WWE WrestleMania X-Seven Review (4/1/2001).

09 Apr, 2025

Up front, I want to brag about how I watched this event for this review: I spent $85 on eBay to buy the original DVD version of this show, which is a rarity among wrestling fans.

When it comes to legendary supercards, it doesn’t get any more historic than this one. Coming just days after the end of the Monday Night Wars, WWE had a lot of momentum going for them. On March 26th, the announcement was made that WWE had purchased WCW, effectively winning the ratings battle against the only promotion to ever challenge them and win. On top of that, ECW had went bankrupt not long before that, leaving Paul Heyman to soon join the company on commentary, and thus WWE was left as the last man standing in the American Wrestling Wars that launched the medium to new heights in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

This show represented the end of an era in many ways. WWE was the only major wrestling promotion left in America, the Monday Night Wars were over, and the Attitude Era was in its final victory lap. What better way to say goodbye to one era and hello to another than by having their first WrestleMania in a stadium since 1992? After spending much of the 1990s in arenas for the biggest event of the year, WWE drew 67,925 fans to the Astrodome in Houston, Texas for a grand spectacle the likes of which they’d never had before.

If you didn’t already know, this is one of the most critically acclaimed shows not just in WWE history, but in Pro Wrestling history as a whole. It’s a true variety show to the best degree. A solid undercard of talent? Hardcore Division silliness? Technical wrestling? Soap opera bullshit? Dangerous high spots? Attitude Era brawling? A show of appreciation for some of the worst gimmicks ever seen in wrestling by men who held the promotion together during its worst times? It’s all here in stride.

At the top of the card is something that, in my opinion, has never happened since in American wrestling. You have two guys, two megastars who have both crossed into that “all important” realm known as the mainstream, two guys who seemingly transcend pro wrestling, at the peak of their powers at the exact same time, meeting in the main event. Can you tell me an era of wrestling that featured not just one person who was the biggest wrestling star in the world, but TWO? It happened here, and I don’t think it’s happened since. Will it ever happen again?

As a kid, I went eight months without cable at home, and I ended up not watching this event when it happened live. It’s a major regret as a fan. But hey, I have the original “WWF” DVD of it! With that, let’s get into WrestleMania X-Seven!

We begin with a cheesy but nice video package of different audiences from all around the world enjoying past WrestleMania events, and it ends with WrestleMania being called “a celebration of life.”

We go from that to the opening pyro and wide shots of the Astrodome, and man, this venue looks a lot bigger than they say it is. There’s a lot of people here, and the shots of the crowd are really impressive.

Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho © vs. William Regal.

These two have been going back and forth for several weeks, and the highlight of this feud was easily Jericho pissing in Regal’s coffee, and then Regal drinking it. It’s WrestleMania, baby!

The bell sounds, and here we go. Regal kicks Jericho in the gut right away, and Jericho explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Diving forearm follows, and Jericho continues his barrage of punches. Nice spinning heel kick by Jericho, and Regal powders. Jericho is quick to follow him with a plancha to the outside. Back in the ring, Jericho connects with a diving back elbow to the head for a 2 count. Regal looks for a takedown, and Jericho counters into the Walls of Jericho. Regal elbows his way free, and he sends Jericho’s injured shoulder into the ring post. Regal had previously worked on that shoulder on Smackdown recently.

Regal connects with a nice arm drag to further injure the arm. He covers, and Jericho kicks out. Regal hammerlocks the arm briefly, but the champion escapes. Another back elbow by the champion, and a Lionsault attempt is blocked by a pair of knees. Regal pops off a roll up for a quick 2 count. He follows with a nasty back suplex. Regal removes the top turnbuckle pad, and then sends Jericho’s bad shoulder into it repeatedly.

Jericho fires back with a pair of enziguris. He goes to the top, and lands a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Regal blocks a splash in the corner. He brings Jericho off the top rope with a double arm suplex. Regal quickly makes the cover, and Jericho is able to kick out. Jericho takes Regal down and tries for the Walls of Jericho, but his shoulder gives out, and Regal turns it into the Regal Stretch submission. After a few moments, Jericho is able to get to the ropes to break the hold.

Jericho cuts Regal’s offense off with multiple chops. Regal responds with a thrust kick to the shoulder. Jericho grabs Regal and sends him head first into the exposed turnbuckle, and then hits a bulldog. Suplex by Jericho, and he scores with the Lionsault to win and retain the championship. Decent opening match for the show, with some good back and forth wrestling, and limb psychology on the part of Regal. The ending was a bit sudden, and they could’ve used a few more minutes, but what we got was solid.

Backstage, a limo arrives to the Astrodome. It has a WCW plate, and here’s Shane McMahon. He’s ready for his Street Fight later.

Backstage, Bradshaw talks to Faarooq and Jacqueline about the importance of WrestleMania being in Texas, and he’s ready to kick some ass.

Six Man Tag Team Match: Right to Censor (Val Venis, Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather) vs. Tazz & APA.

Steven Richards leads the Right to Censor out to the best theme song in wrestling. I kid, I kid.

Venis and Tazz begin the brawl on the outside to kick things off. APA and the rest of RTC go at it at ringside. Jacqueline gives Richards a DDT. Bull hits a middle rope springboard clothesline to Faarooq, and he responds with a nice powerslam for a 2 count. Tazz makes the tag, and hits a suplex to Bull. Bull with a big boot to Tazz, and here’s Venis for the tag. He punches Tazz in the corner, and then drives a knee into the midsection. Side Russian Legsweep follows for a nearfall.

