the Academy Awards and even the Super Bowl.
The theme songs for WrestleMania 22 were “I Dare You” by Shinedown, “Baby Hates Me” by Danko Jones, and “Big Time” by Peter Gabriel. Prior to WrestleMania 22 going live on pay-per-view, the WWE held an 18-Man Interpromotional Battle Royal. Viscera outlasted fellow Raw superstars Snitsky, Eugene, Goldust, Tyson Tomko, Rob Conway, Cade & Murdoch, William Regal and SmackDown superstars Simon Dean, The Road Warrior (aka Animal), The Mexicools (Super Crazy/Psicosis), Steven Richards, MNM, Matt Striker, and Funaki
Big Time Opener
After Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child sang “America The Beautiful”, the opening match began. The match saw WWE World Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show defending their titles against the odd couple pairing of Carlito and “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters. The champions dominated most of the match and when Masters attempted a top rope attack, Kane moved Carlito in his way. Kane hit Carlito with a chokeslam and then picked up the pin to retain the tag team titles.
5 Star Ladder Match
In February of 2005, Carlito approached Mr. McMahon backstage and convinced him to revive the Money In The Bank Ladder Match for WrestleMania 22. McMahon agreed and set up qualifying matches to see which Raw superstars would be in the match. Rob Van Dam defeated Trevor Murdoch, Shelton Benjamin upped Chavo Guerrero, and Ric Flair upset Carlito to gain entry into the match. On SmackDown, General Manager Teddy Long announced that this year’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match would be an interpromotional match and set up his own qualifying matches. Finlay and Matt Hardy qualified by defeating Bobby Lashley and Road Warrior Animal respectively. Bobby Lashley earned his spot by winning a 20-Man “Last Chance” Battle Royal on the March 24th episode of SmackDown.
The match had the same kind of action as the previous year’s offering. Benjamin showed his athleticism by running up a ladder resting on the top rope and splashing Lashley, Hardy, and RVD. When Flair tried to reach the briefcase, Hardy stopped him and suplexed him off the ladder. The referees checked on Flair before crossing their wrists for an “X” signal. The WWE medical staff came down and helped Flair to the back. Flair would later limp back down to the ring and rejoin the match. In the end, RVD hit Finlay with a 5 Star Frog Splash and scaled the ladder. Just as he was able to reach the briefcase, Benjamin leapfrogged off the ropes to the ladder and began slugging it out with RVD. Hardy set up a second ladder and when Benjamin crossed over, RVD kicked over their ladder knocking them to the outside. With no one left to stop him, RVD reached up and pulled down the Money In The Bank briefcase.
A Canadian US Champion? I Don’t Think So
After the 2006 Hall of Fame class were introduced to the live crowd (with the exception of Bret Hart, who was “too uncomfortable” to participate), the United States Championship match was started. JBL blamed champion Chris Benoit for breaking his hand during a six-man tag – in actuality JBL had surgery to remove a non-cancerous cyst. When he returned, JBL feuded with Benoit and challenged him to a match at WrestleMania 22 for Benoit’s US Championship. Before the match, JBL said that if he defeated Benoit, he would be the greatest technical wrestler in the WWE. JBL did end up beating Benoit by reversing the Crippler Crossface into a pinning predicament and holding onto the ring rope for leverage. As JBL walked up the ramp with his new title, he taunted Benoit and the crowd by doing a mock version of Eddie Guerrero’s celebration dance.
Hardcore Show Stealer
The next match pit “The Rated R Superstar” Edge against hardcore legend Mick Foley. Edge cashed in his Money In The Bank title shot after John Cena retained the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match at New Year’s Revolution. Edge speared Cena twice to become the WWE Champion for the first time. At the 2006 Royal Rumble three weeks later, Cena regained the title and on a Thursday edition of Raw shortly after, Edge failed to win his rematch. The special guest referee for that rematch was Mick Foley and Edge blamed Foley for the loss citing biased refereeing. Edge challenged Foley to a wrestling match at WrestleMania 22 baiting him by saying that Foley never had the “WrestleMania moment” he’d strived for. Foley turned down Edge’s challenge but re-challenged Edge to a Hardcore Match. A week later, Edge attacked Foley with a chair and accepted his challenge. On the re-debut of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Foley showed that he was no longer the “teddy bear” he had been but rather reverted back to being the hardcore legend of old by attacking Edge with a variety of weapons.
