Looking Forward to Wrestlemania XIX

Well, the time is now, finally, almost here. It is now just a few hours until the biggest show of the WWE, and pro-wrestling's, calendar. Wrestlemania XXIX will take place April 7th in New Jersey's 'Met Life' stadium and an expected 90,000 fans will be on hand to witness it live, as well as millions around the world on PPV. Wrestemania has provided countless "memorable", "iconic" and "historic" moments throughout it's long, rich history and now, in it's 29th year, I'm going to take a look at what this years event has in store as well as take my best shot at predicting what may transpire. 

PRE SHOW:

WWE Intercontinetal Championship

Wade Barrett (c) vs. The Miz

In a somewhat peculiar decision, the Intercontinental Championship will be contested on the Interactive Pre-show, as champion Wade Barrett defends against The Miz. The build up to this one over recent weeks has been physical one. On the March 18th episode of RAW, Barrett retained his title in a triple threat match against both The Miz and Chris Jericho and ever since, The Miz has been gunning for another shot. While the rivalry has included a lot of talk from The Miz, belittling the Englishmans "starring" role in spectacular flop 'Dead Man Down from WWE Studios and a chain of events that has led to Hall of Famer Ric Flair "passing" the Figure Four Leg Lock on to the challenger, there has also been plenty of matches and physical spots between the two men. 

I actually have high hopes for this match. The Miz has looked sharp as of late and the ever well-rounded Barrett has only strengthened his game in recent months, in both his look, style and move-set. I know that I personally would much rather be paying for this match than some of the others on the card but the Champion and the former WWE Champion should hopefully be able to provide a solid match to get everyone amped up for the show, and maybe even convince a few of the undecided to order the event. 

Prediction: This one could go either way all in honesty. Given the fact that United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is not even booked for the event and this match has also not been deemed worthy for the main card, it's very difficult to foresee what kind of plans the WWE have for the Championships of its second tier. However, considering I struggle to see a plan in place for the champ post-Wrestlemania, and given the WWEs recent attempts at getting The Miz over as a heel, and maybe reclaim a spot in the company, I'm going to have to go for The Miz to win the title. 

WWE Tag Team Championship

'Team Hell No' Daniel Bryan & Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston

This title reign has been a good one for the team of Daniel Bryan and Kane. Through some brilliant, comedic sketches with Dr. Shelby and a lengthy run with the belts, the partnership of Team Hell No has been a beneficial one to both parties, in my opinion. 

Daniel Bryan was arguably pushed to the top, and the World Heavyweight Championship, too soon. Personally I loved Bryan as WWE Champion, but once his reign was over, his career almost seemed to be at a standstill. Where do you take him next? Well, the WWE decided to take him to the Big Red Machine and form an unlikely partnership. Not so long ago, the never-ending chants of "YES! YES! YES!" were starting to really grate on my nerves, and I felt the brilliant talents of Bryan were being overshadowed by a cheap, easy catchphrase. However, as part of 'Team Hell No', a heel turn, a new, edgier attitude and a genuine ability to perform well with even the comedy elements, Daniel Bryan has matured  into a much more confident performer while his wrestling ability, which was never in question, has certainly not been hurt. Kane has provided the guidance, as he often has in the past, for Daniel Bryan to evolve from a simply brilliant wrestler to a well-rounded performer. 

Big E. Langston will make his debut at Wrestlemania, teaming with Mr. Money in the Bank Dolph Ziggler. In a rather confusing partnership, as far as I'm concerned, Big E. Langston has acted as Zigglers "heavy" and bodyguard in recent weeks, interfering in matches and coming to Zigglers aid. With girlfriend AJ at his side, Dolph goes into Wrestlemania to compete, with current NXT Champion Langston, for the World Tag Team Championships. However that may not be the real story. 

Prediction: Team Hell No have been showing the cracks of a championship team who are not on the same page, leading many, including myself, to believe that a break-up is on the cards. While I wouldn't say this isn't the case anymore, I do feel like the heat has been turned down a little and that the "imminent" break-up has been no more than simmering in recent weeks. If this is the case, and this is intentional, it could be for the simple reason that Dolph Ziggler still has that Money in the Bank contract for a World Heavyweight Championship match, won on July 15th of last year. While it is not absolutely necessary for this to be cashed in just yet, I wonder what bigger or  more appropriate stage there is for the hard-working Ziggler to finally receive his prize. 

I expect this match to be the opening match of the night and for Team Hell No to retain against the recent, seemingly make-shift team of Langston and Ziggler. I then hope to see the Money in the Bank cashed in later in the evening. 

Chris Jericho vs. Fandango

There are many reasons to feel sorry for Johnny Curtis. His last match on the main roster was, I believe, in 2011. He has worked hard on NXT ever since in an attempt to make it back again. When he finally made it back in October of last year when he began working dark matches and house shows, audiences were shown their very first vignette for 'Fandango' just a few short weeks later - a rather cheap, tacky looking (in my opinion) call back to the more gimmicky days of WWE, as Curtis has been repackaged as a sparkly pants wearing ballroom dancer who is adamant everyone pronounce his name correctly. Factor in the fact that it seems to me he is being made to push the homosexual button too (how wonderfully stereotypical) and really what are you left with is Rico version 2.0, minus the mutton chops. 

However there is one very significant reason not to feel sorry for Curtis. His hard work has resulted in a very high profile pay-off, as he competes in his debut match as 'Fandango' on the biggest stage possible, and against the man who can assist in elevating his career like nobody else, Chris Jericho. 

After weeks of being scheduled to make his debut, only to eventually refuse to do so until ring announcers and wrestlers alike learned to pronounce his name correctly (I believe it's 'Fann - dangg- go'), this match would be booked after an altercation between the two backstage where Jericho, in typical fashion, enjoyed several amusing but ultimately unsuccessful attempts at prouncing the debutantes name. Fandango has since attacked Chris Jericho and utilised a beautiful top-rope leg drop in the process. Can he continue the assault at Wrestelmania or can the veteran see off the new blood and hand him a defeat on his first outing?

Prediction: Chris Jericho's role within the WWE at this time seems very clear. Between Fozzy tours and other activities outside of wrestling, Jericho continues to return home and his contribution to the product is to make stars. I'm not sure what to make of the 'Fandango' gimmick, I'm not enjoying it so far, and I really don't see a future in it. What hopefully does have a future, however, is the career of Johnny Curtis, and at Wrestlemania I fully expect that these two will have a very solid match, and if given the right amount of time, could even have an outside shot of stealing the show. I also expect for Chris Jericho to do his best to make Fandango a star, and that should involve handing him his first win. 

Ryback vs. Mark Henry

Since The Royal Rumble, The Shield have left a trail of destruction week in and week out on RAW. Ryback was one of their first victims. The size and stature of the big man proved not to be an issue as the three-man team played the odds and preyed on the solitary Ryback on more than one occasion. When The Shield delivered a triple powerbomb to Ryback, payback was looking certain to be on the cards, however the trio were suddenly not his biggest problem anymore. 