Goodfather makes the tag, and powerslams Tazz. Big legdrop by the former Pimp. He lands a high back suplex, and Tazz kicks out. Irish whip, and the Ho Train connects on Tazz in the corner. He goes to the top rope, and misses the Vader Bomb. Bradshaw tags in, and boots Goodfather down. Back elbow to the head, and a back body drop. He attacks Bull and Venis as well. He hits the Last Call on Venis, and Faarooq comes into attack Bull.

It’s chaos, as everyone fights. Bradshaw has Venis up on the top rope, and he drills him with a back suplex. Bull and Goodfather double powerbomb Bradshaw. Goodfather looks to squash Bradshaw in the corner, but Bradshaw avoids it and hits the Clothesline from Hell to win the match. Quick match to get everyone on the card. It was never a bad thing to see Right to Censor get their ass kicked.

Backstage, Stephanie McMahon speaks to her mom Linda, who is medicated out of her ass. She says that at least one of her children turned out okay. She then makes some ridiculous demands of Trish Stratus, including breaking up pieces of ice with a spoon.

Triple Threat Match for the Hardcore Championship: Raven © vs. Kane vs. Big Show.

Raven brings a shopping cart full of weapons to the ring, and one of them is a dummy Frankenstein doll. He also has the kitchen sink.

Raven attacks Kane with some weapons, and Kane quickly takes advantage. Big Show finally makes his entrance. He’s taking his time, considering that the match has already started. Kane lifts Raven up for a gorilla press, and then he tosses him to the floor onto Show, who catches him in a choke hold. Kane goes to the top rope, and dives onto Show with a clothesline. Raven tries for a cover, and Kane quickly breaks it up.

Kane sends Raven over the barricade into the fans. He lifts Raven up, and Show boots Kane in the head. They fight even further into the crowd, and Kane and Show are controlling much of the action. Raven decks Kane with a street sign, and Kane responds by throwing him into a wall. Show attacks Kane from behind, and powerslams him onto a stack of pallets. He chases Raven down the hallway, and throws him into a fenced off room. He locks the door, with the referee in there with him.

Kane easily opens the door, and the brawl continues. Kane breaks a 2x4 over Show’s back, and Raven tries to choke Kane with a garden hose. Kane shoves Raven into the chainlink, and breaks it easily. Kane wraps the hose around Raven, and throws him through a window! Show then tosses Kane into a door, and then spears him through it. They battle for control of a Chokeslam, and they each crash through a wall!

Raven steals a golf caddy, and Show gets on the back of it. Raven drives it into a ditch, and nearly runs over some power cables – the very cables that control most of the power to the Astrodome. Raven almost killed WrestleMania! Kane steals a caddy, and very nearly runs Raven’s legs over. All three men continue their brawl down the hallway, as Show tosses Raven onto the drinks table. Kane slams Show’s head off of an equipment box.

They fight their way up through Gorilla, and are back on the main stage of WrestleMania. Kane explodes with multiple punches to Show, who responds with a clothesline. Show turns his attention to Raven, and he lifts him up for a press slam. Kane boots Show, and sends both men off the stage through part of the set. Kane then hits a diving leg drop or elbow drop to Show, and he gets the pin to take the championship. That was pure fun and chaos. Tons of brawling, Raven almost killing the power to the whole show, and some wacky spots throughout. This was the epitome of the Hardcore division.

Backstage, Kurt Angle is watching footage of Chris Benoit putting him in the Crossface. Edge and Christian come in, and they all talk about how they will win their matches. Angle says since Benoit didn’t make him tap in an official match, it doesn’t count.

Hall of Famer and murderer Jimmy Snuka is at WWE New York. Jonathan Coachman interviews a fan who flew 30 hours from Brisbane, Australia to come to her first WWE event. She and her friends do the Aussie Open chant, which got a giggle out of me. The Rock has apparently just arrived for WrestleMania.

European Championship: Test © vs. Eddie Guerrero.

Perry Saturn accompanies Guerrero to the ring, and he looks like some weird Hulk Hogan cosplayer.

On Raw the previous Monday, Guerrero cost Test a match with X-Pac by doing a terrible job as the referee.

I always thought Test was super underrated for most of his WWE run.

The bell sounds, and Guerrero tries for a cheap shot on Test, who flapjacks him in response. Big powerbomb by Test, and that gets a quick nearfall. Guerrero powders, and Test quickly goes after him. He gets Guerrero back in the ring, and Latino Heat cuts him off on the way back in. Test lifts Guerrero up for a nice Gorilla Press Slam, and sends him into the top turnbuckle. Back elbow by the champion, and a powerslam.

Test goes to the middle rope, and Guerrero cuts him off. Guerrero tries for a hurricanrana, and Test holds onto the ropes to avoid it. He nails a diving back elbow to Guerrero, who kicks out at 2. Test rushes at Guerrero, and he avoids it. Test gets hung upside down, and Saturn attacks Test while the referee is distracted. Guerrero stomps away at Test, and sends his leg into the ringside floor. Back in the ring, Guerrero continues his work on the now injured leg.

