[loopydate]

MARCH 13, 2005 - WRESTLEMANIA 21

It's the grandest spectacle in all of sports and entertainment. Tonight, eight feuds will come to an end, four titles will be defended, and all the biggest stars in the industry will be competing for their WrestleMania Moment!

Just two weeks ago, Damien shocked the world when he won the United States Title from Rey Mysterio. Tonight, he defends the gold against his longtime rival Paul London in a match that will bring their long-running feud to an end. A match that can only end when one man goes through a table!

Tables Match for the United States Title - Paul London vs. Damien (c)

Paul London goes to slam Damien through a table, but he manages to escape. Lightning kick by London on Damien. Damien takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Damien hits a right hand. Running knee lift from Damien. Damien goes to slam London through a table, but he manages to escape. Bodyslam by Damien. London blocks the suplex attempt. Spinning bulldog in the corner, Damien is down. Vicious kick to the teeth from Paul London. London uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Paul London pulls Damien onto the table for a powerbomb, but he uses a backdrop to get out of the predicament. Damien blocks a punch. Big backdrop on London, executed well. Powerbomb on London. Damien climbs onto the table with Paul London and scores with a piledriver to destroy the table and get the victory. *** rating, as it was good, but nothing too special.

Overall Rating: 84%
Crowd Reaction: 89%
Match Quality: 75%

Over the last couple of months, Brock Lesnar has made it his mission to destroy Rob Van Dam by destroying his past in a series of matches against RVD's fellow ECW alumni. Tonight, they will end things once and for all inside a steel cage!

Steel Cage Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar drives RVD into the cage side. Nice piledriver on RVD. RVD counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Standing leg lariat by Rob Van Dam on Lesnar. RVD hits a dropkick on Brock Lesnar. Rob Van Dam throws Lesnar into the cage. Legsweep out of Nowhere. Where is Nowhere, and why do moves keep coming out of there? Does it have a factory? Rob Van Dam and Lesnar climb the cage....but both end up crashing back to the canvas after a struggle! Lesnar blocks a kick from Rob Van Dam. Spinebuster by Brock Lesnar. Massive lariat, apparently Lesnar has been watching The Best Of Stan Hansen again. RVD gets caught with a short powerbomb from Lesnar. Brock Lesnar drives RVD into the cage side. RVD kicks Brock Lesnar in the gut to reverse the momentum. Second rope flying axe handle, Lesnar goes down. Slingshot senton by RVD, crushing the chest of Lesnar. Rob Van Dam floors Brock Lesnar...and climbs the turnbuckles. Through the air, Five-Star Frogsplash! Rob Van Dam climbs the cage, Lesnar can only look on in despair. RVD escapes for the win! It gets a ***1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 90%
Crowd Reaction: 94%
Match Quality: 83%

Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy Version 2.0 and Rey Mysterio have put on great matches against anyone and everyone in the division, but tonight their rivalry ends in many matches rolled into one - under Iron Man rules!

Iron Man Match for the Cruiserweight Title - Rey Mysterio vs. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 (c)

