Continuing Pro Wrestling Powerhouse’s WrestleMania Series, Callum Wiggins recaps his first exposure to the grand stage – WrestleMania 19
Some fans can trace their obsession with the art of professional wrestling back to one night. For me Sunday, March 30, 2003 was that night, as 54,097 fans packed into SAFECO Field to witness an extraordinary event – WrestleMania 19. It was by no means a perfect show, and there have been better examples of the grand event both before and since. But it is and will forever be MY WrestleMania.
When I watched this for the first time, I was not the diehard wrestling fanatic that I am today. Frankly, I wasn’t really there after watching this, but it definitely pushed me in the right direction. The action, the excitement, the rivalry – it all was encapsulated in this night where some of wrestling’s legends took their last bow, and future champions made a lasting statement. Whenever I need a reason to fall back in love with professional wrestling, I reach for this DVD and everything is right again.
The show began with an amazing promo package, as the biggest stars of the day discussed the importance of this night not only in professional wrestling, but in the world altogether. If you were unaware of the prestige of WrestleMania prior to these opening minutes, you knew it then. The familiar voices of Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomed you to the occasion, and the illustrious venue and staging came into view with the background sounds of Limp Bizkit.
It was a night that prided itself on providing four main events, but the undercard was more than capable of getting the crowd on their feet. This began with an action-packed Cruiserweight Championship match, as Matt Hardy defended against Rey Mysterio.
This was the future world champion’s first WrestleMania outing, and although short it had a great deal of content, with rapid reversals and high-flying aplenty. However, Mysterio would fall short in his quest for gold due to the underhanded tactics of Hardy and Shannon Moore at ringside. Yet it set the night off on a high.
However, the low point of the night was soon to follow, as Undertaker battled Big Show and A-Train in a handicap match. As someone who soon came to see Undertaker matches at WrestleMania as one of the biggest parts of the night, my first sight of him at the event was pretty underwhelming. It wasn’t terrible, but nothing to really get excited about despite the entrance by Limp Bizkit.
This match became more interesting later on for me, as I learnt about the greenness of Nathan Jones in the ring and why he wasn’t trusted to compete. And so despite how substandard the match is, I can always look back and smile at his failed spin kick on Big Show towards Undertaker’s victory.
Then came the divas match of the night, if you discount the lingerie battle between Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler and the Miller Lite girls later on. In a triple threat for the Women’s Championship, Trish Stratus, Jazz and Victoria produced a very good contest. All women battled hard for the title, trading signature maneuvers and submission holds.
Jazz in particular was dominant against both opponents, exploiting her power advantage to control the pace. But when she was kicked out of the ring, and Stevie Richards had a misguided attempt at supporting his beau Victoria, Trish pinned the deranged champion to claim her fourth reign.
Another triple threat of a different sort followed, as the WWE Tag Team Championships were up for grabs. With RAW’s tag team division relegated to Heat, these SmackDown added some more pace and excitement into the evening. Team Angle, Los Guerreros and Chris Benoit/Rhyno never gained an extended advantage, but that simply added to the fun of the match.
With Benoit and the Guerreros in particular, this match had an abundance of technical excellence and intense suplexes. Added to the natural chemistry of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin ensured this match never dulled and kept the crowd buzzing.
But if you wanted to talk about buzz, the final match of the undercard proceeded to steal the show. It is the first match that comes to mind when I recall this event, which is a remarkable achievement considering the selling power of the main event matches. Yet, it was Shawn Michaels’ first WrestleMania match for five years, and nobody was more ideal an opponent than Chris Jericho.
It’s like everything just clicked into place for this match. Both superstars technically astute, unbelievably charismatic and extremely passionate. It was like they were wrestling a reflection of each other. Every step Michaels looked to be so happy to be competing on the Grandest Stage of Them All once again, and Jericho gave him everything he could.
After over twenty minutes of move-stealing, unrelenting submission and superkicks, Michaels rolled up his younger adversary to win the match. Afterwards the two embraced in a hug, only for Jericho to do what he does with a low blow. This set a tone of disrespect that would embody their excellent wrestling rivalry until Michaels’ retirement in 2010.
