WrestleMania 22 also known as Big Time, which I have no idea what that means, comes to you from one of the most passionate wrestling towns in the USA, Chicago. We have previously looked at WrestleMania 21: Goes Hollywood but now it’s time for the following year’s show.

WrestleMania 22: Big Time in Chicago

Big Show and Kane Vs Carlito and Chris Masters duke it out for the World Tag Team Championship in tonight’s opening match. it’s a good solid opener but nothing to write home about. One thing I did enjoy though was Big Show’s chops ringing out around the stadium, they were loud and vicious, just as I like them. [3.25/5]

The second Money In The Bank match is also the second on the card which will see Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, IC Champion, Finlay, Robb van Dam, Bobby Lashley and Ric Flair compete for the contract hanging above the ring. As with most Money In The Bank matches this one is lots of fun, with Finlay and Ric Flair being the lowkey stars of the whole thing. Shelton Benjamin is at it again, being one of the best ladder match competitors while also being very underrated all at the same time. RVD wins this one which is well-deserved. [4.25/5]

JBL Vs Chris Benoit is our third match of the night for the United States Championship. This is such a hard-hitting match with the crowd fully behind Benoit. Add this to the list of great JBL matches cause he really does bring it to the United States Champion here. after much back and forth and some great shout-outs to the late great Eddie Gurrero JBL picks up the win via some help from the ropes. [4.5/5]

Edge lost the championship to John Cena when Mick Foley was the guest referee. Edge blames Foley for this which is what has led to this hardcore match. It’s lots of fun with barbed wire, which was wrapped about the middle of Foley, and a baseball bat, which was brought to the ring by Edge. Lita also gets involved here, taking some horrible bumps but really adding to the action. She is the difference maker with the barbed wire bat and the set-up for the famous burning table spot. [4.5/5]

The Boogeyman Vs Booker T is next and it’s absolutely ridiculous, Queen Sharmell plays everything so perfectly during this though. There isn’t much to talk about here and it feels very paint-by-numbers, I do question why it was included on the card when it’s already a jam-packed night. [1.5/5]

Now we are here, at one of my favourite feuds and matches in WWE history, ‘crazy fan’ Mickie James facing off against Women’s Champion Trish Stratus. It’s weird to talk about this match when in the year 2023 Trish has just returned to team up with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Lita and Becky Lynch while Mickie James is coming off a phenomenal run in IMPACT. If you think these women are good now, then go back and watch this match cause they were good in 2006 too.

This match has everything and is one of the longest matches the women have had to this point at WrestleMania. Mickie James is one of the greatest performers this sport has seen and it’s so refreshing for me to be able;e to talk about a women’s match at WrestleMania with so much excitement. The women here have time and actually wrestle, hitting big moves and submission holds. It’s the crowning moment for Mickie James, defeating her former obsession and capturing the championship in her first WrestleMania appearance. [5/5]

The Undertaker Vs Mark Henry is next in a casket match, I can’t say I’m personally interested in this match but you have to get The Undertaker on the card. It’s slow and definitely a bathroom break match, everyone talks about the streak but if you look at the matches The Undertaker has had at WrestleMania you will be hard-pressed to find a handful of good ones. [1.5/5]

Shawn Michaels and Mr. McMahon have been engaged in a long feud over the last year and they are about to settle their differences at WrestleMania 22 in a no holds barred match. How the ever living hell did this get more time than Trish Vs Mickie? it’s over double the time they got and also double what the winner of the Royal Rumble, Rey Mysterio, got in his championship match. It’s gotta be better than that last match, right? Well, it is, much better than it has any right to be, which is what I say about a lot of Mr, McMahon’s matches. [3.5/5]

Now for the Royal Rumble winner Rey Mysterio to face off against Randy Orton and the World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle in a triple threat match. Randy Orton got into this match by beating Mysterio or his championship opportunity, but Rey was re-inserted into the match, This also has two of the members of the SmackDown Six. This match is fast and full of action which might be down to their mere 9 minutes of time but it’s also down to the skill of the three men inside the ring. It’s a great match and getting to see Mysterio, Vicky and Charvo Gurrero celebrating together just make it so much better.[4.75]

Torrie Wilson Vs Candice Michelle in a pillow fight. It’s a fucking pillow fight, sorry about that. I won’t even dignify this terrible booking decision, after the phenomenal match we got earlier in the night from the women’s division, with any more of my time. [0/5]

Now it’s time for the main event. Will John Cena retain the WWE World Championship against Triple H? We are in Chicago and they are not fans of Cena, clearly cheering very loudly for The Game, Triple H. This match is great fun and everything you would expect from these two, but that doesn’t make it boring at all, on the country it makes it more exciting. there are big moves, hard hits and just great wrestling with two of the best WWE has ever produced. It’s such a beautifully crafted match that culminates with John Cena tapping out Triple H. [4.75/5]

Match of the Night: Mickie James Vs Trish Stratus | Triple H Vs John Cena

Match To Avoid: Boogeyman Vs Booker T | The Undertaker Vs Mark Henry | Torrie Wilson Vs Candice Michelle

Score: 37.5/55