WrestleMania XIII Review

-3/23/1997 from Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, IL

-Hosted by Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, & Jerry “The King” Lawler

Four Team Elimination Match: The Godwinns (w. Hillbilly Jim) vs. The Headbangers vs. Doug Furnas & Phillip LaFon vs. The New Blackjacks

Just so everyone is clear on the play by play; The Godwinns are Phineas and Henry, The Headbangers are Mosh & Thrasher, and The Blackjacks are Windham and Bradshaw. Yes that’s Barry Windham and JBL. The winner of this match gets a shot at the tag titles tomorrow night on Raw. Big four way to brawl to start, and the ref is able to put everyone out leaving Henry and Bradshaw in the ring. Bradshaw takes control with a knee, but takes a clothesline off the ropes. Henry grabs a headlock, and then he tags out to Thrasher. Thrasher hits the ropes and runs into a big boot from Bradshaw. Pump handle slam from Bradshaw, and he then tags in Phineas. Thrasher catches him coming in and they trade punches. Thrasher hits the ropes and runs into a backdrop from Phineas. Phineas tags in to Mosh meaning the partners have to at least make contact. They hit the ropes and do some headbanging before Thrasher tags in Lafon. Flapjack connects for the Headbangers, but Lafon is back with a snap suplex. Thrasher tags in Windham who gets hit with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Furnas tags in and fires Windham to the ropes and delivers a hurracanrana for two. Windham catches Furnas in a leapfrog and slams him down. Tag to Bradshaw and the Blackjacks deliver a double shoulderblocks. Bradshaw goes for the clothesline, but misses and goes all the way to the floor. Furnas tries to suplex Bradshaw back into the ring, but an assist from Windham takes him out to the floor. Both Blackjacks start brawling on the outside with Furnas and Lafon. The ref tries to break it up but gets thrown aside. That draws a disqualification of both teams at 4:49, which leaves The Headbangers to face the Godwinns one on one. Inside Henry tags Thrasher and delivers a powerslam, but the ref is still tied up and there is no count. Tag to Phineas, and Henry slams him on top of Thrasher for a two count. Vertical suplex connects for Phineas, and Mosh has to break up the cover. Tag to Henry who comes in with a side headlock, but Thrasher drives him into the corner. Henry whips Thrasher into the buckle and charges. A cover gets two, and he tags Phineas back in. A series of headbutts are no-sold by Thrasher, and the two trade blows. Phineas whips Thrasher into the corner, and follows with a clothesline. Henry tags in and delivers a big splash getting two. Thrasher is able to get a short right hand allowing him to tag Mosh. Mosh goes for a backdrop, but gets kicked in the face and clotheslined to the floor by Henry. Henry goes flying out two, and Mosh actually beats him into the ring. Mosh drops Henry’s head on the top rope as he comes back in to send him to the floor. With Henry on the apron Mosh goes to the top rope and splashes him back to the floor. Then Thrasher comes off the top with an assist from Mosh on top of Henry. Back in the ring Mosh picks up a two count and tags in Thrasher. Double clothesline connects, and Thrasher heads to the top rope missing a moonsault. Mosh and Phineas tag in, and Phineas delivers a slam to both Headbangers. Back elbow puts down Most and a clothesline sends Thrasher to the floor. Phineas sets up for the slop drop on Mosh, but Thrasher is back in to make the save. Henry comes in and pounds on Thrasher in the corner. Mosh goes to the top rope and delivers a stage dive, which picks up the win at 10:40. For whatever reason I always really liked The Headbangers, and I thought this was a fun opener.

Winners: The Headbangers (Final Elimination of Godwins-Mosh pins Phineas **1/2)

-Honky Tonk Man comes out to do guest commentary for the Intercontinental Championship Match.

