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Top 10 Best PPV’s I’ve Ever Seen
Today we’ll be looking basically at the ten best variations on a theme. WWE has always been known as a innovator to the service known as Pay-Per-View broadcasting, and this list will prove that.
Before I begin, let me note that there are some events I had some real trouble pondering about being on/off the list. This list is completely done strictly on my own terms, and you the reader may have something different. Whatever the case may be, let’s jump right to the list of events that didn’t get on the mantle (sadly).
- Wrestlemanias III, XIV, and 23
- Royal Rumbles from 1992, 1998 (for nostalgia mainly), 2005, and 2007
- Summerslams from 1989, 1996, 1997 (although the poster is there), 2000-2001, and 2005
- Survivor Series’ from 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001
- Others (not in the series’ of those listed): King of the Ring 1993 and 1998, Vengeance 2003/2004/2006, Taboo Tuesday 2005, In Your House: Final Four, and Armageddon 2006.
Keep in mind once again that this list was made with some really heart-breaking (no pun intended) decisions. At the same time however I try to keep some values in check: quality, “booking”, and rewatch-ability. With that in mind, let’s go to the video tape or the disc, because it’s time to count ‘em down!
10. Unforgiven 2006
At this point in time, the red brand of the WWE was on a major roll. D-Generation X was reunited and going on strong, Vince McMahon was/is a crazy bastard, John Cena delivering the goods with Edge very week, etc.
This card personified that so much, it should have been Summerslam to a large degree.
Emanating from Toronto, Canada, this single-branded event has a STACKED card. Not only is there a Women’s Championship match that would turn out to be the last of Trish Stratus’ career, not only is there a Hell in the Cell match between Shawn Michaels & Triple H vs. Shane & Vince McMahon & Big Show, but the main event is a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Championship between Edge (hometown boy) and John Cena.
Even the under-card bouts like Johnny Nitro vs. Jeff Hardy and Kane with Umaga (rest his soul) are decent. They’re more like the appetizers between the three medium-to-large size meals serving as triple-header main events.
This event took place in a strange time in WWE history.
For the first (and only) time ever, the WWE Draft spanned over shows and weeks.
As a major bombshell, the very first draft pick for Raw would be then-Smackdown’s WWE Champion John Cena!
With how this period of history was booked, this is the only time ever where you’ll see both champions on both shows defending their titles on a single-branded PPV. A gamble ironically held in Las Vegas.
How was this PPV so high on my list?
For starters, the opener between Carlito and Shelton Benjamin for the Intercontinental Championship was decent. Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle had another classic. John Cena had a worthy title defense against a newly-heel Chris Jericho and always-heel Christian.
The focal point of the show however would be the feud-ending Hell in the Cell encounter between Batista and Triple H. With the World Heavyweight Championship on the line, this match had a lot at stake.
Long story short, ‘The Animal’ Batista-Bombed ‘The Game’ straight to hell to retain the title yet again. On the DVD, both men backstage made up with Triple H saying, “Evolution baby,” while trying to stand up straight from an insane amount of blood loss.
As a result, Batista as the World Heavyweight Champion would be drafted to the blue brand (aka Smackdown). Therefore, WWE book-ended their draft by swapping the places of both world champions. Not a bad move to be honest.
8. Wrestlemania III (1987)
Although this list will have a more significant presence of the newer-incarnations, it is also important to tip the hat off to the events that paved the way. Why not go with the PPV that’s “Bigger! Better! Badder!”
Getting off the myth about the audience figures at the Pontiac Silverdome, it is hard to deny such the grand stature of the stadium setting. Starting near the denouement of the day and driving into the darkness of night, it seemed as if there were multiple events for the price of one!
While most of the under-card was somewhat forgettable (KING KONG BUNDY BEATING UP MIDGETS!), the ‘Mania was known for two matches primarily.