At WrestleMania 22, with Joey Styles filling in for Jim Ross as the play-by-play announcer, Edge and Foley captivated the audience’s attention with a brutal and violent match. Chairs, baseball bats, thumbtacks, and barbed wire were weapons of choice in the match and when they weren’t around, the two threw each other into ring posts, stairs, and barricades. In the end, with both men dripping with blood, Edge speared Foley off the ring apron and through a flaming table. Edge slowly crawled over and covered Foley with arm for the pinfall victory.
The results of this match and the resulting feud accomplished two things. Mick Foley got the “WrestleMania Moment” he had always wanted and Edge was solidified as a contender worthy of the main event scene.
Did You Check Under The Bed?
In early 2006, Booker T and his wife Sharmell were being stalked by the worm-eating Boogeyman. Booker T ducked out of numerous matches with the Man from the Bottomless Pit until Teddy Long said that Booker and Sharmell would face The Boogeyman in a handicap match at WrestleMania 22. The couple was nervous as they walked to the ring before meeting up Goldust and a group of freaks backstage. Goldust advised Booker to accept the worms and not fear the Boogeyman. The pep talk didn’t work however, as Booker and Sharmell walked to the ring still nervous and were even startled by Booker T’s own entrance pyro. The match lasted less than five minutes and ended after Boogeyman dropped Booker T with a Falling Chokebomb for the pin.
I Kissed A Girl And I Liked It
In October of 2005, Mickie James made her debut in the WWE and immediately latched on to her favourite wrestler, Trish Stratus. Her obsession with Trish over the following months leading to tricking Trish into a lesbian kiss. Even after losing a Women’s Championship match at New Year’s Revolution, Mickie’s infatuation remained undaunted. Trish finally had enough and told Mickie that she need time away from Mickie. After the two of them teamed up against Candice Michelle and Victoria, Mickie attempted to kiss Trish one last time but Trish shoved her away. Mickie snapped and vowed to destroy Trish. Soon, a match was made for WrestleMania 22 with the Women’s Championship on the line. Just prior to WrestleMania 22, Mickie kidnapped 2005 Diva Search winner and Trish’s friend Ashley Massaro, and tied her to a chair in the middle of the ring. When Trish came out to save Ashley, Mickie attacked Trish knocking her out.
At WrestleMania 22, Trish and Mickie engaged in a very aggressive confrontation. Oddly, the crowd cheered more for the heel Mickie than they did for the babyface Trish. In the end, Mickie hit Trish with her version of the Chick Kick (dubbed the “Mick Kick”) and pinned her to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Is 13 A Lucky Number?
The next match was a Casket Match between The Undertaker and “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry. On the March 10th episode of SmackDown, The Undertaker challenged Kurt Angle for Angle’s World Heavyweight Championship. After hitting the Tombstone, Undertaker had the match won but Mark Henry interfered causing a disqualification. For costing him the title, Undertaker challenged Henry to a Casket Match at WrestleMania 22. Henry accepted and vowed to end Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak. The match was slow-paced and forgettable. Halfway through the match Mark Henry attempted to pin The Undertaker. Eventually Undertaker rolled Henry into the casket and closed the lid. This victory took Undertaker’s record to 14-0.
