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.

WrestleMania 31

- My 360 has decided to stop reading Madden 13 and as it's 2am TV is horrendous and TruTV aren't airing Conan, at all this week it seems and I only started watching it wednesday it's Devil's Dinner Party all over again. I got this last monday and have already watched around half of it however I have been ill all week so this is the first clear headed review also my first in a while.

 LL Cool J, who I assume is culturally relevant again, talks us through Mania moments of past in the opening video.

IC Title - Ladder Match - Wade Barrett (c) Vs. Ambrose Vs. Bryan Vs. Ziggler Vs. Stardust Vs. Harper Vs. R-Truth
 It'd be nice to think WWE had created a 7-Way feud revolving around Wade and the IC Title, say he cheated to beat the 6 others in one-on-ones over the past month or two but I think it's a case of let's throw a ladder match in there and make it the IC Title, yeah yeah that saves us booking something meaningful good job boys. Stardust looks like Mister Sinister. Asai butt bump by Stardust then some others get dumped or jump over the top rope and Ambrose elbow drops off a ladder onto them. Bryan dropkicks Stardust into a ladder but Harper then hits him with it. Ziggler superkicks Bryan from San Fran to San Juan. Something new as Wade breaks off a rung and hits Stardust with it. Now we get something done in seemingly every multi-man ladder match the put a ladder over head and twirl spot but R-Truth ends it with a Scissor Kick on Harper. We get a Holy Shit chant and no doubt each other will pat themselves on the back due to that as Wade superplexes Stardust off a ladder. Harper powerbombs Ambrose over the top through a ladder. Wade Bullhammers various people. Bryan and Ziggler exchange headbutts atop the ladder then Bryan wins the IC Title. **1/2 - Don't much care for spot fests especially the ones of the present day where spots are generally rehashed from older matches I mean how many times have people gone through ladders now? Didn't it start at least 8 years ago w/ Jeff and Edge. I like psychology in my matches and they are, understandably, non-existent in ladder matches. (Man Flu has left me sofa-ridden the past few days and I have rewatched this PPV and **1/2 seems a tad harsh, I think my dislike of Bryan, due to fans, played a part in this rating and that's unprofessional even for an amateur when the pain in my head subsides I'll give this a proper look back)

Randy Orton Vs. Seth Rollins (w/ J & J Security - Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
 Rollins is current MITB holder. Video depicts Rollins as similar to Orton from his Evolution days, though I doubt he's as much as a headache for management as Orton was. Dropkick right to Rollins mush but he avoids an RKO by going ringside. Double Draping DDT wipes out J & J. Cole says it's 16:20 so is it 00:20 UK time? Rollins may of watched TNA pre-match as he does Mic-Check. Orton is fighting back, turns a Curb Stomp into a powerslam. Rollins avoids DDT and sends Orton ringside where he asai moonsaults but almost does a Shawn Michaels as his back hits the table hard, the announcers make a note of it. Seth Rollins rolls through a crossbody for 2 but is soon hit with a Draping DDT. RKO gets 2 then J & J eat RKOs allowing Seth to hit Curb Stomp for a 2 of his own. Nice finish as Curb Stomp is countered with an RKO. *** - Technically sound and proficient if unspectacular overall, like the SA Spurs, I wasn't drawn in to it as much as i'd of liked to of been despite the beautiful finish. (Love having Orton go over though given what happens later as it makes a ready made challenger)

Sting Vs. HHH
 Don't get me wrong I understand how big Sting being on a WWE card, no less WrestleMania, is as I was a fan during the WCW days albeit the latter ones (I feel I should explain why I was a fan of latter day WCW given its rep, Channel 5 showed it so I watched it, I think it was on a friday night, I used to buy figures from Brewsters, I really liked Crowbar if  Iremember rightly) but not until watching the pre-match video did it really hit me just how big this is, though some say Sting is the last big WCWer to appear for WWE I counter that with Disco Inferno ain't appeared yet (I think anyway). Now I have already watched this match so let me state here that I hate the commentary throughout this one as we get constant WCW digs in, ignoring the fact that WCW had a spell of being dominant over the WWF but what really irks me is that JBL bangs on so much you'd think he himself helped put WCW out of business even though in reality nobody paid to see The Acolytes kind of like if Adam Morrison took credit for the 2 NBA Titles Lakers won during his tenure as a Laker. The crowd here may be bigger than all of the people who saw Sting in TNA combined, HHH has a Terminator style entrance and now I want to watch Judgment Day. Kind of fitting Charles Robinson is the ref (As he was a WCWer). Sting throws his first dropkick since around 1995 earning a 'you still got it' chant which is kind of like Ali coming back doing a shuffle and earning a YSGI chant. Sting no sells a facebuster as HHH has memories of WM 12 then he goes ringside to avoid a Deathlock. Sting misses a Stinger Splash at ringside then soon HHH gets a 2 after a knee drop following a vertical suplex, another 2 follows after a spinebuster. Scorpion Deathlock is applied and this brings out DX, minus one prominent member .... Chyna, oh and that Shawn guy, but Sting fights them off then avoids Pedigree which sends HHH ringside and Sting dives onto DX. Pedigree only gets a 2 count, HHH gets his sledgehammer but nWo are here (Everytime I watch this, multiple times recently as I'm to ill to change the disc .... and lazy, I smile when nWo come out, a true moment though would've been nWo music hits and Adams, Norton and Vincent come out .... and then the main three), I kind of want X-Pac to morph into Syxx, Scorpion Death Drop gets 2, that should've been the finish for me. Deathlock is reapplied as Hogan removes the Sledgehammer from the ring. HBK takes a break from killing animals to Sweet Chin Music Sting, maybe he heard the word Scorpion and agreed to show (Anti-Hunter mode engage!). Billy Gunn gives HHH the Sledgehammer but Scott Hall hands Sting his Ballbat which he uses to break the Sledgehammer in half, so in modern Roshambo Baseball Bat beats Sledgehammer. Disappointing finish which takes the wind out of the matches sails as HHH hits a charging Sting with the head of the Sledgehammer for the 3 count. *** - Bittersweet for me, I got into wrestling around 99/00 so was around for WCW and did love the nWo/DX stuff which I honestly never thought i'd see let alone Sting at WrestleMania but that ending is disheartening as HHH screws another WCWer at 'Mania, we get it WWE won and you're the alpha male but do you need to stop a happy ending Hunter? The match was a good WWE style match a type that Hunter excels at. Tack on a better ending and the rating would go up.