WWF Intercontinental Champion-The Sultan (w. The Iron Sheik & Mr. Bob Backlund) vs. Rocky Maivia ©

The Sultan would be better known as Rikishi. Rocky Maivia of course is The Rock. Rocky hits the ropes and runs into a shoulderblock, but nips up and delivers a series of right hands. Sultan gets whipped to the corner, and hit with a dropkick. A second dropkick sends The Sultan to the floor. Rocky goes out after him and tries to deliver a clothesline, but misses Sultan and hits the post. Sultan fires Rocky back in and delivers a series of forearms to the back. Clothesline is delivered from The Sultan, and he follows up with a kick to the gut. Sultan fires Rocky into the corner, and delivers a clothesline for two. Sultan locks in a trapezes hold, but Rocky elbows out. Rocky ducks a clothesline, but runs into a knee. Backbreaker from Sultan connects, and he heads to the top rope delivering a headbutt. Sultan gets a two count off that, and fires Rocky into the ropes. Rocky goes for a sunset flip, but its stopped with a choke from Sultan. Belly-to-belly suplex gets two for Sultan, so he goes back to the headlock. Rocky punches out of the headlock and hits the ropes ducking a clothesline attempt and running into a double clothesline on the way back. Rocky rolls over and gets a two count, and delivers a series of right hands and a dropkick. Belly-to-belly from Rocky picks up a two count. Rocky hits the ropes and delivers a DDT. Rocky goes to the top rop and connects with a flying crossbody, but The Iron Sheik has the referee distracted. Sultan tries to attack from behind, but Rocky fights him off. Rocky hits the ropes, but runs into a superkick from The Sultan for a two count. A piledriver connects for Sultan getting another two count. Sultan tries for a slam, but Rocky slides out and rolls him up picking up the win at 9:46. After the match The Sultan attacks delivering a splash off the top rope, and The Iron Sheik puts Rocky in the camel clutch. Rocky’s dad Rocky Johnson runs in to make the save and The Johnson’s fight off the heels. There were glimmers from Rocky of what he might become, but not much.

Winner: STILL WWF Intercontinental Champion-Rocky Maivia (Pinfall-Rollup *1/4)

-Todd Pettingill talks to Ken Shamrock in the locker room about refereeing the Austin-Hart match later on.

-Dok Hendrix talks to Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna about the upcoming match with Goldust

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w. Chyna) vs. Goldust (w. Marlena)

Goldust attacks with a clothesline, and hits the ropes stopping a backdrop attempt with an uppercut. Goldust mounts the second rope and delivers nine punches and a kiss to Helmsley. Inverted atomic drop connects for Goldust followed by a clothesline sending HHH to the floor. With Helmsley stuck on the apron Goldust slides to the floor and delivers an uppercut tying him in the ropes. Goldust delivers a kick to the face of Helmsley, which unties him from the ropes, and then after ramming his head to the buckle a clothesline sends HHH back into the ring. HHH hits the ropes and stops a backdrop attempt with a knee left. HHH hits the ropes again, and gets hit with a powerslam from Goldust. Goldust goes to the top rope, but Helmsley catches him and goes for a superplex. Goldust blocks that so HHH lets go dropping him all the way to the floor off the ring apron. HHH goes out after him and fires Goldust back into the ring. Off the top rope comes Helmsley with a clothesline getting a two count. HHH unzips Goldust’s top to deliver a pair of chops, and then stomps Goldust unmercifully in the corner. Hunter whips Goldust into the corner twice and delivers a neckbreaker for two. Helmsley locks in an abdominal stretch, which allows Jim Ross to chime in with his obligatory Wilbur Snyder reference. Goldust hiplocks out of the hold, and hits the ropes running into a high knee from Helmsley for two. Helmsley comes back with a suplex, and a kneedrop for two. Goldust comes back with a series of rights in the corner, but HHH hits the ropes and counters a backdrop attempt with a DDT. Goldust comes off the ropes with a backslide for two, and then gets a small package for two. HHH comes back up with a clothesline. Goldust goes for a slam, but Helmsley collapses on top for two. Goldust hits the ropes with a crossbody for two. Again off the ropes and this time they collide in the center putting both men down. Helmsley gets to his feet first and heads to the top rope, but runs into a butt-butt from Goldust. Helmsley charges at Goldust in the corner, but comes up empty as Goldust moves. Backdrop connects for Goldust, and he fires HHH into the buckle. An Irish whip sends HHH into the corner, and Goldust follows up with a bulldog for two. Chyna begins to stalk Marlena on the floor, as Goldust goes for the curtain call. Helmsley flips out of it, and goes for the pedigree. Goldust squirms free, and slingshots HHH into the ropes. Goldust goes for the curtain call again, but sees Marlena in trouble and pulls her to the apron. That allows HHH to attack from behind with a high knee knocking Marlena into a bearhug for Chyna. Goldust is easy pickings for a pedigree from there, which finishes things at 14:28. Pretty average match all around.

