Category: Sports (TV & Videos)

SUMMARY:                               RUNNING TIME: 18 Min. +

Memorably, these legendary frenemies had twice before clashed at WrestleMania – 1999 and 2001 – with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at stake.  Now, with Austin on the verge of forced retirement due to a lingering neck injury, completing their trilogy meant a final showdown at Seattle’s Safeco Field on March 30, 2003.  Motivating The Rock’s pride were two bitter World Title losses, as Austin, healthy or not, evidently had his WrestleMania number.  The match commentators are Michael Cole and Tazz, with Carlos Cabrera & Hugo Savinovich as the WWE’s Spanish language announcers.    

Note: As of this date, it would be Austin’s last match.

REVIEW:

It’s all about the star power.  Stealing WrestleMania 19’s glow more through nostalgia than actual substance, this match’s run time is deceptive.  Less than eight minutes of finishers and stealing the other guy’s crowd-pleasing finishers makes this expedited slugfest more of a greatest-hits highlight reel.  Frankly, it resembles a Monday Night RAW street fight where the unremarkable action escalates into an in-ring slugfest and a ringside beatdown.  To the surprise of no one, there are few, if any, technical wrestling displays – more disappointingly (no doubt due to Austin’s physical condition), no major choreography spots commemorate his retirement.    

In the end, what might have been a legendary finale to The Rock vs. “Stone Cold” is a strictly run-of-the-mill brawl.  This match offers historic context only by watching their two prior WrestleMania battles first.  

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                                       RUNNING TIME: 17 Min. +

A full year had lapsed since the demise of World Championship Wrestling (WCW).  The triumphant WWE gradually incorporated the WCW on-screen personnel it wanted, including the original New World Order (NWO): “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.  For WrestleMania 18 at Toronto’s SkyDome, on March 17, 2002, the WWE’s ‘Icon vs. Icon’ match pitted The Rock vs. the legendary Hogan.  Amidst all the back-and-forth trash talking with The Rock, Hogan and his cronies were depicted as ultra-nefarious baddies out to put the WWE’s most charismatic star down permanently.  

Yet, as for the climatic showdown itself, even Hogan was humbled that SkyDome fans were loudly cheering his first WrestleMania in nine years.  The Rock’s own reaction proves stunning, particularly after Hogan is greeted with a post-match beatdown by superior numbers – a dubious WCW tradition. 

The commentators are Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler, with Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich as the WWE’s Spanish language announcers.    

REVIEW:

Suffice to say, this clash is much better than expected.  Evidently inspired by SkyDome (after 1990’s WrestleMania VI), the 48-year old Hogan cranks up his performance quality enough to share the same ring as The Rock.  While both adversaries are wildly cheered, what’s perplexing is whose side is the majority of SkyDome fans on.  Then again, does it really matter?  Packing this ego-driven showcase with flexing, finisher stealing, and egging on the crowd’s reaction, it’s an instance where the not-quite-wrestling is far more about sparking pure nostalgic emotion than any technical know-how.  Even so, Rock vs. Hogan is remarkably generous with its People’s Elbows and Running Leg Drops bringing the audience to their feet.  Above all, The Rock’s professionalism hiding an aging Hogan’s limited mobility is admirable.  The fact that their match doesn’t resort to cheap interference ploys, just for drama’s sake, says plenty.  

In the best possible way, however, the aftermath (improvised or not) surpasses their crowd-popping in-ring work.  Despite an eternity spent on the traditional ‘Hulk-A-Mania’ pose-down, fans ultimately score the finale they didn’t realize they wanted.  Not to mention, this showdown’s genuine magic easily overshadows the all-too-predictable Chris Jericho/Triple H Unified World Championship title match.  Courtesy of the mutual admiration society established between these two wrestling legends, the turbulent pro wrestling universe for the moment, finally rights itself. 

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 25:04 MIN.

In a Pay-Per-View (PPV) rematch from 1994’s WrestleMania X, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon again face off in a ladder match for the WWE’s second most prestigious title.  Held at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena, on August 27, 1995, more than 18,000 fans would witness live this high-profile I-C Championship clash on SummerSlam 1995’s undercard.

REVIEW:

Despite recycling almost every trick from their last encounter, this match still entertains and has its fair share of surprises – even for a match that is 25+ years old.  Re: the I-C Champ, “The Heartbreak Kid” gives a good performance.  However, inconsistency with his ‘injured’ leg, blatantly scripted spots, and two botched finishes makes this one a bit of a dud for Michaels.  As for Razor Ramon (aka Scott Hall), he puts on a clinic with good selling and a brutal beatdown of Michaels early on.  Ramon probably has the best performance out of any wrestler at this PPV, which helps this match feel fresh.

Plus, watch for the new ladder moves!  Moonsaults and mooning from atop the ladder by Michaels exhibits originality, as well as considerable risk, to ensure the big rematch equals their original WrestleMania X showdown. The only real issue with this bout, for better or worse, is that both Michaels and Ramon appear out of breath early.  It’s most likely due to their choreography being more brutally structured as a match involving a ladder rather than an actual ladder match.

For fans of either HBK, Scott Hall, or ladder matches, this one is definitely worth checking out, even if the stunts feel outdated by today’s standards.  Easily, this was one of Scott Hall’s best matches.  Michaels, too, gets great pops from the crowd, even when Ramon carries most of the match.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                 8 Stars

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