Wrestlemania 16

Wrestlemania 16
April 2nd from Arrowhead Pond, California

Back Ground:

The main feud heading into WrestleMania was between Triple H, The Rock, Mick Foley, and The Big Show, with the four feuding over the WWF Championship. At the Royal Rumble two months prior, The Rock won the Royal Rumble match to become the number one contender to the WWF Championship at WrestleMania by last eliminating The Big Show, and Triple H defeated Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) in a Street fight to retain the WWF Championship. The proceeding month at No Way Out, The Big Show defeated The Rock to gain entry into the WWF Championship match at WrestleMania. Also at the event, Triple H defeated Foley in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the WWF Championship.Per the pre-match stipulation, Foley had to retire from professional wrestling.On the March 13 edition of Raw is War, The Rock managed to win back his title shot by defeating The Big Show with help from a returning Vince McMahon, thus making the WWF Championship match a Triple Threat match. Then, the following week, after Triple H retained his title against both The Rock and The Big Show, Linda McMahon came out announced that he would be defending his belt in a Fatal Four-Way match against not only The Rock and The Big Show, but also Mick Foley.

The Event:

The show starts with Lillian Garcia singing the national anthem.

A video then begins in black and white showing Wrestlemania main events through the years. It then fades to colour showcasing the Fatal Four Way main event with a Mcmahon family member representing each participant in the match. A weird stipulation and I don't think it will be good but let see what happens.

J.R and Jerry Lawler are our commentators.

Ice T is then introduced along with the Godfather and D-Lo Brown, he comes out and raps the Godfather's theme tune saying "Pimpin ain't easy", "Pimp of die" and "Grab your bitches" whilst the "Ho's" dance around the ring. Godfather does his usual phrases which the crowd loves.

Match 1:
Godfather & D-Lo Brown vs. Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan.

D-Lo and Godfather isloate Bull to start the match doing various double team moves. Godfather is wearing a ridiculous sparkly shirt to wrestle in. Bull does a great move as he is running towards the turnbuckle, he jumped to the top turnbuckle and Clotheslined D-Lo. Bull & Bossman do double team moves on D-Lo, a double punch to the face and a Scissor Kick combo. D-Lo gets chucked to the outside and Bossman Press Slam's D-Lo onto the guard rail. Jerry keeps going on about the "Ho" in the red and starts to get annoying. As Bull is on the top rope Godfather shakes the ropes to distract him, D-Lo goes up to the top rope and does a Hurricanruna.
Godfather gets the tag and does the Ho Train on Bossman. Bossman catches D-Lo with a Side Walk Slam out of nowhere, then Bull hits an impressive Leg Drop from the top rope for the win.

Winners: Bull Buchanan & Big Boss Man
Match Time: 9:05

An average match. Could have kicked off Wrestlemania in a better way. Bossman sucked in this match, he was very slow and sloppy. Bull looked promising tho.
Rating: 3/10

Triple H and Stephanie are backstage, I forgot that Stephanie was the Woman's Champion once. They about diamonds, no point in this video.

Next is a video from Heat where the referees explain the Hardcore Championship scramble that's coming up next.

Match 2:

Hardcore Championship scramble featuring Tazz, Viscera, Mean Street Posse, Hardcore Holly, Kaientai, Headbangers, A.P.A and Crash Holly (c).

In months leading to the event, Hardcore Champion Crash Holly had been involved in several matches which took place at increasingly unusual places, due to the title's 24/7 rule. After being chased to the ring by several WWE superstars, Crash pleaded for them to stop, as he had no time to relax, and was sleep deprived from being on guard all day and night. He proposed a match at WrestleMania with an open challenge to any wrestler, on the condition that the 24/7 rule was suspended until after WrestleMania.

This is basically a Wrestlemania payday for all these wrestlers. They had no use for them elsewhere on the card so shoved them into this match. So the rules of this match are the title can change hands anytime in the 15 minute period. After the 15 minutes whoever is the champion walks away with the title.

Tazz hits a Exploder Suplex on Crash Holly for the first title change and within a minute, Viscera slams Tazz into the ring post and then to the floor for the next pin. Tazz's reign lasted not even 30 seconds. Everyone tarts beating Viscera with weapons. Crash got busted open by Hardcore Holly. Tons of unprotected head shots from trash cans, cookie sheets, suitcases, phones and chairs. 

