After the traditional America the Beautiful song was performed by female star Ashanti, Wrestlemania XIX began with a Cruiserweight Championship match between Champion Matt Hardy and Rey Mysterio. The first of nine matches went the way of Hardy. Other matches that took place included a triple-threat match for the Women’s Championship won by Trish Stratus and a triple-threat tag team match which saw champions Team Angle retain.
Undertaker’s Wrestlemania Streak
Going into Wrestlemania XIX Taker was boasting a 10-0 record at Wrestlemania, and was sung to the ring by Limp Bizkit. The phenom was set to team with partner Nathan Jones but he had been attacked by A-Train and The Big Show earlier and was out of the match. The man advantage showed during the match and The Undertaker endured a beat down, until Jones returned and took Show out with a spinning heel kick, before kicking A-Train in the face allowing Taker to hit the tombstone and take his record to 11-0.
Shawn Michaels v Chris Jericho
HBK looked to win the match early with a figure four leg lock, but Y2J quickly gained the initiative with the Walls of Jericho on the outside. It was Michaels however who got the first near fall after a moonsault from the top rope brought about a two count. A series of counters into pinning situations followed but neither man could get the win. Jericho looked to have the match won when he performed the lionsault but he could only get two separate two counts before locking HBK in the Walls of Jericho after countering a hurricanrana. Michaels countered by reaching the bottom rope to break the hold. The egotistical Jericho tried to win the match with Shawn’s Sweet Chin Music but Shawn kicked out after a two count. More counters and near falls followed before Michaels countered a back body drop to roll Jericho up for the win. At the end of the match Jericho downed Michaels with a low blow after an embrace.
Triple H v Booker T - World Heavyweight Championship
Booker controlled the match early on but interference from Ric Flair (who was in the corner of HHH) allowed the champion to get the better of his opponent. A series of leg based submission holds would in the end win the match for HHH as Booker failed to mount any serious offence despite regaining the advantage with a Harlem Leg Drop and finding a number of two counts (including when Flair placed HHH's leg on the ropes). HHH eventually won the match with a pedigree and retained his title.
Hulk Hogan v Vince McMahon
After a slow start the match moved to the outside where both men were bust open from chair shots to the head. The Chairman had the match won after hitting a leg drop off a ladder that sent Hogan through the Spanish announce table, but he could only get a two count when back in the ring. WWE great Roddy Piper interfered in the match hitting Hogan in the head with a pipe but again only a two count. Tired of the official Brian Hebner, McMahon would throw him to the outside and call on the services of henchman Sylvain Grenier. Another leg drop from Vince could still only earn the chairman a two count and the bloody Hogan would take out McMahon and Grenier with trademark crowd-pleasers. A boot to the face followed by three big leg drops ended the match and Hulkamania survived.
The Rock v Stone Cold
Stone Cold started the stronger, but with his back turned to argue with the official, The Rock took advantage and went to work on the previously injured knees of the rattlesnake, attempting to force a submission in the sharpshooter which Austin refused. In full control of the match The Rock taunted Austin by wearing his trademark vest. This briefly gave Austin the advantage and he hit The Rock’s signature move The Rock Bottom. A two count followed before The Rock hit Austin with his trademark Stone Cold Stunner, again followed by a two count. The Rock would then take the match away from Austin with a people’s elbow (two count) and two Rock Bottoms’ (both two counts) before a third Rock Bottom won the match for ‘The Great One.’
Kurt Angle v Brock Lesnar - WWE Championship
Angle began the match with well executed Wrestling take downs before targeting Lesnar’s injured ribs. Lesnar would continue to try and use his strength, but the intelligence of Angle would keep him one step ahead, until a countered F-5 into an ankle lock failed to make Lesnar tap who then delivered two quick F-5's (despite performing a botched shooting star press in the middle) to get the win and take the title.
Verdict: a superb Wrestlemania that really showed the WWE at its best.
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