WMXX ten years on - a look at all those involved
Mar 14, 2014 8:45:47 GMT -5
Bo Rida, chazraps, and 4 more like this
Post by The Lach is very tired on Mar 14, 2014 8:45:47 GMT -5
Today is March 14. Tenth anniversary of WM XX. So I thought I would take a look at where every member of the card is now.
Opening Match: US Title
Big Show (c) vs John Cena
Cena wins his first title in WWE & springboards from there to being "the guys" for the next 10 years. Big Show bounced around for a couple of years before taking a year away from wrestling. Since returning he has been flipped from Heel to Face & back again more times than I can remember. Had a run as World Heavyweight Champion in late 2012/early 2013.
Match 2: World Tag Team Titles Fatal Four Way
Booker T & RVD vs Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak vs The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) vs La Résistance (René Duprée and Robert Conway)
Booker & RVD both left for TNA after being World/WWE Champion only to return to WWE. Cade sadly passed away in 2010 whilst working in Japan. Jindrak in now in CMLL as Marco Corleone. The Dudleys left for TNA in 2005 & were successful as a team before splitting up Bubba (Brother/Bully) Ray is one of the best heels in wrestling & a former TNA Champion. Devon was a singles champ too before leaving last year. Rob Conway has recently been NWA World Champion & Dupree is now working in Japan.
Match 3: Singles Match
Chris Jericho vs Christian
Christian is back with WWE after some time in TNA. He won the NWA World Title & is also now a 2 time World Heavyweight Champion since returning to WWE. Jericho has come & gone a few times as his music & TV career has blossomed.
Match 4: 3 on 2 Handicap Tag Match
Evolution (Orton, Batista & Flair) vs Mick Foley & The Rock
Match was obviously used as part of Orton’s push which culminated with him becoming youngest World Champion in WWE history. Although not many people would have predicted that in 12 months time Batista would be headlining WM 21. After the collapse of Evolution Flair continued in WWE until he was “retired” by HBK only to show up in TNA. Recently back in WWE. A month after this match Foley would have a very good hardcore match with Orton at Backlash. Also had a very memorable Hardcore match at Wrestlemania XXII with Edge. Foley unbelievably would leave WWE & also show up in TNA, even more unbelievably he would win the TNA World Title before being another to return to WWE. This was The Rock’s last match until Survivor Series 2011. He later headlined WM XXVII against John Cena. Won WWE title again at The 2013 Royal Rumble.
Match 5: Playboy Evening Gown Match
Torrie Wilson & Sable vs Stacy Kiebler & Miss Jackie
All four Divas no longer in the wrestling business. Kiebler is notable for having dated George Clooney. Miss Jackie is now married to Charlie Haas. Sable is married to Brock Lesnar. Torrie Wilson has dated (still dating?) Alex Rodriguez.
Match 6: Cruiserweight Open
Ultimo Dragon vs Shannon Moore vs Jamie Noble vs Funaki vs Nunzio vs Billy Kidman vs Rey Mysterio vs Tajiri vs Akio vs Chavo Guerrero (with Chavo Classic)
Only wrestler still active with WWE is Mysterio, although he spends more time on the shelf than active. Chavo was recently in TNA. Ultimo Dragon is currently AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Shannon Moore had bounced between WWE & TNA a few times. I think he is now running a tattoo shop. Noble left WWE later in the year. He went to ROH & won the ROH World Championship before coming back to WWE. He is now retired & works as a Road Agent for WWE. Funaki was with WWE until 2010. He now has a wrestling school in Texas. Nunzio left WWE in 2011. Has worked indy dates since, most notably for the House of Hardcore promotion. Billy Kidman left WWE in 2005 & worked in the indies until returning in 2010 as a road agent, he also works as a motion capture performer for the WWE video games. Jimmy Yang (Akio) has famously been hired & released by WWE several times. Currently he is working the indy circuit. Tajiri stayed with WWE until his contract ran out in 2006. He left on good terms & returned to Japan. He has worked in HUSTLE, AJPW, New Japan & currently with Wretling New Classic.
