Wrestlemania 34

April 8th 2017, New Orleans, Louisiana

- Firstly this has been a disappointing weekend on a gaming level for me, I broke my tablet and thus had to get a new one, not too bad as I had some money spare for Comic Con and luckily the shop had the same type still in, Samsung Tab E represent yo. The problem arose when I got home as the only game/app I pay religiously is Walking Dead Road To Survival, We The People represent yo!, at least I think that's my factions name (not anymore, left them when I went on a brief hiatus joined some other faction left them for FEMA Trailer but recently left to go back to Tic Tic Boom, FEMA is also in dire straights and down to bare bones now) but my game data is linked to my facebook and I couldn't get into that as my account had a text verification set up and I no longer had that number, I never topped it up sop got cut off it, so the security thing to keep people out kept me out and by the time I had recovered the account by sending FB a pic of my birth certificate it was too late and my TWD RTS log in streak was over at 110 days, so I lost the bonus I purchased and the day 7+ prestige but did recover my team and didn't have to start again, phew. Hopefully my first live Mania will save this weekend.

I thought the stage had a giant pineapple until they lit it up and I realised it was a Mardi Gras mask.

IC Title - The Miz (c) Vs. Seth Rollins Vs. Finn Balor
 Miztourage did come out but were sent to the back, to be fair to Miz would you want Axel and Dallas backing you up? Finns out last so will we get The Demon, no. This is the 25th IC Title defence in Mania history. They all trade roll ups early. We see Cena in the audience as he's here as Undertaker didn't answer his challenge, maybe he was watching Superior Donuts and Scorpion? Did you know Mania is free for new subscribers. Finn Vs. Miz for a few minutes then Miz is dumped and Seth is in, nice bit as Seth hits a suicide dive on Finn then runs back in and hits one on Miz on the other side. Seth superkicks Balor but is then DDTd by Miz for 2, had Seth had HBKs boots on on Miz fell with the ferocity of Jake The Snake the match would be over. Cole calls Flair 'The Naitch' who the hell calls him that? Naitch yes but *The* Naitch, if I'd of called him that when I met him he'd of put me in the Figure Four though i'd counter it of course and wait for him to head up top on the nearby table for the bags and thrown him off as he shouted Nooooo, the impact would of course lead to him being busted open and begging off. Nice bit as Miz has the Figure Four on Balor but Seth hits him with a frog splash, they did a finish like that once at Payback where I think Axel pinned Barrett as Miz had the Figure Four on. Rollins superplexes Finn but he small packages Rollins when they land for 2, of course had Seth hit it with the grace of Monsieur Windham it would of gotten 3. Good near fall when Miz gets 2 on Rollins with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz hits a bulldog/SCF, not sure what it was meant to be, off the top on Seth but Balor breaks it with Coup De Grace. Seth hits the Curb Stomp on his rivals and pins Miz for 3 @ 15:30, Seth is now a Grand Slam Champion. ***1/2 - Fun opener. I am a fan of the champion taking the fall as call me old fashioned but I hate when in multi man matches the champion loses the belt without losing, this is why the mere mention of KOTR 2000 causes me to rip my shirt off Hulk style and cut a beetroot Flair promo on the poor person who mentions it.

Ad plays about Andre The Giant.

SMACKDOWN! Womens Title - Asuka Vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
 Asuka won the inaugural womens royal rumble and chose Charlotte as her opponent. Asuka is also on an undefeated streak. This show is free to new subscribers dont you know. Ugh champion coming out first bugs me. If Charlotte doesnt break the streak where do you go with it? No one on the SMACKDOWN! roster would really seem believable unless they go the cheap cash in route or have Roman dress up and give it to him. Couple of curbstomp style knee drops by Flair but when she goes for a moonsault Asuka catches her in a triangle but that is turned into a Charlotte crab. On the apron now as Asuka suplexes the Champion to the floor. Back in Asuka unloads on Charlotte then hits a missile dropkick for 2. Charlotte, after initially almost losing her balance, busts out the Spanish Fly, or if I continue my gimmick, the American Fly, but it only gets 2. Natural Selection is countered to an armbar style move but thats almost countered to the Figure Eight but Asuka avoids it with kicks. Spear gets the Champion 2 but then she soon applies the Figure Eight and Asuka taps, streak is over @ 13:05. *** Good match but dont bust out the Spanish Fly and not have it as the finish, that move is to hard to pull off for it to be kicked out of. Of course had the spanish fly been done with the lacklustre-ness of Sin Cara it would of got 3, or he wouldnt of held on and just moonsaulted the mat. 

As Charlotte is leaving a ref runs down to tell Cena something and he heads off up the ramp. Maybe Taker had Nikki in a car, Where To Nikki?

US Title - Rusev (w/ Aiden English) Vs. Bobby Roode Vs. Jinder Mahal Vs. Randy Orton (c)
 Never thought i'd type Bobby Roode in a Wrestlemania review unless done as 'man was Bobby rude' when discussing The Brain, then again I never thought i'd type Jinder Mahal in a Mania review either. Aiden appeared on the pre-show with hair but it's shaved here meaning Ed Leslie is possibly backstage thus maybe Hulk Hogan is Brauns partner, then again Hulk probably went to the site of the Silver Dome. Is that Nikolai Volkoff doing Italian commentary? Rusev hits a rolling senton off the apron onto Orton and Mahal. Roode gets 2 off a blockbuster on Rusev, speaking of Blockbuster some Thunder episodes are on the Network, which is showing Mania for free to new subscribers, and I watched the one where Buff breaks his neck, oh mama, it doesnt have the shock of Sids leg but I winced that bad that mine almost went the same as Buffs. Orton gets 2 off a powerslam and a superplex gets the same result, I know it's way too late now but can we stop using a superplex like we would an armdrag please. Rusev stomps a mudhole in Mahal in the corner thus stopping us from ever getting the Russ-In Connection. Draping DDT on Rusev then RKOs for English, Rusev and Mahal, wow RKOs to someone named English, a russian and a man from India Xenophobic much? Roode avoids one, crafty Canadian, and hits the Glorious DDT but Mahal breaks the pin. 'Rusev Day' chant but Mahal soon ends the match with a\ Khallas on Rusev and Jinder is the US Champion @ 8:15. ** - I didnt real feel it you know and Rusev, the most over man in the match and maybe on the roster behind Bryan, taking the loss is saddening especially to blooming Mahal.

HHH/Steph Vs. Angle/Rousey
 Heels should get their comeuppance but where HHH and Steph are involved logic doesn't always enter the fray. HHH and Steph ride bikes to the ring, of the motor variety not bicycles though the latter would of earned this ******* from me, if Meltzer can go six I can go seven. Kurt has his left hand taped. Rousey pays homage to Roddy Piper with her attire. Steph pulls Rousey down by the hair then runs off. We get some tag psychology, which I always appreciate, from The Authority as Steph cheapshots Kurt and also pulls Ronda off the apron so Kurt can't tag her. Hot tag to Ronda and she unloads on Steph in the corner, she goes for an armbar but Steph blocks it, have HHH and Kurt gone to find Cena? Steph is in control. Ronda with a slam but HHH pulls out the ref then pulls out Ronda. Kurt and HHH fight buy announce table as Hunter throws Angle on the SAT. In the ring now as Ronda wants Hunter and pummels him in the corner, did he mention Amanda Nunes? Steph saves HHH from getting slammed. It's now Angle Vs. HHH as Steph posts Ronda ringside but there wasn't any tags. Angle Slam and Pedigree are both avoided but then Angle hits the slam for 2, good nearfall. Oh straps are down, Ankle Lock to Steph but HHH hits the Pedigree however Ronda makes the save. Pedigree is set up on Ronda but she hurricanranas free and applies an armbar which Steph breaks. Armbar to Steph and Ankle Lock to Hunter but HHH rolls through and sends Angle into Ronda. Stereo Pedigrees are blocked as HHH is sent over the top and Steph is put in the armbar and she taps out @ 20:40. **** Four may seem like a slight overration, that a word?, but I feel it's fair as it was better than I thought it would be by far and was laid out fantastically. Fantastic debut for Ronda.

SMACKDOWN! Tag Titles - Usos (c) Vs. The New Day Vs. Bludgeon Brothers
 Kofi and Big E are the in-ring participants for New Day. Bludgeons dominate early with Jimmy being the last non Bludgeon standing. An Uso splashes Harper for 2. Big E tries Big Ending but Rowan breaks it. Harper with a Bossman Slam to Kofi. The legal man seems to be changing without tags. Rowan powerbombs Kofi then Harper powerbombs him off the top Buh Buh style, minus the table, for 3 @ 5:50. ** Essentially an extended squash but that was the right call to get the title reign off to a noteworthy start.

John Cena Vs. The Undertaker 
 Cena's been calling out Taker for weeks but he's never answered or even shown up. Lights go out and it's .... Elias who sings a song as Cena goes back to the audience but he must hit a bum note as Cena comes back and an AA sends Elias out. Cena heads up the ramp then the lights go out and Takers hat, coat and gloves are in the ring after he left them last year following his match with Roman, a lightning bolt strikes and then they're gone. Dong! He's here after all. Taker strikes Cena in the corner. Taker goes old school, snake eyes and big boot. Chokeslam is avoided as Cena hits a back suplex then goes for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle but is freaked out as Taker does his sit up, and Cenas breaking into acting? Chokeslam and Tombstone end the first Cena squash in near fours and the third one since 2003 or so I'd guess. Lasted 2:45 so falls in the UNR category for me, people may talk though in a few years about this Cena squash and Mania is more a moments than matches show.

The HoFers are brought out, it twas this moment I took a toilet break but I hear Kid Rock wasn't brought out.

Daniel Bryan/Shane McMahon Vs. Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn
 If Daniel and Shane win then KO and Zayn are gone from SMACKDOWN! if they lose then KO/Zayn get their jobs back. This is Bryans comeback after injury, I dont care for him but the connection the audience has with him is one of those rare ones. Helluva Kick and an apron powerbomb wipes out Bryan at the start leaving us with a handicap match for the time being but Shane kicks some heavy duty booty until KO takes over and attacks Shane's mid-section, apparently he had a hernia or something prior to this so it makes sense to target the mid-section. Bryan is being checked out as Shane plays McMahon-In-Peril until he hits the Vanterminator or MacTerminator I guess. Frogsplash to Shane but Bryan breaks the pin. Shane makes the tag and Bryan cleans house hitting dropkicks in the corners to Owen and Zayn, watch the landings on that neck man. Hurricanarana off the top to Zayn. Helluva Kick gets 2 after Bryan is distracted by Owens. Pop Up Powerbomb also gets 2. Running Knee and Yes Lock on Zayn earns the win @ 15:25. ** - I just wasn't drawn in and didn't find it interesting. I assumed Zayn and Owens would go to RAW but they had a match on there for a contract which went to a draw, in a segment Kurt mentioned TNA and I read in the comments section on 411 someone say this was due to WWE seeing TNA as a threat!! I didn't know TNA were still going. 

