WrestleMania XIX: Dare to Dream

[BreakABone]

Ok, so it's not the most catchy subtitle for a WrestleMania, but it does give into the spirit of the event. (Just for the record, I hope that WM XX goes for something similar to WM X which was like a Decade i the Making with clips from all previous WMs throughout the night)

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1871366.jpg

Anyhow, WrestleMania XIX comes live from Safeco Fields in Seattle. I believe this is the first WrestleMania in Washington, I know it's the first ever WWE/F PPV in Safeco Fields.

The event comes live on March 30th, 2003 (not the 28th as Cole stated during No Way Out) and already got two main events.

In one of the most appreciated in WWE history, Kurt Angle, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and current WWE Champion wil take on Brock Lesnar, NCAA Champ and Former WWE Champ at WrestleMania XIX. Brock gained this right after winning the Royal Rumble in Jan. This match has been built up decenlty thus far and the WWE now has 4 weeks to kick it into hyperddrive.

On the other end of the Spectrum, Triple H, big-nose banging Stephnaia MchMahon, will defend his trophy.. er the WWE Heavyweight Title against, former tag team wrestler for about a year Booker T. Even though Booker T has only been number one contender for a mere 5 days, I already think this feud has been built up poorly. i mean the WWE wasted so many damn opporunities to make Booker T look like a legit threat and if it wasn't for the Rock, I don't think he would have been till this day. I just hope that Triple H doesn't bury him before the match.

Thus far, those are the only two matches official for the PPV, but several others have already been hinted at.

The most appreciated rematch of all time (yes bigger than Rock/Hogan II) is Austin/Rock III, this two tore it up at WM 15 and ofcourse WM 17, hopefully this is no different.

Jericho/HBK have been feuding since mid-December, the feud has been built up nicely thus far with HBK and Jericho getting their fair share in it. This match should help put Jericho back on the map after a so-so year (no thanks to Triple H).

Hogan vs McMahon, this won't be a scientific wrestling match, heck I don't even think it will be a nice brawl, I think it would make for good TV (atleast leading up to the event)

Also some speculation:
Matt Hardy to defend his Cruiserweight title against Rey Myserio (It's Rey's first Mania so I suspect the WWE wants him to be on the card) also he is the most over Crusierweight at the moment.

Nathan jones vs the Undertaker, Jones had some freakish interview about having unfinished business with the baddest dog in the yard, and welll naturally many assumed it was Taker, but Jones came out to help Taker on SmackDown, but as Cole stated, did he do it to help Taker or Save him for himself?

Team Angle vs Los Guerroros, it would be a shame not to have the Tag Champs on a PPv, but they really have no oppenents, so I think they should fight the Guerroros again.

Chris Benoit vs Rhyno, I don't know where else to put Benoit, I mean he is a top star, was in the last two main events and he needs to be on the card so I assume Rhyno's return as his partner is a set-up for some sort of turn leading to their WM bout.

Batista vs Steiner, less said the better.

Jazz vs Trish vs Victoria, you would think the idea of three women rolling around would be nice, but when only one of them is truly hot, it's hard to imagine.

Well, that's all I can think of for now, What are your thoughts on the Mania? And your specualted card and what have you?

Also what are some of your favorite Mania moments.

~Edit~
Some match ideas I left off (Should have saved the list I talked to Chris about)

Regal/Storm vs the Dudleyz, I'm hoping that this whole Dudleyz/Morley/Regal/Storm issue would be reoslved at WrestleMania what other reason is there to extend it so far?

Rvd vs Kane, I think a break up has been hinted at since the Royal Rumble will it come in time for WrestleMania?

[nWoCHRISnWo]

I think you got a pretty accurate list right there for the matches.

Anyhoo I think this Mania will be a good one, not the MECCA (...) that was WM 17, not quite as special as WM 10 or WM 18 was to me, but better than the ****ty wastes of time that were WM 9, 11, 13 (EXCLUDING that one match that I remember to be pretty good ;)).

Fav WM moments: The entire Bret/Austin match, that was a ****ing classic. Same goes for the Ladder match and Hart/hart match at WM 10. I gotta think of some actual moments and post them soon though.

[TheGame]

On the other end of the Spectrum, Triple H, big-nose banging Stephnaia MchMahon, will defend his trophy.. er the WWE Heavyweight Title against, former tag team wrestler for about a year Booker T. Even though Booker T has only been number one contender for a mere 5 days, I already think this feud has been built up poorly. i mean the WWE wasted so many damn opporunities to make Booker T look like a legit threat and if it wasn't for the Rock, I don't think he would have been till this day. I just hope that Triple H doesn't bury him before the match.

