Wrestlemania 22 Review

Edit: In the time since writing this review, I have been writing recaps for the other WWF/WWE/WCW shows as I watch them. Ive developed a system of tallying up the matches then giving a total star rating at the end of the show. Here's the formula:


5 Star Match= A 3.0 star IMDB rating
4 1/2 Stars Match= A 2.5 star IMDB rating
4 stars Match= A 2.0 star IMDB rating
3 1/2 stars Match= A 1.5 star IMDB rating
3 stars Match= A 1.0 star IMDB rating
2 1/2 stars Match= A .7 star IMDB rating
2 star match= A .5 star IMDB rating
1 1/2 star match= A .3 star IMDB rating
1 star match = A .2 star IMDB rating
1/2 star match = A .1 star IMDB rating
Dud= A O IMDB rating


Well here it is the last Wrestlemania Review. We have gone through the first 21 Wrestlemanias reviewing each and every one. Today we go to the recent Wrestlemania 22, we are in Chicago the third Mania to take place here. Some chick from Destinys Child does America The Beautiful. Onto the first match. Lets take a look at the bonus match.


Dark Match

18 Man Interpromotional Battle Royale


Viscera, Eugene, Goldust, Tyson Tomko, Rob Conway, Lance Dade, Trevor Murdoch, Matt Striker, Super Crazy, Psicosis, Funaki, Steven Richards, Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, Road Warrior, William Regal And Simon Dean


Simon is gone via Snitsky while he tries for mic time. Typical battle royale. Final four is Road Warrior for Smackdown against Viscera, Snitsky and Tomko on Raw. Snitsky misses a boot and kicks out Tomko then they double team Animal and chuck him after an avalanche from Viscera. Snitsky misses a big boot, crotches on the top rope and eliminates himself. Viscera wins at 9:00. Standard battle royale. 2 stars.

Match 1: Raw Tag Title: The Big Show and Kane Vs Carlito and Chris Masters. The WWE tag team titles, both versions have gone to hell awhile ago now they are just something to keep the young premadonnas occupied so they don't complain they aren't getting the world title in their first 3 months. Masters and Kane start. Kane overpowers Masters. Show tags in and works over Masters. Kane comes in and beats up masters. Carlito comes into to help and turn the tide. Masters gets the master lock on Kane but there is some miscommunication. Kane chokeslams Carlito and gets the pin at 6:32. Average Monday Night tag match. 1 star.

Match 2: Money In The Bank Match: Matt Hardy Vs IC champion Shelton Benjamin Vs Finlay Vs Rob Van Dam Vs Lashly Vs Ric Flair. Lashly starts by kicking everybodies asses. RVD, Matt and Lashly are fighting outside, Benjamin runs up a ladder that is leaning on the ropes and does a sumersault onto the thee outside. Flair tries going up the ladder to get the briefcase, Matt stops him and hits a superplex off the ladder, Flair is hurt bad, the refs do the DX cross chop, they take Flair out of the ring and back to the locker room. After about 2 minutes of action Flair comes hobbeling back out. He starts chopping away on Matt and Benjamin, he tries climbing up the ladder and almost gets the briefcase but Finlay follows up after him and hits him with a shalaylee. Lashly tries going for it but RVD knocks him off the ladder. Matt tries going up and Finlay goes after him. Both take a spill off the ladder. RVD goes up to the top of the ladder and splashes Finlay, all the guys are laid out. RVD goes up and almost gets the briefcase. Benjamin jumps from the top of the turnbuckle onto the ladder to stop RVD, Matt Hardy sets up a ladder along side and goes up to stop both guys. Benjamin gets on Matts ladder and starts trading blows with Matt, RVD pushes the ladder sending both guys crashing to the floor outside. RVD gets the briefcase at 11:57. Surprisingly short but pretty good. 3 stars.

The 2006 hall of fame class comes out. The Fink states that Bret The Hitman Hart is uncomfortable with appearing. I am kinda glad Bret is sticking to his guns. He's making a point for future people in the promotion as far as im concerned. I think if he came back it would devalue all those years, and it ain't worth it because most fans would probably get bored with him anyway. Sensational Sherri still looks pretty good as does Dibiasie.

Match 3: US Title Match: Chris Benoit Vs JBL. Benoit goes for the crossface early but can't quite get it. JBL takes over for a few moments, Benoit turns the tide with 4 german suplexes. Benoit goes up top but JBL stops him then hits a superplex. JBL does the three amigos suplex and the crowd is PISSED!!! Benoit starts fighting back with his version of the three amigos and the fans applaued. Benoit goes up top and hits the headbutt...1....2....Bradshaw kicks out. JBL tries to get the clothesline from hell but Benoit counters into a crossface. JBL rolls over towards the ropes and has Benoits shoulders down, he grabs the ropes for leverage to pin Benoit at the 9:45 mark. New US champ JBL. Meh 2 stars.