Guerrero latches onto Test’s back and applies a sleeper hold. Test fires back with a nice tilt a whirl slam. Test then does another tilt a whirl, and he turns it into a powerbomb for a 2 count. Guerrero takes advantage of a ref distraction and low blows Test, and then Saturn comes in to attack Test. Guerrero makes the cover, and Test kicks out. Guerrero goes to the top rope, and misses a senton. Test misses the big boot, but he’s able to hit the Pump Handle Powerslam. He knocks Saturn off the apron, then gets a nearfall.

Saturn comes in again, and eats a big boot. Test then delivers it flush to Guerrero! He makes the cover, and here’s Dean Malenko to pull Test off the cover. Test attacks him, and as the ref tries to get Malenko to leave, Saturn hands Guerrero the championship and he decks Test with it. He makes the cover, and that’s enough for the win to take the title. That was a solid little match that went a little overboard with the interference at the end. It was a good showcase for the undercard, and two great talents of the time.

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Mick Foley about whether he can be impartial in the Street Fight tonight. Foley says he will definitely call the match down the line, and he’ll do it right here in Houston, Texas! Steve Austin arrives to the Astrodome late as well.

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit.

As Angle makes his way to the ring, he talks about how he’s not a fan of Texas. He says that he knows the idiots of the state know Angle won’t tap out to Benoit. He also says for everyone to lose the cowboy hats, because they aren’t children.

The bell sounds, and here we go. This should be good. They lock up, and Angle gets a takedown off on Benoit. They scramble on the mat for control, and we get somewhat of a clean break. The crowd approves of the grapples. Another takedown by Angle, and Benoit quickly looks to take control. We get another clean break. They lock up again, and Angle forces Benoit into the turnbuckle. Both of these men are so intense.

Angle with a double leg takedown, and Benoit quickly looks for a front facelock. They look for leverage on the other. Another clean break, as neither man has the advantage just yet. Angle with another single leg takedown, and Benoit looks for the Crossface. Angle rapidly gets to the rope to break it up. Angle takes Benoit down again, and Benoit again looks for the Crossface. Angle once again gets the rope break, and then he powders to the floor.

Back in the ring, Angle gets another takedown on, and Benoit again tries for the Crossface. Angle has had enough of this, and he decks Benoit with a forearm. He sends Benoit to the floor, and smashes his head off the barricade. He follows that by slamming his head off the announce table. Angle with a hard irish whip into the steel steps. Back inside the ring, Angle kicks at Benoit’s back, and then hits a nice suplex for a 2 count.

Angle hits a back suplex on Benoit, and that also gets him a nearfall. He punches and kicks at Benoit in the corner, then drives his elbow into the sternum. Benoit fires back with knife edge chops to the chest. Angle responds with a belly to belly suplex. Angle with another one, and Benoit with two forearms to the face. They fight for control in the corner with strikes. Benoit drives his knee into the midsection, and drives his elbow in the face. That gets him a 2 count.

Benoit with a snap suplex gets another nearfall. He places Angle on the top rope, and hits a nice super plex. Irish whip into the corner, and Benoit goes into the trifecta of German Suplexes, but on the third, Angle catches Benoit in the Ankle Lock! Benoit reverses it into an Ankle Lock of his own, and Angle kicks his way free. Benoit grabs Angle and applies the Crossface submission. Angle is able to reverse that, and he puts the Crossface on Benoit!

Benoit kicks Angle into the referee, and he’s down. He puts the Crossface on Angle, and Angle taps! But no one is there to see it. Benoit goes to check on the ref, and Angle takes advantage with an Angle Slam. He covers, and Benoit kicks out. Angle powerslams Benoit, and then goes to the top rope. He goes for his beautiful moonsault, and Benoit gets his knees up to block it. Benoit calls for the Diving Headbutt, and he goes to the top rope. He nails it flush! Benoit covers, and Angle somehow kicks out.

Angle sneaks in a low blow, and an arm bar takeover into a pin, and with the help of the tights, Angle gets the win! That was a fantastic match, with the opening amateur wrestling sequence some of the most fluent I’ve ever seen in the ring. It got more physical as it went on, and Angle cheating to win gave an opening for this rivalry to continue – which it certainly did.

Backstage, William Regal is interviewed. He says he’s definitely not okay, and as he returns to his office, Kamala and Kimchee are fucking with his stuff. Fun fact: Kamala once had a match in 2006 with Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship.

We get some footage of the wrestlers at Fort Hood, hanging out with the Men & Women of the Armed Forces.

Backstage, Kurt Angle is interviewed about his victory. He says he doesn’t respect Benoit, and he’s the best in the world after beating him. Benoit attacks him from behind, and he makes Angle tap to the Crossface.

Women’s Championship: Ivory © vs. Chyna.

Months ago, the Right to Censor broke Chyna’s neck, and she hasn’t been the same since. Ivory has been mocking Chyna, who eventually makes her return, and looks stronger than ever. Chyna has signed an agreement, saying that WWE won’t be held legally accountable for anything that happens tonight, in case she’s more injured than she thinks.

Chyna comes out to a massive pop, and shoots her pyro gun into the crowd.

This is only the second time Chyna has challenged for the Women’s Title. She’s a former two time former Intercontinental Champion.

Chyna looks confident, while Ivory looks like she’s ready to shit herself.