First up for bids is the Intercontinental Championship match between Randy Savage and Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat. One of the most influential bouts in history, the technical skills and near-falls are the meat and potatoes of the contest. After the last cradle-attempt, Steamboat finally won the IC title to a huge roar of the crowd. It’s also one of those matches that while it may seem a little tame now, no one can understate the power of the influence this match had on the people watching, and for that I salute it.
The other encounter was the WWE Championship match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. For a few years on television, the two were acknowledged as friends, tag partners, and all-encompassing good guys. Then Andre turned “bad”, and tore the shirt off Hulk’s chest on Saturday Night’s Main Event. For how slow the match moved, the crowd was into it ALL. It goes to show that you don’t need flashy moves and trick spots in order to work the audience over. Nonetheless, Hogan slammed Andre and dropped the leg for 1-2-3. History was made, and everyone was the wiser.
Madison Square Garden is called "The Mecca” for WWE and its superstars. Not only was it the “home base” for the old WWWF promotion run by Vincent J. McMahon (father of Vincent K), but also it provided for some very memorable moments.
This event is no exception.
As you can see, the show is one of those anomalies where a dual-head main event situation featured a match and a WEDDING!
More on those in a second.
By far the best match on the show was the Intercontinental Championship bout between Mr. Perfect (Curt Henning) and a newly-singles competitor in the name of Bret Hart. Both men had some classics back in the latter half of the 80s’, but all of those combats were held under the first aborted face run for the ‘Hitman’.
So here we are. The only thing not ‘Perfect’ about Henning was a severe back injury, that almost put him out of action. Henning agreed to drop the title (apparently) if only he lost it to Bret.
These two men awarded the fans a twenty-minute classic, complete with whistle-blowing from a man known as Coach (not Coachman, but of John Tolos). Hart won after slapping on the Sharpshooter, and Henning tapped out immediately (and I believe legitimately).
The wrestling main event was not bad considering the opponents, but definitely wasn’t good either. WWE Champion Hulk Hogan teamed up with the Ultimate “Future Endeavors” Warrior against the “Triangle of Terror”, featuring Sgt. Slaughter, General Adnan, and Col. Mustafa (aka Iron Shiek). Ref’ed by Sid Vicious, the match saw Hulkster get the pinfall, while Warrior ran to the back to be subsequently fired by Vince for holding him up for money to perform. There’s more to the story on The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, a highly entertaining albeit "burial” of the man on DVD.
Hear those wedding bells? That’s the main event slot of the holy matrimony ceremony of Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. If you remember correctly, heel Savage lost a ‘Retirement Match’ to Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII. After the match, Savage’s valet Sensational Sherri was a little more than disgraceful to him. Enter Elizabeth, who was spotted in the crowd earlier in the show. She stops the assault, and Macho turned face while hoisting her in air. So the marriage happens, blah blah blah. The big moment of this celebration happened during the reception. Liz opened a box which featured a snake, a signature of one Jake Roberts (now a heel). This would lead to an intense feud between the two men in events down the road.
In 2001, there was a holy trinity of PPV events. The “opener” so to speak was the year’s Royal Rumble event.
Emanating from Louisiana, the show had a grand total of five matches on the card. Every single one of them mattered.
The tag match with Edge & Christian versus the Dudley Boys was a hotly contested affair. With the main story of said Dudleys fighting off concussions, it would prove to be a factor. However, D-Von and Bubba Ray would rally to win once again the tag titles, and all seemed right for now.
Next there was a sadistic match in the form of a ‘Ladder’ stipulation. With the IC title on the line, Chris Jericho went up against his bitter rival Chris Benoit. For 20 grueling minutes, the two would swap holds and exchange different ways on how to eat ladders (and in Benoit’s case a chair). Jericho, with some of the slowest climbing of a ladder I’ve seen, grabbed the gold and was victorious.
Although the Women’s Championship match wasn’t much, at least it advanced the story a little more towards Wrestlemania. Ivory (of the Right to Censor faction), injured Chyna’s beck, and thus the “9th Wonder of the World” wanted revenge. Predictably, Ivory beat up Chyna again with the numbers game and thus the action is starting to crescendo.
