Re-Do: Wrestlemania XIV

Wrestlemania XIV Re-Do Review


This one is a favourite of mine and is actually one of my most popular reviews. It's also quite the historical show for the WWE as it started off the Austin Era, and fired a huge shot across to the land of the dinosaurs known as WCW. So is it still a great show? Let's find out.


                                                                                                                                                                   



15 Team Battle Royal
The mystery team ended up being the return of the Legion of Doom . It's hard to rate a match like this , considering there are 30 men in the ring at once . This was to decide the no.1 contenders for the tag titles at the In Your House PPV . I'd say it's entertaining . The Legion of Doom win . *


(The new Legion of Doom didn't last very long. A boring battle royal isn't exactly the best way to start off one of the biggest shows of all time, but at least it isn't totally terrible. This was basically nothing until it came down to the final two teams. *)


Taka Michinoku vs Aguila
This is for the Light Heavyweight Championship . They only got around five minutes to work , but they put a lot of action in that small timeframe . The fans were only really into the big moves but I found it all very entertaining . Taka retains after some sort of brainbuster slam . ***


(I'm pretty sure that "brainbuster slam" is called the Michinoku Driver dumbass. These two guys gave us an energetic and entertaining five minutes, even if the crowd didn't exactly give a shit about it, except for the big moves. Solid match while it lasted. **3/4)


Triple H vs Owen Hart
The stipulation of this match was that Chyna had to be handcuffed to Commissioner Slaughter so that she couldn't interfere on HHH's behalf . European title on the line . I think this is a great , underrated match . Chyna is able to hit Owen with a low blow and HHH takes advantage with a pedigree and retains the title . ***1/2


(This was the first time that the European Title was defended at Mania. Why didn't they just ban Chyna from ringside? Wouldn't that have been easier than being handcuffed to someone she could easily take out? Anyway this match isn't really talked about, which is a shame as it's quite the underrated gem. These guys went back and forth until Chyna helped HHH retain the Title. ***3/4)


Marc Mero & Sable vs Goldust & Luna
Looking at this on paper , it didn't look like it was going to be very good at all . It did end up being really good and the crowd also helped it a lot . The crowd loved Sable . Sable picks up the win with a TKO on Luna . ***1/4

(Going back to this one, I didn't think it would be as good as I remembered it, but it turned out to be better! This one featured a hot crowd, exciting action and some great nearfalls. This might be the most unexpectedly great match of all time. Great stuff overall. ***1/2)



The Rock vs Ken Shamrock
This is for the IC Title . This would be the last time the Rock would be in the mid-card at Wrestlemania . Shamrock actually kicked out of the people's elbow here . That chair shot was brutal . Shamrock makes Rock tap to the ankle lock . The decision was reversed to a DQ so The Rock retains his title . **1/2


(This would be Dwayne's first Wrestlemania appearance with the Rock character. This was strangely short for an IC Title match, as it only received five minutes. It was a fun match while it lasted though, so the original rating remains  **1/2)


Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie vs The New Age Outlaws : Dumpster Match
This match was here as a result of the infamous segment on Raw where Jack and Charlie were both thrown off the stage in a dumpster . This was just like a Hardcore match . Charlie suffered an injury here after being powerbombed in the dumpster . We have new tag champions after The New Age Outlaws are put in a dumpster backstage . ***


(The whole match does seem a bit redundant since the decision was overturned on Raw the next night, and the Tag Titles returned to the Outlaws. It was a fun match though that would resemble a lot of the hardcore matches that would take place a year later. Good stuff here. **3/4)


Undertaker vs Kane
Pete Rose is tombstoned by Kane in a moment that would repeat at the next two Wrestlemanias . This was the first match in their legendary feud . You either love or hate this match , but I'm inbetween . I enjoy the matches and I love the feud . Undertaker extends his streak to 7-0 after a third ! tombstone to Kane . ***1/4


(Actually now I really enjoy the original feud, don't really enjoy any of the future feuds, and I realise that the matches are pretty shitty. Well except from this one because it was built up brilliantly over a five month period and made Kane look like a huge threat. Until Shawn Michaels in 2010, Kane was the only guy to kick out after taking two tombstones. Good match here and the best of the endless Kane vs Taker series. ***)


Stone Cold vs Shawn Michaels
This match is great considering that Shawn was fighting with an injured back . All through the match you can clearly see the pain on his face , and tries to complete the match . This was an awesome match all things considered and gave Austin his first WWE Title win and started off the Attitude era . ****

(Yeah Shawn did a great job out there with his injured back. This isn't the best match ever, but thanks to it's historical significance, it's definitely an all time classic. It's still an awesome contest that's worth watching again and again. The Austin era begins here. ****)



8.5/10 . This was one of the funnest Mania's ever and also one of the most important as it started off the most popular era in WWE history .


(8.5/10. This show is a lot like Wrestlemania 3, in that if you claim to be a wrestling fan, this is a show you should watch at least once. Aside from the opening battle royal, this was an immensely fun show with a great European Title match, a surprisingly great mixed tag match, the first confrontation of Undertaker and Kane, and a classic main event)