Wrestlemania XIV (Written By: Maurice D. Proffit)

Wrestlemania 14

Date: March 29^th 1998

City: Boston, Massachusetts

Venue: The Fleet Center

Combined Attendance: 19,028

Sub-Theme: dX Raided

Celebrities: Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, Gennifer Flowers and Chris Warren.

This Wrestlemania was a loud and emphatic scream of “Welcome to the Attitude Era”. This would be the Wrestlemania to officially usher in the new day and age of the World Wrestling Federation. This was no longer your dads WWWF, this was OUR WWF. A WWF that was a mirror image of the current times where Alternative and Rap music were mainstream, where people, who at one time had no voice, could express themselves to the entire world via the world wide web. Where expressionism was not just a mere idea, but was a mandatory way of life. The new WWF would be immediately embraced due to the worlds youth movement. This came at the perfect time as World Championship Wrestling was continuing to blaze the television and wrestling world. But gone are the days where the WWF would just be regarded as a wrestling punch line, the boys were ready to fight. And if the Wrestling war between both companies was that, then this wrestlemania was a missile from a B-52 Bomber.

The background of Wrestlemania can be tracked back to the formation of Degeneration X in the fall of 1997. After Bret Hart left the WWF after the Montreal Screw job, the WWF was treated as a frat boy’s playground via the likes of Shawn Michaels (WWF Champ), Triple H and Chyna. Every week, Monday Night Raw would be graced with antics (some not suitable for television) by the 3. Although most of them inappropriate, they still drew people to their TV sets to see what else they would be up to (me included). At the 1998 Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels defended the WWF title against The Undertaker in a casket match. On hand to witness the main event was The Baddest Man in the World, Iron Mike Tyson. Tyson watched as HBK retained the title and also witnessed and celebrated as Stone Cold Steve Austin won the 1998 Rumble. The next night on Raw was supposed to be an announcement of some sort from the Chairman of the WWF, Vince McMahon with Tyson as his guest, but that was short lived as Stone Cold Steve Austin came unannounced and “ruined” the party, by getting into a scuffle with Tyson. As the weeks went on, the championship match at Mania was announced as it will be The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels defending the title against Stone Cold Steve Austin, with Mike Tyson as the special guest ref. When this was announced Shawn was irate and wanted to confront Tyson one on one in the ring. When Shawn confronted Tyson in what looked like it would be a heated verbal exchange between the two, Shawn grabs Tysons shirt, rips it off his back, just to reveal a “Degeneration X” T-shirt on him. Tyson was the newest member of DX. The odds were definitely stacked against Austin going into Wrestlemania.

Wrestlemania 14, live from Boston. The opener of the ppv, would show a 15 team tag team battle royal. This would be the purpose of the long waited return of the LOD (Legion of Doom). But with a new look. Not only a new look of half way shoulder spikes and a helmet, but also managed by Sunny. And on top of that, a new name LOD 2000. LOD 2000 would go on to win the match.

This would be the first Wrestlemania where the WWF European Championship would be defended. Triple H would defend the title against Owen Hart. Triple H defeats Hart to retain the title.

For the WWF Intercontinental Title, The Rock (for the 2^nd year in a row) would defend the Intercontinental title against Ken Shamrock. Ken Shamrock and The Rock had a very hard hitting match, and Shamrock did in fact make the Rock tap with the ankle lock. Shamrock Wins! Not so fast. Shamrock, never relinquished the hold and it took a band of referees to make him unlock the move. Due to his insubordination, the decision was reversed, Ken was disqualified and the Rock retains the IC title.

The WWF Tag Team Titles were on the line as Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie (Terry Funk) would face The New Age Outlaws (champions) after dumping both the men in the trash, Funk and Jack win the match and win the WWF Tag Team titles.

Undertaker Note: The Undertaker faces his brother Kane in, at that time was The Undertakers toughest opponent to date. Kane was too strong and too much of a machine to be stopped. But the Deadman showed incredible resilience and with the tombstone, The Undertaker was able to defeat his younger brother Kane. The Undertaker is 7-0 at Wrestlemania.

The WWF Championship Match is now on hands. Shawn Michaels comes in with a blaze glory (and a bad back), and then enters the challenger, Steve Austin. With fellow DX member, Mike Tyson on the outside of the ring, anything was possible in this encounter. Austin and Michaels went at it, just like two ring veterans. Just one year before, Austin was in the ring giving a clinic with Michaels’s #1 adversary, and now it was Shawn’s turn to dance with the Texas Rattlesnake.

