Richard Parr looks back at Wrestlemanias XV-XVIII, when the WWE was at the height of the Attitude Era.
Wrestlemania is all about the big stars and even bigger feuds. As
Richard Parr looks back at Wrestlemania's XV-XVIII, when the WWE was at the height of the Attitude Era, some of wrestling's greatest stars such as The Rock, Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin, all fought tooth and nail to become Champion.
WRESTLEMANIA XV 28th March, 1999
WWE Championship match: The Rock (c) v Stone Cold Steve Austin
First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
The first Wrestlemania in Philadelphia was to hold a main event featuring two of the greatest wrestling stars ever to grace the squared-circle. At 27 years old, The Rock was the youngest ever WWE Champion and his opponent Stone Cold Steve Austin was hell-bent on ending the cocky youngster's reign.
'The Rattlesnake' made this clear as he struck the first fist into the face of the trash-talking champion. With the bout being a no-disqualification match the dual quickly spilled outside of the ring. The Rock took an early advantage of the no DQ rules by choking Austin with whatever he could get hold of, including Austin's own t-shirt and surrounding electric cables.
The chaos continued to ensue up the entrance ramp where The Rock's face smashed right into the steel barriers; and where Austin was back-dropped with his leg landing onto a steel lighting rig which was part of the entrance set. This set inflicted further damage when Austin whipped 'The Great One' into the massive metal entrance logo.
As the match moved back towards the commentators' desks, The Rock displayed his arrogance by taking a gulp of water and spitting it into the face of 'The Rattlesnake'. Infuriating Austin, he laid The Rock across the commentary table and sent 'The Brahma Bull' straight through it on the delivery of a second elbow to the heart. This gave Austin an opportunity to gain a bit of revenge by spitting water himself into The Rock's face.
When the match finally resumed in the ring The Rock was able to execute his signature manoeuvre. Unfortunately the Rock Bottom was not enough as Austin kicked out on two, forcing The Rock to get a chair from the outside.
With Austin seeing what was about to happen he was able to kick Rocky in the mid-section and grab the chair for himself. However as Stone Cold swung the chair The Rock pushed the referee into the line of fire. Instead of The Rock being flat on the mat it was the referee Mike Chioda.
After quickly hitting a swinging neckbreaker, The Rock began to pummel Austin with five chair shots. With the challenger looking down-and-out a second referee, Tim White, rushed to the scene to give the count as The Rock pinned Austin, but again only for two.
The Rock continued to wear down Austin and just as it looked like Austin was about to gain some momentum The Rock delivered a Samoan Drop. But yet again this only lead to a two count. An incensed champion took out his fury on the referee as he gave him a Rock Bottom.
This gave Austin the chance to strike with a Stone Cold Stunner. However as he went to pin the champion there was no referee. When referee Earl Hebner finally arrived it was too late as The Rock kicked out.
This was the cue for Vince McMahon to make his way down to the ring and help The Rock assault Austin. The numbers game didn't last long though as Mankind rushed to the ring. Wearing a referee's shirt, Mankind knocked Mr. McMahon out of the ring allowing the match to return as a one-on-one contest.
After Austin came close with a roll up it was The Rock who seemingly had the match won. After hitting a Rock Bottom, 'The Great One' lined up the People's Elbow but missed his opponent. Austin then blocked another Rock Bottom and struck a stunner on the champion. Stone Cold then covered The Rock as the fourth referee, Mankind counted to three.
Similarly to Wrestlmania XIV, Austin had won match and the title. As a distraught Vince McMahon looked on, Austin and the First Union Center crowd celebrated with a beer bash.
WRESTLEMANIA 2000 - 2nd April 2
Fatal four-way match: Mick Foley v The Big Show v The Rock v Triple H (c)
Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, CA
The first Wrestlemania main event of the new Millennium would be about a lot more than the WWE Championship. It was about, as Jim Ross would describe them as, "the most dysfunctional family on television", the McMahons.
In the fatal four-way elimination match, each Superstar was representing a McMahon. For one night only, Mick Foley came out of retirement to represent Linda McMahon. The Big Show fought for Shane McMahon. The Rock represented Vince McMahon. While the Champion Triple H represented his wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
Despite dominating the early going, the Big Show's participation in the contest didn't last very long. As The Rock and the Big Show battled it out in the ring, as Shane McMahon tried to distract 'The People's Champion', Foley hit a steel chair right into the face of the 500lb Superstar. One Rock Bottom later, the Big Show, with Shane McMahon, was headed down the ramp for an early shower.
By reliving the ol' days of the 'Rock 'n' Sock' connection, Foley and The Rock began to work together on HHH. This only lasted until The Rock accidentally hit Foley in the face with the ring bell.
There was no love lost between Mick Foley and Triple H. For it was The Game had put Foley into retirement in a brutal match. Foley had his plans of reigniting that brutality as he brought a plank of wood wrapped in barbed wire into the ring.
