WWE WrestleMania 33: 25 Greatest Moments in WrestleMania History

19. Shooting Star Botch (WrestleMania XIX)

At WrestleMania XIX in 2003, the main event pitted Brock Lesnar against WWE Champion Kurt Angle. For many, it was a dream match on a huge stage. Lesnar had only been a part of WWE for about a year, but he was already a former WWE Champion. His background as a standout amateur wrestler matched well with Angle, who was famously an Olympic gold medalist prior to joining WWE.

With two technical masters facing off for the WWE Championship on The Grandest Stage of All, the entire WWE Universe was looking forward to a show. There was little doubt that both superstars would deliver in the end.

And deliver they did. As the main event, Angle-Lesnar had to follow a great show in —general  not to mention the third WrestleMania bout between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. But Angle and Lesnar were both up to the challenge.

A great wrestling match eventually came down to which man had more tricks up his sleeve. As Lesnar attempted an F5, Angle reversed into an ankle lock. When Lesnar escaped, Angle tried an Olympic Slam – but Lesnar countered with that all important F5.

Rather than go for the cover, Lesnar went for a WrestleMania moment for the ages. The 6’3, 286 pound monster climbed to the top rope, and attempted a shooting star press with Angle halfway across the ring. Lesnar missed, jamming his head and neck, and giving himself a serious concussion.

Angle was quick on his feet to improvise the finish of the match, somehow willing Brock to F5 him for a victory. But the visual of The Beast Incarnate soaring through the air doing a backflip is indescribable. Had he hit the move cleanly, this could be number one on the list.