WWE WrestleMania 25th Anniversary Review

WWE WrestleMania 25th Anniversary Review:

This is my review of the 25th Anniversary WrestleMania show that took place on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Excellent opening video with all of the wrestlers talking about being on a Mania show.

Nicole Sherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls out to sing "America the Beautiful."

Great fireworks display to start off the show with.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match -

Participants are CM Punk, Mark Henry, MVP, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, Christian, and Kane. Crowd into Punk, MVP, Finlay, Kofi, and Christian. FINLAY HAS HIS BELFAST BRUISER ENTRANCE GEAR ON! AWESOME! HUGE reactions for Punk and Christian. Starts off with everyone brawling. Henry and Kane fighting in the ring. Shelton and Christian take down down with a ladder. Kofi dropkicks the ladder into Shelton and Christian. Ladder Boom Drop by Kofi to them. Everyone else eliminates Henry and Kane. Kane and Henry knock MVP, Finlay, Punk, and Shelton off two ladders. Suicide Dive by Finlay to the floor onto Shelton and Kane. Dive by Christian to Shelton, Finlay, and Kane. Sommersault Dive off the apron by MVP to all of them. Suicide Dives by Kofi and Punk to everyone on the floor. TOP OF THE LADDER DIVE BY SHELTON TO EVERYONE ELSE ON THE FLOOR! HOLY CRAP! Henry now climbing to the top turnbuckle but Finlay uses the shilleleigh on him. Hornswaggle with the step ladder. TADPOLE SPLASH BY HORNSWAGGLE OFF THE BACK OF MARK HENRY AND DOWN TO EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR! Best Leprechaun moment ever. Between the ladder dropkick by Kofi to Finlay. Finlay tosses the stepladder into Kofi's face. Celtic Cross by Finlay to Punk onto the stepladder. Finlay using the stepladder as a weapon. KOFI CLIMBS A STANDING LADDER HENRY IS HOLDING, HENRY LETS GO AND CATCHES HIM, THEN HENRY POWERSLAMS HIM ON THE LADDER! WOW! Powerbomb by MVP to Shelton. UNPRETTIER OFF A HORIZONTAL LADDER BY CHRISTIAN TO PUNK! SHELTON RUNS UP THREE LADDERS! Tell me I didn't just see that. Sunset Flip Powerbomb botch. Shelton Powerbombs MVP over the top rope and onto Henry and others. Christian tips over the ladder on purpose but catches himself and sends Shelton out to the floor. Christian almost has the briefcase but Punk and Kane are there too. Kane chokeslams Christian off the ladder. Punk kicks Kane off the ladder and grabs the briefcase. Punk wins it for the second straight year. Great match.

Winner: CM Punk

Fan Axxess Tour footage. Really good stuff. Wish I went to the one in Phoenix last year.

25 Diva Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal -

YES! They cut out the nine minute Kid Rock performance, lol. SUNNY! YES! This is just a wild brawl with divas hitting other random divas. Beth Phoenix on the rampage. She's the only one dominating. They finally realize Santino is in the match, LMFAO. "Santino" chants throughout. SANTINO WINS! Beth doesn't know who it is. Candice Michelle in to present the crown to the winner. "My name is Santina" lol and she says Santino's twin sister from Italy, LMFAO! THIS IS GREAT! Santina starts dancing. Horrible other than the ending.

Winner: Santina

Handicap Match, Chris Jericho vs. Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, and Ricky Steamboat (with Ric Flair) -

GREAT pre-match video about what set all of this up. Jericho during this period was awesome. MICKEY ROURKE! He's there to support the legends competing in this match. Crowd cheering loudly for all four legends. Starts off with Piper and Jericho. Piper tackles Jericho over the top rope and out to the floor. Jericho rammed into the announce table. DROPKICK BY PIPER! Snuka in. Steamboat with a top rope chop and two arm drags. Walls of Jericho by Jericho to Snuka. Snuka taps out and is eliminated. Eye poke by Piper. Sleeper Hold by Piper. Running Enzuguiri by Jericho eliminates Piper. TOP ROPE CROSSBODY BLOCK BY STEAMBOAT! Steamboat skins the cat and backdrops Jericho the floor. CROSSBODY OUT TO THE FLOOR BY STEAMBOAT TO JERICHO! Steamboat still has it! Top rope chop by Steamboat. Running bulldog by Jericho. Jericho misses the Lionsault after Steamboat rolls out of the way. Powerslam by Steamboat. Walls of Jericho reversed into an inside cradle by Steamboat. Codebreaker by Jericho for the win. Flair comes in and fights Jericho only to be taken down by the Codebreaker. Jericho gets on the microphone and talks some smack about the legends. Jericho challenges Rourke to come in and fight him. Rourke finally accepts. Rourke in the ring and they ready to fight. They have a brief boxing match and Rourke knocks down Jericho with a left hook. Flair and Rourke celebrate. Much better than I was expecting.