Maria Menounos interviews Daniel Bryan but they get interrupted by various ex-IC Champions - Pat Patterson, sad times as Roddy Piper appears and as of writing he passed away 3 days ago, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and Bret Hart, they do YES chant and Ron Simmons appears with a DAMN as he wasn't IC Champion, did laugh when Naitch chopped Ricky as I don't think Steamboat expected it.

Musical interlude time, I know Travis Barker but have no idea who the other two are as I generally avoid today's music when possible, the lady looks like the girl who dies in season 1 of Orange Is The New Black. (Still not got round to Season 2 yet or finding out who these two were)

AJ Lee/Paige Vs. Bella Twins
 Is Paige meant to be one of them annoying 'look at my jet black hair gosh aren't I against society' girls? AJ looks bored and during the Bellas entrance 90s Lawler returns. AJ is knocked off the apron and Paige gets isolated, Arizona-Slam gets 2, AJ is still prone at ringside, oh wait she's up and then down again. JBL says great teams always beat great individuals and I sigh contently remembering
the Detroit Pistons of 2004. Paige hits the Bellas but AJ is down again. Good lord AJ is up and tags in. AJ gets 2 off a messy DDT  then uses Black Widow to earn the win. ** - Didn't care much for it but do appreciate Tag Psychology so boosted for that reason.

Annual bit where HOFers or people representing them appear on stage, Nash gets headline spot. Advert plays for WWE 15 and even there HHH is burying Sting.

US Title - Rusev (c) (w/ Lana) Vs. John Cena
 Rusev enters on a tank. Always felt that when a European holds the US Title it should revert to the old European Title. Rusev beat Cena at Fast Lane via passout. This is the generic American Vs. Foreign heel. Not much love for Cena on the west coast. Nice gutwrench suplex gets Rusev 2. Rusev is on top so much so that he takes time to wave the Russian flag. Cena does his shoulderblocks, suplex routine but AA is avoided as is STFU. Rusev goes all Abyss hitting the Blackhole Slam for 2. Cena hits his usual sloppy top rope leg drop. AA is again avoided. Budapest Slam gets Rusev another 2 count. Cena avoids a stomp and applies STFU so Lana throws one of her heels at the  ref, she's a true heel. Rusev hits a crackers Diving Headbutt evoking memories of Benoit at the 03 Rumble. Rusev may hold the record for most 2s on Cena. 10 years into his main event career Cena adds a new move to his repertoire by hitting a springboard Stunner, that was nice. Rusev hits a wheel barrow inverted slam then applies Accolade and of course Cena stands up then is fully recovered and locks in STFU. Lanas distraction backfires and Cena hits AA for the US Title. *** - Enjoyable at times but 
Cenas sudden recoveries grew tiresome, after all these years I just can't let them slide, for example Rusev dominates 80% of the match then Cena still stands in The Accolade. WWE should've had Putin do a run-in i'm sure he would have. (Oh my god I have the pun of the century .... Cena beats a Russian, man you must me Putin-me on!!)

WrestleMania 32 or WrestleMania Dallas Cowboys Star is being held in .... Dallas. Freebirds have to be inducted right. (I believe they were as well)

We go to WrestleMania Panel - Renee Young, Booker-T, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton. We get pre-show results as Kidd/Cesaro retained the Tag Titles and Big Show won Andre The Giant battle royale, wasn't Show billed as Andres son for a time in WCW?

 Well this next segment can be described as a waste of time, worst Mania segment ever (A tad dramatic but upon further viewing I still hate it). Stephanie and HHH come out, Steph in face like fashion announces the attendance. They ramble on about WrestleMania and HHH beating Sting, yawn. Here's The Rock, who'd of guessed in 2004 that Rock would make 5 Mania appearances in a row. Eventually it continues, HHH says he remembers beating Rock throughout their careers, actually in terms of PPV I have 2-2-1 though can't remember OTE 99 and Rebellion 99 winners. Shane O'Mac chant and honestly an appearance by Shane-O would save this for me. Rock goes ringside and gets Ronda Rousey. What the hell are the Four Horsewomen? Rita Flair, Annie Anderson, Sally Blanchard and  Brenda Windham? (I still don't know who they are) Anyway Ronda judo throws HHH to end it. Could of been saved had Stephanie took a bump as that's what it was building to.

Bray Wyatt Vs. Undertaker
 This match is that pointless there's no video for it, not been a less interesting Taker Mania match since 2006 Vs. Mark Henry. Wyatt takes a day and an age getting to the ring so I dread to think how long Taker will take. JBL says 21-1 is greatest record in sports not true 72-10 (Since been surpassed but NBA have me hating GSW so I will refuse to acknowledge them), 16-0 or UCLA's 60s/70s NCAA is the best for me. Bray runs his mouth off then runs into a big boot. Geriatric School connects as does the apron leg drop, watching Deadman is like watching a band play old big hits. Weird bit at ringside as Wyatt runs into the steps taking a Foley bump as UT was sprawled by the ringpost it looked ridiculous. Back in Bray avoids Hells Gate and soon hits a Book-End type move and a senton for 2. Chokeslam out of a Sister Abigail attempt. Tombstone gets 2, suppose some would call that "giving the rub". Sister Abigail gets 2. Good moment as Crab Walk meets Sit Up. Sister Abigail is avoided and Tombstone gets the 3 count. ** - People disliked Brock/UT regardless of the result but I think it was better than this. Still trying to figure out why this match happened and the argument of "giving the rub" is rendered worthless as why not go whole hog and take the loss now the streak is over? (Does Wyatt ever win the big matches?)

