The 20th installment of World Wrestling Entertainment's biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, is coming up soon. While no matches have been announced yet, it is sure to be quite an extravaganza. WrestleMania is always expected to deliver the biggest performances of the year, but the bar will be set even higher this year thanks to 2003's fantastic WrestleMania XIX.

Not every WM has been great, but most have delivered on the hype and then some. WM X7 had been my favorite to date, but after seeing XIX, I've been debating which I like better. Even the best WM's have had weak matches amidst the classics, but XIX had a solid card from top to bottom. The last five matches could have served as main events for any Pay Per View, and the other four were strong as well. In fact, the only crappy parts of the show were the two performances by Limp Bizkit and the four-girl catfight, which provided some very nice eye candy but was basically silly, pointless filler.

This WM was more focused on wrestling than any other I can remember. In recent years we've seen many "gimmick" matches such as ladder matches or table matches to provide the sick high spots. Only McMahon/Hogan featured such high spots and brutality, allowing the rest of the show to focus on athleticism. Although I was glad to get my fix of blood and "holy sh*t" moments, I was happier to be treated to a more technically-focused show.

WM XIX opened with Matt Hardy defending his Cruiserweight title against the high-flying Rey Mysterio. With these two, you know you're in for a very creative, athletic match. Things get a little less athletic with a 2-on-1 match pitting the Undertaker, who has never lost at WrestleMania, against Big Show and A-Train. All three are huge, so don't expect a technical match-up. Nevertheless, they put on a good show and kept the crowd pumped.

Back to better wrestling with the ladies. Women's Champion Victoria puts her title on the line against both Trish Stratus and Jazz. As much as I love looking at the beautiful Stacy Kiebler or Torrie Wilson, I also enjoy seeing female wrestlers getting the chance to show that they are more than just eye candy - they are talented athletes. We then get another triple threat match, this time with three teams vying for the Tag Team Championship. Team Angle (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defend against Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo) and the team of Chris Benoit and Rhyno. With six talented wrestlers in the ring, you know you're in for an action-packed showcase of skills.

Next up is what many consider the match of the night. Chris Jericho (the guy on my profile page) said that he grew up wanting to be the next Shawn Michaels, but he later realized he could be something better: the first Chris Jericho. At WM XIX he tried to prove which was better, taking on his former idol, the Heartbreak Kid. Despite having taken four years off due to a severe back injury, Michaels kept up perfectly with the younger Jericho, both men putting on an exciting display of skills and in-ring psychology. This was definitely one of the best of the year.

Hulk Hogan versus Vince McMahon, a match that was "20 years in the making," was surprisingly good. The build-up was easy since they drew on real life: Hogan left for WCW in the mid-90s and testified against McMahon in the infamous steroid trial, and each man has taken credit for creating Hulkamania. Their match delivered. Fueled by hatred, they put on a show that saw blood, high spots, and the return of another of Hogan's arch enemies. Very entertaining.

The main event for WM's XV and X7 saw "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeating the Rock for the WWF title. The fact that the Rock had done it all except beat Austin at WrestleMania was eating him alive, and he was determined to change that record. Even though this was their third WM encounter and not a main event title match, these two greats did not disappoint. While not the best of the three, they put on an entertaining enough show that it didn't matter.

In 2002, the WWE roster was split in two, with one half taking the RAW show on Mondays and the other half wrestling on Thursday's SmackDown! show. Each group has its own heavyweight champion, and both belts were defended at this event. First Triple H, the most hated man in wrestling, defended his title against Booker T. Booker, a five time WCW champion was made to look like a fool upon entering WWE. After two years, he finally became a main eventer and given a shot at the RAW title. Both men put on a good match, and having the living legend Ric Flair in HHH's corner made things even more interesting.

The second championship match was the night's main event. Kurt Angle, today's best pro wrestler, defended the SmackDown! title against Brock Lesnar. This was a match fans wanted to see since Lesnar first arrived, as both men were highly skilled. Angle won the gold medal for wrestling
in the 1996 Olympics while Lesnar was an NCAA wrestling champion. Both had amazingly prolific rookie years, and Lesnar was looking to cap his off by regaining the belt at wrestling's biggest showcase.

Unfortunately, the match will be remembered for the end when Lesnar just missed a shooting star press and landed on his head, resulting in a concussion. Luckily he was able to finish the match and was soon back in the ring. But what this match should be remembered for is great wrestling: fast-paced action, sick suplexes, dramatic kick-outs. This match opened up an intense, long-lasting feud - possibly the best of 2003, a year that will be remembered for hosting one of the best WrestleManias yet.



More wrestling reviews:

Books:

The Death of WCW
WrestleCrap
Foley Is Good
Videos
WrestleMania X7
No Mercy 2001
Summer Slam 2002
Hardy Boyz: Leap of Faith



Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older