Defining Moment of this Era

[RedSmile]

I think its a toss up between Flair's retirement and the Benoit tragedy/media circus.

I would prefer it to be considered the Rated eRa....but it'll probably go to that Cena guy.

[Loki]

But...

how does exactly the retirement of a 60 years old Ric Flair, a man who hadn't been THE MAN, anywhere, since the very early 90s, define an era?

[YellowJacketY2J]

Nothing really defined this "era". Sure, there have been great moments (Edge cashes in MITB, Benoit/Guerrero WMXX Celebration, Jeff wins WWE title, etc.), but, like mentioned before, nothing to define the era. I can tell you for a fact that the WWE will define it as the era of Cena or the era of The Game (once Vince dies, era of The Game will be a permanent thing).

I was going to say Benoit winning the gold at WrestleMania XX, but we all know that didn't happen. According to the WWE, HBK and HHH fought to a no contest at WMXX, the belt was vacant for 5 months, then Orton won the belt at Summerslam by beating himself.

[VINTAGE GRIDLOCK!]

the first usherance of "wig spliddin"

[VINTAGE GRIDLOCK!]

but seriously, i think one that we will look back on of recent times, if the WWE seems to be going where it is going, is John Morrison superkicking HBK

[Joekishi]

Jan 3, 2009 18:17:33 GMT -5 @TenaciousBe said:

Personally, I think the defining moment was Cena showing up and winning the Rumble last year. Even though he didn't really get the "superman" push for the rest of that run, it was still a slap in the face to all the workers who busted their asses for the previous six months (Orton, Jeff, etc).

ORton and Jeff were the title match at the rumble, then Orton beat Cena.

Nothing wrong with that.

I'll also say one of the biggest is RVD beating Cena at ONS

[Mantaurded]

I'd have to hand it to Benoit. It was unexpected.

[Citizen Snips]

Jan 4, 2009 6:34:10 GMT -5 Loki said:

Jan 4, 2009 3:32:42 GMT -5 Bobby Womack said:

two guys who were in the main event scene for a cup of coffee, wrestled styles that dont really embody the wwe style, and were never really 'the guy', make up the defining moment of this era?

The "Transitional Champions" Era that lasted a couple of months

Seriously, WrestleMania XX has to be the least defining ending of a WrestleMania. Ever.

Wrestlemania XI ended with a man winning his first match, then immediately retiring from wrestling, never to be seen in the ring again.

Wrestlemania XV was merely a repeat of Wrestlemania XIV, only Austin was winning his 3rd title, not his 1st.

Wrestlemania XIX ended with Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle in the first WM main event of amateur masters, which is not so far removed from the XX ending of the workrate kings.

Wrestlemania XXIV featured Undertaker winning the title and continuing his streak, which he had previously done at Wrestlemanias XIII and XXIII.

I count all those as less defining than XX.

[héad.casé]

To me, I felt it was Cena beating JBL for the WWE Title and Batista beating Triple H for the World Title at Wrestlemania 21. It signified to me that we had two new players in the main event scene now, and I can't explain it, but I really did feel a change had happened that night.

[Joekishi]

Jan 4, 2009 15:53:26 GMT -5 héad.casé said:

To me, I felt it was Cena beating JBL for the WWE Title and Batista beating Triple H for the World Title at Wrestlemania 21. It signified to me that we had two new players in the main event scene now, and I can't explain it, but I really did feel a change had happened that night.

That is true

[RedSmile]

Jan 4, 2009 14:26:26 GMT -5 Loki said:

But...

how does exactly the retirement of a 60 years old Ric Flair, a man who hadn't been THE MAN, anywhere, since the very early 90s, define an era?

I don't know exactly. Those are just the first things that came to mind. I am not a huge Cena follower so I am probably in the minority.

[Pushed to the Moon]

"If Cena wins we riot"

[Crappler El 0 M]

On paper, WrestleMania 21 could be seen as a defining moment, or at least a conscious attempt at creating a history defining event. I say that because Cena and Batista became world champions for the first time.

I think WWE would have liked for this event to usher in some kind of new era in their company. In some ways it has, but I don't think the event has had quite the impact that they had hoped for. This certainly doesn't have the same iconic feel as Austin winning the title at Mania or Hogan slamming and defeating the "undefeated" Andre the Giant at Mania. Partly because Cena and Batista haven't quite set the wrestling world ablaze, despite their popularity with the majority of fans. Cena is the biggest star they have, but he just doesn't seem to have connected in the same way that Austin and Hogan did.

[Joekishi]

but he has connected more than Hart, Michaels, Diesel, or Yokozuna did.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jan 4, 2009 17:11:46 GMT -5 Joekishi said:

but he has connected more than Hart, Michaels, Diesel, or Yokozuna did.

I would agree with that, though Michaels in 1997/98 was really starting to catch on as a cool heel before having to take time off for the back injury. His DX Reunion run and beyond has been pretty big, but he was certainly not going to be booked as the face of the company by that point in his career. Michaels has never quite been positioned in the same way that Cena has (so I am agreeing with you).

However, WrestleMania 21 just doesn't seem to be heralded as an important moment in history, though WWE may have tried to set it up to be seen as some kind of defining moment.

[>(straightedgepunk)<]

The Rise and Fall of ECW (Version 2.0)

[strykerdarksilence]

Cena vs Edge TLC

Shawn vs Ric WM24

Triple H vs Shawn Michaels 3 Stages of Hell

[Marvelously Mediocre]

[Nacho STAYS Hyped]

Val Venis offering Maria a spot in his sequel to the film "Mr. Woodcock".

[Celgress]

Jan 3, 2009 14:42:25 GMT -5 Joekishi said:

HBK retiring Ric Flair

That has my vote too.