Winner: Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Pinfall-Pedigree **1/4)

WWF Tag Team Championship: Vader & Mankind (w. Paul Bearer) vs. Owen Hart & The British Bulldog ©

Both teams are technically heels, although they had been teasing a Bulldog face turn. The crowd treats Bulldog and Owen as the clear babyfaces. Owen starts with Vader. Vader pounds Owen down in the corner with a series of punches and headbutts. Owen hits the ropes and delivers a clothesline staggering Vader. A second trip gets a spinning heel kick for Owen putting him down. Owen tries for a crossbody block, but gets slammed by Vader. Vader tries to drop down on Owen to no effect, so Owen goes for a hurracanrana. He again gets stopped and slammed to the mat. Vader sets up for the Vader Bomb, but Bulldog breaks the attempt up. Mankind comes in and pulls Bulldog in the ring. Bulldog ducks a double clothesline from Vader and Mankind and delivers clotheslines of his own. Owen delivers dropkicks to both opponents. Bulldog and Mankind, who are now legal come in, and Bulldog delivers a vertical suplex. Vader comes in to stop the pin attempt, but gets suplexed. Snap mare to Mankind sets up a headlock for Bulldog. Mankid shoves Bulldog into the ropes, and Vader pulls down the top rope sending Bulldog to the floor. Mankind goes to the floor and charges with the urn, but he runs into a drop toehold. Bulldog continues to pound away on the floor, but Vader comes in with the urn and delivers a shot. Vader tags in, and delivers a suplex to Bulldog for two. Irish whip sends Bulldog into the corner, and Vader charges with a avalanche. Second rope splash connects getting a two count for Vader. Mankind tags in and charges at Bulldog who is seated in the corner with a knee. Bulldog hits the ropes and runs into a backdrop. Vader tags in and tackles Bulldog. Vader goes to the second rope again, and jumps into a powerslam from Bulldog. Owen tags in and delivers a missile dropkick. He goes for a sunset flip on Vader, but Vader blocks with a seated splash attempt. Owen moves out of the way of that, and comes with a crossbody getting two. Owen hits the ropes again, but runs into a tackle from Vader. Tag to Mankind, as Owen goes to the floor. Vader holds Owen on his knee, as Mankind comes off the apron with the Demolition Decapation. Mankind tries to suplex Owen in from the apron, but when Owen blocks it Mankind just drops down on the top rope. Mankind goes to the floor and fires Owen back in. Reverse chinlock is locked in from Mankind, and Owen comes out with a counter into a DDT. Owen goes for a splash off the ropes but hits the knees of Mankind for two. Owen gets whipped sternum first into the corner, and Mankind avalanches him, but Owen comes out with a spinning heel kick. Vader tags back in and pounds away at Owen again with a series of lefts and rights in the corner. Owen blocks a suplex, and hits a spinning heel kick. Vader gets right back to his feet and delivers an elbow drop for two. Mankind throws Owen to the floor, and goes outside running right into a belly-to-belly on the floor. Owen slides inside, and Mankind follows. Back inside and Owen hits an enzaguri. Tag is made to Bulldog who comes with shots to both opponents. Back elbow for Mankind, and then he throws him into the corner. Bulldog sets up for the powerslam, but Mankind counters into the mandible claw. Owen tries to make the save, but gets met by Vader who tackles Owen into Bulldog and Mankind. They tumble to the floor as Mankind holds on to the move. The ref counts both teams out at 16:07. Pretty lousy finish for a Wrestlemania title match, but the match leading up to this was spectacular.

Winners: Draw (Double Count Out ***)

-A recap of the events leading up to the Austin-Bret submission match.

