WrestleMania 14

- Boston, Massachussetts. March  , 1998.
Attendance - 19,028
Buys - 730,000.

Opening video focuses on Austin/HBK and Taker/Kane. They do one about tradition leaving WrestleMania, that one is my top Mania video package.

15 Team Battle Royal
 13 teams get a jobber entrance as they're in ring before the show. A secret team enters and it's LOD, there's your winners. (Editor's Note - Unprofessional to not mention the others but I honestly can't remember them now I think Nation had two teams in there and the Bob/Bart version of ME were in the final two as well)

Light Heavyweight Title - TAKA Michinoku (c) Vs. Aguila
 How can you be a Light Heavyweight? This is the only LH Title match in 'Mania history. Headscissors, heel kick and asai moonsault by Aguila, who I believe is Essa Rios. Springboard crossbody by TAKA. Snapmare followed by a couple of dropkicks gets TAKA 2. Step up armdrag off the top by Aguila then a corkscrew plancha. Lawler 'I'm not biased I hate them both equally.' Moonsault gets Aguila 2. Hurricanrana off the top by the challenger. TAKA misses a moonsault allowing Aguila a la magistral for another 2. Michinoku Driver gets 3 at 5:47. **1/2 - Short but i'll bump it up 1/2 as some moves were impressive, no psychology at all though. Mexico Vs. Japan on American soil.

The Rock is interviewed by J/Gennifer Flowers about how he'd run America. This heel Rock is my favorite Rock persona. (Hold your horses son, Corporate Rock is the fave though there wasn't much difference, if any)

European Title - Triple-H (c) vs. Owen Hart
 Chyna is handcuffed to Sgt. Slaughter, he was commissoner. When Owen returned in Nov 97 I feel he should've had a run with HBK but instead he became HHHs bitch. My sister is here and she said is that two boys when HHH, Chyna appeared. Back drop, clothesline by Owen who according to my sister has funny music, she should hear his Jazzy mid 90s one. HHH rakes the eyes to avoid the Sharpshooter. Facebuster is followed by a corner beatdown as HHH is taking control. Harley Race knee gets 2, as does a DDT. HHH targets Owens ankle, which had been in a cast priot to the PPV. Owen's cut on his nose as he fights back, missile dropkick and a spinning heel kick get 2. Enziguri connects but Owen cant follow up as his ankle is hurt. Powerbomb by Hunter to block a hurricanrana. Pedigree and Sharpshooter are both avoided. Sharpshooter is now applied but Chyna helps HHH get a ropebreak. Chyna now throws powder in Slaughters eyes, lowblows Owen allowing HHH a Pedigree for 3 at 11:28. *** - Had to watch twice due to sister distracting me. No resting in the match, I hate when there's about 4 chinlocks as it ruins the pace. Bit disappointed in a heel win as it's Mania. HHHs last show as DX underling as he'd become leader 24hrs later. Probably their best match against each other here. (Editor's Note - Owen would be HHH's biyatch for the spring and I think Owen only picked up one meaningful win in a 6 way between Nation/DX when he Pedigreed HHH)

Marc Mero/Sable Vs. TAFKA Goldust/Luna
 Sable is now married to Brock Lesnar, I demand a Mero Vs. Lesnar match. Meros first, and last WrestleMania in-ring appearance. Headscissors, clotheslien by Mero so Goldust tags out but Luna doesn't want in so is chased by Sable, she soon super kicks Goldust. Crossbody gets Mero 2. Sable takes down Luna as fans pop. Goldust DDTs out of a TKO. Mero avoids Curtain Call, moonsault gets 2 as does a toprope hurricanrana. TKO connects but Luna breaks the count. SableBomb gets 2 as Luna fights back but she is TKOd for 3 at 9:11. **1/2 - To be fair it was better than I expected as majority was Mero, Goldust. Fans liked Sable and I like a good crowd so i've bumped it up 1/2. (I may of slightly underrated this one, due to expectations and the actual match we got it could be ad least a *** affair)

Intercontinental Title - The Rock (c) Vs. Ken Shamrock
 Kama, D-Lo and Mark Henry accompany Rock to 'Rocky Sucks' chants. 2 weeks prior Rock hit Ken with a wicked chairshot. Ken starts off on fi-yah so Rock bails but is caught in the aisle. Clotheslines, heel kick by Ken but he's soon whipped into the steps. Peoples Elbow, not yet what it would become, connects but soon they're ringside where Ken regains control. Chair shot by Rock when the ref is down, powerslam gets Ken 2. Ankle Lock is applied and Rock taps at 4:48. Post match Ken clears the Nation, reapplies the Ankle Lock which brings Faarooq out but he refuses to help Rock. Ken attacks some refs and is DQd post match so Rock retains. * - Da hell was that? (Editor's Note - A Dusty finish does not belong on a WrestleMania PPV a 'B' show fine but not 'Mania, akin to Owen/HHH in that Ken wouldn't get the IC strap from Rock but would beat him for the KOTR title)



