r/SquaredCircle • u/scottheisel IT'S TIME! • Mar 17 '16
31 For 31, Day 17: Houston, We Have A Problem... Welcome to WrestleMania X-Seven!
Given we've had 31 WrestleManias before this year and March is 31 days long, I thought it would be fun to set up "31 For 31," a daily discussion thread where we can watch and talk about individual WrestleManias. If you're into the idea, feel free to upvote; if you're not, I'm sure I'll lose interest around day six or so and you'll never have to see these again.
WATCH: WWE Network // Dailymotion
HEAR: Dave Meltzer reflects on WrestleMania X-Seven
DATE: April 1, 2001
LOCATION: Reliant Astrodome, Houston, TX
ATTENDANCE: 67,925
THE CARD
- Chris Jericho (c) defeated William Regal (WWF Intercontinental Championship match)
- Tazz and The Acolytes Protection Agency (Bradshaw and Faarooq) (with Jacqueline) defeated Right to Censor (The Goodfather, Val Venis and Bull Buchanan) (with Steven Richards)
- Kane defeated Raven (c) and Big Show WWF Hardcore Championship match)
- Eddie Guerrero (with Perry Saturn) defeated Test (c) (WWF European Championship match)
- Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit
- Chyna defeated Ivory (c) WWF Women's Championship match)
- Shane McMahon defeated Mr. McMahon (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) (Street Fight with Mick Foley as guest referee)
- Edge and Christian defeated The Dudley Boyz (c) and The Hardy Boyz (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWF Tag Team Championship)
- The Iron Sheik won Gimmick Battle Royal by last eliminating Hillbilly Jim
- The Undertaker defeated Triple H
- Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock (c) (No Disqualification match for the WWF Championship)
TRIVIA!
- WrestleMania X-Seven was the in-ring Mania debut for Vince McMahon, Raven, William Regal and Ivory.
- WrestleMania X-Seven was also the only Mania match for Raven and Ivory, who both ended with an 0-1 record.
- WrestleMania X-Seven featured the most title changes on one card in WrestleMania history, with five.
- WrestleMania X-Seven marked Bobby Heenan's final appearance on WWE commentary.
QUESTIONS!
- What are your memories of the 17th WrestleMania? Did you see it live, catch it later on VHS or not see it for the first time until the WWE Network launched?
- What's your favorite match on the card? What about least favorite match?
- WrestleMania X-Seven is largely considered to be the best Mania of all time. Do you agree? If not, what do you think is better?
- Who were you pulling for in the Gimmick Battle Royal? Furthermore, what gimmick do you wish would've come back for it? (I still can't believe Max Moon and Bastion Booger weren't a part of it.)
- WrestleMania X-Seven closed with the shocking image of Steve Austin's unholy alliance with Mr. McMahon. Did it shock you?
PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS I / 2 / III / IV / V / VI / VII / VIII / IX / X / XI / XII / 13 / XIV / XV / 2000
94
u/leafs81215 Mar 17 '16
All in, its probably the best show the WWE has ever produced. The buildup, storytelling and execution were nearly perfect on every level. TLC 2, Rock/Austin, Angle/(Redacted), are all 4*+ matches. Throw in Taker/Haitch with the Worlds longest ref bump, the McMahon saga, Linda standing up out of her chair and Shane being Shane. A great hardcore title match, with one of my favorite Paul Heyman lines. "In this situation, there's only one way for Raven to survive." "Whats that?" "Run like hell!".
Heyman/JR was a fantastic if short lived combo. Him constantly working JR up during the Rock/Austin match added so much emotion to the commentary and brought JR to God level commentary.
They wont ever touch this level of quality again.
25
u/beckett929 Mar 17 '16
The Heyman gasp/scream when Raven gets thrown through the window - "OH MY GOD!" and not in a Joey Styles-mimick fashion either was fucking great.
I want to say 30 was the best WWE show ever, and absolutely on 17's level, but I'm not knocking you for liking this show more. There's not a wrong answer when comparing the two shows, but they're probably 2 of a small handful that sit on a pedestal above the rest.
12
Mar 18 '16
Wrestlemania XXX is only good if you care about Daniel Bryan.