A returning Mark Henry set his sights immediately on Ryback and the two powerhouses have butted heads ever since. This is very much a tale of two giants, of Goliath vs. Goliath, a match-up the WWE has often attempted to promote in the past. The build up has been typical of this kind of match-up, with the two attempting to out-do each for strength and power, such as the recent weightlifting contest on Smackdown! where Mark Henry, worried he was about to be upstaged, interrupted and assaulted his Wrestlemania challenger. Arguably the two biggest powerhouses in WWE collide on Sunday night. 

Prediction: I recently read an article on Bleacher Report by Robert Aitken where he wrote that this match could be the 'Sleeper match of the night'. Personally I feel this is overly optimistic. I don't foresee a wrestling match but rather a show of strength, a slow paced collision of brute force vs. brute force that is probably unlikely ever to hit a gear high enough to really capture it's audience. Mark Henry, upon returning after injury, must be wondering whether or not he will ever again reach the heights of a World title reign. Well, for now I get the feeling he will have to wait. Ryback is taking much more momentum into Wrestlemania and I'm gonna have to go with Ryback for the win. 

Tons of Funk (Brodus Clay & Tensai) and The Funkadactyls vs. Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow) and The Bella Twins. 

How things change so quickly in the WWE. It only seems a matter of weeks since Tensai was the silent, broody, Japanese-trained warrior. Marching to the ring, shoving "mentor" Sakamoto to the side and squashing opponents inside two minutes. It also seems like just a few short weeks since Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes announced their decision to break their partnership and go their seperate ways as singles wrestlers. Of course that could well be because it is just a few short weeks since that all happened. 

Reunited Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow have also formed an alliance with Nicky and Brie Bella, very recently rehired after being previously released from their contracts. On the side of the team now being referred to as 'Tons of Funk' are their dancing, cheerleading duo of Cameron and Naomi to complete the mixed tag team match at Wrestlemania. 

Their feud has been somewhat a light one, the program a short one in the build up and resulted in Sandow and Rhodes mocking their opponents when they came to the ring dressed as Brodus and Tensai, their costumes somewhat, uh, "padded" and had a little fun at the expense of Tons of Funk. There would be retaliation as the team, along with The Funkadactyls would hit the ring and a melee would ensue. 

Prediction: What to say about this one? In my opinion it has definitely been billed as the match that carries with it the lowest amount of importance. To me Brodus and Tensai look like two men partnered together out of sheer desperation, a lack of ideas, and what could be a lack of a future in WWE for both men. Sandow and Rhodes have likely been reunited due to an under-strength and floundering WWE tag team division that is, frankly, much stronger with them than without. Having said that, one thing Tons of Funk do have is the attention of a younger audience and I believe that for this reason, for sheer popularity alone, that I have to go with Brodus, Tensai, Naomi and Cameron. 

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger

Arguably the most controversial Wrestlemania program, the pairing of Jack Swagger with Zeb Coulter has sparked complaints from individuals and groups outside of the WWE who have taken offence to the xenophobic, racist heel union. 

Since Jack Swaggers return in February of this year, and his victory at The Elimination Chamber to ear the right to compete in this match, he has forsaken the clean-cut, groomed, All American look of the idealised collegiate wrestler and, along with the addition of Coulter has found himself mired in the controversy. 

Swagger and Coulter have assaulted the WWE Champion and took issue with the Mexican Champion's success in "their" America. Swagger has also taken Del Rio's personal ring announcer Ricardo and broken his ankle with what he now calls the "Patriot Act" submission hold. Alberto Del Rio finds himself on the back foot going into Wrestlemania but has been impressive as of late, having some good matches on both RAW and Smackdown! Can the champ retain or is 'Jack Swagger's America' about to get a lot bigger?

Prediction: Firstly I find the controversy that this match has created to be ludicrous, but it doesn't surprise me. WWE has been clear to state that this is a work of fiction,  a storyline, and does not represent the political views of the company which again just begs the question why people wouldn't simply choose to change the channel. However what I think this angle has done has given Jack Swagger an identity. Swagger was never the most confident or able on the mic and with Coulter at his side, he hasn't needed to be. Jack Swagger has been repackaged and given a change in attitude and in my opinion, it's working. Del Rio doesn't seem to have a prominent role in the show as champion and so in that sense I would have predicted a title change, due to the greater momentum Swagger is bringing. However, the winner of this match could be determined by whether or not the Money in the Bank is also cashed in tonight. I have a feeling it will be, and so I'm going to predict that Del Rio retains or the match ends in a no-contest. 

The Undertaker vs. CM Punk

Much like the World Heavyweight Championship program, this feud has also been sparking controversy. Following the real life death of William Moody a.k.a Paul Bearer, the heat was turned up on this much anticipated match, which could well be the best match of the night. CM Punk has targeted the Dead Man by mocking his former manager, stealing the urn that was at the centre of the Undertakers character in the early 1990s and symbolic of his strength and power. 

Punk interrupted the Undertakers tribute to his friend and most recently on RAW, conspired with Paul Heyman to assault his opponent when Heyman dressed as Bearer, urn in hand, and appeared on the stage amongst several of The Undertakers 'druids'. Punk would reveal himself as one of the hooded druids and assault The Undertaker, before covering the fallen veteran in the "ashes" of Paul Bearer. It was shocking, controversial television and, in my opinion, the kind of thing not seen often at all since the explosive "Attitude" era of the late 1990s. While it may have divided opinion in regards taste and necessity, it undoubtedly has set up a personal, emotional match-up as The Undertaker seeks vengeance and respect. 

Prediction: Every year I always wonder the same thing. How will The Undertakers historic undefeated Wrestlemania streak finally end? I see it ending in one of two ways. Either it remains perfect, a tribute and legacy for the great Dead Man that arguably transcends any World title run or the streak is ended on The Undertakers own terms, as surely he earned the respect to call the creative shots on this one. What would The Undertakers terms be? Well, it could be to uphold the tradition of the veteran putting over a younger talent, for the future of the industry, or it could be The Undertakers wish to have one last great match with an established talent he respects. I always wondered if HHH or Shawn Michaels might not be that man, but they weren't and, surely, with his Wrestlemania legacy still intact following matches with both of them, there isn't any veteran left with whom he could end his career that way. CM Punk is arguably the strongest candidate The Undertaker could pass on his legacy too, but with rumours of CM Punks impending absence as he is reported to be taking time off after Wrestlemania, I don't see 20-0 becoming 20-1. 

Randy Orton, Sheamus & The Big Show vs. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins)

So called "Internet wrestling fans" are renowned for being insatiable, impossible to please and never getting what they want. Well, they called out for Dean Ambrose, as well as Reigns and Rollins, to be called up to the main roster and at The Survivor Series they got exactly what they wanted - but surely the majority did not realise quite what they were in store for. 

The union of Ambrose, Reigns and Rollins, three men who were still working in Florida Championship Wrestling and NXT just a few months ago, are a powerful group of hungry vigilante's, fighting for what they perceive to be injustice in the WWE. Collectively known as The Shield, the group made an unexpected, unannounced appearance at The Survivor Series in November where they helped CM Punk to retain his WWE Championship and powerbombed Ryback through a table in the process. Ever since The Shield have been running rampant through the WWE, assaulting and attacking several WWE Superstars, including Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show. Randy Orton and Sheamus were struggling to contend with the trio - until the addition of the giant who has seemingly helped to settle the score. However, can they trust The Big Show to co-exist and do The Shield have what it takes to claim another scalp, and what would be undoubtedly their biggest to date?