Match 7: Special Guest Referee Match
Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (Steve Austin guest referee)
Match famous for being shit all over by the MSG crowd as it became known beforehand that both men were leaving the company. This match was Goldberg’s last appearance for WWE. Lesnar left to try to make it in the NFL. When this didn’t work out he tried his hand at MMA. He became UFC Heavyweight Champion in 2008. He left UFC in 2011. Lesnar made his WWE return in April 2012 & he works limited dates still. Steve Austin was already retired as a wrestler by 2004. He has made sporadic appearances since then. Acting as a guest referee at Wrestlemania & other PPV events. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2009.
Match 8: WWE Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way
Too Cool ( Rikishi & Scotty Too Hotty) vs TWGTT (Haas & Benjamin) vs The Basham Bros. vs The APA (Bradshaw & Faarooq)
Rikishi was gone from WWE by July of 2004. Had a cup of coffee in TNA. Still works the indies & makes occasional WWE appearances. His sons, The Usos are currently WWE Tag Team Champions. Scotty hung around in WWE until 2007. He worked indies & makes occasional WWE appearances, most recently at NXT Arrival (with Brian Christopher). In 2013 he graduated as a firefighter. Haas left WWE in 2005 only to return in 2006. He reunited with Benjamin for a while. He also had a memorable gimmick of impersonating other past & present WWE talent. He left WWE for good in 2010 & worked various indies, most notably with Benjamin in ROH. He announced his retirement in 2013 although he has worked some shows in Texas. Benjamin won the IC title 3 times. He left WWE in 2010. Currently is wrestling in New Japan. The Bashams left WWE in 2007, were in TNA briefly. I think they are working in Puerto Rico now. Faarooq retired from full time wrestling in 2006 & has made sporadic appearance in WWE since. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2012. Two months after WM XX a repackaged JBL won the WWE title, which he held until WM 21. JBL retired in 2006 & became a commentator in Smackdown. He returned to the active roster in 2007. He retired for good after losing the IC Title to Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania XXV. JBL made occasional appearances until he was brought back a commentator in 2012 following Jerry Lawler’s heart attack. When Lawler return JBL stayed on as part of a 3 man team with Michael Cole.
Match 9: Women’s Championship Match (Hair vs Title)
Victoria vs Molly Holly
Victoria worked in WWE until 2009. She then left & wrestled in TNA until 2013. She now works the indies & runs a restaurant in Chicago. Molly left WWE in April 2005. She has made occasional appearance since. She is now involved in real estate.
Match 10: WWE Championship
Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle
Tragically Eddie passed away in November 2005 of acute Heart failure. He was in the midst of Face vs Face feud over the World Heavyweight title (some reports say he was due to win the title in his next match) with Batista. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. His death lead in part to changes in WWE health policies. Kurt Angle left WWE suddenly in 2006, he shocked wrestling community by showing up in TNA as the highest profile recruit at the time. He is still working for TNA to this day although he has had health & legal problems.
Match 11: Singles Match
The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer vs Kane
Both The Undertaker & Kane have been with WWE continuously since. Although The Undertaker only makes a few appearances each year his Wrestlemania Streak match opponent is one of the most highly anticipated announcements each year. Kane has continually risen above awful booking to remain popular as both a face & heel. Paul Bearer sadly passed away in March 2013. He is being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year.
Match 12, Main Event: World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match
Triple H vs Chris Benoit vs Shawn Michaels
In 2010 Triple H started to move away from full time wrestling into an off screen & on screen Authority Figure. He is Executive Vice President of Talent & Live Events & he is the on screen C.O.O. Like his in ring career he is still a polarizing figure in these roles. Chris Benoit remained in WWE until his death in 2007. The circumstances around his death are so well known there is no need for me to elaborate. His death & subsequent fallout led further changes in WWE policy that were initiated by the death if his close friend Eddie Guerrero. Shawn Michaels retired after losing to The Undertaker at WM XXVI in 2010. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2011. He has made several appearances as a guest referee since then. Most notably at WM XXVIII for the Hell in a Cell match between Triple H & The Undertaker.
