Forgotten Favorites 03.19.09: WrestleMania XVII - Test vs. Eddie Guerrero

Posted by Jim Grimm on 03.19.2009

This week's column is a tribute to Test's memory, featuring a bout for the European Title on the grandest stage of them all!

Welcome back, wrestling fans. You made a wise choice by clicking on this column. Not only will you be thoroughly entertained and informed, but you'll also be that much closer to everybody's (least) favorite 411 columnist.

And so you're thinking, "Will my (least) favorite 411 columnist use the same intro again?"

And so I'm thinking, yes. Goes like this:

The evil master of wrestling history, who rules from his titanic towers of evil, takes great joy in robbing his followers of cherished memories. He has even gone so far as to wave his billion-dollar wand on more than one occasion in an attempt to completely erase particular pockets of time. Well, we, the people, have refused to stand for such injustices, and as a result, I have been called upon to right the wrongs of time.

Last week the wrestling world was taken aback by the tragic passing of Test. While he hasn't made any serious waves in the last few years, Test's early career had him marked as a future star of the business. A former Tag Team, Hardcore, European, and Intercontinental Champion, Test had a long line of credentials that many thought would eventually turn into a run in the main events. Unfortunately, his career never reached the level that many thought it would.

This week I want to take the time to focus on one of the most significant matches of Test's career while also taking a look at what could have been.

I wish it wasn't happening under these circumstances, but nevertheless, let's enjoy some great wrestling.


WrestleMania XVII - April 1, 2001
WWE European Championship
Test vs. Eddie Guerrero

HOW IT WENT DOWN

On the January 22nd, 2001 edition of Raw, Test defeated William Regal to claim the coveted WWE European Championship. For any fans who may be unfamiliar with the title, the European Championship served as a lower midcard title during a time when the WWE roster was overflowing with wrestlers. Just below the Intercontinental Title in terms of prestige, the European Title was held (mostly) by midcarders that the E wanted to stay relevant yet couldn't place into any higher profile programs at the time. Test's career had been stalling ever since he parted ways with T&A tag team partner Albert, and the European Title was exactly what the big man needed in order to get back on track as a singles competitor.

However, there was one problem for Test: the man he defeated for the title also happened to be the WWE Commissioner. To see a Canadian holding the European Title was sickening enough to William Regal, but to know that he himself had lost the title to a Canadian was just too much. As the Road to WrestleMania continued, Regal was dealing with another Canadian thorn in his side, that being the Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho. With most of his attention centering on Y2J, Regal handpicked a replacement in the battle against Test, choosing the man he considered the greatest European Champion of all time, (next to Regal himself, of course) Eddie Guerrero.

Eddie, who had been European Champion a year prior, challenged Test for his title on the March 15th edition of SmackDown, unable to wrestle the title away from him. But this was far from the last Test saw of Eddie. Just a couple of weeks later on the Raw before WrestleMania, Eddie served as the special guest referee in a match between Test and X-Pac, a match where a not-so-unbiased Latino Heat helped the one true love of both Chyna and the IWC claim the victory. Days later on SmackDown fans were given a WrestleMania preview when two Mania singles matches were combined into a hell of a tag team contest, featuring Test teaming up with fellow Canadian Chris Benoit to defeat the unlikely pairing of Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle.

And so the stage was set for WrestleMania 17. Defending European Champion Test prepared to put his title on the line in a rematch against Eddie Guerrero. Might we see a, uh, "radical" finish?





Part One




Part Two



WHY IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED

Test was going to be a star. And I'm not saying that because he passed away last week or because he died at such a tragically young age. I'm saying it because at one point in wrestling history, it was true. After his debut as Motley Crue's bodyguard, Test spent his early career as an interchangeable muscle for the Corporation. But once he veered off into babyface territory, his career skyrocketed. His "relationship" with Stephanie McMahon elevated him to another level as a singles name, and in less than a year the Canadian rookie was one of the most over young babyfaces on the roster. He had what many fans consider the best match of his career in a hell of a No DQ encounter with Shane McMahon at SummerSlam '99. Test's star continued to burn brighter and brighter, leading him to the most important match of his career at the time, that being a WWE Title shot against Triple H on the Raw before Survivor Series. And call me crazy, but that November PPV is where Test's moment should have come. He should've left Survivor Series as the WWE Champion.