WWE World Title - Brock Lesnar (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) Vs. Roman Reigns
 Coming in Reigns is pretty much the uncrowned Champion ala Bobby Roode at BFG 2011, say what happened there? No-one brings the big match intensity like Brock does, WWE would've been a much less interesting place without him from 2012 onwards. Reigns seems to heavily push a spectator during his crowd entrance. I think only maybe Cena could've been the other person after Brock to
be able to give Reigns a main event feel here. German and F-5 right off the bat and Brock doesn't even go for the cover, release fisherman suplex then Brock no sells clotheslines and germans Reigns causing Reigns to smile. Nice back suplex not only reminds me of Dr. Death but also leads to the great 'Suplex City Bitch' line, all hail Brock Lesnar. We Are Not Worthy. Roman gets a punch in but is germaned for having the cheek to do that. Brock hits multiple knees then sends Reigns into the crowd barrier. Crowd boos as Reigns fights back but Brock grabs his leg through the ropes and just smacks him to the floor, replay shows one of Reigns knees has cut Brock but just like Nelson Muntz it will simply make Brock stronger. Brock belly-to-bellys Reigns from the apron into the ring earning a 8 chant as it's the eighth suplex. F5 gets 2. The gloves are off for real as Brock removes his and proceeds to slap Reigns. Two germans and an F-5 get 2. Ringside Brock is bounced off the ringpost and is now busted, no obvious signs of blading either. Weird seeing Brock gloveless. Superman Punch rocks Lesnar, a second gets him onto one knee, he seemingly avoids another until Reigns breaks up a german hits a third Superman Punch then a Spear followed by another Spear gets 2 to a pop, that's akin to my MK experience Vs. Shao Kahn where I fire off great combos and he still survives (Where as the Cena/Brock from SummerSlam is akin to my MK2 experiences Vs. Kintaro, no prizes for guessing who I am in that scenario). Wait why's Chioda wearing gloves? Reigns jumps for a fourth Superman Punch but Brock catches him and hits an F-5, Seth Rollins comes out cashing in MITB and making this a triple threat, alert fans may of realised something was going to happen as Michael Cole said 'Who Can Capitalise' as Brock and Roman were down. Curb Stomp to Brock then when he goes for another Brock catches him and sets up F-5 but Reigns Spears Brock and Curb Stomp to Reigns gets the 3 count for Seth as WrestleMania ends with a new Champion. **** - Love watching Brock throw someone around and that was fun but I really liked it from the moment Brock got busted to the end as Romans flurry upped the intensity. I do understand if some didn't like the layout but I personally did enjoy it as it also told a story of Reigns being in over his head. 

18.5 / 35 - Only two matches that I didn't really care for - Divas Tag and UT/Bray the rest are solid if unspectacular at least until the top liner. The show is good overall but I can't say it holds up with other Manias in terms of having a classic on them as I don't think in the future years people will look back on any of the ones here like we do Savage/Steamboat 28 yrs ago, Savage/Warrior 24 yrs ago, Stone Cold/Bret 18 yrs ago or the HBK/Taker back-to-backs of 5 and 6 yrs ago. 
Thumbs Up for WrestleMania 31 just don't expect to  be blown away by anything bar the audacity of HHH winning oh and fast forward the music and Rock/HHH segment. (Whilst I still stick to it not having one of THE Mania matches on it I do think it surpassed expectations and is an enjoyable watch)

Judgment Day 2000

- May 21st 2000 from Louisville, Kentucky.
- Attendance: 16,827
- Buys: 420,000

Opening video is good as it details things that happen over a 60 minute period.

Kurt Angle, Edge and Christian Vs. Too Cool, Rikishi
 The Five Second Pose here is the one I always think of and it's the Jug Band one. Edge and Christian are like so totally the Tag Champions. The Champions are hit by running corner butt bumps but Kurt bails before being hit. Too Cool are dominant so far as fans chant for Rikishi. Christian does a mock dance so Kishi drops him. Crowd are on their feet as Scotty signals for The Worm but Angle clotheslines him and gets 2 off a suplex. Hot tag to Kishi and Kurt gets the Stink Face. Edge mocks The Worm so Scotty bulldogs him and hits The Worm. Rikishi Driver is attempted but Christian rings Kishis bell with the ringbell but GrandMaster Sexay hits the Tennessee Jam/Hip Hop Drop on Edge for the 3 count at 9:45. ***1/2 - Real good opener with a white hot crowd. Great start to Judgment Day 2000.

European Title - Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) Vs. Perry Saturn Vs. Dean Malenko
 Malenko is Light-Heavyweight Champion. Dean and Perry do a Demolition Decapitation move. Eddie low blows the pair, double spring hurricanrana to Dean. Tornado DDT to Perry gets a 2 count. Perry has Eddie in electric chair then dumps him on the rope thus croching Dean. Gutbuster off the top to Eduardo by Malenko. Saturn steals both mens finishers, he must've saved up Four SMACKDOWN! Icons, then he is brainbustered. Saturn germans Dean who back suplexes Eddie. Dean grabs flowers off Chyna but she trips him and he hits the flowers leading to Eddie rolling him up for the 3 count at 7:55. The flowers are revealed to of had a lead pipe in them. **1/2 - Adequate three way here, Eddie would go onto bigger and better things whilst the other two would be pretty much phased out soon after.

Replay of Gerald Brisco pinning a sleeping Crash Holly on SMACKDOWN! to win the Hardcore Title and now Gerry is a nervous wreck.

