WrestleMania 21

**WrestleMania 21** was the 21st annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The official theme song for the event was *"Big Time"* by The Soundtrack of Our Lives. The secondary theme song was *"Behind Those Eyes"* by 3 Doors Down. The main match on the SmackDown! brand was John "Bradshaw" Layfield versus John Cena for the WWE Championship, which Cena won after performing an FU. In an attempt to persuade Batista to challenge WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield rather than Batista facing Triple H at WrestleMania, Triple H concocted a scheme to have Batista run over in a limousine resembling the one used by Layfield. Initially, Batista did not want help from Evolution and wanted to confront JBL by himself. Triple H insisted that Evolution accompanied Batista anyway, saving him from the oncoming limousine. Batista became aware of the plot while eavesdropping on fellow Evolution members and signed a contract guaranteeing him a match with World Champion Triple H at WrestleMania, thus leaving Evolution and officially turning face. As a result of Cena's win, he began a feud with WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and his Cabinet. In the feud, Cena lost his United States Championship to Cabinet member Orlando Jordan. The following week, JBL proceeded to "blow up" Cena's U.S. spinner version belt and reintroduce the traditional style belt.

A heavily promoted match for the event was an Interpromotional match between SmackDown! superstar Kurt Angle and Raw superstar Shawn Michaels. Their match stemmed from the Royal Rumble, the pay-per-view event two months before WrestleMania. At the Royal Rumble, Kurt Angle relentlessly attacked Shawn Michaels after Michaels had eliminated him from the Royal Rumble match. The next month at No Way Out, Angle lost a number one contenders match to John Cena, losing a spot in the SmackDown! main event at WrestleMania. The next night on *Raw*, Michaels told SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long to inform Angle that he had challenged him to a match at WrestleMania. On the February 28 edition of *Raw*, after Michaels defeated Edge in a Street Fight, Angle attacked Michaels and accepted his challenge.

, who faced off against The Undertaker.]]

The other Interpromotional match on the card was between Randy Orton and The Undertaker, with Orton representing Raw and Undertaker representing SmackDown!. Three days later on *SmackDown!*, Undertaker accepted Orton's challenge. On the March 14 edition of *Raw*, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, attempted to give Orton advice about his match with Undertaker at WrestleMania, but was RKOed when Orton was not cooperating. Later that week on *SmackDown!*, Orton and Undertaker had a contract signing for their match at WrestleMania. After both men signed, Orton told Undertaker that he has nothing but respect for him. Shortly afterwards, Orton slapped him and claimed that his 12-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania, would soon be 12-1. 

Another match on the card was the Money in the Bank ladder match between Chris Jericho, Christian, Chris Benoit, Edge, Kane, and Shelton Benjamin. The idea for the Money in the Bank match was introduced by Chris Jericho who proposed a six-man Ladder match,

### Event
Before the event went live on pay-per-view, a dark match was held. A 30-man Interpromotional Battle Royal, which featured: Booker T, 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. However, Booker T won the Battle Royal, as he eliminated Chris Masters. The first televised match of the night was between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. In the beginning of the match, Mysterio jumped over the top rope, knocking Guerrero down. Mysterio also attempted another aerial attack but was countered by Guerrero into a Powerbomb. Guerrero placed Mysterio into the Three Amigos and attempted a Frog splash but was unsuccessful. Following a Hurricanrana by Mysterio on Guerrero, Mysterio pinned Guerrero to win. After the match, both shook hands in the ring.
**Mysterio pinned Guerrero with a Hurricanrana.
*[Edge](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_(wrestler)) defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (w/Tyson Tomko) and Kane in the first 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](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piledriver_(professional_wrestling)).
**During the match, Cowboy Bob Orton interfered on behalf of his son.
*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.
*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](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunner_(professional_wrestling)) 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.
**During JBL's entrance, $100 dollar bills with JBL's face on them rained down on the crowd.
*"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 *"The Game"* live during Triple H's entrance.

## Other on-screen talent
## References
## Other websites 
*The Official Website of WrestleMania 21 
*WrestleMania 21 Highest Grossing WWE Event Ever at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles as Record 20,193 Attend Annual Pop Culture Extravaganza