List of WrestleMania 2000 Historical Firsts and Records

First WrestleMania Won by a Heel in the Main Event

Triple H's Championship Retention — First Time a Villain Won the WM Main Event

WrestleMania 2000 was the first WrestleMania in the event's sixteen-year history in which a heel champion retained the title in the main event. Every previous WrestleMania main event — from Hulk Hogan's victories in the 1980s through Steve Austin's win at WM14 — had ended with either a babyface champion retaining or a babyface challenger winning. Triple H's retention over The Rock, Mick Foley, and Big Show was a genuinely unprecedented result that divided the audience between those who appreciated the booking realism of a corporate villain winning on the biggest stage and those who felt WrestleMania's tradition demanded a crowd-pleasing conclusion.

Only WrestleMania Without a Standard One-on-One Singles Match

Every Match Was Multi-Competitor — The Catfight Was the Closest to Singles Format

WrestleMania 2000 is the only WrestleMania in the event's history without a single standard one-on-one singles match. The Catfight between Terri and The Kat was the only two-person contest on the card — and it was explicitly a novelty rather than a conventional singles match. Every other match was a tag team match, multi-man match, battle royal, or multi-person elimination contest. The absence of a singles match was a product of the Attitude Era's 'get everyone on the card' philosophy combined with the specific storyline requirements of a championship picture that demanded multi-competitor formats.

Most WrestleMania In-Ring Debuts on a Single Card

Kurt Angle, Jericho, Benoit, Edge, Christian, Dudleys, Hardys and More All Debuted

WrestleMania 2000 featured the most in-ring WrestleMania debuts of any event in the series — including Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, Chyna, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko all making their first WrestleMania in-ring appearances. The sheer concentration of debut performers reflected the depth of the WWF's 2000 roster — stacked with genuinely excellent athletes who had not yet had a WrestleMania showcase.

Triangle Ladder Match — Blueprint for All Future TLC Matches

Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys — Launched the TLC Era

The Triangle Ladder Match at WM2000 was the direct predecessor to the full TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) matches that would become WrestleMania fixtures — with the first official TLC match taking place at SummerSlam 2000 and the second at WrestleMania X-Seven. The WM2000 Ladder Match introduced the three-team ladder match format to WrestleMania audiences and established the physical template that TLC matches have followed ever since. Without WM2000's Triangle Ladder Match, there is no TLC match and no Money in the Bank.

First IC Title Change at WrestleMania Since WM8

Chris Benoit Became IC Champion — 8 Years Between WM IC Title Changes

Chris Benoit winning the Intercontinental Championship at WM2000 was the first time the Intercontinental Championship had changed hands at a WrestleMania since Bret Hart defeated Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII in 1992 — an eight-year gap between WM Intercontinental Championship changes. The unusual two-fall triple threat format that saw both the IC and European titles change hands simultaneously made the WM2000 championship match unique in the title's history.

Pete Rose Chokeslammed by Kane for Second Consecutive WM

Rose's Second WM Appearance — Second Kane Chokeslam

Pete Rose returned for his second consecutive WrestleMania appearance at WM2000 — and was again Chokeslammed by Kane when he attempted to attack the Dead Man's brother backstage. Rose's second WM appearance cemented what was becoming an annual WM tradition, with his willingness to serve as Kane's comedy victim earning him genuine affection from wrestling audiences. The 'Pete Rose at WrestleMania' tradition would continue at WM16 and beyond.

Kurt Angle Lost Both Championships Without Being Pinned

First Superstar to Lose Two Titles at WrestleMania Without Taking a Pinfall

Kurt Angle's extraordinary WM2000 two-fall triple threat result — losing both the Intercontinental and European Championships without himself being pinned in the entire match — was a first in WrestleMania history. Benoit pinned Jericho to win the IC title; Jericho then pinned Benoit to win the European title. Angle remained on his feet but left WM2000 without either championship. The result gave his character a sympathetic dimension of being robbed by fortune rather than defeated by merit.