Match 4: Hardcore Match: Mick Foley Vs Edge. Edge tries hitting Foley with a bat but Foley dodges, he props Edge upside down in the corner and drops a running elbow to the face. Edge smacks Foley with a metal sheet. Edge hits a spear on Foley, but he injured his arm in the process. Foley pulls out barbwire that he had underneath his shirt. Edge cuts his arm on the wire during the spear. Edge gets tied in the ropes and Folely goes outside and pulls out a barbwire bat from underneath the steps. Lita interferes and jumps on Foley's back, Foley takes runs and clotheslines Edge and they all go to the floor, Lita hits her back on the apron on the way down. Both guys are fighting outside the ring. Foley takes a running charge and Edge hip tosses him into the steps. Edge throws Foley into the steps very hard. Edge bounces Foley's head off the entrance ramp. Edge sets up a table for something. Both guys are inside and Edge starts spraying lighter fluid on Foley, Foley knocks him down, Foley gets a chair but Lita distracts him, Edge hits a ddt on Foley and gets a two count. Edge grabs the barb wire bat and nails Foley in the face!!! Foley is busted open, Edge gives Foley a bulldog onto the bat. Edge goes outside and finds a bag of thumbtacks under the steps, he dumps them on the mat but Foley gives Edge a belly to back suplex on the tacks and the dude doesn't even have a shirt on!!! Ow!!ow!!ow!! Foley grabs the barbwire bat and runs it into Edges face, now he is raking it accross Edges face, and people complain about going to the dentist!! Foley sprays Lighter fluid on the folding table, Lita interferes and takes the lighter fluid and sprays it on the table, she lights the table and it's a blaze. Edge dives through the ropes sending both guys into the table. Crowd goes nuts, Foley burned the hair off one of his arms, interesting alternative to waxing:) Edge gets the pin at 14:37. Crazy I give it 4 stars.

Booker does a skit backstage, Dibiasie offers money to Eugene for dribbling a basketball but kicks it away before he can get to 100. Eugene cries Dibiasie laughs. Dibiasie gets a huge pop from the crowd during the segment. Snitsky does a skit with May Young that makes me wanna puke. Things like this make me embarrassed to watch wrestling.

Match 5: Handicap Match: Booker T and Sharmel Vs Boogeyman. How the mighty have fallen, Booker has been wrapped up in this goofy storyline and has been sent back down the card again. Booker jumps Boogey, Boogey takes over Sharmel tries hitting Boogey with his stick but Boggey turns aroung and kisses her, she freaks out and runs away. Boogey hits a double chokeslam on Booker and gets the pin at 3:52. Was that flushing sound Bookers career? Crap match 1/2 star.

Match 6: Womens Championship Match: Trish Stratus Vs Mickey James. The plot??? Crazy lesbian admirer is mad her idol doesn't love her and won't make out with her.....(throws hands up and walks away) the only positive thing about the womens division is that it could alway be worse....the downside? it always gets worse, each year this thing goes further and further down into the pits of hell. Basically women wrestling sucks. WWE started to show a slight bit of promise when they brought in Jazz then later picked up Victoria (my personal favorite her psycho personality was great, and I liked how she wrestled with a leg brace, that speaks dedication as far as im concerned). Now they blow 15 min of that lecherous pedophile Mcmahon hanging out with a bung of tatooed hobags. They may be of age but he's three times older than the girls. Basically your standard womens match ie what you see for free on Monday nights. Mickey beats up Trish's leg. Fan are behind Mickey??? Probably because Trish has held the title since before Mania 21. Crowd booes her when she does something offensive. Trish hits a spinebuster for two. Mickey does alot of screaming during her matches. Maybe they should bring back Mike Sharpe and the One Man Gang and form a stable called the loud mouths. Mickey tries a headscissor move in the corner but Trish counters into a powerbomb for a two count. Trish goes for strastufaction but Mickey grabs a crotch and licks her fingerss??? That's messed up, but then again thats her personality I guess. She kicks Trish in the head and gets a pin at 8:47. New Womens Champ. Pretty long for a single womens match. 2 stars.