Surprisingly enough, the WWE Championship match between Kurt Angle and Triple H felt very overbooked. While the two men needed no help in making at least a good match, there was women and Vince and Steve Austin oh my! As a matter of fact, Austin whacked Triple H in the head with a title belt, and pretty much gave the win to Angle. Bloody and pissed, it wouldn’t be the last of “The Game” on this night.
Of course the main event indeed was the signature and iconic Royal Rumble. 30 men with 2 minute intervals between combatants, it is one of the more unpredictable events of the calendar year. Case in point: Drew Carey (the fat version) entered into the fray as the Hardy Boyz eliminated each other simultaneously. After Carey appeased himself to the fans as ringside, there’s another contestant! KANE, COME ON DOWN, YOU’RE NEXT UP ON THE PRICE IS WRONG, BITCH! In one of the more memorable passages you’ll ever read (if you’re not a fan), Kane walks in, grabs Carey by the throat (after not accepting Drew’s money), and gets ready for the chokeslam, but Al Snow comes in and saves Carey’s ass. The fat man then did the honors of taking himself out by going over the top and thus escaping harm. Later on, Austin came out and was promptly jumped by Triple H. Although he was battered mercilessly with the red stuff to prove it, Steve’s saving grace was that he never entered the ring. After some domination by Kane with “brother” Undertaker, Austin came back into the match. Austin and Kane were the final two of this one. Austin, with guts and determination, waffled Kane with chair shots, and eliminating the “Iron Man” (lasting almost a full hour) Big Red Machine. Not only did ‘The Rattlesnake’ win the match, but he’d have a title match for another entry on this list.
As a whole, this event kicked all sorts of ass. In my opinion, the best all-around Rumble event ever. The event was a perfect mix of sport and entertainment, one that would be eclipsed by arguably the best Wrestlemania ever subjectively.
5. In Your House: Canadian Stampede (1997)
Of all the events on this count-down, there is probably not one event that could rival the electricity and the complexities like this one.
From the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, the Canadian arena would be a perfect setting for the last-ever two-hour PPV event in WWE history.
While the event was just two hours and four matches in length, it told more of a story in that time than most could do in three.
The opening bout featured a young Triple H (with his full name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, newly-crowned King of the Ring) versus the deranged Mankind, the man who lost to H in the finals of said King of the Ring tourney. A wild brawl with essentially no-finish, both men tore each apart and Helmsley even sported some color for good measure. Mankind would get the upper hand, but the steel cage encounter the month after at Summerslam would really cement both the character and feud.
Japanese “Great Sasuke” went up against a young and up-coming Taka Michinoku. Regardless of the politics surrounding this match and a Japanese influx in the WWE at the time, this match is viewed as refreshing original in the landscape. While it could be said WCW had Japanese talent earlier and harder (ECW could even claim that against WCW too), WWE got themselves something good out of that match.
Next would be the WWE Championship match between Undertaker and Vader. After a match which featured two of the smaller men on the roster, this encounter featured two of the biggest red wood trees in the forest. Easily eclipsing the match from earlier in the year at the Royal Rumble, ‘Taker would retain the title with an impressive-looking Tombstone Piledriver. If I remember correctly, that may very well be the biggest man ‘The Phenom’ has ever piledriven too, as Vader was close to 460 pounds! For as celebrated as Undertaker is, this title reign is REALLY underrated. Just take a look of these reviews of his defenses against Mankind and Steve Austin, just to further prove my point.
Speaking of Austin, here’s a match that would help define his career in a way no one really thinks about.
