Wrestlemania 21 Could Have Been The Best Of All Time

[Little Jerry Lawler]

When you watched Wrestlemania 21, you were in awe of some of the spots performed in the first Money In The Bank. You were eagerly anticipating HBK vs. Kurt Angle for the first time ever. You were mesmerized by Undertaker's entrance and relived the days of your youth seeing Hogan in yellow and red.

And then......

You had the underwhelming main events in JBL/Cena and HHH/Batista. JBL spent the whole year retaining the title whether it be by disqualification, interference, or escaping from under the ring in a cage match. Then he goes against Cena in a match where you would expect so much ref bumps and interference, you would think that this was a 2001 title match. Instead, Cena does his moves and he wins the title with no interference from the Cabinet or anything.

Our last match featured HHH against Batista in a battle between former members of Evolution. This was seen as the master versus the student. I remember King saying that HHH taught Batista everything he knows but not everything HHH knows. I did not like the layout of this match as HHH dominated the beginning and I immediately questioned if Batista even stood a chance. I would have had Batista dominate at the beginning with HHH finding a way to adapt and get the upper hand with Batista making his comeback at the end.

Could I forgive them for giving us Big Show vs. Akebono? I could but they had a better alternative and I wonder why they didn't do Big Show vs. Kane. Of course you would have asked who would have replaced Kane in Money In The Bank. My answer would have been....

Your resident black announcer, Booker T.

Booker T won the dark match battle royal which I didn't even know until a couple years ago. Shocked, I was. I thought he was injured. To me, Edge was the only legitimate threat to win MITB but if Booker T was in that match, I probably would have picked him to win.

Were the two title matches to your satisfaction or would you have to like to have seen them booked differently?

Did the two title matches prevent this Wrestlemania from surpassing Wrestlemania 17 as the best ever?

 

[RoyalSkull]

I remember before Lesnar left in 2004 that they were planning on doing HHH/Lesnar as the main event for Wrestlemania 21. So I think that would've been a pretty good feud/match. Also could've possibly avoided the whole Cena thing completely...

 

[Poop Master Flex]

Were the two title matches to your satisfaction or would you have to like to have seen them booked differently?

Not at all. The JBL vs. Cena match was very disappointing to me. I was pumped for Cena, I was really behind him at the time but in all honesty for whatever reason he just didn't look like he belonged to be champion at the time as the match was very underwhelming for me. I was looking for a great, hard fought match with Cena pulling off the victory but instead we basically go the birth of what fans now call the Super Cena routine. He got his ass handed to him for 10 minutes and in about 5 moves became champion. I just didn't buy it at the time and honestly after the match my interest in Cena started to wane. To me the match was short for a WWE title match and just came off as lazy.

HHH/Batista wasn't that bad and to be honest it was about what I expected for both guys. It was a little slow paced at times, I was hoping for more but in retrospect I didn't mind it at all, overall it got the job done.


Did the two title matches prevent this Wrestlemania from surpassing Wrestlemania 17 as the best ever?

Once again no. Wrestlemania 21 was a very good Wrestlemania and had some fantastic matches like the 1st MITB and Angle vs. Michael's. It also had a few duds like Stratus vs. Hemme and Big Show vs. Akebono. Another match that could have been much, much better was Rey vs. Eddie Guerrero to open the show. My biggest issue with that match was actually Rey, every 3 seconds he was adjusting his mask and little things like that can really take you out of the match. Honestly that is what I remember most of Rey vs. Eddie, was Rey constantly trying to fix his mask a 100 times during a 12-13 minute match.

Wrestlemania 17 was solid from top to bottom, every match satisfied and there were no duds on the card, even Chyna vs. Ivory was satisfying to watch and it was topped of with a great main event.

Even though the MITB Ladder match was awesome, it wasn't as good as TLC 2 from WM17 and although Michaels vs. Angle tops every match in WM 17, it wasn't enough from the sheer quality of all matches Wrestlemania 17 put on. Even if the 2 main events were rock solid WM 21 would not have been at the level of WM17. WM17 was way too solid top to bottom for WM21 to contest it.

 

[The Suplexer Perfecter]

Well JBL and Cena made up for it in that bloodbath of an I Quit match in May.

You did have a very solid Rey/Eddie match, the very fun Money in the Bank, Undertaker/Orton and Angle/HBK which was a classic.

I also think Wrestlemania 23 could have been the greatest ever as well if they changed up the ECW tag match to the match they had later on the TV show which was the 4 on 4 extreme rules match. Also the atrocious women's match could have been far better.

Were the two title matches to your satisfaction or would you have to like to have seen them booked differently?
No they weren't. But I doubt a different booking style would have fixed it. JBL vs Cena isn't a wrestling classic by any means.

Did the two title matches prevent this Wrestlemania from surpassing Wrestlemania 17 as the best ever?
First you assume WM 17 is the greatest, which I don't believe. But the title matches ALONE? No. You also had the bad Trish/Christy match, and the Big Show/Akebono thing.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

Were the two title matches to your satisfaction or would you have to like to have seen them booked differently?