Helmsley then threw The Rock out of the ring which allowed Foley to DDT and then use Mr. Socko to put the mandible claw on HHH. Again The Rock came in to plant the WWE title in the face of Triple H. Just as he prepared for the People's Elbow, Foley then caught The Rock for his serving of Mr. Socko. A bewildered HHH then gave both Superstars a low blow.
Mick Foley clearly wanted to end up going one-on-one with Triple H so he began to do the unthinkable and started to work with The Game to eliminate The Rock.
Outside of the ring, The Rock thrust Foley into the steel steps. Mrs Foley's baby boy then retaliated, picking up the steps and hitting 'The Great One' in the face with them. As HHH laid The Rock on the Spanish announce table Mick Foley went to the top rope. As Foley leapt with a flying elbow aimed for The Rock, the hardcore legend fell short catching his face and neck on the edge of the table. This left HHH to jump off the guard rail to go through The Rock and the table on the second attempt.
With Foley reeling from his miss, back in the ring Triple H delivered a pedigree. With Foley able to kick out Triple H smashed him with a chair and then gave Foley a second pedigree on that same chair. There was no way Foley could kick out of that and having been eliminated the Anaheim crowd stood in appreciation of the hardcore legend.
Just to make sure Triple H remember him, Foley quickly hit his arch-rival with the barbed wire one more time before leaving Arrowhead Pond.
So the match was down to the final two: The Rock and the Champion Triple H. The duo continued to battle it out up the ramp and around the ring. Having kicked an advancing 'People's Champion' in the face with steel steps, Triple H piledrove The Rock right into the same steps.
The final two superstars didn't care where they fought as they continued to fight in the middle of the crowd. When they did return to the direction of the ring The Rock suplexed The Game right through the last remaining announce table.As both men struggled to get to their feet, HHH was able to get to his first. As Triple H rolled The Rock back into the ring, Vince McMahon decided to take the law into his own hands and began to attack The Game. This prompted Shane McMahon to return and hit his father right between the eyes with a television monitor. The chairman of the WWE then had to be assisted to the back.
As the match resumed in the ring the barbed wire once again came into play as HHH hit The Rock with it. Not content with interfering in his father's business, Shane McMahon entered the ring with a chair in hand. However, before he could use it, Rocky catapulted Triple H right into Shane. A Rock Bottom from the challenger then left both combatants lifeless on the mat.
From the entrance, Vince McMahon then ran back to the ring to attack his son. The chairman picked up a chair and shocking the world in the process he scrambled The Rock's brains with it. After kicking out a first time The Rock then received another shot this time too brutal for him to be able to kick out as Triple H collected the victory.
Vince McMahon had stunned the world by aligning with his estranged daughter and son-in-law. Nonetheless the family reunion didn't last long as The Rock spoiled the party with Rock Bottoms on son, father and daughter. And to the delight of the crowd in the Arrowhead Pond, The Rock topped it all off with a People's Elbow on daddy's little Princess Stephanie.
WRESTLEMANIA XVII - 1st April, 2001
WWE Championship match: The Rock (c) v Stone Cold Steve Austin
Astrodome, Houston, TX
Two years after their first encounter, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin would go at it again in a no-disqualification championship match in Austin's home state of Texas.
Unlike many Wrestlemania main events this match had an electric start. Where many Superstars like to feel each other out first, at Wrestlemania XVII there was no messing right from the off.
After each tried to finish it early with their signature moves, Austin removed the padding of one of the top turnbuckles before the bout spilled to the outside. As 'The People's Champion' rammed Austin's head into the timekeepers table Stone Cold was able to snatch the bell and clock the champion with it. The Rock had been busted open early in the match.
Austin began to work on The Rock's head until 'The Great One' came flying out the traps with a pair of clotheslines. Having rammed 'The Rattlesnake' into the exposed turnbuckle, The Rock settled the scores as he busted Austin open with the ring bell in the centre of the ring. Regardless of the two fierce head shots Austin kicked out of the attempted pin.
Both competitors' heads were seriously taking a battering because back on the outside after a catapult to the steel ringpost The Rock's forehead felt the full force of a television monitor from Austin.
Back in the ring Austin received a bit of nostalgia as The Rock executed the sharpshooter. With shades of his match against Bret 'The Hitman' Hart from Wrestlemania 13, this time Austin reached the ropes. Stone Cold then turn the tables on The Rock putting the submission manoeuvre on him but the champion's greater leg strength helped him force out of the move.
Austin tried a second time but The Rock reached for the rope. With that clearly not working 'The Bionic Redneck' decided to use an alternative submission hold. Having been taught by Ted DiBiase from his old days of The Ringmaster, Austin locked The Rock into the Million Dollar Dream. Although it took a lot out of him, 'The Great One' smartly used his feet to scale the turnbuckles forcing Austin onto his back and into a pinning predicament meaning Austin had to break the hold.
It was at this point of the contest that Vince McMahon decided he would get a close look at the main event as he strutted his way to ringside.
