Brian Hoops, PW Torch.com Nostalgia Specialist

This week’s look back at wrestling nostalgia takes us back 10 years to March 29,1998 and Wrestlemania 14. The show took place from Boston, Massachusetts at the Fleet Center. The show drew a sellout crowd of 19,028. The show was built around the main event of Shawn Michaels defending the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Steve Austin with Mike Tyson as the special referee for the match. This would be Michaels last match for over 4 years as he was struggling with back problems and would end up having surgery on his back, which would put him out of action for several years. Your broadcast team is Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler.

1. LOD 2000, Road Warriors Hawk and Animal won a tag team battle royal in 8:19. Road Warriors were returning as a mystery team and repackaged as L.O.D. 2000 managed by Sunny. Other teams involved were the New Midnight Express of Bob Holly and Bart Gunn, the Godwinns, the Quebecers, Skull & 8-Ball, Mark Henry & D-Lo Brown, the Rock-n-Roll Express, Steve Blackman & Flash Funk, Savio Vega & Miguel Perez, Bradshaw & Chainz, Sniper & Recon, Too Cool, Faarooq and Kama, Jesus Castillo and Jose Estrada and the Headbangers. The Godwinns, DOA, LOD & Holly and Gunn are the final four. Headbangers get tossed followed by the Godwinns, leaving LOD and the new Midnight Express in the ring. Hawk and Animal double clothesline Holly and Gunn over the top for the win. It was announced the winners get a world tag team title match at Unforgiven. Not my favorite match.

2. Taka Michinoku pinned Aguila in 5:57 to retain the World Light Heavyweight Title. This was WWE’s attempt to counter the very successful WCW Cruiserweight division. Crowd wasn’t into either one of the guys. Taka hit a Michinoku driver for the win.

3. Triple H w/Chyna defeated Owen Hart in 11:29 to retain the European Title. Sgt. Slaughter was doing the commissioner gimmick and he handcuffed himself to Chyna at ringside. Originally, the plan was for a Owen Hart vs. Shawn Michaels program after the infamous Montreal screwjob on Bret Hart at the 1997 Survivor Series, Shawn didn’t want any part of it and the program was given to Helmsley. Despite Chyna being handcuffed to Slaughter, Chyna managed to throw powder in Owen’s eyes. Hunter then hits the pedigree for the pinfall victory in a good match.

4. Marc Mero & Sable defeated Goldust and Luna Vachon in 9:11. Ross mentions the Wrestlemania 6 mixed tag team match with Dusty & Sapphire against Savage and Martel and then gives us a run down of the Vachon family tree. As far as mixed tag teams go, this wasn’t terrible and the crowd was into the Vachon and Sable spots. Mero gets a huracanrana for a two count and then a TKO but Luna makes the save. Mero tags Sable in and she gets a visual pinfall on Goldust and then moves out of the way of a Luna splash from the top. Sablebomb gets 2 and Sable then gets a TKO of her own for the win.

5. Rocky Maivia defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification in 4:49. This match was for the WWE Intercontinental Title. They brawl on the floor and Shamrock grabs steel chair but throws it down. The Rock steals the chair and then hits Shamrock with it and gets a nearfall. Shamrock comes back and gets the ankle lock for the tap out and wins the title. He beats down the Nation and then ends a stand off with Mark Henry with a belly to belly. He puts the Rock back in the ankle lock and Rock is bleeding from the mouth. A bunch of referees come in for the save and Shamrock beats them all up too. Rock is taken out on a stretcher. The referee reverses the decision by disqualifying Shamrock for his post match antics. Rock is holding up the belt while on the stretcher which pisses off Shamrock even further so he dumps him off and beats the crap out of him some more. Too short of a match.

6. Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie (Terry Funk) defeated the New Age Outlaws in a Dumpster Match for the Tag Team Titles in 10:01. The Outlaws are Billy Gunn and the Road Dog, however they are not yet part of DX. Wild brawl built around throwing both opponents into a dumpster to win the match. Outlaws powerbombed Funk into the dumpster, but weren’t able to get Jack into the dumpster. Everyone brawls to the back where Funk uses a fork lift to drop both the Outlaws in a dumpster for the win. Not a good match, that was made worse by the gimmick of the match.

7. Undertaker pinned Kane w/Paul Bearer in 16:58. Way too much storyline to cover here, however this is their first meeting as Kane debuted at Bad Blood 1997, interfering and costing the Undertaker the match against Shawn Michaels in the first ever Hell in a Cell match. Taker took a bump through the Spanish announce table, knocking out three Spanish announcers. Kane and Taker exchange Tombstone piledrivers for near falls. Taker gives Kane another Tombstone and Kane kicks out again. Taker delivers a clothesline from the top and a 3rd Tombstone to gain the pinfall. After the match Kane takes out the Undertaker with a Tombstone on a chair and Taker sits up.

8. Steve Austin pinned Shawn Michaels in 20:02 to win the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Mike Tyson was the special referee Mike Tyson. Tyson was reportedly paid $3.5 million for his involvement in the match, which caused a lot of heat among wrestlers, however this match along with Tyson’s involvement that made Steve Austin a household name. Michaels hurt his back at the Royal Rumble and this was his first match since the Rumble and his last for 4 years as his back required surgery and a long rehabilitation. Surprisingly, Michaels takes a lot of bumps on his back in this match. Michaels went for the super kick but Austin ducked and went for the Stunner. Michaels blocked it and went for another super kick but Austin blocked it an hit the Stunner for the win. Tyson counted the three. A very good main event match.

Summary: The main event was historic and a passing of the torch in a sense as it was the end of the first HBK era and Austin became the biggest WWF star at the time and would lead the WWF into its biggest ratings era of all time. The rest of the event can be skipped, but watch the main event for its historical importance.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s look at wrestling nostalgia. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments at bhoops@iw.net.

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