Well there you have it, some happy stories, some sad stories. Some interesting careers & some not so interesting careers. Wrestlemania XX will always be memorable for me as it was the first ever PPV I watched live (on PPV not in person).
Opening Match: US Title
Big Show (c) vs John Cena
Cena wins his first title in WWE & springboards from there to being "the guys" for the next 10 years. Big Show bounced around for a couple of years before taking a year away from wrestling. Since returning he has been flipped from Heel to Face & back again more times than I can remember. Had a run as World Heavyweight Champion in late 2012/early 2013.
Match 2: World Tag Team Titles Fatal Four Way
Booker T & RVD vs Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak vs The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) vs La Résistance (René Duprée and Robert Conway)
Booker & RVD both left for TNA after being World/WWE Champion only to return to WWE. Cade sadly passed away in 2010 whilst working in Japan. Jindrak in now in CMLL as Marco Corleone. The Dudleys left for TNA in 2005 & were successful as a team before splitting up Bubba (Brother/Bully) Ray is one of the best heels in wrestling & a former TNA Champion. Devon was a singles champ too before leaving last year. Rob Conway has recently been NWA World Champion & Dupree is now working in Japan.
Match 3: Singles Match
Chris Jericho vs Christian
Christian is back with WWE after some time in TNA. He won the NWA World Title & is also now a 2 time World Heavyweight Champion since returning to WWE. Jericho has come & gone a few times as his music & TV career has blossomed.
Match 4: 3 on 2 Handicap Tag Match
Evolution (Orton, Batista & Flair) vs Mick Foley & The Rock
Match was obviously used as part of Orton’s push which culminated with him becoming youngest World Champion in WWE history. Although not many people would have predicted that in 12 months time Batista would be headlining WM 21. After the collapse of Evolution Flair continued in WWE until he was “retired” by HBK only to show up in TNA. Recently back in WWE. A month after this match Foley would have a very good hardcore match with Orton at Backlash. Also had a very memorable Hardcore match at Wrestlemania XXII with Edge. Foley unbelievably would leave WWE & also show up in TNA, even more unbelievably he would win the TNA World Title before being another to return to WWE. This was The Rock’s last match until Survivor Series 2011. He later headlined WM XXVII against John Cena. Won WWE title again at The 2013 Royal Rumble.
Match 5: Playboy Evening Gown Match
Torrie Wilson & Sable vs Stacy Kiebler & Miss Jackie
All four Divas no longer in the wrestling business. Kiebler is notable for having dated George Clooney. Miss Jackie is now married to Charlie Haas. Sable is married to Brock Lesnar. Torrie Wilson has dated (still dating?) Alex Rodriguez.
Match 6: Cruiserweight Open
Ultimo Dragon vs Shannon Moore vs Jamie Noble vs Funaki vs Nunzio vs Billy Kidman vs Rey Mysterio vs Tajiri vs Akio vs Chavo Guerrero (with Chavo Classic)
Only wrestler still active with WWE is Mysterio, although he spends more time on the shelf than active. Chavo was recently in TNA. Ultimo Dragon is currently AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Shannon Moore had bounced between WWE & TNA a few times. I think he is now running a tattoo shop. Noble left WWE later in the year. He went to ROH & won the ROH World Championship before coming back to WWE. He is now retired & works as a Road Agent for WWE. Funaki was with WWE until 2010. He now has a wrestling school in Texas. Nunzio left WWE in 2011. Has worked indy dates since, most notably for the House of Hardcore promotion. Billy Kidman left WWE in 2005 & worked in the indies until returning in 2010 as a road agent, he also works as a motion capture performer for the WWE video games. Jimmy Yang (Akio) has famously been hired & released by WWE several times. Currently he is working the indy circuit. Tajiri stayed with WWE until his contract ran out in 2006. He left on good terms & returned to Japan. He has worked in HUSTLE, AJPW, New Japan & currently with Wretling New Classic.
