10 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Star Ratings Dave Meltzer Got Wrong
2. Kurt Angle Vs. Eddie Guerrero - WWE WrestleMania XX
Actual Rating: ****, Revised Rating: ***
Overshadowed on the night by the superlative triple threat match which saw Chris Benoit wrest the World Heavyweight title away from Triple H, Angle vs. Guerrero, even on repeat viewing in isolation, is a crushing disappointment.
A star has been removed as much for what it could have been than for what it was. As two of the greatest ever to step foot in the ring, on its grandest stage no less, expectations were sky-high. As it happens, the match could fairly be described as self-indulgent. Seemingly enamoured with one another's virtuoso technical prowess, they assembled a bout a little too heavy on the scientific side.
That's being charitable - it was quite boring in places, redeemed mostly by its impressive smoothness. The match betrayed the wider storyline, too. Angle in the build had described Eddie as a drug addict and orchestrated his arrest. Much like the Triple H vs. Randy Orton WrestleMania XXV main event five years later, this was summarily ignored on the night. The fiery Eddie should have been intent on fighting Angle, not merely out-wrestling him.
The finish, which saw Guerrero out-think Angle by loosening his boot and leaving him too baffled to reapply the ankle lock, while inventive, was much too cheap for the Show of Shows.