The main event of the show was a epic ten-man tag team attraction bout between The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart, & Brian Pillman) and the team featuring Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and The Road Warriors Animal & Hawk. Depending on which part of the North American continent you live on, the dynamics can greatly change. In the USA, the Hart Foundation were despised cronies who detested anything Americans believe/do, and the Austin team were the rebellious babyfaces waiting to stop their advances. In Canada however, the Harts can literally do no wrong. Seeing as we are in Canada, you can assume that Steve Austin is a heel and be 100% correct. Do you think he minds it? To phrase the man, “OH...HELLLLLL NO!” As a matter of fact, he SMILES at the reaction he receives. This match would be a grand 25-minute affair, with all men getting a good chunk of screen time. The ending would feature Owen Hart, taken out of the match earlier, returning to pin Austin (with handful of tights) and win the match for his team. Post-match shenanigans were pretty cool too, as Austin tries to beat-down the whole damn Hart family, but gets arrested by Canada’s police instead! Watch for the fingers he gives the crowd WHILE IN HANDCUFFS!
Subjection, rose-tinted glasses for “the good ol’ days”, or even personal/group bias. It doesn’t matter.
This event took place from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. If I remember correctly, it’s the first PPV Long Island had a part of since Wrestlemania 2 in 1986!
Of all the cards on this list, this event may very well have the best opener. Our Olympic Hero (I mean heel) Kurt Angle took on the newly-returned Rey Mysterio in a match that clashed styles, cultures, etc. Although they had some encounters leading up to this event, for Kurt it would be a “put up or shut up” situation. Kurt comes down with his entrance and waits for Rey like a hawk for prey. Instead, as the music for Rey hits, Mysterio surprises Angle from behind, and for the next ten minutes would wow the crowd with their move/counter-move layout. Angle did get that win, quite convincingly with a Angle Lock submission.
The next two matches are solidly underrated bouts. Edge would take on Eddie Guerrero, while Chris Jericho would battle Ric Flair. While there was nothing too spectacular about either contest, it does prove that a little bit of wrestling could go a long way in setting up a card. Both the matches were won by the faces (Edge and Flair), while the rematches a month later were won by the heels (Jericho and Guerrero).
Rob Van Dam would challenge for the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Benoit. Like the opener, this joust would feature clashing styles (RVD being a high-flyer and Benoit a submission specialist). At the same time, both General Managers (Eric Bischoff for RAW and Stephanie McMahon for Smackdown) were eagerly anticipating that their man would take home the gold. At the end of the day, Easy-E would take home the honors while Stephers, with hot legs to match, would sit there aggravated at her adversary’s victory.
The tag title and Undertaker matches weren’t special. Long story short, Christian and Lance Storm retained their tag titles against Booker T & Goldust, while “The American Bad Ass” Undertaker beat Test. Undertaker was a newly-turned face after he stood up to the Un-Americans (which included Test and the tag champions).
Here is when the true fun of the show begins. Keep in mind this was a good show on it’s own so far, but now we’re going into epic mode. So strap in tight!
While most of these guys have wrestled night-in and night-out for the last several years, one man in particular has not. Shawn Michaels, one wrestler with the nicknames to match the accolades, had been noticeably absent from the WWE. With back surgery and drug problems hampering him, the Heartbreak Kid was “born again” earlier in the year, and the Attitude (in more ways than one) would carry him back into the ‘E. His nemesis would be real-life best friend but newly-turned heel Triple H. Trips, as you may remember, turned on Shawn the night after Vengeance by Pedigreeing his ass right in the middle of the ring. After some vehicular assaults, HBK made it known he was ready for Summerslam. While this would be Shawn’s first official match (in a unsanctioned environment) in four years, the rust is not evident at all. These two went nearly a half hour, and not once did it feel like the match was going to fall apart. Shawn stunned Triple H into a rollup after a reversal from the Pedigree, and won! There wasn’t much celebration as a bloody Game sledged Shawn twice in the back. This would set up a feud that would last on-and-off for FOUR YEARS.