Ivory attacks Chyna with the title, as the bell sounds. Ivory goes on the attack, stomping away at the neck. She goes to kick Chyna, but the challenger catches her, and tosses her aside like she’s nothing. She unloads with forearms in the corner, and then hits a hip toss. Big clothesline by Chyna, and another. She tosses Ivory with a back body drop. Chyna lifts Ivory up, and drills her with a powerbomb. She goes for the cover, but breaks up her own pin.

Chyna lifts Ivory up for the Gorilla Press Slam, and drops her hard to the mat. Chyna lays back comfortably on Ivory, and she gets the pin to take the win and win her first Women’s Title. She remains the only woman in WWE history to hold both the Intercontinental and Women’s Titles. Total squash, and only watchable just for the spectacle that was the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna.

Backstage, Vince McMahon confirms that Linda McMahon’s dosage has been doubled for tonight. He says that Trish is to bring Linda to ringside when Shane is completely immobile. He promises something shocking tonight.

Street Fight w/Mick Foley as Special Referee: Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon.

Months ago, Vince demanded a divorce from Linda, and then he began an affair with Trish Stratus. They made out in front of her. This prompted the return of Shane McMahon, who attacked his father. He challenges his dad to a match at WrestleMania. Vince says he’ll never forgive Linda for giving birth to Shane. Six days before this, WCW was bought by WWE, but during the historic simulcast between Raw and Nitro, Shane showed up on Nitro surprisingly, and announced that the name on the contract says McMahon – Shane McMahon. He promises that WCW will kick his ass at WrestleMania.

Shane gives a special shoutout to his friends from WCW in the press box, and they look as disinterested as ever.

Vince slaps Shane as the bell sounds, and here we go. Vince unloads with punches and chokes in the corner. Shane fires back with a huge clothesline. He spears his father, and takes top position with some crazy punches. Stephanie McMahon tries to talk some sense into Shane, and then just slaps the shit out of him. Shane hits a baseball slide to Vince, and they continue their fight on the floor. Shane drills Vince with a street sign right on the noggin. He chokes Vince with some cables, then sends him into the steel steps. Shane walks the barricade, and lands a jumping clothesline. After sending Vince into the barricade, Shane grabs a kendo stick from under the ring. Hard shot to the back, and the stick bends on impact! Another hard strike to the midsection, and another to the back. Shane pops off some jabs, as badly as only he could.

Shane begins to tear apart the announce table. He grabs a monitor and decks Vince right on the head. He returns to the ring, and goes to the top rope. Shane goes for an elbow drop, and Stephanie pulls Vince out of the way. Shane crashes and burns through the table! Trish Stratus is bringing the sedated Linda McMahon down to ringside. Knowing that Linda McMahon is killing the Department of Education as we speak, I wish Trish would roll her ass off the stage.

As Linda sits at ringside, Trish goes to check on Vince. Then, she slaps the taste out of his mouth! Stephanie slaps her, and now they are brawling! Trish chases after Stephanie, and continues to beat the hell out of her in the ring. Mick Foley pulls Stephanie away, and gets slapped for it. Foley and Trish chase Stephanie up the ramp. Stephanie trips, and Trish chases her backstage. Back at ringside, Vince realizes that Linda is at ringside. He mouths “you bitch.”

He goes to threaten her, and Foley cuts him off. He goes to wheel her away, and Vince grabs a chair. He swings it at Foley’s back, and then his head. Vince grabs the wheelchair, and puts his lifeless wife into the ring. He sets the chair up, and places his wife on it in the corner. He goes back outside and kicks Shane in the midsection. He rolls him into the ring, and then grabs some trash cans. Vince drills Shane in the head with one, and tosses it aside. He continues to taunt Linda.

Vince grabs another and bends the hell out of it into Shane’s back. More taunting, and then he grabs the third trash can. He raises it at Shane, and behind him, Linda stands up! She kicks Vince right in the nuts. Here’s Foley, who punches Vince into the corner, and then drives his knee right into the head. Shane is back to his feet, and he lays the trash can into Vince’s chest. Shane goes to the opposite corner, and stands on the top rope. For the first time ever. Shane hits Coast to Coast, dropping both of his feet to the opposing corner, and crushing the trash can into Vince’s body! He makes the cover, and that’s the win!

That was pure soap opera bullshit, and it was no less entertaining. Vince got duped by his wife, his son, Trish Stratus, and Mick Foley. The crowd was hot for this, as they loved every bit of the craziness. The Coast to Coast being pulled off for the first time was a neat moment that makes the match even more memorable.

We cut to some footage of the Hardy Boyz at Axxess doing autograph sessions. They talk about the upcoming TLC Match, and how dangerous it’s going to be. He says this is the culmination of a two year journey between the three teams. We then see Triple H getting hyped up backstage for his match with The Undertaker, and vice versa, The Undertaker is getting ready for his battle with the Game.

TLC Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships: Dudley Boyz © vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz.

Since 1999, these three teams have been interlocked in an ongoing feud for tag team supremacy. From the first Tag Team Ladder Match, to the first Tag Team Tables Match, to the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000, and the inaugural TLC Match at SummerSlam, the risks and heights have been raised each time, and who can guess how high they’ll be taken tonight.

