By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

In many ways, WrestleMania XX has become the forgotten WrestleMania. Go to your local Walmart, and there’s one DVD missing from the shelf. The main event, once considered one of the best ‘Mania matches of all time, is never acknowledged by WWE and rarely mentioned by fans.

But, to Torch reader Jerry Saurbeir, WrestleMania XX was the best one of them all. The 20th WrestleMania holds such a special place in his memory that he has devoted himself to collecting memorabilia from the big event.

“Just all in all, from ‘America the Beautiful’ to the emotional closing scene, it was the best WrestleMania I've ever seen,” Saurbeir said in an interview with the Torch. “Years later, I decided to begin collecting memorabilia from WMXX to help me remember that night and to remind myself why I love wrestling so much.”

For a few years, Saurbeir wasn’t alone in his appreciation for WrestleMania XX. Longtime, passionate wrestling fans were especially fond of the event, which featured an amazing main event between Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H, and a touching moment at the end as Benoit and Eddie Guerrero celebrated their big moment together.

That obviously changed over the next three years, with Guerrero’s death in 2005 and the heinous Benoit family murder-murder-suicide in 2007. Even hardcore fans who for many years had a soft spot in their heart for Chris Benoit still can’t separate the wrestler from the monster in 2013.

But, enough time has passed for Saurbeir, and given Benoit’s physical and mental deterioration at the end of his life, he’s able to separate the respected wrestler from the man who murdered his wife and son.

In 2007, shortly before the Benoit family tragedy, Saurbeir purchased the cornerstone of his collection: one of the 12 turnbuckles from the WrestleMania XX ring signed by Chris Benoit. Saurbeir considered selling the turnbuckle and vanquishing it from his collection. Instead, he chose to hang onto it and just pack it away. This turnbuckle was the subject of a PWTorch Collectibles Column in 2011.




“The Benoit tragedy was a tough situation, for me as a Benoit fan, to deal with,” Saurbeir recalled. “I really didn’t watch WMXX again for a couple years. I owned the Benoit ‘Hard Knocks’ DVD as well, and had that packed away. It took until WrestleMania weekend in 2009 until someone asked to watch the triple threat match. We dug it out and just took in how great the match was and it reminded me what an amazing wrestler Benoit was. In turn, that got me to dig out some older DVDs with Benoit and eventually (got) me watching his DVD.

“It was at that time I felt I was able to separate the wrestler Chris Benoit from the person who did those terrible things. Once I was able to do that, I remembered how much I enjoyed his style, and in turn, remembered how much I loved that show. As a matter of fact, that’s when I dug out the Benoit turnbuckle for display and shortly thereafter, contacted (the Torch) to determine a value for it.”

Over the last few years, Saurbeir has added several other WrestleMania XX items to his collection – a ringside chair and a ticket from the event in Madison Square Garden, a commemorative coin and pin set, an issue of “TV Guide,” and autographed plaques of Benoit and Guerrero, including a Guerrero plaque serial numbered 20/250. They’re on display in his home and never fail to generate conversation. The last piece he’s looking for is a limited edition WrestleMania XX DVD that was released in the U.K.







“Wrestlemania XX, to me, was one of the best pay-per-views I ever watched,” Saurbeir said. “I was a huge Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero fan and seeing them with the WWE and World Titles, being showered in confetti was quite a moment. I watched that show with my best friends and we all were completely blown away after the PPV ended.

“Watching the Brock Lesnar and Goldberg match completely captivated us. The crowd was all over those guys and, outside of ECW and WrestleMania 18, I've not really seen that type of crowd reaction. Seeing Stone Cold smile at the reaction was priceless. We also got to see The Rock return, a great four-way tag match, the emergence of John Cena - God forgive us - and an amazing match between (Kurt) Angle and Guerrero.”




Do you have a unique item or collection you would like to share with Torch readers? PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be reached at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com .

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