WWF Attitude Era Series Part 25: WWF Wrestlemania 14

It is now time for our rundown of Wrestlemania 14, with the match between Stone Cold Steve Austin, the number one contender, and the WWF Champion Shawn Michaels to headline this show. It’s Wrestlemania 14, March 29th 1998 live from Boston, Massachusetts.

Previous Part

It is now time to jump into Part 25 of the WWF Attitude Era Series. This is Wrestlemania 14, featuring the WWF Champion Shawn Michaels defending the title against the number one contender, the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin. The long awaited battle between Kane and the Undertaker. Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie will finally get their long awaited chance against Billy Gunn and the Road Dogg, the New Age Outlaws for the WWF Tag Team Titles, in a Dumpster Match. Owen Hart will take on Triple H for the European Championship, The Rock defends the Intercontinental Title against Ken Shamrock, Luna Vachon and Goldust take on Sable and Marc Mero, and more. This is Wrestlemania 14, Part 25 of the WWF Attitude Era Series. Let’s not waste any time, let’s get into Wrestlemania 14.

WWF Wrestlemania 14

LOD 2000 won a 15 Tag Team Battle Royal, last eliminating the New Midnight Express of “Bodacious” Bart Gunn and “Bombastic” Bob Holly. Other teams competing in this match were Los Boricuas of Savio Vega and Miguel Perez Jr., Los Boricuas of Jose and Jesus, Recon and Sniper of the Truth Commission, Bradshaw and Chainz, Mark Henry and D’Lo Brown of the Nation of Domination, The Nation of Domination of Faarooq and Kama Mustafa, The Quebecers, The Rock N Roll Express, The Headbangers, Too Much of Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor, The DOA, Steve Blackman and Flash Funk, and the Godwinns.

This is obviously a chance to get some of these people a Wrestlemania payday, even if this would be the last time some of the people in this match were seen in WWF. LOD 2000 was of course the original Legion of Doom with Sunny as their manager. This was supposed to be a new beginning for them, but it is the beginning of the end for their credibility. This also features the first major appearance of another tag team that would be a huge part of the Attitude Era, Too Much of Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher, who would later be Too Cool, renamed Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay, teaming up with Rikishi to become one of the most popular acts later on in 2000 but we’re a ways off. Kurrgan gets involved attacking the Truth Commission. Barry Windham gets involved, to continue a feud that was dropped after this show with Bradshaw. LOD 2000 get the win and earn a WWF Tag Team Title Shot at the next Pay Per View, WWF Unforgiven.

WWF Lightheavyweight Champion TAKA Michinoku defeated Mr. Aguila

An quick five minute spotfest to get the Lightheavyweight Champion on the card. Oddly enough this would not be a concern at future Wrestlemanias. This was a watered down version of what they were doing with the Cruiserweight Division. Aguila leaps right into a dropkick and Michinoku Driver gets a token title defense for TAKA.

The Rock is interviewed by Gennifer Flowers. He says that the problems of the world don’t matter, unless they interfere with the Rock’s ability to properly care for his lawn.

WWF European Champion Triple H defeated Owen Hart

As per prematch stipulations, Sgt. Slaughter is handcuffed to Chyna, to prevent her from interfering like she did two weeks ago when Hunter won the title back. These two men have a pretty good match, with lots of nearfalls and intrigue. Owen Hart has Triple H in the Sharpshooter and Triple H is going nuts, about to submit but Chyna drags her man to the ropes. Then she neutralizes Slaughter with a face full of powder and then shot to the groin of Owen, which sets up the Pedigree and Triple H remains the European Champion. A good match between these two men, but a screwy finish brings it down just a little bit.

Sable and Marc Mero defeated Goldust and Luna Vachon

As far as mixed tag team matches go, this was one of the better ones that one could offer. Sable really held her own and there was some good wrestling in between Goldust and Marc Mero, with Mero pulling off a super rana, which he had not done since the boxing gimmick. Sable even gets in a few shots on Goldust. Sable hits a power bomb and then uses the TKO on Luna to score the pin. Mero reluctantly gives Sable props after the match but tensions are high.