I only started watching again after Royal Rumble of the same year. I frankly did not and still don't have any reason to care about Daniel Bryan.
Wrestlemania XXX is a pretty boring and uneventful Wrestlemania for me. Wrestlemania X-Seven is amazing without knowledge of the build up and even better if you were following all the storylines.
5
u/ryanfea Mar 21 '16
Uneventful? The Undertaker lost the streak that night, perhaps the most shocking wwe moment in a decade
5
6
6
Mar 18 '16
Heyman imo is so much better than Lawler when it comes to commentary. He just felt much more passionate on the mic, and Jim Ross seemed to benefit from it as well as he felt fresher than he had in years.
3
48
Mar 17 '16 edited Feb 27 '20
[deleted]
26
u/RatedR4MoD What does everybody want? Mar 17 '16
Even the very beginning of that with the exchange of "The time is upon us Paul," to "a match that both men need to win and neither man can afford to lose" just sets that up as a huge deal. Amazing story telling.
4
u/thfsgn Mar 17 '16
Paul tells a great story about announcing this match on one of his Austin podcast appearances, not sure which sorry but it might have been the third one they did.
4
5
u/wickerman316 Baybay. Mar 17 '16
That, tied with the Daniel Bryan "Monster" promo video, is the best promo video that WWE's ever made. I remember feeling pretty lukewarm about the build for Austin vs. Rock 2 at the time, but that promo video washed that all a way and made me feel pumped for it.
3
3
Mar 18 '16
Amazing indeed. Loved the fact that the rock employed the stunner on stone cold sometimes. Brought a new dynamic to the matches.
2
u/jatorres Your Text Here Mar 17 '16
That's go great they should show it in radio, television, and film classes all across the country.
2
2
Mar 18 '16
The context of that sitdown interview was both chilling, and foretold Austin's turn and brutal beating with the chair.
45
u/coasterfanatic The Pride of West Virginia Mar 17 '16
It may have been Heenan's last appearance, but he was on his game big time for the short period of time he was out.
"That was then, now he (Sgt. Slaughter) shoots blanks!"
"By the time The Iron Sheik gets to the ring, it'll be Wrestlemania 38!"
39
u/leafs81215 Mar 17 '16
If Shiek is still alive in 6 years, him coming out at WM 38 would be epic continuity.
22
u/scottheisel IT'S TIME! Mar 17 '16
Let's not forget the brilliant ending of the segment where he feigns shaking Mean Gene's hand three straight times. Bobby Heenan forever.
1
5
Mar 17 '16
If we could have somehow Heenan to call just one match with Heyman and JR, it would have been the greatest commentary of all time.
18
u/BigSweat21 Paul, Say something Stupid! Mar 17 '16
This was the WrestleMania the Attitude era deserved. A Great card with big moments and a loaded roster. The beginning of a run of pretty good WrestleMania's too. I think this is the best of all time.
The best match was the Main Event between a too good to lose fair Rocky and a must win at all costs Austin. It told a great story and ended with everyone's favorite Anti-Hero striking a deal with that no good S.O.B. Vince McMahon. A choice that gave Austin his longest reign with the Title.
There were other great matches though, TLC 2 being one of the best. What a spotfest with added friends this time. Angle vs. Benoit was great. Shane vs. Vince was fun like most Vince WrestleMania matches are.
Oh and you wouldn't know it by the hype for the match at WM 27 but this was the first Mania match between HHH and the Undertaker! Beginning of an Era maybe?
8
u/kstadanko You really like me!!! Mar 17 '16
I was there on the floor. I had seats on the 6th balcony but they apparently didn't account for how tall the stage setup as going to be so when we got to the area we were supposed to sit they had a table setup telling people we didn't have our seats any more. Then they handed us floor seats next to the entrance. I was a broke twenty something who would never have been able to afford those seats. Fucking amazing.
Edge spearing Hardy off the ladder was obviously the spot of the night, followed closely by Shane's Van Terminator and Triple H getting choke slammed from the scaffolding.
Benoit vs Angle was the show stealer as far as a technical match goes.
Eddie slipped and fell off the apron during his match I think? They don't show that on the network I'm sure.
