WrestleMania History
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
WrestleMania. It is the most distinguished event in pro wrestling. Simply
put, it is the show of shows. The brainchild of Vince McMahon Jr., the first
WrestleMania, broadcast in 1985, expanded the pay-per-view market (along with closed circuit TV) and added a
whole new dimension to the industry as a whole. So influential was
McMahon's venture that the business of pro-wrestling now is almost entirely
built around pay-per-view broadcasts.
If you're like us at SLAM! Wrestling, every year you like to refresh your
memory and once again experience those WrestleMania moments that are an
essential part of why you remain a devout wrestling fan. You dust off those
tapes, DVDs or that Best Of WrestleMania tape you dubbed on your own and
distributed to the other members of the office staff, slam them into the
player and transport yourself back in time. To help guide you along your
journey and celebrate the history of WrestleMania, SLAM! Wrestling will be
publishing a WrestleMania review each and every day (Monday to Friday) leading up to the big
show. We invite you to come along for the ride and share in your favourite
moments too. The events are rated as Poor, Average, Good and Excellent.
Unlucky 13 a poor WrestleMania
History Of WrestleMania
Date: March 23, 1997.
Place: Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, Illinois.
On the road to a full-blown recovery which will see them dominate the
Monday night ratings and become the strongest force in the pro wrestling
industry, the WWF is well on its way by the time WrestleMania 13 rolls
around. One hurdle is still in their way though. The federation's
storylines are dominated by gang warfare with The Nation Of Domination and
others getting in each other's faces. Once these angles are dropped, it's
smooth sailing for the WWF right into a red hot Austin - McMahon storyline.
This WrestleMania is another mixed bag of the good and the bad. The bad,
however, wins out. The good being Bret Hart and Steve Austin's bloodthirsty
brawl and an amusing street fight between The Legion Of Doom, Ahmed Johnson
and The Nation Of Domination. The rest are take-it-or-leave-it matches. The
main event is a real snoozefest that puts a damper on the festivities.
Favourite Moments: Blood streaming out of Austin's face as Hart locks him
in the Sharpshooter. The fun Street Fight.
Least Favourite Moments: The Godwinns at WrestleMania. Only seven matches!
The washout of a tag team title match.
Rating: Poor.
WrestleMania 11 Results
Match | Winner(s) |
| 1. The Godwinns vs The BlackJacks Vs Furnas / Lafon Vs The Head Bangers |
The Head Bangers. |
| 2. The Sultan vs Rocky Maivia (Intercontinental Title) |
Rocky Maivia. |
| 3. Hunter-Hearst Helmsley vs Goldust |
Hunter-Hearst Helmsley. |
| 4. Mankind / Vader vs Owen Hart / British Bulldog (Tag Team Title.) |
Double count-out. |
| 5. Steve Austin vs Bret Hart |
Bret Hart. |
| 6. Nation Of Domination vs Legion Of Doom / Ahmed Johnson (Chicago Street Fight) |
Legion Of Doom / Ahmed Johnson. |
| 7. Sycho Sid vs The Undertaker (World Title) |
The Undertaker. |
Toronto Sun WrestleMania 13 Stories