Winner: Chris Jericho

Extreme Rules, Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy -

Really liked the storyline leading to this match. Like Matt's new wrestling and entrance gear. Jeff comes out wearing some weird facepaint. Starts off with Jeff slapping Matt and then a fistfight. Jeff smashes a sign over Matt's head. Matt's head rammed into the ringsteps. Jeff leaps into Matt off the steps and into the barricade. Jeff misses the same move in the ring and lands on the top turnbuckle. Chair to the knee by Matt during a Whisper in the Wind. Matt smashes a vaccuum cleaner into Jeff's head. Side Effect on the chair by Matt. Matt in control. Matt uses the ringpost to do a surfboard type manuever. Matt gets out a table. Running clothesline off the apron by Jeff to Matt on the floor. Matt dropkick and falls backfirst into the ringsteps. Jeff using a Kendo stick and a crutch as weapons. Jeff puts a garbage can over Matt's head and smashes the crutch into it. MULE KICK TO MATT WHO'S IN THE TRASH CAN BY JEFF! AWESOME! Jeff misses the Swanton Bomb. Twist of Fate by Matt. Superplex by Jeff. Jeff smashes a steel chair into Matt's head. Jeff puts Matt on the table with a steel chair on his chest. He gets out another table and sets it on top of the table Matt's on! TOP ROPE SPLASH BY JEFF THROUGH THE TWO TABLES AND MATT TO THE FLOOR! HOLY CRAP! This match is GREAT! Jeff pulls three ladders out from under the ring. Running legdrop off a chair by Jeff. JEFF MISSES A LEAPING LEGDROP OFF ONE LADDER AND OVER ANOTHER AND LANDS HARD ON THE MAT! AMAZING! TWIST OF FATE TO JEFF WITH A CHAIR OVER HIS HEAD! Matt pins Jeff and wins the match. This match was really good. I really liked this.

Winner: Matt Hardy

Randy Orton backstage in his locker room with Legacy.

WWE Intercontinental Championship, JBL (c) vs. Rey Mysterio -

JBL comes out with the title belt and a microphone. Says he had a Mania vision that he would come in as a champion. Says Texas has no men, says they're trying to find a job, and he's going to give them hope. LOL Says they can look at him and be proud of him as their hero. Says he's going to return to New York and to his famous wife as their hero. This was really good. Rey dressed as the Joker. He even has the green hair, lol. HE'S EVEN LICKING HIS LIPS LIKE THE JOKER! LMFAO THIS IS GREAT! GREAT cheap shot kick to the face by JBL during instructions. JBL beating up Rey before the bell. JBL yelling to ring the bell, lol. Enzuguir by Rey. 619 and a Top Rope Splash by Rey. He pins JBL for the win in MAYBE 15 seconds. Mysterio celebrating in the aisle with the belt. King says it was 21 seconds. JBL is in shock in the ring and asks for the mic. Says he has something to say and then he quits. Crowd cheers wildly. Fans sing him out of the building at the end of this. This was good for what it was and is JBL's last official WWE match.

Winner: New Champion Rey Mysterio

Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker -

GREAT pre-match hype video setting this match up. They really hype up Taker's undefeated streak at Mania and HBK being Mr. WrestleMania. They also do a great job of showing their previous Mania matches. They also did great bringing in Michaels religion as an aspect of this storyline too. Really liking this. HBK comes down from the heavens wearing a white entrance outfit that is exactly like Taker's black entrance attire. Seems like he's coming down from Heaven. Smoke is all over the stage. This is really cool. White fireworks sparkling and it goes from the holy music to his theme song. Undertaker has the best entrance ever. This is so cool. Starts off with a staredown. Starts off with Taker stalking HBK and HBK getting the advantage with punches and chops. Taker hurls HBK over the top turnbuckle and to the apron. HBK leaps over Taker, fakes a knee unjyry, and then takes Taker down with a Thesz Press and punches. Taker throws HBK into the corner again and punches him down. Crowd split on who to cheer for. Taker in control. High Back Body Drop by Taker. Old School by Taker. HBK ducks a Big Boot in the corner and Taker hurts his leg. Kick to the head by HBK. Figure Four Leglock by HBK. Dropkick to the knee by HBK. Taker catches HBK and rams him into the turnbuckles. Corner Avalanche and Corner Clothesline by Taker. Snake Eyes and Big Boot by Taker. Chokeslam countered into a Crossface by HBK. Taker counters by picking up HBK and nailing him with a Sidewalk Slam. Flying Forearm and Nip Up by HBK. Two Inverted Atomic Drops by HBK.