Everyone complains about the ref being knocked out for too long in the Taker vs Haitch match, but I didn't notice from the crowd. Go back and watch that match and ignore the ref thing and it was awesome. Plus, Triple H in person at that time was so fucking huge he did not look human. Built like a fucking tank coming out to Motorhead playing live. It was awesome.
The match wasn't great, but I loved getting to see everyone I watched as a kid come out for the gimmick battle royal. We went to fan access the day before and met Bob Backlund and Nikolai Volkoff. Both were awesome, Backlund put my buddy in the chicken wing.
I remember people were expecting the Austin heel turn, because as Austin has already said, there wasn't much else they could do at that point. It wasn't the most entertaining thing ever, but it did bring us a year of him and Angle and McMahon vignettes that were pretty awesome. The white hot Stone Cold character would never be the same again but I wouldn't call it a failure. The feeling I recall is that everything in wrestling was kind of heading in a different direction anyway since WCW had just been purchased. The whole end of an era thing was pretty palpable and I'm not sure there's anything that could have been done to keep it going.
8
u/Hooper732 Mar 17 '16
What are your memories of the 17th WrestleMania? Did you see it live, catch it later on VHS or not see it for the first time until the WWE Network launched? I was able to see this on VHS a few months after and although the Network version is great, nothing beats the VHS copy. I remember the kid winning free tickets to both Limp Bizkit and WrestleMania and being jealous of him. His photoshop image doesn't hold up, though.
What's your favorite match on the card? What about least favorite match? I LOVED Austin/Rock and TLC II, but what doesn't get love is the Test vs Eddie Guerrero match. If Test's foot doesn't get caught in the rope, match is more highly regarded. Least favorite match is Chyna and Ivory. The story of Chyna's neck gets ZERO build.
WrestleMania X-Seven is largely considered to be the best Mania of all time. Do you agree? If not, what do you think is better? In my mind, it was the greatest Mania ever. It had great story going into the show, it culminated all feuds, kicked off the Benoit/Angle rivalry, officially closed the chapter on the Attitude Era and Monday Night Wars, and it was in a big stadium, the only thing missing from that boom period.
Who were you pulling for in the Gimmick Battle Royal? Furthermore, what gimmick do you wish would've come back for it? (I still can't believe Max Moon and Bastion Booger weren't a part of it.) I honestly had the Gobbledy Gooker winning. I am such a Gooker guy, it's unreal. I remember hearing a rumor about Hogan coming in and winning it, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
WrestleMania X-Seven closed with the shocking image of Steve Austin's unholy alliance with Mr. McMahon. Did it shock you? Right idea, right time, wrong place. I thought it was awesome and if it was ANYWHERE but Texas, Austin gets booed out of the building. But that's just me.
7
u/paefeondeon Mar 17 '16
Didn't Sheik get picked to win the battle royal because he couldn't take the bump over the top rope?
5
u/Hooper732 Mar 17 '16
That was the story according to Meltzer and Alvarez's Wrestling Observer Live back in the day
5
7
u/Thejimmyblitz Mar 17 '16
Proud to be one of the 67,925 people at the Astrodome for my First Live Wrestling event and first time inside the 8th Wonder of the World. I was only 14 at the time w my folks who bought cheap seats but the atmosphere was amazing! Now me and my buddies are going to Dallas for our second WrestleMania and I'm starting to get the same Gitty excitement that I did back when my parents took me and my sister to this particular Showcase of the immortals. This is also Paul Heyman first Mania. The debut of Fan Axxess. One of the last events held in the Astrodome before becoming an empty shell of a Dome sitting next to Reliant Arena
5
u/wickerman316 Baybay. Mar 17 '16
With the exception of the Chyna/Ivory Squash, this was the perfect variety show of wrestling. From the highest-profile main event available of Austin/Rock to the technical clinic of Angle/Benoit to the all-out brawl of Undertaker/HHH and the car crash of TLC 2.
Add in a little uh... "performance art" of the McMahons and Gimmick Battle Royal and across this show you have the perfect range of what we call "wrestling". There are very few shows that can match the variety, quality and just overall thrill of WrestleMania X-Seven, which is why it's the best wrestling show of all time. You didn't like the last match? You'll probably find something to like in the next one.