The match went beyond the ring as Austin and Shawn brawled out by where the band was playing and even used some of their equipment as weapons. The match was brought back to the ring and slowed down a bit with a few submission holds and additional back n forth exchange. Eventually, Austin would be put in the figure four leg lock and then hit with Shawn’s flying elbow. But that wasn’t enough, Austin was ready for another comeback, when Shawn went for his sweet chin music, Austin grabbed the leg and reversed it, and hit Shawn with the Stone Cold Stunner. This would take Shawn out and due to referee Mike Chioda being knocked out; Mike Tyson came into the ring and counted HBK’s shoulders down for the 1-2-3. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the new World Wrestling Federation Champion, ushering in and leading the new Attitude Era.

Match Card

– L.O.D. 2000 (Hawk and Animal) (with Sunny) won by last eliminating The New Midnight Express (Bombastic Bob and Bodacious Bart) (with Jim Cornette)

– Taka Michinoku (c) defeated Aguila to retain the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship

– Triple H (c) (with Chyna) defeated Owen Hart to retain the WWF European Championship

– Marc Mero and Sable defeated The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust and Luna

– The Rock (c) (with Kama Mustafa, Mark Henry and D’Lo Brown) defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification to retain the WWF Intercontinetnal Championship

– Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie defeated The New Age Outlaws (c) (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) to win the WWF Tag Team Championship

– The Undertaker defeated Kane (with Paul Bearer)

– Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels (c) (with Triple H and Chyna) to win the World Wrestling Federation Championship

Wrestlemania XIII (Written By: Maurice D. Proffit)

Wrestlemania 13

 

Date: March 23^rd 1997

City: Rosemont, IL (Outside of Chicago)

Venue: The Rosemont Horizon

Combined Attendance: 18,197

Sub-Theme: HEAT!

Celebrities: Ken Shamrock

Wrestlemania 13 was back in the windy city after an 11 year absence (since Wrestlemania 2). This wrestlemania was continuing the reconstruction of a new World Wrestling Federation.  1997 was the slow cooker that was making the WWF edgier and edgier, little by little. Due to the response that World Champion Wrestling was receiving from the viewing audience, the WWF had no choice but to go in a more mature direction, if they wanted to compete. Though, they weren’t fully there, the WWF at this time was a contrast to what it once was just two years prior with the very safe and family friendly Wrestlemania 11.

The backdrop of this wrestlemania was a pure scramble. The original plans was for this Mania to hold the rematch between Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs Shawn Michaels for the World Wrestling Federation championship, but this time it would be Michaels going in as the champion. Rumor has it that Bret was supposed to win the title back at Mania, but Shawn was very difficult about complying with this booking. As a result of an “injury” Shawn had to relinquish the title in Feb of 1997 and he went home to “find his smile”. Due to this, the World Wrestling Federation Championship was vacant and at In Your House 13, we would see a “Final Four” match between Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Vader and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The way to get eliminated was either by pin fall, submission or being thrown over the top rope and hitting the floor. These four men where chosen due to being the final four men in the controversial ending of the 1997 Royal Rumble in which Steve Austin won. Bret went on to win the WWF Title at the final four to be a 4 time champion. But the next night he would be challenged by Psycho Sid, on Raw. Due to Austin’s interference, Hart lost the title to Sid making him a 2 time World Champion. All this did was ignite the fire between Hart and Austin, which has been a continuing feud since the 1996 Survivor Series. This would lead to one of the matches at the double main event at Wrestlemania. Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin in a submission match, with UFC’s Ken shamrock being the special referee.

Wrestlemania 13 was an above standard card. This would be The Rock’s first wrestlemania (wrestling as Rocky Maivia) against The Sultan for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. The Rock pins the sultan for the 1-2-3 victory and shared the moment with his father, Rocky Johnson.

The WWF Tag Team titles were defended as The King of Harts Owen Hart and The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith put the belts on the line against Mankind and Vader. The match ended up being a draw as Mankind held onto the Mandible Claw on Davey Boy outside the ring and both men were counted out.