FCA - Shane McMahon Vs. The Big Show
 Show has an alternative rap version of his theme. Shane jumps out onto Big Show but is caught and is soon slammed onto the steps and over the ropes. Show is 100% on top and here's Bossman, quick for 10 Pat Points which PPV did they have a WWF Title match on? JR calls a Chokeslam a powerbomb. T&a come out with chairs but Show dumps them then throws Trish onto them. Shane is crawling up the ramp but Show throws him into the set. Test, Albert and Bull Buchanan all attack Show, he's now down and Shane pushes a speaker onto his leg then finishes him with a cinder block off the bonce, I believe Karl Gotch debuted that particular maneuver in 1951. (7:11) ** Match was average as to cover for Shane being Shane they had the others brawl with Show, a true face would've been booked to overcome the odds unless this was an injury angle then fair enough.

HHH and HBK converse backstage, hmmmmmm.

IC Title - Submission Match - Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit (c)
 Hardcore Holly attacked Benoit's knee on SMACKDOWN! as WWF aired the clip will it p[lay into the match? Jericho's hair is like WCW Cactus Jack. Bulldog is proceeded by chops and an armbar, Benoit gets out of it with a shoulderbreaker, part of me was hoping for a Tombstone. Benoit leg whips out of a Walls attempt. Val Venis or Venice as my sister say is shown looking on. Jericho seemingly forgets the stips as he goes for a pin after a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho hits a turnbuckle shoulder first and soon Benoit an armbar style move which makes sense. Chops are traded until Benoit hits a snap suplex, cross armbreaker is applied by Chris .... Benoit. A turnbuckle was exposed earlier and now Benoit hits it knee first allowing Jericho some offence. Crowd seems to have gone silent until Jericho uses Benoit knee brace as a weapon. Walls Of Jericho is applied over the top rope. Multiple germans by Benoit. Jericho attempts the Walls but Benoit hits him with the knee brace and locks in the Crossface and Jericho passes out, uhhh. ***1/2 - It was good but the pass out ending feels like a cop out and slightly irritates me. 

Rock tells HBK he better call the match down the middle

Tables Match - Road Dogg/X-Pac Vs. Dudleyz
 Buh Buh was going through a tableising woman period. Slightly weird as although it's a table match they still do tags. There's the obligatory X-Pac sucks chant. Wasssup connects to Pac and Dogg so they take a hike but Dudz catch them in the aisle. D-Von is soon stuck in the heels corner. Dudz make a tag but ref doesn't see it. Buh Buh is now and cleans house then gets wood, three to be exact, he sets two tables up in the corner. D-Von is Pump Handle Slammed through a table by Road Dogg (2-1) but the score is tied soon as X-Pac is Powerbombed through one by Buh Buh (1-1). Dogg and Buh Buh call a truce to hiptoss the ref through a table. Road Dogg is 3D'd through a table but the ref is out. Buh Buh tries to put Tori through a table but gerald Brisco stops him. X-Factor through the table wins it for DX. ** is the highest I can go here. Would of been better as a brawl rather than a regular tag, why tag in a match with No DQ?

The creepy girl video plays and ends with 'His Judgment Day is here'

WWF Championship - Iron Man - S/Ref- HBL - The Rock (c) Vs. HHH 
 What the hell is HBK wearing? McMahons are with Hunter but he orders them to the back.
First Fall - Punches and lock ups are traded. Rock gets 2 off a roll up so Hunter bails ringside. Slow start so far but that's to be expected as they'll go an hour. Rock Bottom out of nowhere gets Rock the first fall at 10:53ish. (1-0)
Second Fall - Jerry makes a good point as he says Rock is almost 2-0 up as a draw keeps him the title. HHH hits some offence on the outside but back in Rock gets 2 off a suplex. Nice psycology by Rock as he targets the knee then applies a Figure Four, I like that, Rock gets a few 2s when HHHs shoulders hit the mat. They fight in the crowd as per every WWF main since 1998 it seems. Back in and HHH levels the score with a Pedigree at 25:27ish (1-1)
Third Fall - HHH kind of does a small package for the 3 count at 26:25ish that may seem weird but I think it's done as Rock selling the effects of the Pedigree, which is a nice touch. (1-2)
Fourth Fall - Fighting by the entrance way and HHH hits a suplex in the aisle, Rock responds with a back suplex and this is now officially Rocks longest match, I'm trying to remember if Cactus/HHH surpassed the 30 min mark. Facebuster then a piledriver gets HHH another 3 (1-3).
Fifth Fall - Rock has a short burst but HHH elbows him for 2. Rock breaks out the La Magistral for 2. HHH applies a sleeper using ropes for leverage but HBK catches him. Rock messes up a Floatover DDT maybe from fatigue but does get 3 at 40:50ish (2-3).
Sixth Fall - HHH hits Rock with a chair for the DQ. (3-3)
Seventh Fall - HHH pins Rock who hasn't recovered from the chair shot, that's brilliant having HHH sacrifice a fall to hurt Rock in the long run I love that, (3-4)
Eight Fall - Rock is out from a sleeper giving HHH another fall and showing how great he was sacrificing a fall by DQ, the cerebral assassin goes 3-5 up with 47:33 gone.
Ninth Fall - HHH and HBK are having a domestic. Rock superplexes HHH for a 2 count. HHH goes for a Rock Bottom on announce table but it backfires as Rock Pedgirees HHH but the table doesn't break. HHH is counted out at 56:08 (4-5)/
Tenth Fall - McMahons are here. HHH avoids another countout at 9.5. DDT by Rock then he bops Vince and Shane. People's Elbow gets 3 at 58:02. (5-5)
Eleventh Fall - HBK drops the McMahons but is then knocked off the apron so DX attack Rock as the creepy girls video plays. Undertaker rides out to a pop which rises with every punch, boot and Chokeslam he dishes out, it backfires for Rock though as HBK sees UT Chokeslam HHH and then Tombstone him and calls for the DQ giving HHH the title with a score of 5-6. ****1/2 - Possibly the most NWA 80s match the WWF have broadcast. Some of the booking was brilliant - HHHs DQ and the stuff that followed that for example. The overbooked ending does detract from it a bit and didn't lead to UT/Rock for some reason but like the Mind Games match the ending doesn't ruin what preceded it, great match.