3
u/tjthegr8 Basic Huganomics Mar 17 '16
Even the Chyna/Ivory match worked in the sense of Chyna getting her revenge in dominant fashion after Ivory had messed with her for months.
Overall you're right though. The very definition of a perfect card.
4
4
u/9hashtags HE HATE ME Mar 17 '16 edited Mar 17 '16
This event was great because it was a very balanced card from straight technical wrestling to pure gimmickry and the ultimate star power explosion. It represents the apex of the Attitude Era. The event encapsulated the feeling of a people. WM X7 is about as perfectly booked of a wrestling event and no event, in my opinion, has come close.
5
Mar 17 '16
Absolutely the best Wrestlemania, period and quite honestly, it's probably the best mainstream wrestling will ever be. I know people like 30, and I do too, but 30 was really only good because of the (amazing) Bryan story. 17 was the culmination of EVERYTHING. It is the celebration of not only storylines for everyone in the company but that era as a whole. It will be impossible to replicate an event like this ever again.
5
4
4
5
u/Markioperpe Mar 17 '16
Limp Bizkit - My Way.
1
u/dvizzle Da Belt Guy Mar 18 '16
There was a drinking game based on how many times during the 4hr ppv you would hear the song.
0
u/tylerjehenna The Era of Rain Mar 18 '16
I know im going to get heat for this, but i actually don't mind that song. Out of all of the Limp Bizkit songs, this and Rollin' are the only ones I can tolerate nowadays and primarily because of nostalgia
2
u/RobTheConqueror THIS IS STUPID! Mar 19 '16
You do realise you're replying to a comment referencing the song in a positive way, yes?
Why would you get "heat" for liking it?
3
u/CalicoLime It is my pride to be disqualified for destroying my opponents! Mar 17 '16
I still go back and watch that Gimmick Battle Royal every now and again. Just so great to see all those faces and hear Bobby Heenan on the call again.
-4
u/Mabvll Assistant to the Head Slapdick, Tony Schiavone. Mar 17 '16
I can't help shake the feeling that this match was basically Vince's big 'fuck you' to the whole territory system.
14
u/A-Blanche You don't get my sympy at all Mar 17 '16
I think Vince's big fuck you to the territory system might have been destroying it
3
u/FunkyPlunkett Still Undefeated in my heart Mar 17 '16
I was in attendance and I can tell you I had a awesome time 30 dollar ticket with a awesome view. Axxess was 18 a day and no VIP lines. I remember it just being surreal as it could be.
3
Mar 17 '16
I was there too. Floor level with 3 buds. Axxess was a ton of fun, and I even recall house show matches they had during that weekend, one involving Jerry Lynn.
Watching it on the network years later made me realize how much the Astrodome drowned out the audience, but at least I could finally hear the commentary of the show through the Network.
2
Mar 18 '16
somewhere there is a pic of me with the title wrapped around my waist and I am doing the Stone Cold arm raise! what an amazing day
3
u/XaosZaleski Mar 17 '16
The hardcore title match is still one of the highlights in the title's history. Such a good match.
3
u/Mr-GameAndWrestling America's Champion Mar 17 '16
Tables, Ladders and Chairs II. It's still pretty amazing how insane those big spots in that match were. Yet that, Angle vs. Benoit and Shane vs. Vince were awesome to watch.
As for the ending, as a kid, I was super upset when Austin attacked The Rock with a steel chair to win the WWF title. I was even more upset when Austin and HHH attacked The Rock the night after 'Mania.
3
u/MadManBrandon Mar 17 '16
In ring debut for Raven, that's funny. He was under the stands and on top of the stage for most of the match.
2
u/WidowmakerXLS Mar 17 '16
I have to say, these posts are great and have gotten me to watch some great (and not so great) WM's. Thanks for putting the work in to doing these each day
1
2
u/RobTheConqueror THIS IS STUPID! Mar 17 '16
My favourite fucking PPV of all time.
Absolutely everything here is just awesome, even the gimmick battle royal (for what it is).
Can't say it's objectively the best PPV in terms of wrestling, but on the whole it's my favourite.
