Wrestlemania XX Review

[Scott Fire]

Where it all began again...

Wrestlemania XX
March 14, 2004
20,000
Madison Square Garden
New York, New York

1) Opening featuring Boys Choir Of Harlem
Score: 3/5
Comment: Thought it was cool to see Shane 0'Mac with his baby.

2) John Cen Pre-Match Promo
Score: 4/5
Comment: I loved John Cena's rhymes, but I still enjoy his mic work today.

3) WWE United States Championship Match: John Cena VS. The Big Show (c)
Score: 3/5
Comment: John Cena FU'ing Big Show is still amazing as hell.

4) Coach & Eric Bischoff Backstage Segment/ Randy Orton W/ Batista & Ric Flair Promo
Score: 3/5
Comment: Both were alright.

5) World Tag Team Championship - Fatal 4-Way Match: La Re`sistance VS. Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak VS. The Dudley Boyz VS. Booker T & Rob Van Dam (c)
Score: 4/5
Comment: Enjoyed this match, but I can't really think of one single RVD match that I haven't enjoyed.

6) Coach, Bobby Heenan, Fabolous Moolah, Gene Okerlund, & Mae Young Segment
Score: 4/5
Comment: Haha, Heenan is always good for a laugh.

7) Chris Jericho/Christian History Video
Score: 3/5
Comment: Jericho was too cheesy on certain parts, so that's why I gave it a 3.

8) Christian VS. Chris Jericho
Score: 4/5
Comment: 2 of my favorite workers, even now.

9) Mick Foley & The Rock Promo
Score: 5/5
Comment: Rock once again delivers a slam dunk, I especially enjoyed (said to The Hurrican & Rosey) "hey it's the Hamburgler & Grimace, try the chicken McNuggets you fat sumbitch."

10) 3-On-2 Handicap Match: Randy Orton, Batista, & Ric Flair VS. The Rock 'N' Sock Connection
Score: 3/5
Comment: This was alright, but I wish The Rock's last Mania match would have been more memorable.

11) WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2004 Video & Segment
Score: 4/5
Comment: This was the first year they did this, and I'm glad it has become a regular feature of Wrestlemania.

12) Interpromotional Playboy Evening Gown Match: Sable & Torrie Wilson VS. Stacy Kielber & Miss Jackie
Score: 2/5
Comment: Gets a 2 for Sable & Torrie Wilson being friggin hot!

13) International WWE Fans Segment/ Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit Backstage Segment
Score: 4/5
Comment: *Sighs* Happier times.

14) WWE Cruiserweight Championship - Cruiserweight Open Match featuring Chavo Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Shannon Moore, Jamie Noble, Funaki, Nunzio, Billy Kidman, Rey Mysterio, Tajiri, & Akio
Score: 2/5
Comment: Just didn't really care for it, thought it made some of the cruisers look really weak.

15) Brock Lesnar VS. Goldberg History Video
Score: 3/5
Comment: Much better then the actual match...haha.

16) Interpromotional Match W/ Guest Referee Steve Austin: Brock Lesnar VS. Goldberg
Score: 1/5
Comment: Worst match in Wrestlemania history IMO.

17) Wrestlemania 21 Announcement/ Vince McMahon Promo
Score: 2/5
Comment: Not entertained.

18) WWE Tag Team Championship - Fatal 4-Way Match: The Worlds Greatest Tag Team VS. The A.P.A. VS. The Basham Brothers VS. Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty (c)
Score: 3/5
Comment: Would've liked to seen one of the two four ways be elimination style.

19) Return Of Edge Vignette/Jessie Ventura Interviews Donald Trump
Score: 2/5
Comment: Donald Trumps words and hair are annoying.

20) WWE Women's Championship - Hair VS. Title Match: Molly Holly VS. Victoria (c)
Score: 2/5
Comment: Can't believe Molly actually went thru with getting her head shaved.

21) Eddie Guerrero/Kurt Angle History Video
Score: 2/5
Comment: The leadup just wasn't that exciting to me.

22) WWE Championship Match: Eddie Guerrero (c) VS. Kurt Angle
Score: 4/5
Comment: I hope Kurt Angle finishes his career in the WWE.

23) The Undertaker/Kane History Video
Score: 5/5
Comment: I love the dark/gothic stuff.

24) Interpromotional Match: Kane VS The Undertaker W/ Paul Bearer
Score: 2/5
Comment: Sloppy! They did much better at Wrestlemania XIV.

25) Triple H, Chris Benoit, & Shawn Michaels History Video
Score: 5/5
Comment: Well done.

26) World Championship - Triple Threat Match: Shawn Michaels VS. Chris Benoit VS. Triple H (c)
Score: 5/5
Comment: Greatest Triple Threat Match I have ever seen.

27) Wrestlemania XX Highlight Video
Score: 4/5
Comment: Cool.

28) Commentary
Score: 4/5
Comment: Tazz was hilarious during the Evening Gown Match.

29) Intangibles
Score: 4/5
Comment: Ironically, and unintentionally, I'm posting this on the anniversary of the Benoit tragedy. Sad, because this is the Benoit standing in the ring with Eddie at the end, is the Benoit I would like to remember.