Prediction: In my opinion the union of Big Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus is much like the union of Tensai and Brodus Clay in that it seems all too convenient to have these men work with one another, as it gives them something to do with talent lacking in any creative direction. The Shield on the other hand have a precise, clear direction and they are destroying everything in their way. It makes much more sense to have The Shield continue on their path than to have them stopped by a union of convenience. There is also the question of whether or not The Big Show can be trusted which could be a huge factor. as ot could possibly lead to him turning on his team mates. I have to predict a Shield victory, but it wouldn't surprise me if their current run is ended just to help these three, formerly prominent, main event stars can cling to their spots and maybe halt their decline back into the middle of the pack.

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar 

The build-up to this match has been somewhat slow-burning. With Lesnar only contracted to a certain number of appearances, the program has been sketchy at best. However, in my opinion, what has transpired between Brock Lesnar and the future Hall of Famer HHH has been worth watching. 

HHH disappeared into his day job after last years Wrestlemania and his presence lay sleeping until, on a rare appearance on RAW, Vince McMahon was interrupted by the man who was once known as "The Next Big Thing, a former Wrestlemania main-eventer and WWE Champion in Brock Lesnar. Brock delivered the F5 to the chairman of the company and put him on the shelf - which was just the catalyst that HHH needed to return to the ring. 

The assault on Vince McMahon, the father-in-law of The Game, reignited the spark and the feud between these two men and certainly made it personal. An enraged HHH, who had previously seen Lesnar assault not only his family but his best friend Shawn Michaels, demanded another match with Lesnar and he would eventually receive it. 

Prior to his return, the last time we had seen HHH in the ring as an active competitor he voiced concern that, after having his arm broken twice at the hands of powerhouse, he may not be able to get the job done and suggested that his career as a performer may be over. Incensed by the personal attack of Lesnar on his father-in-law, HHH was goaded into signing a contract to face Lesnar at Wrestlemania where both his opponent and his opponents manager and mouthpiece Paul Heyman could choose the stipulation. With the contract already signed, Heyman revealed to the game that not only would the match be no holds barred, a stipulation Helmsley welcomed, but that The Games historic career would be on the line. 

Prediction: Triple H's career is certainly coming towards it's end. His career is in its twilight years and one day I believe that not only will we see his final match, but given the opportunity his final match would honour the tradition within the wrestling industry, where he would put some talent over as a parting gesture. Plenty of people would disagree with this, due to his reportedly inflated ego. While HHH won't have too many matches left in him, I just can't see this match being the night he bows out for good. Brock Lesnar, in my opinion, has displayed carelessness in the ring since his return and in many ways looks a liability. A freak of an athlete, Lesnar may simply never know his own strength. I expect a brutal, violent, and possibly bloody match, despite the WWEs attempts to distance itself from such matches in recent years. Given the uncertain future of Brock Lesnar, I just can't see HHH giving his career to such a man for seemingly no productive reason. I expect HHH to emerge with the victory and for his career, at least for now, to continue. 

WWE Championship

The Rock (c) vs. John Cena

Speaking of slow build-up's, I don't think I have ever experienced such a slow program for such huge matches than I have for The Rock and John Cena. This match marks the rematch of the "Once in a Lifetime" match (Yes, I'm aware) at last years Wrestlemania in Miami. The Rock has made his name in WWE and gone on to do something that wrestlers simply don't do, and made a successful career for himself in Hollywood. The Rock will absolutely go down as one of the biggest WWE Superstars of all time, and his contributions cannot be ignored. 

John Cena is the biggest WWE Superstar since The Rock and Austin and the Attitude era. Cena has consistently drawn, whether he is cheered or booed and is arguably the biggest name in wrestling of the new millennium, both to fans of the product and non-fans. Their clash at last years Wrestelmania was the culmination of a year-long build-up, the likes of which had never been done before. This year, after defeating John Cena at Wrestlemania 28, has returned to face him again - and John Cena is out for retribution. 

John Cena says defeat is not an option. John Cena says that his defeat in Miami has followed him ever since and, for his own sanity and validation, that he needs his redemption. 

Prediction: Wrestlemania 29 marks two full years of promoting The Rock and John Cena. The build up, however, has been slow as The Rock has commitments in Hollywood and is not a full-time wrestler. I would be much more comfortable with this if it wasn't for one thing - The Rock is the WWE Champion. Something John Cena has not been in almost two years. 

The Rock ended the historic, record-setting reign of CM Punk as WWE Champion, after 434 days atop the mountain. At the time I did not like the decision but I also wanted to believe that surely, if the WWE were to go as far as putting the belt on The Rock, that The Rock would be able to commit to working every RAW between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. How wrong I was. With The Rock making sparse appearances on WWE TV during this time, as well as the full year that led up to their last Wrestlemania main event, John Cena has had to largely promote this match on his own. 

Love him or hate him John Cena wrestles a full schedule for the WWE and, in my opinion, wears his passion and dedication to the cause on his sleeve. With The Rock either absent or appearing via satellite, or the WWE trying to promote the match with video packages, John Cena has often been required to deliver a promo and try to build the program without any help or involvement from his opponent. When you consider that the physical contact between the two men has also been virtually non-existent, I believe John Cena has performed exceptionally well while being backed into a corner and placed under a lot of pressure. 

Rumours have been circulating that The Rock will also make appearances for the WWE in 2014 but if the last two years have been any indication, these appearances will be few and far between. The WWE cannot continue to allow its champion to be absent. I believe the title has been included within this rivalry for two reasons - to make the rematch as fresh as possible and also to give John Cena the redemption he has waited almost two years for. 

Blurring the Lines: The Potential Death of the Secondary Champion.

The Intercontinental Championship is a Heavyweight Championship with quite a history. It is well documented, and often repeated by WWE commentators, that the lineage of the Championship dates back to 1979 when it was awarded to the inaugral champion Pat Patterson. Current champion Wade Barrett is the 138th man (139th person when you include Chyna, who held it alongwith Chris Jericho as "Co-Champions") and the title itself has traditionally become known as the symbolic representation of the upper-mid card. The title has come to represent the reward for emerging from the struggle in the middle of the pack, in hope to elevate ones career to the upper echelons of the roster. The WWE Intercontinental Championship, of course, does not always provide it's holder with the success to thrive in the upper-card, in the main events, and is not always a route to the top. However, historically, a lot of the biggest stars in the WWE have taken the traditional route to the top, via the second-tier Championship and the title certainly has it's place in recognising the WWEs chain of command. Former Champions include Don Muraco, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, HHH, The Rock, Steve Austin, Edge, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Randy Orton and CM Punk.

In 2003, with the drafted roster in place, the WWE added another second-tier Championship- the United States Championship. With WCW dissolved and WWE now operating with seperate rosters on each show, the former WCW United States Championship and, before that, the NWA United States Championship was brought out of retirement to be placed alongside the Intercontinental, essentially giving each show a secondary Championship status. Much like it's counterpart, the title has a rich, decorated history. It's holders include Harley Race, Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Steve Austin, Goldberg, Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Edge and John Cena.

Why is it then, I wonder, given the illustrious history and significance of these two Championships that as of today, only two days away from a huge, 90,000 capacity, New York/New Jersey Wrestlemania, that neither of these Championships are being contested and promoted on the main card?

