The show started off with an Intercontinental title match between champion Chris Jericho, and challenge William Regal. I’ll be honest here, I’m not a fan of Regal’s in ring style. His mic skills are great, but I just am not a fan of his in ring style. It seems very awkward to me. That being said, I wasn’t terribly into this match. But, it was the opening contest, so oh well. An interesting point in this match, as Jericho chopped at Regal’s chest, the pale son of a bitch had a chest that was brighter red than the face of the kid who ripped a fart during the middle of silent prayer at Sunday school. Jericho retained the title though, working on four months as IC champ now. Not bad for an opener, but it’s kind of disappointing to see a title that’s supposed to be the second most important belt in the company decided in the opening match.
Next was the six man tag with Right to Censor (Goodfather, Bull, and Val) against the APA and Tazz. Jackie and Steven were ringside. Personally, I was just happy that Tazz made it into the Wrestlemania lineup. Not a lot of wrestling in this one though, just punches and clotheslines and boots. Oh well, that’s what it was supposed to be. APA and Tazz pick up the win with a Clothesline From Hell by Bradshaw. I wish Tazz would’ve at least thrown a few suplexes, or if nothing else, I wish he would have choked out Steven Richards.
Now it was time for the HardCore title match. Champion Raven, had to defend against Kane and Big Show in a triple threat match. Surprisingly, this was a pretty good match. Although, I’ll admit that I’m a Kane mark, so the end result pleased me and probably had an effect on my outlook on the match. Some good spots, Kane throwing Raven through a window, Kane hitting Raven with a golf cart, and then the end spot with Kane putting Big Ho and Raven through part of the stage with a big boot, followed by a flying leg drop from the top part of the stage to the broken bodies of the Big Ho and Raven below. Kane was on fire (haha...funny) in this match, and Kane is the new HardCore champion. Finally, Kane wins a singles title once again. Too bad he had to be paired with the Big Show. I give major credit to Kane and Raven for carrying that big dumb son of a bitch and turning that match into what it was.
Next was the European Title match with Champion Test defending against Eddie Guerrero. I’m sorry, I hated this match. I realize that given the proper opportunity both men are good wrestlers, but for whatever reason I just didn’t like this match. Guerrero missed a hurrancanrana and slipped off the ring apron for god’s sake. Test didn’t seem to be real with it either. Maybe both men were overwhelmed by the Wrestlemania atmosphere or something. Anyway, Saturn and Malenko helped Guerrero pick up the European title.
Benoit versus Kurt Angle was up next. Not a terrible match I suppose. They rolled around on the mat a lot...exchanged submission holds, lot of mat wrestling. Kurt Angle ended up getting the win with a rollup and a pull of the tights. This feud isn’t over, Benoit attacked Angle backstage. I don’t know, I think this match would’ve been much better given more of a storyline behind it. It was a good wrestling match though.
Next was the Women’s Title match. Chyna challenged Ivory for the belt. Yeah, bathroom break time. If your bathroom wasn’t near the TV you probably missed this one. Chyna kicked the hell out of Ivory, making short work of her to become Women’s Champion. Thank god it was short. One question, why was this match so high on the card? No one cared about it. The whole damn Chyna injury storyline has been nothing but a joke. And now that Chyna is the Women’s Champion, what woman is actually a fair match against her? Uggh.
Now it was time for the street fight. Mick Foley refereed Vince vs. Shane McMahon. With the added twist of WCW now belonging to Shane thrown in, this has developed quite nicely. Steph was ringside for Vince, and Linda was wheeled down by Trish to be ringside as well. Pretty decent match, especially when you consider that neither man is an actual wrestler. Shane took a nice bump through the announcer’s table. Trish slapped Vince...maybe he was too rough the night before? Steph and Trish get into a cat fight, meanwhile Vince and Mick Foley get into it, and Mick takes a chair to the face. Vince sets Linda up in the corner of the ring. A trash can enters the equation and Vince beats the hell out of Shane with it, until Linda gets up and kicks Vince right in the grapefruits; turning the genetic jackhammer into the genetic spork. Mick enters the ring and puts Vince in the corner and nails him with a running knee. Shane sets the trashcan up on Vince’s upper body, climbs the turnbuckle, and flies clear across the ring for a dropkick to the trashcan and into Vince’s face. Nice, nice, nice move Shane. Shane picks up the win, and Shane and Linda hug. Good match, lots of storyline development. Hey, Vince might’ve gotten his grapefruits smashed on this one, but they’d swell right back up later in the night.
