WrestleMania 20
Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero*
I wanted a great 20-minute wrestling match that could open the show, similar to Bret/Owen from ten years before. They could have had a similar match to the one they did have for the title at WM XX.
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Booker T and Rob Van Dam* [Champions] vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley)
The tag scene was terrible at this time, but one of the tag belts should definitely be on the card. I feel this could have been a passable 5-minute match and better than the four-way we got.
WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Chris Jericho [Champion] vs. Christian*
These two were always capable of putting on at least a solid match. They didn’t need the Trish storyline, just a classic friends turned enemies feud. Christian would take the belt.
WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Ultimo Dragon [Champion] vs. Rey Mysterio*
The cruiserweight cluster
was a joke but I can understand both it and the two four-way tags, as it gets more people on the cards and gets them WrestleMania bonuses. The only other option instead of Dragon/Rey would’ve been to replace Ultimo with heel Chavo accompanied by Chavo Sr. However, I wanted to see this. They had an all-time classic together 8 years previously at World War 3 in WCW and while Ultimo wasn’t near the same performer, I feel he and Rey could’ve put on a great little match. Ultimo should’ve won the title early after joining the company with them playing up his history. He would then dominate the division, leading to the Rey match at Mania. That way Ultimo could have left the WWE having accomplished his dream of working ‘Mania and MSG, along with having had a great match, and Rey would’ve gotten a win over a junior legend on a big stage.
‘STREET FIGHT’
Randy Orton* vs. Cactus Jack
We got this match at Backlash but I wanted it at 'Mania. I would have had Mick cost Orton the IC strap to Y2J before WM as I want the IC title defended at the biggest show of the year, plus if it was on the line here it would have made the winner too obvious. It would definitely have to be Cactus rather than Mick and this would have been (as it turned out to be a month later) a huge win for Orton. Mick as always was very happy to put a youngster over.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2004
Stone Cold Steve Austin, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, Harley Race, Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat, ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan
I felt that the HOF inductees at WM XX were not as strong a selection as they should have been. Stone Cold’s in-ring career finished at WM XIX and while this may have seemed a bit early for some, it would have given a nice finality to his in-ring career. He needed to be on the show. Piper is one of the great heels in WWF history and headlined the first WM. Race is one of the great NWA champions and performed at the biggest show ever, WrestleMania III, where Steamboat had one of the all-time great matches. DiBiase main evented WM IV and Heenan is one of the greatest managers, commentators and wrestling personalities ever. It would have been a lineup befitting the occasion.
Hulk Hogan vs. ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair*
Bear in mind that this card assumes me getting to book for a number of months before the specific ‘Mania, therefore my rebooked WM VIII main event didn’t happen. Hogan would have returned as the “biggest star of all time”. Flair would come out and claim that while Hogan might be the biggest, Flair is the “greatest wrestler of all time” and wants to prove it on the biggest stage. This would lead to a battle of the legends. They could have easily put on a really fun match that the crowd would’ve been into, with Flair managing to steal victory, giving him his first ever WM win.
The Rock vs. John Cena*
I remember thinking this match would be a great idea at the time. It is amazing how big Cena has become since then and that these two main evented 8 years later. At this time, Cena was still doing his rapper gimmick and I thought he and Rock could have had fun promos, leading to a match where Rock would give the younger man the rub.
WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus [Champion] vs. Lita*
The two most popular female wrestlers of the era would’ve been the perfect women’s match for this showcase event. Have Trish turn heel and take the title, be it at Survivor Series or Royal Rumble. The crowd would’ve cared for this and they could’ve worked a nice little match. They had the history going back to the T&A and Hardy Boyz days.
The Undertaker* with Paul Bearer vs. Goldberg
Goldberg would move to SmackDown!, attack Taker, put him out of action and run through a string of people to show him as a dominant force. He talks of himself as the master of the streak and says Taker will be a coward if he doesn’t put his WM streak on the line against him. Old school Taker returns and they have a hard hitting, back-and-forth match. Definitely would have been better than Taker/Kane and is another huge name to add to the streak.
“THE FINAL ENCOUNTER”
‘LADDER’ MATCH
for the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Triple H* [Champion] vs. ‘Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels
I feel this may have been a great way to end their feud (and it should’ve ended here). A ladder match at MSG, 10 years after HBK had the first ever ladder match in WWE history (well they usually acknowledge it as such). They could have played up the ten years on thing and whether or not HBK would fall short again, which he ultimately would cleanly without interference from Evolution.
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Brock Lesnar [Champion] vs. Chris Benoit*
With Heyman doing all he could to stop Benoit getting the title and Benoit's only way of getting his shot being winning the Rumble from number 1, it made sense for him to go after Lesnar and win the title on SmackDown!, overcoming all the odds. I think this match would have been amazing, obviously ending with the Crossface. While not quite as great a moment as both Eddie and Benoit in the ring with the titles, Eddie coming out to congratulate his friend at finally winning the world title, perhaps along with Dean Malenko and others, would have still been a fine moment. This could have led to a feud between two friends over the title to see who was the best. Eddie would get more and more annoyed at Benoit being just too good for him, leading to a heel turn and title reign. Also if the news of Lesnar leaving had leaked like it did (they may have tried extra to prevent it leaking, with him being the main event), who knows how it would have affected the main event.
While WM XX was a good enough show I don't feel it was as great as it could have been. I think the card I have presented here would have been a better show overall and worthy of the year-long hype that the show received. I guess Kane and Big Show could have a battle of the giants for the US Title on the pre-show or something. I understand it looks like there are a lot of matches needing time on the card and that’s true. But with the rough lengths I’d want the matches to go, the ring time would only be about 20 minutes longer than the actual show’s ring time, which could be made up from there being less entrances (as there are less people on the card) and shortening the promo packages a bit. It could be made to fit.
And also check out my other WrestleMania cards. Thanks!