The Mcmahons have a prair backstage, boy Steph looks like s***......you know if I didn't know she was just fat I would have thought she was pregnant at first glance:)

Match 7: Casket Match: The Undertaker Vs Mark Henry. First time in Mania history. Henry jumps Taker, Taker fights back. Taker goes oldschool, he comes off and knocks Henry down. Taker knocks Henry into the casket, a Henry sucks chant starts. Both guys are fighting in the casket. Henry knocks Taker into the casket but Taker stops him. Henry traps Taker in the corner and goes up to the second rope. He starts the 10 punch but Taker powerbombs him out of the corner, it wasn't a last ride Cole, Henry weighs too much to get put in that move, so Taker does the tombestone and pushes the big carcass into the casket closes the lid and wins at 9:27. Bleh nothing special 1 1/2 star.

Match 8: Street Fight: Shawn Michaels Vs Vince Mcmahon Shawn beats up Vince outside, then Smashes a picture over Vince's head. The Spirit Squad come in and help beat up Shawn. Vince now takes advantage. Vince uses a leather belt on Shawn. Shawn fights back and puts Vince down. He goes up top and hits the flying elbow. Shane comes in and hits Shawn with a kendo stick. Vince wants Shawn to kiss his ass instead Shawn shoves Shane's face far up it and gives Vince a low blow. Shawn handcuffs Shane outside mocks him then smacks the s*** out of him with the cane. Shawn sets up for the superkick but has second thoughts. He goes outside for a ladder and sets it up inside. What's he up to??? Vince is bleeding he could have pinned him 2 minutes ago. Shawn throws in some trash cans, he dents one on Vince's head. He sets up Vince on a table, then climbs the ladder. Wait a minute he's got another idea. He goes outside and fetches a ladder that is twice the size of the first, sets it up in the ring and puts a garbage can on vince. He climbs the ladder, does a DX chop and drops an elbow on Vince through the table while Vince is stuck inside the can. Call the meatwagon Vince is done. The Ref calls down the trainers they try getting vince out of their but Shawn wont let them. He hits the super kick to finally end it at 13:36. I give it 3 stars. Best part was the ladder jump through the table.

Match 9: Smackdown Title Match: Kurt Angle Vs Rey Mysterio Vs Randy Orton. Mysterio wins the Rumble riding Guerrero's corpses coatails, I like Mysterio but it is obvious he never would have gotten the title shot. WWE mooches the death of Eddie to put Mysterio over. Mysterio was always over going way back to WCW. WWE ruined what could have been a great one on one match by sticking the premadonna Randy Orton in there, and making it a triple threat match. Which takes away from the match in my opinion, what is really stupid is that the WWE had planned befor the ppv to suspend Orton for calling the Divas ho's or skanks, something along those lines, they should have suspended him before this match. Mysterio is played to the ring by some sucking band and is wearing a mexican indian headress. Nice touch for the event. Orton jumps Angle, Mysterio attacks Orton. Orton grabs Mysterio for a german suplex, but Angle comes up behind and german suplexes them both!!! Orton gets knocked down on the top rope. Mysterio charges Angle who throws him over his head, Mysterio catches Orton and gets a super frankensteiner!!! Rey sets up Angle and goes for a 619 but Angle catches him and puts on the ankle lock. Orton breaks the hold, Angle puts the ankle lock on Orton.....Orton's tapping!!! But Mysterio is distracting the ref!!! Nice move by Rey. Angle throws Rey to the steel post. Then hits the angle slam on Orton but only gets a two count. Crowd starts a let's go Angle chant. Orton goes up top and Angle throws him off the top rope. Orton is up again, he drops Rey hard. Angle hits the angleslam again but only gets a 2 count. Rey dropkicks Angle out of the ring and hits the 619 on Orton, Rey hits the huricinrana pin and gets the three at only 9:18. What a short match. Felt lackluster, Mysterio's victory would have been much much bigger had they not drove home that do it for Eddie BS. The fans didn't need to be force fed that story, they would have cheered even louder if they were more subtle with it. Eh I give it 2 1/2 stars. A surprising letdown for me personally.

Match 10: Playboy Pillow Fight: Candice Michelle Vs Torri Wilson. How did this end up so far up on the card?? Just to let you know how important this match is, Jim Ross decides to take the time to plug the WWE's next money scalping crap ppv Backlash 2006. Very stupid spot where Torri backdrops Candice on the bed and Candice acts like she was backdropped on the ring mat. Torri wins it at 3:54 defending the honor of strippers and airheads everywhere. I don't give a s*** and a toilet full of piss for this match. Dud.

