April 3rd, 2005
Location: Los Angeles, California
Venue: Staples Center
Attendance: 20,193
Theme songs: "Big Time" by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives; "Behind Those Eyes" by 3 Doors Down
Another year had come and gone in the WWE, and for the fifth time in history, the state of California would host WrestleMania.
Los Angeles was selected for the third time as it last hosted Mania back in 1991. But WWE wanted to feel the glamour and have the spotlight on them. They wanted to feel like A-listers and walk the red carpet.
WWE wanted WrestleMania to go Hollywood.
The promotion leading up to WrestleMania had to be some of their best work. Because the theme was Hollywood, WWE made parodies of popular films in history and nailed every one.
Movies like "When Harry Met Sally," "Braveheart," and "Dirty Harry" were among the many to be poked at, played by members of the current WWE roster.
While I can't put all of them up on the blog, here's the final one released the night of WrestleMania. It was a parody of "Gladiator." Who better to stand up to the King than the man who loved standing up to his boss?
That transitioned to the show's opening pyro as 20,193 inside Staples Center were ready for their night in Hollywood.
The stage design was made to look like you were watching a movie at the cinema with a "Now Playing" sign, showcasing the matches and a big "WrestleMania Goes Hollywood" sign on the other side. Even the aisle the superstars would walk down was a red carpet.
WWE's own Lillian Garcia was selected to perform "America, the Beautiful" before WrestleMania started.
Tons of celebrities would appear in the crowd, such as Adam Sandler, ZZ Top, Carmen Electra, and Will Sasso, to name a few.
Before I get into the night's matches, two big moments happened midway through the show that needs honorable mentions.
Eugene, a superstar who debuted in late 2004 as the "special" nephew of Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff, came out midway through the show to speak about his favorite WrestleMania moments.
As he was speaking, Mohammad Hassan and his associate Divari came out to talk about how horrible it was that he didn't have a match at WrestleMania to have his moment.
Instead, he tried to create his own and began to attack Eugene and put him in the Camel Clutch submission.
As soon as he did that, newly inducted Hall of Famer (and everybody's favorite hero), Hulk Hogan, came to the ring and aided Eugene. He would attack Hassan and Divari, kicked them out to the ring, and began to have fun with his fans.
When he reached the stage, he would pose, and an American flag would appear on the screen. Hassan got his WrestleMania moment. It just came at his expense.
The second moment happened when another newly inducted member Hall of Famer had his segment. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper brought back his famous talk show "Piper's Pit," the first since WrestleMania 5.
His guest would be Stone Cold Steve Austin and try to see who was more rebellious. All of a sudden, Carlito came out to insult the two WWE greats. Austin would give the apple spitting superstar a stunner and then hit Piper with it. A small segment, but this was fun.
To the wrestling portion of the night, only eight matches were scheduled. It was the lowest amount of matches at a WrestleMania since 1998 in Boston. It may be the case, but a lot of history helped shape the company's future.
To start, for the first time in WrestleMania history, a pair of tag team champions would go one-on-one. Eddie Guerrero challenged his partner Rey Mysterio to a match for bragging rights.
Mysterio would pick up the win, and the champions shook hands in the end for respect. Unfortunately, this would be Eddie's final WrestleMania appearance before his death at the end of the year.
Trish Stratus had another spectacular year where she won the Women's Championship yet again and took on Diva Search winner Christy Hemme after she challenged the champion to a match. This was a lackluster match. Even though Lita trained Hemme due to her lack of in-ring experience, Stratus would hang on to her title.
The last match I need to bring up wasn't even a wrestling match. The Big Show took on retired Sumo wrestler Akebono in a Sumo match. In roughly a minute, Akebono tossed Show out of the ring, picking up the win. Once again, lackluster and frankly not even necessary.
Now just like Wrestlemania 19, I need to go with five things that stood out to me. It may seem like a lot, but I state them because each was either spectacular, history-altering, or boring.
Anytime, anywhere
Let me say that this story doesn't start at the Royal Rumble (for once).
On an episode of Monday Night Raw, Chris Jericho went up to Eric Bischoff and gave him an idea for WrestleMania. The idea was called "Money in the Bank."
The concept was simple. A black briefcase would be hanging above the ring and be contested for in a ladder match. Inside the briefcase was a contract for a World Championship match.
Between the time you win it and the next 12 months, the winner would be allowed to "cash it in" anytime, anywhere, and instantly have a world title match.
Bischoff liked the idea and made it official for WrestleMania. Chris Jericho, Edge, Chris Benoit, Christian, Shelton Benjamin, and Kane were the six to compete for the opportunity to be the first "Mr. Money in the Bank."
