by Rick Scaia
OnlineOnslaught.com

An Introduction to The Guide

This year, the phenomenon of WrestleMania concludes two decades by going back home to where it all began.  So, if you believe the hype, it can All Begin Again.

Unbelievably, WM has been around for 20 years, and is now got a bigger Roman Numeral attached to it than the first Super Bowl that I was cognizant of had (Super Bowl XVI: Bengals vs. Niners).  In fact, WrestleMania and the Super Bowl pretty much stand alone as mainstream icons that threaten to stand the test of time and use Roman Numerals that nobody can actually decipher.  Seriously, who out there can still remember the Roman Number for "50" from the grade school days?

But lets not get ahead of ourselves.  WrestleMania L, sure to be headlined by the  over-pushed demon offspring of HHH and Stephanie McMahon, is three decades away.  Our order of business this week is getting ready for WM20.

As if the twentieth WrestleMania wasn't special enough an occasion -- with the return to Madison Square Garden, a five-hour run-time, and a roster of returning Hall of Famers like Jesse Ventura and even Pete Rose -- this is also the second WM of the "Brand Extension Era."  And it'll be the first one of the "Interpromotional Feud Era."  To add even more sizzle to the show, WM20 will feature the first RAW vs. SD! matches in almost 2 years.

The Fed is clearly loading up the show as best they can. Even though Steve Austin, due to health reasons, won't be wrestling the show, and even though legends present in the past few years (like Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper, architects of the first Mania) are not a part of the pre-show hype and build-up, there is still plenty of box office appeal here.  The Rock is back for his once-a-year obligatory match, and making it more special, it could be one of his very last in-ring appearances before his wrestling contract expires in 2005.  He's joined by Mick Foley, who is unretiring for his first match since 2000.  The Undertaker is bringing back his "Dead Man" gimmick, not seen since the last millennium.  Longtime favorites of the hardcore fans, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, have both finally been elevated to top spots on the card.  And hell, you never know when some legend or another might pop in, unannounced, either.  Such is the allure of WrestleMania.

The 12-match, guest-laden, five-hour PPV card looks strong, with no fewer than three matches that have "Match of the Year" possibilities, and like last year, close to double that many legitimate main event caliber contests.  But this year's card is only part of the WM story.  Anytime there's 19 years of history, there are bound to be a few interesting storylines and statistical anomalies.  And to me, that's as big a part of what makes WrestleMania a happening every year as what the Fed actually delivers inside the ring.  Remembering the classic moments, drawing out historically significant trends, and obsessing over oddball trivia and stats....  that's a lot of fun, too.

So... with just days or hours (depending on when you read this) until WMXX, let's dispatch with the prelude, and hit the on-ramp to Memory Road.  Just as in previous editions, this year's version of Online Onslaught's Road to WrestleMania will focus on three main historical topic areas. And then, of course, on Friday, we add a detailed preview of this year's show, this year, with a special added feature: predictions from the whole roster of OO columnists, instead of only me. 

Just choose from the items below to check out the detailed history, statistics, and trivia behind 19 past years of WrestleMania and how it all ties in to this year's big event (note: articles are being posted daily, and won't all be available until Friday, March 12):

HIGHLIGHTS: YEAR BY YEAR
There is no better way to gain an appreciation for the spectacle that is WrestleMania than to look back at the highlights, main events, and celebrity sightings at each of the past 19 WMs to date. Take yourself on a roller coaster ride where the attractions include Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, and many, many more. Strap in for a decade-and-a-half-in-the-making retrospective! (more...) 

NUMBERS: WINNERS, LOSERS, AND IRONMEN
This is it... the document that could win you a bar bet with a drunken pal this Sunday during the PPV. Who's won the most WrestleMania matches? Who's been in the most consecutive WM of the WWF's current roster? Who are the clutch main event performers and who has choked in title matches on the year's biggest show? I've got all that info and then some for you. (more...) 

OBSERVATIONS: THE ODD BUT THE TRUE
Sometimes it's not the obvious, factual history that gives the best indicator of the true legacy and depth of the WrestleMania tradition. So you've gotta dig into the barrel and find the real connections that make this event the biggest and best of 'em all. From the best and worst 'Manias.... to the different gimmicks..... to the deceased legends.... to strange interactions, coincidences, and whatever other bizarre observations didn't really fit in elsewhere will pop up here.  (more...)

PREVIEW:  WILL IT REALLY BEGIN AGAIN AT WMXX?
In its twentieth year, WrestleMania will attempt its most ambitious show ever: 12 matches, a slew of legends and extras, and a five hour run-time.  On paper, it looks like a great mix of in-ring action and high drama.  The entire OO Staff teams up to supply you with the detailed breakdown of the event, complete with our expert predictions  (more...) 

And then, once you're done joining me for a dip in the Obsessed Smart Fan Pool of Knowledge and Trivial Observations, it's gonna be time....  that special time of year where you just sit back, and do whatever it takes to have fun on a Sunday night.  Where you remember what it was like to buy your tickets to watch the biggest show of the year on a Closed Circuit TV screen, and mark out because it's WrestleMania, baby!

But I also hope you will put that Smart Cap back on briefly at some point leading up to or just after WMXX...  because as always, I would love to know what you think of this feature and how I can improve it for the eighth edition, which should be coming your way in about 51 weeks!  Drop me a line at rick@onlineonslaught.com to let me know what you'd like to see in future editions of The Road to WrestleMania!

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