Now, hear me out. We all know the scheduled main event was HHH defending the WWE Title against The Rock and Steve Austin in a Triple Threat. And we all know that Austin was the victim of a Rikishi hit and run, leading to The Big Show replacing him and actually winning the championship. But what we should also all know is that Test should have been the replacement in that match. Test should have walked out the WWE Champion. When a replacement was needed in the Triple Threat, there was only one man who came to mind for wrestling fans when it came to beef with HHH. There was only one man that we could have assumed the McMahons would have named. And yet... we got The Big Show. Shortly after Survivor Series, HHH would bring a halt to Test and Stephanie's wedding, frequently clashing with the rather large Canadian, all while Big Show defended the WWE Title against arch-nemesis (and ridiculer of death), the Big Bossman. So let me ask you this, wrestling fans: Triple H vs. Test or Big Show vs. Big Bossman? Which feud would've made more sense as a WWE Title feud?

And yet even when WWE passed up its golden opportunity for Test in 1999, they still continued to show a glimmer of hope for the dude. This week's match is proof that the E still saw Test as a viable future star in 2001. The European Championship wasn't absurdly prestigious in 2001 (or, uh, ever), but it at least marked a singles guy that you should be keeping your eye on. Considering Test won the belt so soon after leaving T&A, one would think that WWE knew the potential Test had as a singles guy. This is proven even further by the fact that he entered as a defending champion in a title match at the biggest show of the year. You don't make it to WrestleMania unless the E sees something in you, and you sure as hell don't make it to a WrestleMania title match unless Vinny Mac thinks you have a future. And at that point, Test most certainly did have a future.


Although he had many singles titles to his name, the WWE Championship always eluded the big man.

Another reason for remembrance, one I don't want to dwell on for too long, is that this match is a sobering reminder of just how shitty pro wrestling really is. If, when I watched WM 17 live, you had tapped me on the shoulder and said these two guys would be dead within eight years, there's no chance I would've believed it. And yet, here we are. The worst part is that every time I hear about another wrestling death, I can't help but feel that we as fans are partly responsible. We are the ones that rabidly demand more realistic action. We are the ones who bitch and moan about match quality and physique. I'm not saying that wrestling fans are killing wrestlers, but are we completely innocent?


WHY IT ISN'T REMEMBERED

Well, if you're talking about a stacked card, nine times out of ten you're talking about WrestleMania 17. And, as is usually the case with a stacked card, the lower midcard matches are the ones that are usually passed over and forgotten. While Test and Eddie went out there and gave us a hell of a European Title match, their efforts were hardly comparable to TLC, the brawl between HHH and Undertaker, or the amazingly amazing WWE Title match between Stone Cold and The Rock. This is often called the greatest WrestleMania of all time by fans and with damn good reason. The card was awesome from top to bottom. But an awesome show wouldn't be nearly as awesome without strong support from its midcard, and the European Title match served that role perfectly. Eddie and Test may not have outshone Austin and Rock, but they weren't supposed to. Legacy-wise, WrestleMania belongs to its several main events, but it's matches like the one between Test and Eddie that make it a hell of an event to sit back and enjoy again all the way through.

However, as good a match as it may have been, it was still a match over the European Title. I pride myself on my abundance of unnecessary wrestling knowledge, but even I have trouble with recalling all the specifics of the European Championship. In fact, if fans are to remember this particular match, they're more likely to remember the match itself rather than the fact that it was held for a title. Although I think to forget the European Title's place in the match is an injustice to both the match and its combatants. Any title match being held at WrestleMania is significant, regardless of the significance of the title itself. WrestleMania is made for championship matches, and any wrestlers lucky enough to be involved in WM title matches have achieved a level of success that many workers only dream of. If my memory's holding up, this was Test's only singles title match at a WrestleMania, which is a damn shame. But getting there once is better than never, even if it involves the European Title.


Many classic battles and D'Lo Brown matches were fought for this treasured title.


WILL IT BE REMEMBERED?

Without a doubt. Although fans aren't necessarily watching for this match, fans are still watching WrestleMania 17. Making it onto such a phenomenal card is the best thing that could've happened to this match, because fans will revisit it. My hope is that Test's legacy is not completely forgotten, and that matches like this one will prove that, however jacked up and sluggish he may have been in his last years, he was at one time one of the future stars of wrestling.