Flying elbow from Rey Mysterio. Lightning kick by Rey on Matt. Hooks the leg for a two count. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 reverses a hip toss. Stiff high kick on Rey by Matt Hardy Version 2.0 who has evidently been watching some old AJPW tapes recently. Second rope flying axe handle, Rey goes down. Hooks the leg for a two count. Springboard dropkick from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Nicely done. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Spin kick by Matt Hardy Version 2.0 to the face. Rey Mysterio avoids a Matt Hardy Version 2.0 avalanche. Super frankensteiner on Matt, who hit hard. There's a two count on the pin. DDT from the top rope by Rey Mysterio. That looked brutal. Pin, but Matt is out just before the three count. Rey uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Rey hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Matt ducks a wild right hand. Second rope flying axe handle, Rey goes down. Rey walks into a face crusher variation. Pin, three count, it's over. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 pins Rey. SECOND FALL: Dropkick connects, Rey goes down. Matt hits a massive spinning kick to the jaw. Spin kick by Matt Hardy Version 2.0 to the face. Hard back suplex on Rey. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Rey counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Second rope flying axe handle, Matt goes down. Spinning bulldog in the corner, Matt is down. Hooks the leg for a two count. Matt powers out of a headlock. Spear by Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Hooks the leg for a two count. Tiger suplex on Rey, right from out of the Misawa playbook. Pin, but Rey is out just before the three count. Rey Mysterio reverses a hip toss. Rey crushes Matt with a big legdrop. Cover gets three. Rey Mysterio pinned Matt. THIRD FALL: Standing leg lariat by Matt Hardy Version 2.0 on Rey. Rey Mysterio reverses a hip toss. Matt walks into a high dropkick from Rey Mysterio. We have our mandatory ref bump, as he goes down after accidentally getting caught by an elbow to the face. Springboard dropkick from Rey Mysterio. Nicely done. Pinfall attempt, but the ref is conveniently laid out. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 ducks a clothesline attempt. Second rope flying axe handle, Rey goes down. Rey takes a hurrancarana from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. There's a two count on the pin. Rey walks into a face crusher variation. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Matt walks into a trip. Flying reverse elbow by Rey Mysterio. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Matt counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 moves in for the kill. Twist Of Fate!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! END OF BOUT. A good *** rating.

Overall Rating: 84%
Crowd Reaction: 89%
Match Quality: 73%

Since debuting on SmackDown!, Randy Orton made a beeline straight for The Hurricane, and SD's resident superhero has been more than a match for him. Tonight, they won't be leaping tall buildings in a single bound, but they'll definitely reach new heights in a ladder match!

Ladder Match - The Hurricane vs. Randy Orton

Dropkick connects, Orton goes down. The Hurricane blasts Orton with a slingshot into the ladder. Spin kick by The Hurricane to the face. Hard back suplex on Orton. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? The Hurricane misses a clothesline. Powerbomb on the ladder by Randy Orton. Driven full nelson slam on Hurricane. The Hurricane takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. Back heel kick off the second rope, Orton goes down. Orton counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Orton hits a right hand. Orton only gets knees on a splash. Second rope flying axe handle, Orton goes down. The Hurricane has Randy Orton down on the canvas. Shining Wizard! Boom! The Hurricane sets the ladder up and climbs it, grabbing the prize for the victory. The Hurricane goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory That was good. **** rating.

Overall Rating: 91%
Crowd Reaction: 94%
Match Quality: 87%

Six days ago on RAW, Trish Stratus shocked her "best friend" Mickie James by betraying her in a tag team match. She says it's all about the Women's Title, but it definitely seems like something more is going on here.

Women's Title Match - Mickie James (c) vs. Trish Stratus

Mickie James takes a right hand to the temple from Trish. Trish Stratus strikes Mickie James. Big kick from Trish. Trish Stratus hits a right hand on Mickie James. Mickie counters a sleeper hold by turning it into a jaw breaker. Face crusher from Mickie on Trish. Badly executed second rope splash by Mickie. Cover for a two count. Trish Stratus ducks a clothesline attempt. Trish Stratus hits a sloppy double axe handle. Hooks the leg for a two count. Trish DDTs Mickie James. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Mickie counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Mickie strikes away at Trish Stratus. Trish blocks a kick from Mickie James. Trish Stratus with a badly-executed spinning neckbreaker on Mickie. Chris Jericho comes running down the aisle and into the ring! Mickie James turns around. Chris Jericho drops Mickie to the canvas. Chris Jericho quickly locks on the Walls of Jericho! Jericho leaves the ring, the damage done! Pin : 1 - 2- 3. Trish defeats Mickie. Trish Stratus smiles and walks over and shakes hands with Chris Jericho, thanking him for interfering and helping win this match. **1\2 rating. Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling.

