WWE WrestleMania 22 Review (Part 1)

WWE WrestleMania 22
April 2, 2006
Rosemont, Illinois

The biggest show of the year features a stacked card with championships and personal bragging rights on the line. John Cena faces his biggest challenge yet as he defends his WWE Championship against Triple H in the main event. Rey Mysterio must tackle both Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to earn his first World Heavyweight Championship and Shawn Michaels looks to put an end to his personal beef with Vince McMahon.

Match 1: WWE World Tag Team Championship - Kane & The Big Show (c) vs. Carlito & Chris Masters
Remember when Carlito and Chris Masters were a thing in the WWE? Well, they opened up the night here to challenge the two biggest monsters in the WWE for the World Tag Team Championship. Safe choice to open up the night, there really wouldn't be a better spot on the card for these guys. Decent match for what it was, short and to the point. Carlito & Masters were able to get in a bit of offense but Kane & The Big Show but after Masters inadvertently took out Carlito from the top rope, Kane hit Carlito with a Chokeslam to secure the win for his team. Would have been cool to see Carlito & Masters sneak out a win against these two considering how high the company seemed to be on them in 2005-2006. Either way, on to the rest of the show because it's about to really pick up.
Winners: Kane & The Big Show
Rating: *1/4

Match 2: Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Finlay vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ric Flair
I've probably seen this match more times than any other Money in the Bank match so giving it a score might be pretty difficult here. This is exactly how a Money in the Bank match should be constructed, not too many guys so it doesn't create such a clutter and a match that's full of guys who are just inches away from being back or new to the main event scene. Also, this match didn't drag out longer than it needed to, it went on for nearly 15 minutes and they made use of every single minute in the match. Tons of new spots and old spots with Shelton Benjamin continuing to be the shining spot for these matches. However, no better spot for me came when Ric Flair was suplexed off the top of a ladder by Matt Hardy. I can clearly recall my 7th grade self watching this match and wondering if Flair was really hurt or not. Good times. Anyway, Rob Van Dam secures the big win by pushing both Hardy and Benjamin off a ladder before retrieving the briefcase up top. Perfect choice to win this match as the ECW One Night Stand event a couple months after this needed a big main event and now, they got it. Easily one of my favorite Money in the Bank matches ever.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Rating: ****1/4

Match 3: WWE United States Championship - Chris Benoit (c) vs. JBL
Interesting to see these two go at it here on the mid-card after being in marquee matches the past couple years. As you would expect, very physical match. Those chops that Chris Benoit would deliver to his opponents were no joke, I could almost feel JBL's pain as I watched through my screen. They didn't want to overstay their welcome here with bigger matches on the card coming up and needing more time so they went straight to the point. Physical from the start and JBL was being his usual heel self by using Jillian at ringside as a shield. Benoit was in control for the better part of the match and finally locked in his Crippler Crossface in the middle of the ring before JBL was able to roll him up and score the win with some help of grabbing the ring ropes. Good match for what it was, nobody was expecting a classic here but they certainly gave us a nice match to transition into one of the bigger matches for the night.
Winner: JBL
Rating: **3/4

Match 4: Hardcore Match - Edge vs. Mick Foley
Man... I haven't seen this match in years. I just remember watching this match on loop as a kid to the point where I remembered the match in its entirety. Edge is coming off the biggest win of his career with a WWE Championship victory over John Cena in January. He tries to rebound his loss a few weeks later here with a huge match against Mick Foley in a Hardcore Match. Great build to the match in the preceding weeks with Lita playing a fantastic role in making everyone hate Edge that much more. Almost scary to go back and watch these old hardcore matches where shots to the head came a dime a dozen. It made for some sick sounds and spots but man... they looked brutal. Loved how Foley disguised some barbed wire beneath one of his flannels which allowed Edge to injure himself on a Spear. From there, the blood began to pour from both parties. The two did not hold back at all throughout this match with thumbtacks being brought in the match along with Mr. Socko covered in barbed wire to help push the pain a little more. But of course, the biggest and most legendary spot of the match came when Edge Speared Foley through a flaming table to put the nail in the coffin. Incredible finish to the match that has truly carried on for years after this. Both Edge and Foley get their marquee WrestleMania moments and what a moment it was.
Winner: Edge
Rating: ****1/4

Match 5: Booker T & Sharmell vs. The Boogeyman
WrestleMania 22 is my favorite WrestleMania ever and I just wish there was a way for me to forget that this match happened. Seriously, what did Booker T do to deserve this? I tried finding a video of him discussing this match on his podcast or something but to no avail. So if anyone can find that, that would be great. This was a silly squash match that saw The Boogeyman break out the worms and deliver a kiss to Sharmell with a mouth full of them. Finally, Boogeyman drops Booker T with his finisher to secure the win. Moving on.
Winner: The Boogeyman
Rating: 1/4*