WrestleMania – 30 for 30 (Part Three)

Two weeks ago, the WWE published a new coffee table book titled the “30 Years of WrestleMania.” In honor of these thirty supercards, I looked back at twenty moments that shaped the first twenty WrestleManias and WWE history. This week, I take a look at WrestleManias XXI-XXX.

21

The Rise of Cena and Batista
WrestleMania 21 was a turning point for the WWE. In the twenty previous WrestleManias, only three WrestleManias did not feature Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, or Triple H in the main event. WrestleMania 21 was to be the changing of the guard for the WWE. Originally, John Cena was going to win the WWE title for the SmackDown! side. On the RAW brand, Randy Orton was going to capture the World Heavyweight championship from Triple H. However, that was not meant to be. While John Cena did win the WWE title that night, Randy Orton did not get his shot at Triple H at WrestleMania 21. At SummerSlam 2004, Randy Orton won the World Heavyweight title from Chris Benoit. Instead of the beginning of a nice title reign, the WWE turned Orton face the following night. He dropped the championship at the next pay per view with the idea that Orton would chase the title until he won the belt at WrestleMania 21. Randy Orton would go on to headline WrestleMania in the future, and become a main eventer for the next decade. However, leading up to WrestleMania 21, the fans turned on a face Orton. Instead, they rallied behind Batista, who turned face, and would go on to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania 21. The WrestleMania that “went” Hollywood was the beginning of John Cena’s rise to becoming the “face of the WWE,” as well as the rise of Batista becoming a main event player without having to rely on being a part of Triple H’s stable.

22
The Exploitation of Eddie
In November 2005, Eddie Guerrero passed away. In the months following Eddie’s death, the WWE exploited his passing through their angles and storylines. Whether you agree or disagree with the WWEs use of Eddie’s death as a way to advance a storyline, the WWE went full throttle down the Road to WrestleMania. The storyline climaxed at WrestleMania 21, where Rey Mysterio captured the World Heavyweight championship in a three way match against Randy Orton and Kurt Angle. It was a great moment to see a man of Mysterio’s size capture a World championship under the WWE umbrella. It’s up to the fans to decide whether Rey winning the title in honor of Eddie was a nice feel good story, or in poor taste. Regardless of your opinion, the Mysterio title win was one of, if not the, story of WrestleMania 22.

23
Shawn Michaels’ last WrestleMania title match
Shawn Michaels has many monikers. He’s been called the “showstopper,” the “head liner,” and the “main eventer. However, the one nickname that probably defines the greatness of Shawn Michaels is that of “Mr. WrestleMania.” Over the years, Michaels has made it a career of putting on the best match in the biggest show of the year. WrestleMania 23 was supposed to pit WWE Champion John Cena against Triple H in the rematch of the WrestleMania 22 main event. Unfortunately for Triple H, an injury kept him out of WrestleMania 23. With Triple H’s slot up for grabs, the WWE gave the nod to Shawn Michaels. Mr. WrestleMania was fighting for the WWE title in a singles match at WrestleMania. It was nice to see Shawn get this accolade when compared to the last time he wrestled a singles match for the WWE title at a WrestleMania. That was at WrestleMania XIV, Shawn was a broken man, both physically with his back, and emotionally. Fast forward to 2006, Shawn Michaels was a completely different person. While I wish their fifty minute RAW match two weeks later would have been their WrestleMania match, I still look back fondly at their WrestleMania 23 encounter. Even though that night didn’t end with Shawn Michaels holding the WWE title one last time.

XXIV
Edge finally gets a WM main event
In January 2006, Edge cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase to defeat John Cena at the end of the New Year’s Revolution. Edge’s first WWE title reign was only supposed to last until the Royal Rumble. However, a funny thing happened on the way to the Rumble. Edge got over huge with the fans. Edge did such an amazing job during his three week title run that I believed he earned the right to face John Cena at WrestleMania 22. At the very least, the WWE should have turned the match between John Cena and Triple H into a triple threat match with Edge as the final participant. Unfortunately, the WWE stuck to their guns, and delivered Cena vs. Triple H at Mania 22. Edge would have to wait for his chance to main event WrestleMania. That night would finally come two years later when Edge would face the Undertaker in the final match at WrestleMania XXIV. Edge entered as the champion, and the Undertaker was in the middle of his WrestleMania undefeated streak. Their match was build up as the championship vs the streak. The match, as would become the WrestleMania norm, stole the show. Edge and the Undertaker had great chemistry together, and WrestleMania XXIV allowed them to display their talents on the biggest platform in wrestling. It was well deserved.

