WrestleMania 21 (2005): Cena and Batista Take Over on a Night Built Around WWE's Future

Mysterio and Guerrero open by leaning into familiarity. They know each other's counters, so the first minutes are built around escaping signature setups rather than rushing to finishers. Guerrero gradually targets Mysterio's back and becomes visibly frustrated when repeated power moves fail to end the match. Mysterio's speed creates the contrast, especially on the corkscrew dive and 619 sequences. A stiff powerbomb gives Guerrero his best near fall, but Mysterio eventually counters another attempt into the West Coast Pop for the pin. The match never reaches the level of their most famous WCW encounter, yet it is crisp, competitive, and filled with character. Guerrero's frustration after losing becomes more important as their 2005 rivalry develops.

The first Money in the Bank match succeeds because the wrestlers treat the new concept like a real contest rather than a collection of disconnected stunts. Kane provides the power threat, Christian and Jericho organize the ladder sequences, Edge lurks opportunistically, and Benoit turns his injured arm into the match's central selling story. Shelton Benjamin becomes the breakout performer through the running ladder clothesline, springboard offense, and willingness to take spectacular risks. The closing minutes are especially strong. Benoit headbutts Kane off the ladder and appears ready to win with one arm, only for Edge to strike the damaged arm with a chair and steal the briefcase. The finish establishes exactly what the contract will mean.

Orton gives The Undertaker's streak something it had rarely possessed before: a young opponent whose entire character makes ending it believable. The match moves briskly because Orton counters Undertaker's familiar offense instead of simply absorbing it. His powerslam, DDT, and especially the RKO counter to a chokeslam create credible near falls. Bob Orton's cast shot adds interference without becoming the finish, allowing Randy to remain dangerous on his own afterward. The best moment comes when Orton attempts a Tombstone and Undertaker reverses it into his own for the victory. Fourteen minutes is the perfect length. The match does not overstay its story, and Orton leaves looking closer to Undertaker's level than when he entered.

The match is structured around Stratus carrying an inexperienced challenger through a short title defense. Hemme gets a few rehearsed offensive moments, including Lita's Twist of Fate, but her timing and transitions remain tentative. Stratus controls most of the action and works aggressively enough to give the match some personality, repeatedly mocking both Hemme and Lita. The crowd understands that the champion is the far more polished wrestler, which limits the suspense of Hemme's near falls. A Chick Kick ends the match after less than five minutes. The brevity is a mercy because the performers do not have enough material for a longer contest. Stratus' heel character is effective, but the match exposes the limitations of WWE's women's division development in this period.

Angle and Michaels build the dream match from mat wrestling into a dramatic finishing stretch without skipping the middle. Michaels surprises Angle by controlling early headlocks and forcing the Olympic wrestler to fight for position. Angle eventually turns the match by driving Michaels into the ring post and increasing the physicality, while Michaels answers with the flying elbow and Sweet Chin Music. The near falls become extraordinary because every major move is earned. Angle survives Sweet Chin Music, Michaels survives the Angle Slam from the ropes, and the final Ankle Lock lasts long enough to make escape feel possible several times. Michaels finally submits only after Angle grapevines the leg and drags him back toward center. The match feels competitive, escalating, and complete.

The sumo match is presented as a special attraction, but almost all of its runtime is ceremony rather than competition. The ropes are removed, both men wear traditional mawashi, and the broadcast explains enough of the ritual to make the setup understandable. Once the match begins, there is little to evaluate as wrestling. Big Show and Akebono collide, separate, struggle briefly for leverage, and Akebono eventually pushes Show out. The actual contest lasts barely more than a minute. The respectful handshake afterward keeps it from becoming mean-spirited, yet the segment feels disconnected from everything else on WrestleMania. As spectacle it is mildly curious. As a match it offers almost no drama, technique, or reason to revisit it.

Cena's first WWE Championship victory is historically enormous and dramatically underdeveloped. JBL controls most of the eleven minutes with straightforward offense, slowing the match before Cena finally begins his comeback. There is no major interference, elaborate false finish, or extended championship struggle. Cena survives the champion's control, ducks the Clothesline from Hell, hits the FU, and wins immediately. The clean result is exactly right, but the structure gives the audience almost no time to feel the scale of what is happening. JBL's long title reign ends with less resistance than many of his earlier defenses. Cena's celebration matters far more than the match itself. A stronger closing stretch could have turned a correct coronation into a memorable one.

Batista and Triple H work a deliberate main event built around whether Batista can survive the experience and shortcuts of his former mentor. Batista dominates the early power exchanges, forcing Triple H to slow him through ringside attacks and Ric Flair's interference. The champion gradually targets the challenger and uses every familiar advantage, including a low blow and championship-belt shot after the referee is compromised. Batista survives the near fall, blocks the Pedigree, and regains control with the spinebuster. The final Batista Bomb produces the clean pin and the title change the crowd came to see. The match is not a technical classic, but the story is clear from beginning to end. Batista decisively outgrows Evolution instead of escaping it.