List of WrestleMania 2000 Legacy and Long-Term Impact

The Triangle Ladder Match Launched the TLC Era

The Most Influential Single Match Format Innovation of the 2000s

The WM2000 Triangle Ladder Match between Edge and Christian, the Hardy Boyz, and the Dudley Boyz was the direct origin of the TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) match format that would define WWE's most spectacular match type for the subsequent two decades. The first official TLC match was held at SummerSlam 2000 featuring the same six performers. The second TLC match headlined WrestleMania X-Seven — the most celebrated WrestleMania of the 21st century's first decade. Money in the Bank, which became a WrestleMania fixture from 2005 to 2011, is the direct descendant of the TLC match format that the WM2000 Ladder Match created.

New Generation Established at WM2000 — The Next Decade of Main Eventers

WM2000's Debuts Launched Careers That Defined 2001-2010 WWE

The sheer concentration of WM2000 debut performers who went on to main event WrestleManias in subsequent years is extraordinary. Kurt Angle (WM19 main event vs. Brock Lesnar), Edge (multiple WM main events), Chris Jericho (WM19, WM28), Chris Benoit (WM20 main event), Trish Stratus (multiple WM Women's Championship matches) — all made their WM debuts in 2000 and collectively defined WWE's in-ring product for the decade that followed.

Triple H vs. The Rock — The Defining 2000 WWF Rivalry

WM2000 Main Event Launched the Year's Biggest Programme

Triple H's championship retention over The Rock at WM2000 — despite the controversial booking — directly launched the Triple H vs. The Rock rivalry that defined WWF programming throughout 2000, including their Iron Man match at Judgment Day 2000 and multiple championship encounters. The rivalry produced some of the most commercially successful WWF television of the year and sustained the Attitude Era's commercial momentum as Austin remained absent with injuries.

Foley's Multiple Retirements — WM2000 as the Most Poignant Chapter

WM2000 Was One of Several Emotional Foley Farewells

WrestleMania 2000 was Mick Foley's most prominent WrestleMania retirement match — though it was not his last competitive appearance. His WM2000 elimination by Triple H represented the culmination of the No Way Out 2000 retirement stipulation and Linda McMahon's reinstatement — making it one of the most emotionally layered single WrestleMania appearances in the event's history. Foley subsequently made multiple returns to competition and appeared at later WrestleManias.

Austin and Undertaker Absent — WM2000's Commercial Compromise

Both Attitude Era Cornerstones Missed WM2000

One Cagematch reviewer noted that 'lack of Austin and Taker impacted this card heavily.' Steve Austin was absent from WWF programming throughout the early 2000 period with a serious neck injury. The Undertaker was also absent during this period. Both men's absence from WM2000 — while commercially compensated by the Attitude Era's deep roster — contributed to the event's perception as a missed opportunity for a truly transcendent WrestleMania.