Feedback! (or, Proof That The World Knows I Exist!)

I think that match is from the John Cena dvd that came out in 2004 called Word Life but I'm not sure

Posted By: B~Rad

I don't own the DVD, but from the match listings I'm finding it doesn't appear to be on there. Although it does have the Cena-Taker SmackDown rematch after their Vengeance match, where Cena got the huge upset over the Dead Man.

Sorry to nitpick,but your statement-

"The first was the one on one rematch between Angle and Lesnar at SummerSlam, where Brock tapped out to the Ankle Lock. The following week on SmackDown, Angle defended the title against the Undertaker in yet another classic confrontation between two old rivals."

isn't quite right.The week after Summerslam had a Triple-threat match between Undertaker,Big Show and Brock Lesnar(another forgotten favorite?) ,which Taker won to become the No.1 contender.The Angle-Taker match happened the following week.

Posted By: comment

Indeed you are right. I forgot about that Triple Threat. Good call, sir.

man in 2003 and 04 cena was my fav wrestler. he was cutting sick promos everyweek and for a long time, i had to tune into smackdown just to see what he would do, he had this edge about him that made him stand out, i wish he could regain at the very least some of that edge but what can ya do right? and pl bring back his old word life theme, it was sick

Posted By: COdy

Cena was definitely the highlight of SmackDown for a while there in 2003. He was just different, and you knew the guy was going to be a star. And his music was indeed way better.

This is one of the few columns I make sure to read every week. That was a pretty good match that would be crazy if it happened today. I cant believe Lesnar was only in the 'E for 2 years and got that insane monster push the whole time. But he was a fuckin beast! He had the look, he was a freak athlete with size and speed, he could work, and while not oozing charisma he was decent on the mic (look at the heat he gets in UFC). He was the perfect monster heel. Angle and Lesnar were made to feud and to this day both remain in my top 10 or 15 favorites of all time. Good job on the column-cant wait to see whats next.

Posted By: amusing comments

I find joy in bringing joy to others. Kind of like Santa Claus. Only I bring matches, not presents. And I probably won't break into any of your houses after midnight. And I'm real.

As for Lesnar, the man did amazing things in only two years. His first year was incredible, but the second one was just fucking awesome, and its owed completely to Kurt Angle. Once Brock turned heel in the summer of '03, everything he did was pure gold. Awesome matches and awesome heat generated.

might have been a UK exclusive release from silver vision called "Smackdown's greatest matches".
i've seen that generic date come up in the corner before, at the start of the edge-chris jericho cage match i think

Posted By: DaJ

Damn UK exclusive releases. Damn them.

TURN CENA HEEL!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGH HE'S SOOOO BORING AS A FACE

Posted By: Guest#7356

Amen, brudda. Heel Cena was pure excitement. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say he's boring now, but he certainly is boring in comparison to what he used to be.

While I don't cheer the man, this is why I don't hate him. Cena was AWESOME back in 2003 / 2004! Blame WWE creative for taking away our John Cena and giving us what he is now. I highly recommend his first DVD for the promos.

Posted By: Word LIfe

Sometimes when he's making poop jokes or causing an arena to emit a high-pitched squeal, I can feel the hate rising up. But then, much like you, I remind myself that there was a time when the man ruled the planet, and for this I am willing to forgive him. Like you said, fans upset with Cena's character should hate WWE's creative staff, not the man himself.

Really digging that Cubs shirt/jersey thing. This is our year.

While the late '02/early '03 SmackDown Six period is generally revered as the high point of televised wrestling, mid-late '03 SmackDown wasn't far below it with the additions of Lesnar, Rhino, Tajiri, Cena, and even Undertaker. That Angle/Taker match is definitely a lost classic as is the Lesnar/Benoit match that debuted the Brock Lock.

Early Cena was a thing to behold. I vividly remember attending a SmackDown just before SummerSlam '03 and marking my brains out for him, throwing up the original "too much metal for one hand" sign. Here was a guy who was legitimately clever and clearly had "it," and we were seeing him on WWE TV every week before he was a star. The PG shift is unfortunate for him cos he could easily be a Rock-like babyface instead of having to dumb himself down. Can't really blame him, though. He can only work with what he's given.