Benoit was near the top in the final moments, ready to grab the briefcase and get back to the glory he experienced the year before in Madison Square Garden. However, nobody said that you couldn't use something other than a ladder to hurt your opponent.
Edge came running in, slammed Benoit with a chair, climbed the ladder, and won the inaugural Money in the Bank match. He was on his knees in front of the stage, holding the briefcase tightly (looking like Gollum from "Lord of the Rings" and saying "My precious").
Regardless, history was made in Los Angeles. It would become a WrestleMania staple, involving both Raw and SmackDown.
In 2010, it would become its own pay-per-view. In the first few years, there would be only one briefcase for one world title. Eventually, there would be two exclusive briefcases for either brands or a specific world title, depending on the situation that year.
Behind the scenes, it was revealed that Jericho was having a casual conversation with Edge and Benoit, wanting a submission match at WrestleMania before it grew into a ladder match. Thank goodness they had that conversation because it would change the landscape of the WWE forever.
Take a bow
Now it's time for a story that starts at the Royal Rumble. It was coming eventually.
In the 2005 Royal Rumble match, Shawn Michaels was doing what any superstar would do, try and eliminate people to gain a championship match at WrestleMania.
Earlier that night, Kurt Angle lost in a triple threat for the WWE Championship and was pretty bitter about it. When Nuzio was given his entrant number for the Rumble, Angle found him and stole his entry.
It would be a pretty good entry, and Angle came in at number 20. His time in the Rumble was quickly over as Michaels eliminated Angle. I repeat, Michaels was doing his job.
Angle didn't like that, headed back in the ring, and eliminated Shawn himself. He beat the living heck out of him and stormed off.
In the months that would lead up to WrestleMania, the two would visit each other's brands and continue to fight. Their match was set and would put on a classic.
It would be the longest match of the night, going for nearly a half-hour. The two displayed incredible rhythm, getting technical with one another and finding creative opportunities in the match.
Michaels would have a big moment when he laid Angle out on the commentary table and performed a moonsault from the ropes to the table. It was a lot of ground to cover, and Michaels is one of the rare few that can pull it off.
As the match reached its conclusion, Angle found the opportunity to get his ankle lock and have Michaels wrapped.
After hanging on for as long as possible, Michaels had no choice but to tap out and give Angle the win. It would be the best match of the night, and the Heart Break Kid left to a standing ovation from those inside the Staples Center.
Even though it was the best moment of WrestleMania 21, I bring this up now because the next three points were crucial for history.
The Streak becomes a big deal
2004 would be one of the biggest years in Randy Orton's career.
He would be the one who took the World Heavyweight Championship off Chris Benoit at SummerSlam in Toronto. While he was a part of Triple H's Evolution faction when he won it, Orton turned his back on the group after his leader asked him to hand the title over.
Orton began to grow as a singles competitor and shape his legacy.
In 2005, WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham told the young competitor to challenge himself and do something that nobody had ever done before. Orton would come up with the idea to challenge The Undertaker at WrestleMania and end his undefeated streak.
In Undertaker's first 12 WrestleManias, or at least the last nine, the streak was brought up, but not to the extent that Orton did. For the first time, the storyline for 'Taker's match revolved around the fact that he never lost at WrestleMania. Orton became obsessed and determined to do what others couldn't.
Undertaker's WrestleMania 8 opponent Jake "The Snake" Roberts came to speak with Orton to reconsider his decision. Orton didn't want to hear it and gave Roberts an RKO.
The Deadman would mess with his young challenger, beginning to play mind games with him and his father and remind the Ortons what they're up against at WrestleMania.
The night arrived, and believe me when I say that Orton came pretty damn close to putting a loss in the record books.
It was a back-and-forth battle, and Orton nearly got Undertaker when he set him up for a chokeslam but was reversed into an RKO. Fans erupted when they realized that a loss was coming before Undertaker kicked out.
Orton wanted to get creative and set up 'Taker in his signature Tombstone Piledriver. However, The Undertaker had the last laugh when he flipped Orton over and hit the Tombstone to pick up the win.
The streak grew to 13-0, and a precedent was set for the rest of Undertaker's career. A question was presented and be asked every year during WrestleMania season: "Who will be the one to challenge The Undertaker and end the streak?"
The champ is here
We've made it to the first of two World Championship matches at WrestleMania 21. I'll start with the WWE Championship.
In 2004, Bradshaw began a singles career after Heyman threatened to fire his APA partner Farooq. When Farooq said they both quit, Bradshaw said he couldn't leave and broke up his longtime partnership. Bradshaw came back and re-branded himself as John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). He would be a Wall Street guru who wanted to show class and professionalism.