Match 11: Raw Championship: John Cena Vs HHH. HHH comes out to new music dressed up like Conan the Barbarina, or Gonad if you Wheel. I was half expecting some old chinese dude to chime in with a monologue saying he won the world title 10 times, but that's a story for another day:) John Cena gets a 1920's depression style montage, funny the last I heard was the Chicago public was appalled with the mobsters of the 20's and 30's but today's Chicago embrasses them?? A bunch of guys ride out in an old Ford Roadster and get out dressed up like gangsters, all of them have tommy guns and they are circling the ring. I bet alot of people out there were hoping they had real bullets for HHH:) Cena comes out thinking he's a mobster now I guess, he shoots off a cap gun and we finally get this thing started. Most of Chicago is booing Cena. HHH controls early and throws Cena to the floor. Cena gets back in and starts unloading on HHH. Cena lands a vertical suplex and gets a two count. Cena goes to the headlock. HHH gets out of it but gets sent to the floor. CEna goes after him. HHH gets Cena in the eye and tries a pedigree on the entrance ramp, Cena backdrops HHH on the ramp. Both guys go back inside, fans are almost completley against Cena. HHH hits a high knee to drop Cena. HHH takes Cena outside and throws him into the steps. HHH throws him in for a pin but only gets a two. HHH hits a vertical suplex. Cena tries fighting back but HHH stops him with a face smash and a clothesline. HHH hits a falling neckbreaker but only scores a 2 count. Cena tries fighting back again but HHH stops him with a swinging neckbreaker. HHH catches Cena in a sleeper, Cena back HHH to the corner and hits some shoulder blocks. HHH tries coming off the ropes but gets a clothesline for his efforts. Cena follows with some clotheslines and cathces HHH with a powerslam. Cena goes for the knuckle shuffle but HHH pops up and hits a spine buster 1....2...Cena kicks out. Cena answers back with a suplex and the knuckle shuffle. Cena puts on the STFU but HHH makes it to the ropes. Cena and the ref are caught in the corner and HHH give Cena a low blow that connects on the ref too. HHH goes outside and finds his sledgehammer. HHH connects he makes the cover the ref inches over and does a slow count. Cena kicks out. HH goes for the pedigree but Cena backdrops HHH then gets him up and hits the F-U...1...2....HHH kicks out!!! Cena goes up top. Cena misses a flying body press and hits hard on the mat. Somehow he gets the STFU on...the ref checks HHH..1..2...HHH's hand doesn't drop the third time..but then he taps out at 19:50. Fans are dissapointed and confused. When Cena wins they show the crowd and one guy has a WTF look on his face. Hahahahah. Okay I guess I give it 2 1/2 stars.


Overall Opinion: With the new rating system in place this show scores a pretty good 7.5 stars out of 10.0. It slides in behind Mania 18.

Best Match: Edge Vs Foley
Worst Match: Playboy Pillow Fight


Final Standings:

Mania 17: 10.1
Mania 19: 9.9
Mania 21: 9.6
Mania 20: 8.1
Mania 18: 7.6
Mania 22: 7.5
Mania 10: 7.3
Mania 3: 7.1
Mania 6: 7.0
Mania 5: 7.0
Mania 7: 6.8
Mania 4: 6.8
Mania 16: 6.5
Mania 8: 5.9
Mania 13: 5.7
Mania 14: 4.9
Mania 2: 4.8
Mania 12: 4.6
Mania 15: 4.4
Mania 1: 4.1
Mania 11: 3.9
Mania 9: 3.8

Well that concludes the Wrestlemania reviews. Until next year.


Best Wrestlemanias: 17,19 and 21
Worst Wrestlemanias: 9,11, and 1


Best matches From Each Mania
1: Hogan and Mr T Vs Piper and Orndorf
2: Dreamteam Vs Bulldogs
3: Macho Vs Steamboat
4: Macho Vs Dibiasie
5: Macho Vs Hogan
6: Hogan VS Warrior
7: Macho Vs Warrior
8: Macho Vs Flair
9: Shawn Vs Tatanka
10: Shawn Vs Razor
11: Shawn Vs Diesel
12: Bret Vs Shawn
13: Bret Vs Austin
14: Shawn Vs Austin
15: Rock Vs Austin
16: Tag Ladder Match
17: TLC 2
18: Hogan Vs Rock
19: Shawn Vs Jericho
20: Triple Threat For The Raw Title
21: Shawn Vs Angle
22: Edge Vs Foley

So going by my reviews Macho Man Randy Savage has to be considered the best overall performer at Wrestlemania. He competed in 5 differenr Wrestlemania
matches that scored the highest ratings for the ppvs.