18 / 30 - Cracking showing here from the Federation. The opener was white hot and good in its own right, the submissions match was very good but the Chris' were let down by the ending and the main event was spectacular, who thought Rocky and to a lesser extent HHH could go 58 minutes and still captivate the audience. Thumbs right up here like Mr. Fantastics thumbs.

WrestleMania 17

- Houston we have a problem ........ I may not have enough *'s to pass around! (I think I may of ripped that from JD Dunn or Scott Keith)

- 1st April, 2001 from Houston, Texas
- Attendance: 67,925

- Buys: 1,040,000

 Opening video is pretty good and highlights big 'Mania moments.

IC Title - Chris Jericho (c) Vs. William Regal

 Heyman and JR on commentary as King was gone from WWF (quit when they firednhis wife Miss Kitty, quite a ballsy move to be fair). Regal is the commissioner. Flying forearm and punches by Jericho then a crossbody over the top is almost overshot. Regal works over Jerichos shoulder. JR says UK has this on Sky Sports 1 and I bet any amount of money this would've gotten huge buys on Box Office (I wonder hsow many buys WWF missed out on in the UK market by not having Rumble 2000, Invasion et al on PPV). Jericho is thrown into an exposed turnbuckle. Regal gets a 2 count off a double underhook from the top rope. Jericho's shoulder gives out during a Walls attempt. Regal Stretch but Y2J gets a rope break. Bulldog, suplex and Lionsault gets Jericho the 3 count at 7:06. **1/2 - Well that was out of nowhere, boosted 1/2 as Jericho sold the shoulder.

Shane O'Mac is here then we see Bradshaw banging on about Texas.

RTC (Venis/Goodfather/Buchanan) Vs. Tazz/Acolytes (w/ Jacqueline)
 Venis, Taz fight then Jacquelien DDTs Stevie Richards. Tazz is isolated and Val does his knees into side russian leg sweep, as his gimmick is slightly changed he should do different moves. Bradshaw cleans house. Bradshaw is double powerbombed but about five seconds later beats Goodfather via Clothesline From Hell at 3:52. * - Had the brief, tag psychology with Tazz being isolated but if this card wasn't in Texas I highly doubt it would've made the show. 

Hardcore Title - Raven (c) Vs. Kane Vs. Big Show 
 JR says Kane may be the future of the WWF also Big Show has unlimited potential, this could be used as an argument in the is JR overrated debate (more non-sensical than over rated though I do prefer NWA/WCW JR to the WWF/E one who spouts cliches ad nauseum). They fight through the crowd then into the back where Kane is choked with a hose. Raven is tossed through a window, Kane is put through a door then Kane and Show go through a wall, I hope Tommy Walsh isn't watching this destruction. Raven crashes a golf cart then Kane follows in a cart with a referee as a passenger, Kane's a good guy at heart, he mows down Ravens leg, may be he isn't after all. At the entranceway now as Show has Raven up in a press slam but Kane boots him and both fall off the stage then Kane comes off with a leg drop for 3 at 9:16. ** - I didn't care for it that much but Kane in a golf cart is worthy of a boost.

Kurt tells Edge and Christian that he never officially tapped to Benoit.

European Title - Eddie Guerrero (w/ Saturn) Vs. Test (c)
 Sadly neither of these guys are longer with us. Saturn's hat is a ***** affair in my book. Test wins a punch off then gets 2 from a gut wrench powerbomb. Test blocks a top rope hurricanrana by holding onto the top rope. Test gets his leg twisted in the rope and Eddie has to free him to a minor cheer and now he's working the leg. Uh the leg work was for nothing as Test does a Tilt-a-Whirl slam and Powerbomb. Perry Saturn and then Dean Malenko get involved and Eddie wins via belt shot of all things at 8:05 but more important than the belt Eddie gets to wear Saturn's hat. *** - Actually a good match here, slightly annoyed at Test not selling the leg but for once i'll let is slide.

Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit
 If I remember right this is where the PPV kicks into higher gear. Kurt cuts a promo as he comes down the ramp 'lose the freakin' cowboy hats you're not seven years old'. Kurt wins an amateur wrestle off. Paul says Benoit was an undefeated WCW Champion which whilst true is slightly misleading in that he bailed from WCW soon after winning the title (Did he even appear on Nitro with it?). More mat wrestling and Benoit almost gets a Crossface. Kurt gets a cheapshot in and takes control soon fires off a couple of belly-to-bellys. The camera goes up at one point and man the Astrodome is huge. Benoit hits two germans but a third is countered to an Ankle Lock which Benoit transitions into his own Ankle Lock but Kurt turns that into a pin then applies a Crossface of his own. Ref Bump! Kurt taps to Crossface but the ref is down. Angle Slam gets a 2 count then Kurt goes for a moonsault, in my pad it says the Holly arm breaker and I didn't know what the hell I was on about, but Benoit gets his knees up. Diving Headbutt only gets Benoit 2. Kurt hits a low blow then a roll up for the 3 count at 14:02. **** - I used to hate amateur style matches as a kid but now I respect and like them and generally can't stand hardcore matches that I used to love, I've lost me sense of identity! Oh yeah the match was awesome bar the cheapish ending but i'll let it sliiiiiiiiiiiiide due to the quality beforehand. 