RAW Womens Title - Nia Jax Vs. Alexa Bliss (c) (w/ Mickie James)
 I'd book Nia to squash Alexa out of the proverbial gate. Cole says Bliss has been Champion for 223 days, but she's defended it like 3 times in that span it seems. Nia destroys Mickie pre-match. Nia press slams Alexa and man what a rough landing, she could of done a Sid there. Alexa works the leg, smart move. Nia is outside after missing a corner charge and Alexa hits a Twisted Bliss on her. Alexa has been in control but she moves off and this rejuvenates Nia. Second rope San Diego Drop gets Nia the win @ 10:15. ** To be honest it dragged a bit for me and lost my interest, right result though.

WWE Title - AJ Styles (c) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
 This has been built up as a 'Dream Match', I hear they had a corker in Japan. Naka won the Rumble and challenged AJ. Shin blocks a suplex by taking AJ into the corner. Snapmare then a spine kick as AJ is in control. Naka tells AJ to 'Come Onnnnnn' much like Peter Griffin did to congress. Quite the slow plodding match so far, hopefully this is due to it being a long match or it's going to be a disappointment. Styles Clash is avoided and a Phenomenal Forearm is countered with a Landslide for 2. Styles is placed up top but AJ fights free. Calf Crusher is countered to a triangle which AJ eventually counters to a Snow Plow type move. AJ goes for a Styles Clash but his back gives out. Phenomenal Forearm gets 2. Shin gets his knees up to block a 450'. They slug it out in the middle of the ring. Pele Kick by AJ but Shin soon responds with a knee to the bonce for 2. Kinshasa is signalled but AJ counters to Styles Clash for 3 @ 20:20. PM - Naka turns to the dark side with a low blow on AJ. **1/2 - Very disappointing match, I wouldn't necessarily call it bad by any means but the hype for this pay off is disappointing, I've seen the argument that they were holding something back for future matches and that's all well and good but you could still do better than this surely?

Recap of Matt Hardy winning the Andre Battle Royal thanks to Bray, Cedric Alexander winning the Cruiserweight title and Naomi winning the women's battle royal, despite being a face she lay ringside then surprised Bayley to win.

RAW Tag Titles - The Bar (c) Vs. Braun Strowman/?
Brauns mystery partner turns out to be a kid from the crowd called Nicolas. Then again there was a rumour it was going to be Rey and maybe this 10 year old is him in a wig. Braun chokeslams Cesaro but Sheamus breaks the pin. Double crossbody by Braun then he finishes Cesaro with a Powerslam @ 4:00. This show has kind of fell off a cliff since about two hours ago after a very good start. **

Universal Title - Brock Lesnar (c) (w/ Heyman) Vs. Roman Rsigns
Possibly Brocks last WWE match. Brock hits a belly-to-belly on the outside then dumps Reigns on the table in a bit that was rough. In the ring Brock hits two German suplexes and two belly-to-belly suplexes. Cole just called Cena the greatest of all time. Roman survives three F-5s, then is F-5d through a table. A fifth F-5 gets 2. Roman gets 2 off a Spear. Reigns has been busted open and is then pinned after a sixth F-5 @ 15:55. *1/2 - Didnt have the shock of the SummerSlam destruction of Cena nor a big match feel as Brock didn't seem to care and the fans completely turned on the match and played with beach balls or something. If you're going to job Roman in the end then why bury the F-5? Warrior survived all Savages Big Elbows then won, he didn't lose.

24 / 50 - Mania these days is almost more for the moments than the matches and this was kind of lacking on both fronts bar the Ronda match,  the opener was very good but I don't think will be remembered when this card is thought of in a few years.
Seeing Cena get squashed was interesting and who knows maybe we'll get a proper match down the line. The Asuka/Charlotte match was good but the rest was meh, bad, silly or disappointing.
It was a real smorgasbord of stuff and like WrestleMania 18 I really don't know what to think of it as usually I know if I like or dislike something.  Did go way too long though, maybe check out the show then stop after the Ronda/Angle Vs. HHH/Steph match.
Thumbs down I guess but as I said I don't know what to think of this one overall. 

IYH 20: No Way Out Of Texas

- February 15th 1998, Houston, Texas.
- Buyrate: 0.52
- Attendance: 16,110

Free-For-All
 Dok Hendrix reveals the main event is Non Sanctioned, Michael Cole recaps Ken Shamrock's problems with The Nation, did Rock ever deliver a non-sick chairshot to Ken? We get a video hyping Vader/Kane then Sunny interviews Vader. They shill a Stone Cold shirt. A video hypes the PPV's main event, it says Shawn Michaels will pick his replacement, if he did then he pulled the greatest rib on Vince in the history of professional ribbing, though this is null and void about an hour and a half later in the actual PPV as HHH says they'll do a handicap match but Cole tells him WWF will pick the replacement.

PPV Starts From Here and the opening video is okay.

Headbangers Vs. Mero/Goldust (w/ Luna)
 Sable was there as well but Mero sent her to the back, you know Mero/Sable were like a modern spin on Savage/Liz. Mero hits boxing punches on Mosh but he's soon clothesline over and out. The HB's are on top of Goldust, Thrasher suplexes Mosh onto Goldust. Mero blind tags in, I think he tagged Mosh initially. Thrasher is cut by the ringsteps and is your Headbanger-In-Peril as crowd chants 'Mero Sucks'. Mosh makes the save after a sitout powerbomb. Thrasher lands on his feet from a TKO and DDTs Mero, hot tag to Mosh. Luna puts a stop to Stage Dive. Sable comes out and Mero and Goldust have to restrain her and Luna. Headbangers pull the old switcheroo and Mero is inside cradled by Thrasher for 3 @ 13:52. **1/2 - The crowd gave this a bump for me though they weren't the only good thing about it as I like psychology, even more so when it works in getting the crowd into it.

Kevin Kelly and The Jackal plug the superstar line.

Owen says there wont be a problem with him and Austin as long as they stay out of each others way.

Light-Heavyweight Title - TAKA Michinoku (c) Vs. Pantera
 Sunny is the ring announcer. Pantera's outfit so lowrent and bad even Jarrett wouldn't of worn it. Brian Christopher joins commentary. Pantera somersaults out onto TAKA as the announcers now do the Lawler/Christopher father/son bit that they did at this time. Pantera sends TAKA off the apron with a headscissors, that was nice. Brian actually says 'Slanty Eyed' on commentary, oh Jesus wept this guy *rolls eyes*. TAKA is backdropped out and a tope con hilo follows, at least that's what JR called it I get all these over the top moves mixed up and JR used to mix up the Hardyz when Jeff had multi-coloured hair so it could be wrong. Pantera does a nice pin attempt, he had him akin to a Submission I think Charlie Haas used to do. Top rope hurricanrana then a moonsult gets Pantera a 2 count. Michinoku Driver is countered with a roll up but it doesn't get the win. TAKA hits a powerbomb to counter a hurricanrana and Michinoku Driver gets 3 @ 10:10. *** - Really weird watching a match like this on a 1998 WWF Card, then again I guess they weren't WWF wrestlers really. What they did was impressive but in there structure these matches are akin to ECW's much maligned spotfests but using aerial moves rather than weapon shots.  

Kevin Kelly is with Cactus and Charlie.

The Quebecers Vs. The Godwinns
 This may be *the* most heatless match I have ever seen and that is not an exaggeration. These teams cost each other matches on Shotgun Saturday, is a Shotgun rivalry really PPV worthy? Pierre has an eye thing like Deadshot, which is fitting as this match is something that sounds like Deadshot, hint there's an i replacing a letter. Even start with nothing notable going on, in fact there's only two notable things in the whole match one is Lawler asking 'where's Lee Harvey Oswald when you need him' in reference to Clinton, he was from Arkansas you see just like Godwinns so he must be a backwards pig farmer bear in mind McMahon is from North Cackalacky and the other noticeable thing is how cold the hot tag is, no-one and I mean no-one made any noise when the Quebecer tagged in, it was so bad I almost felt sorry for them. HOG clotheslines Pierre for 3 @ 11:14. *1/2

Cornette and Jarrett cut a pre-match.

NWA North-American Title - Jeff Jarrett (c) (w/ Cornette) Vs. Bradshaw
 Jarrett has Cornette, Windham and the Rock 'n' Rolls with him, I know Jarrett held the NWA World Title for about 50 years in TNA but that was in the 2000s prior to that I don't associate Jeff with the NWA so don't get why he's being used in part of Vince's thinly veriled burial of NWA against the WWF, though NWA hosted matches the WWF couldn't touch if it tried. Only Jim's allowed to stay ringside as he has a managers license. Bradshaw whips Jeff with his chaps and Jeff gets offence when Bradshaw goes after Cornette. My two kittens have started wrestlign and are doing NWA style transitions, in true Dusty NWA style Rosemary won via pinfall but was DQd as a different ref made the count so she isn't RKW champion. Bradshaw gets 2 off an inside cradle, I thought he'd botched a DDT at first. Cornette uses his racket on Bradshaw's knee so Jeff starts working it, makes since given the Figure Four, speaking of which that's called for but Bradhsaw blocks it however he is soon DDT'd when Jeff ducks a clothesline. Jarrett uses the racket and is DQd @ 9:00, gotta protect that Bradshaw guy. PM - Bradshaw slams Cornette so NWA guys attack then LoD make the save, you know what would of been good and maybe revbitalized LoD's WWF career? Had they turned on Bradshaw here and joined their NWA compadre's, I mean most people think of Road Warriors when they think of NWA. **

HHH says wrestlers all over the world want to join DX but no-one can take HBK's place and it'll be a handicap match, Cole says WWF officials will appoint someone but HHH doesn't care.

Dok Hendrix interviews Nation and it's great as Faarooq is cutting a serious promo but Rock is goofing around, he rolls his eyes and i'm sure it's now a gif.

War Of Attrition - Nation Vs. Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson, DoA
 'Rocky Sucks' chant. NAtion here are Faarooq, Rock who's the IC Champion, Kama, D'Lo and Mark Henry. This match is Rock and Kens 457th meeting out of 956 in 1998. Nothing of note to start as faces are on top of D-Lo. Henry in and he wants Ahmed, Henry wins a punch off by going to the eye but Ahmed soon slams him. D'Lo hits a Frogsplash/Lo Down on Ahmed who to be fair was quite a bit away. Rock saves Faarooq from Pearl River Plunge. Rock in and gets 2 off a DDT to Shamrock. Skull/8-Ball is stomped by The Nation. People's Elbow minus pad removal hits but the other twin makes the save. 8-Ball or Skull is your face-in-peril. D'Lo heads up but misses a moonsault. Shamrock is in then everyone comes in for a huge brawl then when the ring clears Rock submits to the Ankle Lock @ 13:46 and my god Ken doesn't get himself DQ'd post match. Post Match there's dissension in The Nation. **1/2 - I do like multi-man tags, match was just okay itself though but it did play into the Nation's dissension stuff between Rocky and Faarooq, which would end with the leader Faarooq being turfed.

