Wrestlemania 21

Crocker

Source rajah.com

I just returned from the Wrestlemania 21 press conference at the Staples Center. It is difficult to say how many fans were there, but I would not believe anyone who says more than 1,000 (let’s see how much WWE claims on TV). I’d say 600-800 would be a more reasonable estimate.

Each wrestler cut about a 2 minute promo. Coach came out first and got good heel heat. Other than him and Angle, everyone else got a face reaction. Each wrestler or diva came out separately, as Coach introduced them each to their theme music.

Coach introduced Vince McMahon first. While Vince went on about the history of Wrestlemania, he did say one thing important. He said there are 14 PPV’s a year, and 4 of them are RAW/Smackdown combined shows, but that Wrestlemani is the only show where wrestlers from each brand could compete against each other. McMahon wrapped up, and Coach then introduced JBL.

JBL got a good reaction, plenty of people chanting his name. He really did not say much other than that it was great to return to where he defeated Guerrero for the title. Coach brought Trish out next, and she guaranteed 100% Stratisfaction at Wrestlemania. She also said that since Hollywood is the home of beautiful people, she will have no problem fitting right in.

Kurt Angle made a surprise appearance (subbing for Big Show likely due the head shaving angle they don’t want to give away). He was greeted with chants of “you suck.� Angle brought up the fact that he competed in the Olympics, and that WM would be another big achievement in his life.

Randy Orton talked about seeing his dad at the first WM, and about his own first WM last year. Rey Misterio mostly spoke in Spanish to the press. Torrie Wilson said little, other than introducing a representative from the Staples Center. That person mentioned that Staples has hosted All Star games and playoffs, but won’t be completed until getting a WM.

HHH was last (no shock there). They teased a fight between him and Orton, but nothing happened. HHH told Randy Orton to sit down, and Orton had no mic, so he came across kind of weak when he eventually sat down. At the end, the whole lineup posed for group photos, with HHH at the dead center, next to JBL.

During each promo, the wrestler or Diva stayed in character. When each star came out though, they would shake hands with the other wrestlers, or in the case of the divas, kiss on the cheek. Orton and HHH were the only one’s who did not greet each other.

The event lasted about 30 minutes. There was press there, but mostly print reporters and photographers. There were only about 3 TV cameras there.