TAKER SITS UP AND CATCHES HBK OFF THE TOP ROPE BY THE THROAT, GOES FOR A CHOKESLAM, HBK COUNTERS WITH A FAKE SUPERKICK AND THEN A FIGURE FOUR ATTEMPT THAT IS COUNTERED INTO THE HELL'S GATE! Awesome sequence. Taker rams HBK's head into the ringsteps. HBK moves out of the way as Taker goes for the apron legdrop. Baseball Slide by HBK. HBK MISSES A TOP ROPE SPINNING MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP ROPE AND DOWN TO THE FLOOR AS TAKER DODGES HIM! HOLY CRAP! TAKER LAUNCHES HIMSELF OVER THE TOP ROPE AND NAILS THE CAMERAMAN WITH A FLYING PLANCHA AS HBK PUSHES THE CAMERAMAN INTO THE LINE OF FIRE! TAKER LANDS ON HIS HEAD! UNBELIEVABLE! HBK drags the ref in and wants him to count Taker out. Taker makes it in at nine. Taker dodges the Sweet Chin Music and counters with a Chokeslam. Crowd really into this. HBK blocks the Chokeslam attempt and hits Sweet Chin Music. Taker goes for the Last Ride but HBK counters into a Sunset Flip that Taker counters into the Last Ride. HBK KICKS OUT! Taker is in shock. Taker misses a top rope elbowdrop. HBK SKINS THE CAT AND TAKER CATCHES HIM INTO THE TOMBSTONE! HBK KICKS OUT! Taker's in shock and JR's about to lose his voice. Taker signals it's over. Tombstone attempt countered into a DDT by HBK. Top rope elbow drop by HBK. SUPERKICK BY HBK! TAKER KICKS OUT! Crowd going wild. Both men use each other to reach their feet before trading blows. Big Boot by Taker. Taker goes for the Tombstone but HBK counters it. Big Boot by HBK. HBK GOES FOR A MOONSAULT AND GETS CAUGHT IN A TOMBSTONE! Taker pins him to win the match. Crowd goes wild again. Both men down after the match. That was the best match in Mania history and one of the best matches ever in general.

Winner: Undertaker

Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship, Edge (c) (with Vickie and Chavo Guerrero) vs. Big Show vs. John Cena -

Great video setting up this feud about Edge winning the title at Elimination Chamber, Big Show being named number one contender, Cena revealing Vicki's affair with Big Show, and instigating the feud between Edge and Big Show. Starts off with Chavo rolling Vickie to the ring in a wheelchair. Cena's old theme music starts playing and an army of John Cenas stand on the side s of the entrance rampway. Starts off with Big Show dominating Cena and Edge. Show crotches Edge on the top rope. Show crotches hhimself on the top rope after a missed Big Boot. Edge dropkicks the ringsteps into Show's legs. TOP ROPE LEGDROP DOWN TO THE FLOOR BY CENA TO SHOW! Best Cena move ever. Edge now in control. Cena punches Edge off the top rope and Edge falls to the floor. Sidewalk Slam by Show. Chavo trips Cena and pulls him out to the floor only to get the Attitude Adjustment on the floor by Cena. Show tied up in the ropes. Cena in control of Edge. Five Knuckle Shuffle by Cena to Edge. Vickie on the apron. Edge Spears Vickie off the apron and into Chav on the floor. Show: "HEY REF! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" lol Double shoulder tackle by Show to Cena and Edge. Show Avalanching Cena and Edge in seperate corners and then at the same time. Show goes for a Double Chokeslam but only gets Edge as Cena gets out of it. Attitude Adjustment countered by Show and then a Knockout Punch by Show to Cena who falls out to the floor. Edge counters a Chokeslam on the floor with a DDT to show. EMT's helping Vickie to the back. EDGE USES THE RINGSTEPS TO DO A LEAPING SPEAR TO SHOW THROUGH THE SECURITY BARRICADE AND INTO THE FIRST ROW! Great spot. Spear by Edge countered into an STF by Cena. Show keeps Edge from tapping out and then punches out Cena on the floor. Show misses a middle rope splash. Double Suplex by Cena and Edge to show. They look at each other and reluctantly team up to double clothesline Show out to the floor. Cheap shot by Edge immediately afterward. Blockbuster by Cena to edge. Show pushes Cena off the top rope and into a Spear by Edge. Sleeper Hold by Edge to Show. CENA LIFTS SHOW AND EDGE OFF THE GROUND! Edge gets out of it but Cena picks Show up and nails the Attitude Adjustment. Edge comes over and Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment on Edge onto Show. Cena covers Show for the win. Cena goes into the crowd with the belt and celebrates with the fans. Great visual there. This match was just okay. Nothing too special here.