No Holds Barred Show Stealer
On December 26, Mr. McMahon publicly praised Shawn Michaels for his involvement in the 1997 Montreal Screwjob. Michaels responded that he wasn’t proud of what he did that night and only did it to be loyal to the company. He told McMahon to grow up and move on. During the 2006 Royal Rumble, Shane McMahon (not a legal entrant) eliminated Michaels and, over the following weeks, the McMahons tried to make Michaels’ life “a living hell”. On February 13th, Vince unsuccessfully tried to force Michaels to sign retirement papers and then booked him into a five-on-one handicap match against the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Mikey, Johnny, Nicky, and Mitch) the following week. Michaels won the match but the Spirit Squad started beating Michaels down when Marty Jannetty ran to the ring to save his former tag team partner. The next week, Jannetty was offered a WWE contract if he joined the Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club. Jannetty refused and was put into Chris Masters’ Masterlock Challenge. When Michaels attempted to help Jannetty, the McMahons attacked Michaels and forced him to kiss Vince’s ass. Vince announced that night that he and Michaels would square off at WrestleMania 22.
Two weeks later on Raw, McMahon accused Michaels of failing the WWE’s Wellness Policy and forced Michaels to take a public urine test. Michaels threw the cup of urine into Vince’s face leading Vince to book Michaels in a cage match against the Spirit Squad later that night. Shane interfered in the cage match and hit Michaels with a coast-to-coast dropkick. This led to a Street Fight between Michaels and Shane McMahon on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Shane locked Michaels into a Sharpshooter and Vince demanded the match end in homage to the Montreal Screwjob. After this, Vince announced that his match against Michaels at WrestleMania 22 would be No Hold Barred.
The match at WrestleMania 22 started outside the ring and was a very heated battle. Michaels jumped out to an early advantage but soon interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane McMahon turned the tide in favour of McMahon. But it wouldn’t be long before Michaels fought back. With Shane handcuffed to the second rope on the outside of the ring, Michaels beat down Vince and teased a Superkick but stopped. Michaels eventually set up a ladder and placed Vince on a table. Michaels stood on the top of the ladder and raised his elbow but stopped. Michaels climbed down and brought out a larger ladder. He picked up Vince up off the table, put a trashcan his head, and reset him on the table. Michaels scaled the big ladder, crotch-chopped three times, and landed an elbow on Vince. Medical staff ran to the ring to attend to Vince but Michaels chased them off. Michaels pulled Vince to his feet and hit him with a Superkick before pinning Vince in the middle of the ring.
The Underdog Gets The Bone
After the untimely passing of Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio dedicated his performance in the 2006 Royal Rumble to his memory. Rey entered at number two and outlasted all of the other entrants to win the match last eliminating Triple H, who entered at number one. Randy Orton was jealous and goaded Rey into putting his title shot on the line against him at No Way Out. Orton shockingly defeated Rey and claimed possession of his WrestleMania main event spot. Five days later, SmackDown General Manger Teddy Long met Rey in the ring and told him that he couldn’t change what had happened but he could add to the future. He announced that the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 22 would now be a Triple Threat Match – champion Kurt Angle versus Randy Orton versus Rey Mysterio.
Rey, dressed in an Aztec inspired costume, was played to the ring by P.O.D. Orton attacked Angle before the bell setting off a fast paced and action packed match. In the end, Rey did his fallen friend proud by hitting Orton with a 619 and a West Coast Pop before covering for the pin. Angle attempted to break up the pin but was half a second to late. Rey’s sixteen-year dream that started in a Mexican church ended when he held up the World Heavyweight Championship that night in Chicago.
Feathers Fly
In between the main events, Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle met in a Playboy Pillow Fight. Candice, Torrie, and Victoria formed an alliance called the “Ladies In Pink” (later “Vince’s Devils”). On Raw, Candice won a Diva Battle Royal and earned a Women’s Title shot. After losing the match against champion Trish Stratus, Candice blamed Torrie (who was becoming a fan favourite). Candice and Victoria turned on Torrie during Candice’s Playboy Magazine cover unveiling setting up the Playboy Pillow Fight at WrestleMania 22. Not many pillows were used before Torrie rolled up Candice for the win.