Kamala trashes Regals office then Benoit makes Angle tap backstage, WWF should've taped that over the ending of  the match, i'm sure no-one would've noticed the different setting.

Womens Title - Chyna Vs. Ivory (c)
 This match is not rateable under my rules as it's sub 3 mins. The best bit JR 'maybe we could call that a Chyna-line, or maybe not' Heyman 'Let's stick with maybe not', Chyna won with a Press Slam.

Street Fight - S/Ref - Mick Foley - Vince McMahon (w/ Steph) V Shane McMahon
 Imagine if this was Vince Vs. Bischoff (should've booked that to mock WCW more and say they booked the match WCW couldn't deliver on at Slamboree). Vince was ready to buy WCW but Shane bought it instead, Shane shouts out to his WCW homies(/jobbers) in attendance. Has a ref ever got an entrance between the wrestlers ones before? Foley was Commish until Vincenzo fired him in December. Vince hits punches but Shane then spears him, Vinnie must've potatoed Shane-O as his eye is swollen. Sign shots by Shane then a clothesline off the barricade. The Spanish Announcers have their work place trashed for the 100th PPV in a row, TV monitor shot sparks Vincent out but Shane misses his elbow from the top as Steph moves Vince. Trish Stratus wheels down Linda McMahon, Vince was having an affair with trish or something kind of like he is WWF's Flair. Trish slaps Vince to a pop then chases Steph up the aisle leading to a B-Move style fall from Steph. Vinnie Mac hits Mick with a chair, seems to hit him in the back of the head or at least partly, he places Linda in the ring and puts her in a chair. Vincent Kennedy McMahon goes to hit Shane but Linda stands up to a pop, she's WWF's version of Spike! She low blows VKM then Foley gets shots in thus raising the pop. Shane ends it in quite spectacular fashion with a Trash Can assisted Van-Terminator, Rob Van Who? 14:12. **** - This is kind of what the WWF did best in that we got an overbooked but entertaining spectacle where the heel got his comeuppance. Some may think overrated but I stand by it also as of now Vince is my WWF/E Konnan in that I'll try to use a different version of his name in his matches.

WWF Tag Titles - TLC II - Edge/Christian Vs. Hardyz Vs. Dudleyz (c)  
 Speaking of overbooked spectacles. I think JR says E&C won at No Mercy '99 but that's wrong. This is classed as TLC II as the term TLC wasn't used for WrestleMania 16. Edge and Christian are quadruple teamed to start. Hardyz and Dudz are taken out by a ladder then Jeff is drop toe holded onto a chair. Dudz have a ladder but get hit by a MLB slide. legdrop and splash combo to Christian then Edge is hit with the Wassssup headbutt. 'D-Von get the tables!!!!!' Edge is put on a table and Jeff is powerbombed through him. All six guys climb ladders in the ring then fall off them, Christian takes a particularly brutal fall as he goes right to ringside. Spike Dudley runs in and Acid Drops Christian through a table. Rhyno comes down and takes out Dudleyz and Gores Matt through a table. Spike knocks Rhyno into a ladder knocking Edge off, speaking of knocking Edge off, Lita's here and almost kills Spike with a chair shot, she removes her top and is 3Dd. Rhyno and Spike are placed on tables and Jeff Swantons them both, well he barely clips Rhyno as Spike takes the brunt of it. D-Von and Christian hang from the belts then they come back down to ground level the hard way. Jeff uses ladders like stepping stones and is now hanging from the belts and this leads to one of wrestling's most famous moves as Edge Spears Jeff as he hangs from the titles. Rhyno dumps Matt and Buh Buh off a ladder through a stack of tables on the outside. Rhyno lifts Christian up a ladder and to the belts. **** - Pretty good spot fest but not as good as I remembered, this may sound ridiculous in the context of a TLC match but with the other three people getting involved it almost felt like overkill. Kind of like having a good night out with mates then when you are sober and think back about it the night wasn't that good after all. Anyone else now want a beer? I think I prefer SummerSlam 2000s TLC. (I do prefer the 1st one indeed)

Highlights of Axxess.

Gimmick Battle Royal
 Under the Patrick Doesn't Review Battle Royals act of 2013 I can't give this a score but I'll tell you the participants - The Bushwhackers, Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese, Iron Sheik, Earthquake, The Goon, Doink The Clown, Kamala, Repo Man - Gene: 'About five years ago he got my mother-in-law' Bobby 'About four years ago everyone got your mother-in-law', Jim Cornette, Nikolai Volkoff - his music reminds me of the Sonic 2 level on the plane, Michael 'PS' Hayes - Badstreet theme alone is worth *****, One Man Gang, Gobbly Gooker - Hector Guerrero is under the outfit tonight I believe, Tugboat, Hillbilly Jim, Brother Love, Sgt. Slaughter.  Iron Sheik won it as he can't actually go over the top rope. I made a note during BL's entrance re the Bobby Roode contract fiasco of a few years ago so that gives some idea of when I did this review. Earthquake and Tugboat may be better remembered as Golga and Typhoon respectively (I doubt Golga is more remembered than Earthquake and I loved The Oddities).

Mark Calaway Vs. Triple-H
Basic angle here 'I've between everyone' 'You ain't beat me' 'let's get it on' though not how Marvin Gaye meant. Will Terra Ryzing end Mean Mark Callous' Mania streak?  (No but some guy in developmental will) Starts on the outside. Powerslam by the Dead Biker but he misses an elbow. HHH pulls Taker off the top to counter old school. Mike Chioda and HHH have a shove off. Ref Bump! after only six minutes as HHH is slingshotted into him. Chokeslam only gets 2 so Taker attacks the ref. Fighting through the crowd and now I think they're at the hard camera station, HHH is Chokeslammed off the structure then Taker does an elbow off it, we see that they seemed to land on a bouncy castle it had that much give. They are now back in the ring where Mike Chioda is still out, what a seller. HHH tries a Tombstone but Taker counters and hits his own, quite notable as he rarely used it at this point. Last Ride is attempted but HHH takes a Sledgehammer up with him and cracks UT with it for a 2 count and a 2002 Christian fir from Hunter, Sledge hammer must be the most Suspension Of Disbelief killing weapon in wrestling even above Halls taser. Then we get the usual Last Ride ending where Takers opponent does the 10 Corner Punches and he Last Rides them. (18:17) ***1/2 - It was enjoyable but my question is did HHH and the match structure help hide Takers weaknesses as he was bad for awhile upon his 2000 return or did UT up his game as he faced The Game?

