Retro Ups & Downs: WWE WrestleMania 22

Our WWE WrestleMania 22 retro review as Simon Miller talks about John Cena vs Triple H, Edge vs Mick Foley, Rey Mysterio vs Kurt Angle vs Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels vs Vince McMahon, RVD winning money in the bank and much more.
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[@VCiPz]

One of the most nostalgic Wrestlemania's for me. The "Big Time" theme is still super catchy many years later.

[@adriansmith5279]

Agree. One of the best Wrestlemania and "Big Time" was so special!

[@antoniodearry7707]

BIG TIME!!!

[@caleshidler7033]

Same it was the first wrestlemania I bought on DVD and I love the song big time

[@mcj88]

@Seymour Butts - try harder with your bait, bud

[@needer123]

I actually did not like the song when it was first being played before WM22. But because this is the first and only WrestleMania I attended, the song grew on me because of how it reminds of me of the atmosphere in the arena that night.

[@shanecampbell7423]

Mick F'ing Foley. Tears it up with HBK on PPV, elevating Shawn to another level Years later, tears it up with HHH on PPV, elevating Hunter to another level. Years later, tears it up with Randy Orton on PPV, elevating Randy to another level. Years later still, tears it up with Edge at Wrestlefreakingmania, elevating him to another level. All were brutal, hard hitting matches, all well done, all believable. Mick. F'ing. Foley.

[@georgeharvey4226]

Oh my gosh, you have no idea how happy I am right now! Wrestlemania 22 was the first Wrestlemania I ever experienced since becoming a wrestling fan in 2006. Even after all these years, it’s still one of my personal favourites. I’m so glad it’s being covered on retro ups and downs today.

[@davidlinderman7166]

To this day, Edge vs Foley and Trish vs James are two of my all time favorite matches. One literally MADE Edge. The other was the ACTUAL start (in my book) of the “womens revolution”. That match was fantastic in a time where women got such little time ordinarily.

[@snakeeyes2551]

My favorites Wrestlemania 22 matches are HBK vs. Mr. McMahon, Edge vs. Mick Foley, MITB Ladder Match, World Heavyweight Championship Match, and the WWE Championship Match.

[@VarianNash]

This makes me want to break out the DVD and watch JUST the Edge vs. Foley match. One of the best matches for Edge.

[@kingxd3ath_arts485]

This was my first ever wrestlemania and I loved it

[@Xxrocknrollgod]

Me too

[@publictoaster4150]

Same! I was blown away by the money in the bank match

[@samqualter7848]

Same here, late 2005/early 2006 is when i properly got into wrestling

[@anthonywilliams1453]

Mine too

[@jordanbooth4470]

Many might be drawn to more sentimental favourites like WM17, WM18, WM30 etc, but for me, WM22 will always be my favourite one. Not only was it my first, but the amount of high quality matches it actually had is insane

[@himanshurajdev2412]

WM18 had Rock vs Hogan but rest it was quite average .

[@SamTheMan688]

@@himanshurajdev2412 the star power was good but the actual match quality was below average

[@ananyaraizada7657]

@@himanshurajdev2412 and Taker vs Flair. I still wonder how Ric flair fought such a good match because he had only fought like 1 or 2 matches in last 2 years

[@mr.misogi]

My personal favorite Wrestlemania of ALL time. I remember the Disc Set I had and I watched it like everyday. The theme song still lingers in my head from time to time.

[@ravioliiking]

Had a two disc set of this Mania as well, was my first one as a child aha

[@BrndnNZT48]

KOR 2001. im requested this like a million times 😂😂 angle wrestles 3 times, edge wins KOR, Angle vs Shane vs Glass. Also the debut of Booker T

[@HeezNeez]

I’ve started watching them before the ups and downs videos, and putting aside the major stuff, all I can think is “How is Shelton Benjamin not a goddamn star right now?”.

[@KruelAidMan]

His best attribute is his ringwork which is middling at best nowadays?

[@raspberry7571]

I still remember being 7 years old and traveling all the way to Chicago for this Wrestlemania. Will always hold a special place in my heart!

[@JoshuaGrin]

Missed this due to being in a coma. Remember when I woke up it was the first thing I wanted to watch. John cena was the best. Man, what a show.

[@Nobody-bp5wh]

How has nobody responded to this comment yet? You were in a coma?

[@JoshuaGrin]

@@Nobody-bp5wh yepppp. About 2 or 3 months or so. Long enough for it to come on and go to dvd lol

[@benespinosa6725]

Wrestlemania 22 was an amazing PPV from Beginning to end Trish Stratus vs Mickie James is the Greatest women's Match in Wrestlemania History Botched Finish excluded Edge Vs Mick Foley Hardcore Match was Fantastic Having Joey Styles On Commentary during the Match Made it Really Cool Triple H should have won the WWE Title @ Wrestlemania 22.