WWF Tag Titles - Dumpster Match - Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie Vs. New Age Outlaws (c)
 Remember when NAO dumped Cactus/Charlie off the stage in a dumpster. Charlie is Terry Funk.My disc is playing up now so I cant accurately time matches. Heard recently Foley was set to win the Tag Belts at WM 13 but Bret put the kaibosh on that, any truth to it? NAO are probably the best thrown together jobber team there's ever been. First and last 'Mania where NAO team up (Editors Note - They teamed with Kane at WM XXX which transpired after this original review). Cactus hits his running knee on Dogg against the dumpster. Billy knocks Dogg away when Cactus goes for a somersault so he just bangs into the dumpster, then he is russian leg sweeped into it. The lid is shut on the challengers repeatedly but a double Mandible Claw stops the Outlaws winning. Cactus Elbow with a baking tray connects, then he pulls out a ladder. Crazy bump, awesome visual, as Gunn and cactus are knocked off the ladder into the dumpster. Charlie is powerbombed into the dumpster, another great camera angle there. NAO fight Cactus to backstage where Gunn is Double Arm DDTd onto a pallet leading to the Outlaws being forklifted into a dumpster. New champions at 10:00. **1/2 - Enjoyable hard hitting rubbish. On RAW is WAR the next night the result was voided as it wasn't the designated dumpster, also the rematch led to NAO joining DX and was the catalyst for Foleys heel turn and Dude Love appearing. (.... again, he had been around the WWF in 1997)



Undertaker Vs. Kane
 This is a big differnece between WCW and WWF for me, the OTT characters. Can you imagine Kane or Taker in WCW doing all their magic mumbo jumbo. In July 97 Bearer referenced Kane then at Badd Blood in October he debuted. Deadman vowed to never fight Kane, they were even homies at one point but at Rumble 98 Kane tried to burn Deadman in a casket, that's against the Bro Code I think it's after Bros Before Hoes. Also Kane set a cameraman or something on fire, I guess Taker has feelings for them guys if that's what you do to annoy him. Pete Rose is in da house!!! until he is Tombstoned I guess Kane is a Red Sox fan, Undertaker vows to win the match for Pete. Druids hold up fire sticks like a guard of honour as Taker enters. Kane no sells to start but it fits with the character/persona so I dont find it irritating. Kane places Taker in a tree of woe, I thought he was going for an early Tombstone as Kane is dominant so far. Taker sits on Kane in electric chair position then is dropped off, that didn't look smooth. Ref is distracted so Kane gets some ringsteps shots in, surely though the ref would hear them, Paul Bearer gets some shots in. Kane is still dominant whilst no selling the odd punch. Chokeslam is proceeded by the dreaded chinlock, does Jack Doan still work for WWE? These two look like real life Mortal Kombat characters, another chinlock is applied, is Kane Krazy or just Kasual? Taker goes for his no hands tope but crashes through a table as Kane moves, ha Hugo Savinovich fell in slow motion. Kane counters a Tombstone into his own for 2. Kane is finally dropped via clothesline, Chokeslam then a Tombstone gets 2 as does a second by Undertaker but soon a 3rd Tombstone gets 3 at 16:48. ** - Match was never going to be great, but it got Kane across as a monster. Deadman used Ali's 'let your opponent tire themselves' strategy (Editors Note - I believe this to be Rope a Dope). Damn that chinlock though Kane!

WWF Title - Shawn Michaels (c) Vs. Stone Cold
 Stone Cold hadn't fully recovered from SummerSlam 97, never really did actually, and Michaels has his famous back problems so this match may not be up to HBKs usual standard as both are limited. The special enforcer is Mike Tyson who had sided with DX in the 'Mania run up. Tyson was set to referee Macho/Hogan in 90 so his appearance here is 8 years in the making. HBK dedicates the match to Earl Hebner who was in intensive care. Austins pop is massive. HBK comes down the locker room area as we see Undertaker looking on menacingly #ILieICheatISteal. Is this the last winged eagle appearance? (May of been on RAW is WAR the next night to do the change over to a new era but this was definately it's last PPV) Ducks and punches by HBK but Austin soon has him and backdrops him over onto HHH, speaking of Hunter he and Chyna are barred from ringside and Austin throws him into the band area as he's leaving. HBK/Austin fight in the aisle in a look into what Austins WWF Title matches would become. HBK does a turnbuckle flip thus worsening his back. Michaels avoids a Stunner, you can see the pain etched on his face as his back must be killing. Austin is backdropped over the guardrail, Michaels looks like he can barely walk. Michaels gets punches in from a mount position then flips off Boston. HBK attacks Austins knee as the match is becoming more HBK styled now. Tyson puts Austin back in the ring where he gets chopblocked, figure four is applied. Ref gets sandwiched in the corner. Austin is beating on HBK, he manages to kip up, elbow drop connects but Austin ducks the follow up SCM, HBK counters a Stunner but Austin grabs his foot to stop SCM, spins him around and Stunner gets 3 at 20:00, giving him his first WWF Title and sending HBK to his initial retirement. Post Match - HBK is all 'why you count 3 Tyson/' so Mike drops HBK, pretty much a mirror image of Macho/Hogan/Buster from 1990. ***1/2 - Bumped rating up for HBK managing to do the match, you could see his pain. Austin era begins and in a way wrestling wouldn't be the same again.

17 / 35 - The big hit ratings wise was Rock/Ken. This is a rare review in that I did it within 24hrs, usually I'll review a PPV over 3 days or so. I enjoyed the PPV so i'll give it a thumbs up also Ken/Rock stuff only goes about 5 mins.  Difference is notable aswell as this 'Mania flows like a PPV and isn't broken up by multiple backstage segments, only lasted 2hrs 45 where as today they go about 6 hours.  Pats Seal Of Approval.