Why are you such a hater? You are acting like The Austin/Rock match is being promoted great, and they have made no contact whatsoever... while HHH and Booker T have allready been bumping heads for weeks.

HHH misses one show, and it's poorly built up? Booker T defeats Rock in a match on Raw.... let alone a number one contender match and it's built up poorly?

I think you are letting your hate for HHH think for you in this situation. The fact is, you haven't given HHH a fair chance before any match in a LONG time. Also, when you watch his matches, your hate for him makes whatever he does look like crap to you, no matter how good or bad of a wrtestler he is. Please, think unbiased some times.

Also, how exactly will HHH bury him before the match?

Booker T is going to do just fine... there is nothing HHH can do to his carrer to make it worse. Hell, just being in a match with HHH is taking his carrer on the right track.

I'll admit, Booker was a joke, but after this WM match (win or lose) he isn't a joke anymore... he's a title contender again.

[Professor S]

I think we all know who is going to win the HHH/Booker T match at WM. I do agree that the match has been decently built up, though, including Evolution jumping his best friend and the #1 contender match. I can't argue there.

I'm just glad to see the HHH/ Steiner feud be over with. Seeing those 2 muscle bound rhinos plod after each other was about the dullest thing I can remember. Booker T has a great ability to raise his and his opponents game for big matches. That match should be at least good. I still think HHH needs to drop 25 pounds though, he just barely moves in his matches anymore when he used to be one of the best workers in the fed.

[BreakABone]

Originally posted by TheGame
Why are you such a hater? You are acting like The Austin/Rock match is being promoted great, and they have made no contact whatsoever... while HHH and Booker T have allready been bumping heads for weeks.

HHH misses one show, and it's poorly built up? Booker T defeats Rock in a match on Raw.... let alone a number one contender match and it's built up poorly?

I think you are letting your hate for HHH think for you in this situation. The fact is, you haven't given HHH a fair chance before any match in a LONG time. Also, when you watch his matches, your hate for him makes whatever he does look like crap to you, no matter how good or bad of a wrtestler he is. Please, think unbiased some times.

Also, how exactly will HHH bury him before the match?

Booker T is going to do just fine... there is nothing HHH can do to his carrer to make it worse. Hell, just being in a match with HHH is taking his carrer on the right track.

I'll admit, Booker was a joke, but after this WM match (win or lose) he isn't a joke anymore... he's a title contender again.

Let me explain myself when I said poorly built up I wasn't talking about the Booker T/ Triple H interaction, I was talking more about Booker T himself.

The WWe had several chances during the last few months to build up Booker T as a legit threat

[TheGame]

well, he eliminated Rocky... on the first night after the PPV, no telling what he'll do tonight.

[BreakABone]

Originally posted by TheGame
well, he eliminated Rocky... on the first night after the PPV, no telling what he'll do tonight.

You are still missing my point, I'm not rferring to what happened last week, I meant Booker T as a whole.


Let me just show you what I mean

Survivor Series-Booker T is a competitor in the Elimination Chamber, if the WWE really wanted to push him as a threat to the title, they should have had him be one of the last 3 people left, then after taking a pedigree and superkick is finally eliminated. I believe he was the 2nd person out due to chokeslam?

He was stuck in the tag team ranks for most of the end of the year, he finally won the Tag Title at Armeggedeon, only to lose it some two weeks later.

Royal Rumble, he was like number 20 in and lasted like 5 mins. If the WWE really wanted to push him, they should have made him come in early and last late, but eh.

then ofcourse, he had no match whatsoever at No Way Out, I mean Evolution beat up and fried his best friend and he couldn't fight one of them on the PPV?

[TheGame]

Maybe the angle they are going for is the poor underdog vs the big mean HHH... I mean, look at thier face to face meeting on Raw!

Every match can't be the same... they allready haver 2 one on one matches with evenly matched guys, do they really need a third one? Also, the HHH match will have WAY more shock value than the other two if Booker were to win. I mean, I can allready picture in my head Austin beating Rock, and Rock beating Austin... just like I can picture Angle beating Brock, or Brock beating Angle.

Yes, that makes for a good match, but which match will be rememberd? Ok, Brock and Angle, both young, thier feud is just getting started... there could probably be 10 more PPVs in thier life where they face each-other. Then there's Rock/Austin 3... on one end, Austin could beat him three straight times, not much of a rivalry eh? Or, on the other end, Rock could beat Austin, and it's about damn time if he does... not to mention Austin is old as hell now, and he has nothing to gain by winning, and nothing to lose by losing.... while Rock also has nothing to gain by winning because Austin is old, and he has very little to lose by losing because he has allready did it twice.