Posted By: neverAcquiesce

SmackDown was all kinds of awesome between 2002 and 2003, as we've covered numerous times in this article. I strongly advise anyone to check out that Angle/Taker match, which is actually featured on the Tombstone three-disc set that WWE released a few years ago. Even more lost is a phenomenal match between those two a year prior on the July 4th SmackDown, when an Undisputed Title match went to a very disputed finish.

And indeed, Cena worked miracles in 2003. I was there live for his match with Angle at No Mercy, and I also marked my brains out for the dude. The crowd was complete insanity for that match, since it couldn't decide which man it wanted to cheer on to victory. I remember thinking, "Damn, this dude is over." When I saw him the following summer at a house show, I can remember flashing back to Rock and Austin during his entrance. The crowd was that into him at a house show. In fact, he actually went on in the main event against Angle (again), while a JBL-Undertaker WWE Title match was on the undercard. Dude was fucking over.

When he has an actual DVD bio released, there will be a "shit ton" of matches from that era. My Life was less foccussed on his actual wrestling and more about him as a person (cars, sneakers, bodybuilding). Wait a year or two, and there will be an awesome 3-disc Cena DVD with a 2-hour bio program, hours of promos, and loads of great matches... just like this Savage DVD they got coming out.

Posted By: Dink

You may be right, and I may be crazy. I haven't seen either of Cena's DVDs, simply because the match listings have looked so horrendously weak. And I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that. So given that, you'd figure WWE has to put out a respectable Cena DVD at some point.

this taker was my favorite. he wasnt a zombie or a mortician.

he was an butt kicking, super submitting badass.

Posted By: rey

Sometimes I think that the classic Dead Man isn't so ridiculous. But then I think about him teleporting out of a casket and his spirit rising over an arena. Or his "But check out my powers!" showdown with Kane. Or when he magically collapsed the ring and entered the arena on a horse-drawn carriage. These are the times when the American Badass is also my favorite Taker.

Damn, that video makes the Cena/Taker feud look like nothing short of pure destillated awesomeness!

Posted By: Mikael

Oh, and it was. It was.

yea heel cena was way better.didn't he beat taker on smackdown one time?

Posted By: Guest#1484

Yep. It's the match featured on the Word Life DVD. Happened shortly after Vengeance.

I actually miss Takers 2002 run... he seemed to be in better shape than the previous year and played this kind of tweener role most the year and was having kick ass matched with everyone... especially Brock and Angle.

Posted By: Andrew Barbarash

The tweener character is what made him such a badass. If you stood in his way of being WWE Champion (or anything he wanted, for that matter), you were subject to an ass-kicking. His feud with Flair (and subsequent WrestleMania 18 match) is one of my favorite stories in wrestling history. Awesome stuff.

they have to bring biker taker back ASAP...

Posted By: JJ

The people have spoken, Vince.

The funny thing to think about is how much more money WWE could be making with Cena if they kept him the way he was. No one will argue Cena is on Austin's level. He isn't. The only reason his merch is on par with Austin is because of inflation and the fact that there's about 80,000 different pieces of Cena merch compared to the few dozen pieces of merch Austin had at any given time 10 years ago. But the thing about Austin is that he sold merch to both the kids and their parents. You'd see an 8 year-old and a 28 year-old wearing the Austin 3:16 shirt. You only see the 8 year-olds wearing Cena merch today. WWE shot itself in the foot by going kid friendly. Cena could have been an even bigger cash cow had he retained the edge. People like anti-heroes, plain and simple.

Posted By: Guest#9301

You could be right, but I don't think WWE is looking at it that way. Cena's not the only star that they're bringing in the kids with. Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and even internet darling CM Punk are all to blame as well. With so many kid-friendly stars on the roster (regardless of their ability to appeal to a mature audience as well), WWE probably feels it makes the most economic sense to cash in on the kids while they can. Within five or so years, these kids will be in high school and hating their parents. That's when WWE makes the turnaround and goes back to a more adult-themed program. These kids will grow up and realize Cena is unbearably lame, and that's when he'll turn heel and become their anti-hero. At least that's my theory.

It doesn't make the current programming any easier to watch though.

The crazy thing about Cena is that he was an amazing heel. I remember a rap he did on an episode of Smackdown when he was feuding with Eddie Guerreo when he was in Guerreo's hometown of El Paso, and by the time he was done the crowd legitimately looked like it was about to start a riot just so they could get their hands on him. Too bad he isn't allowed to use that skill anymore, and is forced to read from a script.