Infact the WWE are set to give two debutants their very first televised matches on the main roster this Sunday. The Champion of their developmental territory NXT, Big E Langston has been on the main roster making appearances on both RAW and Smackdown! since December acting in a 'heavy' or bodyguard role for Dolph Ziggler but has yet to wrestle a match. Johnny Curtis is set to wrestle his very first match as the re-packaged 'Fandango' this Sunday with Chris Jericho. However current Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett has seen his match with former WWE Champion The Miz bumped to the pre-show and current United States Champion Antonio Cesaro isn't even booked on the show at all, despite having appeared on the main roster for almost a year now and holding his current title since August of last year. It is booking like this that leads me to wonder exactly what role the secondary Championships actually play in WWE today.

It's easy to forget that Shawn Michaels was, at one time, considered to be "too small" to make it to the big time and, in his days teaming with Marty Jannetty as 'The Rockers' looked far from the Superstar and Hall of Famer that he would become. it is certainly an arguable point that his Intercontinental title reigns in the early to mid nineties allowed Shawn Michaels to find his identity and his place within the company, proving himself to be the main eventer, Champion and draw that he would go on to become.

Steve Austin was the United States Champion in WCW and has spoken publically of his belief at that time that he could go on to greater things, at the desire he expressed to work with the bigger names and the main eventers. Eric Bischoff and WCW disagreed and he was eventually fired. He went on to hold the Intercontinental Championship in WWE and eventually win the King of the Ring, where the "Stone Cold" era is often said to have been born and Austin would go on to be arguably the biggest draw ever in pro wrestling. The Rock led a similar path and it could also be argued that the battles over the IC title that Austin and Rock had was the catalyst to the success of the careers of both men. After all, I'd say it's very likely that both men would not be willing to name a better opponent they ever had than each other.

Before John Cena ever won a World title, he became so identified with the United States Championship that he even received a customised, personal version of the Championship belt. A design that would eventually be given to him in the form of a WWE Championship that was only replaced earlier this year.

The secondary Championships in WWE can make a Superstar. It can be the opportunity to prove they deserve a place within the programme and are capable of great things and I would say that over the years, the most commonly used route from rookie to main-evener has been these titles. However, could that be a thing of the past? Is this really how WWE grooms it's main-eventers these days? Have the lines between mid-card and upper-card been blurred in a way they have never been blurred before? If so, I personally believe this been a recent trend.

Many, I believe, would argue that the importance of the second-tier Championships to recognise rising, budding talent and future stars has been minimal for a long time. With the faster pace of the Attitude era and the "excitement" of a racing, evolving, thriving environment, not to mention a huge spike in public interest and viewership, title changes were more frequent than ever before. Long Championship reigns were very much a thing of the past and many people have, and will continue, to argue that the Championships themselves, their importance, and their meaning were hurt as a result of this. I'm not necessarily arguing this. However, take a look at more recent times, and take a look at the history of the Intercontinental Championship between the years 2000 to 2005.

Many men won their first IC title during these five years that would go on to win World titles in WWE; Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Jeff Hardy, Kane (arguable one, depends if you want to include his one-day reign as WWE Champion in the late 90s. I do not.), Christian, Rob Van Dam, Booker T and Randy Orton. That is eight or nine men, depending on how you look at it. Eight or nine stars that were made in this way. This, in my opinion, is a booming, productive, exciting period for WWE. A lot of this era is still experiencing the 'Attitude' hangover and fast, frequent title changes. It is still however a period of time where main-eventers, Champions, Superstars and indeed Hall of Famers were allowed to breakthrough from the middle of the roster.

Then what happened? In 2005 the hangover was well and truly over but the WWE need to continue to make stars, arguably much, much more than they did in the five years previous. Between 2005 and 2010 only CM Punk, JBL and Rey Mysterio would win their first Intercontinental Championship and go on to win a World title. Some other IC title reigns of this era belong to; Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, Umaga, Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, William Regal, Drew McIntyre and Chris Jericho. All of these men are either no longer with us, no longer with the company, were bigger than the second-tier at the time they won the title, or are still struggling in the WWEs mid-card today.

Since 2010 the title has been held by Kofi Kingston, Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson and Cody Rhodes - all still in the mid-card. It has been held by Christian again and by The Big Show. It was held by the Miz in 2012 after his WWE Championship reign in 2010 and it has been held by one man you might be able to say, upon reflection in the (hopefully rather near) future used it as a stepping stone to stardom in Dolph Ziggler.

It obviously needs to be recognised at this point that some of these men, The Miz for example, did win the United States Championship before the WWE Championship. That is true. What the Intercontinental Championship should tell you though is that it is not essential in creating stars, not anymore.

In recent years The Great Khali, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, Batista and Jack Swagger have all won World titles, either very quickly (within the first year or two) of their debut in the company or without a substantial second-tier title reign first, or even no reign at all. Of these men Alberto Del Rio is arguably the only one to have held onto that spot ever since. It is not a list of current main-event, top-tier talent or big draws. So what is the WWEs current criteria or preferred route to "make" a Superstar? Well, I'm not sure I can tell you the answer to that. The lines are now far more blurry than they ever have been before.

For all the WWEs recent attempts to push wrestles into the limelight, Batista is no longer with the company, Daniel Bryan is a tag team champion with Kane in a floundering, weak division and should work the middle of the card, Sheamus has seemingly fallen out of favour and is working without any real sense of direction, The Miz has been pushed to the pre-show for the Intercontinental Championship match with Wade Barrett and Jack Swagger has returned from a long injury to be pushed directly into a Wrestlemania main-event program while the likes of Kofi Kingston struggle to make a live Raw or Smackdown taping, never mind Wrestlemania, and United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is a "Champion" by technicality only after not even booked on the card, after weeks of jobbing to the likes of Alberto Del Rio to assist the World Championship program. Probably because Del Rio and Swagger haven't quite yet earned the respect and the absolute confidence of the creative team to take the reigns and produce a program capable of drawing money.

Wrestlemania is the biggest show of the year. Not just for WWE, but for professional wrestling as a whole. It is the biggest, most high-profile, stage for a wrestler to apply their trade. Wrestlemania is the key historical record for their production. The DVDs will sell, be re-packaged when the next format arrives, just as the VHS was, and continue to be released as a record of wrestlings greats. The biggest stars and the biggest matches of the year, the biggest matches of the wrestlers careers. Wrestlemania should be the strongest show the WWE is capable of airing and should offer an insight into who is "hot" and who is not, what is in and what is out, and, I hate to say it, but this year I think the WWE aee making it very clear that above all else, it's secondary titles are most definitely out. They offer little importance and have a very small role to play in the current day WWE.

Just remember that the next time the WWE want you to pay for a PPV featuring "Championship" matches that what they are trying to sell to you, the Championship belt they are trying to sell to you as the symbol of any kind of credibility or significance, that on their biggest show of the year, that will have more people watching it than any other show you have tuned in for or bought this year, that neither of its Champions of the "upper-tier", next generation of Superstars were deemed good enough to promote and show you ahead of a match you have already seen, a tag team that probably won't still be together to wrestle at Wrestlemania XXX, two debutants who havent been given a match on free-to-air TV yet and The Bella Twins.