Winner: New Champion John Cena

Highlights of the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony from the night before. Hall of Fame inductees are Terry and Dory Funk, Koko B. Ware, The Von Erich Family, "Cowboy" Bill Watts, Howard Finkel, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Vince: "He is without a doubt the greatest WWE superstar of all time." You hear that, Rock fans? Austin is the greatest. You can start bitching now because, in my opinion, Austin is the better of the two.

Hall of Famers introduced to the live crowd at Mania. Big reactions for Finkel, Koko, Kevin Von Erich, Steamboat, and Austin. HUGE reaction for Austin. Austin disappears. Austin's music hits and he's in an Austin shirt and driving his ATV to the ring, lol. He drives it up the rampway halfway and then backs it up to the ring. Austin drinking beer in the ring and then drinking beer on the floor with JR. Austin throws the entire cooler with beers in it in the ring and toasts the fans. Austin drives out on the ATV.

Hype video for Mania XXVI in Phoenix, Arizona the next year.

Lillian Garcia announces that there are 72,744 fans are in attendance at Mania.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Triple-H (c) vs. Randy Orton -

GREAT hype video pre-match about the storyline. Good choice of showing Trips turning on Orton and Orton using that as motivation to ruin his life. AWESOME video highlights of Orton taking out each McMahon, Trips attacking Orton at his home, and Orton hitting Stephanie with a DDT before kissing her in front of Trips who was handcuffed to the top rope. This Orton heel storyline was his best storyline. Trips walking out of his locker room backstage and is greeted without a word by Vince and Shane McMahon. Orton looks like a Terminator cyborg out to kill John Connor the way he's walking out to the ring. Trips comes out with a sledgehammer. He tosses it through a wall of glass before walking to the ring. Yeah, that was meant to look cool but instead looked stupid. Trips standing on the middle rope in ring staring down at Orton who's standing on the ringsteps. Great visual. If Trips is DQ'd or gets Counted Out he loses the WWE Championship. Starts with Trips tackling Orton down and punching him in the head. More punches from Trips. Trips pulled off by the ref and RKO out of nowhere. Orton too dazed to capitalize. Orton sets up for the Punt. Trips dodges it and Pedigrees Orton. Both men on the floor and Trips knocks Orton down from behind with a forearm smash. Trips rams Orton's head into the announce table. Trips blocks a ringpost shot before ramming Orton into the ringpost. More punching from Trips. Slingshot using the bottom rope to clothesline Orton by Trips. Orton whips Trips into the ringsteps. Trips whipped into the barricade and goes over it into the first row at ringside. Orton now in control. Back Suplex by Trips. Powerslam by Orton. Reverse Chinlock by Orton. Both men trading punches. High Knee by Trips. Pedigree countered into a Slingshot Suplex and Trips goes facefirst into the top turnbuckle. Lariat counter by Trips. Snake Eyes counter by Orton. Pedigree countered into a Double leg roll up pin attempt by Orton. RKO countered into a roll up by Trips. Spinebuster by Trips. Pedigree countered into an Inverted Backbreaker by Orton. TOP ROPE MOVE BY TRIPS COUNTERED INTO A STANDING DROPKICK BY ORTON! WOW! Punt countered by Trips and then Orton flipped over the top rope to the floor by Trips. Orton's head rammed into the announce table. Trips goes to use the monitor but ref talks him out of it. TRIPS GOES FOR A PEDIGREE ON ONE ANNOUNCE TABLE ONLY TO BE BACKDROPPED ONTO ANOTHER ANNOUNCE TABLE! Great spot. DDT on the floor by Orton. Orton repeatedly stomping Trips in the ribs. Trips and the ref knock heads. Orton then throws Trips into the ref's ribs before nailing Trips with the RKO. Orton goes under the ring and pulls out the sledgehammer. Trips with the Punt to Orton. Trips hits Orton in the head with the sledgehammer. Trips now repeatedly punching Orton in the head and the ref is back up. Pedigree by Trips and he covers Orton to win the match. Trips celebrating with fireworks going off on stage. That was one of the worst World Title matches at a Mania ever.

Winner: Triple-H

Overall:

Going to give this 7 out of 10 stars. Michaels/Taker was one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. That was by far the best thing on this show. Also liked the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, Hardy vs. Hardy, and Legends/Jericho. Didn't like the World Title matches, Miss WrestleMania battle royale save for the ending, and JBL/Mysterio was too short but JBL quitting was intriguing. However the last two matches sucked and all the momentum the show had from HBK/Taker waved goodbye the moment the triple threat match started.