WWE WrestleMania 21 Review

WrestleMania goes Hollywood! Before they meet at WrestleMania in 2019, Batista and Triple H met at the main event of WrestleMania 21 for the World Heavyweight Championship. Also, a new era begins as John Cena wins his first WWE Championship against JBL.

Match 1: Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Taken from Rey Mysterio - The Life of a Masked Man DVD (Disc 2) Review)
This is the match that kicked off the big WrestleMania in Los Angeles and featured Mysterio taking on the late Eddie Guerrero. It's also the first time in which tag team champions went against each other at a WrestleMania. Watching this match is like going through a time warp and watching an old school ECW match. This match was absolutely packed with so many amazing maneuvers and really showcased both men's abilities and how they were still able to go out and put on a great old school classic match honoring their roots. Watching matches like this really make me miss how great of a wrestler and person Eddie Guerrero was. Awesome way to start off the show. The only gripe would probably be the time it received, I really wish this match had gone a few minutes longer because then we would have gotten a real classic. Nonetheless, a terrific bout with lots of counters and reversals.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Rating: ****

Match 2: Money in the Bank Ladder - Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Edge vs. Kane
This is the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder match in history and it was an absolute banger. Everybody in this match brought something to the table and there was zero downtime in between everything. The two standouts of the match were easily Shelton Benjamin and Chris Benoit. With Benjamin, he was able to really display his insane athleticism with one spot in particular where he ran up a ladder than was basically set up as a ramp towards the top of another ladder and knocked off Chris Jericho. Did that description make sense? Just watch the damn match. As for Benoit, he came off as the gutsy babyface trying to once again overcome the odds. Kane clamped Benoit's arm early on the match and Benoit sold the injury perfectly throughout the match. Finally, he was able to fight off Kane at the end before Edge sneaks in with a steel chair and blasts Benoit's arm as he tried climbing up the ladder for the briefcase. Edge grabs the briefcase and Jim Ross on commentary begs for someone to stop him. Wow. Unreal match with an incredible finish that truly launched Edge into another atmosphere.
Winner: Edge
Rating: ****1/2

Match 3: The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton
Legend vs. Legend Killer. Randy Orton looks to continue his tour of "killing legends" by challenging the biggest opponent of his career so far... The Undertaker. Orton tries to become the only blemish in The Deadman's legendary career at WrestleMania. This seems to be one of The Undertaker's forgotten WrestleMania matches as it really gets overshadowed by all the amazing matches he had past WrestleMania 23 against Batista. Solid action in the ring here with Orton showing flashes of possibly taking down The Phenom. The match really ramped up to another gear in the closing minutes with Cowboy Bob Orton making an appearance and drilling The Undertaker with his famous cast. After a very close count, Randy was able to land a sweet RKO as the crowd went absolutely bonkers. Undertaker was able to once again kick out which led to Orton trying to close things out with a Tombstone of his own. However, Undertaker is able to reverse that into his own Tombstone to close out the match as the crowd in the background eats it all up. 13-0.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: ***3/4

Match 4: WWE Women's Championship - Trish Stratus (c) vs. Christy Hemme
With Christy Hemme getting some notoriety after posing for Playboy, Trish Stratus took disdain in the magazine listing her as a champion. Stratus even spray painted the word "SLUT" on Hemme's back. Hemme then recruited Lita to train her in preparation for this match against Trish on the biggest stage of the year. Hemme is able to muster up some offense her but Stratus is the star of the match and is able to retain the championship with a Chick Kick. Few more minutes and this could definitely have been a more memorable Divas match.
Winner: Trish Stratus
Rating: *1/2

Match 5: Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle
The second Raw vs. SmackDown match of the night sees Mr. WrestleMania try to defeat an Olympic gold medalist in Kurt Angle in a match that was absolutely hyped to the moon. Early on, the match consisted of the two mat wrestling before turning things into an all out professional wrestling match very quickly and turning things up a notch. Angle was quick to work on the ankles and legs of Shawn Michaels. Angle was able to Angle Slam Michaels on the ring post outside the ring and drive the leg of Michaels right into that post. From then on, Angle knew he had Michaels on his last legs. No pun intended. However, a couple more Angle Slams including one off the top rope wasn't enough to beat Michaels as the crowd was absolutely going crazy. Angle was screaming into the face of Michaels out of frustration and ate a Sweet Chin Music for it! Michaels isn't able to win off that and instead, gets locked with an Ankle Lock! Michaels does his best to fight out of it but Angle won't let go! Michaels taps! Unbelievable match! Really, a match ahead of the curve in 2005. So much athleticism from the two and a perfect story with Angle deadly focusing on breaking the ankle of Michaels. Incredible. Five stars and don't even fight me on this. 
Winner: Kurt Angle
Rating: *****

Match 6: Sumo - Akebono vs. The Big Show
The Big Show has never really had that big WrestleMania before this... and that streak continues here as he participates in a sumo match against the legendary Akebono. Definitely more of an attraction than an actual match here with the crowd watching in confusement as Akebono easily tossed Show out of the ring to win the match. Just a match to use as a bridge before heading into the two main events.
Winner: Akebono
Rating: n/a

Match 7: WWE Championship - JBL (c) vs. John Cena
After winning the 2005 Royal Rumble, John Cena gets his biggest opportunity of his career, a WWE Championship match against JBL here at WrestleMania 21. JBL leaves his Cabinet in the limo as he decides to take on Cena without any help as dollar bills with JBL's face get dropped into the crowd from the arena. Pretty dull match here, especially with all the other bangers on the card. JBL is dominant throughout with Cena finally fighting back at the end and scoring an FU after dodging a Clothesline from Hell to capture his first WWE Championship. He celebrates in the crowd and he ushers in the era of John Cena. I'm not sure if this was just foreshadowing to how Cena's reigns as the top dog would be with him overcoming the odds at the very end of the match to win, but I just didn't feel like this was the match nor the moment to really help the audience get ready for the new era. Regardless, Cena was their guy and in 2019, it was certainly the smart decision to have him go big in 2005. 
Winner: John Cena
Rating: **1/2

Match 8: WWE World Heavyweight Championship - Triple H (c) vs. Batista
This is the culmination of years of anticipation as the implosion of Evolution reaches its course as Batista challenges his mentor Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. This is easily one of the most intriguing stories in WWE history and one of the best built stories heading into a main event for WrestleMania. Loved having Triple H come down to the ring with Motorhead playing his theme song live as he would then await his challenger and old friend in Batista. Triple H doesn't seem to be worried on in the beginning of the match as he's able to seemingly have control of the match with Ric Flair helping him in the background. However, Batista is able to drastically and dramatically turn the tides after busting open The Game on a ring post. The complexity of the match changed and went right into another gear. Triple H was able to hit Batista with the championship belt but it wasn't enough to give him room for a Pedigree finish. Batista pulls the trigger first and lands a Batista Bomb to beat Triple H. Afterwards, Batista stares down a bloodied and beaten Triple H. Amazing main event and easily one of the most underrated moments with Batista celebrating to cap off the night. From humble beginnings to headlining the biggest show of the year.
Winner: Batista
Rating: ****1/4

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
An incredible WrestleMania that for whatever reason, doesn't really get the credit I think it absolutely deserves. From the Hollywood theme to the incredible action in the ring to seeing Edge, Randy Orton, John Cena and Batista shine as the new faces of the company, this was one of the best WrestleManias of all time.
Rating: 10/10