Match 7: Special Guest Referee Match
Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (Steve Austin guest referee)
Match famous for being shit all over by the MSG crowd as it became known beforehand that both men were leaving the company. This match was Goldberg’s last appearance for WWE. Lesnar left to try to make it in the NFL. When this didn’t work out he tried his hand at MMA. He became UFC Heavyweight Champion in 2008. He left UFC in 2011. Lesnar made his WWE return in April 2012 & he works limited dates still. Steve Austin was already retired as a wrestler by 2004. He has made sporadic appearances since then. Acting as a guest referee at Wrestlemania & other PPV events. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2009.
Match 8: WWE Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way
Too Cool ( Rikishi & Scotty Too Hotty) vs TWGTT (Haas & Benjamin) vs The Basham Bros. vs The APA (Bradshaw & Faarooq)
Rikishi was gone from WWE by July of 2004. Had a cup of coffee in TNA. Still works the indies & makes occasional WWE appearances. His sons, The Usos are currently WWE Tag Team Champions. Scotty hung around in WWE until 2007. He worked indies & makes occasional WWE appearances, most recently at NXT Arrival (with Brian Christopher). In 2013 he graduated as a firefighter. Haas left WWE in 2005 only to return in 2006. He reunited with Benjamin for a while. He also had a memorable gimmick of impersonating other past & present WWE talent. He left WWE for good in 2010 & worked various indies, most notably with Benjamin in ROH. He announced his retirement in 2013 although he has worked some shows in Texas. Benjamin won the IC title 3 times. He left WWE in 2010. Currently is wrestling in New Japan. The Bashams left WWE in 2007, were in TNA briefly. I think they are working in Puerto Rico now. Faarooq retired from full time wrestling in 2006 & has made sporadic appearance in WWE since. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2012. Two months after WM XX a repackaged JBL won the WWE title, which he held until WM 21. JBL retired in 2006 & became a commentator in Smackdown. He returned to the active roster in 2007. He retired for good after losing the IC Title to Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania XXV. JBL made occasional appearances until he was brought back a commentator in 2012 following Jerry Lawler’s heart attack. When Lawler return JBL stayed on as part of a 3 man team with Michael Cole.
Match 9: Women’s Championship Match (Hair vs Title)
Victoria vs Molly Holly
Victoria worked in WWE until 2009. She then left & wrestled in TNA until 2013. She now works the indies & runs a restaurant in Chicago. Molly left WWE in April 2005. She has made occasional appearance since. She is now involved in real estate.
Match 10: WWE Championship
Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle
Tragically Eddie passed away in November 2005 of acute Heart failure. He was in the midst of Face vs Face feud over the World Heavyweight title (some reports say he was due to win the title in his next match) with Batista. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. His death lead in part to changes in WWE health policies. Kurt Angle left WWE suddenly in 2006, he shocked wrestling community by showing up in TNA as the highest profile recruit at the time. He is still working for TNA to this day although he has had health & legal problems.
Match 11: Singles Match
The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer vs Kane
Both The Undertaker & Kane have been with WWE continuously since. Although The Undertaker only makes a few appearances each year his Wrestlemania Streak match opponent is one of the most highly anticipated announcements each year. Kane has continually risen above awful booking to remain popular as both a face & heel. Paul Bearer sadly passed away in March 2013. He is being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year.
Match 12, Main Event: World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match
Triple H vs Chris Benoit vs Shawn Michaels
In 2010 Triple H started to move away from full time wrestling into an off screen & on screen Authority Figure. He is Executive Vice President of Talent & Live Events & he is the on screen C.O.O. Like his in ring career he is still a polarizing figure in these roles. Chris Benoit remained in WWE until his death in 2007. The circumstances around his death are so well known there is no need for me to elaborate. His death & subsequent fallout led further changes in WWE policy that were initiated by the death if his close friend Eddie Guerrero. Shawn Michaels retired after losing to The Undertaker at WM XXVI in 2010. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2011. He has made several appearances as a guest referee since then. Most notably at WM XXVIII for the Hell in a Cell match between Triple H & The Undertaker.
Well there you have it, some happy stories, some sad stories. Some interesting careers & some not so interesting careers. Wrestlemania XX will always be memorable for me as it was the first ever PPV I watched live (on PPV not in person).