WWF Title - Stone Cold Vs. The Rock (c)
 Austin won the Rumble and Rock won the title from Angle at No Way Out. Pretty darn good video set to that 'My Way or the Highway' song. Stone Cold gets a pop that may still be reverberating around Houston. The match is made No DQ. Thesz Press and elbow by Steve then Rock hits a neckbreaker. They fight in the crowd then back to the ring as Austin is in control. Wahey Earl trips over the ring steps, Rock is cut from a ringbell shot. Austin does something that isn't a punch and that alone may shatter the space time continuum, as a neckbreaker gets 2. Austin is bounced off an exposed turnbuckle and hit with a ringbell, we now have a double juicer. Stunner is blocked and Sharp Shooter *WrestleMania 13* is applied but Austin gets a rope break, it's No DQ so why should Rock break it? Rock counters Million Dollar Dream *WrestleMania 8* for 2. Stunner by Rock gets 2 and here's Vincenzo. Peoples Elbow but Vince pulls Rock off Austin, Rock gives chase but is Austin Bottomed for 2. Vince hits Rock with a chair for 2. Stone Cold ends it with 18 chair shots after a Stunner gets 2 and the chair shots finally put Rock away at 28:06. Vince and Steve drink beers as Vince turns face! oh no sorry Austin goes heel as he's cheered in hindsight everyone, including the people involved I believe, thinks this was the wrong way to go. **** - Very good WWF style main event, however personally I do think it drags towards the ending and would've been better had we cut to the ending after Vince breaks the Rocks pin when he comes out. This I think is generally placed near the top of Mania matches but I don't agree with that.

28  / 45 - That's a real good score believe me. The first part is pretty poor but from Eddie/Test onwards all is good to very good, the fact three of matches are **** makes this a easy thumbs up. The card had something for most people - the wrestling from Ben/Ang, car crash spot fest - TLC, WWF style matches - Vince/Shane and Rock/Austin.
 I do think the main event is over rated in general and is not the best Wrestle Mania main event let alone match but overall the PPV is very, very good. 
Easy Thumbs UP here. 

King Of The Ring 1998

- June 28th 1998, Pittsburgh, PA.
Attendance: 17,087
Buyrate: 1.10

 Opening video is about Kane/Austin, Kane says he'll set himself aflame if he loses (Sounds like something younger me would of said if on a PS1 losing streak)and some little known Mankind/Taker match. No mention of the tourney which this PPV lends its name to.

Headbangers/TAKA Vs. Kaientai
 Lawler calls him TAKA Michi-no clue, which got a titter from me. Thrasher hits a tilt-a-whirl then a powerslam for 2 on Teioh. Togo and Funaki double team TAKA who is isolated. Heel miscommunication as Funaki floors Togo. Headbangers flapjack TAKA onto Funaki and Michinoku Driver ends it. ** - Not bad, not great just a crowd warmer. 

Sable introduces McMahon and The Stooges, that sounds like a 50s/60s rock 'n' roll band. Pat Patterson grabs her derriere so she slaps him. Vince tells us to expect disappointment.

Semi-Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee)
 Name drop time, I recently met Jeff Jarrett (at Wales Comic Con, also met RVD). Ken def. Mark Henry and Jeff beat Marc Mero to get here. This is the 'ain't I great' Jeff as SummerSlam was two months away (At that show he gets his hair shaved by X-Pac, who i'll meet in November, and from then on was the Jarrett we still see today attire wise). Suplex gets Ken an early 2, but Jeff soon takes control. Ringside now where Jeff is bounced off the barricade and whipped into the ring steps. Tennessee trips Ken so Jeff works the leg for a figure four but Kn fights back and decides to not sell the leg. Hurricanrana basically spikes Jeff and Ankle Lock finishes it. ** - Meh, annoyed at Ken for not selling the leg. 

Semi-Final - The Rock Vs. Dan Severn
 Talk about clash of styles. Rock def. HHH and Dan def. Owen to get here. If you've never seen Dan then picture a butch Freddie Mercury. Dan uses amateur wrestling to take down Rocky, i'm surprised he hasn't been booed out of the building for doing wrestling. Ends when D-Lo Brown, with his chest protector, hits a Frog Splash on Dan. *1/2 (Didn't mix at all, bigger question is why didn't I write that here at the time - comments in brackets are later add-ons)

S/Ref - Jerry Lawler - Too Much Vs. Al Snow/Head
 Snow wins and he gets a meeting with Vince, because he just managed to get a PPV match without one. 'The Head don't lie down for nobody', 'you boys are going to get head like you never had before'. Lawler keeps his crown on to ref. King blocks a Snow punch so Brian Christopher, Kings son, hits Al. Jerry counts slow after Al hits a powerbomb on Brian. Too Much double up on Al but Al hits Scott Taylor with a wheel barrow suplex but then he is bulldogged by Brian. Snow tags Head to cheers. Stupid ending which does get a laugh from me for its stupidness, King gets a bottle of Head and Shoulders and Brian puts Head on it, so it has shoulders get it? then gets the 3 count. * - Well that was certainly something, Too Much would be reinvented as Too Cool and believe it or not would be WWF Tag Team Champions eventually, now you know.

