While Eddie Guerrero never main-evented a WrestleMania in his storied career, it is still difficult to argue that his match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX definitely FELT like a main event match for all intents and purposes. Despite being the third-to-the-last match at the show, Guerrero and Angle put on quite the performance with all of the drama and athleticism fitting of ANY WrestleMania’s main event match. To this day, it stands as my SECOND favorite WrestleMania match of all time (with Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels at the following year’s WrestleMania at number one on my list).
One month after Guerrero defeated Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship in the main event of No Way Out 2004, Angle followed up with a quick, full and intense heel turn by betraying Guerrero. Angle even cut promos about prior issues with substance abuse. The rivalry got so intense that it appeared that Guerrero’s title reign would end before any momentum could have been established.
The title match at the show of shows was a sight to behold. Featuring a master class of technical wrestling, back-and-forth momentum changes, Guerrero kept up with Olympic gold medalist Angle’s mat-wrestling abilities, which clearly led to Angle becoming more and more frustrated. The end came when Guerrero loosened one of his boots to alleviate pressure after surviving an ankle lock from Angle, so when Angle attempted another ankle lock, Eddie wiggled out of the loosened boot to surprise Angle, then rolled him up to retain the title.
Lie. Cheat. Steal (the victory).
The PractitioNERD 