Then there's Booker vs HHH... HHH has nothing to gain by beating Booker, and a LOT to lose. I mean, HHH comes out and calls the man a joke, and gets his ass handed to him. HHH rarely loses... that makes it hard to imagine. Then there's booker, the 5 time, 5 time, 5 time WCW champion.... but he's still considerd a joke. If he were to lay the smack on HHH who would still be laughing?

Well, enough typing... to conclude with it... This WM makes or breaks Booker T... while everybody else in a one-on-one match can win or lose freely with nothing to lose.

[Professor S]

I think Booker t goes over at WM, or least comes VERY close to going over and loses via screwjob. I actually think a screw job at WM followed by a long intense feud ala Misawa/Kawada would be great.

Anyone notice how HHH's promos are getting more and more like Flair's in the 80's? His showdown with Booker T immediately reminded me of a similar angle where Flair talked down to Jerry Lawler in the USWA and then got his but handed to him and almost lost the NWA title.

*realizes he just referenced a whole lot of stuff no one cares about*

Sorry... I'm a geek. Can't help it. :D

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Actually Triple H's promos usually remind me of something that is boring beyond belief :D Although the promo between him and Booker was pretty good this Raw.

And get this, Angle is supposedly injured and out for a year. Not being able to fight at Mania. Check out 411mania.com for one source.

If that's 100% true, then it really sucks. I thought we MIGHT have been able to see a PPV (WM nonetheless) that doesn't have Triple H, Taker, Austin, and/or Rock in the main event, but I guess Rock/Austin would have been the main event anyway.

And WWE has to do something. There are way too many injuries, whether it's lightening the work schedule or doing who knows what, but having people falling like flies just weeks before WRESTLEMANIA is a HUGE problem.

[BreakABone]

Originally posted by nWoCHRISnWo
Actually Triple H's promos usually remind me of something that is boring beyond belief :D Although the promo between him and Booker was pretty good this Raw.

And get this, Angle is supposedly injured and out for a year. Not being able to fight at Mania. Check out 411mania.com for one source.

If that's 100% true, then it really sucks. I thought we MIGHT have been able to see a PPV (WM nonetheless) that doesn't have Triple H, Taker, Austin, and/or Rock in the main event, but I guess Rock/Austin would have been the main event anyway.

And WWE has to do something. There are way too many injuries, whether it's lightening the work schedule or doing who knows what, but having people falling like flies just weeks before WRESTLEMANIA is a HUGE problem.

I know in one weekend they lost, Angle, Orton,Batista, Bubba Ray is supposedly injured. Edge is out for a year, Rhyno has just returned, Lita is still out, Jazz just returned so many friggin injures.

And ofcourse Steiner needs to heal from his injuries

*Someone whispers into BaB's ears that Steiner's not injured*

then why the poor workrate...


Also I think it was pretty cool of the WWE/Triple H to bring up Booker's past and how meaningful the WCW title was at the time.

[BreakABone]

Well, I know this will be a double post, but they are like 2 weeks apart. Anyhow, I found this read over at 411mania, and I thought it was a very VERY good read.

Watch Wrestlemania as a fan.

"Dare to Dream."

Even if this means giving up the internet until after March 30th, do it. You'll thank me. Not only will your appreciation of the show triple, but you might even get that old feeling back in the pit of your stomach again. You know the feeling I'm talking about. The feeling you got when Randy Savage hoisted Miss Elizabeth onto his shoulders after losing a retirement match at Wrestlemania VII. The feeling you got when Ric Flair broke down into tears after returning to Nitro in 1998 to one of the biggest ovations in wrestling history. The feeling you got when Steve Austin walked through the curtains of your arena five years ago.

The only way that this is a possibility is if you remove yourself from the negativity.

Plain and simple, the internet has ruined most of our enjoyment of wrestling. Don't let it ruin what you've got left. Fight back. Be one of those non-net fans that you see at shows.

Think about all the great things and amazing highs that The Undertaker has brought to the WWF over the last ten years, and when he comes through the curtain, cheer him. Stay on your feet and enjoy the ride as Shawn Michaels wrestles Chris Jericho in what could very well be his final Wrestlemania match. When Michaels warms up the band, let yourself enjoy it instead of thinking of how he's lost a step in the last five years. Appreciate Chris Benoit's performance at Wrestlemania without sulking because he's not in the main event.

Cheer for Steve Austin to beat The Rock. If you like heels, cheer for The Rock to beat Steve Austin. Shout "You Suck" at the top of your lungs as Angle's music blares at Safeco field. Be part of the electricity when Angle and Lesner go forehead to forehead as the bell rings.