Stone Cold doesn't care who the mystery partner is.

Kane (w/ Bearer) Vs. Vader
 Kane barbequed his brother at the last PPV. In the hype video for this we see Kane setting a Vader clock on fire, what a heel! Crowd really like Vader, weird seeing him as a face as i'm used to the monster heel. Man I love Kane's original music. Even start as they go ringside a few times. Kane hits his clothesline off the top then pummels Vader in the corner as fans chant for the man for the Rocky Mountains. Iron Claw to Vader as Kane is tracing Takers career back to World Class. Vader has the briefest of brief comebacks but is soon back on the defensive. Kane goes over the top but lands on his feet. Knowing wrestling as I do know it's funny as you can tell when wrestlers are discussing the next set of moves. Vader hits the Vadersault but Kane sits up. Kane recovers from a powerbomb and a Tombstone ends it @ 10:58. *** - It was actually pretty good for a Kane match, better than I was anticipating that's for sure, we had Kane doing UT stuff but you know what would of been an absolute beautiful touch, if Kane had hit Vader with a middle rope chokeslam like UT did at IYH 16. Kane's no selling also makes Taker look better when beating him at Mania as here nothing Big Van Vader did stopped him, sometimes no selling is acceptable.

Pretty good video hypes the main event.

NAO/HHH/Vega (w/ Chyna) Vs. Austin/Owen/Cactus/Chainsaw
 Yes people they had this big who'll replace HBK thing and went with Savio, at least I guess him and Austin have hisotry from two years prior. Gunn brings a table down. Owen is European Champion, have I said how hilarious Savio as HBKs replacement is. Granted he's had no training but imagine if Tyson had been the man to add fuel to the DX/Austin thing or had Tyson not yet joined DX, was that in March? Austin massacres Billy and breaks a broom over HHH's back then hits him with it as we have a hectic start. HHH breaks a SharpShooter on Gunn then beats on Austin at ringside. Stone Cold almost decapitates Gunn with a clothesline. Hunter DDTs Charlie after multiple trashcan shots. Road Dogg breaks the Sharpshooter on HHH with a chair then Dogg powerbombs Charlie through two chairs as we've finally settled down to a tag match. Charlie is your Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Terry-Funk-In-Peril as Austin just lobs a trash can at Billy, that was great #StoneColdSteveBrady, also quick sidebar how great was Superbowl 51 unless you're an Atlanta Falcons in which case I've got two words for ya .... Good game, dman need will power as I must not do Bruce Forsyth pose. Cactus in and he puts a board in front of Dogg then whips Gunn into it., Double Arm DDT to Gunn, just realised half the participants are Kings Of The Ring, though Gunns was post this. Cactus is your Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Cactus-Jack-Manson-And-Mankind-And-Dude-Love-In-Peril. Savio wraps Cactus in barbed wire, is he doing that to look cool to DX like the kids that smoke to be 'hip' and 'with it', I didn't go that route in school I became the cocky loudmouth who'd challenge the 'cool' kids in jest. Outlaw miscommunication as Gunn hits Dogg with a chair. Hot tag to Austin who cleans house and Stunner to Road Dogg gets 3 @ 17:40. PM - Chyna is Stunnered after she pushes Austin and flips him off. ***1/2 - A fun at times chaotic, which made it fun, main event, I do enjoy matches like these I must say, I saw a cracking one last week on the Best Of The COTC DVD, Midnights/Fantastics from the first Clash. Oh man Savio Vega that still makes me chuckle.

18 / 35 - Coming in I wasn't expecting much really beyoned the main, I'd seen that on the original DX release, but i'd say this is one of the better IYH PPV's I've seen. TAKA/Pantera was good, Vader/Kane surpassed my expectations and the two muti-man tags were good fun as well.
Thumbs Up from me here.

WrestleMania 13

- March 23rd, Rosemount, Illinois
- Buys: 237,000 (Lowest I believe for a Mania)
- Attendance - 18,197

This Mania is presented by PlayStation, could be a bad omen being i'm an Xbox guy. Also I believe this Mania to have the subtitle Heat, now bar maybe V having The Mega Powers Explode, I can't remember if that's official or fan given, I can't remember other Mania's with subtitles. There was WrestleMania goes Hollywood for 21 but that was more a slogan than a subtitle.

Godwins (w/ Hillbilly Jim) Vs. Headbangers Vs. Doug Furnas/Phil LaFon Vs. New Blackjacks
 Pre-match we see a clip of the original Blackjacks, probably shown so Vince could remember which name he was reviving this week. The last Mania called by Vince, also did French people stop following the Federation as the French Announce Team disappeared eventually, I seem to recall Rock threatening to take somebody through every announce team, I think Mankind so they were there in early 1999 at least. According to the graphics Furnas and LaFon were also known as The Headbangers, with them tashes had TNB thrown on dungarees they could've ran with a Mario and Luigi gimmick, oh Barry Windham what happened to thou from the 80s? Donald Trump, jr interviews TNB pre-match, good god my joke well is running dry and there's still around 3hrs left. Bradshaw wasn't *that* bad around this time as he did more than he would as an Acolyte move wise and didn't stink up the joint as he would as JBL. My god it's Headbanger Vs. Headbanger feel the tens .... no wait Thrasher's tagged out. Furnas hits a nice hurricanrana on Bradshaw.  Lawler asks what would happen if a tag partner pinned his partner, now how Vince Russo never booked that is beyond me it's right up his street. Bradshaw hits ref and is DQd then Furnas and LaFon are counted out, so why not just do a straight up Headbangers Vs. Godwins from the start? Lawler asks Vince if he has any White Zombie CDs and the sound of Vince's responce 'White .... Zombie?' is the same as mine when my sister mentions an artiste of today. Mosh pins Phineus with a seated senton @ 10:38. *1/2 - Well that was as woeful a start to a Mania as i've seen, still as D:Ream said 'Things Can Only Get Better' or even Yazoo 'The Only Way Is Up'.

We see Lou Albano ringside, at least someone's enjoying themselves as Honky Tonk Man joins commentary.

IC Title - Rocky Maivia (c) Vs. The Sultan (w/ Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund)
 Sultan is Rikishi and his pyrotechnics here are so low budget even SMW would be shaking its head if a promotion could indeed shake its head. Rocky's theme is a more basic version of his best known one, at least musically there's no 'If You Smell ....', though that would be appropriate as that match stinks. Honky says Rocky is trying to impress him with his sideburns. Rocky hits a dropkick so poor Sultan doesn't really sell it so he his another, 'Rocky Sucks' chant. Nothing match so far then Sultan really does the match a favor by applying a Vulcan Death Grip. Sultan hits a headbutt off the top and gets 2 off a one handed cover. Chinlock applied as even Earl Hebner looks bored rigid. He's Rocking up, some whacky dance moves thrown in there, crossbody hits but Sheik has the ref distracted Thrust kick and a dodgy looking piledriver both get Sultan 2. Rock wins via a rollup @ 9:46. PM - Rocky Johnson saves his son from Sheiky bay-bay. Turns out D:Ream were wrong all along. *1/2 - My god that was boring, special mention to Maivia's woeful dropkicks. One of these went on to be a huge star despite their appearance here and the other turned heel joined The Nation and became some little known wrestler.

Donald Trump, Jr. chats with Shamrock as Hendrix catches up with HHH,

We see Slammy highlights, Taker actually collects his award in person.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) Vs. Goldust (w/ Marlena)
 Is Hunters theme here Ode To Joy? I'm not up on my classical stuff. Oh marone I haven't put enough sugar in my coffee this is getting worse by the minute. Goldust starts the better of the two but is soon dropped off the top rope to the outside, that was a good fall I'll give them that. hunter goes up top!!!! and hits a forearm/chop move. Hunter applies the abdominal stretch, this can't be the same guy who would go on to be Triple-H and have the 2000 that he did, there must've been a switch at some point, I reckon it happened at the pre-No Mercy SMACKDOWN! in late 99 when they did that bit where Austin threw a snake in a room with him, I reckon this Hunter here was then written out of the storyline and they hired a new person to play HHH from No Mercy onwards but he got injured in May 2001 and when he returned and stunk up the joint for many a year after that was this HHH here who'd been rehired to play Hunter, that's my theory anyway. Goldie counters a hiptoss to a backslide for 2. Goldie goes for a scoop slam but the weight of Hunters conk weighs him down and HHH gets a 2 count. JR notes that Chyna has barely moved, he fails to note that she's probably fell asleep. Hunter does a flip in the corner from a whip and a woman screams. Hunter counters Curtain Call but the Pedigree is avoided with a slingshot but Goldust is distracted by Chyna going for Marlena and the Pedigree gets 3 @ 14:27. Well Yazoo were wrong as well. *1/2 - They were given time to work with but my god it was boring, the last section was okay but doesn't cover for the previous 13 minutes or so. Hunter would be saved from tediousness soon via Foley.

WWF Tag Team Titles - Bulldog/Owen (c) Vs. Vader/Mankind (w/ Bearer)
 For them the challengers are positively svelte, Bulldog had been showing signs of a face turn before this match though officially both are heel teams which doesn't help with the crowd. JR interviews the Champions in the entranceway. Vader pummels Owen, clotheslines have no effect on BVV but a heel kick does get him down. Owen is powerbombed, Vader seemed to let him go low, but Bulldog puts the kibosh on the Vader Bomb. The Champions tag whilst both are in-ring and the ref allows it, Jack Doan, is to the Hart Foundation as Nick Patrick was the nWo. Bulldog is lowbridged to the outside where Vader hits him w/ an urn. Bulldog is your Adopted-Canadian-In-Peril as Mankind pummels him in the corner and his his corner knee. Owen gets the tag but soon falls victim to a nice double team as Mankind hits the Cactus Elbow but with Vader holding Owen  a la Demolition Decapitation. Owen plays heel-in-peril, he hits a nice and I mean real nice belly-to-belly on the outside when Mankind charges at him, Owen really did do the best belly-to-belly suplexes. Cold tag to Bulldog who cleans abode. Powerslam is countered with Mandible Claw and they tumble ringside for a double countout, ugh. ** - Lame ending to an okay if nothing special match, we had the tag staples but fans didn't bite so it lacked that feeling of a good match, a bad crowd can ruin many a match, the fact that there's two heel teams no doubt is partly to blame. I hear Vader/Mankind were set to win the straps here but Bret changed it and set up the Hart Foundation stuff.