Submission Match: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart

Ken Shamrock makes his WWF debut in this match serving as guest referee. Austin is technically the heel going into the match, but it’s really in name only. Austin rips signs on the way to the ring, and stares down fans, basically trying every trick in the book to get heat and none of it works. The crowd just eats up everything he does. Pull apart brawl to start, and they head to the floor. Bret fires Austin into the ring post, and goes for a suplex. Austin blocks it and crotches Bret on the guardrail. Austin then delivers a clothesline sending Bret into the crowd. Austin fires Bret back into the guardrail, as they continue the brawl through the audience. Austin grabs a drink of soda from a vendor, and then stomps away at Bret by the hockey boards. Bret comes back ramming Austin into the boards as they head up the stairs. Austin sets up for a piledriver in the crowd, but Bret answers with a backdrop sending Austin back down the steps to the arena floor. They start to fight back towards the ring, and finally Bret fires Austin over the guardrail. Bret jumps to the top of the railing and drops an elbow on Austin. Bret tries an Irish whip, but Austin reverses sending Bret into the ring steps. Austin delivers a clothesline from the apron to the floor, and picks up the ring steps. Bret kicks the steps and they collapse on top of Austin. Austin grabs Bret and fires him into the ring post, and finally they end up back in the ring. Austin stomps away, and sends Bret in for the backdrop, but Bret counters with a neckbreaker. Second rope elbow connects for Bret, and he follows it by falling back with the leg. Bret drops down on the knee of Austin after placing it on the bottom rope, and then drops a pair of elbows on the knee. Bret continues the assault on the leg by kicking Austin’s legs, but Austin comes back with a stunner out of nowhere. No pinfalls though so it just buys time for Austin. Austin hobbles towards Bret, but gets his legs kicked out from under him again. Bret pulls Austin to the outside and locks in the ringpost figure four. Bret lets go and they both end up on the arena floor. Bret fires Austin back inside, and grabs the ring bell. He sets the bell on the apron, and then grabs a chair. Bret wraps Austin’s ankle in the chair Pillman style, and heads to the top rope. Austin was suckering him in though as he comes up and whacks Bret with a chair sending him to the mat, and once more for good measure. Slam from Austin is followed up with an Irish whip sending Bret to the corner. Suplex from Austin connects, and he goes to the second rope dropping an elbow. Austin delivers a stomp to the gut, and a side Russian legsweep. Austin grabs a modified cross armbreaker, and then decides to go for a Boston crab. Bret is able to reach the ropes to break the hold, so Austin decides to add a little insult to injury and go for a sharpshooter. Bret stops that attempt though with a rake to the eyes. Bret fires back with a series of rights, but Austin sidesteps a charge and Bret goes flying to the floor. Austin goes out to the floor, and tries to whip Bret but it’s reversed and Austin goes headfirst into the guardrail. Austin gets busted wide open on that in one of the more famous bladejobs in wrestling history. Bret fires Austin head first into the ringsteps, and follows that up with a shot to the ringpost. Back inside Bret drops an elbow on Austin and hammers away at the wound. Bret delivers a backbreaker, and then goes to the second rope again dropping the elbow. Bret grabs a chair and drives into the injured knee of Austin. Bret goes for the sharpshooter, but Austin is able to stop the attempt with an eyerake. Bret pounds away in the corner, but Austin comes back with a kick to the nuts to buy him some time. Austin gets a second wind, and whips Bret sternum first into the buckle. Austin stomps a mudhole in Bret, and then sets him on the top rope. Austin delivers a superplex, and puts Bret on the apron. Austin grabs an extension cord from ringside and wraps it around the neck of Bret on the apron. Bret grabs the ringbell and whacks Austin with it to release the choke. Single leg takedown from Bret allows him to lock in the sharpshooter. Austin refuses to give up as blood pours down his face. This is one of the most iconic images in the history of the sport. Austin gets a second wind and nearly powers out of the hold, but Bret holds on. Austin finally succumbs to the pain and passes out refusing to submit at 22:04. After the match Bret goes back to attack Austin, effectively turning him heel, and gets suplexed by Shamrock. This is a classic example of a guy getting put over in a loss. As for the match itself, in my opinion, it is the greatest WWF match of all time. It has everything you could possibly want. Historical significance, technical wrestling, hardcore wrestling, drama. You name it. This match has it. After the match Austin refuses help and walks to the back to a standing ovation.