The night then entered the main event half of the event, starting with a battle for the World Heavyweight Championship between Triple H and Booker T. This contest has two sides for me. As a kid watching in 2003, this was a good match which showed Booker’s heart and Triple H’s cunning. Using Ric Flair’s support to help him win as well as a crippling leg injury to Booker, the Game retained his title.
But as a wrestling writer today, this was a travesty of a result. This feud was perfectly placed to see Booker T become the World Champion against the pompous Triple H. He would overcome his shady past to reach the top of WWE, much like Eddie Guerrero would do in 2004. But it was dashed in a result that defies common sense, so I can’t really enjoy this match anymore. Especially now reliving Triple H’s slow single-hand cover after the Pedigree.
The next match was never going to be a technical classic. But in terms of rivalry and storytelling, it undoubtedly excelled. Vince McMahon vowed to kill Hulkamania at WrestleMania, whilst he and Hulk Hogan warred over who created it. They slugged it out in an old-fashioned Street Fight at the event, with steel chairs, lead pipes and blood. Lots and lots of blood, especially out of the head of McMahon.
McMahon leapt from a ladder onto Hogan with a leg drop. One of the Spanish commentary team was busted open with a chair. Rowdy Roddy Piper made his return to WWE after a seven-year absence. It was just brutal fun and excitement, and expectedly, Hogan chalked up the win after hulking up on McMahon, and laying him motionless with three Atomic Leg Drops. The Devil was conquered, as Hulkamania continued to run wild.
The penultimate match of the evening was the end of an era, as a Texas Rattlesnake bit out for the final time. Anyone who watched the subsequent Mania of WrestleMania documentary based on this event will know that Stone Cold Steve Austin’s body was broken after years of competition, and was nearing the conclusion of his illustrious career. But he endeavored not to let the fans down as he battled his greatest adversary, the Rock, in their third match on the Grandest Stage.
This story was built around Rock never beating his fellow Attitude Era star at WrestleMania. The Brahma Bull carried the majority of the work, his charisma and athleticism gradually wearing down Austin, whose strikes came in short flurries. Finisher after finisher landed, with Rock hitting his own Stunner and Austin a Rock Bottom. Whilst it couldn’t match up to their amazing contest two years prior, they both gave the fans a lot to cheer about.
Austin in particular gave every single ounce that his body could deliver, his neck and knee injuries a hindrance he would not submit to. The final few minutes resembled a heroic death scene from a Hollywood movie, as Austin survived two consecutive Rock Bottoms, eventually falling to the third. The Rock finally had the victory he craved, gave a few comforting words to his rival before celebrating, and Austin left to the deserved adulation of the crowd.
Amongst all this spectacle of the past, the Main Event of the evening looked towards the future, as Kurt Angle defended his WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar. This was the feud that headlined SmackDown for months, as Angle looked to avoid his massive challenger at every turn, even hiring Paul Heyman to help that task. Yet, when the two finally met one-on-one at WrestleMania, the incredible wrestling exhibition led to a remarkable conclusion.
Both of these men were fantastic amateur wrestlers, and that shone in this bout from the outset, as they traded throws, suplexes and submission holds. Angle became the first man to kick out of an F-5, and Lesnar would not submit to the dreaded Ankle Lock. After a second F-5, Lesnar uncharacteristically ascended to the top rope, and in a Kodak moment performed a Shooting Star Press.
However, he missed his target, landing face first onto the canvas and giving himself a genuine concussion. As Angle hauled his lifeless body up, Lesnar had a moment of clarity, hitting a third F-5 and capturing his second WWE Championship. With a blank expression on his face, Lesnar stood with the title in his clutches, as he and Angle embraced and the fireworks went off in the background.
As my first WrestleMania, this show is key in developing my love for the spectacle of professional wrestling. And with this incredible mixture of the past, present and future, I will always consider this one of the best in its storied history. I would highly recommend watching this event to anybody who has yet to feast their eyes upon it, as it perfectly mixes the drama and technical talent that makes wrestling the marvel it can be.