Submission Match - Bret Hart Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
 Ken Shamrock is the special ref and this is where Austin has the 3:16 glass entrance which is better than some of the OTT ones we get now, the KISS thing man, Keep It Simple Stupid. Austin charges Bret and they go ringside early where Bret is crotched on the guardrail and clotheslined off. They fight through the crowd, hey there's an nWo shirt, foreshadowing!!!! Back ringside and Bret avoids a shot from the ringsteps and Austins leg seems to get caught awkwardly. In ring Bret works Austins leg, he goes for that move where they place opponents leg on the rope and jump on it but it misses and he is Stunnered but Austin can't capitalize. Bret busts out the ringpost Figure Four, that may be its PPV debut. Bret has a chair and tries to do a Pillman but Austin recovers in time and uses the chair on Bret. JR 'It's not about posing or covering a bald spot'. Victoria Crab applied but Bret makes the ropes. Bret breaks the Sharpshooter by going to the eyes and Lawler brings up if Bret submitted to the Sharpshooter and Vince replies 'hey it could happen', how little he knew. Austin is busted open by the guardrail, Bret targets the cut as JR asks 'is this the match Bret wanted?' is that a sly reference to the vetoed HBK/Bret match when Shawn had a split hair or something, Bret uses the chair on Austin's knee but Stone Cold breaks the Sharpshooter in the same manner as Bret did earlier, I like that. This has been going 17:40 and it feels like 5 minutes. Austin stomps a mudhole after Bret takes his patented corner bump. Soon Austin is choking Bret with a cord but he hits him with the ringbell, Rock > Scissors > Paper > Ringbell > Cord. Sharpshooter applied, we get the famous Austin visual, you know the one and Austin almost breaks it but passes out @ 22:05. Bret attacks again after the bell but Shamrock stops him, Bret is booed. Chioda comes out to help Steve and is Stunnered, he takes it more awkwardly than Vince does. ***** - Arguably the greatest Mania match, the match itself was very good but the whole thing with the double turn makes it great.

Donald Trump, Jr chats to Public En .... no sorry Nation of Domination. Faarooq = Chuck D, Crush = Terminator X, Clarence Mason = Proffesor Griff so D'Lo is Flava, and PG-13 = S1W.

Chicago Street Fight - LOD/Ahmed Johnson Vs. Nation
 Officially it's Crush, Savio and Faarooq but all the Nation are there. PG-13 rap NoD to the ring, I prefer this to the instrumental version. Ahmed is dressed as a Road Warrior. Vince shills Mania 14, little did he know how big that would be. Big brawl to start with the faces on top, Ahmed somersault planchas over the guardrail onto Crush, whaaaaaat? There's to much going on to keep track of, making it fun to watch but hard to review. Animal with a dodgy piledriver to Faarooq on a table, they kind of fell off it. The as yet unamed D'Lo Brown holds up a sign which Savio throws Hawk into. Ahmed powerslams Faarooq through a table. Ahmed is choked with a noose. Faarooq now has HAwk in the noose as PG-13 get some digs in. Doomsday Device to Crush then Ahmed hitsh im with a 2-by-4 for 3 @ 10:45. Pearl River Plunge to D'Lo then a double Doomsday Device to PG-13, I liked that I must say. *** -  I was tempted to go the full shebang just for Ahmed's plancha. A fun if at times almost to chaotic match here. Reminded me of Doom/IV Horsemen, also featuring Faarooq funnily enough, from Starrcade 90. These last two matches have finally woken the fans up.

Shawn Michaels comes down for commentary, announcing is better than jobbing I suppose.

WWF Title - Sycho Sid (c) Vs. Undertaker 
 Bret Hart won the Title at Final Four, cracking match check my review put then the match itself, as it had been vacated due to HBK breaking a nail or something *cough* didn't want to take the loss to Bret *cough*, Sid won the title the next night on RAW in the first title change in RAW history, at least the WWF Title anyway. I much prefer Takers Ministry theme, though true fact when humming it I do at time segue into Goldust's unintentionally. JR notes Taker's never lost at Mania, what ever came of that? Bret interupts the staredown and grabs a mic says he and Taker are no longers friends or BFFs in 2017 parlance, has a go at HBK then runs his mouth off at Sid and is powerbombed. Taker attacks as Sid threatens Bret. Deadman splash then a scoopslam gets 2. UT goes mid-school but is soon locked in a bearhug, we're only 1:47 into this. Sid delivers shots to the back then re-applies it. Deadman is sent flying over the SAT. Sid goes up top, oh how he'd come to regret that, and hits a double axehandle. Powerslam gets Sid 2 then he goes for a few more pin attempts. Sid is thrown into the crowd and unless UT channels Ahmed Johnson here then I don't care what happens. Chinlock applied then UT one ups that with a vulcan death grip. Double big boot has both men down. UT does his throat slit gesture as fans cheer, pobably hoping it's nearly over. Tombstone is countered and Sid hits his own for 2. Bret hits Sid with a chair, Vince earlier noted it was No DQ but the fans in the arena don't know that. Powerbomb is called for but Bret's here again and hotshots Sid and a Tombstone mercifully ends it @ 21:22. - I've always classed Miz/Cena as the worst Mania main event I've seen, I've watched Manias 12-27, 30/31, but now as of January 18th 2017 at 22:49 this one-ups it or one downs it I suppose. Just woeful it's as if the Mankind feud never happened and we were back to the UT of old.

15.5 / 35 - It looks okay as it's only 2 pts from .500 but more than half of it's score comes from the just two matches. Arguably the worst Mania ever, people mention IX but i've never seen it, for me this or 27 is worse as 27 may be better across the board but this has Austin/Bret.
Thumbs down as Austin/Bret is available elsewhere on their DVDs, get them instead.

Royal Rumble 1993

- January 24th, Sacramento California.
- Buyrate: 1.25
- Attendance: 16,000

- This PPV is significant as it starts the Rumble/Mania link.

 Lord Alfred Hayes chats to the Steiners pre-show for the Coliseum Video team.

Steiners Vs. The Beverley Brothers
 Bobby and Monsson on commentary. The Steiners WWF PPV debut, the match had its sloppy moments for sure but it did have tag psychology which I always appreciate, a couple would have psychology as well as i'll get into, the Beverley's isolated Scott and cut the ring in half. Rick did get the hot tag, so the psychology stuff worked then, most notable was a german he hit which almost sent a Beverley across the pacific to Hawaii, the Beverley's tried a Doomsday Device, Whaaaaaaaat a rip, but Scott avoided with a victory roll the ended with a brutal Frankensteiner at 10:45. ** - Some sloppiness holds it back and gives it a ceiling but as noted I did appreciate the psychology involved and who doesn't love the Frankensteiner?

Coliseum bit again as Lord Alfred Hayes chats with Sensational Sherri about whos corner she'll be in for Maty/Michaels.

Video plays for the Michaels/Jannetty match, I liked the bit where Jannetty is spotted in the mirror by HBK, unfortunately for Michaels it was not a Warrior style illusion. It started with the Rockers break-up, then the reason Sherris is pulling a Mania V Liz is that Marty went to hit Shawn with a mirror but HBK pulled Sherri in the way and she took the hit.

Intercontinental Title - Shawn Michaels (c) Vs. Marty Jannetty
 HBK started with selling Henning would've been proud of but then started working over Jannetty's shoulder, I thought Marty sold the wrong one at first, Bobby points out why it's good to work the shoulder he also claims piledrivering Jannetty on the steps would be a good amateur move. Jannetty does the comeback that gets cut a short but does soon suplex HBK over the ropes to the outside, you don't see that often. Good nearfall happened after Marty hit a DDT. Ref gets KO'd and Sherri tries to hit Michaels with his shoe but he ducks and Jannetty gets the heel to the bonce, Superkick gets 3 @ 14:20 for Michaels, not sure it was yet quite Sweet. *** - Again I enjoyed the psychology in the match but I don't agree with the way it played out, doesn't someone trying to cheat then getting their comeuppance by losing sound something more for a heel than a face? Ending was an anti-climax but I enjoyed what came before it.

Lord Alfred Hayes and his Coliseum Video Crew catch up with Undertaker and Paul Bearer.

Bam Bam Bigelow Vs. Bossman
 These two could be good when they wanted to but I guess they didn't quite feel like it on this night, boring punch-kick match which BBB pretty much dominates, I was expecting a Bossman comeback and win but it ended via a Bigelow diving headbutt so we got basically an extended squash, lasted 10:10. *

We see Razor attacking Owen Hart.

WWF Title - Bret Hart (c) vs. Razor Ramon
 Okay before I get to the match itself, this one is flawed as Razor didn't seem like a title contender here as he's not long been in the WWF, due to the fact we have the Rumble I think Vince got away with this but it is akin to say Ken Shamrock Vs. Stone Cold on a 1999 PPV (Kens not a great example as he'd been there 2 years by then) or Dean Malenko Vs. HHH in 2000. Razor had a corking heel moment pre-match as he flicked his tooth pick at the kid Bret gave his shades to. The match again had psychology, a running theme tonight which is nice to see, from both guys as Bret worked the knee/leg and Razor worked the ribs of Hart, giving an abdominal stretch a reason to be used, I never thought i'd see that. Bret did some of his usual moves to spark a comeback. Bret avoided Razors Edge then soon after when both on the mat after a pinning predicament Bret managed to apply the Sharpshooter for the submission at 17:58. *** - Razor never seemed like winning but credit to both guys for having a decent match.

Macho is interviewed and he predicts he'll win.

Bobby Heenan introduces 'Narcissus' who is Lex Luger, as much as I like Bobby his OTT loving of Lex here bordered on wrestling parody almost.  The gimmick wouldn't do much for Lex and over the summer he'd be turned into an All-American hero to face the not japanese japanese heel monster Yokozuna at SummerSlam -  http://july-dec-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/summerslam-1993.html

Ramon says he never quit.

Finkel introduces Ceasar and Cleopatra pre-Rumble as a build to the Mania IX debacle.

Royal Rumble Match 
 This is the Rumble that started the winner goes to Mania tradition (bar 1999 where Vince didn't and 2016 where WWE Title was defended), there was pretty much nothing of note in this Rumble beyond Backlund being the ironman and lasting from the #2 spot to finishing third, and the Perfect/Flair stuff. Giant Gonzalez debuted and eliminated Undertaker, despite the fact Gonzalez wasn't in the match so if that counts then if Vince didn't want Austin to win in 99 why not send out entire roster to eliminate him? UT was 'revived' by Bearer and an urn, man that was embarrassing. Papa Shango appeared and lasted about a minute at best, thus he went away to the mountains where he trained to become a Supreme Fighting Machine and when that failed he turned to pimping. The ending is well known and not for good reasons as Macho tried to pin Yokozuna so he jsut pushed him over the top from the cover. Below I'll list the entrant order and in brackets who eliminated them. Rumble gets ** which is poor for  Rumble.
#1 Ric Flair (Mr. Perfect), #2 Bob Backlund (Yokozuna), #3 Papa Shango (Ric Flair), #4 Ted Dibiase (Undertaker), #5 Brian Knobbs (Ted Dibiase), #6 Virgil (The Berzerker), #7 Jerry Lawler (Mr. Perfect), #8 Max Moon (Jerry Lawler), #9 Tenryu (Undertaker), #10 Mr. Perfect (Dibiase, Lawler and Ware). #11 Skinner (Mr. Perfect), #12 Koko B. Ware (Ted Dibiase), #13 Samu (The Undertaker), #14 Berzerker (Undertaker), #15 Undertaker (Gonzalez - not an entrant), #16 Terry Taylor (Ted Dibiase), #17 Damian Demento (Carlos Colon), #18 IRS (Earthquake), #19 Tatanka (Yokozuna) #20 Jerry Sags (Owen Hart), #21 Typhoon (Earthquake), #22 Fatu (Bob Backlund), #23 Earthquake (Yokozuna), #24 Carlos Colon (Yokozuna), #25 Tito Santana (Yokozuna), #26 Rick Martel (Bob Backlund), #27 Yokozuna (n/a as he won), #28 Owen Hart (Yokozuna), #29 Repo Man (Randy Savage), #30 Randy Savage (Yokozuna).