[@davidcolborne9468]

Please do a road wild, one of the biker rally wcw pay per views - completely insane and horrendous. Love these vids btw, thank you Simon 👏

[@12054life]

Wrestlemania 22! One of the greatest WMs ever!

[@wwesvk9958]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@danzworldofsports7366]

Wrsetlemania 22 in my top 5

[@watchdev9446]

The theme song >>>>

[@andyguadalupe9438]

Hey Simon, with the Royal Rumble this weekend, let's do a retro ups and downs for the 1992 Royal Rumble PPV where Ric Flair won the Rumble match and won the WWF Championship

[@CleverFoxAcademy]

I think you should do an Ups and Downs episode for The Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak!

[@man.thegreat]

Wrestlemania 9 vs Giant Gonzales brown down

[@KpacStudiosGaming]

I second this

[@swaynesosour]

Simon didn't mention how CM Punk was part of John Cenas entrance, which I think is so intriguing

[@peternunes7859]

I love that anytime Simon mentions Chavo he always calls him "Ooh Chavo" 😂

[@dallassylvestre8155]

Wrestlemania 22 is one of my favourites

[@sneak3441]

I would like to see Slamboree 1998 where Dean Malenko dressed like Ciclope.

[@DillyDilly13]

I’m actually shocked we haven’t had Royal Rumble 1999 yet.

[@travismcenaney2719]

This was my first Wrestlemania, and I remembered as a young lad that the Mysterio vs Orton story was the biggest draw for me. I always enjoyed underdog stories, and it made me feel all good and fuzzy on the inside when he won. The other matches were cherries on top and it's thanks to this PPV that I became a fan. As always, you get an up, Simon! Thanks for being a positive Pete!

[@r3tr0gam3r89]

WWE really need to get rid of Money In The Bank as a PPV and bring it back to Mania. For a future Retro ups and downs suggestion, how about In Your House The Great White North 1995

[@wingzero-0014]

Next to "Ohhh Wrestlemania", "Big Time" is one of the all time favorite themes for this event

[@MostMetalOfAllGamers]

WCW Uncensored '96, because I have a feeling Simon has a looooooooooottttt to say about that Doomsday Cage match

[@SGT_23]

this is the Wrestlemania that got me into WWE! to me this is personally my favorite one

[@Vandarius]

Yessss this is my favorite and FIRST Wrestlemania!! I watched this at my buddy's place & it made me fall in love with wrestling. Edge vs Foley is one of my favorite matches ever!

[@MykaTheDevil]

I was there and it’s still one of my favorite memories. I was 13 or 14 then. Such a great night and still one of my favorite Manias to go back on to watch.

[@ClintonsWarpedProductions]

Survivor Series 2003 was one of my favorite pay per views ever. Would love to see an Ups and Downs for it

[@juselara02]

This one is really special to me. I discover wrestling in late 2005 during high school and this was the first Mania I watched live.

[@hipsterdoofas329]

I was there. Great time, loved all the high spots, felt the fire from the mankind/edge table spot, marked out for van dam mitb win...

[@stevenwillie7667]

Foley made edge a main event level star with that feud

[@citizensane4387]

13:30, sorry Simon, but the boogeyman isn’t the worst gimmick I’ve seen. I remember bastion booger, giant Gonzalez, yeti, puke, and so many others worse, including…shorty g…🤦‍♂️

[@travismiller4320]

How about turning Smash of Demolition into Repo Man?

[@booksboyspodcast]

@@travismiller4320 Simon will ban you!

[@dennismiller4287]

I still want you to do the smackdown with the supermarket fight. Either that or when Kane lost his mask.

[@chrisg3193]

My first pay per view was WM22 and it holds a special place in my heart

[@ozzyay9720]

That edge vs Mick Foley match, probably one of the best hardcore matches I have watched, the pace was just brilliant and you can see why Mick Foley is a hardcore legend. It's one of the few matches that go back and watch

[@scottmiller9174]

This is probably one of my favourite wrestlemania’s

[@alicemcpike54]

Wrestlemania 22 is unironically one of my happy places

[@alexnuttall9243]

The first wrestling match I ever saw was Mick Foley Vs Edge. I could barely get through it. Since then, it has become a sentimental favourite of mine, especially when I understood the story. Seeing as we've got Royal Rumble on the horizon, how about the 2010 Royal Rumble. The rumble itself is one of the best with some nice stories throughout.

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

One aspect of this show that I love the most is JR's commentary during the Mr McMahon vs HBK match. He hates Vince so much that it's actually hilarious.

[@adriansmith5279]

Because this was Jim Ross first appearance since Vince (kayfabe) fired him. So that explains why JR was having beef with his boss.