There are to many people in this match to keep an eye on, J.R says " Viscera is like a planet, what would he be called Uranus?". Nice fat and gay joke in one there. Kaientai both go for the pin on Viscera and get it and somehow Funaki is named champion. He runs to the back an gets pinned by Rodney (MSP). Joey Abs (MSP) does a Gutwrench Suplex to pin Rodney who was champion 24 seconds. Thrasher gets the pin on Joey Abs for another win. Pete Gas (MSP) hits Thrasher with a fire extinguisher for another pin. Tazz hits another suplexTazz keeps trying to pin people even tho he is the champion (he doesn't know whats going on either)

Crash pins Tazz but Tazz gets Crash in a Tazzmission. Hardcore Holly then hits Crash in the face with what looks like a glass full of sweets, this ending confused me and everyone else watching so bear with me. Hardcore Holly went for the pin with 4 seconds to go. The referee counts 2 but does not put his hand down for 3. It looks like he signalled that Crash got his arm up but Crash didn't move. Anyway Hardcore Holly gets announced as the champion from that fucked up ending.

Winner and New Hardcore Champion: Hardcore Holly

Match Time: 15:00

There's only so many times you can see someone get hit over the head with a weapon, this got boring very quickly. There were 10 title changes in this match which was not necessary. The ending was an absolute fuck up and the next night on Raw Crash won the title back from Hardcore Holly so there was no point in this match.

Rating: 1/10

Al Snow is in the toilet talking to someone, Steve Blackman comes in and asks whats going on but Al Snow denies he was talking to someone.

Match 3:

Al Snow & Steve Blackman vs. T&A (w/ Trish Stratus).

Al Snow gets on the mic and introduces Chester McCheeserton, who is a midget dressed as a lump of cheese. Trish is looking amazing and gets a massive pop from the crowd.

To start the match J.R's headset doesn't work and Jerry has to try and call the match for a bit which was funny as he isn't a play by play guy.

T&A double team Al Snow to start, Snow hits Albert with an Enziguiri. He then hits a Slingshot Leg Drop for a 2 count. This match is very sloppy and the crowd is not into it. Albert hits a Double Arm Suplex on Snow. Albert and Test then do a Double Powebomb on Snow. Snow hits an Asai Moonsault onto Albert and Snow and Blackman hit a nice Backbreaker/ Leg Drop combo on Test. Albert Baldo Bomb's Snow and Test hits a Top Rope Elbow Drop for the win.

Winners: T&A

Match Time: 7:05

This match was awful, the crowd was dead for it and the finish sucked. There was no build up for the finish and was very sloppy. Trish was the best part of this match.

Rating: 1/10

After the match Al Snow and Steve Blackman beat the hell out of the cheese midget.

Kat is backstage naked and they do these comedy spots where Mae Young is holding a phone out to Kat but Mae's arm is covering Kat's boobs. Mae Young then picks up a shirt which has a pussy on the front and holds it up, Kat is now standing and the pussy image is in line with Kat's vagina.

Michael Cole is talking to the Dudleyz. Bubba speaks like a retard again and says "thou should not F with the Dudleyz".

Match 4:



Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz (c) in a Ladder match for the WWF Tag eam Championship.

Jeff Hardy walks under all the ladders that are on the walkway to the ring which J.R states is "Bad luck".

They all brawl to start off the match. Jeff hits a Whisper In The Wind to Bubba. Bubba then hits Jeff with a massive Bubba Bomb. Ladders now come into play. They set Bubba and Devon up in seperate corners with ladders over them. Jeff runs and jumps into Bubba from Matt's back and Christian does the same to Devon off of Edge's back. The Hardyz Clothesline Edge with a ladder, they suplex Devon onto a ladder and Matt hits a elbow drop. Jeff then goes for a 450 Splash onto Bubba but he moves out of the way and Jeff takes a horrible landing onto the ladder. Bubba then puts a ladder on top of Jeff and does a Senton Bomb from the top rope.(That would surly hurt Bubba more than Jeff). Devon has Edge underneath a ladder and does a Top Rope Leg Drop which looked very painful. Bubba puts the ladder over his head like he used to in ECW and starts swinging it around, hitting everyone in sight.