12.5 / 25 - I quite enjoyed the under card, notably the IC Title and the WWF Title, though BBB/BB was poor, some say the Rumble PPV lives or dies on the Rumble itself and if that's your thinking then this PPV isn't for you on the other hand if you look at these PPVs as a whole then this is okay at best, I wouldn't avoid it ala Rumble 99 but don't expect to be blown away or anything.
Thumb in the middle from me.

King Of The Ring 2000

June 25th in Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 17,651
Buys: 475,000

Opening video is about how past winners went onto the WWF Championship - Bret had already held the WWF Title pre-93, Austin's speech may of got the ball rolling but HHH's win in 97 didn't have
any bearing on his Championship win in 99. The WWF had been on fire PPV wise but KOTR doesn't have the best history overall, which run will this end?

1/4 Final - Chris Benoit Vs. Rikishi
 'Kish is IC Champion, a belt he won from Benoit on the SMACKDOWN! prior then Chris attacked with a chair giving Rikishi an injured shoulder/arm complete with massive bruise. Samoan drop by 'Kish so Benoit bails then back in gets 2 off a german. Modified Standing Crossface but Rikishi doesn't quit. A regular Crossface is applied but Rikishi gets a rope break. Chris gets DQd due to a chairshot at 3:23, PM - Benoit does the Crossface and hits Diving Headbutt. * - Just 24 seconds less and this is UnR. (I don't rate matches 2:59 or less as I feel that is insufficient time to do anything of note)

Vinnie Mac says Linda won't make him lose his cool.

1/4 Final - Eddie Guerrero (w/ Chyna) Vs. Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus)
 Val has a rave version of his theme, trivia note this is the last PPV with long haired Venis .... I think. Val gets a corner beatdown but Eddie fires off a dropkick. Eddie hits a superplex, a superplex for me shouldn't be used as a move akin to scoop slam, hip toss etc. really it should end matches. Eddy applies a nice dragon sleeper/surfboard move almost snapping Val in half. Backslide gets Eduardo a 2 count. Val avoids Frog Splash but Eddie counters Money Shot by putting his knees up. Toprope hurricanrana Eddie then Chyna hits Val into a roll up for 2. Val qualifies for the semi-finals via a 3 count from a Fisherman's Suplex at 8:03. **1/2 - An okay match but for the second straight match for me the wrong guy goes through.

1/4 Final - Crash Holly Vs. Bull Buchanan
 Crash is your underdog for the year, he beat Albert via pin then Hardcore Holly via DQ to get here, Gerald Brisco beat him for the Hardcore Title after he hit him in the match V Hardcore. I seem to recognise Bull's music, apart from it being Bull's obviously. Bull looks like this guy who was on a show I think called How? on CITV. Bull dominates which tells you how interesting this is, Jerry Lawler cracks a joke about Wales but being Welsh I popped for the mention (Our recent run to the Euro Semi-Finals has given us a new found national pride as well). About three people chant boring as everyone else is silent. Crash gets 2 off a cradle ala Steamboat/Savage then Bull misses a Scissors Kick allowing Crash to get the 3 from a half nelson rollup at 3:50. * - Nothing interesting to it at all.

1/4 Final - Chris Jericho Vs. Kurt Angle

 Angle goes the cheap heat route by running down Boston sports teams. Belly-to-bell gets Kurt 2. Jericho gets two 2s off a missile dropkick and a Lionsault. Kurt uses the ropes to break a pin after Jericho does a backbreaker. Angle beats Jericho in the corner after getting 2 off a bridged german. Jericho avoids Angle Slam and applies the Walls Of Jericho but Stephanie McMahon distracts the ref. Jericho kisses Stephanie but gets Angle Slammed for the 3 count as Kurt advances to the semis at 9:49. ** - Disappointing for who it was, I think I prefer Eddie/Val but this is easily better than the other two Quarters Finals.

JR talks with Mick Foley who is at WWF NY.

Tag Titles - Edge/Christian Vs. Hardyz (w/ Lita) Vs. Test & Albert (w/ Trish) Vs. Too Cool (c)

 The 5 second pose is about a Red Sox/Mets game. Elimination rules apply also Scotty's Tag Belt is upside down. Not much noteworthy happens with T&A and Hardyz until Test boots Matt. Twist Of Fate to Test but Albert breaks the pin. Test Pump Handle Slams Matt but Jeff hits him with a Swanton for the 3 count thus eliminating T&A at 3:40. Scotty moonwalks into a tag by Christian. Matt gets a 2 on Christian then Edge is double suplexed. Lita hurricanranas Edge for 2. Matt avoids Unprettier and hits Twist Of Fate but Edge breaks the pin then Unprettier/killswitch eliminates the Hardyz at 7:54, Jerry's upset that Lita and Trish are gone. It's just come to me Bull's music reminded me fo Vader's WWF theme. Double headbutt gets 2 on Scotty, GMS gets Beantown clapping then comes in and kicks some boot-ay. Sitout powerbomb on Edge gets a 2 count but soon after Edge and Christian mock The Worm so Scott bulldogs them and Worms Edge, Hip Hop Drop lands on Edge but Christian hits GMS with a Tag Belt for the cheap Title win at 14:09. **1/2 - Not enough mehs in the world for the first part but Edge Christian/Too Cool stuff was okay so I'll bump it to **1/2. (May of been better as a staright up E&C/Too Cool match)

1/2 Final - Rikishi Vs. Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus)

 Three weeks earlier on SMACKDOWN! Rikishi knocked Val off the stage and splashed him so there is recent history here, which would be carried on to Fully Loaded which is my next review. Val is bounced off the ring steps, in-ring Kish hits a leg drop but Val manages an armbar takedown which makes sense given Rikishis arm. DDT by Val after some arm shots. Rikishi belly-to-bellys Val for .... 3?! Da-hayell at around 3:21. PM - Rikishi goes to Bonzai Drop Trish but Val saves her and attacks Kishi including ring steps to Kishi's shoulder. *

1/2 Final - Kurt Angle vs. Crash Holly

 I used to have a Crash figure but his arm stopped working, sad times. Angle's in control, JR and Jerry plug XFL, hmm whatever became of that? Crash gets kick, elbow and a backdrop, good heavens it's SJO .... Sustained Jobber Offence, missile dropkick gets Crash a 2 count but Angle one ups that with a 3 count after an Angle Slam at 3:56. * - Not enough time to be much of anything.

We get clips of Donald Trump front row at an MSG show, let me go on record saying I prefer US Apprentice to ours, well done Brandy. (From Front Row of MSG possibly to the Oval Office)

Hardcore Title - Evening Gown Match - Gerald Brisco Vs. Pat Patterson (c)

 The Stooges explode! Gerald won Hardcore Title off of Crash but Pat hit him with Champagne giving Gerald real pain *cymbal clash* (I totally robbed that from Milton Jones who had a load if them like that when I went to see him at Rhyl Pavillion). Gerald comes out to Real American and Pat has that generic stripper music. All i'll say is it's horrible, I hate it, Boston hates it, you hate it, my cats who weren't born till two years later hate it (One of which, Tabitha Rose, passed on 25/06/16, I miss you Bigs, since this her sister passed away 24 days later on the 19th of July, love you girls). Ends thanks to Crash winning the belt back due to 24/7 rule at 2:47 which under my new rules means it is UnR. (Just noticed 24/7 rule and 2:47 match time, that was more interesting than the match)

Dumpster/Tables Match - Dudleyz Vs. Road Dogg/X-Pac/Tori

 Dudleyz have to tableise the 3 DXers whilst DXers have to place Dudleyz in a Dumpster. I think it's fair to say DX had been vastly over shadowed at the time by the rise of the TLC three. Tori's name is sprayed on a table. They do regular tags which is stupid in a no rules environment. Even start between the tandems then Dudleyz hit Waaassssup headbutt on the three DXers, lets say that Dudleyz do non-PG things. DX are doing a Red Sox and heading for the exits early, gotta get my own cheap heat you see. Dudleyz are in the dumpster but as DX gets the ref the Dudz climb out of side doors. 'Oh Sh~~' says the Shakespearean that is X-Pac. Dudleyz have DX down and place two tables ringside as the ring steps are put in the ring, Road Dogg is powerbombed over the top through the Tables ringside. X-Pac is crotched up top and superplexed through a table leaving just Tori who hides in the Dumpster but DX use chairs to knock Dudleyz into the Dumpster and are declared the winners at 9:46. PM - DX don't know where Tori is then Dudleyz emerge with her out of the Dumpster then she is tableised after DX fail to save her. ** - This was okay but nothing stood out about it, this PPV seems to of been booked in Bizarro world. 

KOTR Final - Kurt Angle Vs. Rikishi 

 Kish gets punches in in the aisle way the na scoop slam in the ring. Ringside Angle whips Kishi into the steps. Back in Kish hits a running butt bump then does Stinkface. Angle Slam out of nowhere gets Kurt a 2 count, that may be the first kick out of the Angle Slam, nowadays there seems to be about three kick outs a match from that move. Kish gets 2 by sitting on Kurt but King Kurt is crowned via a belly-to-belly off the top rope for the 3 count at 5:56. The final gets six minutes! A nothing match to end a nothing tournament, amazingly this isn't even the worse tournament as 95/99 sank lower than this.

WWF Title - HHH(c)/Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon Vs. The Rock/Undertaker/Kane
 The story going in is whether the challengers will be able to co-exist, if either McMahon gets the W then HHH retains but if they lose the fall then HHH lose the belt. The second of Shane's three straight KOTR appearances, he won in 99, lost in 01 but how will he fare here? Kind of unfair that his two teammates are non-workers, oh and on HHH who has the McMahons, ka-pow! Kane lets Shane get a free shot, why is Kane here? He hadn't been on PPV since Mania and that was teaming w/ Kishi Vs. X-Pac/Road Dogg. Rock and Bikerman tag themselves in, let's be real here three wrestlers should massacre two non-wrestlers really. Rock breaks a pin after Shane is Chokeslammed, I think I hear boos. Kane breaks a pin after HHH is DDTd then when Rock tags in HHH tags Shane in. The Game and The Brahma Bull fight in the ring as the other four are fighting in the aisle. Pedigree gets 2 as Rock is being beaten down. This match has really slowed down and it wasn't exactly moving at a Savage/Steamboat in the first place. Kane dumps Taker into the ring steps then Chokeslams Rock as he goes for Peoples Elbow, HHH assumes Corporate Kane is back but he gets Tombstoned for 2, when did Kane tag in, oh that's right he didn't. Moment of the night as Taker Chokeslams Shane off the top through announce table, Vince goes for a Corporate Elbow but is Rock Bottomed for 3 at 17:53. *1/2 - I don't like it when a Champion loses his belt without losing it in three or four man matches let alone in a tag match, Rock regains the belt he lost a month ago which he'd only won the month prior to that. Nothing match where only one thing, the chokeslam, is notable. 

