WrestleMania 21

This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. For the Xbox video game named after this event, see WWE WrestleMania 21.

WrestleMania 21
File:Wrestlemania300x250.jpg
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	RAW SmackDown!
Date	April 3 2005
City	Los Angeles, California
Venue	The Staples Centre
Attendance	20,193
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous No Way Out 2005 Next → Backlash 2005

WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment. It took place on April 3 2005 at The Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California. Tickets sold out in less than one minute for the event, making it the fastest ticket sell-out in the company's history as well as the fastest ticket sell-out at the Staples Center. The event drew a Staples Center record attendance of 20,193 people from 14 countries and 48 states and grossed more than $2.1 million USD in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing WWE event ever at the Staples Center, and the highest grossing of the five WrestleManias held in California. In addition to those in attendance, WrestleMania 21 was seen by millions of fans in more than 90 countries.

WrestleMania 21 was a joint-promotion pay-per-view event, featuring performers from the RAW and SmackDown! brands. The theme song for the event was "Bigtime" by The Soundtrack of Our Lives. The secondary theme song was "Behind Those Eyes" by 3 Doors Down.

Results

• Dark match: Booker T won a 30-man Interpromotional Battle Royal featuring: Paul London, Heidenreich, Spike Dudley, Nunzio, Funaki, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, Orlando Jordan, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns, Scotty 2 Hotty, Hardcore Holly, Charlie Haas, Billy Kidman, Akio from SmackDown! and Simon Dean, William Regal, Tajiri, Rob Conway, Sylvain Grenier, Snitsky, The Hurricane, Rosey, Chris Masters, Viscera, Rhyno, Val Venis, Tyson Tomko, Maven from RAW (16:33)
  • Booker T won by eliminating Chris Masters last.

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John Cena after winning the WWE Championship

• Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero (12:39)
  • Mysterio pinned Guerrero with a Hurricanrana.
• Edge defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (w/Tyson Tomko) and Kane in a Money in the Bank ladder match (15:17)
  • Edge won by climbing a ladder and retrieving the briefcase hanging above the ring.
• Hulk Hogan made a surprise appearance saving Eugene from an onslaught by Muhammad Hassan and Daivari, both of whom were infuriated for being excluded from the event.
• The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton (14:14)
  • Undertaker pinned Orton after a Tombstone Piledriver.
• Trish Stratus defeated Christy Hemme (w/Lita) to retain the WWE Women's Championship (4:11)
  • Stratus pinned Hemme after a Chick Kick.
• Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels (27:25)
  • Angle forced Michaels to submit with the Ankle Lock.

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Batista after winning the World Heavyweight Championship

• Piper's Pit segment with guest Steve Austin
  • "Rowdy" Roddy Piper confronted "Stone Cold" Steve Austin until Carlito interrupted and began to insult them. This resulted in Carlito receiving a Stone Cold Stunner from Austin and Piper throwing him out of the ring. Both ended the segment celebrating with beer until Austin gave Piper a Stone Cold Stunner as well.
• Akebono defeated The Big Show in a Sumo Match (1:02)
  • Akebono defeated Big Show by throwing him out of the ring.
• John Cena defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield to win the WWE Championship (11:26)
  • Cena pinned JBL after an FU.
• "Mean" Gene Okerlund introduced the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2005:
  • "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, The Iron Sheik, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Nikolai Volkoff, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and Hulk Hogan.
• Batista defeated Triple H (w/Ric Flair) to win the World Heavyweight Championship (21:34)
  • Batista pinned Triple H after a Batista Bomb.
  • Motörhead performed Triple H's entrance music live.

Other on-screen talent

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An attendance record setting 20,193 fans at the Staples Center for WrestleMania 21

Commentators Michael Cole - SmackDown! Jerry "The King" Lawler - RAW Jim Ross - RAW Tazz - SmackDown! Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera Hugo Savinovich Ring announcers Tony Chimel - SmackDown! Howard Finkel - RAW

Referees Mike Chioda - RAW Jack Doan - RAW Jim Korderas - SmackDown! Brian Hebner - SmackDown! Earl Hebner - RAW Chad Patton - RAW Nick Patrick - SmackDown!

Promotion

In line with the event's location and tagline, WrestleMania 21 was promoted on television with a series of parody movie trailers with wrestlers playing the starring roles from famous modern movies.

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Hulk Hogan posing for the crowd

• Forrest Gump featuring Eugene playing the role of Tom Hanks, with William Regal making a cameo appearance.
• Braveheart featuring Triple H playing the role of Mel Gibson, with Ric Flair making a cameo appearance.
• Basic Instinct featuring Stacy Keibler, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Christian playing the roles of Sharon Stone and the interrogators, with The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young making a cameo appearance.
• Pulp Fiction featuring Eddie Guerrero and Booker T playing the roles of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
• A Few Good Men featuring John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield playing the roles of Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, with Jonathan Coachman making a cameo appearance.
• Dirty Harry featuring The Undertaker playing the role of Clint Eastwood.
• When Harry Met Sally... featuring Kurt Angle and Christy Hemme playing the roles of Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, with Linda McMahon making a cameo appearance.
• Taxi Driver featuring Heidenreich, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, The Big Show, Candice Michelle, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Tajiri, Orlando Jordan, Joy Giovanni, Gene Snitsky, Paul London, Tazz, Chavo Guerrero, Hardcore Holly, Molly Holly, and Michael Cole, performing their unique versions of Robert DeNiro's "You talkin' to me?" line.
• Gladiator with Stone Cold Steve Austin playing the role of Russell Crowe, airing as part of the opening video for the event.

Notes

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Steve Austin celebrating with the crowd

• Lilian Garcia sang a rendition of America the Beautiful at the beginning of the show.
• WrestleMania 21 marked the first time the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship both changed hands on the same night in standard singles matches and at a WrestleMania.
• This event marked the fourth time at a WrestleMania that Triple H was played to the ring by a live band. He was previously played by a live band at WrestleMania XIV by The DX Band, WrestleMania X-Seven by Motörhead, and WrestleMania X8 by Drowning Pool.
• The Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21 was the first Money in the Bank ladder match used in World Wrestling Entertainment.
• This is the third WrestleMania to use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals (the previous two being WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania 13).
• During the Money in the Bank Ladder match, Tyson Tomko helped Christian up the ladder using his head and back. At WrestleMania X-Seven during the TLC match, Rhyno helped Christian up the ladder in a similar manner.
• Celebrity guests in attendance for WrestleMania 21 included David Arquette, Motörhead, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, The Black Eyed Peas, Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins, Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Carmen Electra, Sylvester Stallone, Marg Helgenberger, Matt Groening, and Will Sasso.

External links

• The Official Website of WrestleMania 21

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