After an embarrassing segment between Howard Finkel and Lillian Garcia (Wrestlecrap in it’s truest form), the main event for the Undisputed WWE Championship was here to roll. It featured Brock Lesnar, future UFC champion and at-the-time King of the Ring winner entitled to said title shot, against “The People’s Champion” The Rock. Rock, who only returned the month before, won the title at Vengeance in a epic triple threat match. So to the action. It was a conflicting crowd, as while Brock was a monster heel (who even put HULK HOGAN out of action), he was getting some very noticeable cheers from the Long Island crowd, with boos to Rock to match. Also, the crowd in LI was smarky, knowing that Rock would leave again to make another movie (this time “The Rundown ”). Although people were sitting on both sides of the fence in terms of reaction, both men with varying amounts of experience gave the crowd a surprisingly fulfilling main event, one that had to follow HBK and HHH. Brock won after a THIRD F-5 on Rock, and became WWE Champion for the first time. After Summerslam, Brock would go to Smackdown with the WWE Championship, while Triple H on Raw was “awarded” the newly-reinstated World Heavyweight Championship.
This event in a nutshell was AWESOME. Action, drama, psychology, and pathos to match. Two things keep it from the top: the aforementioned Finkel/Garcia skit, and another skit which featured Nidia and Jamie Noble at “The World” in New York City. With that in mind, I wholeheartedly say this should be in every collection!
3. Wrestlemania XIX (2003)
This is the very first Wrestlemania I saw bell-to-bell (or close to it). With some recent Wrestlemanias being VERY disappointing, it pleases me to think this one has held up so well.
Like X-Seven being held in a baseball stadium (Astrodome), XIX was filmed from Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. Holding some fifty four thousand fans, it was definitely a good-sized crowd for that year’s ‘Mania.
Let’s get the gripes out of the way first. For starters, the dark match (aka Sunday Night Heat) was the World Tag Team Championship match from RAW involving Lance Storm and Chief Morley (aka Val Venis, but just not a porn star) vs. Rob Van Dam and Kane. With some interference from the Dudleys (who reluctantly did it for keeping employment), the heels of Morley and Storm won. Now, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but this decent match was kicked off the A-Show for the culturally-obscure Miller Lite Catfight Girls. That segment took up a good six minutes of air time, not including the smaller segments earlier in the event. In addition, the traditional performance of “America the Beautiful” (that year by Ashanti) didn’t make the broadcast. That is sacrilege of the highest order, even if it sucked (which I don’t think it did). I also didn’t really like the fact that ‘Taker was so nice to Fred Durst during his intro, but I digress.
Rey Mysterio, coming out in a Bordeaux-style suit/mask, challenged for Matt Hardy’s Cruiserweight Championship. Hardy, going under moniker Version One at the time, had a website-like Titantron with funny “facts” to boot. Apparently he likes chocolate milk. Not bad I say. Anywhos, this was way too short. A really good match, but only as good as the four minutes could allow. Hardy retained with evil-doolery (aka hands on the rope).
Skipping over the ‘Taker match, which saw him go 11-0 defeating Big Show and A-Train in a mostly handicap match.
Trish Stratus, looking as hot as ever, defeated Jazz and Victoria to win another Women’s Championship. Team Angle, in the form of Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, retained the WWE Tag Team Championship against Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo) & Chris Benoit and Rhyno.
The first real “Wrestlemania” match so to speak came with the return of “Mr. Wrestlemania”. Shawn Michaels went one-on-one with the arrogant Chris Jericho. These two had SEVERAL run-ins over the last few months, but the heart of the angle lied within the perception of respect/lack thereof Jericho had and didn’t have for HBK. The entrance for Michaels made me realize how happy he was to be there, and I smile EVERY TIME I see it. Kicking the bad habits and making new/good ones, Michaels was roaring and ready to go. Jerry Lawler made a couple of appropo comments that fit this match wonderfully. One was about the lions (how the young one tries to dethrone the older one), and how each men was wrestling like it’s Memorex, because they knew what the other man was going to do before he did it! Twenty minutes of GREAT wrestling action, including Jericho landing a SICK imitation superkick on Shawn! After some reversals, HBK pinned Jericho with a surprise roll-up like the Summerslam entry before. Although Jericho looked like he was going to be nice with a hug gesture, he instead kicks Michaels right in the nuts and thus the feud continues. Their feud in 2008 was the better confrontations, but the best match these two had definitely was THIS.
