WrestleMania 21
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- This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. For the Xbox video game named after this event, see WWE WrestleMania 21.
| WrestleMania 21 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Details | ||
| Promotion | World Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Brand | RAW SmackDown! |
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| Date | April 3, 2005 | |
| Venue | Staples Center | |
| City | Los Angeles, California | |
| Attendance | 20,193 | |
| Pay-per-view chronology | ||
| No Way Out 2005 | WrestleMania 21 | Backlash 2005 |
WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment. It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The event was the first WrestleMania at the Staples Center, but the fifth to take place in the Southern California metropolitan area (following WrestleMania 2, WrestleMania VII, WrestleMania XII and WrestleMania 2000). Tickets sold out in less than one minute for the event, making it the fastest ticket sell-out in the company's history as well as the fastest ticket sell-out at the Staples Center. The event drew a Staples Center record attendance of 20,193 people from 14 countries and 48 states and grossed more than $2.1 million USD in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing WWE event ever at the Staples Center, and the highest grossing of the five WrestleManias held in California. In addition to those in attendance, WrestleMania 21 was seen by millions of fans in more than 90 countries.
WrestleMania 21 was a joint-promotion pay-per-view event, featuring performers from both the RAW and SmackDown! brands. The tagline for WrestleMania 21 was WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. The theme song for the event was "Bigtime" by The Soundtrack of Our Lives. The finishing recap video was played to "Behind Those Eyes" by 3 Doors Down.
The commentators for the RAW brand were Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, while the commentators for the SmackDown! brand were Michael Cole and Tazz. The Spanish language commentators were Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich. Howard Finkel served as the ring announcer for the RAW brand, while Tony Chimel served as the ring announcer for the SmackDown! brand.
Contents |
[edit] Results
- Dark match: Booker T won a 30-man Interpromotional Battle Royal featuring: Paul London, Heidenreich, Spike Dudley, Nunzio, Funaki, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, Orlando Jordan, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns, Scotty 2 Hotty, Hardcore Holly, Charlie Haas, Billy Kidman, Akio from SmackDown! and Simon Dean, William Regal, Tajiri, Rob Conway, Sylvain Grenier, Snitsky, The Hurricane, Rosey, Chris Masters, Viscera, Rhyno, Val Venis, Tyson Tomko, Maven from RAW.
- Booker T won by eliminating Chris Masters last.
- Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero (12:39)
- Mysterio pinned Guerrero with a Huracanrana.
- Edge defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (w/Tyson Tomko) and Kane in a Money in the Bank ladder match (15:17)
- Edge won by climbing a ladder and retrieving the briefcase hanging above the ring.
- Hulk Hogan made a surprise appearance saving Eugene from an onslaught by Muhammad Hassan and Daivari, both of whom were infuriated for being excluded from the event.
- The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton (14:14)
- Undertaker pinned Orton after a Tombstone Piledriver.
- Trish Stratus defeated Christy Hemme (w/Lita) to retain the WWE Women's Championship (4:11)
- Stratus pinned Hemme after a Chick Kick.
- Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels (27:25)
- Angle forced Michaels to submit with the Ankle Lock.
- Piper's Pit segment with guest Steve Austin
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper confronted Stone Cold Steve Austin until Carlito interrupted and began to insult them. This resulted in Carlito receiving a Stone Cold Stunner from Austin and Piper throwing him out of the ring. Both ended the segment celebrating with beer until Austin gave Piper a Stone Cold Stunner as well.
- Akebono defeated The Big Show in a Sumo Match (1:02)
- Akebono defeated Big Show by throwing him out of the ring.
- John Cena defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield to win the WWE Championship (11:26)
- Cena pinned JBL after an F-U.
- "Mean" Gene Okerlund introduced the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2005:
- Batista defeated Triple H (w/Ric Flair) to win the World Heavyweight Championship (21:34)
- Batista pinned Triple H after a Batista Bomb.
- Motörhead performed Triple H's entrance music live.
[edit] Promotion
In line with the event's location and tagline, WrestleMania 21 was promoted on television with a series of parody movie trailers with wrestlers playing the starring roles from famous modern movies.
- Forrest Gump featuring Eugene playing the role of Tom Hanks, with William Regal making a cameo appearance.
- Braveheart featuring Triple H playing the role of Mel Gibson, with Ric Flair making a cameo appearance.
- Basic Instinct featuring Stacy Keibler, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Christian playing the roles of Sharon Stone and the interrogators, with The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young making a cameo appearance.
- Pulp Fiction featuring Eddie Guerrero and Booker T playing the roles of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
- A Few Good Men featuring John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield playing the roles of Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, with Jonathan Coachman making a cameo appearance.
- Dirty Harry featuring The Undertaker playing the role of Clint Eastwood.
- When Harry Met Sally... featuring Kurt Angle and Christy Hemme playing the roles of Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, with Linda McMahon making a cameo appearance.
- Taxi Driver featuring Heidenreich, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, The Big Show, Candice Michelle, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Tajiri, Orlando Jordan, Joy Giovanni, Gene Snitsky, Paul London, Tazz, Chavo Guerrero, Hardcore Holly, Molly Holly, and Michael Cole, performing their unique versions of Robert DeNiro's "You talkin' to me?" line.
- Gladiator with Stone Cold Steve Austin playing the role of Russell Crowe, airing as part of the opening video for the event.
[edit] Notes
- WrestleMania 21 marked the first time the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship both changed hands on the same night in standard singles matches and at a WrestleMania.
- This event marked the fourth time at a WrestleMania that Triple H was played to the ring by a live band. At WrestleMania XIV by Chris Warren and The DX Band. At WrestleMania X-Seven by Motörhead, and at WrestleMania X8 by Drowning Pool.
- This would be Eddie Guerrero's final WrestleMania match before his untimely passing on November 13, 2005.
- This is the third WrestleMania to use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals (the previous two being WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania 13).
- During the Money in the Bank Ladder match, Tyson Tomko helped Christian up the ladder using his head and back. At WrestleMania X-Seven during the TLC match, Rhyno helped Christian up the ladder in a similar manner.
- Celebrity guests in attendance for WrestleMania 21 included former WCW Champion David Arquette, Motörhead, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, The Black Eyed Peas, Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins, Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Carmen Electra, Sylvester Stallone, Marg Helgenberger from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and former MADtv cast member Will Sasso.
- This WrestleMania, along with the preceding one and the following one, would all take place from the three locations that hosted WrestleMania 2, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles (This one from Los Angeles, WrestleMania XX from New York, and WrestleMania 22 from Chicago).
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| WrestleMania |
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| I 1985 | 2 1986 | III 1987 | IV 1988 | V 1989 | VI 1990 | VII 1991 | VIII 1992 | IX 1993 | X 1994 | XI 1995 | XII 1996 13 1997 | XIV 1998 | XV 1999 | 2000 | X-Seven 2001 | X8 2002 | XIX 2003 | XX 2004 | 21 2005 | 22 2006 | 23 2007 |
