The continuous coverage of the grandest stage of them all rolls on as PWP’s Eron Ramadanov reviews WrestleMania 14, highlighting the good and bad.
The road to WrestleMania continues, and so does the complete series of the grandest stage presented by Pro Wrestling Powerhouse.
I had the privilege of covering WrestleMania 6, 7 and 13. This will be my last recap, as the rest of the PWP staff will be covering the remaining WrestleManias. Similar to my WrestleMania 13 Review, I’ll be sticking with that format of picking the good and the bad from WrestleMania 14.
Let’s begin:
Bad #1 – Dumpster Match
Who ever came up with the idea of a dumpster match should have been fired on the spot. Granted, the match wasn’t the worst thing in the world, with some good spots, but the concept of this match was ridiculous. The New Age Outlaws came out on top against Chainsaw Charlie (aka Terry Funk) and Cactus Jack in about 10 minutes or so.
Good #1 – Legion of Doom’s return
The starting segment and match was a tag team battle royal with almost every tag team in and out of the WWE. But the biggest surprise was the return of the Legion of Doom, accompanied to the ring by Sunny. The fans absolutely lost their minds when they heard the iconic beginning of their theme song.
The Legion of Doom ended up winning the match and becoming the #1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships. The segment ended with LOD getting a standing ovation from the fans in Boston that night.
Bad #2 – WWE Light Heavyweight Championship
This isn’t what you think. The Light Heavyweight title being in the bad column is because its not around today. I always enjoyed that title, and wish it was back, as I think many would like to see the cruiser-weight division back as well.
Good #2 – Triple H vs. Owen Hart for the European Championship
This match has become a hidden gem among this WrestleMania 14 card. As Owen Hart made his way to the ring , Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter handcuffed himself to Chyna, so that she would not interfere, despite her protestations. During that time period, Chyna was getting involved in almost every match Triple H was in. The match began with Hart going right after Triple H. After an early powerbomb Hart attempted to lock in the sharpshooter, but Helmsley reversed it and started some offensive moves of his own, kicking Hart in the turnbuckle and delivering a suplex.
After being frustrated for most of the match, Chyna then threw white powder in Slaughter’s face causing a worried Hart to check on him, as he turned round to face the ring, Chyna low-blowed him from outside allowing Triple H to successfully land the pedigree on him and take the win. After she was freed from the handcuffs, Chyna punched and then shoved Slaughter into the crowd. This match was a great example of the tremendous duo that Triple H and Chyna used to be.
Bad #3 – Goldust & Luna vs. Marc Mero & Sable
This match was half way decent, and the fans were 1000% percent behind Sable. Honestly, she might have been the most over person for the entire show. This match was the classic case of the “cat & mouse” game, where Sable was burning to get her hands on Luna.
The bad parts of this match of Marc Mero and Goldust. Firstly, I’ve never really liked Marc Mero, as I never found myself to like anything he did in his brief time with the company. Also, the same with Goldust, as at this point in time, I wasn’t a fan of his as he was out of shape and the gimmick just hadn’t connected with me yet. Overall, this match wasn’t the worst thing in the world, and I liked seeing Sable deliver the TKO to Luna, and she performed it very well. The fans in attendance loved seeing Sable get in the ring.
Good #3 – Kane vs. Undertaker
Before this match, baseball record-holder, and the infamous Pete Rose came to the ring as the special ring announcer. However, after insulting the home-town team and introducing Kane, he ended up tomb-stoning him, which kicked off a multi-year storyline, that to this day is an inside joke among wrestling fans.
This match wasn’t the best match on the card, but it has huge historic value and it was decent at the least. It would eventually take three tombstones with a guillotine leg drop and flying clothesline in between to stop Kane kicking out and sitting up but as soon as the match was over Bearer attacked Undertaker and ordered Kane attack him, which he did with a chair shot to the head and then a tombstone piledriver onto the chair. After Kane and Bearer left, Undertaker sat up and left the ring.
Bad #4 – The finish to Ken Shamrock vs. The Rock
The Intercontinental Championship fight began along the walkway with a brawl that saw Ken Shamrock whipped into the steel steps before coming inside the ring. The Rock then delivered his People’s Elbow but could not secure a three-count.
This match was solid, but nothing special. The problem I had with this match was the end.
Eventually a number of referees and officials appeared trying to subdue Shamrock, after being surrounded he suplexed a referee and then an official before calming down as The Rock was wheeled away on a gurney. Howard Finkel then announced Shamrock had been disqualified for not breaking his ankle hold causing Shamrock to chase Rock and fight him on the Chris Warren band stage. Granted, this finish made Shamrock look like an absolute beast, but I was disappointed that he didn’t win the title. Overall, this match was alright, but the finish I wasn’t a fan of.
Good #4 – Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Austin and Michaels, to this day, probably one of the biggest main events in WrestleMania history, not to mention the involvement of Mike Tyson. This match was a solid match, as both men had their fair share of offense. As the match neared it’s end, Austin eventually stood up, he ducked the super kick, attempting a stunner on Michaels as he turned round only to be thrown into the ropes and met again with a Sweet Chin Music which he grabbed, spinning Michaels round and finishing with a Stone Cold stunner.
Tyson jumped into the ring to make a quick three count and the new champion celebrated by tossing the enforcer an Austin 3:16 t-shirt. When Shawn Michaels stood up, he confronted Tyson about his turn but was met with a punch that instantly floored him, and draped with Austin’s t-shirt.
After this match, Shawn Michaels, who had been a major superstar in the company for many years, having won his first WWF Championship at WrestleMania two years previously, took a four year hiatus from wrestling due to injuries sustained in the casket match against Undertaker at the Royal Rumble. He made several ostensible one-off appearances as a guest commentator during episodes of Raw in the summer of 1998, and eventually replacing Sgt. Slaughter as commissioner at the end of the year, holding onto the position for a year and a half.
Overall, this match has a TON of historical impact, from Michaels, Austin and Tyson.
Thanks for reading everyone! PWP’s Complete Series on the Grandest stage continues tomorrow!