Posted By: Guest#3962

I strongly advise anyone who wasn't watching SmackDown at the time to go on YouTube immediately and search for as many old Cena raps as possible. These raps were definitely not meant to appeal to children.

Biker taker was much better than zombie taker, but unfortunately, we won't see that taker again due to the PG audience. The biker gimmick wouldn't work in that type of atmosphere.

Posted By: Butters4Prez

I think it could work, but it just wouldn't work as well. Zombie Taker is like an invulnerable superhero to the younger audience. Kids would either dislike or be indifferent to Biker Taker. Undertaker is over in a big way with a wide variety of fans, but a lot of those fans are the same young ones that are screaming their lungs out for Cena. As always, it comes down to which way WWE can make the most money, and at this point in wrestling, Zombie Taker is the way to go.

Dang! Those spills over the top rope from Angle and Lesnar were sick!
I agree that the American Badass should return, but is he WWEPG material?

Posted By: Armitage Shanks

The tweener Badass Taker isn't so PG, but the strictly babyface one could work. When he had his long-haired Badass run through 2000 and 2001, he wasn't so majorly un-PG.

I'll tell you what was really ridiculous about the feud between Cena and Taker

It involved Billy Gunn, the wrestling world's biggest punchline (aside from non-wrestlers) getting a win over JOHN FUCKING CENA!

Posted By: Lance Stratton

In order to determine the biggest star in wrestling, we must now have a match between the two guys who have defeated the previously-assumed biggest star in wrestling. WrestleMania XXV - The One Billy Gunn vs. Kevin Federline. Book it.

Great article Jim. I'll be back for more next week.

Posted By: Probes

Damn right you'll be back! Wait ... actually this is next week. So, uh ... damn right you are back?

was paul heyman still booking smackdown at this point?

Posted By: bluenoserob

I don't believe so, but I can't say that for sure. I think they took him off midway through 2003 but I could be way off on that.

The funny thing to think about is how much more money WWE could be making with Cena if they kept him the way he was. No one will argue Cena is on Austin's level. He isn't. The only reason his merch is on par with Austin is because of inflation and the fact that there's about 80,000 different pieces of Cena merch compared to the few dozen pieces of merch Austin had at any given time 10 years ago.

Posted By: Guest#9301 (Guest)

Just remember this logic when you idiots claim that Austin outdid Hogan.

Posted By: Lance Terwilliger

From what I understand, Austin did outdo Hogan as far as the numbers go, even with inflation and varieties of merchandise taken into account. But we've yet to see anything official from WWE (and likely never will). As for now, the best we can do is speculate and call each other idiots. Just remember this logic when you idiots claim that Hogan outdid Austin.

Like Cena, Quackenbush tries too hard to be funny when he's fairly generic and no one would realize if he was gone.

Posted By: Breaking Rites

I don't know if you're referring to an indy wrestler or not, but since indy wrestling is completely meaningless to me, I am unable to comment.

"But, my people of the anti-Cena movement, I tell you that the man was not always this bad!"

So? The key here is the past tense. There was also a time when HHH was the ICW's most beloved darling. There was also a time when the Ultimate Warrior was the uber-face of the WWF. There was also a time when SCSA was a vanilla midcarder called "The Ringmaster" who would job to Marc Mero... Do I have to go on?

Posted By: Guest#6433

I'm not sure what your point is other than the fact that time is linear and people change over the course of linear time. My point was that people shouldn't hate John Cena the man because he is clearly capable of being entertaining. It's the E that has corrupted him.

Promo-wise, John Cena was much more entertaining back in the day. However, his matches were sometimes downright BRUTAL. His promos may kinda suck now, but at least his matches are good.

Posted By: Guest#3705

I wouldn't call his 2003 matches brutal, but I'm with you 100% on his matches today being better by leaps and bounds. I'm personally not a fan of Cena's character, but I always trust him to deliver inside the ring.

- -

Alright guys, that'll do it for this week. Next week we'll get back to the regular format with a little more focus on the match itself. For this week I was more focused on remembering what Test had to offer to wrestling fans, along with the great potential he had that WWE never seemed to fully tap.

Let me know what you guys think. Am I giving Test too much credit? Am I not giving him enough? Let your voice be heard.

Until next time, keep the comments and discussion going. And try to stay safe and out of jail.