Originally posted by Del Murder
Match of the night: Jericho/Christian was good except the ending, and Eddie/Angle was well done too, but the main event really delivered and stole the show. Good to see Benoit finally get his due! What do you have to say now AB?

For the second straight month, WWE put me in full blown mark out mode with the winner of the PPV main event. Last month it was Eddie Guerrero, this month it was Chris Benoit. And for me, it meant more because I've been a Benoit fan ever since I first saw him in WCW. I saw him never really get the proper respect over there, and I remember him winning the World title there, only to leave WCW the next day due to issues with the new head booker.

Then he had to struggle in WWE, and came close to winning the title on a few occasions but never really got it. And I never, ever expected Benoit to walk into the Wrestlemania main event (which is likely to be the biggest match of his career) and walk out with the strap around his waist. It was a thing of beauty to see happen.

And I'm not going to take back the things I said before regarding Triple H because a lot of it is more fact than fiction. But for this night, I give Triple H a ton of credit for putting over Benoit in the Garden in the middle of the ring by submitting to the Crossface. It was the biggest way he could've put over Benoit, so I appluad him for that.

Other PPV thoughts:

<b><u>World Title Match</b></u>:
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (winner)

Great match, and dare I say it, match of the night. I loved MSG being behind Benoit the entire time and even booing HBK at a couple of points. There was no doubt from the New York crowd as to who they wanted to see walk out with the title. I also heard that they gave Benoit a standing olvation after the PPV went off the air when Benoit's wife and children came into the ring to celebrate. I wish I had seen that, but hopefully it will be on the Wrestlemania XX DVD.


<u><b>WWE Women's Title Match</b></u>
Victoria (winner) vs. Molly Holly

It's a shame the crowd wasn't behind the women in this match, because it was a good match. The only bad thing is Molly getting her head shaved. Damn, that woman is a trooper.


<b><u>World Tag Team Titles Match</u></b>
Booker T & RVD (winners) vs. Jindrak & Cade vs. La Resistance vs. The Dudley Boyz

Essentially a match to get eight guys on the PPV. The match was a throw away, but it did have good action. RVD and Booker T retained, and that's the way it should've been in this match.


<b><u>WWE Tag Team Championship</u></b>
Scotty 2 Hotty & Rikishi (winners) vs. APA vs. Basham Bros. vs. SPWGTT

Definitely even more of a throw away than the other. I was rooting for either of the heel teams to win because I don't like the APA nor do I like Rikishi and Scotty. Oh well, they retained anyway. Just one note though, please stop showing close-ups of Rikishi's ass. No one wants to see that.


<b><u>WWE Title Match</u></b>
Eddie Guerrero (winner) vs. Kurt Angle

The crowd ate this match up, and the two men delivered in every way. The match was great and was the match of the night until the main event. Props to both men, and props to whoever thought of the ending of that match. That was just brilliant. I definitely won't mind seeing this feud continue for the next few months.


<b><u>WWE US Title Match</u></b>
The Big Show vs. John Cena (winner)

A typical match with the Big Show with him having most of the offense. I could rag on the Big Show, but he's been very good for the past couple of months. Props to Cena for lifting a 500lb man on his shoulders not once, but twice. Damn.

<b><u>WWE Cruiserweight Open Title Match</u></b>

It was unfortunate this got so little time. I would gladly done without either fatal four way tag match to get more time in this one. Rey gets screwed, Chavo retains which I'm happy about. Thing to note in this match, Kidman damn near wrecking himself with the shooting star press to the outside. I think he drove his head directly into the chest of Jamie Knoble. No wonder he always gets hurt.


<b><u>Evening Gown Match</u></b>
Torrie Wilson & Sable vs. Stacy Keibler & Miss Jackie

Typical bra and panties match. Tazz was hilarious calling commentary.

<b>Special Guest Ref: Steve Austin</b>
Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg

Damn. The MSG crowd was brutal in this match. Lesnar got the "you sold out" chant and the "hey hey goodbye chant." The NYC crowd made their feelings known to both these guys. In fact, Austin was the only one to get cheered during the actual match. Goldberg wins with the jackhammer, Lesnar gives the finger to the crowd and Austin, Lesnar gets a stunner, Goldberg drinks beer then gets a stunner. Thank you both men for your work, but Austin just stunned you out of the WWE.


<b>Rock'n'Sock Connection ( The Rock and Mick Foley) vs. Evolution( Randy Orton, Batista, & Ric Flair)</b>

To be quite honest, I'm not all that surprised WWE gave Orton the pin on Foley in this one. Foley has always been one to put over upcoming talent, and he did so in a major way with Orton. I'm liking Orton more and more, but he still needs to be a little more seasoned. He's actually quite similar to the Rock. The Rock had a huge push which he wasn't ready for, but he grew into it. Orton is doing the same thing. I'm looking for a one on one between Orton and Foley at Backlash because nothing was really resolved. And as a side note, did it seem like the Rock was having a ball last night or what? And how about he and Flair's interaction with one another. I'd love to see those two go out in the future.


<b>The Undertaker vs. Kane</b>

I'm still undecided on the Undertaker's look. I realize there was no way his hair could've grown very long in four months, but I think he should have at least come out in his old outfit. He's basically the same character as he left, only he's doing a couple deadman mannerisms.


<b>Chris Jericho vs. Christian</b>

Jericho lost his Wrestlemania match for the third straight year. These two had an excellent match. True, there was one botched spot when Jericho dropped Christian on the ropes, but it wasn't a brutal screwup and almost looked like it was intentional. The big thing was seeing Trish turn heel, which I liked because she's been doing the same thing two or three years now, so it'll be refreshing to see her as a heel. Besides, they needed a balance since Victoria is basically a face now.



All in all, it wasn't the best Wrestlemania but it will be a personal favorite of mine only because of seeing Benoit winning the big one. I liked the Hall of Famers coming out and getting the respect the rightfully deserve. And how about Bobby Heenan playing up the crowd when the chanted 'weasel.' Oh, and I agree with him during the video package of the hall of fame presentations when he said the only thing that could've made it better was if Monsoon (Gorilla Monsoon) was still there. It almost made me cry. And props to Vince McMahon coming out and just humbly thanking the crowd for supporting him and his company. That was very well done, and props for him being the only McMahon on the show in any capacity and it only lasting a few minutes. I give credit to Vince for not having a lot of backstage stuff going on. He let his talent have the spotlight, and they all busted their humps last night. My only hope is that Vince keeps up this trend of pushing guys who deserve it.