The night a villain finally took the crown at WrestleMania 2000
In short: In the year 2000, professional wrestling reached a historic turning point. For the first time in the event's history, a 'heel'—or villainous character—would walk away from the main event as the champion, shattering a long-standing tradition of heroic victories.
Held at Anaheim's Arrowhead Pond on April 2, 2000, WrestleMania 2000 served as the WWF's 16th annual premier event. The event was defined by a complex, intertwined narrative involving the McMahon family and the pursuit of the WWF Championship. A four-way elimination contest headlined the show, pitting champion Triple H against The Rock, Mick Foley, and The Big Show. This iteration marked the second time the company brought this specific event to the Anaheim venue. The full broadcast consisted of nine different matches.
The storyline leading to the event was a labyrinth of interference and shifting alliances. After Vince McMahon interfered to help him reclaim the title in January 2000, Triple H leveraged his marriage to Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley to dominate the firm. Meanwhile, The Rock and The Big Show had been embroiled in a dispute over a controversial Royal Rumble victory, and Mick Foley had been reinstated to the title picture after a brutal Hell in a Cell match against Triple H. The path to the championship involved a high-stakes match where Cactus Jack faced retirement. Additionally, Shane McMahon's unexpected return played a pivotal role in the rivalry between The Rock and Big Show.
The outcome of the main event was a landmark moment for the industry. By outlasting The Rock in the final elimination, Triple H became the inaugural heel to win a WrestleMania main event. The nine-match card featured a high-flying triangle ladder match for the Tag Team Championship and a triple threat match for the Intercontinental and European titles involving Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit. The undercard also featured a high-stakes ladder match involving Edge, Christian, and the Hardy Boyz. Furthermore, Kurt Angle secured double championship status during the build-up to the show.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: WrestleMania 2000
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-wrestlemania-2000.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