It may sound weird, but it worked as he dethroned Eddie Guerrero as champion at The Great American Bash pay-per-view. It began the longest WWE Championship reign in the history of SmackDown. He would retain his title in very controversial ways, but who cares as he was still champion.
In a month-long tournament to determine who would face JBL at WrestleMania, John Cena defeated Kurt Angle in the final to gain his opportunity.
There's not much to say about the lead up as it was pretty dull. The match itself also wasn't the best. JBL had most of the control before John Cena found some momentum and win his first WWE Championship.
Yet, it's super important because the era of John Cena had begun. He won the title but would eventually be on his way to be the company's next poster boy. This was the start of WWE making Cena their golden boy, and it would certainly be one heck of a journey.
Unfortunately, Cena couldn't have done it in a situation where it was exciting and had you at the edge of your seat. If I was Cena, though, I don't think I would care.
The Animal unleashed
We've reached the final match of the night, and guess where this journey starts?! The Royal Rumble!
In the final two of the Royal Rumble match, Batista from Raw and John Cena from SmackDown tried to outlast the other to book their guaranteed ticket to WrestleMania.
However, when Batista picked up Cena for the Batista Bomb, Cena tried to fight it off, and both went over the top rope to the outside.
Now, this last happened in 1994 with Bret Hart and Lex Luger. The only difference was, that moment was planned and supposed to happen. Cena and Batista? It wasn't the case at all.
It was a complete accident, and an angry Vince McMahon came marching down to the ring for an explanation. Upon entering the ring, he would tear both of his quads and played it off like it was nothing.
Eventually, McMahon ordered Batista and Cena to try again in which, finally, Batista threw Cena out to win the Royal Rumble match as it should have happened initially.
At the time of his win, Batista was still with Evolution, and Triple H was World Heavyweight Champion (again). Triple H wanted him to pick the WWE Champion on SmackDown so the top two titles would be with the group.
As tempting as it was, Batista gave a thumbs down to Triple H and turned his back on his long time leader.
Unfortunately, like the WWE Championship, this also didn't have a decent build-up. Triple H was obsessed with being champion and stayed in the spotlight. Nothing new at this point.
The time came at WrestleMania, and in a matchup a bit better than the JBL/Cena bout, they went back-and-forth without somebody taking complete control.
It would turn into "who's cracking first?" and end up being the longtime champion. Batista found his opportunity to get his Batista Bomb on Triple H and connected with the pinfall to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
The closing image of WrestleMania 21 would have Batista holding his new title with fireworks and confetti everywhere. A new era on Raw had begun, but it wouldn't have the same excitement as the year before.
Final thoughts
I remember running to my friend's place to watch this WrestleMania live and being entertained for the most part.
The first two-thirds of Wrestlemania 21 was amazing. Everybody up until Angle and Michaels exceeded expectations and had the fans very into it. Rey and Eddie kicked off the night on a high note, the Money in the Bank ladder match created history, and Orton nearly made history.
On a fun note, behind the scenes, Orton was asked to end The Undertaker's streak and respectfully declined. It makes you wonder, "what if?"
If the night ended with Kurt Angle, you can say that it would be one of the best WrestleManias of all time. The last third of the show wasn't enticing.
Trish and Christy had a tough time, the Sumo match was pointless, and the World Championship matches were plain. It felt as if the air was sucked out of everybody inside Staple Center and weren't interested in anything.
I knew that the top matches at WrestleMania 21 had a tough act to follow, and they didn't even come close to that same emotion from New York City.
The last four WrestleManias had me entertained from start to finish, and 21 couldn't deliver. The Hollywood theme was fantastic but came up short of a blockbuster.
The year that was ahead was faced with tragedy after the loss of Eddie Guerrero. It would shake up the WWE and try to stay strong.
One individual, however, wanted to make sure that anything he did would be for Eddie.
Results:
- Rey Mysterio def. Eddie Guerrero
- Edge def. Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, Christian, and Edge - Money in the Bank ladder match
- The Undertaker def. Randy Orton
- Trish Stratus (c) def. Christy Hemme - WWE Women's Championship
- Kurt Angle def. Shawn Michaels (via submission)
- Akebono def. Big Show - Sumo match
- John Cena def. John "Bradshaw" Layfield - WWE Championship
- Batista def. Triple H (c) - World Heavyweight Championship
Rating: B
Thanks for reading. Look out tomorrow when I take a look at WrestleMania 22.
14 days away until WrestleMania 35.
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