After The Rock kicked out from a spinebuster by Austin, the champion distributed one of his own and then "the most electrifying move in sports entertainment" the People's Elbow. With Austin seemingly beaten for some bizarre reason Mr. McMahon pulled The Rock off Austin right in the middle of the pin.
A furious Rock began to chase McMahon around the ring and as he chased him back into the ring he was greeted by a Rock Bottom courtesy of Stone Cold Steve Austin. With this only earning a two count Austin attempted a Stunner only for it to be blocked knocking referee Hebner to the outside in the process.
After admonishing a low blow to The Rock, Austin ordered Mr. McMahon to bring a chair into the ring. Austin then held The Rock as McMahon cracked the chair into Rocky's skull. Vince then tried to revive referee Hebner to make the count but when he does The Rock was able to raise a shoulder on two.
The Rock then tried to fight back. After Rock Bottoming Austin, The Rock began to lay the smack down on Vince McMahon. This didn't last long as Austin hit 'The Brahma Bull' with another Stunner. One way or another The Rock was able to kick out and did the same again after he was clattered with a chair.
The Rock was defying all the odds but this just sent Austin over the edge. With a chair in hand Stone Cold then battered The Rock with about a dozen shots all over his body. No man could kick out of that assault, and The Rock didn't as the referee's palm struck the mat three times.
Austin said he would do anything to regain the title and by aligning forces with his arch-nemesis Vince McMahon he had done just that. As Jim Ross said "Austin had sold his soul for the title".
WRESTLEMANIA XVIII - 17th March, 2002
Undisputed WWE Championship match: Chris Jericho (c) v Triple H
Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chris Jericho had become the first ever WWE Undisputed Champion when he beat both The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the same night at Vengeance in November 2001.
Triple H returned in January 2002 following an 8 month lay-off after he tore his quadriceps muscle. Just a few weeks after returning The Game won the Royal Rumble to make him the number 1 contender for Chris Jericho's undisputed title at Wrestlemania X8.
To give himself the best chance of retaining his title Jericho enlisted the services of Triple H's estranged wife, Stephanie. There was no love lost between the couple who were in the midst of divorce proceedings.
Chris Jericho also made sure he had a physical advantage going into his title defence. One week before Wrestlemania, Jericho smashed Triple H's leg with a sledgehammer, the same one that had kept The Game out for most of 2001.
With the left leg a clear weakness, Jericho focused on it right from the get-go of the bout. Despite being concerned about his leg this didn't stop Triple H from delivering his own leg pain with a figure-four leg lock on Y2J.
This gave Stephanie her first opportunity to interfere in the match. With HHH's head near the ropes Stephanie raked his eyes with her nails. In retaliation Triple H grabbed her by the hair and lifted her up to the ring apron. Whilst holding Steph, Jericho then came careering towards The Game. Fortunately Triple H moved out of the way and Jericho went straight into Stephanie knocking Vince McMahon's daughter to the ground.
Triple H had decided this still wasn't enough for Stephanie. To give her more pain he put her between his legs in preparation for a Pedigree. However he was unable to finish the move as Chris Jericho flew off the tope rope with a missile drop kick.
With the momentum back in his direction Jericho continued to work on the left leg putting on a figure-four leg-lock of his own but this time around a steel ring post. Jericho then lost control of the bout when he went for a spinning toe-hold and Triple H kicked him into the turnbuckles.
After Triple H used his power game to great effect with a collection of clotheslines and spinebusters the match spilled to the outside. The pair began to duke it out on the announce tables but as Triple H attempted to Pedigree Y2J through one of the desks the Champion reversed it with a back drop.
Jericho followed this up with a Lionsault in the ring but could only attain a two count. Jericho then created another perfect opportunity to win the match as he put Triple H in the Walls of Jericho after avoiding a Pedigree. Triple H successfully broke the submission move by reaching the ropes.
This incensed Jericho who grabbed a chair with the plan to hit HHH with. This plan didn't come to fruition as The Game kicked the chair into Y2J's face. Triple H then used the chair himself to DDT his opponent on.
Again Stephanie tried to get involved by taking the chair with the intention of hitting Triple H. An aware Referee Earl Hebner witnessed her plans and took it from her and ejected her from the ringside area. Being a McMahon, Stephanie didn't take kindly to orders and refused to leave. The decision was then taken out of her hands as Triple H delivered a Pedigree to her.
Y2J then wisely used this opening to strike HHH on the head with the chair but somehow only collected a two count. Jericho planned to add insult to injury and by giving Triple H a Pedigree. The challenger reversed it and catapulted Jericho into the turnbuckles. By having such good ring awareness Jericho landed smoothly onto the turnbuckles but as he tried to gain an advantage flying off them The Game caught him with a kick to the mid-section. This allowed Triple H to execute the Pedigree on the Champion which, just like it did to Stephanie, it knocked him out.
A 1-2-3 from the referee seconds later gave Triple H the win and the Undisputed Championship. All the rehabbing and work on his leg had paid off as Triple H had finally completed a remarkable comeback from injury.
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