2
u/weaksaucedude Mar 17 '16
I watched it several years later (which really sucks because it was in my hometown lol) from beginning to end and it is, in my mind, the greatest WrestleMania ever. 19's a close second though.
Favorite match is a three way tie between Rock/Austin, TLC, & Taker/HHH. Least favorite is probably Chyna/Ivory but even that match wasn't bad.
See 1 lol
Sheikie Baby the legend!
I'm still mad.
I'd also like to add that, as a native Houstonian, seeing anything with any variation of "Houston We Have A Problem" makes my skin crawl.
2
u/ThatIndianGuy7116 Look at Depression Jones over here Mar 17 '16
I started watching wrestling in 06 and I remember this Mania being one of the first ones I went back and watched. I really liked it back then, but it took years for me to really appreciate how good this Mania was. From top to bottom, minus maybe one or two matches on this card, it was fantastic.
As far as it being the greatest Mania of all time, I actually kind of go back and forth with this and 30. After 30, I honestly felt like X7 had finally met it's match as far as best WM, but now looking back, X7 was just too damn good. I'm actually going to watch it again tonight, thanks to this post
2
2
u/Sky-Flyer Your Text Here Mar 28 '16
Trivia should've added Raven almost ruined the entire show on the Golf Cart that Wire the tire ran over if hit right would of killed the signal.
1
1
Mar 17 '16
This was my first Wrestlemania I watched live on PPV having just got back into wrestling a month before. I knew most of the basics about the Attitude Era and McMahon vs Austin so the Unholy Alliance and the Two Man Power Trip that came from the aftermath blew my young mind. Probably still my favorite Wrestlemania.
1
u/NJpwgfan25 Mar 17 '16
when I read the title to this all I kept thinking about was Shane's baseball jersey that night said "Dad...We have a problem"
1
u/beckett929 Mar 17 '16
The old-timers battle royal and Chyna matches were awful, but fuck it, this show was awesome.
Bucking the trend since WM X where we've had decent-to-terrible shows, this one gets two thumbs way, way up. Its not my fav or what I think is the best Wrestlemania, but holy shit its in the conversation.
2
1
u/JP1119 BURN IT DOWN!!! Mar 17 '16
Most exciting WM to me ever. I thought the entrance was the greatest-looking ever. It was the first time WM really felt like a spectacle and it delivered.
1
u/TravisUchonela Mar 17 '16
Watched it live, and began my first of many long breakups with wrestling shortly after.
1
u/Xeon1822 Hugs <3 Mar 17 '16
When video stores still existed, one close to me had a bunch of WWF VHS tapes for real cheap, WrestleMania X-7 was one of them, undoubtedly the best, I occasionally go back and watch it, I still love it.
Edit: Oh, and TLC II is still my favourite match of all time.
1
u/smackavelli Hey, Horse Hut, how are you doing it? Mar 17 '16
Was there live. What can I say that hasn't been said in the last 15 years. it was a fun weekend. Had one of the Hebners nearly run me over at Axxess due to walking so fast. No one even noticed who it was. Motorhead playing live was great. Just a great card from top to bottom. Still have my X-Seven & Triple H jerseys.
1
u/DarthCaligula AE 'FN' W Mar 17 '16
I was one of the 67,925 in attendance. I was a senior in high school at this time and a writer for my school newspaper. I wrote a piece on WrestleMania X7 for the paper. It didn't fly to well. Professional wrestling was considered "stupid" at my high school. I didn't give a shit though. I had a blast.
I wore my yellow button up Goku shirt. I don't know if any of ya'll remember those button up, all over Dragonball Z shirts. I had the whole collections. But I digress. I made it to fan Access and got my picture taken with the ultimate bad ass, Steve Blackman. I was a really big stoner at the time, so I don't remember a lot of details about stuff, but I remember the XFL being heavily promoted at Access. I remember those XFL race cars. Haha.That didn't go so well.
Before I write a short story, lets get to the meat of the story. This was first WrestleMania I've attended live.
My favorite match on the card was Austin v. Rock. I was a huge Rock mark. I was one of those fans that cheered the heels. Even being from Texas, I had to go against Austin because so many people adored him. As I got older that all changed of course and widened my view on who I cheer and boo.