Winner: Bret “Hitman” Hart (Knockout-Sharpshooter *****)

-Todd Pettingill talks to the Nation of Domination about the upcoming Chicago Street Fight.

Chicago Street Fight: Faarooq, Crush, & Savio Vega (w. Clarence Mason & The Nation) vs. Ahmed Johnson & The Legion of Doom

PG-13 raps the Nation of Domination down to the ring, and a young D’Lo Brown accompanies the group to the ring. He would actually be the only guy who survived the re-organization of the Nation a few months after this. In the pre-match interview Pettingill alluded to the NOD bringing everything but the kitchen sink to the ring, so naturally Hawk carries a kitchen sink with him to the ring. The Nation attacks from behind to start things off, but get chased off quickly. PG-13 and D’Lo run in, but also get send back to the floor. Clarence Mason gets on the apron and gets quickly thrown down. Faarooq uses a nightstick to pound on Animal at ringside, and Ahmed delivers a sommersault plancha over the rail into the crowd to Crush. Back at ringside Ahmed nails Crush with a garbage can. Hawk misses a shot at Savio with a 2×4, and outside Faarooq and Animal fight on the French announce table. Animal piledrives Faarooq on the table, but the table doesn’t break. Inside the ring Crush pounds Ahmed with a garbage can, and Savio works over Hawk with the 2X4. Animal sprays Faarooq with a fire extinguisher on the outside. Faarooq ends up back inside and whips Ahmed, and throws him to the floor. PG-13 holds Ahmed, but he fights them off and hammers Faarooq with the trash can. Finally Faarooq goes through the table with a bodyslam from Ahmed. Animal delivers a series of trash can shots to Savio. Faarooq is back up and throws more garbage cans into the ring. Savio puts a noose around the neck of Ahmed, and D’Lo and Clarence pull back on the rope. Savio and Faarooq send Hawk into the ropes and he comes off with a clothesline for both of them. Animal rescues Ahmed from the hanging, and then nails Faarooq with a parking sign. Savio fires Ahmed into the crowd, as Animal stops Faarooq’s attempted hanging of Hawk. Crush hits Animal in the back with a wrench, and Savio pounds away at Ahmed with a nightstick on the floor. Hawk is able to fight away from the noose pulling Faarooq down to the floor. The noose ends up around Faarooq’s neck, but the Nation members rescue him from that fate. Ahmed sends Faarooq into the ropes and hits a spinebuster as Hawk clears ringside with the fire extinguisher. Faarooq sets p for a Pearl River plunge, but all of the Nation members run in. They get chased off by LOD, who gets Crush set up and delivers a Doomsday Device. Animal throws Crush into a double clothesline with a 2X4 from there, which picks up the victory at 10:47. After the match D’Lo gets a Pearl River Plunge and PG-13 both get Doomsday Devices. Total garbage match, that was incredibly difficult to keep track of, but it was a lot of fun. Its really hard to screw these matches up.

Winners: Ahmed Johnson & The Legion of Doom (Animal pins Crush-Double 2X4 Clothesline **1/2)

-Shawn Michaels who was “out with injury” comes out to do guest commentary for the main event. Shawn even flashes the wolfpac sign to the camera as he gets in the ring.

-Todd Pettingill gets an interview with Sid. If you’ve seen one Sid promo you’ve seen them all, yet for some reason they never get old.