Overall Score
65.714% (92/140)

Current Wrestlemania Rankings

1)Wrestlemania X-Seven
Score: 73.069% (95/130

2) Wrestlemania X8
Score: 72% (90/125)

3) Wrestlemani XIV
Score: 66.66% (60/90)

4) Wrestlemania XX
Score: 65.174% (92/140)

5) Wrestlemania 2000
Score: 63% (63/100)

6) Wrestlemania III
Score: 62% (93/150)

7) Wrestlemania XV
Score: 61.9% (65/105

8) Wrestlemania VI
Score: 61.875% (99/160)

9) Wrestlemania XII
Score: 61.25% (49/80)

10) Wrestlemania 13
Score: 61.176% (53/85)

11) Wrestlemania X
Score: 60% (54/90)

12) Wrestlemania XIX
Score: 60% (66/110)

13) Wrestlemania VIII
Score: 59.09% (65/110)

14) Wrestlemani VII
Score: 58.125% (93/160)

15) Wrestlemania IV
Score: 58.82%(100/170)

16) Wrestlemania 2
Score: 56.8% (71/125)

17) Wrestlemania 1
Score: 55% (66/120)

18) Wrestlemania V
Score: 54% (81/150)

19) Wrestlemania XI
Score: 49.473% (47/95)

20) Wrestlemania IX
Score: 47.058% (40/85)

[Chris Ingersoll]

Jun 24, 2009 18:16:50 GMT -5 Scott Fire said:

3) WWE United States Championship Match: John Cena VS. The Big Show (c)
Score: 3/5
Comment: John Cena FU'ing Big Show is still amazing as hell.

Especially since this was the first time he did it. It's not exactly getting old now, FIVE years later, but at the time it was mind-blowing.

13) International WWE Fans Segment/ Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit Backstage Segment
Score: 4/5
Comment: *Sighs* Happier times.

Yeah.

29) Intangibles
Score: 4/5
Comment: Ironically, and unintentionally, I'm posting this on the anniversary of the Benoit tragedy. Sad, because this is the Benoit standing in the ring with Eddie at the end, is the Benoit I would like to remember.

Two years is a long time, but obviously for some nothing will be long enough. However, I did read this in one of Meltzer's recent postings*:

WWE is releasing a 10th anniversay Smackdown DVD in the fall with the conjunction of the 10th annivesary special. The listing includes a TLC match where Chris Benoit was a prime participant (and in fact, it was likely where he suffered his neck injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for one year).

I'm curious to see how this is handled when/if it happens. I would like to see him returned to his rightful place in wrestling history instead of the scrubbing from existence that he's received in the last couple of years. Before he literally lost his mind, he was an amazing athlete and in-ring storyteller; that's the Benoit I choose to remember.


*I don't read these things normally, but this was linked elsewhere and I was bored one day.

[WTIC]

Yet another fine review, Scott! I enjoyed this WM, it had some memorable moments, for sure! Molly getting her head shaved is one highlight that stands out!

Goldberg / Lesnar = fail!

The 20th anniversary of WM was good! And BTW, Stacy is ALSO hot!

[Shon Maxx]

I agree, another great one! I was hoping for more in the Lesnar/Goldberg match, but I guess they just felt they didn't have to do much.

I was a huge Benoit fan so I enjoyed the main event (though I would've liked it better without Michaels). Now, his matches are just too hard to watch.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Jun 25, 2009 15:54:58 GMT -5 Shon Maxx said:

I was a huge Benoit fan so I enjoyed the main event (though I would've liked it better without Michaels). Now, his matches are just too hard to watch.

Out of curiosity, are Michael Jackson's albums too hard to listen to?

The timing of Jackson's death has me mentally comparing the two men's careers, their personal troubles, and how they will be remembered by their respective fans. It's an interesting parallel.

[Havoc]

Jun 26, 2009 7:16:35 GMT -5 Chris Ingersoll said:

Jun 25, 2009 15:54:58 GMT -5 Shon Maxx said:

I was a huge Benoit fan so I enjoyed the main event (though I would've liked it better without Michaels). Now, his matches are just too hard to watch.

Out of curiosity, are Michael Jackson's albums too hard to listen to?

The timing of Jackson's death has me mentally comparing the two men's careers, their personal troubles, and how they will be remembered by their respective fans. It's an interesting parallel.

I don't recall Jackson killing anyone. Also, the allegations are just that, allegations. We KNOW Benoit killed his wife and kid.

Jackson's music entertained millions (probably billions) more people that Benoit's wrestling did. With that amount of people, he is going to be put on a pedestal. Such is the case already with him in Gary, Indiana. They treaure him in that crap hole. However, Michael treasured his home town so much that he went back only one time in the last 36 years.

Don't get me wrong. He creeps me out and I've been mocking his songs to my wife all day. I shed no tears over him but I really see little paralel to Benoit killing his family at all.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Jun 26, 2009 9:08:20 GMT -5 Havoc said:

Also, the allegations are just that, allegations.

Plus the large out-of-court settlement(s?). Not an admission of guilt, but not a resounding profession of innocence either. He's basically in the same legal/mental space as OJ.

[Shon Maxx]

The accusations are suspicious enough for me to have lost respect for Jackson. However it doesn't make it hard to listen to his music for the reason Chris said. He didn't kill anyone. I don't feel bad for him, and if it ever turns out those accusations are 100% true, I'll hate his music, but no it's not the same, at least right now.