Essentially I suppose it doesn't matter how stars are made, as long as they are and as long as it works. As long as fans are able to invest in them and their programs. If the WWE are not going to use these time-tested, traditional, honoured routes to make their next era of World Champions then I just hope that this does not stop the product from evolving. If it does, I wonder what the card could l;ook like at Wrestlemania XL.

April 9th - 15th: This Week in Wrestling History

April 13th 1997: Extreme Championship Wrestling: Barely Legal

In 1992 WWF held Wrestlemania VIII in Indianapolis, Indiana and 62,000 fans packed in to the Hoosier Dome to see a card featuring, among others, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Jim Duggan, The Nasty Boys, Repo Man, The Mountie, The Natural Disasters and IRS. Wrestling at its most commercial at this time was still very much a character-based, colourful, theatric product marketed heavily towards children. It was this year that in a small, old bingo hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a revolution was just beginning. A revolution that would give many wrestling fans an alternative. The gimmicks were largely thrown to the side, performers allowed more freedom to design and evolve their own characters, the rulebook re-written and the blood shed in a product marketed more towards the adult wrestling fan.

It would take five years however for the always growing and expanding Extreme Championship Wrestling to make it to pay-per-view. The promotion, and the trademark violence it carried with it, would struggle to find a home for its gritty, often explicit product as potential carriers maybe would not take a gamble on such an explosive show or misunderstood the content completely. Initially the pay-per-view was declined due to Viewers Choice believeing the content of the show to be "real". A passionate fanbase however were outspoken in their demand for the show to take place and the decision was reviewed.

On April 13th 1997, at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the owner of ECW Paul Heyman stood backstage at the arena, in footage documented in the film 'Beyond the Mat' and talked to his talent as he gave a passionate, emotional, motivational speech to the locker room as they had finally "made it to the dance" and prepared for what was unquestionably the biggest night in the companys short history. This was so small achievement as ECW had finally made it a wider, television audience, an opportunity to showcase what they had to offer as their inaugural pay-per-view event Barely Legal went to air.

Often tagged as a product that showcased exclusively violent material, the card for this event gave a glimpse of what ECW was really all about. Rob Van Dam and Lance storm were two of the compay's main "workers", The six-man tag team match of Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy and Dick Togo vs. The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji showcased Michinoku Pro Wrestling and the implementation of the international styles of wrestling that would bring many overseas wrestlers to an American audience, many of which would later go on to work for WCW and the WWF. The double main-event would see the "living legend" Terry Funk defeat The Sandman and Stevie Richards in a three-way dance number one contenders match, which was directly followed by a match for the ECW Championship as a bloodied Terry Funk defeated the champion Raven and ECW honoured a true legend and now WWE Hall of Famer for his contributions that had helped the company establish itself, at a time when many of the old guard of professional wrestling would not touch the controversial organisation. 

There was one match that, for me, stands out on the card. Following Sabu's return to ECW in 1995 following a very brief stint in WCW, a feud was ignited between Sabu and Taz. In what was billed as "the grudge match of the century", "The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying" risk-taker Sabu faced legtitimate rival Taz in an eagerly anticipated match. The match was trailed by a huge stand-off between the two which only made the fans want it more. Taz had been built as ECWs MMA-style, big-fight wrestler and the "Human Suplex Machine" has spoken of his genuine heat with Sabu at the time, which ECW put to good use as the fans waited in anticipation for this grudge match. The two wrestled a match of very varying styles. At times the counter-hold wrestling was genuinely very fluid and impressive but was of course mixed with a risk taking, high-flying style of Sabus trademark violence that at times was certainly not pretty. What the match was however was an intense match with a big-fight feeling and in many ways it could be argued that this was representive of what ECW was all about at the time. 

ECWs band of "misfits", men and women rejected from other organisations, struggling to make the big time or struggling to make their name in the United States would go on to showcase themselves and the organisation for another four years before they were declared bankrupt and closed their doors, briefly brought back to life by WWE in 2006. Their history may have been short, their existence brief but the achievements are there for all to see as the WWF ushered in the arguably ECW-inspired Attitude era in 1997/1998 and the product once aimed almost exclusively at children continued to evolve. In many ways the list of ECW alumini reads as a who's who of 90's and 00's professional wrestling. Men such as The Dudley Boys, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, Dory Funk Jr., Bam Bam Bigelow, Jimmy Snuka, Jerry Lynn, Tully Blanchard, Eddie Guerrero, Cactus Jack, Don Muraco, Mabel, Junkyard Dog, Kid Kash, Jake Roberts, Dean Malenko, Al Snow, Jusrin Credible, Sid Vicious, Yoshihiro Tajiri, Rhino, Psicosis, Brian Pillman, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Marty Jannety, Perry Saturn, Ron Simmons, Rick and Scott Steiner and Steve Austin all either made their name in ECW or stopped by ECW at some point in their careers. The talent that made appearances within the company at some point certainly, in my opinion, makes it near impossible to simply write ECW off as a second rate, second tier promoter of violence but rather should suggest to even those who may have never seen ECW before that the product they offered was most definitely the wrestling alternative of choice for many, many fans throughout its nine year existence.

April 2nd - April 8th: This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Special.

This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat!

We are now a week removed from Wrestlemania XXVIII and that crazy time of year for wrestling fans is now over. The Rock prevailed over John Cena in the main event, Daniel Bryan dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in 18 seconds in what has proven to be a controversial decision from WWE, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a very classy match-up and "The Dead Man" went 20-0 at Wrestlemania as The Undertaker and Triple H put on a truly epic, enthralling, show-stopping 30-minute classic in the Hell in a Cell. Reception of the event has seemingly been very positive, with many claiming this years Wrestlemania to be the very best for many years. It's no surprise that over the last few weeks I have focused this column solidly around Wrestlemania but as the WWE calendar year now begins again, and Brock Lesnar returned to Monday Night Raw to deliver an F5 to John Cena in what many are speculating will be the main event at Wrestlemania 29, the time to take the focus exclusively off the event itself has arrived. After all - there is a man who has carved somewhat of a legacy for himself in this calendar week in years gone by.

Richard Henry Blood a.k.a Ricky Steamboat is the name arguably most associated with class and professionalism in professional wrestling. Wrestling a full, near-twenty year career as a babyface, Ricky Steamboat never reached the dazzling heights of the main-event status in WWF that he did in the NWA/World Championship wrestling. Despite this he has gone down as one of the very best of all time and a 'WWE Legend' when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2009. By paying close attention to what his colleagues and peers have to say about him, it is no surprise. Steamboat had a hall of fame career that earned the respect of his peers and continues to this day as a road agent for WWE, several of the current roster commenting that he still gives his time to the younger wrestlers and helps them with their matches and their own careers.

Steamboat entered the National Wrestling Alliance in 1977 after spending a year working in the AWA, CWF and GCW and was quickly paired with Ric Flair. In his NWA rookie year Steamboat would defeat Flair for the NWA Mid Atlantic Television Championship as well as the NWA (Mid Atlantic) United States Heavyweight Championship in singles competition. The chemistry the two men had in the ring had not gone unnoticed and during Steamboats eight year first tenure in the NWA they would develop a friendship and an understanding with one another in the ring that would last a lifetime. 

