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Wrestlemania XX had a great card and
was an event that was actually built up very well.
Most of the WWE Pay Per Views are full of hot-shotted
angles, average - above average undercard matches,
and a decent main event. The PPV's from the previous
year were less than stellar and this one needed to
deliver in a big way. The card for Wrestlemania started
to slowly take shape back at the previous Survivor
Series and the planning showed from top to bottom.
Match 1: The Big Show (c)
vs. John Cena for the United States Title
This match was a great way to kick off the card. It was short and sweet which it needed to be. John Cena was started to really gain momentum around this time and the right decision was made in giving him the belt. Score card: B- A couple of meaningless interviews
are done. The Evolution one is pretty good hyping
the upcoming Evolution vs. Rock and Mick Foley match.
Match 2: RVD and Booker T
(c) vs. Dudleys vs. Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak
vs. La Resistance for the World Tag Team Championship
Average match with little to no build. RVD and Booker T had won the titles a couple of weeks before. You could tell this match was created to get them and the other teams on the card. Score Card: D+ Meaningless Coach sketch
Match 3: Christian vs. Chris
Jericho
Awesome match. The build to this match was masterful. Jericho started having feelings for Trish and he and Christian were buddies. A storyline played out where Christian trashed the relationship with lies and things that are such and set up a tag match with him and Jericho against Trish and Lita. Leets, in her great wrestling ability, gets injured soon after this and leaves the angle somewhat stalled. Jericho and Christian have a falling out setting up this match. The ending to the match was perfect for the situation and the match itself was very good from two very underrated workers. Match Grade: A- Interview with Foley and Rock is decent
for getting some crowd support
Match 4: Rock 'n Sock vs.
Evolution members Randy Orton, Ric Flair, and Batista
The build to this also was excellent.
Orton began feuding with Foley while Foley was the
temporary GM of Raw. Orton challenged him to a match
and before the match Mick walks out only to be spat
on and humiliated. The Royal Rumble brings out Foley
who eliminates Orton. This brings about Evolution
beat-downs on Foley and the normal heel-face promos
leading to the return of Mr. Hollywood, The Rock.
Decent match with once again the right ending. Foley
was a bit winded by the end so it downgrades it slightly.
However, the face-off with Flair and the Rock brings
it back up to a Score Card of an A-
Hall of Fame Class of 04 is brought
out. Very nice thing to do I thought.
Match 5: Playboy Evening Gown
Match with Sable and Torrie Wilson vs. Stacy and Miss
Jackie
We all know it's not Wrestlemania
without Hulk Hogan. No wait, we all know it's not
Wrestlemania without a plodding Undertaker match.
Wait, no no I got it...it's not Sportz Entertainment
at Wrestlemania without a T & A match and I don't
mean Test and Albert. This match was horrible, truly
horrible. Grade: The depths of Hell
Benoit-Guerrero promo that was structured
nicely to hype the main events.
Match 6: Cruiserweight Open
I won't bore you with the details
but everyone jobs to another wrestler one at a time
in less than a minute in some cases. Ultimo Dragon
slipped noticeably in this match 3 times. Eliminates
one wrestler in 2 minutes and jobs back out immediately.
A horrible match that needed more time or they should
have just done Mysterio-Chavo and done a 10 minute
6 Man Match or something instead of this atrocity.
Grade: D-
Match 7: Goldberg vs. Brock
Lesnar
Not the most technically sound match
of the night for sure but it had its moments. You
can look at it from three perspectives, the match
quality itself (the lowest grade possible), Steve
Austin's point of view (entertaining to say the least)
or the fan's point of view (the best). I was in attendance
and being able to chant and sing to this horrible
match was a lot of fun. The build to this match was
great starting with a stand-off at Survivor Series,
Lesnar interfering in the Royal Rumble and throwing
Goldberg out, Goldberg costing Lesnar the WWE title
at No Way Out, and throwing Austin in the mix as referee
added more intrigue. I'm going to give this match
a C+. Just watch the wrester's reaction
to the crowd to entertain yourself. Lesnar flipping
everyone off too was a very nice touch in his childishness.
Vinnie Mac strolls out and says a
very classy thing. This lasted only moments in fan's
minds especially considering current events.
Match 8: Tag Title Four Way
This match is horrible and I won't
comment.Grade: D
Match 9: Victoria vs. Molly
for the Women's Title
Decent match with Molly getting her head shaved. Grade: C+ Match 10: Undertaker vs. Kane
Short and sweet and exactly what it
needed to be with the re-debut of the Undertaker.
This match was made because of Kane costing Taker
a Buried Alive match against Vinnie Mac. Undertaker
re-enters in a hybrid type character of his two former
gimmicks. Paul Bearer comes down with him and rightfully
so in my opinion.
Match 11: Kurt Angle vs. Eddie
Guerrero for the WWE Title
Great match between the two. I enjoyed
this match more than their later encounters. The booking
was great leading into this with Angle turning heel
for what seemed like the 88th time. Two more and he'll
be even with the Big Show but I digress. Great match
with a very creative ending. Score Card: A
Match 12: Triple Threat Match
for the World Title with HHH vs. Benoit vs. HBK
Such a great match that words cannot describe. Being in the building you could just feel how special and awesome this match was. The booking into this was quite ludicrous at times but this is Sportz Entertainment so logic goes out the window sometimes. The ending with Benoit and Guerrero standing center ring as World Champions is the greatest ending in Wrestlemania history to me. Score Card: A++ Extras: WWE knows how to throw extras
on a Wrestlemania DVD to make the money worthwhile.
The history of the Rock 'N Sock, the NYC Press Conference,
post and pre-match comments, a bonus match from Sunday
night heat the week before between the Dudleys and
Lance Storm & Val Venis are all decent. Byte This
with Eddie Guerrero is very insightful. The TV promos
are nice but really aren't my cup o' tea. However
the next two extras alone are worth the price of this
DVD. The special Documentary on the Mania of Wrestlemania
narrated by Jesse Ventura delves into WM XIX weekend
and the events surrounding it backstage. Such a great
documentary and one of the best WWE produced specials
I've seen. WWE needs to do more of these types of
documentaries. The last extra is a special hosted
by Ric Flair on the Top Ten Greatest Matches in WM
History. Very insightful and interesting to see what
the WWE superstars voted as the best.
All in all, great 3 DVD set and well
worth the price of admission. Buy it.
Click Here to Purchase WWE's WrestleMania XX ***
Think you can do better? Prove it. Send your review of this or any other DVD to: Review@WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
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