The night a wrestling loophole created a champion from a different brand
In short: During the 2004 event at Madison Square Garden, a specific rule oversight allowed a competitor to switch brands and challenge for a major title. This moment at WrestleMania XX illustrates how scripted stories use technicalities to create drama, culminating in a champion winning his first world championship.
WrestleMania XX, held on March 14, 2004, at Madison Square Garden, served as a landmark event for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was the third time the promotion held its flagship event at the iconic New York City venue, and the final time it would do so before shifting primarily to stadiums in 2007. The event was notable for its high stakes, grossing US$2.4 million in ticket sales—the highest for the venue—and generating an estimated $13.5 million in economic activity for the city.
The Raw brand's main event featured a complex narrative involving Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Chris Benoit. The rivalry began in late 2003 when Michaels challenged Triple H in his hometown. After two matches ended in draws, Benoit—who had won the Royal Rumble by being the first entrant to last eliminate Big Show—exploited a loophole. Because the rules did not specify which world title the Rumble winner would face, Benoit joined the Raw brand to challenge Triple H. He ultimately won the World Heavyweight Championship via a Crippler Crossface submission, marking his first and only world title in WWE.
Simultaneously, the SmackDown! brand featured a heated feud between Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle. Their rivalry intensified after Guerrero eliminated Angle from a 15-man Royal Rumble match. The tension peaked when Angle turned on Guerrero, leading to a series of confrontations that saw Guerrero even arrested in character. Guerrero eventually won the WWE Championship from Angle with a Small Package pin. The night also featured significant debuts and returns, including John Cena's first title win as WWE United States Champion and the return of The Rock and The Undertaker.
WrestleMania XX also introduced the concept of 'inter-promotional' matches, where competitors from Raw and SmackDown! faced one another. This included a high-profile singles match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg, with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin serving as the special guest referee. The event underscored the intricate way WWE writers craft predetermined results to build long-term drama across different television programs.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: WrestleMania XX
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