16 / 50 - Good heavens 9 points under .500. Thumbs down here, no disrespect to Val Venis who I do think is slightly under rated overall but when he's in the best match there's problems. I did once re-book this PPV and here it is -

- Have Benoit-Eddy-Jericho-Angle in the semis then have an Angle-Jericho final, where Stephanie could screw Jericho even more by costing him the final not the quarter final, I also wouldn't disagree with Benoit win due to him challenging for the WWF Title at the next PPV.

- Kurt going over an injured man seems pointless to me as it devalues his win, if you have an injured finalist then may as well have him go over in a fighting the odds story. 

- The tag title may of been better had it been a straight up tag match with Edge/Christian Vs. Too Cool.

- As much as I like X-Pac and Road Dogg they were almost dead weight by this point based on the advancement of the TLC three and shouldn't of gone over the Dudleyz here, I know Dudleyz had the last night (botch, I can here the You F***ed up chants coming from Philly, I meant to type laugh) on the night but it's the result itself that matters. 

- My thoughts on someone winning a belt without beating the Champion were noted earlier so drop the tag element and if you want the three challengers involved then boom fatal four way, although it wouldn't work from a psychology standpoint - three faces V one heel, I am sure it would surpass the tag match and if HHH doesn't want to lose the belt himself, I assume not as Vince losing the title didn't lead to a HHH/Vince feud or anything, then have Kane lose the fall if you must.

The PPV described above wouldn't be the best ever but I feel it would far surpass the one we did get.

*drops mic/computer saunters off*

WrestleMania 21

April 32rd, L.A, California
Attendance: 20,193
Buys: I saw 980K and 1,085,000.

 Ugh absolutely nothing on TV and Strictly isn't on for nearly 2 hours leaving me in a quandary, decided to review 'Mania 22 then realised it was upstairs in my cupboard and I can't be bothered sorting through the DVDs so 21 it is. We get the debut of a gimmick still going now, the reigns of the soon to be faces of RAW and SMACKDOWN! begin and we get an all-time Mania great.

Lilian sings America The Beautiful then we get the spoof movie clips Eugene as Forrest Gump etc. I must note by the entrance there's a sign saying 'Now Showing' then the match participants, I like that.

Eddie Guerrero Vs. Rey Mysterio
 They are the Tag Team Champions but Eddie was trying to prove he could beat Rey. Cole and Tazz handle SMACKDOWN! matches and JR/King handle RAW matches. Eddie's last Mania match. Rey has entrance attire adorned with the Mexico and US flags. Awkward knockdown by Rey but then Eddie is in control with an armbar out of an armdrag. Rey is slingshotted over the top. Eddie has Rey down on the mat as it's been a mat style match so far but now Rey is knocked ringside allowing Eddie to hit a crossbody. Slow deliberate style by Eddie but it's not been engrossing so far, he does lock in a nice surfboard like submission but has to break it as he almost pins himself. Rey sends Eddie ringside with an armdrag then follows up with a nice corkscrew plancha, it was like WCW Rey was back for a moment there. Rey builds momentum but is stopped by Eddie who goes for three amigos but Rey stops him on the second. Rey has had to sort his mask out a few times, Rey has Eddie in position for 619 but is hit by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2 and a 'oooooooooo' from the audience. Frog Splash misses and soon Rey hits 619 but Eddie counters the senton/hurricanrana part with a Powerbomb for a good nearfall. Hurricanrana out of nowhere gets Rey the 3 count, that was out of nowhere. (12:27) - *** - The first part was boring at times but it did have its moments, every Rey match post HH 1997 was expected to be the same quality as that one, though it is slightly over rated to me, but I think Rey/Eddie at HH was more a one off as they never got near that match again.

WWE Champion JBL and Orlando Jordan bump into WHC HHH and Flair backstage.

MITB - Jericho Vs. Benoit Vs. Christian Vs. S.Benjamin Vs. Edge Vs. Kane 
 Benjamin is IC Champion. Ladders on the set go aflame when Kane enters, that was good. The other five attack Kanw in the aisle but he fights them off. Benjamin and Benoit suplex him on the outside. Christian jumps onto Edge, Benoit, Jericho at ringside then Benjamin tops that by somersault planchaing(?) onto all bar Kane who himself then jumps onto them all. Kane uses a ladder as a weapon but Jericho stops him with a missile dropkick, he himself now makes use of ladder as a weapon until Benoit germans him, Kane tries to Chokeslam Benoit but it's countered with a Crossface which is then applied to Edge but Kane breaks it with a ladder and shuts the ladder on Benoit's arm multiple times. Edge is flapjacked into a ladder as Benjamin avoids a Spear, there's  'Shelton' chant. Everyone bar Kane is fighting up on multiple ladders, nice touch by Benoit as he is selling the arm that Kane attacked earlier, that is one of the few times, if not only, that i've seen selling in a MITB match. Edge is brought back to ring level via a T-Bone from Benjamin. Jericho is up a ladder which has one resting on it and Benjamin runs up the resting ladder and clotheslines Jericho down, a birds eye shows Christian holding the ladder for Jericho. Kane goes to Chokeslam Benjamin to outside but his foot gets stuck in the rope leaving Benjamin dangling. Christian almost wins with Tomkos help, akin to Rhyno's help at 17 but Kane dumps him off the ladder onto Tomko at ringside. Benoit is STILL selling the arm what a trooper, he hits a Diving Headbutt off a ladder onto Kane, which reopens stitches above his eye. Benoit is inches from the briefcase but Edge hits him with a chair and wins the match to boos. (16:18ish - Stopwatch issues) **** - I enjoyed this more than I have the newer MITB matches as now some bits are almost expected which takes away the spontaneity of the match, the fact there's only six entrants helped as well as it wasn't overcrowded. Benoit selling his arm/shoulder throughout was nice to see as well. This would lead to Edges WWE Title win at NYR which was a real a shot in the WWE arm.

Eugene is here now, his music kicks in after he's come out he talks about Mania III and midgets then is interrupted by Mohammed Hassan and Daivari. Hassan 'Do You Know Why I'm Angry?' Eugene: 'You Don't Like Midgets' Hassan says LA is prejudice and he's annoyed he's been excluded from Mania, Daivari shouts in arabic which gets boos. Hassan puts Eugene in the camel clutch but Eugene gets saved by Hulk Hogan to  HUGE pop! .... oh sorry WWE Eugene is saved by #### #####. The heels get actual heat, as opposed to cheap, by attacking Hogan as he enters the ring but he soon fights them of and does his posing routine and unveils the biggest US Flag i've ever seen. Hogan fights off foreign heel and unveils US Flag, it's like the '90s never happened, though I did love this.

Undertaker Vs. Randy Orton

 After Orton's bungled 2004 face turn he's been turned again to face Taker at Mania, this did fit in with his old Legend Killer shtick, man that face turn ground Orton to halt. Deadman moves to the ring on a platform which is hidden in the smoke, I hoped he was on a segway but alas it was not to be, the ring is surrounded by Druids. Oh man I forgot about Orton's corking old theme. Orton ducks Takers lunge and slaps him. Orton starts better but is then decked by UT who manages to avoid an early RKO by dumping Orton over the top. Guillotine leg drop connects then Old School, or as it's 2005 Mid-School, connects but UT misses a corner boot and Orton dropkicks him into the barricade. UT hits some punches but Orton gets him down with a clothesline. Snake eyes but Orton avoids big boot with an elbow. Something is bungled there as Orton seems to clothesline Taker who bangs into him sending Orton down. UT locks in Dragon Sleeper, wasn't that known as Taker Care Of Business? Which depending on my mood is either the best or worst move name ever. Orton breaks it with a DDT for 2 then locks in the heel Orton specialty the chinlock which is followed by a .... sleeper but thankfully UT suplexes out of it. Corner punches lead to Last Ride attempt but surprisingly Orton 

avoids it, I was about to complain about obviousness as well, UT avoids RKO which leads to a ref bump. 'Cowboy' Bob Orton hits UT with his cast but it only gets 2 to a pop. He's Takering Up! Big boot avoids another cast shot but a Chokeslam is countered with an RKO for a cracking nearfall, that was a nice sequence. Orton does cut throat and goes for a Tombstone but Taker counters it to one of his own for the 3 count, I honestly thought Deadman was going to kick out there. (14:11) ***1/2 - It was okay to start but really kicked up a gear on the home stretch and I really did enjoy that part of it. It's funny watching Mania matches post 30 as the ones from say WM 18 were accepted almost as foregone conclusions as they were just there to rack up the streak, don't get me wrong some were entertaining still though, but after Brock's win UT's wins seem almost pointless in their existence and I feel that Orton should've got the win here though obviously at the time WWE planned to keep the streak intact so I understand him not winning but 20/20 and all that.

Women's Title - Trish Stratus (c) Vs. Christy Hemme (w/ Lita)

 Christy did playboy but Trish said she's no champion, it was stated on the cover, Trish attacked her and Christy said I want a match at Mania and here we are, Christy said Lita has been training her which is a hilarious thought. Trish dodges Christy then kicks her ringside where she throws her into the steps. Trish mocks Christy but she responds by low blowing Trish but soon Trish is on top again and mocks Lita, roll up gets Christy 2 then Trish hits a kind of spear. Lita and Trish exchange words allowing Christy to get 2 off a school boy. Inverted Twist Of Fate gets the challenger another 2 count. Chick Kick out of nowhere gets Trish the 3 count. (4:43-ish) *1/2 - Kind of rough and not very compelling. Christy wasn't ready for a show like Mania.