WWF Championship: The Undertaker vs. Sycho Sid ©

Taker busts out the old school outfit with the grey boots and gloves. Jim Ross mentions “the streak” which would be the second such mention noting that he is 5-0. The two men staredown, but get interrupted by Bret Hart who grabs the mic. Bret calls out Shawn for being a phony little faker, and tells him to stay of the match. Bret tells Taker when he slammed the door on his head (in reference to a cage match Bret had with Sid the previous week’s Raw) that he slammed the door on their friendship. He then turns to Sid and says they both know he is the rightful Champion. Bret tells Sid everyone knows he is the rightful champion. That earns him a powerbomb from Sid and he tells Bret to hop along crybaby, because after he gets through kicking Taker’s ass, he’s gonna bring Bret back out. Taker has heard enough talking and attacks Sid from behind to start the match. Taker pounds away at Sid in the corner, but gets whipped to the corner. Sid charges into a boot, and Taker throws him back to the corner. Taker charges and delivers a stinger splash. Bodyslam from Taker gets a two count, and then goes to the top rope for old school. Taker rams Sid into the buckle, but charges into a bearhug. Taker starts to break the hold so Sid delivers a few forearms to the back and goes back to the bearhug. Taker breaks the hold by ringing Sid’s bell, but charges into a big boot. Sid clotheslines Taker to the floor, but he lands on his feet. Sid goes to the floor and clotheslines Taker over the Spanish announce table. Sid drops Taker on guardrail, and then slams Taker on the table. Sid rams Taker into the ringpost and tosses him back in the ring. Vince announces that this match was made no disqualification by Gorilla Monsoon earlier today. Sid hammers Taker down with a series of forearms and locks in a camel clutch. Sid lets go and goes to the second rope delivering a double axe handle. Taker fights back with a headbutt, and rams Sid into the top turnbuckle. Taker hits the ropes and runs into a powerslam from Sid getting a two count. Legdrop connects from Sid getting another two count. Taker ducks a clothesline off the ropes and delivers a flying clothesline of his own. Sid comes right back with a boot to the gut, and hammers away at Taker in the corner. Taker fires back with a trio of headbutts to the gut, and throws Sid to the floor. Taker follows after him and throws Sid over the guardrail into the fans. From opposite sides of the rail they trade blows, and Taker finally pulls Sid back to ringside. Taker throws Sid into ringsteps, and then back into the ring. Taker hits the ropes and goes for an elbow drop, which misses. Sid grabs a reverse chinlock, and Taker fights out with a series of shots. Sid walks into a powerslam from Taker, which gets a two count. Taker locks in a trapezes pinch, but Sid elbows out of it. Taker hits the ropes, and catches a boot attempt from Sid delivering a clothesline for two. Sid hits the ropes, and both guys get big boots up knocking both men down. Sid crawls over and covers getting a two count. Sid delivers a pair of double axe handles; the second coming from the second rope. Sid delivers a stomp and goes to the second rope again, and again delivers a double axe handle for two. Sid goes back to the second rope, but the third time is not a charm as he gets a punch from Taker on the way down. Sid comes right back with a bodyslam, and goes to the top rope. Taker sits up and delivers an uppercut to Sid crotching him on the top. Taker slams Sid off the top, and goes to the top rope himself connecting with a flying clothesline for two. Taker sets up for the tombstone, but Sid reverses and delivers a tombstone of his own. Sid crosses the arms for the pin attempt, but only gets a two count. Sid fires Taker through the ropes to the floor, and follows him out. Taker goes for the chokeslam on the floor, but Bret Hart runs out and nails Sid with a chair. Officials drag Bret out of the arena, and Taker drives Sid into the ringpost. They roll back in the ring and Sid walks into a chokeslam. Cover gets a two count off the chokeslam, and Taker hits the ropes delivering a flying clothesline, which misses. Sid sets up for the power bomb, but Bret runs out again. Bret gets on the apron so Sid releases the hold. Sid goes to attack Bret, but Bret drops down on the apron clotheslining Sid on the top rope. He turns around into a tombstone from Taker, which gives Taker the win, and his second World Title at 21:21. Nice moment for Taker who at the time was long over due for a World Title reign. His only reign prior to this had been a six day reign in the fall of 1991. The match while lacking the star power of your traditional Wrestlemania main event was still a very solid big man match. I could have done without all the Bret run ins considering that it really wasn’t all that necessary to protect Sid like that, but still all in all the match is much better than most give it credit for.

Winner: NEW WWF Champion-The Undertaker (Pinfall-Tombstone ***)

The 411: Most remember this card for only one match, and with good reason as it is one of the best matches in history. However all things considered this is a much better show than most remember. The three main attractions all delivered in some way. The Tag Title match despite the crappy finish was very action packed. You even get a glimpse of a very young Rock, even if the match sucks. Most credit Wrestlemania XIV with being the unofficial beginning of the Attitude Era, but it was this show that the groundwork was laid.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]