X-Pac (w/ Chyna) Vs. Owen Hart
 Part of DX/Nation feud. Nation started as a militant black group and now their best wrestler is a caucasian from Calgary. Quick start. Owen gets 2 off a heel kick. I think they try to do a bit where X-Pac kneels behind Owen to trip him up but they don't quite work it right. Nice fisherman and a gut wrench both get Owen a 2 count. X-Pac is whipped ringside and goes right over the ringbell area. Bronco Buster connects. X-Pac gets crotched up top and falls ringside where he's splashed by Henry. Vader comes out and attacks Henry and slips, Chyna sneaks in DDTs Owen allowing X-Pac a 3 count. **1/2 - Best match so far but the busy overbooked ending annoyed me, Owen goes from HBK-HHH-X-Pac and still doesn't get a W, he did enough jobs to Hunter to at least get a W over X-Pac. (Not a shot at X-Pac by any means but give Owen something WWF)

WWF Tag Titles - NAO (c) Vs. Midnight Express 
 This is the Bob Holly, Bart Gunn combo (so a joke basically). Smoking Gunns explode. We get the usual Outlaw match where Dogg plays face in peril. Gunn tags in and cleans house. Jim Cornette stops Gunn hitting a piledriver via a belt shot then Chyna low blows him. Double hotshot finishes Holly. **1/2 - Basic formulaic tag match.

KOTR Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. The Rock
 Ken and Rock met for the 1,024th time of 1998. European Champion HHH is on commentary and gets a dig in at WCW. Rock goes ringside after he's booted. Chyna is on spanish commentary as HHH says he's bi many things but lingual isn't one. HHH spits water in Rocks face. Back in Ken blocks a suplex and hits his own for a 2 count. Rock controls the match around ringside then gets a DDT for 2 back in the ring. Chinlock applied, Peoples Elbow gets 2 then another chinlock is applied. JR says Too Much/Snow set wrestling back 20 years. Floatover DDT gets Rock another 2. Rock is locked in the Ankle Lock and King Ken is crowned and this time Ken is not DQd post match. *** - Got better when nearfalls kicked in, i'd say this was their best match together, at least one-on-one. In shock as Ken beat Rock and wasn't DQd post match. Did nothing in the long run, or short run in Ken's case.

Hell In A Cell - Undertaker Vs. Mankind

 (This match was reviewed already when I did Mick Foleys Greatest Hits and Misses so shall be pasted from there) Most famous match ever? Mankind is on top of the cell to start which kind of shows how ca-razy! this is gonna be. Chair shots on the roof by Mankind then Taker just thinks screw this and launches Mick off of the cell down through the Spanish Announce Table, my favorite angle is the cameraman on the floor where you see Mankind coming down. JR: 'My god almighty that killed him, as god as my witness he is broken in half' (Don't why he said that as I didn't witness JR at that time, #GodComplex). Match grinds to a halt as Mick gets medical attention but he gets off the stretcher on the aisle and climbs up, his shoulder seems to be dislocated or something as his arm is almost hanging in a way, he lasts on the top for about 30 seconds before Undertaker 'Chokeslams' him through the roof and Mick kind of SPLATS on the mat which had little to no give in it (Thank god it wasn't a true Chokeslam or Mankind may of been even more hurt). Terry Funk eats a chokeslam to bide time. Mankind is up but when Taker punches him he kind of crumbles to the mat, he manages to crotch Taker when he goes Old School then we get the awesome visual of Mick smiling with something sticking out of his nose. Taker suicide dives into the cell and is now cut. Back in ring now as Mankind gets 2 from a piledriver onto a chair then he gets a bag from ringside which he empties to reveal thumb tacks. tombstone is avoided via a Mandible Claw but Taker falls back so Foley lands on the tacs, Chokeslam then a Tombstone mercifully end the match. ***1/2 - Match itself was 2 or 2 1/2 but I boosted it up for the bumps. I class this as the same as Andre/Hogan and Rock/Hogan in that they aren't good but from a spectacle standpoint I think every fan should see them once.

WWF Title - First Blood - Kane Vs. Stone Cold (c)

 Kane beat Taker to get this shot, I believe Masked Kane's only win over the Deadman. This is part of the Vince-Mankind-Taker-Kane-Austin stuff that carried WWF through the summer. Odds are stacked as Kane has double sleeved attire and of course just so happens to be masked. The Cell gets lowered and Austin is whipped into it a few times. Cell then raises with Kane seesawed on the bottom of the door. Fighting at the entranceway now where Kane counters a piledriver and a suplex, Kane's been on top so far. Back in-ring Kane is bounced off an exposed turnbuckle, hey i've just spotted the pink shirt guy who seemingly attends all WWF/E PPVs, not that there's anything wrong with that. Earl Hebner gets squashed between Austin and the barricade, Mankind comes out but he is Stunnered as is Kane. Undertaker comes out and cracks Austin with a chair though it seemed he was aiming for Mankind. Austin is busted from the chair shot and Kane is declared the winner and starts his fantastic one day reign. Exclusive post match footage, oooooooooh, shows Austin Stunnering Mankind and Briscoe so fans in attendance can go home happy .... if people in Pittsburgh can even be happy that is. (Letting my sports team, hatred creep in there, though pittsburgh does sound dull and depressing)
** - Eh, not much style or substance more to keep angle going than be a credible main event in its own right.

20 / 45 - Dragged down by Too Much Vs. Al/Head and Rock/Severn but the rest ranged from passable to good so I'll say thumbs in the middle. The big selling point though must've been seen by my mother, my dog and clown (This morning I heard that David Bowie passed away on 10/01/16, RIP good sir and thank you for the music). Kens KOTR win led to nothing though as Rock, HHH and Mankind breezed past him in the title picture and Kane's Title reign ended the next night via Stone Cold so some of what happened actually was pointless. Thumbs in the middle as stated.