The bell sounds, and everyone brawls to start things out. The Dudleys land a double flapjack to Christian, while the Hardys send Edge to the floor. They squash the Dudleys in the corner, as Edge and Christian grab a ladder. They run it into the Hardys, and then into the Dudleys. Christian sets Matt Hardy up on the top rope, and he and Edge stand on Matt’s balls. They land a double drop toe hold into a steel chair on Jeff Hardy.

The Dudleys pull Christian to the outside and beat him up. Edge sets the ladder up, and he goes for the titles. Matt pulls him down, and attacks him in the corner. Edge clotheslines him off the ladder to cut his momentum off. Edge makes the climb again, and Jeff uses the chair to run up and dropkick him off of it. The Hardys dropkick another ladder into the Dudleys on the floor. Matt powerslams Christian, and he and his brother climb opposing ladders.

They come down with a leg drop/splash combo on Christian, and then get immediately attacked by the Dudleys. Bubba Ray powerslams Edge, and Devon comes off the top rope with the What’s Up. The Dudleys go for tables now, and now we have two tables in the ring. Devon places on against the turnbuckle, while Bubba places on in the middle of the ring. He places Edge on it, and then powerbombs Jeff through Edge and the table!

The Dudleys go to the floor, and they set up four tables on top of each other in front of the ring. This didn’t work so well at SummerSlam, now did it? Christian attacks Devon with a chair, and Matt attacks Bubba with a ladder. In the ring, Matt and Christian set two ladders up. Matt sends Christian to the outside, and the Dudleys are back in. Bubba pushes one of the ladders into Matt’s head. Three ladders are set up, and all six men are making the climb for the titles!

Matt and Christian go flying to the outside, Devon and Jeff land on the ropes, and Bubba and Edge punch each other off the ladders. Everyone is down! Christian sets up a table at ringside, as Edge places a ladder in the middle of the ring. Here comes Spike Dudley, who hits the Dudley Dog to Edge off the ladder, and then hits the Dudley Dog to Christian, sending both men through the ringside table! Jeff sets up the ladder now, and makes the climb, but here’s Rhyno! He pulls Jeff off the ladder, then hits Devon with the ladder. Gore to Bubba, and then a Gore to Matt, sending him through the corner table!

Edge makes the climb now, but here comes Lita! She jerks Edge off, the ladder that is, and then gets pressed by Rhyno. Spike low blows Rhyno, and Lita hits a hurricanrana to Rhyno off the top rope. Spike hits Rhyno with a chair, and he pushes the ladder over, sending Edge into the ropes. The Dudleys grab Rhyno and hit the Doomsday Device. Lita grabs a chair and drills Spike with it. She takes her top off, then walks into the 3D by the Dudleys!

Edge and Christian take them both out with chairs. On the outside, Jeff sets Rhyno and Spike up on two tables. He pulls out a giant ladder, and sets it up at ringside. He makes the climb, as Edge brings in more ladders to the ring. Jeff is on the top, and he lands the Swanton Bomb, crashing through Spike and Rhyno and the tables! Edge now has the super tall ladder in the ring, along with three other ladders. Devon and Christian make the climb up, and they each have their hands on the titles.

Matt moves the ladder away, and Devon and Christian dangling off the titles! Devon falls first, and then Christian falls. Jeff is back in the ring, and he attempts to walk across the three ladders to the titles, but he slips. He grabs one, and climbs it. He grabs the titles, and he ends up hanging from the top. Bubba pulls the ladder away from him, as Edge climbs the super tall ladder, then lands a Spear to Jeff mid air! To this day, it’s still one of the greatest spots in Pro Wrestling history.

Now Matt and Bubba climb the tall ladder in the middle of the ring. They fight for control on top, but here’s Rhyno to push the ladder over, sending both men crashing to the outside, and through the four table set up from earlier! JR says it best on commentary – say a prayer for these six men. Devon and Christian make the climb next, but Edge holds onto Devon’s legs, as Rhyno helps Christian climb faster. Christian grabs the championships, and they take the titles once again.

Absolutely incredible match, and it remains the best spotfest style match in WWE history. The risks and the sacrifices made here are extraordinary, and they set a standard for modern wrestling that it’s still trying to match. The inclusion of Rhyno, Spike and Lita made this even more chaotic, and fun. The mid air Spear from Edge to Jeff Hardy, and the Bubba/Matt spot falling through the four tables happened in the span of about 90 seconds. That’s fucking insane to think about. This is rightfully a legendary match, and a fitting conclusion to the hottest tag team rivalry WWE has ever had.

We cut to footage from Axxess, and all the wrestlers talk about the fun experiences they get in meeting the fans.

Howard Finkel announces a new attendance record for the Astrodome – 67,925 fans.

Gimmick Battle Royal.

JR and Paul Heyman take a brief break from commentary to pass it over to the legendary Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan for this match, which is a nice way for some odd gimmicks from days gone by to have a big spotlight in front of WWE’s biggest audience in years.

The lineup is as follows: Nikolai Volkoff, Kamala, Kimchee, Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter, Repo Man, Earthquake, The Gobbledy Gooker, The Goon, Tugboat, One Man Gang, Hillbilly Jim (who gets a great pop), Brother Love, Doink the Clown (great pop), Duke The Dumpster Droese, Jim Cornette, The Bushwhackers & Freebird Michael Hayes (great pop).