Shawn Michaels Vs. Kurt Angle

 (I have already reviewed this match as part of a Best Of Mania I was working on so shall paste that) HBK eliminated Angle from Rumble but he returned and dumped out Michaels he also claims that when he won gold at 96 Olympics all people spoke about was HBK zip wiring at Mania. Slap by Michaels then they trade nice mat wrestling which i'd give the edge to Angle. HBK applies a headlock and not even a suplex breaks it, 'You Screwed Bret' chant, Vince called for the bell and HHH came up with the plan so save them chants for the HHH/Batista match LA. Dueling 'Let's Go ____' chants. Hip toss into a short arm scissors by Michaels after Angle breaks out of a waist lock. Backslide gets HBK 2 then he gets Kurt down with a side headlock as he continues to outwrestle Angle. HBK kicks free from an Ankle Lock and clothesline Kurt to the outside but there Angle rams HBK into the ringpost Angle Slam,style which is smart given his back history. Back in and Angle is taking control of the match getting 2s off a suplex and a belly-to-belly. Punches are traded until Angle utilises a clothesline after he's slapped, that'll teach HBK for breaking the rules of a punch off. Michaels goes for his trademark elbow drop after knocking Kurt off the top but it misses but Kurt can't hit an Angle Slam as HBK arm drags him. HBK seems to slip when he hits a crossbody to the outside. Kurt tries to hit a german off the apron, which would be a sick move, but is lowblowed. Shawn does a springboard crossbody but the table doesn't break, I imagine things like that must be disheartening to wrestlers. Back in HBK does the kip up, forearm bit then does connect with the elbow and is tuning up the band but Kurt blocks SCM with an Ankle Lock. Angle Slam is again avoided but he does finally hit one but it only gets a 2 count. Angle misses a moonsault giving HBK a breather as he heads up top but Kurt does a top rope Angle Slam for a cracking near fall. Kurt is doing some trash talking but BOOM! SCM connects and Angle is out cold, Michaels struggles to his feet but Angle awakens like a horror film villain and applies the Ankle Lock, HBK tries to break it but when Angle grapevines it HBK has to tap. (27:25) ***** - After watching this again it may be my fave Mania match. Just get the PPV and sit back and admire the match. I do like when a big name taps as it makes results seemingly mean more. They would meet again at Vengence in a I want my win back match and an Iron Man on the Homecoming RAW, which I recently traded in, but neither was as good as this match was. Fantastic.

Come down segment after that match is Pipers Pit involving Roddy Piper, Stone Cold and Carlito, guess who was the fall guy.  The whole thing felt rather flat unfortunately.

Sumo Match - Akebono Vs. Big Show

 I have a rule in that matches under three minutes or that aren't wrestling matches, Kat/Terri at SummerSlam 2000 for example, are UnRateable, this falls in the UNR category via the latter rule so I shan't be giving *'s out here. Akebono won.

WWE Championship - JBL (c) Vs. John Cena

 JBL had been Champion since Great American Bash, which tells you how bad/high WWE creative was at the time, you could say WWE gave JBL the title and had planned ahead to Mania to face Cena but I highly doubt that. The intro video doesn't say how Cena earned the Title Shot so either due to the finish of the 2005 Rumble he got the other title shot or he won a tourney. Cena is in his somehow seemingly cool at the time Marky Mark phase, I was a fan as I connected with that persona which tells you all you  need to know about the identity crisis 15 year old me had. Champion out first with a police escort. They did a bit in the run in to Mania where Cena couldn't touch JBL or he'd lose his shot so for me he should brawl from the off but they didn't. JBL has the advantage to start after a shoulder block, he hits a couple of swinging neckbreakers for 2, Cena looks almost human like here compared to today. Cena blocks a corner charge but JBL responds with a spine buster and hits another neckbreaker for 2, we have had a slow methodical if plodding pace so far, it's like a lot less interesting Brock/Cena SS 2014. JBL applies a sleeper which Cena breaks with a suplex. Cena hits a couple of right hands but JBL throws him ringside and hits another neckbreaker, Cole makes a great point in that he says JBL may be setting up for the Clothesline From Hell. Superplex to the challenger has both men down. JBL goes up top but Cena powerslams him out of the air. Cena's fighting back with punches, a backdrop and shoulder tackle then a hip toss, which seemed slightly dodgy, 5 Knuckle Shuffle connects then he pumps up his reeboks and dodges a Clothesline From Hell and hits FU/AA for the WWE Title. (11:41-ish) ** - Disappointing as it felt like it should've been a more momentous occasion given the length and dislike of JBL's reign but the match wasn't set out right for me as instead of an even match where Cena outlasts the Champion we got a match where Cena is beaten down and scores an almost fluke win, I didn't expect that much but I did want more than this. 

Highlights of the HoF inductions then they appear on the stage as is customary unless you're Bret Hart..

World Heavyweight Title - Triple-H (w/ Ric Flair) Vs. Batista

 The lead up to this with the implosion of Evolution was A-One booking by WWE from the pacing to the little moments - HHH not stopping Batista getting eliminated in EC and another time when HHH sees Batista admiring the WHC after Batista raises his hand it was one of the best booked turns ever for me, it makes the bungle Orton turn almost forgivable .... almost. Batista won the Rumble and decided to stay on RAW and challenge for the WHC held by his stable mate HHH. Again the Champion enters first and Motorhead play him to the ring live. Batista gets HHH down with a shoulder block then HHH returns the favour but Batista hits a sloppy powerslam out of an early Pedigree attempt. HHH hits a Harley Race knee which sends The Animal ringside, where Naitch causes a distraction allowing HHH to bounce Batista off the ring steps and now Naitch chokes Batista as ref is distracted, Woooo. Hunter has been on top since he hit the Harley Race knee as he's wearing the challenger down with a slow, methodical style. Crowd aren't silent but they aren't giving this a main event feel. Batista's comeback is cut short by a spinebuster which gets HHH three 2s as he went for multiple pin attempts. Pedigree is again avoided but again Batista's comeback is cut short.  Batista hits an airborne HHH but again the comeback is cut off by the Champion. Pedigree on the ring steps is countered and HHH is slingshotted into the ringpost and now he's busted open allowing Batista to get some sustained offence. Flair tries to cheapshot Batista but gets dropped then Chioda takes a wicked ref bump when he stops HHH using a chair. Flair sacrifices himself to give HHH the Title which he clocks Batista with for a 2 count, fans liked Batista survivng that. Spinebuster to HHH and the Batista Bomb is set up but HHH hits a low blow to avoid it. Pedigree is again avoided as Batista breaks HHHs grip and does a mocve akin to Finlays Celtic Cross, the ropes are shook the Thumbs are down and Batista Bomb lands for the 3 count at 21:34. **1/2 - Torn between 2 and 2.5 but I'll give it the benefit. It was a bit boring for the most part but did pick up as it neared the end, the crowd and feel of it had a Orton/HHH Mania 25 feel for the most part, the match didn't befit the fantastic build up to it, the HIAC match they had at Vengeance a few months later is better than this.

21 / 35 - Firstly I do give it a Thumbs Up but it doesn't have a Mania feel to it really, kind of funny that the Mania subtitled: Goes Hollywood would lack the glitz of WrestleMania but it does deliver at times in the ring - HBK/Angle is a ***** affair and easily one of the best matches to have happened at a Mania, Orton/UT - MITB - are both very good at times, Eddy/Rey - WWE Title and WHC are disappointing for varying reasons but overall thumbs up as stated, I think this would be more fondly remembered if it was any PPV not named WrestleMania. The historical significance should be noted though as it was the birth of the MITB and the start of Batista and Cena's rise to the main event level as these tow would be the faces of RAW and SMACKDOWN! 

The Extras on the DVD have the Hollywood Parodies and a gag reel and lord knows I love a gag reel. 

WrestleMania 16

April 2nd, 2000 from Anaheim, California

Attendance: 19.776

Buys: 824,000

 Of the WrestleManias that took place during the WWF explosion 99 was woeful and 2001 is either overrated or a Top 5 Mania depending on my mood so how will this stand up? Also as i'm typing this I'm listening to Off The Wall which is a cracking album, so good I could see Prince doing it, I only got it for Shes Out Of My Life but recently played it through and was astonished, wait what am I doing again oh yeah the 16th installment of Mania where the unofficial TLC takes place and for the first time ever Mania has a 4-Way main event, actually the only other 4-Way top liner I can think of prior to this one is IYH 13: Final Four and Capital Carnage but does a UK PPV count in WWF/E canon?

Lilian Garcia sings us in then the opening video focuses more on McMahons than the actual wrestlers they represent. (Be more surprising if it was the other way around to be honest)

Godfather/D'Lo Brown (w/ Ice-T) Vs. Bossman/Buchanan
 2 of these never did Mania again, unsure of Bull as he may of been in RTC match at 17 or was it Stevie/Good/Val? This would be strictly pre-show territory today or not even booked at all (I'd go for the latter as doubt these guys bar maybe D'Lo would be hired these days). From Mr. T to Ice though I prefer A Cup Of, still got it, yep I've started watching Happy Days recently (But not now so can't remember this reference but I think it was something Ralph would say). JR says Bossman met Bull in Atlanta, so that's where he went after Truth Commission. D'Lo does some dodging then heel kicks bull. Splash then a leg drop as D'Lo/Godfather where apparently an urban Hardyz. Bull impresses with his agility for a man his size by leaping to the top and clotheslines D'Lo who is then Scissor Kicked for 2 as he's been isolated. Bearhug is applied I believe Mr. Kayfabe Double A called that the most boring move ever, got to agree with The Enforcer there. Bull hits a Scissor Kick off the top for 3, for some reason I neglected to note who took the fall. ** - Sound tag strategy but boring when used by these guys, average at best.

Tim White explains the Hardcore Rules to the participants on HeAt, there's that many it resembles an NFL huddle.

Hardcore Free For All - Hardcore Title
 Goes for 15mins and whoever has the belt at the end of that time is the winner, Tazz, Viscera, Joey Abs, Rodney, Pete Gas, Hardcore Holly, TAKA, Funaki, Mosh, Thrasher, Faarooq, Bradshaw and Crash Holly (c) are in this, I nearly spat my coffee out when I realised Headbangers made a PPV in 2000 I'd of bet $1,000,000 that they didn't (Being british I wouldn't lose that much these days as a cool 1 mil in $ is about £6.78 post Brexit). Most of these never made another Mania appearance and Crash's one was only running in after Spike in 2002 unsure on Hardcore and Viscera as they may of been in 23s ECW tag match but don't think they were. I'm typing this up out of my review book and unfortunately at that time I declined to review the action as it's just fighting around ringside and backstage but I did write the order of the title changes so here goes - Viscera - Funaki - Rodney - Joey Abs - Thrasher - (a bloody) Pete Gas - Tazz - Crash, then the controversial ending as you see Hardcore apparently wasn't meant to get 3 but Tim White counted 3. Someone screwed up. Don't know what to give it really so **. 9 never made a Mania appearance again, 10 if you base it on matches as stated Crash does a run-in at 18. I base it on matches so 10 as i'm not counting X-Pac either.

We see WWF Axxess and I think this is the first Axxess as 99 had the Rage Party. Of note HBK, Austin and Taker were at Axxess but not Mania itself.