They should have been booked differently IMO.

For Cena vs. JBL - They should have added a run in by the cabinet here, I mean it's so out of character for the cowardly heel not to have his backup once the battle start to get heated. I would have Cena to a first FU in the 11 min mark then Cabinet runs in tries to interfere then Cena get's his chain and blasts all the Cabinet mambers and another FU on JBL for the win. It probably would not have elevated the match to a classic but it would have stayed true to JBL's character and made Cena's first title win more emotional.

For Triple H vs. Batista - I know Triple H is the top man at the time but I think it would have made an impact and statement if Batista does a semi-squash on Triple H. Their match went on for over 20 mins and thats Triple H dominating for the most part. The match should have been kept simple and 15, Triple H can't put down Batista then Batista dominates Triple H in the final 3 mins almost destroying The Game. I would say in the last mins Batista avoids a pedigree does a closeline, beats on Triple H, Spinebuster, and a Batistabomb. It would have made a statement in the kind of monster Batista is.

Did the two title matches prevent this Wrestlemania from surpassing Wrestlemania 17 as the best ever?

Nope it would have been hard to top WM17 with WM21 ... not that its my personal fav since I still rank WM10, WM14, and WM19 higher. But it probably would have been a few notches below WM17.

 

[D-Blaze]

Another match that could have been much, much better was Rey vs. Eddie Guerrero to open the show. My biggest issue with that match was actually Rey, every 3 seconds he was adjusting his mask and little things like that can really take you out of the match. Honestly that is what I remember most of Rey vs. Eddie, was Rey constantly trying to fix his mask a 100 times during a 12-13 minute match.

I actually watched the new Rey DVD on Netflix a few nights ago and he talked specifically about that. The issue was that the mask he wore to the ring was a) too tight and b) held together by a single snap button rather than velcro. As soon as he and Eddie tied up in the opening moments of the match, the button popped open and anytime the mask was touched from that point forward, it shifted into Rey's eyes. So, at least it wasn't intentional, it was just a poorly made mask (and a good reason why I think we have not seen another button-clasped mask on Rey since that event that I can recall).

 

[Ruthless-RKO]

The main event matches were the only problem I had with this event.. It could easily have been better... It looks like, they spent soo much time working on the rest of the card, they forgot all about the main event matches!

I think WM21 is behind WMXIX.. That's jsut my opinion.. XIX had great matches, the card was really good especially the main event matches, only if they ahd given the undercard a bit more time, it could have easily topped WMX-Seven..

 

[DeathClutch]

I remember before Lesnar left in 2004 that they were planning on doing HHH/Lesnar as the main event for Wrestlemania 21. So I think that would've been a pretty good feud/match. Also could've possibly avoided the whole Cena thing completely...

Correct, I remember around Rumble 2004 it was spread all over the dirt sheets WWE planned on HHH/Lesnar @ WrestleMania 21.
I've often wondered how that match would of played out, and had Lesnar never left between Cena/Batista who would have broken out first.

WrestleMania 21 in the history of WWE probably doesn't stand up as being one of the best but look at the card and matches.

Angle/HBK - Best of the show and maybe year.
Undertaker/Orton - Good match but Orton was zero threat to Taker nowadays would be pretty epic.
HHH/Batista - Again this match was good, but had Batista or 2010 faced HHH of 2010 it would of been much better.
Money in the Bank - First of it's kind, so was trial and error, turned out much better and was used as a plateform for Shelton, but Edge was the guy to win and obvious.
Rey/Eddie - Shame for the lack of storyline but they made up for it in the months in front.
Trish/Christy - Pretty good and capitolized on the best diva in WWE and the playboy cover girl.

Big Show/Akebono - WWE ROYALLY FUCKED UP HERE.
for thoughs who don't follow MMA/K-1, Akebono was K-1's big attraction around 2003-2006. Unfortunately for him, his first fight against Bob Sapp he was brutalized, and this followed his career in MMA and in Kickboxing, his sole win was in the Japanese K-1 Grand Prix. Yet WWE pimped out Big Show which was a total shame as Akebono had NOTHING on Big Show and WWE could of easily skipped the match and had Big Show put in the JBL/Cena match (JBL and Big show had been feuding).

 

[stmarks2002]

Trips and Batista went exactly how I thought it would; HHH carry the match, slow at times, Batista rage....Maybe its me, but whenever HHH comes out to a LIVE motorhead band, he loses at Mania (17 and 21 for instance). As for the Cena/JBL match, I expected more interference and botched spots. I was a huge Cena mark back then but later saw how it affected the talents and "real" usage of Jericho and Christian. SuperCena was born that night and he's been pillaging us since. The Big Show/Akebono on divas matches could have been scratched but they happened for whatever reason it was.