Steamboat left the NWA for the WWF in 1985 and initially it appeared that he may achieve the same success there. His time in the company however was short as he returned to the NWA in 1989. In his time within the WWF he was given the ringname of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and, at Wrestlemania 3, participated in what is generally considered to be one of the best matches in the events history when he defeated Randy Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship infront of over 93,000 fans. When Steamboat took time off to be with his new-born son and dropped the belt to The Honky Tonk Man, he never received a similar push again from the WWF. The Dragon has suggested himself in the past that he may have been punished for upstaging Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant with his instant classic with The Macho Man lower down on the card at Wrestlemania 3. 

1989 would, in many ways, still become Ricky Steamboats year as he returned to the NWA and was once again paired to work with Ric Flair. In February the brewing feud between the two would really ignite when Steamboat defeated Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In this week in wrestling history, on April 2nd 1989, the two would meet again, this time at The Clash of The Champions: Ragin' Cajun in New Orleans. The event was historic as it was shown on free-to air TV alongside WWF Wrestlemania V on PPV. Ratings-wise there was only one winner as World Championship Wrestlings attempt to sabotage Wrestlemania and hurt the buy-rate proved to be unsuccessful. However, even though Hulk Hogan faced Randy Savage in an anticipated, blockbuster main event at Wrestlemania, the Clash had by far the best wrestling match of the evening as Ric Flair looked to win back his title from Steamboat in a near-60 minute, two out of three falls match. The match would end in controversy, setting up yet another classic encounter at Wrestle War the following month. The two men would wrestle each other up and down the country in a huge series of untelevised matches and perfected their craft with one another in the ring. Ric Flair, the man with arguably the most decorated career of any professional wrestler, has stated conclusively that Ricky Steamboat was the very best opponent he ever had. 

Watch Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat Two out of Three Falls for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship here.

This calendar week in wrestling history did offer up some other key moments in the career of The Dragon, however. Fast-forwarding a full twenty years to April 5th 2009 and the retired Steamboat returned to the ring with some Hall of Fame friends to face Chris Jericho. In the build-up to the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania  Jericho, working as a heel at the time, had attacked WWE legends and hall of famers off the back of the film The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. The film, so Jericho claimed, glorified the has-beens of the wrestling industry and as a result set about targeting the legends he claimed were holding men like himself down. In retalliation, Ric Flair returned to accompany a team of legends to the ring in the form of "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat to face Jericho in a three-on-one handicap match, with Mickey Rourke sat in the crowd at ringside. Chris Jericho would make Jimmy Snuka his first victim, eliminating Superfly from the match by submission before subsequently going on to defeat Piper also. What followed was a one-on-one encounter as the fifty six year old Steamboat took it to the former Undisupted Champion. Steamboats performance in the ring impressed the majority of fans as he rolled back the years, utilising his trademark armdrags and climbing the top rope to deliver his signature chops and high cross-body. Steamboats performance brought fans to their feet as he proved the kind of shape he was still in and the quality of match he was still able to produce after nearly fifteen years out of the ring. 

The next night on Monday Night Raw, on April 6th 2009, a match was made to showcase the fall out from Wrestlemania. At Wrestlemania 25 John Cena lifted both The Big Show and Edge onto his shoulders and delivered a huge Attitude Adjustment to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. After the demise of The Hardy Boys, Matt defeated Jeff in a gruelling Extreme Rules match. Kane and CM Punk became the final two men in contention for the Money in the Bank briefcase where Punk was able to narrowly edge Kane out and win his second straight Money in the Bank. Twenty four hours later a massive Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team Match was made as the team of Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Ricky Steamboat & John Cena took on Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Big Show & Edge.

The match was fast-paced and inventive but one man inparticular has captured the audiences breath as the fans chanted "we want Steamboat!" throughout the early goings. When the legend finally tagged in to the match the fans chanted "you've still got it" as Steamboat showcased his skills one more time, just as he had the previous night. When the match broke down somewhat chaotically to its conclusion, Steamboat celebrated with his team mates before the superstars of the current roster made way to allow Steamboat his moment with the WWE Universe in celebration of a hall of fame career, an honour that had been given to him only two nights earlier. 

Watch the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match here. 

To fully understand the legend of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat we are required, of course, to look much deeper into the work of one of the most exciting performers of his time. The man also had key matches with the likes of Don Muraco, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, "Cowboy" Bob Orton and Jake Roberts as well as great battles with tag team partner Jay Youngblood against the likes of Sgt. Slaugher & Don Kernodle and The Brisco Brothers. Following the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match he would also then go on to have one more match, meeting Chris Jericho at Backlash on April 26th 2009 in a one-on-one encounter. His legacy almost certainly continues today as a road agent for WWE and maybe most notably in the form of his son, Ricky Steamboat Jr. who is currently wrestling in the WWEs developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Richie Steamboat.  

When "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 he put it better than arguably anyone ever could in summing up this his classic rivalry with The Nature Boy and both mens sparkling careers when he stated that Ric Flair was the greatest wrestler to have ever lived and that when offering advice to young kids wanting to become wrestlers he urges them to study tapes of Ricky Steamboat. One would imagine that the legacy of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat could be seen for years to come in the young talent climbing the ranks in professional wrestling.

On This Day: 01 April

On This Day: Sunday April 1st 2001

Wrestlemania 19 - Triple H vs The Undertaker

via SLTDWrestling

At last years Wrestlemania the two giant forces, the two icons - The Undertaker and Triple H met with The Undertakers streak on the line. As usual, many pondered over whether or not The Game would be the one to finally end the streak and defeat The Undertaker the one place he has yet to be upset - Wrestlemania. In a physical, exhausting match-up The Undertaker was finally able to overcome all the punishment he had taken in the match and pick up the win but was carried from the ring, unable to stand.

This year The Dead Mans challenge for a re-match was finally accepted, after weeks of rejection, and the match was made. Wrestlemania 28, Miami, Florida. Billed as the "End of an Era" match-up, HHH again vows to end the streak and The Undertakers career. The reason for HHHs enhanced confidence this year? The match will be held in the confines of a Hell in a Cell! The matches within this structure have been dominated by these two men much more than any other individual, HHH probably having the more experience. However as we have seen this story unfold lately, and "The Heart Break Kid" be added as a special guest referee, all the talk seems to be around the pairs encouter last year at Wrestlemania 27. It seems that one match has been ignored in the hype - the first time these men met at Wrestlemania eleven years ago today!

Whether or not this year will be The Undertakers last or not remains unclear but one thing is for certain and that is that The Dead Man is nearing the end of an illustrious career. This may be the reason for this match not been mentioned, to the best of my recollection, at all in the build up. A build up leaning heavily on the history and the legacy of these two men in the WWE. The "American Bad Ass" has not been referred to in the build up to this years show but, back in 2001, The Undertaker was a tobacco-chewing, bike-riding Texan creating havoc and leaving a path of destruction in the WWE. Joining forces with his brother, Kane, The Undertaker baited HHH into a match at Wrestlemania XVII when, after Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had filed for a restraining order against The Undertaker, had instructed Kane to do his dirty work for him. When Kane held The Games wife over a barrier backstage, with a long, steep drop to the arena floor beneath her The Undertaker forced Comissioner William Regal to give him what he wanted and make the match. The culmination of The Dead Mans "Decade of Destruction".