After a lame Limp Bizkit concert of “Crack Addict”, we have the World Heavyweight Championship match between Triple H and Booker T. While not as good as the match preceding it or the matches proceeding it, this match is still a good contest. However, there are two things I didn’t like. One, I didn’t like how Triple H retained the title, and I’m a fan of the guy! Booker T was on such a roll that I thought a small but fighting title reign would be possible for this guy. Sure a title run would be a few years off, but the rose was long off by that point. Two, I didn’t like Lawler’s commentary on this match at all. Hanging on a balance of racist and ridiculous, Lawler was REALLY starting to grate on Jim Ross’s nerves. Thankfully Lawler would get his stuff together for the Rock/Austin match.
After that we’d have a Street Fight “20 Years in the Making” between Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon. Two men just about to reach/north of 50 fighting in a main event spot of ‘Mania? Color me confused Batman! I will admit though that Hogan coming out to “Voodoo Child” is still amongst the coolest things I’ve seen at any ‘Mania. The first 10 minutes were really stalling, as both men tried to get an upper hand but failed. It took a chair shot from Hogan to Vince for the match to gain momentum. However, the leg drop heard all around the world from the top of the ladder by McMahon is truly a wonderful sight. That, and this image,
Here’s Vince!
Hogan however would not be denied. Even though Roddy Piper surprised the crowd and interfered, and that Vince tried to “No Way Out” Hogan with that ref, there would be nothing stopping Hogan dropping that leg no less than three times to win. Shane checking on his father was a cool touch as well.
Next would be the final match of probably the most famous trilogy in modern times. Steve Austin would make his final competitive in-ring appearance here as he would take on The Rock, newly turned heel with a thorn in his eye. The fact that Austin beat Rock both times at ‘Mania (with the title on the less on both occasions too) is all the world needed for a book-end, and no not the Booker T variety of the Rock Bottom. Or maybe that. Who knows. Point of the matter, it was a really good match. The only one of the three not to feature a No-DQ stipulation, but Earl Hebner let a lot of things slide. It took about 20 minutes and THREE Rock Bottoms, but Rock took the duke in the final act. I love how Jim Ross commentates on how Rock is talking smack to Austin post-match, but in reality it was a show of respect between the two. Austin flips the crowd off (respectfully) as he walks up the ramp after “waking” from his slumber. We thank you Steve for one hell of a career, oh hell yeah!
Main event, from Smackdown (hence the blue font), would be Kurt Angle defending his WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar. The stip being that if Angle DQ’ed himself, Lesnar would automatically become champion. Compared to recent main events of any Wrestlemania, this one might have the most amateur wrestling moves of all of them. This match lasted 23 minutes long, yet it feels that much longer because those moves aren’t the most exciting things in reality. That doesn’t mean though these men put on a bad match, actually far from it. Brock, in probably one of the most jaw-dropping moments in ‘Mania history, attempted a Shooting Star Press on Kurt, but instead, landed RIGHT ON HIS HEAD.
Somehow, Lesnar finished the match with an F-5 on Kurt, and became a two-time WWE Champion. Afterwards, Brock was so out of it that the f-bomb was the only word in his vocabulary, while Kurt was about to have some career-changing neck surgery.
This event was one of those that had it all. Want bumps? Got ‘em. Want technical wrestling? Gotcha some. Want some hot women? Check, check, and more check. Want geriatric bum fighting? Check. And lastly, do you want to see a pumped up atmosphere that longs for nostalgia? Oh yeah!
2. WrestleMania X-Seven (2001)
Many claim this event as perhaps the best WWE PPV event ever. Located from the Astrodome at the very zenith of the cannon, this PPV had more than a million buys and was very much a name in mainstream culture. This event also is called the end of the Attitude Era, as the Invasion angle was not too far into the oft.