The King of Kings vs The Controversial Champion
When the Royal Rumble Title shot went to a SmackDown wrestler, Raw held the Road to WrestleMania Tournament where the winner would be named the number one contender to the WWE Championship held by John Cena. Triple H won the tournament and began the feud heading to WrestleMania 22. What really made this feud wasn’t anything Cena or Triple H did. It was the fans and their reaction to the men. Triple H was the heel and was hated wherever he went. However, the only time Triple H got cheered was when he stood across the ring from Cena.
When Cena was drafted to Raw in June of 2005, Cena was still the most over man in the company but fans slowly started to turn on Cena. He wasn’t rapping as much as he had before and after filming “The Marine”, he started saluting crowds during his entrance and dressing more in camouflage. Some fans also disliked Cena’s change of the WWE Championship belt. Just like he’d done with the United States Championship, Cena “iced out” the belt and made the WWE logo in the middle of faceplate spin. Week after week, more boos could be heard from the live crowd inspiring future crowds to follow suit. Even during the Hall of Fame ceremony the crowd was vocal against Cena. In the original television broadcast, camera shots switched between Cena and Triple H. The crowd booed the babyface Cena and cheered the heel Triple H. Due to the mixed crowd reaction, announcers began calling Cena “the most controversial WWE Champion ever”.
The main event of WrestleMania 22 started with Triple H rising up through the stage seated on a throne. He was dressed similar to Conan the Barbarian with giant fur pelt over his shoulders, warrior belt around his waist, and medieval crown. His new theme song “King of King’s” by Motörhead played and when he stood up, it switched to his standard theme “The Game” by Motörhead. Cena’s entrance was also theatrical. Based on Chicago’s mob days during the 1930s, the ramp was raised and a 1940s era car drove to ringside. Inside and outside of the car were men dressed like gangsters (one of whom was future WWE superstar CM Punk). Cena then came out with a tommy gun under a black trench coat. He fired off the tommy gun and marched to the ring.
Just like in the weeks prior, the crowd was mixed with their reactions to Cena. He did have some supporters but the most vocal fans were against him. The match itself was reminiscent of a very aggressive old school type confrontation. The experienced heel wanted his title back and would do anything to upset the young babyface champion. Eventually Cena made his comeback and hit Triple H with his FU finisher but Triple H kicked out. Cena locked him into his STFU submission hold (a renamed STF) but Triple H reached the ropes. Both men got their feet and Triple attempted a Pedigree. Cena reversed it into the STFU, reared back, and forced Triple H – the supposed WWE golden boy who never lost face – to tap out.
As Cena celebrated in the ring, Cena’s face showed disappointment that even after defeating one of the top heels, the crowd still booed him. Cena knew it would be difficult to win the crowd back. At the following WrestleMania, he’d try to make a smashing entrance and try to avoid . . .
. . . heartbreak.
Well that about wraps up Part 22 of this series. I don’t really have much to say here as I’m staring down the barrel of Part 23 as soon as I finish posting this column. But just because I have nothing to say, doesn’t mean you don’t. I know you have opinions and I want to hear them. Send me your feedback by emailing me here or if you’re a member of the Columns Forum, post it here. Get a good sleep tonight because we’ll be back soon with Part 23.
Pop Quiz
Congratulations to Vinny Boombots, Tom Brennan, Anthony Pokorny, and Manny Calderon for achieving Star Pupil status this time around. They knew that Tyson Tomko cornered Christian in the MITB match and it was “Superstar” Billy Graham who planted the idea in Randy Orton’s mind to challenge The Undertaker. This time around, it’s even tougher. Three, that’s right count’em THREE questions. Think you know the answers, take the test and find out! 1) Jillian Hall served what role in JBL’s Cabinet?
2) Other than Money in the Bank, WrestleMania 22 was only the 2nd WrestleMania to feature what type of match?
3) WrestleMania 22 was a special night for Big Show. Why?