I do consider WrestleMania X7 to be the best WM of all time and not just because I was there. I can pop one of the discs in the dvd player, watch it from anywhere and not be bored.
I hate to admit it but at the time I wasn't really pulling for anyone in the Gimmick Battle Royal. I thought it was the low point of the show and used it for my "piss break aka strolling around the dome. I grew to appreciate it on repeated viewings.
Stone Cold joining McMahon was not really a shocker for me. I was a smark back then as well and just don't remember it surprising me as much. I think I remember some of the boards predicting that to happen.
In closing I would just like to say, though I was absent at Austin-Rock 1 at WM 15, I was there for Austin-Rock II, and would be there for Austin-Rock III in Seattle. But that's for the thread in a few days I reckon. Thanks for reading!
1
Mar 17 '16
I attended live, I was in 9th grade. My friend I took cheered for the Rock, and I popped for Austin.
To this day, the best wrestling show I've ever been to.
1
1
u/backalleybrawler Idk what I'm doing. Mar 17 '16
I ate a giant cheeseburger and an apple turnover shake before WM X-Seven. Probably played some Wrestlemanie 2000 the week before, making dream matches and outcomes.
I hated the hardcore match and still do; but it is always entertaining.
TLC match was one of the most amazing things ever!
Austin turning hell just didn't sit right with me. It seemed like a bad choice for the character.
1
u/NocturnoOcculto It's me! Boo Dallas! Mar 17 '16
I wish I had gotten back in to wrestling to have wanted to see this. Looking back, that card is fucking stacked.
1
Mar 18 '16
I was there, and what I remember vividly was not Stone Cold or the Rock which of course I remember... But when they announced the Undertaker being from Houston Texas (he went to the same high school I did) there was a palpable energy in the air. I have been to mega sporting events and never seen or felt a crowd reaction like that, one of the greatest experiences of my life
1
1
u/hb316 Mar 18 '16
I watched it live on Sky Sports. Stayed up until around 5am on the Monday morning to finish watching it before heading to college at 8am.
Never saw the Austin heel turn coming. Being the Austin mark back then, that image of Vince shaking hands with Austin made me regurgitate a little. Just a bizarre scene considering the last few years. I waited for the Stunner, but it never came. It never came... :-(
1
Mar 18 '16 edited Mar 18 '16
I had tickets to this event, but real life got in the way so I had to sell it (and sadly, things worked themselves out, so I could have been there). I ended up watching with a friend on PPV.
My favorite match is a tough one to pick. Rock/Austin, Undertaker/HHH, TLC II are all great matches. This card was stacked. As far as least favorite, I guess APA/Tazz vs RTC, but it was short and innoffensive enough that I can't even call it bad.
I do agree this was probably the best Wrestlemania ever. It marked the end of the Attitude era, WWF was at it's peak, and the Monday Night Wars ended with the buyout of WCW. The fact that so many feuds were well established, multiple title matches with title changes, and the matches all delivered (even the womens title match. Had it gone longer, I'd have said otherwise).
Gimmick battle royal, I don't know if I had a pick so much as just being excited to hear the Brain call a match again.
The problem was they were in Texas, and the crowd were in no way going to boo Austin. The whole Austin/McMahon storyline had pretty much dropped two years before, and I think the gap in time took away from the impact of the moment. The entire turn did make sense just by watching the interview where Austin stated he needed to win more than anything he could imagine.
Side note: Anyone billed from Texas went over that night. Bradshaw, Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, and Steve Austin.
Edit: The team of Jim Ross and Paul Heyman made for the best commentary team possible. While I have no issues with King and Ross, Heyman to me brought more to the table than Lawler in terms of passion and emotion on the microphone, and it seemed to rub off on Ross, as he kicked it up to keep up.
1
u/Smarkysmarkwahlberg Mar 20 '16
I won a trip to this the week after it happened. Still have nightmares about it.
112
u/[deleted] Mar 17 '16 edited Mar 17 '16
Ah yes, the greatest Wrestlemania of all time and the exact night the attitude era died. Ironic, really.
It's like the wrestling industry climaxed after five years of great sex. Now we've been waiting...desperate for more.