XXV

Shawn/Taker
WrestleMania XXV was billed as the 25th Anniversary WrestleMania. As the twenty-fifth WrestleMania, this show was hyped as the biggest WrestleMania of all-time. While there have been better WrestleManias, it can be argued that there has never been a better WrestleMania match than the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels clash at WrestleMania XXV. For me there are a few WrestleMania matches that could contend for the best of the best. Savage/Steamboat at WrestleMania III, Bret vs. Owen and Shawn Michaels vs. Razor at WrestleMania X, Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, and the Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Chris Benoit triple threat match at WrestleMania XX. These were the best matches that the supercard offered. However, Michaels vs. Undertaker I at WrestleMania XXV is now the standard that all WrestleMania matches need to live up to. It was an amazing match that was made even more amazing when you realize that both men in the twilight of their careers. It was so good, that the WWE had them do it again one year later.

XXVI

Bret’s back and Shawn’s gone
The most polarizing rivalry for the WWE in the mid-nineties featured Bret Hart against Shawn Michaels. Their rivalry was so fierce and competitive that it spilled over into their real life. As time passed by, their true hatred for one another increased, with the boiling point being the Montreal Screwjob at the 1997 Survivor Series. After that fateful night in Canada, Michaels and Bret would not see each other again until 2010 when hell froze over, and Bret Hart returned to the WWE. In his first night back with the company, Bret met Shawn in the middle of the ring, where both men put their ill feelings behind, and embraced as long lost friends. While Bret was returning to the WWE after an over nine year absence, Shawn Michaels was winding down his hall of fame caliber career, WrestleMania XXVI would be the event that saw both men compete in a WWE ring on the same card since the 1997 Survivor Series. Bret proved that while you can go home again, his previous health ailments prevented him from having the Bret Hart match that we all remembered. Meanwhile, Michaels left WrestleMania XXVI and his career the same way he usually left WrestleMania, as the show stealer. It was very surreal when I think back to how Michaels and Bret’s careers would always be linked, and then realize that WrestleMania XXVI would be Shawn’s last match and Bret’s in ring return. Having the two linked yet again seems fitting, and not like a curse.

XXVII
Edge’s last match
Originally, WrestleMania XXVII was supposed to be the night when Alberto Del Rio won the World Heavyweight championship. Instead, the WWE decided to have Edge win the match because he was in the middle of a WrestleMania losing streak. Hindsight being 20/20, the WWE made the right move. Shortly after WrestleMania XXVII, it was discovered that Edge needed to retire from in-ring competition. While it was shocking news to hear, Edge couldn’t have gone out any better. He won his final match, which was a WrestleMania World title match. No other wrestler can make that claim.

XXVIII
Attitude Era vs. PG Era
It was a year in the making. The Rock saw making his singles return to the ring after an eight year absence to take on John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII. The Rock vs. John Cena pitted the Attitude Era against the PG Era. It isn’t often that you get a battle of different eras that feature two wrestlers that can still go. At WrestleMania XXVIII, that battle between The Rock and John Cena was one of the most anticipated matches in WWE history. The match was “once in a lifetime,” and it didn’t disappoint. As great as it was, the WWE never should have made it twice in a lifetime. Once was enough. Once was special. Twice in a lifetime made the magic of the first match disappear. When I think of The Rock vs. John Cena, I will always remember their WrestleMania XXVIII encounter.

XXIX
Taker’s last win in the streak
While the WWE was trying to get the fans excited for the second go around between The Rock and John Cena, most hardcore fans viewed WrestleMania XXIX for the match between the Undertaker vs. CM Punk. At this point in time, the Undertaker was beat up physically. Most fans were wondering if the Undertaker would ever have another top WrestleMania match. CM Punk was a worthy opponent, and gave the fans the best match of WrestleManai XXIX. His match against Punk will likely go down as one of the Undertaker’s last great matches. Plus, it was the final victory in the Undertaker’s WrestleMania win streak. Nothing is more memorable than that.

30 YEARS OF WRESTLEMANIA

YES! YES! YES!
WrestleMania XXX was supposed to be headlined by Batista winning the WWE title to cap off his WWE return. Instead, the fans let their voice be heard, and demand that the night belong to Daniel Bryan. After CM Punk abruptly left the company, and the fans crapped on a Batista/Orton WrestleMania main event, the WWE was forced to throw Daniel Bryan into the main event match. Following Bryan’s title victory, over 70,000 fans were chanting “YES! YES! YES!” as the screen faded to black. It was a great WrestleMania moment. It’s one that will be remembered for years to come. If it wasn’t for the fans, this moment probably doesn’t happen.

Over the last few weeks, The Piledriver Report took a look at thirty memorable moments in Wrestlemania history. What will we see in the next thirty? Only time will tell.

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