If you are like me, you get all old school each year around WrestleMania time. You raid your disk or streaming library and watch some classic Mania cards, moments just to fuel your enthusiasm for the annual event. With 36 events to choose from, the desire to zero in on the most pivotal matches can be a daunting task.
This is where SLAM! Wrestling comes in.
WrestleMania Rewind is a series detailing the very best and very worst matches from each and every WrestleMania. Check out our guide and take the guess work out of your WrestleMania Rewind.
WrestleMania 11
Date: April 2, 1995.
Location: Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
The worst WrestleMania of all time. Besieged by B-rated celebrities, this WrestleMania had more cheese than your mama’s lasagna. Littered with production mistakes and in-ring blunders, the show comes off as seriously amateurish and poorly organized as if interns were in charge of the production. To top things off, nobody anywhere cared about the main event. It serves as a grim reminder of how truly irritating Vince McMahon’s commentating skills are.
Must See Matches
Razor Ramon versus Jeff Jarrett
Shawn Michaels versus Diesel
Must Skip Matches
Everything else.
Event MVPs: Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Jarrett.
Overall Event Rating: 3 / 10
WrestleMania 12
Date: March 31, 1996.
Location: Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California.
The WWE blunders another WrestleMania, this time hinging the entire show on one single match. Admittedly, it is one of the greatest matches in WWE history but it was ridiculous for the federation to think they could focus on just one match. What a waste.
Must See Matches
Roddy Piper versus Goldust
Bret Hart versus Shawn Michaels
Must Skip Matches
Everything else.
Event MVPs: Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels.
Overall Event Rating: 3 / 10
WrestleMania 13
Date: March 23, 1997.
Location: Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.
Entering into the attitude era, the WWE gets back on track and delivers a very solid show. Ramping up the brutality and mature material, the federation has hooked in mainstream viewers as they did in the heyday of rock n wrestling years ago. Steve Austin’s performance propels him into a main even role while others like Sycho Sid and the Road Warrior begin to fade away.
Must See Matches
Hunter Hearst Helmsley versus Goldust
Bret Hart versus Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Legion of Doom, Ahmed Johnson versus The Nation of Domination
The Undertaker versus Sycho Sid
Must Skip Matches
The Headbangers versus The New Blackjacks versus The Godwinns versus Doug Furnas, Phil LaFon
Event MVPs: Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Undertaker, Sycho Sid.
Overall Event Rating: 8 / 10
WrestleMania 14
Date: March 29, 1998.
Location: FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts.
The launch pad for the infamous Attitude Era, the WWE presents a focused and precise card. Not many throw-away matches here. Above all, Shawn Michaels has to be commended for working the main event with a critical back injury which would put him on the shelf for four years.
Must See Matches
Triple H versus Owen Hart
The Rock versus Ken Shamrock
Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Shawn Michaels
Must Skip Matches
Mark Mero, Sable versus Goldust, Luna Vachon
Event MVPs: Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Ken Shamrock.
Overall Event Rating: 7 / 10
WrestleMania 15
Date: March 28, 1999.
Location: First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
From top to bottom, a lacklustre entry where nothing really mattered except for the Austin-Rock main event. Half of the undercard skips by in approximately half an hour which shows you have much confidence the WWE had in their own event. Known as the show where D-Generation X imploded. Ho-hum.
Must See Matches
Paul Wight versus Mankind
Shane McMahon versus X-Pac
Steve Austin versus The Rock
Must Skip Matches
D’ Lo and Test versus Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett
Butterbean versus Billy Gunn
Sable versus Tori
Event MVPs: The Rock, Mankind, Steve Austin.
Overall Event Rating: 4 / 10