Played to the ring by heavy metal icons Motorhead, The Game's ovation paled in comparison to The Undertaker, infront of nearly 68,000 fans at the Reliant Astrodome in his home town of Houston, Texas. The intense, personal rivalry could barely be contained, especially when Hunter attempted to bring his trademark sledgehammer into play. When the referee was struck and lay unconscious, the match quickly spiralled out of the ring and out of control and what followed was a near twenty minute brawl.

The match these two men had last year seems to have receieved a lot of praise. I personally felt very let down by it. I found it too slow, sluggish and generally just lacking in any real excitement factor at all. This year, with the inclusion of the Hell in a Cell, I think things should be very different. I expect both men to reach down deep and end this era the way it should be ended - in intense, violent brutality. Incase you cant remember or incase you simply werent around to see it, prepare for this historic encounter by watching two of the biggest icons in the modern game exemplify the era the two should fittingly bring the curtain down on in just a matter of hours from now.

26th March - 1st April: This Week in Wrestling History

​We are now less than 24 hours away from Wrestlemania 28 and I'm sure wrestling fans everywhere are starting to feel the excitement and the anticipation. Last time I covered Wrestlemania highlights from the last calendar week (19th - 25th March) but that only begins to scratch at the surface! What happened on THIS calendar week (26th March - 1st April) in Wrestlemania history I hear you cry? Well, here are two more selected Wrestlemania moments to tide you over until the big show! This is ​This Week in Wrestling History: Wrestlemania Special Part 2!

via therealwrestle

​Champion vs. Champion: The Ultimate Warrior (Intercontinental Champion) vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF Champion) 

Hulk Hogan had been the WWFs biggest star through the late eighties. Not only was Hogan the biggest draw in the company, he was the biggest draw that the WWF and professional wrestling had ever seen. Hogans popularity had reached levels previously unheard of as he became a household name and a global celebrity. Simply put, in many ways, he was in a league of his own. Other big names in the WWF at this time just couldn't reach the same levels of popularity with the fans. Men such as "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Andre The Giant and Jake "The Snake" Roberts were all beloved by fans but it didn't seem as though these men were ever going to receieve the same kind of response from the audience that Hogan did. There was however one man who threatened to stand in the way of the WWF Champion.

The Ultimate Warrior, from Parts Unknown, was a larger than life, colourful, exciting character. He may not have been one of the most loved, respected men by many of his peers but the people who did love Warrior were the WWF fans and yes, I was one of them as a small child. Warrior was intensity personified and was quickly becoming the biggest rival to Hulk Hogans popularity. Leading into Wrrestlemania VI, on April 1st 1990 infront of nearly 68,000 at the Toronto Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, The Ultimate Warrior was Hulk Hogans most popular challenger. 

Both men had been pushed into the spotlight leading up to this encounter, both having lengthy championship reigns. At Summerslam 1989, on August 28th, The Ultimate Warrior won back his Intercontinental Championship from Rick Rude. Hogan had won his WWF Championship at Wrestlemania V, on April 2nd 1989. Both titles were on the line in this main-event. This event would either see Hulk Hogan defeat the biggest threat to his championship and his popularity or see The Ultimate Warrior take the Immortal One's spotlight and potentially his spot at the top of the pile in the WWF. Theres surely no doubt in anybodys mind that going over on Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship would be the biggest accomplishment in any mans career at this time. If the Warrior could pull it off then doing so on the grandest stage of them all would immortalise his name and his legacy in the WWF forever.

​Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

In 1998 Shawn Michaels was forced to retire from professional wrestling due to a back injury. An injury that most seemed to think would keep Michaels out of the ring forever. However in 2002 the "Heart Break Kid" made his triumphant return to the ring and, somehow, was able to dazzle fans by stopping shows in that same, trademark, unimitable fashion that he did before his injury. Michaels return to the WWE was a huge success and he even captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in his second tenure. 

In Michaels absence, Chris Jericho had climbed the ranks of the WWE. Since moving from WCW to the WWF in 1999 Jericho had captured his own championship, winning the very first Undisputed Championship when the WWF and WCW belts were unified in 2001. When Jericho was training to be a wrestler and when Jericho was still trying to make a name for himself around the world, in Japan and Mexico among other places, the wrestler he most often imitated, looked up to and respected, according to the man himself, was Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels is "Mr. Wrestlemania", a name not given to him lightly. Shawn Michaels had battled Razor Ramon in the famous Ladder match at Wrestlemania 10, gone over an hour with Bret Hart in an iron man match for the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania 12 and been double-crossed by Mike Tyson in his defeat to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 in one of, if not the, biggest main-event in Wrestlemania history. Shawn Michaels was "Mr. Wrestlemania" because he had provided more "moments" than anyone ever had before at this event as well as elevated it to heights nobody ever had. 

On March 30th 2003, at Wrestlemania 19, these two men would meet in a highly-anticipated match that had all the makings of another potential show-stealer. Whether Shawn Michaels would triumph over the cocky, dastardly Chris Jericho or whether Y2J would be able to defeat his idol on the biggest stage possible, these two men were always likely to stop this show together - despite main-events later in the evening featuring huge matches between Hulk Hogan and Mr.McMahon, the final chapter  in the Rock/Austin saga and Kurt Angle defending his WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar.

March 19th - 25th: This Week in Wrestling History

via therealwrestle

That time of year is nearly upon us again already. Tomorrow we go into Wrestlemania week and the final week of programming before the event itself. A whole year of hype and build-up is almost over as John Cena takes on The Rock in The Great One’s home town of Miami, Florida. The match is big, the match is money and the match could hopefully provide some ‘Wrestlemania moments’.

A ‘Wrestlemania moment’ is a moment in time stopped, immortalised and replayed for years to come. Every year we still see Hogan slam Andre, Shawn Michaels fly from the ladder and The Undertaker destroy everything in his path. A ‘Wrestlemania moment’ is an assured legacy.

So for twenty nine years now men and women have been striving to perform on the “grandest stage of them all” and earn their right to be remembered, re-played and enjoyed for years to come but exactly what kind of ‘moments’ have been made at the big show? Well, three Wrestlemania’s have been held in this particular calendar week in years gone by and there are certainly a few ‘moments’ to highlight in This Week in Wrestling History: A Wrestlemania special!

Wrestlemania VII – “Macho King” Randy Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior

Throughout the majority of his WWF career “The Macho Man” Randy Savage was shadowed by his manager and love interest Miss Elizabeth. The former WWF Champion won the King of the Ring tournament in 1989 and, following a feud with Hulk Hogan that saw his jealousy get the better of him, “The Macho King”  dropped Elizabeth and paired himself with the charismatic Sensational “Queen” Sherri.

Cementing his legacy with feuds and bouts with the likes of Hogan, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and Dusty Rhodes, Savage had a new challenger standing in his way going into Wrestlemania 7 – The Ultimate Warrior. A man often criticised for a supposed lack of understanding or appreciation for his success and a limited move-set in the ring The Warrior was, however, adored by masses of young fans, including myself. His immense popularity led to Warrior successfully defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship a year earlier at Wrestlemania 6.