There’s not too much to this one. The entrances alone take 9 minutes, and the match itself is around 3 minutes. Iron Sheik ends up winning, because for medical reasons, he can’t take bumps, and can’t be thrown over the top rope. Post match, Sheik gets choked out by Slaughter in the Cobra Clutch. It was good harmless fun, and it was cool to see these guys get a chance to have a moment in a big stadium WrestleMania. The highlight was definitely listening to Okerlund and Heenan banter with each other on commentary.

The Undertaker vs. Triple H.

After his win over Steve Austin at No Way Out, Triple H began to brag about how he’d beaten everyone there was to beat in the WWE, and that led to The Undertaker coming out to remind him that he’d never beaten him in a match. So, now they have a match at WrestleMania. This is the first of three singles matches these two would have at WrestleMania, and for some reason, it wasn’t mentioned at all when they feuded at WrestleMania 27 and 28.

Motorhead, one of the most badass Metal bands of all time, play Triple H to the ring for their first of two WrestleMania appearances. The Undertaker makes his way out on his motorcycle, and with how long the entrance way is to the ring, his speeding is a legendary site to see.

They start brawling at ringside to start things out. Taker punches Triple H, and causes him to fall through the replacement announce table of the night. In the ring, the bell rings, and Triple H starts to punch his way back in the lead. Taker with punches of his own. Triple H with a Harley Race knee to the face, and Taker gets right back up. He explodes with several right hands in the corner. Big back body drop by the Deadman.

Taker clotheslines Triple H in the corner, and then connects with a running powerslam. Taker misses an elbow drop, but doesn’t miss the jumping clothesline. He twists the arm around, and snaps at the shoulder. He goes for Old School, but Triple H is able to pull him off of the ropes. Nice neckbreaker by The Game, and that gets him a nearfall. Triple H with several hard knuckles to the head, and an elbow to the back of the head.

On the apron, he drives his elbow into the chest. Back in the ring, Triple H hits a swinging neckbreaker for a few nearfalls. He argues with the referee, and this gives Taker a chance to regroup with multiple bodyshots. Facebuster by Triple H out of nowhere. He goes to the outside, and grabs the sledgehammer. He goes to swing it at Taker, but the referee takes it from him. Triple H goes for the Pedigree, but Taker counters and slingshots him into the referee in the corner.

Taker connects with a chokeslam, and Triple H is able to kick out. Taker is pissed, and he attacks the referee. Taker continues his attack on Triple H, and tosses him to the outside. He back body drops The Game over the barricade, into the fans. They fight further into the Astrodome, and make their way to the tech area. Taker has the advantage, unloading with hard punches to Triple H. They go higher and higher on this area, until Triple H nails Taker with a chair to the back, and the head.

He goes for one more shot, but Taker grabs him around the throat, and chokeslams him off the tower, and to the floor below! A paramedic is here to check on Triple H, but Taker instead jumps off the tower and lands an elbow drop to Triple H’s chest! Taker grabs him, and they begin their trek back to ringside. In the ring, Taker eyeballs the sledgehammer, and looks to use it on The Game. He goes to swing it, and Triple H catches him with a low blow.

Triple H takes the hammer, and walks into a big boot. They exchange in fisticuffs now, until Triple H briefly attempts the Tombstone. Taker is able to reverse it and hit the proper Tombstone. Taker tries to wake up the referee that he knocked out. Taker goes for the Last Ride, but Triple H grabs the hammer on the way up, and drills him in the head with it. Triple H makes the cover, and Taker is able to kick out. Taker is busted open now.

Triple H zeroes in on the wound. He looks for multiple punches in the corner, until Taker counters with a big Last Ride out of nowhere. That’s enough for the 3 and the win. Undertaker is 9-0 at WrestleMania. That was a crazy, Attitude Era style brawl done perfect. It was wild, unpredictable, and crazy, and that’s what you’d expect from this era. The crowd popped hard for this one, as the efforts of both men were appreciated. Not a bad match at all.

The Rock makes his long walk backstage, while Steve Austin leaves his locker room. The time is upon us.

It’s the match that both men need to win, and neither man can afford to lose. After missing much of 2000 due to career threatening neck injury, Austin won the Royal Rumble Match to earn a WWE Title Match at WrestleMania, while The Rock regained the WWE Title from Kurt Angle at No Way Out, setting the stage for a monumental main event in the Astrodome between the two biggest wrestling stars in the world. Never in any other era has their been two performers of equal magnitude and popularity and crossover appeal like there is between Rock and Austin, and at the peak of their powers, they collide at WrestleMania. Oh, and Austin’s wife Debra was made Rock’s manager at one point by Vince McMahon, but no one cares about that.

The Rock promises that Austin will get every ounce of sweat and blood and energy, and the absolute best of The Rock. Austin says he needs to win this match more than anyone can imagine, and that there can be only one World Wrestling Federation Champion, and it’ll be Stone Cold.

Howard Finkel announces that the match will be No Disqualification, which surprises Jim Ross and Paul Heyman on commentary, as that was not a known stipulation coming into the event.

Austin makes his entrance first to a nuclear pop from the home state Texas crowd. In my opinion, this is the most iconic entrance Austin ever had in WWE. He makes his way down the absurdly long entrance ramp, and poses in the ring. He looks laser focused on victory.