Forget about what Scott Keith thinks about his workrate and show Hogan your appreciation at Wrestlemania for all the memories you hold so close to your heart. When Hogan comes through that curtain, remember that this is the same man who slammed Andre the Giant, superplexed the Bossman off of the cage, and made is possible for wrestling to be in the position that it's in today.

Have fun. Be a mark again.

There's an age old adage that says you can tell the difference between marks and smarts by the fact that when you got a live event, the smarts are smiling, and the marks are grimacing.

Don't fall into that category.

"Dare to Dream."
http://411mania.com/wrestling/columns/article.php?columns_id=1823

And I believe it's a really good read and rather true, and well since this thread wasn't updated in a while, it's good to see Angle be able to wrestle at Mania.

http://www.boomspeed.com/yukon242/WMlogo2.jpg

[Professor S]

I think thats a cop out. Blaming the Internet for poor product gives the WWE the scapegoat they've been trying to blame their inadequacies.

The internet was a big factor in the late 90's and 2000. Were we all cynical, overly critical a-holes then? No. We loved the product that the WWE and to a lesser extent the WCW put out there and we all raved about it,a nd you know what? SO DID THE INTERNET. They loved it and they posted more spoilers and articles than than they do now. Internet traffic was heavier when the product was good and the ratings were great and there were asses in the seats whther they read the online sheets or not.

Now, what has happened since then? Has the internet somehow intentionally expose the wrestling industry as being choreographed? Oh wait, VINCE MCMAHON DID THAT. Vince McMahon produces Confidential which is an insider show about the wrestling industry, and thw riter of that article thinks that the internet is to blame for doing the same thing Vince does?. And now Vince McMahon and Good Ol JR want to blame the internet for their crap product.

The reason why we wrestling fans haven't been enjoying the WWE's product these past 2 years isn't because of the Internet. Its because of the botched Invasion angle, which was the most sure fire angle in wrestling history. Its because egos have caused WCW, ECW and younger more talented wrestlers from reaching the level that they should be. Its because the champ is marrying the booker's daughter. Its because a thin, injured talent pool has been spread out over 2 shows instead of all being on the same programs producing better product. Its because the better the cruiserweight matches are, the more they push the A-Train and Batista. Its because Goldust now has tourettes syndrome, which is unfunny, uncomfortable and offensive. Its because some of the best matches on Raw are from the women's division. Its because while the Rock puts over the Hurricane with outside help, HHH can't do the same for Goldust with Booker at the outside, which would have actually helped their feud. Its because for some reason Vince refuses to maintain a constant on air role, when he is one of the most entertaining members of his stable. Its because its just not as fun to watch in the way of skits, and not as high in quality in booking and talent usage. Thats why.

The Internet was never criticized for ruining our enjoyment of wrestling and running down the WWE needlessly bqck when the money was rolling in, and there's no reason to blame them now considering half as many people are visiting the sites.

Its a cop out. Don't believe the hype.

[nWoCHRISnWo]

It was a good read, but it's not true. I agree with everything the Strangler said.

Seven, eight years ago, there were things I loved about the WWF and things I hated. Nothing has changed since then, as I still love a lot of the things and hate a lot of the things.

I've been to about 15 live WWF shows, and I was smiling at all 15 of them. When Undertaker comes down the aisle, I would cheer for him (if I was there live) because I love his Wrestlemania legacy, and I can't help but cheer for him when his music comes on. Of course, once his match starts I'll be bored as hell from the four workers in the ring probably, but that has nothing to do with the internet. Boring wrestling is boring wrestling, simple as that.

I think people's perspection on "internet-wrestling fans" are a little off, as supposedly they're all negative and can't enjoy a thing. I've never heard of someone who watched a Ring of Honor show and not enjoyed it. Everyone loved Wrestlemania 17. Most non-Hogan fans will tell you that they marked out at WM 18 when Hogan came out and had a great performance. Most people on the internet love the Rock right now. If people are complaining about WWE, it's probably Vince's fault for putting out a ****ty product. The internet hasn't stopped me from liking the exact same guys I've always liked, and certainly will never stop me from enjoying Wrestlemania. Whether I read what Triple H does backstage or not a week before Wrestlemania, I'll still like his match if it's any good, and hate it if it sucks.

And kinda off topic, but whether it's the no competition, the overexposure, or what, Vince seems ****ed right now. Most talented, big name wrestlers in history in one federation, and still buyrates, ratings, and the quality of the product aren't near being the best.