The wrestling staff of Back Sports Page have carefully selected what they believe to be the top 41 matches in WrestleMania history. Presented in chronological order, this series will detail the backstory, match review, and aftermath of each match, along with how the outcomes shaped the careers of those involved.
Backstory: It’s March 29, 1998. It’s an era where Americana has taken a turn for a more… Expressive side of things. Recognizable figures and shows such as Howard Stern and South Park have made the mainstream among American adults. Joining that mainstream movement was WWF with the “Attitude Era.”
At the height of this were two figures: D-Generation X and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The former was an antagonistic group featuring Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna (to name a few). Nobody was safe from their chaos and mischief, whether it was Sergeant Slaughter, the Hart Foundation, or Pat Patterson. They were also one of the main driving forces in the Monday Night War, helping the WWF (now WWE) defeat World Championship Wrestling.
Then there was Stone Cold Steve Austin, whose career took off after his infamous “Austin 3:16” speech at King of the Ring in 1996. Like D-Generation X, Austin wasn’t a big fan of authority figures and followed the beat of his own drum. Not even Mr. McMahon could tame the “Texas Rattlesnake!” With WrestleMania 14, the two superstars came to blows after Austin won the 1998 Royal Rumble. The cherry on top? McMahon would announce Mike Tyson as a “special enforcer” as the boxer aligned himself with D-Generation X.
Match Review: Austin vs. Michaels wasn’t your typical WrestleMania match. First, there was the obvious Mike Tyson factor.
“Would he cost Austin the chance at the WWF Championship, even with the ‘Heartbreak Kid’s’ back hurting him?”
“Would he turn on D-Generation X and cost Michaels the match?”
It turned out the latter happened as Tyson delivered a swift three-count for the Austin victory.
But there was also the whole “heel vs. face” dynamic–or rather–the “heel vs. anti-hero” dynamic. Austin wasn’t considered too much of a traditional babyface during his run. He wasn’t saving his friends like Hulk Hogan or taking down nefarious factions like John Cena. Instead, he just beat up anybody that he came across. That dynamic fit perfectly for the Attitude Era, making him the era’s face alongside The Rock.
Finally, the match itself was incredible. It featured the ever-athletic Shawn Michaels against a brash Steve Austin going at each other’s throats for the WWF Championship. The two would brawl outside the ring and inside in a bloody brawl, middle fingers and all.
But what made the match was the people outside of the ring. Triple H and Chyna were tossed from being ringside after interference on Austin and Mike Tyson turned on Shawn Michaels. Overall, the match was memorable not just because it certified Austin as a main event wrestler. It also had outside factors that amplified the overall match.
Aftermath:
- Stone Cold Steve Austin would use his Wrestlemania 14 victory as a springboard for his WWF/WWE career. He would enter a memorable feud with names Mr. McMahon and The Rock, representing the “Attitude Era”. He would hold the record for most Royal Rumble wins (three) and win the WWF Championship six times.
- Shawn Michaels would take a brief hiatus from wrestling before returning in 2002. He would win the World Heavyweight Championship and reform D-Generation X with Triple H. But he would also serve a role as the WWF commissioner and a guest referee for Triple H’s and The Rock’s Iron Man match at Judgment Day.
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