TLC 2 for the Tag Team Titles was up next. The Dudleys defended against Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz. GREAT match, as usual from these teams. Spike, Rhyno, and Lita all made their presences known. Spike hit the Acid Drop on Christian through a table on the outside of the ring, Lita with a hurrancanrana on Rhyno, and Rhyno gored Lita and gored one of the Hardyz through a table. Rhyno also went on to help E&C win back the tag team titles. Great match, awesome action, I can’t even describe it all. They keep raising the standards for these matches, eventually it’ll be impossible to top.
Bobby Heenan and Gene Okerlund came out to commentate the Gimmick Battle Royal. Wow...lol...great, I mean..the action itself sucked harder than a hoover, but it was funny as hell to see all of these old gimmicks come back. I was personally going for Sgt. Slaughter, but alas, the Iron Shiek won it. Bobby Heenan and Mean Gene were just funny as hell too. Tell me it wasn’t funny seeing all of those guys get it on one more time. Just for the strict comedy of this match, it was great.
Next up was my personal favorite of the night, the match I was looking most forward too, because it was two of my all time favorites facing off for the first time in a big time match. Triple H and Undertaker put on one hell of a show. The outside the ring action was great, very well done, and I can’t believe all the chair shots Undertaker took or the chokeslam off of the camera stage that Triple H took. The ending was classic, great stuff. Undertaker TOMBSTONES (god, it was great to see that move, and then the arm crossing pin) Triple H, but the referee is down. The sledgehammer gets introduced into the match, and as Undertaker tries to give Triple H the last ride, HHH hits ‘Taker in the face with the sledgehammer. Finally, as Triple H tries to pound Undertaker in the corner of the ring, Undertaker counters into a Last Ride for the win. GREAT match, both men worked hard and this match was my highlight of the evening as far as the match itself. As far as angles go, that’s coming up...
Next we had the Rock defending the WWF title against Steve Austin. This match was announced as no DQ. We’d figure out why a little later on. I had been praying for a heel turn by one of these guys (preferably Austin) for a long time, and I was hoping this match would bring that about. Both men did in fact deliver a good match and it would have been fine with or without the finish it had as far as quality. As far as making me giggle like a little girl, this match scored a big fat 10. Hey, the Rock is cool and all, but I just am so damn sick of him. Same went for Austin, up until this night. I wanted Austin to win, and I wanted him to maim the Rock, hopefully turning heel in the process. Who says dreams can’t come true? When Vince McMahon pulled Rock off of Austin, I thought I was seeing things. Could it be? Could Austin FINALLY be returning to his roots? Could Austin become the bad ass heel that he once was? When Austin picked up that chair and beat the living shit out of the Rock with it, my question was answered with a resounding YES. STONE COLD Steve Austin is back. Austin is the new champion, and if 1996 was any indication of how great Austin is as a heel, we are all in for a real treat. As Austin bashed the Rock with that steel chair, I was hoping he’d wrap that chair around the Rock’s leg, climb to the second rope, and leap off, shades of what he did to Brian Pillman back in ’96. Stone Cold is back with a vengeance, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I just hope this turn lasts.
So, Wrestlemania 17 is over. It was a great show overall. I missed Kane kicking the crap out of Pete Rose though. But Wrestlemania delivered. That’s it for this time, next column I’ll most likely dive into this whole WWF/WCW merging or whatever the hell situation. I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings on that whole deal.
Until next time...