These two forces would collide on March 24th 1991 infront of 16,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California and the stakes were high. The stipulation for the match stated that the loser must retire from the WWF. Miss Elizabeth was caught by cameras sitting ringside for the match and The Warrior, usually furiously energetic in his entrance, strolled perhaps anxiously to the ring in anticipation for the match ahead.

Arguably the two most high-profile omissions from the WWE Hall of Fame, these two legends battled a twenty minute encounter. Savage seemingly shouldering the majority of the workload, he, as the likes of Hulk Hogan had done before him, gracefully put the man from “Parts Unknown” over and helped to make Warrior look the dominant, powerful champion he had been in his time in the WWF. After an enjoyable match-up, Miss Elizabeth would be reunited with The Macho King and, on the grandest of them all, professional wrestlings original power-couple would take the stage and make an emotional Wrestlemania moment that would truly live forever.

 WATCH THIS MATCH HERE!

Wrestlemania X – Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

In quite possibly the most high-energy opening to a Wrestlemania ever, the brothers Bret and Owen Hart opened the show at Wrestlemania 10 on March 20th 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In a prime example of a “see-saw match” as Vince McMahon used to say, Bret and his younger brother Owen brought up the curtain on the 10th anniversary of Wrestlemania and stole the show. It’s a much used cliche when discussing wrestling but if there was ever a better example of one man being able to read the other perfectly in the ring and “knowing what he was going to do before he did it” than Bret and Owen then I don’t think I’ve seen it. The chemistry in the ring that the Hart brothers possessed was nothing short of spectacular to watch and this was a match for the ages.

The youngest of the Hart brothers, Owen always arguably stood slightly in the shadow of The Hit Man and his successful career. This was played out on screen as Owens jealousy became stronger and forced a divide between the brothers. By Wrestlemania 10 the relationship had imploded and Owen had a point to prove.

The understanding and fluidity of movement between Bret and Owen was, one would assume, the result of two brothers born with wrestling in their blood. Wrestlemania X was an opportunity for the brothers to show the quality of work they could prodice in the ring and for Owen to step out of the shadow of his brother Bret and begin to build his own legacy in the WWF. The resulting match-up from these two men was exhausting just to watch as the brothers battled, back and forth, for supremacy. What made this twenty minute classic even more impressive is that big brother Bret, as well as opening the show in such an exhausting fashion, would close it also – winning the WWF Championship from Yokozuna later that same evening in the main event.

Wrestlemania 13 – Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission match

Simply put I would not be a wrestling fan and I would not be writing this if it wasn’t for this match. Without this match wrestling would be a distant memory to me – watching the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and The Ultimate Warrior as a small child in the late eighties and early nineties. My love for professional wrestling would never have been re-ignited had a friend of mine not gave me a tape of Wrestlemania 13.

On March 23rd 1997 over 18,000 fans packed the Rosemont Horizon in Rosement, Illinois. The main event for the WWF Championship was a no disqualication match between Sycho Sid and The Undertaker as the Dead Man captured the title. However it was a match lower down on the card that stole the show.

When I was watching WWF when I was a small child I loved Bret Hart and it was The Hitman that helped me to find that same excitment for it years later when I watched him face Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission match. In what was arguably a pre-cursor to the hardcore Attitude Era, the two men embroiled in a bitter rivalry at that time took the fight out of the ring into the crowd, a rarity in those days, and brought weapons into the match in the form of steel chairs and a ring bell into an intense match-up.

Bret Hart worked the majority of his WWF career as a baby-face, an example of right prevailing over wrong and good over evil and as a result, amassed a following of young fans to whom The Hitman was a role model. Bret has spoken with great pride of the opportunity the WWF gave him to represent such a character for his fans and so when the decision to turn him heel was made, fans were left stunned by what unfolded. Steve Austin was the antithesis of a good guy. The brawler from Texas was beginning to lead the WWF into a new era of the anti-heel, the villain that the fans could not help but love and support. As his bad behavior gained him more and more followers, the landscape of the WWF and the product they were broadcasting was changing dramatically. This match is often referred to as potentially the turning point and the birthplace of a new era. “Stunning” Steve Austin and “The Ringmaster” Steve Austin were no more and, alongwith his famous “3:16″ speech at the King of the Ring the previous year and maybe even his old ECW promos where a legimately pissed off Austin ranted at his former employer WCW and Eric Bischoff for firing him, this match helped give birth to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

In the weeks leading up to Wrestlemania Bret Hart was venting his frustrations towards the WWF and Vince McMahon as Austin continued to gain momentum and threatened his spot within the organisation. This newly bad behavior from Hart culminated in the physical assault of Vince McMahon, as Hart shoved him to the ground in anger. The heel turn for the Hitman was almost complete and when these two men hooked up, the scientific wrestling ability of the former WWF Champion combined with the brawling style of Steve Austin was played out expertly as the match quickly became a war. The inclusion of the “Worlds Most Dangerous Man” and the former UFC Champion Ken Shamrock as a special guest referee also greatly aided the feeling of legitimacy in the contest as he struggled to manage the brutality of Austin and Hart. I also believe the big fight feel surrounding the match was enhanced greatly by Jim Ross at ringside, a perfect call from start to finish as he captured the drama and the tension of the contest.

When Austin attempted an Irish Whip on the outside of the ring and was reversed, sending the Rattlesnake to the steel railing at ringside, the match took on a whole new level of brutality. Austins head collided with the barrier and the Texan was legitimately cut, bleeding profusely onto the floor and the mat for the remainder of the match.

What followed as a result of this is one of the most iconic images in wrestling at this time and in the evolution of the character of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Locked in a painful sharpshooter, The Hitmans trademark submission hold, Austin tried desperately to avoid submitting and break the hold, screaming in pain and determination with blood streaming down his face and pouring from his head. Following the conclusion of this match the transition was complete. Bret Hart had cemented his place as the top heel in the WWF whereas Stone Cold Steve Austin, cheered and applauded from the ring, had taken The Hitmans spot as the most popular babyface (if its ever appropriate to call him that) in the company. The torch was passed in a stunning, enthralling match. The feeling of excitement I had watching it was, without question, mirrored by those in attendance as the fans rose to their feet. The deafening roar from the fans as they showed their appreciation for a true classic just added to the feeling of electricity I still get whenever I watch this match.

(The picture that became an iconic image in WWF)

I know that I often describe matches I write about here as classics. It’s unavoidable given the nature of the blog and the careful selection of highlights that I use for content here. I cannot however stress enough that this match is a true classic. An epic. In the 22 minutes that these two greats went to war I became a wrestling fan again. I found the excitment and the drama that had captured me as a child and I believe it is in no way an understatement to say that, fifteen years later, I still have an appreciation, a respect and a love for professional wrestling because of Stone Cold Steve Austin, because of Bret “The Hit Man” Hart and because of this spectacular match in particular. To those who do not share that same passion, have that understanding, or have no idea why anyone would find entertainment and legitimacy in professional wrestling I say to them – watch this match. If, by watching this, you dont see the allure or understand the enjoyment to be taken from watching a wrestling match then I suggest that you simply may never be able to watch wrestling the way I and countless others watch wrestling.

If a wrestling match is to be judged on the story being told then, in my opinion, never has a greater story been told in a wrestling ring than on this night.