With a small hint of rose-tinted glasses, I’d like to share one little anecdote. The day after Christmas 2006, I headed into my local FYE with gift cards. Of course my favorite section was the wrestling one, but usually all of the titles were sold at MSRP. So here lies the copy of Wrestlemania X-Seven. It was $39.95 USED, and I knew I had nirvana in my hands. I quickly yanked it, while some little kid looked upset. I showed him the price, and he knew he couldn’t afford it. Here’s the actual receipt for this bad boy:
Onwards to the event. The opener saw Chris Jericho retain the Intercontinental Championship against William Regal, who was also then-Commissioner of the WWE. A solid six minute affair, with Regal working over the injured arm of Jericho from the week’s action.
A quickie and non-eventful six man tag follows with APA/Tazz vs. RTC. The Hardcore Championship Triple Threat may win “sleeper match of the decade” award as Raven goes up against Big Show and Kane. For nine minutes, all three men beat the high holy hell out of each other. Some spots saw Raven nearly getting run over, Kane and Big Show going through glass, and then Kane finally wins after a huge leg drop off the top of the set! It was a slobberknocker for sure! One of many on this night.
The European Championship would change hands after Eddie Guerrero wins it with shenanigans from Test. Sadly, Eddie would be released from WWE shortly afterwards as he would begin a rehab program that would see him return in 2002.
Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit had a good match too. For Kurt though, WWE Champion the month before at No Way Out, this must feel like a stinging blow. A technical classic to start out, but when Benoit gets the upper hand, Kurt turns it into a brawl. A rollup of the tights seals it for Kurt, but since karma (and not the woman known as Kong) is a bitch, Kurt got slapped into a Crossface during an interview later on, signifying this is FAR from over.
Chyna won the Women’s title from Ivory in a quick but satisfying match. The months-long angle saw Chyna go from cripple in a hospital bed to crippling the RTC, who would be disbanded shortly afterwards.
Speaking of disbanded, let’s talk about the father/son Street Fight. As you may recall (in kayfabe), WCW was bought out by a McMahon. The one that signed on the dotted line was SHANE, and Vince went batshit crazy. This led to here, as well as Vince wanting to divorce Linda and having Trish as his playmate. Add in Stephers wanting to protect Daddy at all costs, and suddenly this one match could resolve several storylines in one sitting. It was ugly, but the match wasn’t a bad one. Vince apparently potatoed Shane to get the son into the match, because Shane didn’t want to throw first punch. More on that on the McMahon disc. I almost forgot to mention Mick Foley is the referee, and would play an important role in this one. So the two McMahons brawl for what seem to be forever, until Shane missed Vince on the announce table and that proverbial “crash and burn” spot happens. Trish and Steph brawl to waste time, then Vince blasts Foley with the chair. With Shane in the ring, Linda is brought in to witness the sons’ massacre. As Vince is about to hit Shane with a can, Linda rises out of her chair for one of the biggest pops EVER just about. A kick to the nuts followed by a Coast-to-Coast sealed the chairman’s fate, and Shane was victorious.
Next up to bat would be one of the most revered and dangerous matches in the profession of sports-entertainment. Tables. Ladders. Chairs. TWO! Once again, the dastardly duos of Dudleys, Edge & Christian, plus the Hardy Boys (Matt and Jeff) put their bodies on the line in pursuit of a silver lining in the tag division. Tons of interference too from Spike Dudley, Lita, and Rhyno. This is a match where no sentence could accurately describe the violence, unlike the last match where it seemed relatively easy. Keeping it short and sweet, Rhyno helped Christian to get the belts and the titles. But before I go the next match, let me post a compilation for all to remember:
For all the destructive elements in the last few matches or so, time for some April 1st fun in the form of the Gimmick Battle Royal. Instead of Jim Ross and Paul Heyman (who replaced Lawler at the desk, who quit over the firing of his wife The Kat) commentating, the men at the desk were old-time favorite Mean Gene Okerlund and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan! Heenan in response to Iron Shiek, “He might not hit the ring until Wrestlemania 38!” So with all the commotion, Shiek wins the battle royal, but gets slapped with the Cobra Clutch by Sgt. Slaughter post-match.
