Countdown to WrestleMania: WrestleMania XX (2004)
WrestleMania XX (2004)
State of the Squared Circle: By now the split roster has been going on for over a year and with the expansion, WWE has been able to bring in some new blood. John Cena, Dave Batista and Randy Orton are becoming stars and they've been able to put together some of the dream matches with former WCW monster Goldberg. They have also promoted several contestants on their reality show "Tough Enough" on MTV. Hulk Hogan is out of the picture, but Vince continues to use the Rock, Mick Foley and Steve Austin in part time rolls as refs or commissioners.
Venue: Madison Square Garden. Right back to wear it started for the 20th anniversary, just as they did for the 10th.
The Card:
United States Championship: John Cena def. Big Show to become new champion
The Boston boy's first WM is a successful one as he puts on a good show defeating the Big Show. UB always preferred Cena is a bad guy, as he is mocked when Vince pushes him as a good guy. As for the Big Show, he's really never been used the right way. They've always made him too beatable for the giant that he is. He was much more effective in WCW.
Fatal Four Way World Tag Team Championship Match: Booker T & Rob Van Dam def. La Resistance, Mark Jindrak & Garrison Cade and the Dudleys to retain
It's amazing to see the way they went away from trying to make a bunch of tag teams to throwing singles stars into teams once the roster blew up. And on the flip-side they tried to split up the Dudley boys, which was a mess.
Christian def. Chris Jericho w/ Trish Stratus
The back and forth between these two leading up to this was classic. Christian has such potential. Not sure why they let him get away to TNA, but you gotta believe he'll be back and bigger than ever.
Handicap Match: Randy Orton, Batista & Ric Flair def The Rock & Mick Foley
Thank God they allowed Evolution to defeat the part-timers. Guaranteed, if Hogan was in that match he would have won and then walked til the next WM. It was also cool to see the Rock and Flair go at it, even if it was only for a short while. Two of the best on the mic of all time.
Playboy Evening Gown Match: Sable & Torrie Wilson def. Stacy Keibler & Miss Jackie
UB may have jumped the gun a little with Torrie and Sable on the last recap, but here's the cover they did together. Nice of Sable to make the match (above) a bra and panties match (well at least it started that way). Oh and of course let's take a look at former Tough Enough star and WWE Diva Miss Jackie:
Cruiserweight Open: Ultimo Dragon def. Shannon Moore; Jamie Noble def. Ultimo Dragon; Jamie Noble def. Funaki; Jamie Noble def. Nunzio; Billy Kidman def. Jamie Noble; Rey Mysterio def. Billy Kidman; Rey Mysterio def. Tajiri; Chavo Guerrero w/ Chavo Classic def. Rey Mysterio to retain
Cruiserweight matches have a chance to steal the show on any given night. This one was too rushed.
Goldberg def. Brock Lesnar (Stone Cold was special guest referee)
In another comparison to Kevin Nash's career, Lesnar is out after a loss at WM. The match itself was just as advertised, two monsters with no-necks colliding. The action wasn't bad and the stunner for Lesnar at the end was a nice touch. It's a shame he didn't have a longer run.
Fatal Four Way WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Scotty 2 Hotty & Rikishi def. Basham Brothers, World’s Greatest Tag Team and APA to retain
Here, like the cruiserweight match, is the problem with having too many stars on the roster. Instead of having a good tag match between two of these teams, we get a messy 4 way match. Dumb.
Women's Championship Match: Victoria def. Molly Holly to retain
Victoria has never been hot. Molly Holly wasn't bad. The angle about her having a fat ass was pretty funny. Then she got her head shaved...
WWE Championship Match: Eddie Guerrero def. Kurt Angle to retain
Great match between two of the best technical wrestlers of their era. Perhaps the best thing about Angle was that he never had to win and you would know he was the better wrestler out there. Reminds UB a lot of the way Ric Flair wrestled back in his NWA days.
Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Kane
Mmmm didn't we already do this one? With Paul Bearer? Want a laugh? Check out Paul Bearer's blog
Triple Threat World Heavyweight Championship Match: Chris Benoit def. Triple H and Shawn Michaels to become new champion
This, in UB's opinion was a major upset. As good as Benoit is he can't cut an interview to save his life. So the decision to put the title on him was a strange one and short lived one. If you are gonna have these special matches with more than one wrestler, it's good to do it with 3 stars like these...