Christian sets up a ladder and hits a Big Splash from the top of the ladder over the top tope to Bubba and Matt who were fighting outside. A "Holy Shit" chant rings out from the crowd. Edge does a great looking spear as Jeff is halfway up the ladder. Matt then gets a Crucifix Powerbomb on Edge from the ladder which looked sick. Three ladders are now set up in the ring, Bubba and Christian go to the top and Bubba hits a R.K.O from the top. The crowd goes insane for this move. Matt and Jeff do their Double team Splash/ Leg Drop from the ladder to Bubba. Another "Holy Shit" chant. This match is spot after spot, the crowd needs this after the last few matches. They show lots of the moves from a camera up in the rafters which looks great.
The Dudleyz 3-D Christian, they set up a table balancing ontop of two ladders then another 3 tables placed around. Bubba Powerbombs Matt through a table from the Spanish announce table on the outside. Devon goes through a splash onto Jeff but he moves out of the way so Devon goes through the table. Bubba sets up the biggest ladder I've ever seen with a table below it. Jeff hits a Swanton Bomb from the top of this ladder to Bubba through a table. This move was insane , much like the Swanton Bomb he did at the Rumble.
In the ring Edge, Christian and Matt Hardy are ontop of the balancing table, they chuck Matt off and he goes through a table. Edge and Christian then unlock the belts for the win.

Winners and New Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian
Match Time: 22:29

What a match! Everyone looked dead after this match. It was fast, spot after spot and no downtime. The crowd loved this match and don't think they cared who won as this match was amazing.
Rating: 10/10

Kevin Kelly is with Linda Mcmahon and Mick Foley. Linda sounds so false saying "Go for it" as it's Mick's dream to headline Wrestlemania, they state that it could be Mick's last match.

Val Venis comes out as he is the referee for the next match and states unlike Wrestlemania that comes once a year, he comes every night.

Match 5:
Terri (w/ Fabulous Moolah) vs. The Kat (w/ Mae Young)

Terri and The Kat both kiss Val to try and get an advantage. Mae Young tries to get her boobs out again and kisses Val. Terri somehow wins as The Kat got thrown to the outside which is very confusing.

Winner: Terri
Match Time: 2:25

There was no point in this so called match. What a stupid stipulation, if they go outside the ring they lose. I know the Rumble does that but they have to be thrown over the top rope. This made me angry.
Rating: 0/10

The Radicalz are in the back and Eddie is checking himself out in Dean Malenko’s cruiserweight title and Malenko and Saturn are making a plan. Perry Saturn says Eddie is not the only good looking guy in the group (is that a joke?) Eddie says he is going to give Chyna his Latino Heat tonight.

Match 6

The Radicalz vs. Too Cool & Chyna

Chyna comes out with her pyro gun, Too Cool came out dancing like idiots and I can’t think of why these guys were so over. Eddie keeps winking and blowing kisses at Chyna before the match.

A massive Eddie sucks chant to start the match. Grandmaster Sexay makes Chyna dance after doing a move and she looks like a retard. The Radicalz isolate Grandmaster Sexay. Lawler says that Chyna is starting to get moist (nice) Eddie gets suplexed to the floor from the apron. Scotty does a double Worm on Saturn and Malenko to a massive pop. I can’t believe how over this move was. Saturn hits a massive top rope elbow on Scotty and almost overshoots the landing. 

There’s a hot tag to Chyna and she beats on Malenko and Saturn as Eddie keeps running away. She does Two Hand Spring Elbows then two Low Blows. Eddie goes for a powerbomb on Eddie but she reverses it into a powerbomb of her own. She then grabs Eddie by the balls and does a press slam, then a Sleeper hold drop for the win.

Winners: Too Cool and Chyna

Match Time: 9:38

An ok match, a bit slow in some places and got sick of Too Cool dancing. Good to see the story between Eddie and Chyna with Chyna finally getting her hands on Eddie.

Rating: 4/10

Shane and Big Show are in the back talking about the match tonight saying they are not worried about anyone.

Kurt Angle is talking to a security guard asking for extra security after he wins the match and celebrates with the fans.