The Rock retained the WWF Intercontinental Title against Ken Shamrock by reverse decision disqualification.

The Rock has the vintage Intercontinental Title Belt, which may in fact be the last time it gets seen until Cody Rhodes brought it back recently. This was supposed to be the night where Ken Shamrock was going to destroy the Rock and get his triumphant win. In a sense, that did happen, but not in the way it should. Shamrock applies the Ankle Lock to beat the Rock in under five minutes. Then refuses to break, so he is disqualified. Have I mentioned how I hate this finish? Shamrock goes ballistic, beating up referees. The Rock is taken out on a stretcher, but still manages to hold up the title, his victory evident.

Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie defeated The New Age Outlaws to win the WWF Tag Team Titles in a dumpster match.

Brawly, brawling, brawl, with lots of weapon shots and sick bumps but it is entertaining. Chainsaw Charlie/Terry Funk gets his back damaged something fierce in this match and given the fact that he was power bombed right down into a dumpster full of God only knows what, I believe it. A second dumpster gets involved and Funk uses the forklift to put the Outlaws into the dumpster for the belts. The second dumpster becomes important the next night but for right now the Hardcore Legends are your World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions.

Pete Rose is out to start what would be a staple at Wrestlemania for the next few years. He runs down Boston, but Kane comes down and promptly beats him up, laying him out with a huge Tombstone Piledriver. Strike one, Pete. This leads into Kane’s match with the Undertaker.

The Undertaker defeated Kane(w/Paul Bearer)

The build up to this match got the fans excited, but it wasn’t a technical master piece to say the very least. Not the worst match in the world but not exactly something that I would recommend watching more than once. Just for the historical significance of the first ever match between the Kane and the Undertaker. Kane destroys the Undertaker, Undertaker fights back. Tombstone doesn’t get the win. A second Tombstone still doesn’t get the win. Finally a third Tombstone gets the win. It took three Tombstones for the Undertaker to put Kane down for the pin. Naturally its Wrestlemania, so the Undertaker is your winner. Kane punks Undertaker afterwards and Tombstones him on a chair. This feud must continue for the next thirteen years(although they did team up at times but still).

Stone Cold Steve Austin won the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels with Mike Tyson as the Special Guest Enforcer.

Shawn Michaels first of all should be applauded because his back was really, really, thrashed something fierce due to the back drop on the casket at the Royal Rumble 1998 against the Undertaker. Looking at his face, he appears to be in a lot of pain and likely had some chemical assistance just to get to the ring. Yet, Shawn Michaels like he has so many times before, managed to put on the best performance that he can, even if circumstances were against him and his mobility was rather limited. So this match could have been better, but under the circumstances it was not all that bad. There was some interference from Chyna and Triple H early but they got ejected. Michaels and Austin work on the mat a lot of the match, to make this easier on Michaels. The referee goes down. Michaels managing a kip up on a bad back, ill advised perhaps, but impressive. Flying Elbow Drop and its time to go for some Sweet Chin Music but Austin catches the foot. Austin goes for another Stunner but Michaels blocks that and goes for another attempt of the Sweet Chin Music, to the Stone Cold Stunner for the pin, with Mike Tyson getting the belt. The first ever WWF Championship for Stone Cold Steve Austin.

After the fact, Tyson raises Austin’s hand and also knocks out Shawn Michaels. This would be the last time we see Shawn Michaels in the ring in the Attitude Era as a wrestler, although he would be seen in other roles and of course he would return to action over a year later.

Also after that night, DX was only down to Triple H and Chyna, but that would change in a big way the next night. Also the man that Vince McMahon didn’t want as the champion has the belt. What will happen? Wrestlemania 14 has passed and now the WWF Attitude Era Series continues with Part 26.

Next Part