Wrestlemania

Card Information:
 Held in: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Location: NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
          on March 2004 at 7:30pm

It's time for Wrestlemania, baby!

[Wrestlemania Battle Royal]: 20-Man Battle Royal:
Kevin Nash won a 20-man Battle Royal:
         x Nash threw out Rhyno after an elbowsmash in 0:00:13
         x Booker T threw out Flair in 0:04:00
         x HHH threw out L. Storm in 0:15:13
         x Nash threw out Vader in 0:25:11
         x RVD threw out Snow in 0:26:51
         x Sting threw out Chono after a kick to the midsection in 0:29:04
         x HHH threw out Hall in 0:30:45
         x HHH threw out RVD after a Boston crab in 0:37:03
         x M. Hardy threw out S. Steiner after an inverted DDT in 0:39:55
         x Nash threw out Edge in 0:46:57
         x Chavo threw out Christian in 0:49:02
         x HHH threw out E. Guerrero after a powerslam in 0:49:50
         x M. Hardy threw out HHH after a neck snap in 1:04:26
         x D. Malenko threw out Booker T in 1:05:47
         x M. Hardy threw out D. Malenko after a small package in 1:10:34
         x Nash threw out M. Hardy after a lariat in 1:19:34
         x Nash threw out Sting after a lariat in 1:21:36
         x Nash threw out Chavo after a choke slam in 1:23:04
         x Nash threw out Savage after a choke slam in 1:28:12
Rating: ** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Added only on the morning of the show, this match gave an opportunity to book
a number of big names onto the card that weren't yet there.  Kevin Nash gave
a good performance to win it.


The Basham Brothers defeated FBI - Full Blooded Italians when Doug defeated
Stamboli when Stamboli passed out in an abdominal stretch in 0:02:31.
Rating: 1/4*
(The Basham Brothers retained the WWE Tag Team Championship.)
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A shocking quick and poor match, which saw the Basham Brothers retain.


Ken Shamrock defeated Kane when Kane passed out in a sleeperhold in 0:07:25.
Rating: * 3/4
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Again, not a fantastic match-up, but Shamrock was able to get himself a big
victory.


Shannon Moore pinned Brian Kendrick with the Twisting Moonsault in 0:11:06.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Shannon Moore retained the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.)
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Shannon Moore retains the gold, thus ending Kendrick's Wrestlemania dream of
regaining the title.


Interview:
Heyman's motivation...
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Paul Heyman psyches up AJ Styles for his match with Chris Benoit.


Match with Managers Banned From Ringside:
Chris Benoit pinned AJ Styles after a flying headbutt in 0:10:54.
Rating: ** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

Big win for Benoit, but why did Mick Foley come to ringside and attempt to
help AJ Styles?


No-Countout-No-DQ-Death Falls-Count-Anywhere Match:
Mick Foley beat Kurt Angle 7 falls to 5:
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via an inside cradle in 0:10:43
         x Angle beat Mick Foley via a Thesz press in 0:16:38
         x Angle beat Mick Foley via a crucifix in 0:22:42
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via the Mandible Claw in 0:24:28
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via a small package in 0:31:06
         x Angle beat Mick Foley via the Ankle Lock in 0:34:20
         x Angle beat Mick Foley via a gutwrench suplex in 0:39:25
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via the Mandible Claw in 0:46:54
         x Angle beat Mick Foley via a flying dropkick in 0:49:04
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via the Mandible Claw in 0:53:40
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via an abdominal stretch in 1:01:01
         x Mick Foley beat Angle via the Mandible Claw in 1:03:41
Rating: **** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

An amazing match-up, which finally saw Mick Foley extract his revenge on
Kurt Angle.  Match of the night so far.


Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
Ultimo Dragon beat Rey Mysterio 2 falls to 1:
         x Rey Rey beat U. Dragon via the West Coast Pop in 0:12:39
         x U. Dragon beat Rey Rey via a power bomb in 0:15:28
         x U. Dragon beat Rey Rey via a flying cross body press in 0:20:10
Rating: ***
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Great match-up between two high-flyers.  Dragon picks up the big win.


Val Venis pinned X-Pac after a fisherman suplex in 0:07:58.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Val Venis won the WWE Intercontinental Championship.)
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As expected, Val Venis won the match to become the new IC Champion.


Interview:
The Iron Man cometh...
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Jericho is ready to go sixty minutes with Shawn Michaels.


Iron Man Match:
Shawn Michaels beat Chris Jericho 12 falls to 3:
         x Michaels beat Y2J via disqualification in 0:05:04
         x Y2J beat Michaels via an Asai moonsault in 0:07:01
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:09:59
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:13:33
         x Y2J beat Michaels via an Asai moonsault in 0:15:17
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:20:31
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:21:50
         x Michaels beat Y2J via pinfall in 0:23:37
         x Y2J beat Michaels via a side step in 0:31:54
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:36:32
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:41:48
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:45:07
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:51:30
         x Michaels beat Y2J via a German suplex in 0:54:42
         x Michaels beat Y2J via the Sweet Chin Music in 0:58:44
         x time limit expired (Y2J and Michaels) in 1:00:00
Rating: **** 1/4
Click here to see highlights.

Fantastic match-up, in which Michaels absolutely destroyed Jericho.


Dumpster Death No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
The Rock defeated The Big Show in 0:29:28.
Rating: ** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

The Rock gets the big victory over the Big Show.  It only took two deposits
into the dumpster to get the job done.


Interview:
The special guest referee...
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Regal claims he will call the title match down the middle.


[Street Fight]: No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
Jeff Jarrett pinned Steve Austin with the Stroke in 0:19:23.
Rating: ***
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Jarrett manages to pin a disappointed Austin.  The Chosen One then took the
time to rub his victory in by celebrating with some of Austin's beers.


No-Countout-No-DQ-I-Quit Match:
Ted DiBiase defeated Hulk Hogan when Hulk Hogan passed out in a sleeperhold in
           0:05:57.
Rating: ** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

A very short match, which saw Ted DiBiase come out the winner.  Could this be
the end of Hulkamania?


No-Countout-No-DQ-Match with Special Referee William Regal:
The Ultimate Warrior pinned Brock Lesnar with the Big Splash in 0:11:01.
Rating: **
(The Ultimate Warrior won the WWE Championship.)
Click here to see highlights.

Much to William Regal's anger, he had to count the fall that made the Ultimate
Warrior the new WWE Champion.



Card rating: ** 3/4


Match observations: 

Wrestlemania served up a number of superb matches, plenty of good matches, and
some bouts that were not so hot.

The Ultimate Warrior walked away as the new WWE Champion, thus marking another
reign for a squared-circle veteran, following those of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan
and Bret Hart before him.  Brock Lesnar was gracious in defeat, congratulating
the Warrior by raising his hand after the match.  However, you have to wonder
what William Regal will now have in store for him.

The only other title to change hands tonight was the Intercontinental title, 
which is now around the waist of Val Venis.  The Big Valbowski is certainly a
deserving champion.

Shawn Michaels thrashed Chris Jericho in the Iron Man man.  This major win may
see Jericho's mouth shut, at least for a while anyway.

Mick Foley won a brutal death match against Kurt Angle, but you have to wonder
why he got himself involved in the AJ Styles against Chris Benoit match-up,
especially as he appeared to be helping Styles.

Both Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan seemed extremely dejected after their losses
here tonight.  With defeats on such a grand scale, could this be the last time
we ever see Stone Cold and the Hulkster?  And what rewards lie in store for
Jeff Jarrett and Ted DiBiase after their major victories tonight?  Only time
will tell.

Next Show: Raw