Match 7:

Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (c) (c)

Two Fall match For the Intercontinental and European championships

First Fall (Intercontinental Championship)

Kurt Angle is the Euro-Continental champion and got put into this match by Bob Backlund on Heat before Wrestlemania. Jericho cuts a promo saying “Kirk Angel and Mr Roboto will leave Anaheim with a t-shirt saying I went to Anaheim and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and a beating from Y2J that I will never….. Ever forget.

Benoit attacks Angle before he gets into the ring. Jericho hits a springboard drop kick to both Angle and Benoit. Angle Flapjacks Jericho to the steel steps on the outside. Back in the ring Jericho is on the top rope but Benoit pushes him off to the outside making Jericho hit the announce table. There are lots of chops by Benoit to Jericho. Angle hits a great looking belly to belly suplex on Jericho. Angle goes for a Cross-face chicken wing on Jericho but Benoit breaks it up. Benoit throws Angle into the front row of the crowd. 

He then goes to the top rope and hits a Diving Headbutt on Jericho who is still on the mat from Angle’s submission, getting the pin and the First fall sees a New Intercontinental Champion.

Second Fall:

European Championship.

Angle is angry and he goes for a moonsault on Benoit but he rolls out of the way. Jericho gets the Walls of Jericho on Angle but Benoit breaks the submission up again. Jericho hits a double powerbomb on Angle, Benoit then does 3 Belly to back suplex’s on Jericho. There’s a ref bump as Jericho runs into him. Benoit gets the Crossface on Jericho and Jericho taps but there’s no ref. Jericho then gets the walls on Benoit and he taps but still no ref, Angle grabs the title and corks Jericho in the head with it. Benoit misses a diving headbutt on Angle and Jericho hits a Lionsault on Benoit straight away for the pin and we get a New European champion.

Angle was not pinned at all in this match and he lost both titles. He is in the ring and very pissed off shouting at everyone.

Winners: New Intercontinental champion: Chris Benoit

                New European Champion: Chris Jericho

Match Time: 13:35

A great match, could have done with more time but they did well with what they had. I didn’t think they would have Angle lose both titles but they wanted him to move up to a main eventer. On Raw the next night Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Jericho for the European championship. I have no idea why they did this, Jericho was proper over with the crowd when he won the title.

Rating: 6/10

Michael Cole is with Vince Mcmahon, he says The Rock is confident about winning the title. It cuts to Triple H and he is pissed off and says he won’t lose the title because he is “that damn good”

Match 8:

Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Tori) vs. Rikishi & Kane (w/ Paul Bearer)

J.R and Jerry Lawler make about 10 ass jokes as Rikishi walks to the ring like “when Rikishi sits on chairs they beg for mercy”

Rikishi does the Stink face straight away on Road Dogg, Tori then gets in the ring and they tease a Stinkface but X-pac pulls her out. X-pac does some kicks into a spinning heel kick in the corner on Rikishi, then a Bronco Buster. Road Dogg does his Jive punches then the Shaky leg drop on Rikishi. Rikishi hits a cutter on X-pac then gets the hot tag to Kane who destroys X-Pac and Road Dogg. Paul Bearer chucks Tori in the ring and Rikishi finally does the Stink face on her. Kane Tombstone’s X-Pac for the win. J.R says Tori has a case of Ass breath thanks to Rikishi.

Too Cool come out again (yay) and Pete Rose in a chicken costume. They then dance. After that the real Pete Rose comes out with a bat and tries to hit Kane but Kane Chokeslam’s Pete. Rikishi then stink face’s Pete.

Winners: Kane & Rikishi

Match Time: 4:16 (The post match was also 4mins which was as long as the match!)

Not much to say, a quick match, it seems Road Dogg never has long matches at PPV’s the last 3 have been under 5 minutes. I hate the dancing bit at the end, I was hoping that Kane wouldn’t join in and he didn’t.

Rating: 2/10

Kevin Kelly is interviewing The Rock. He does an amazing promo as usual. Saying he is going to Lay the smack down on everyone. The crowd goes insane.

Match 9:

Mick Foley vs. Big Show vs. The Rock vs. Triple H (c) in a fatal four-way elimination match for the WWF championship.

Linda Mcmahon is in the corner of Mick Foley, Shane Mcmahon is in the corner of Big Show, Vince Mcmahon is in The Rock’s corner and Stephanie Mcmahon is in Triple H’s corner. I hate that there is a Mcmahon in every corner; it feels like it takes something away from the match.