[@adrianenriquez5519]

I remember convincing my mom to buy this at the video store and once she saw the mickie james groin grab she lost it

[@GoramYako]

My 1st WM, and my favorite with 17 and 23 I really cant feel the same hype for Wm anymore

[@princealigorna7468]

Since we're starting the show with Chris Masters, I just want to say that I wasn't really a huge fan of him in '06, but he really grew on me later when he was allowed to have more personality, was a surprisingly engaging figure in the talking head segments on some of the DVDs, and just all around got better on the charisma side of things. IIR, he's currently a pillar of the NWA Powerrr scene, isn't he? Not bad company to work with, with Homicide, Trevor Murdoch, and Nick Aldis

[@baileymotes8268]

This is the show that got me into wrestling. I have no idea how many times I’ve rewatched it, especially the edge vs Foley match

[@TheChibiGingi]

Going back and watching this, I can EASILY see why they were pressed for time, and I know exactly two matches I would've cut to give more time to the Angle/Orton/Mysterio match. Guess it's a reminder of how times have changed; back then, they said "we have a 3 to 4 hour time limit and by gawd we're gonna stick to it", and now it's like "Wrestlemania's 2 days now, throw in ALL the matches, all the entrances, etc."

[@maccyd77]

ECW Heatwave 1998 would be a great shout

[@666soso]

Finally we got a review for my all time favorite ppv. I wish I got tickets when they came to the city of Chicago but quickly sold out and had to order it on ppv.

[@alfred8878]

Foley and Edge's match deserves a golden up ✌️

[@muneebahmad4378]

Please someone help me I'm addicted to these retro videos 😅

[@bryanthegoalie5692]

I forgot about Mick Foley doing the barbed wire under the blue.

[@bobthekow7547]

This is my favorite wrestlemania. It has so many matches, but the good ones are great

[@stinkybojangles4128]

One of my favorite Mania's ever....Edge vs Foley is a top 3 match for me personally

[@Jessicayskull]

I really love the Edge vs Mick Foley match from this Wrestlemania such a classic to me. I would love to see you do retro ups and downs for NXT Takeovers :)

[@richardbrown3980]

This will always be my favorite as its tied to the nostalgia of the first year and first mania i ever watched so im stoked to see this!

[@Tompeteux]

The thumbnail makes Edge look like a post-beatdown Simpsons character. 🤣

[@ashbryant821]

Please can you do Survivor series 2003

[@wwesvk9958]

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2010 👍

[@Deadline63]

Wrestlemania X...(Macho Man vs. Crush, Bret vs. Owen, HBK vs. Razor Ramon ladder match IC Titles, Luger vs. Yoko / Yoko vs. Bret. Doink/Dink vs. Bam Bam/Luna And MORE!)

[@TheNeonParadox]

This was my last Mania before my first extended hiatus away from WWE. The WWECW launch that same year put such a sour taste in my mouth, I didn't watch again until the Pipebomb.

[@nicholasmark2392]

Wow me too lol I was a freshman in high school when WWECW's One Night Stand ppv through me off Vinny's product. I didn't return until AEW. But I watch all promotions, I'm no hater. WWE is more for children though, but thats not a bad thing.

[@davidjapuntich3860]

To highlight how much shorter shows used to be you could probably do the first three WrestleManias in one Retro Ups and Downs.

[@travismiller4320]

14:16 were my favorite parts of the match because they tied into the ridiculous storyline the two were doing, disappointed they were edited out of DVD.

[@tamaramillyard2048]

You need to do some ECW events! They were the worst wrestling you will ever love!

[@JosephBWG13]

Ups and Downs for the episode ofRaw with the Live Sex Celebration. I bet your reaction would be hilarious lol

[@anthonywilliams1453]

Fun Fact: Chicago is actually where John Cena revealed the WWE Spinner belt a year earlier. And the pop he got that night was huge. What a difference a year makes

[@grandmasterchris9666]

Oh the memories…my first Wrestlemania.

[@tyronewilliams6778]

I God my witness that Mickie James V lick made that the best wrestlemania I will ever see

[@BryWithAWhy]

Comments: Yes, this is my favorite WM! Up to Down ratio: 6:5 😂

[@drfreshey]

WrestleMania 22 was the first ppv I ever watched, it got me into wrestling, and it's still one of my favorites of all time.

[@jamescastle763]

CM Punk riding Cena’s car is the Viggo Mortensen breaking his foot trivia fact for wrestling fans

[@pauldavis6232]

Also the equivalent to Viggo Mortensen being the world's most conspicuous extra in Witness. I highly recommend Witness, it is a quality film.

[@clintonbungart4415]

WM 21 and 22 were back to back bangers. SO MANY good matches. HBK vs Angle from WM21 is still one of my all time favorites.

[@BigLou521]

Seeing CM Punk as one of the gangsters, knowing how iconic he is now, was very amusing.