Speaking of matches that happened/didn’t happen, we have the first encounter of Triple H and Undertaker at a Wrestlemania. When WWE did the promotions for 27, they acted as if this match didn’t existed! With Motorhead doing the entrance for Triple H and Undertaker coming out to Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’”, the brawl is on! The ref is bumped EARLY, and although ‘Taker hit a Tombstone, there’s no one to answer. With this in mind, the two go outside to kick each other’s asses some more. Some brawling up a scaffold led to Taker getting wailed on by SEVERAL chair shots, all to the body. Trips taunts too long, and Taker gives him a mighty off-the-scaffold chokeslam! You’re damn right Heyman that Taker has criminal intentions! Back in the ring, the Bad Ass is about to give a Last Ride to Triple H, but Trips has that DAMN SLEDGEHAMMER and gives Taker a huge smack upside the skull with it. Busted wide open, Taker is put into the corner for the 5-Punch Munch. For Triple H though, he punches too long and he gets his Last Ride straight to hell! Bloody but 9-0, Taker rides his motorcycle up the ramp to the cheers of his hometown faithful. Apparently Shawn Michaels should have been ref for this match, but drug problems put the kibosh to those, and this was a point where people thought HBK would never again be on WWE TV. Judging by #4, #3, and what will be #1, I don’t think that’s sad ending.
After that and a crappy contest win, it’s title match time. That cage match music sets the tone perfectly as Rock gets booed, and Austin gets cheered. “It’s a match both men must win, but both can not afford to lose.” After an EPIC video package, Howard Finkel announces it’s now a No Disqualification match. JR is slightly outraged by the development, but that’s the breaks little man! Both men hit the ring, and they waste no time trading right hands like a bar fight! For 30 minutes, these two men would go ALL OUT. I’m not kidding when I tell you there’s close to no rest spots. Both men are bloody, they both trade submission maneuvers, they both steal the other’s finishers, and both men try to do evil deeds to win. NOTHING works. Until, somehow, Vince McMahon (in ring gear no less) comes out. Makes sense that this is a million dollar investment apparently, he wants to make sure there is a winner. Austin is handed a chair by McMahon. Crowd and JR gasps. Rock is hit and Vince counts, but ONLY TWO! This sequence happens multiple times. Austin, with a greedy look in his eyes, hits Rock with the chair multiple times somewhat akin to Triple H to Undertaker in the prior bout. This time however, Austin gets a three and the title! “Steve Austin, just sold his soul to the devil!” Yep, he just did. Many people expected the beer, then the Stunner. The Stunner never occurred. A handshake and a celebrate start the heel run of Steve Austin, one that would run all the way to Survivor Series, then turn face inexplicably the next night.
This was the toughest spot of the countdown to do. While my heart was with XIX to be here, at the same time there were serious flaws in that show that did knock it back to 3rd. X-Seven has a big-fight atmosphere, big stage presence, but more importantly, book-ended a holy trinity of events that had that year’s Royal Rumble and No Way Out. Best ‘Mania ever both figuratively and subjectively, this one stands the test of time.
Well, here it is. Number one, and in my opinion, the only choice.
I’ve written a lot of words on this show. You can catch the Challenge page, and my review of this show on The History of WWE’s page. Long story short, it was my favorite show ever when I first saw it, and years later, still ‘the man’.
CONCLUSION: There’s always a level of subjection and reviewer bias when it comes to these lists. As I mentioned in the intro, there was horrible, horrible choices to endure. Everyone’s lists will be different, but at the same time, that’s one of the fun things about being a fan in the WWE. There will be long-standing debate for YEARS to come. Heck, this list might change a year from now. For now however, this is my personal list of the best of the best. I hope you all enjoyed it, as certainly it stressed creativity and memory to a shocking level.
To leave you, here’s a video of Zen:
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