In regards to Mania 17, let it sit alone at the top of the Wrestlemania mountain like it should. With the way creative and the WWE caters to Cena and the other gloryhogs, Wrestlemania won't ever be the caliber of WM17...new talent and better stories have to be pushed for that to happen.

 

[Dagger Dias]

I enjoyed both of the world title matches for what they were. It was a passing of the torch to Cena and Batista, who would remain top guys from that point onward until Batista left, and Cena is still the top guy today. The Cena/JBL match might have benefitted a little if The Cabinet had interfered, but it wasn't a bad match the way it went. Cena's victory was what was important, not who gets involved. Plus, if the match had been too epic then the crowd would have been too tired due to cheering too much to get into Trips VS Batista in the main event. Trips VS Batista was a great match and deserved to be the closing match to a great show. The match was the end to one of the biggest storylines in years. I honestly had no problem with it. The only thing wrong with this show was the Big Show and Akebono match. It was so pointless and felt out of place. Everything else was fantastic, making Wrestlemania 21 one of the best of this decade. I'm not sure if I could call it the best of all time though, even if outside interferences had occurred in both world title matches and if Big Show had faced someone in a regular wreslting match.

 

[sajsSAMynwa1892]

The main event matches were the only problem I had with this event.. It could easily have been better... It looks like, they spent soo much time working on the rest of the card, they forgot all about the main event matches!

I think WM21 is behind WMXIX.. That's jsut my opinion.. XIX had great matches, the card was really good especially the main event matches, only if they ahd given the undercard a bit more time, it could have easily topped WMX-Seven..

i thought wm19 was better than 21 as well, the michaels-jericho match and the pomp of the the rock stone cold 3, the main event was good as well, 21 has always annoyed me because of the last 2 matches, so im glad to see this thread, first money in the bank match undertakers best wm match since wm17 and the first(and best) angle-michaels match, but after seeing that godawful akibono segment, the poor cena-jbl match that emmited such a small reaction from the fans and the main event which was far too long and batista still didnt look ready yet, ruined it for me, i felt underwhelmed, dont get me wrong its still a very good ppv, but i preferred 19, and 17 is the absolute peak of wm in my opinion, that card wont be touched again i dont think.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

First off I'd just like to say that I thought it funny and iroinc you posted this saying COULD HAVE been the greatest Wrestlemania ever, when I consider it to be one of the Greatest Under-Cards for a wrestlemania Ever! My favorite Matches at every mania are always the the solid one on one grudge matches that dont usually have anything to do with a title, but rather evolve through story telling and the match has not only good technical wrestling but a great story told inside the the ropes, ex. Bret Hart vs. Austin at Mania 13, Hogan vs. Rock at Mania 18, HBK vs. Y2J at Mania 19, Taker vs. HBK 1 at Mania 25, Punk vs. Orton at Mania 28. etc. And, except for the Show/Akebono thing u described (which i totally agree that Kane shoul have faced Show and Booker taken his place), Mania 21 had some of the best you could have offered. You had Eddie vs. Rey which was a great rivalry and great story of tag champs competitive nature getting the best of them. You had The 1st ever MitB with some of the most athletic guys in this buiness competing every week in singles cometition preparing this unforseen battle. You had two of the most smokin divas EVER with a heated rivalry. You had prob my fav Taker/Mania match prior too Edge, HBK and HHH of recent years and great story of brining back Orton Sr. And then you had one of the best matches/story combinations EVER inside the squared circle with HBK/Angle taking each other too there limits.

And then you get too the main events.............(*Razzzzzzzzzberry*)

I mean HHH vs. Batista was good, but like stated earlier, it was mostly what was expected by them and they went on to have much better matches.
Not only would I say JBL and Cena would also go on to have alot better matches, but the others werent that great either. I respect JBl for his mic ability and tenure in the wrestling buisness but he was one of the most lackluster "superstars/champions" EVER! and this was after he left the APA which he gained alot of weight(not muscle) and formed one of the WORST stables in the last two decades w/Orlando Jordan, the Bashams, and.......... that one girl that was shorter and less attractive that Joy Giovanni....Amy Something' I think hahahaha anyways. Besides my distain for the latter part of JBL's career, Cena's Somewhat still a ganster/wigger character but changing to american grown boy/soilder gimmick might have even been worse!!(Also does any remember seeing those promos just before the mania match where John's family [Brother if I remember correctly] said how John's "hip hop" life style was "Very John" since he was a kid. WTF ever happened to that Cena?!?!?!?!?!) Either way this was one of the worst main events ever in my opinion and if they wnated to pushed Cena that bad, why not send him is as defending champ and have him loose to a Booker T or Eddie Guerrero, etc. or some vetern on Smackdown that he had a history with and lose respectivley and shake hands after or something???

So to wrap this up, while i disagree w/Wrestlemania 17 being the best ever, these main events (especially JBL vs. Cena) was not booked very well and the main events at Mania 17 far surpass it!