[@Apex-legend468]

Edge vs foley was obviously match of the night. But honestly hbk vs vince is a close second. Hilarious and fun match. And that Chicago crowd is awesome. I was at survivor series 2023 in Chicago and experiencing that crowd first hand and participating with them is damn near a spiritual experience

[@iswipergosnipin8656]

Everyone talks about the song "Big Time" and for good reason, but "I Dare You" by Shinedown is also part of this Wrestlemania and it's a fantastic song on an underrated album.

[@TheRuckfules2010]

I was there and I remember it was a really fun show.

[@Hshbrwnhero]

YES my favorite PPV of all time

[@CuppaYT]

the playboy bunny match deserves a golden down

[@labbaby189]

"If I'm having a grudge match with someone, I'm not gonna get in a lock up... I'm gonna get a gun and try to shoot them". Jeez, Simon... remind me not to owe you any money.

[@ryankyle2467]

I’m pretty sure you have not done this one before (unless you did it recently and I missed it)! But I would love to see retro Ups and Downs for the OG “In Your House: Buried Alive” event!!! If you have done that one already then my bad and I don’t really have any other ideas off the top of my head!

[@GOKUKAMEHAMHA1]

One of my favorites as a kid

[@Hawkeye26]

Sorta funny story.... I was privileged to attend the Canada's Walk of Fame Press Conference & Autograph Session event with Trish Stratus, a month before this Wrestlemania was due to take place. Trish had some time to address those of us in attendance and asked about her upcoming match vs Mickie James, and the crowd were like "Yer gonna beat her so badly!" and she was SO hesitant about reacting to that that I KNEW what was ultimately going to happen...and to this day...I've still never watched the match itself.

[@joshuajohnson7755]

HHHs entrance was actually a Thor theme, which is creative because of the Hammer 🔨

[@brawlboi7625]

Thank you for doing this. This is my favorite WrestleMania. Golden up for you Simon.

[@KingsNerdCave]

Edge vs Foley I'd argue is the best match of the show, I'm glad Mick got his big Mania moment and Edge became a rising star. Also what we got from Angle v Orton v Mysterio was great, but they should have had double the time.

[@woodylong1641]

I would like to see a retro review of wrestlemania 2000.

[@seanm2600]

Rated R Suuuuuupeerstar

[@kingjezza6567]

This is the same time away from WrestleMania 38 than WrestleMania 1 is from X7

[@irishbear660]

Royal Rumble 1992 the greatest Royal Rumble ever just in time for this year's Royal Rumble

[@HarmlessChildren]

Wrestlemania VI. Hogan vs Warrior. Do it!

[@TheQuestionsssssssss]

This was the first Wrestlemania I ordered on PPV in middle school

[@dbone3356]

I mean... Ric being hurt and going back out to try to be #1 contender for their top belt makes more sense than Matt Hardy continuing a random one on one match. But hey. I guess concussions aren't as serious as... Knee injury? Back? Anyway...

[@boyankovachev7982]

HELL YEEEAAAA, SIMON. LUV YA, MATE

[@TdScott342]

The time WWE was all about “Blood and Guts!!”

[@mattyjoetvh]

Simon, would you please consider doing a Retro Ups and Downs for Royal Rumble 1996? In my opinion, it's incredibly underrated; World Title match between Bret and Taker in the purple gear Phantom of the Opera mask era, Razor and Goldust for the IC Title, and the Rumble itself is oddly half jobbers but also half future HOF's including an electric return by Jake Roberts accompanied by a Burmese python that loses its mind and the debut of Vader. Please give it a thought! Cheers always.

[@canuckj8382]

I enjoy this Wrestlemania, i own this Wrestlemania, i watch the hbk vs mcmahon match just to make me smile, Simon, it would be the next year at WM 23 that Cena would defeat HBK not the previous year like you said, i would enjoy a look back at Summerslam 1990 please

[@SpanxOdyssey94]

Was Kurt Angle a heel at this time? From what I remember, he was more neutral than anything else. I know that once he became “The Wrestling Machine” and was moved over to ECW a few months later that he reverted back to being a heel, but I don’t know about this period of time.

[@diablejambe3460]

bought the dvd for this show some time in 06 or early ish 07, not sure if that was before or after the benoit thing but i genuinely do not remember having ever watched that matched between him and jbl. yeah maybe it wasnt anything memorable, but i didnt have access to the weekly shows, much less ppvs, so id watch the few dvds i had all the time so even if i dont remember things immediately or in detail, ill at least know that its sth ive watched before.

[@stevenmyers9765]

Man this is best one ever and we need to suggest that he dose 90 ppv cause there out there

[@sassytroy8282]

I thought the Mickie James/Trish Stratus match wrestling-wise was the best match on the show. Mick vs Edge was the all around best, but Trish and Mickie put on a great match I recall.