The Rock comes out next to a much more mixed reception from the fans. Not a usual thing that you saw during this era, but hey, we’re in Stone Cold country for this showdown. Like his challenger, The Rock is laser focused on victory, as he poses in the ring.

The Rock steps down from the corner, and Austin immediately unloads with punches to the champion. The bell sounds and this epic match is under way. Austin goes right for the WWE Championship belt and looks to hit The Rock with it, who ducks out of the way. The Rock punches Austin against the ropes, but Austin sends him running against them, and hits the Lou Thesz press on the champion. The Rock comes back with a swinging neckbreaker. The Rock goes for the Rock Bottom, but Austin counters into a Stunner attempt. The Rock slips out of that and goes for a Stunner of his own, but Austin sends him flying to the outside.

Austin smashes The Rock’s head off the announcer’s table, and then tosses him over the ringside barricade. The Rock fights Austin in the crowd, and sends him back over to the ringside area, and smashes his head off the announcer’s table. Austin fights back with a clothesline that drops The Rock. He throws The Rock back into the ring, and stomps away at the head. He chokes Rock on the middle rope, and then comes flying down with a leg drop on the ropes.

Austin places Rock on the top turnbuckle. He goes up and hits a nice suplex down. Austin goes for the cover, and gets a nearfall. Austin is up and he removes the turnbuckle pad. Rock fights back with punches to the head, and comes off the ropes with a diving clothesline. Rock tosses Austin with a hip toss that gets a nearfall. Rock clotheslines Austin to the outside. He brings Austin to the announcer’s table, and hits his head off the top. He follows that by sending Austin’s head into the timekeeper’s table. Rock argues with the ref, and Austin takes advantage by hitting Rock across the face with the ring bell. Rock is busted open off of that. Austin slams Rock’s head off the steps, and the table as well. Rock climbs across the table, and it gives way under his weight. Austin drags Rock around the ringside area and punches away at him. Back in the ring, Austin continues his assault of the champion.

Austin sits on Rock, unloading with punches right to the head, followed by a choke hold. Rock fights back and sends Austin to the ropes, but he comes off with a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. Austin takes the mount position again, punching Rock’s head with no remorse. Rock is in the corner now, and Austin is stomping away at the chest of the champion. He drives his knee right into Rock’s face, and he tosses the ref aside. Rock explodes out of the corner with a hard clothesline.

Rock explodes with punches to the head, then sends Austin face first into the exposed turnbuckle! He goes to the outside and grabs the ring bell. He reenters the ring and hits Austin in the head, who is now also busted open. Rock goes for the cover, and Austin kicks out. Rock with more punches to Austin, who is on spaghetti legs now falling against the ropes. Rock drags Austin to the apron, and drops an elbow to the challenger. He goes to slam Austin’s head off the barricade, but the Rattlesnake fights back.

He drops Rock chest first on the barricade. He then catapults Rock face first into the steel ring post. Austin grabs a monitor from one of the broken announcer’s tables and hits Rock right across the head with it. Austin throws Rock back into the ring, and gets a nearfall off of that chaos. Austin gives Rock the double bird and goes for the Stunner, but Rock counters with the Sharpshooter submission. Austin’s bloody face trying to escape the submission give flashbacks to Austin’s groundbreaking match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

Both men are bleeding profusely, as Rock applies the hold harder, and Austin uses all his strength to escape. Eventually, Austin gets to the bottom rope. Rock goes for it again, but Austin rakes the eyes and then locks the Sharpshooter on The Rock! The champion uses his lower body strength to power Austin out of it. Austin is right back on Rock, though, stomping on his midsection. He locks the Sharpshooter in again. The Rock reaches for the ropes, but Austin refuses to break the hold right away. No Disqualification!

Rock is back up, and Austin locks in the Million Dollar Dream submission hold! Austin hasn’t used that maneuver in years, since he was first brought to WWE by Ted DiBiase. Rock is able to fight through it, and he cat walks the turnbuckle to reverse it into a pin attempt, but Austin barely kicks out of that. Even the Rattlesnake is shocked by that. Austin punches away at Rock, but the champion counters with a Stone Cold Stunner to Stone Cold! He makes the cover, but Austin kicks out.

Here comes Vince McMahon. The WWE Chairman is making his way down the long ramp, and straight to ringside. Austin hits a Spinebuster to Rock, and that gets a kick out. Austin is frustrated. Austin runs off the ropes, and Rock catches him in a Spinebuster of his own. Rock removes the elbow pad, and he hits the People’s Elbow to Austin! He goes for the cover, but then McMahon enters the ring and pulls Rock off of Austin. Rock realizes this and stares a hole in McMahon. He chases him around the ring, and into the ring. He walks into a Rock Bottom from Austin, and he barely kicks out of that!

Austin goes for the Stunner, but Rock sends Austin into the referee, knocking him to the outside. Austin hits a low blow to Rock, and then communicates to Vince to give him a chair. Vince enters the ring with the chair, and at Austin’s discretion, he hits Rock over the head with it. Austin goes for the cover, and Vince puts the referee back in the ring. He counts, but Rock kicks out! Austin grabs the chair now and goes to hit Rock, but the champion counters with a Rock Bottom!

Vince is on the apron to distract the ref, and Rock grabs Vince and brings him into the ring. He unloads with punches in the corner, but walks into a Stunner from Austin! Austin makes the cover, but Rock kicks out at the very last possible second! Commentary is stunned by Vince’s sudden involvement in this contest.