The First main event was the No DQ submission Match between Hart and Austin. From the second the bell rung, this match was nonstop insanity. Watching this match live was just as intense for the viewer as it was for the combatants. You were witnessing two ring generals giving you a story that some of the top NY Time Best Selling Authors could never even fathom giving you. It was the greatest display of technical violence that could be seen at this time. What was interesting was that going into this, Bret was supposed to be a face and Austin the heel, but the Chicago crowd felt otherwise. With a rise in respect in the character of Stone Cold, you couldn’t help but back this man. Austin was the new flavor and everyone wanted a bite. Bret’s weeks of crying about getting “screwed” made him into old news with the crowd, thus the reason why 90% of this audience was pro-Austin.

After a toss into the steel barricades, Austin was a bloody mess, but that didn’t stop him, putting the boots to Bret as both of Bret’s parents (Stu and Helen Hart) watch from ringside. Just when it seemed as if Austin has the # of the Hitman and was going to choke him out with cable wires, Bret countered this, with clubbing Austin over the head with a steel ring bell. This went into Bret clamping the Sharpshooter onto Austin in the middle of the ring…it was only a matter of time. Bret continues to apply Pressure onto Austin with the hold, and with Ken Shamrock pleading with Austin for an answer if he gives up, Austin continues to fight the hold. With his back in pain and copious amounts of blood streaming down his face, Austin gives all that he could, but living up to his promise that he would never say the words “I Quit”, Austin passes out from excessive blood loss and no longer can continue the match. Ken Shamrock declares Hart victorious. Hart is declared the winner, but still attacks Austin until Shamrocks belly to back suplexes Bret away from the wounded warrior. Bret leaves ringside with a shower of expletives from the audience. Eventually Austin recovers, but refuses medical attention and just walks to the back on his own. With the combination of that and this match, the audience witnesses and comes to the conclusion that Austin would rather die than to say those dreadful words. Respect. Earned. Forever.

Undertaker Note

The 2^nd Main Event was for the World Wrestling Federation Championship as Sycho Sid would defend the title vs The Undertaker. The Undertaker was the final man to be eliminated in the Final Four Match, by Bret Hart. And Since Bret lost his automatic rematch to Sid; Taker would be the #1 contender. The championship match was also a no DQ match. Shawn Michaels provided guest commentary for the match. The match was a back and forth competition of strength and size between the two big men. During the match Hart came back down to ringside to have a verbal confrontation with Shawn and had some words for Taker as well. Sid took it upon himself to power bomb Hart. The match went on between the two giants. Taker’s “Old School” was blocked; Sid bear hugged the dead man, put on the camel clutch and attacked him with TV monitors. But Taker just wouldn’t quit, even at the edge of giving everything that he has. Later in the match, Hart returns to retaliate against Sid with a steel chair. After additional distractions from Hart, Taker takes advantage of the situation and catches Sid in the tombstone pile driver and pins Sid for the 1-2-3 and wins the World Wrestling Federation Championship for the 2^nd time. Undertaker is now 6-0 at wrestlemania

On a personal note, this was my FIRST wrestlemania that I attended live, going with a few of my HS buddies. I was elated that the Undertaker won the world title, but what stood out to me was the submission match. I was (and still am) a major Bret Hart fan. And I was refusing to cheer against Hart during the match, even though I was the minority in being in a sea of people who were pro-Austin. But if you were a fan of the pink and black or not, you couldn’t help but have a ton of respect for Austin after you saw what he went through in his match with Bret. I was able to find compromise and a solid median that I could and would respect and appreciate both men. But I know from that day forward, Stone Cold Steve Austin would forever change the game.

Match Card

Free For All- Billy Gunn defeated Flash Funk (with Tracy and Nadine)

–The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham and Blackjack Bradshaw), The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) (with Hillbilly Jim), and Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon.^[

^–Rocky Maivia (c) defeated The Sultan (with Bob Backlund and The Iron Sheik) and retains the WWF Intercontinetnal Championship

–Hunter Hearst Helmsley (with Chyna) defeated Goldust (with Marlena)

–Owen Hart and The British Bulldog (c) fought Mankind and Vader (with Paul Bearer) to a double countout; As a result, Owen and Bulldog retain the Tag Team Titles.

–Bret Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin

–The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) and Ahmed Johnson defeated The Nation of Domination (Crush, Faarooq and Savio Vega) (with Wolfie D, J.C. Ice, D’Lo Brown, and Clarence Mason) in a Chicago Street Fight.

–The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid (c). To win the World Wrestling Federation Championship