There’s No D/Q in this match so anything goes. Mick Foley beats the hell out of Triple H in the corner. Big Shows shirt says Big Nasty Bastard; this was when he was a top heel. Big Show press slam’s every person in the match. Mick is on Big Show’s back and Big Show falls back on top of Mick with all his weight. That must have broken some ribs. All 3 men start beating on Big Show, they get him on the ground and start stomping on him at the same time. Shane gets up on the apron and The Rock hits him off, Foley hits Big Show in the back with a chair and he walks into a Rock Bottom for the pin. Big Show is eliminated at 4:50 to a massive pop from the crowd.

They have a stand off and all men try getting the other to work with them. Eventually The Rock and Foley beat on Triple H. They toss him to the outside. The Rock accidentally hits Foley with the ring bell. Mick finds the Barbed wire bat but Triple H gets it and hits him with it. Foley gets Mr Socko out and gets Triple H with the Mandible claw. The Rock hits Triple H with the belt and as he goes for the People’s Elbow, Foley gets the Mandible claw on The Rock. The crowd boo this. Foley hits a Double arm DDT on the Rock for a 2 count. Triple H and Foley double team The Rock which gets more boo’s from the crowd as Foley is meant to be a babyface. Foley gets thrown into the steps by The Rock on the outside; his knees must be totally blown out. The Rock gets put on the announce table and Foley hits a top rope elbow onto The Rock but the table doesn’t break and it looks like it hurt Mick. Triple H then elbows The Rock but the table still doesn’t break, he then stands on the other announce table which breaks under his weight. This was hilarious and obviously wasn’t meant to happen; I think they used the wrong table. Triple H gets up on the barrier and hits another elbow drop which finally broke the table to a big cheer from the crowd. Foley and Triple H get back in the ring and Triple H Pedigree’s Foley but he kicks out. Triple H then hits him in the head with a sick chairshot then another Pedigree onto the chair to pin Foley at 19:40. Foley goes out to a massive cheer and Foley chant as it is his last match. Foley walks back into the ring and hits Triple H in the head with the barbed wire bat (Redemption).

The Rock and Triple H slug it out in the ring, they then go down the entrance way and The Rock suplex’s Triple H onto the concrete. They then fight through the crowd and back to ringside. Triple H piledriver’s The Rock onto the steel steps which looked and sounded sick. It made me say “Holy shit”. They do lots of counters of their finishers in the ring. Triple H gets backdropped to the floor and they fight over the barricade and into the crowd again. The Rock suplex’s Triple H through the announce table that broke a little bit earlier. Vince then starts beating on Triple H when he gets up but Shane comes down and beats on Vince and hits him with a monitor. Vince gets up and starts beating the crap out of Shane but Shane gets a chair and hits Vince in the head with it which busts him open. This serves as a rest spot for Triple H and The Rock. Vince gets taken to the back and they get back to it in the ring. Triple H hits The Rock with the barbed wire bat. Shane gets in the ring but gets accidentally knocked down by Triple H. and Triple H walks into a Rock Bottom but fails to pin Triple H. Vince runs back down and beats on Shane again. Vince picks up the chair and hits The Rock with it! Turning his back on The Rock. The crowd can’t believe it. Triple H goes to pin him but he kicks out to a massive pop from the crowd. The Rock gets back up and Vince hits him again with the chair and Triple H finally pins The Rock for the win. The crowd starts throwing rubbish into the ring as they hated the ending of the match. Vince and Stephanie get hit with various drinks as they hug in the ring. The Rock runs back to the ring and hits the Rock Bottom on Shane, Vince and even Stephanie. The crowd goes nuts at this. He then hits the People’s Elbow on Stephanie to end the show.

Winner and still WWF champion: Triple H

Match Time: 36:28

A really good match even with all the Mcmahon stuff. Getting the Big Show out of the way first was good. I thought it would come down to Foley and Triple H at the end but it didn’t matter as they had to turn Vince. Lots of good spots and the best they could have done with a Four way.

Rating: 7/10

PPV Rating:

Quite possibly the worst Wrestlemania I have ever seen. There were a few stand out matches like the ladder match, the Angle, Jericho and Benoit match and even the Four Way was ok. I would have been pissed if i had paid $35 for three good matches.

Rating: 4/10