Wrestlemania XIX Re-Do Review

Wrestlemania XIX Re-Do Review


I've really been looking forward to re-doing this particular Mania, as I consider it my favourite PPV of all time. Wrestlemania X-Seven is obviously the better show, but if I had to pick one show that would be my final one to watch, it'd be this one. Let's begin.


                                                                                                                                                              


The video package does a good job making Wrestlemania look huge . I loved the music from Limp Bizkit and it complimented the event nicely .


(Yeah it features the top stars talking about how much Wrestlemania means to them. I'm watching the anthology version of the show, and I jumped with glee when I saw that Limp Bizkit's theme was kept intact. I'm not even a fan of their music, but I think it goes perfectly well with this show)


Matt Hardy vs Rey Mysterio
The now defunct Cruiserweight title on the line here . This was Rey Mysterio's first ever WM match . And the match starts right away with a Corkscrew over the top to Matt from Rey . Great action throughout this whole match . Hardy hits the twist of fate and Rey kicks out ! Hardy gets the win by pinning with the bottom rope . This was very short but still good for getting that much action in the match . Should have gotten more time . **3/4

(Like Punk vs Mysterio six years later, it was a crime that this got barely any time at all. Fortunately they packed an excellent little match into a short amount of time. Great cruiserweight action for five minutes. Hard to argue with it. **3/4)



The catfight girls arrive .

(The only real dark spot of the show)



Limp Bizkit perform their hit song ' Rollin ' . Once the song nears it end , Taker enters the arena . It looks awesome .


(I love Tony Chimel announcing them as the WWE's favourite band in the whole world. Ass kissing much?)


Undertaker vs A-Train & Big Show : Handicap Match
I've heard people call this match crap , but i don't its that bad . There might be a little bias there though . Nathan Jones was supposed to be in this match but he sucked so was taken out , only to be used at the end of the match . Taker hits a chokeslam straight away but Show stops the pin . This has been a solid match . Here's Nathan to attack Show . Taker goes 11-0 at WM with a tombstone . Not a bad match . **


(This match seems to have a real bad wrap. Not sure if that's because of Nathan Jones being kept out of it and his interference at the end. The match itself is much better than it probably should have been. It's not bad at all and is entertaining just about all the way through. In fact I'd go higher with the rating and put it at  **1/4)



We are shown the catfight girls again meeting with Torrie Wilson and Stacy Kiebler . Well that was pointless.


(Well even the best shows have their bad moments)


Trish Stratus vs Jazz vs Victoria 
I'd put this as the second best divas match in Wrestlemania history . Good action throughout this match . A good triple threat match . Trish becomes the women's champion after a chick kick to Victoria . ***


(It's hard to decide which match is better, between this and the Mania 22 Women's Title match. Mania 22 has the storyline and the psychology, but this one was just plain fun. Although Trish and Victoria had  been feuding for a while. Great job by all three ladies. ***)


Backstage , The Rock gives us his classic heel style promo .

(I miss Hollywood Rock. He was one of the highlights of 2003)



Los Guerreros vs Chris Benoit & Rhyno vs Team Angle
This should be a great match . Full of great wrestlers . This has been a really good match so far . Shelton gets the pin after Chavo is gored . The champs retain . ***



(This one definitely should have been given an extra five minutes. Could have been a classic with the extra time. As it is it's still a very good tag match in which each guy got a chance to show off their moves. Bringing this up to  ***1/4)



Another catfight girls segment .

(God just end them now)



Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho
I love this match . It always seems to go under the radar when talking about the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history . This will always be a favourite of mine . This match showed Shawn that he was still the showstopper and would go on to wrestle and create classic moments and matches for another seven years . Shawn gets the win after a roll up . After the match , Jericho goes to hug HBK but ends up kicking him in the crotch . Just greatness here . ****1/2


(Still one of my favourite Mania matches, and it isn't talked about enough. I'd also put it as my favourite Chris Jericho match. Match of the Night in my eyes, and that's saying something considering the final two matches. It's also quite famous for making HBK realise that he was still an amazing wrestler, and inspired him to come back full time. Just an amazing back and forth contest between two of the best wrestlers in history. What more could you ask for? Jericho kicking HBK in the balls after the match is classic Y2J. ****1/2)



Triple H vs Booker T 
I think Booker deserved his big moment here and the ending was abrupt , but this was still a really good match here . HHH picks up the win with his pedigree . ***1/4


(Looking back at how the storyline played out, this really should have been Booker's big moment at Mania. At least this match was still really good. It's also notable that this was the first time that the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was defended at Wrestlemania. If it had a better finish, it would have a higher rating. I'll keep it at  ***1/4)



I should say , I've deliberately left out the unbelievably bad catfight match as i refuse to even accept it as a match .

(That atrocity was not a match. Yeah this was the Chyna/Ivory of this show)



Hulk Hogan vs Vince McMahon : Street Fight 
This was really big as it was 20 years in the making . Roddy Piper's appearance here was great and in a twist  attacked Hogan instead of Vince . Hulk got the win after an amazing 3 leg drops . Surprisingly good match here . ***

(With the age of both guys, and the low wrestling ability of the two should have guaranteed that this match would suck. The fact that it didn't and could actually be classed as good could very well make it one of the best booked matches ever. Vince's leg drop off the ladder and through the table was insane. The appearance of Roddy Piper was great too. I may hate on Hogan, but seeing him hulk up brings out the kid in me. The match wasn't very good, but as entertainment it was awesome and that's why it's staying at  ***)



Stone Cold vs The Rock
Their final match against each other , and Austin's final match ever . A great match to go out on . Austin kept the fact that he was retiring quiet and wanted to go off into the sunset without any fanfare whatsoever . Got to respect him for that . The Rock picks up the win after a third rock bottom to Austin . Farewell Stone Cold . ****1/2


(The third and final Mania match between these two guys. The culmination of one of the all time great wrestling rivalries. I still respect Austin for wanting to go quietly. I believe it was only Austin, Rock and JR that knew that this would be Austin's final match. What a great match to go out on. I did overrate the match a little bit but not by much. A great finisher fest between two of the all time greats. ****1/4)



Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle 
Looking at this card , it is quite amazing that this match made the main event . Both guys were capable of pulling it off , but this was Lesnar's first Wrestlemania and Angle's first time in the main event at Wrestlemania so there had to be nerves here . Vince must have had a lot of faith in both guys to put them here . Aside from the botched ending , these guys managed to give us a fantastic match on a fantastic night , to give us probably the second-best Wrestlemania in history . I think we all know the no.1 anyway . Lesnar wins after a third F-5 to Angle . A new champion is crowned . ****1/4


(These guys had quite a job trying to follow everything else on this amazing show, but they managed to do it with a technical classic. It's a shame that people mostly remember the botched shooting star press over this amazing contest. This match is even better considering that Angle was wrestling with a really damaged neck. Rating stays the same for this one. ****1/4)


9.5/10 . The 2nd best Wrestlemania in history . That is saying a lot for this amazing event . Just look at the card and you can see what made it so great . The only really bad thing was the catfight mess , but everything else made up for it . A fast cruiserweight match , Taker's streak continues , a good divas match , a good tag match , an amazing dream match , a great world title match , a match 20 years in the making , Austin's final match , and an amazing main event . Well done WWE .



(Still easily 9.5/10 for me. Only the shit with the catfight girls brings it down. You get three matches that are over four stars and another four that are three stars or over. The other two matches were very entertaining as well, so none of the official matches sucked with the lowest rating being **1/4. Awesome event that is must-see and, for me, easily the second best Mania in history with only Mania 17 ahead of it)