Blackman tells Al Snow not to do something stupid. (Should of told him to wrestle a good match on the night instead)

Head Cheese (w/ Chester McCheeserton) Vs. T&A (w/ Trish)
 Head Cheese Vs. T&A  were these names done by sophomores? (Did Vince Russo leave potential tag names around Titan Towers in 99 that someone stumbled upon?) It's amazing how much Trish improved through the 2000s I would lean towards giving her 'Most Improved' of the 00s award but someone on Twitter mentioned Angle which is a good shout. Two of these never did Mania again. JRs headsets gone out, wish i'd though of that .... still got it (Don Most getting more promotion than the wrestling man!). Al Snow is double teamed but he does soon get 2 on Albert off an enziguri. Good lord Steve Blackman did a diving headbutt I can picture security backstage holding Benoit back. Crowds dead. JR uses his this match sucks code of 'Bowling Shoe Ugly' what has he got against bowling shoes I demand their union sue him. Head Cheese Decapitation gets 2 on Test. An elbow from the top gets Test 3 on Blackman. Post match - Al and Steve attack Chester. *1/2 - Boring and honestly *1/2 seems generous.

Kat is naked backstage but we get some strategically placed items.

Triangle Ladder Match - Dudleyz (c) Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. Hardyz
 Triangle is the name used as TLC was born for the SummerSlam encounter. Nowadays ladder matches a lot of time feature spots pretty cliched now but this is what started it all so things may seem common place here but this is where they first happened like how Benoit/Sullivan at GAB 96 was pretty groundbreaking, at least for WCW/WWF, but over time got thrown in with the matches that followed when it was really the birth point. Not only did all of these appear at Mania again they had the same match a year later. I have noted the moves on show and feel it should be done it bullet point form if not for the space it would take up. Jeff does a 450' but hits a ladder as Bubba moves. Edge rides a ladder onto a sandwiched Matt. Bubba does the ladder spin bit. Christian leaps off a ladder onto Matt and Bubba who are ringside. Edge Spears Jeff off a ladder, a year later they'd one up themselves as Edge Speared Jeff from the heavens at 17. Christian is Bubba Cuttered off a ladder. Hardyz hit their splash/leg drop onto Bubba but do it off of ladders. D-Von is superplexed off a ladder by E&C. All six are on ladders now as Jeff and Christian are pushed over the top rope, i'd hate to do that. Bubba and Michael Clark Duncan, RIP, exchange words at ringside. Dudleyz place
a table across two ladders, that becomes important later. D-Von goes to headbutt Jeff through a table but he moves but Bubba makes amends by powerbombing Matt off the SAT and through a table. Bubba sets a huge ladder in the aisle but Christian lays him out on a table and Jeff kind of Swantons Bubba through it, it was 5% on Bubba 95% onto the floor, I think that's the one where backstage clip reveals he hurt himself on it. Matt and Christian are on the table platform the Dudleyz made earlier, that's got a ring of Blue Peter to it, and Matt is flipped off it through a table by Edge who along with Christian pulls down the Tag Titles. **** - This and the TLC I and II were **** affairs but I do have to ask was it worth it when you consider the problems most suffer now from these type of matches almost feel guilty for liking it. This blew my mind when I saw it then I recovered and it got re-blown when I saw the SummerSlam re-match which incidentally is my fave of the trilogy involving these tandems. (SummerSlam - WM 17 - WM 16)

Special Ref/ Val Venis - The Kat Vs. Terri Runnels
 Basically a two women battle royal as first to throw opponent out wins. A buffer match for fans to get their jaws back in place and me to have my cereal as I don't review stuff like this. Terri won.

Advert for WM 17 plays then we see Eddy, Dean and Perry converse as do Chyna and Too Cool.

Radicalz Vs. Too Cool/Chyna
 Fair to say Benoit was earmarked for success already over the other three, you know when you buy something and you get something free with it that you generally just toss aside well that's how I think WWF felt about Saturn and to an extent Malenko when they got Benoit and Guerrero from WCW. Too Cool are proof that Vince still had that Midas touch in 2000 as they didn't amount to much in 1998 when they were funnily enough called Too Much, 3 of these appeared at a subsequent Mania but Perry gets the Crash Holly treatment as he was only Eddies corner man at X7 though his hat from then holds a special place in my heart. Sexay and Chyna suplex Dean. Eddie cheapshots Chyna but Sexay suplexes him to outside. Double Worm to Perry and Dean. Scotty superplexes as Eddie as Dean wonders of how to counter such a maneuver, see Backlash 2000 for the answer and cause that PPV is brilliant. Chyna goes all Great Muta. Testicular Claw, which is mive that finished Mankind at No Mercy 1999 and also move 539 of Deans 1000. Sleeper Style DDT gets Chyna 3 on Eddie, as stated earlier this is being typed from a review already penned so I can't remember how the hell a Sleeper DDT works, unless I genuinely misnamed it. **1/2 - It was one of them matches which isn't great but by no means bad, good filler if you will.

Shane bigs up Big Show.

IC/Euro - Chris Benoit Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Kurt Angle (c and c)
 Kurt holds both belts and the first fall is for the IC Title and second is for the European Title. All three made Mania appearances again well 18-20 had at least one of these in the main event. We see Angle attack Bob backlund on HeAt as he's the reason both belts are being defended. Benoit stops Jericho hitting his springboard dropkick. Angle flapjacks Y2J onto the ring steps but he responds in the ring with a double underhook backbreaker. They take turns breaking pins up. Jericho gets 2 on Angle off a bulldog. Benoit wins the IC Title with a Diving Headbutt and I love it as he straight away goes for the pin again to try and claim the European strap but Angle manages to break that one up. I thought we were getting their take on the Tower Of Doom spot as a german and belly-to-back off the top was on the cards but alas no. Benoit breaks up the Walls on Angle. Jericho reverts to his Dubya-Cee-Dubya days with a double powerbomb on Angle. Benoit hits rolling germans on Jericho and bridges the third one but it only gets a 2 count. Ref Bump as Jericho forearms Tim White who doesn't then see Jericho tapping to the Crossface, Jericho recovers and applies the Walls but Angle hits him with a Title. Benoit misses a Diving Headbutt and Jericho Lionsaults a wounded Benoit for the 3 count and the European Title. Angle is protected as he loses both belts but neither fall and Benoit is shown some respect as he had both titles won when he made Jericho tap but the ref was down. *** Okay triple threat, not fantastic or ground breaking but certainly not bad either. Was it as good as it could've been? I'm not sure. In the extras the three of them provide commentary on the match separately with Kevin Kelly. Nice protection of Angle as well as he loses both belts but no falls, I think Jericho lost his the next night on RAW when Chyna helped Eddie, if not on the following RAW it certainly happened prior to Backlash.

Vince McMahon says tonight he'll make it right, hmmm foreshadowing are we Vinnie?, then HHH is angry in his locker room but being around Stephanie would probably make Buddists angry.

X-Pac/Road Dogg (w/ Tori) Vs. Rikishi/Kane (w/ Paul Bearer)
 X-Pac and Kane had been rivals since the break up of their team in late 1999 but how Rikishi fits in this I can't remember. Kane appeared at subsequent Manias whilst the others did not (Either I wrote this ages ago or forgot about Mania 30 but Road Dogg wrestled there). Kane grabs Tori but X-Pac makes the save. Stink Face to Road Dogg. DX leave but are caught in the aisle. Bronco Buster to Rikishi. Flapjack into a Diamond Cutter lays out X-Pac and Rikishi busts out a WrestleMania roll to tag in Kane. X-Pac avoids a Stink Face but Tori doesn't and Kane pins X-Pac after a Tombstone. Must note I met Rikishi at Wales Comic Con in 2014 and will meet X-Pac if I go this November. Post match a San Diego Chicken runs down, JR says it's Pete Rose, it dances with Too Cool and Rikishi as Kane and Paul Bearer look on then Pete Rose runs down with a ball bat but is Chokeslammed  and Stink Faced as this drew a line under both of Kane's rivalries with X-Pac and Pete Rose. Kane wouldn't appear on PPV again until the WWF Title 6-Man tag at KOTR 2000. ** - Meh.

Rock is interviewed by Kevin Kelly.

WWF Title - Triple-H (c) (w/ Stephanie) Vs. The Rock (w/ Vince) Vs. Big Show (w/ Shane) Vs. Mick Foley (w/ Linda)
 Rock won the Rumble on a controversial finish then Big Show won the WM Title Shot off Rock at No Way Out thanks to Shane then it got made into a triple threat and then Linda appeared on RAW and put Mick Foley, who was retired by HHH at No Way Out into the main event so we could have all McMahons involved. The build up made it seem like the four wrestlers were the cornermen, not the last time Stephanie would overshadow a Mania main event. I love HHHs My Time theme, Big Show goes through his power repertoire early as he is on top. Foley stops HHH getting Chokeslammed then all three team up on Big Show, weird seeing Rock and HHH team up. Foley uses a chair on Show then Rock Rock Bottoms Show eliminating him from the match already. HHH tries to form an alliance with Foley then with Rock but it backfires as Rock and Sock beat on Hunter. Foley gets the Barbed Wire 2-by-4 but HHH disarms him and uses it on him. Mick fires back with a Double Arm DDT and now Sockos here, Mandible Claw leaves HHH easy prey for a title shot. Peoples Elbow is signalled but Mandible Claw is applied. Double Arm DDT on Rock gets a 2 count. Foley and HHH team up on Rock but can't put him away, Rock is laid on the announce table as Mick comes off the middle rope for an elbow drop but misjudges it and bounces off the announce table as he came up short, I had to pause the DVD as I had tears from laughing though being a Foley fan I did feel bad, HHH elbows Rock through the table himself. Foley is Pedigreed but it only gets 2, good near fall there, HHH swings a chair like a ball bat then kind of Pedigrees Foley on a chair and Mick Foley is gone leaving it Rock Vs. HHH, nice pop as Foley leaves he then sees HHH on the titantron so goes back and hits him with the Barbed Wire 2-by-4. Rock has the ring steps but HHH blocks it with a chair, like a lethal Rock-Paper-Scissors or Roshambo. Rock is piledrivered onto the ring steps, bit of a quick recovery from that as soon a Rock Bottom and a Pedigree are avoided. After some fighting in the crowd then Vince attacks HHH but Shane attacks Vince which cuts him. Back to Rock/HHH now. Vince swerves and hits Rock with a chair then does it again and HHH pins Rock to retain the title, the first heel to do so. Rock comes back to cut through the McMahons, big pop for Rock Bottom to Stephanie then he Peoples Elbows her, I assume this was to hope fans forget the fact HHH retained. *** - For me the match dipped after Foley's elimination as the crowd fighting felt unnecessary and the Vince, Shane stuff brought the match to a stand still and it did drag towards the end. Not bad but disappointing and the result ends a subpar Mania on a low, you can justify it by mentioning the following PPV Backlash where Rock won the title and I believe got a good buyrate but that doesn't effect this match itself. 

20 / 40 - The PPV was subpar so .500 may seem okay but 10 of the *s came from three matches on a eight match card which says how bad the rest was. I would give this a thumbs down as the main event and triple threat are good but not must see and the Triangle Match while good aswell is overshadowed by it's predecessors so thumbs down here from me. I'd recommend watching the PPV that follows this as there Rock wins the WWF Title, Tag Title match is good and Dean drags Scotty II Hotty to a near classic. 21 of these never wrestled at Mania again.
Thumbs down.