Austin takes the chair from Vince, and hits Rock across the head with the chair. Vince stares on at Austin makes the cover, and Rock kicks out again! Austin stares at Vince, who looks at him and essentially tells him that he knows what he has to do. Austin grabs the chair again and, including shots to the chest and back, hits The Rock with it a total of 16 times, as the crowd starts to boo. Austin tosses the chair aside and makes the cover. That’s enough to keep The Rock down for 3, and Austin is the new World Wrestling Federation Champion.

Austin gets face to face with Vince, and they shake hands. Stone Cold has sold his soul to the devil himself in order to become the WWE Champion once again. Jim Ross is stunned, believing that there’s no scenario that would see Austin and Vince working together. They share a beer together over Rock’s body. Before leaving, Austin nails Rock in the head with the championship one more time.

I may be a little off on this one, but the more I watch this match, the more I think this, especially since I started working on this book. I believe that this is the closest that WWE has ever come to doing a King’s Road style match. Yes, I’d like to think WWE took a page out of the All Japan playbook here, as this match had all the things you’d see from a 1990s All Japan match. It had the atmosphere, it had the right players, it had the intensity, and it had momentum that just kept building and building, until it came crashing head on with American style wrestling at the end.

Like I said in the intro, I can’t think of another match in America where two stars of this magnitude faced each other in their primes, so seeing that is a spectacle on its own. Steve Austin and The Rock are unquestionably the two biggest names in American Pro Wrestling, and here, they were at their absolute peaks. These two always had great chemistry with each other – their WrestleMania 19 match is an emotional whirlwind, while their WrestleMania 15 match saved that show from being an all time stinker – but here, their chemistry was simply magnificent.

One thing that is undisputed about this match is the intensity. My god, the intensity is high from the word “go.” They fought each other like their very lives depended on it. It was the usual Attitude Era main event plunder, but it was elevated to a degree where it looked way better than any main event that preceded it since 1997. The Rock’s selling was arguably the best of his entire career, while Austin’s pure aggression was noticeably more venomous than usual. If you already knew how this ended, and you rewatch this match, you can see from the beginning that something is off about Austin.

That helps in telling this great story of Austin’s pure desperation to get back to the top. He nearly had his career taken from him due to injury, and he saw a setback on the road to this event in the loss to Triple H at No Way Out, so here, we see a man who is truly willing to do anything to get the championship back, no matter the cost. That includes aligning himself with a man he had been at war with since 1998.

Vince McMahon’s involvement in this match is the only negative I have to say about it. It makes sense to the overall story being told – Austin’s willingness to sell out – but at the same time, this incredible flow that the match had going for it is halted when Vince first appears. It goes from an amazing All Japan tribute back to the typical WWE shenanigans. It’s still a sight to see Vince and Austin team together, but I personally would’ve liked to see less of him. That shows how much I enjoyed this match before his involvement.

Time tells us that Austin’s heel turn was a dud. Doing it here, in front of a Texas crowd, was the wrong move. And overall, fans didn’t want to boo Austin. He tried everything to get them to hate him, but they wouldn’t give in. He even aligned with Triple H, a man who tried to have him killed in 1999. Nothing worked. He’d turn babyface again by the end of the year. If nothing else, this heel turn led to “Paranoid” Steve Austin, which was hilarious. Either way, what you have here is one of the best WWE main events of all time, an unintentional love letter to King’s Road, followed by an ill-advised heel turn.

And with that, WrestleMania X-Seven is over! What an absolutely legendary show that easily sits in the conversation as one of the greatest wrestling cards of all time. Not every match on this show is must see, but each match works in its own way. There’s a little bit of everything on this show for every kind of fan. On top of a show that has solid action through out, you have two undisputed classics in the TLC match and the WWE Championship match.

TLC II exceeded even its own hype, and delivered a spotfest for the ages that would, in its own way, shape pro wrestling worldwide for decades to come. It was breath taking, shocking, and dangerous. Credit to all involved for the sacrifices put in to make a memorable encounter. And then there’s the main event, the all time encounter between Stone Cold and The Rock. Is it much to call it an All Japan style match? Probably, but that was my first thought when I went to write a review of it.

It starts at 100, and never lets up. It has an intensity to it that you won’t see in many matches, and it features a molten crowd throughout. The story of Austin’s desire to become champion at all costs works really well here, though his heel turn didn’t really work after this night. He was vicious, merciless, and he seemed ready to kill The Rock in order to get what he wanted. Rock was a valiant underdog who did his best to survive the onslaught, but this wasn’t his night. It’s a classic, and in the conversation as the best WrestleMania main event of all time.

Things for the WWE would change forever following this event. With Austin’s heel turn, and The Rock’s first real absence into Hollywood, the Attitude Era ended on this night. The quality of WWE would be very up and down for a long time, and it wouldn’t be until 2023 when WWE would find any kind of similar financial success that they had here. The Golden era of WWE that began in the 1990s said its farewells at WrestleMania X-Seven, but what a way to go.

The 1990s Wrestling Explosion ended in a whimper for WCW and ECW. For WWE, they put on one of their greatest all around wrestling cards of all time, and stepped firmly into a future of complete unknowns.