Overall Rating: 83%
Crowd Reaction: 92%
Match Quality: 63%

Two weeks ago, Chris Benoit cashed in the Money In The Bank title shot he earned by winning the 2004 King Of The Ring tournament, stealing the WWE Title from The Rock. Tonight, Rock has cashed in a shot of his own, the rematch clause and they're going to be locked in together in Hell In A Cell

Hell In A Cell for the WWE Title - The Rock vs. Chris Benoit (c)

Doctor Bomb, Rock is hurt. Rock blocks a punch. Stiff chop lights up Benoit. Fallaway slam by The Rock. Flying shoulder tackle by Rock sends Benoit to the mat. Rock walks into a trip. Rock walks into a stiff sit-out jaw breaker. Corkscrew brainbuster suplex, Benoit hit it well. Chris Benoit snap suplexes Rock...with authority! ('With authority', trademark G.Monsoon 1986.) The Rock pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Big backdrop on Benoit, executed well. Powerbomb on Benoit. The Rock moves in for the kill. Here it comes - Rock Bottom. 1....2...3, it's finished. The Rock goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory That was good. **** rating.

Overall Rating: 94%
Crowd Reaction: 98%
Match Quality: 85%

Earlier tonight, Chris Jericho shockingly helped Trish Stratus win the Women's Title from Mickie James, but that's not the only action he'll see tonight. Up next, he takes on his longtime rival John Cena, and the loser must say "I Quit!"

I Quit Match - John Cena vs. Chris Jericho

Spear by John Cena. Chris Jericho reverses a hip toss. Dropkick connects, Cena goes down. Second rope flying axe handle, Cena goes down. Flying elbow from Chris Jericho. Cena reverses a waistlock. Full nelson slam on Jericho. John Cena scores with a standing spinebuster. Cena slams Chris Jericho down. Jericho ducks a wild right hand. Jericho uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Diamond Dust from Chris Jericho, Cena is out. Chris Jericho has John Cena down...and locks in the Walls of Jericho! The referee asks Cena....and we have a submission! The match is over. That was good. **** rating.

Overall Rating: 95%
Crowd Reaction: 100%
Match Quality: 84%

Christian held all of World Wrestling Entertainment in the palm of his hand since winning the Royal Rumble. He's toyed with both champions as to who he'd challenge, only to reveal the whole thing was a decoy for Benoit winning the WWE Title. Christian has had his sights set on Rhyno's World Title all along and tonight he gets his shot in a Last Man Standing Match!

Last Man Standing Match for the World Title - Rhyno (c) vs. Christian

Christian drives a forearm into the chest of Rhyno. Rhyno counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Rhyno fires off some right and left hands. Lifting DDT by Rhyno, looked good. Christian counters a sleeper hold by turning it into a jaw breaker. Christian slams Rhyno onto the table. Tiger bomb by Christian, although no mention is made of whether it originated in Pearl River. The referee is counting: 5....6....Rhyno is back up. Front legsweep slam by Christian, hit with precision. Rhyno counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Rhyno uses a big bag of popcorn to floor Christian. The referee is counting: 7....8....Christian is back up. Rhyno walks into a trip. Christian moves in for the kill. Unprettier! The referee counts to 10, this match is over! I'm knocking off half a star for some blown spots, so that's a ***1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 92%
Crowd Reaction: 97%
Match Quality: 83%

Two World Title matches, two other title matches, and seven gimmick matches later, and WrestleMania 21's main event isn't for any gold. No, this one is personal. Tajiri has done everything in his power to make Eddie Guerrero's life a living hell, including turning Eddie's own flesh and blood against him. Tonight, Eddie's hoping to see some of Tajiri's blood. Whoever draws it first wins the WrestleMania 21 main event!

First Blood Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Tajiri

Standing leg lariat by Eddie Guerrero on Tajiri. Hard back suplex on Tajiri. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Eddie hits a dropkick on Tajiri. Eddie Guerrero gets taken down out of nowhere. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. Tajiri only gets knees on a splash. Spinning bulldog in the corner, Tajiri is down. Tornado DDT from Eddie Guerrero, Tajiri got planted. Tajiri drops out the back of a Eddie Guerrero bodyslam attempt. Tajiri scores with a back heel kick on Eddie. Eddie Guerrero fights out of a grapple. Second rope flying axe handle, Tajiri goes down. Eddie picks up the ring bell. Tajiri turns around...and gets smashed over the head with it! That has to be at least a 0. 9 on the Muta scale. The referee sees blood, and this match is over! Eddie Guerrero goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory That was good. **** rating.

Overall Rating: 93%
Crowd Reaction: 97%
Match Quality: 84%