It's Sunday, March 31st, 1995. Celine Dion and the Birdcage still dominate the billboard charts and the box office while Clint Eastwood is getting married. And 24 hours prior the WWF held an awards show that turned into two hours of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels trading verbal blows at one another. Yes, in the world of the WWF, it's that time of year again. Wrestlemania is upon us. The twelfth event and the fourth I've had to review for this blog as we reach ever closer to the end of the New Generation era. Emanating from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. Attendance of 18,853, up from the 16 thousand from last year's event, with a 1.2 buyrate, slightly down from 1995's 1.3.
So, what's been going down since In Your House 6? After Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels won their respective matches, their fates for Wrestlemania was sealed as the two would face off with one another. As an added wrinkle to this heated rivalry with one another, interim president Roddy Piper made this match a sixty-minute iron man match. The rules are simple, the one with the most falls within the time limit becomes the WWF champion. As tensions rose and dirty laundry was aired, we got video packages showing Shawn returning to his roots and training with his mentor Jose Lothario while Bret, the champion trained in Calgary. The long standing issues continued to rear their ugly heads and definitely escalated at the 1996 Slammy Awards as the two exchanged comments that went from playful banter to clear animosity. Who will walk out of this match after the hour's up?
Speaking of President Piper, he's in action on this show as well. Original plans for Wrestlemania 12 saw Goldust defend his Intercontinental Championship against Razor Ramon, but when Razor was suspended from the company for supposed drug issues (actually it was because he already gave his notice to the company that he was leaving for WCW once his contract came up), the foe for Goldust became Roddy Piper. After a month of mind games from both men, they intend to settle it in a Hollywood Back Lot Brawl. Starting in a back lot and making their way to the Pond, this battle of the so-called movie stars is definitely Goldust's biggest challenge yet.
Before we start proper, we'll cover the free-for-all action. The Body Donnas defeated the Godwinns to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions. Where are the former champs the Smoking Gunns? Billy needed neck surgery so they were unable to make it back for Mania. But that's not what you want me to cover. There was another heavily advertised match at Wrestlemania. One that the company forced us to sit through three months of awful comedy to get through. Yes, it's the Huckster vs the Nacho Man.
This is it. This is what Vince forced us through months of bad skits for. Sorry for the low quality. The pre-show was not added in any form on the network and the quality is weak. Vince bills Nacho Man from Rogaine, Florida as Savage stumbles. Hogan comes down on his walker, so Vince and Jerry hit fast forward. But Hogan needs to get oxygen. Huckster tries to get the shirt off to no luck. He says "may the highest paid wrestler win". The bell rings, Huckster collapses and Nacho tries to climb the rope but falls off. Paramedics start Nacho's heart (Awkward collar tug) as Huckster breaks out of Handcuffs he put on himself. Huckster grabs a chair while Savage grabs a woman's shoe.
They hit each other and collapse as Ted declares a draw. We are pretty much led to believe that both men are dead to the delight of Vince and Lawler. But from behind is the FTC. Ted looks behind, and drops dead. That was really worth 3 months of Vince being one of the pettiest human beings imaginable.
But why was this killed off so abruptly, even though I'm glad it was? The answer is simple, the USA Network higher ups weren't pleased about Vince trying to stick his nose in this Time-Warner merger stuff. The line was finally crossed with the March 18th skit (the "A Few Good Men" parody) where Vince tried to get his audience to try and interfere with the merger. In the end, the president of USA Network at the time Kay Klopovitz forced Vince's hand and the skits stopped. So mercifully, this nonsense is at its end and we can move on to the show proper.
Opening action is a six-man tag match. Camp Cornette (Vader, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog) taking on Ahmed Johnson, Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Yokozuna, being managed by a returning Mr. Fuji. Original plans was for this to be a one-on-one match, but due to Vader needing shoulder surgery, the match was stretched to a six-man tag. Paydays for four other guys at least. It is interesting that last year Yoko and Owen became tag champs and here we are with the two on opposite ends of the ring.
Both teams brawl for a bit until the faces gain momentum. Clothesline on Vader by Yoko followed by a second that sends Vader outside. Ahmed dives on Vader (Vader catches him so it was far less scary than previous takes). Brawl with the big men as things begin to calm down. Tag to Owen who dropkicks the leg to no avail. Elbow to the face by Yoko. He throws Owen to the corner and goes for a charge, but Bulldog saves Owen. Some double team stomping from Owen and Bulldog as Owen tags Vader back in. Vader attacks Ahmed, allowing for Owen to rake at the face of Yoko.
Vader slaps around Yoko in the corner, taking the big man down. Vader tries a thumb to the eye, but Yoko counters, hitting a massive ura nage. Great camera work as you see just how hard the mat shakes on impact. Tag to Ahmed and a tag to Bulldog who lays out the brother in-laws before hitting a powerslam on Davey Boy. Vader lands a cheap shot on Ahmed, but Ahmed tries for a sunset flip. Vader jumps down, only to miss. Pearl River Plunge attempt by Ahmed, but Owen comes in with a missile dropkick. Owen stomps at the lower area of Ahmed and hits an elbow drop. More pummeling shots followed by an enziguri (nice touch with the commentary brining up how it "didn't get the back of the head" akin to the Shawn incident.)
Vader is tagged in and hits a splash followed by a clothesline. Tag back to Owen who rakes the face and tries some clotheslines, only to be smacked with one of his own. Ahmed stumbles about for a minute then finally tags in Jake. Jake lays in punches on all three heels and short-arm clotheslines Owen. He tries DDT, but Owen grabs the rope. Owen gets boots in out of a corner and Jake rolls into the heel corner, causing him to get beaten down by all three men. Bulldog comes in and locks in a chinlock, complete with arm drop spot. But Jake recovers, only to get hit with more rights by Bulldog. Tag to Vade who pounds Jake in the corner, hitting another clothesline.
Tag to Owen as Vader slams Jake and Owen lands a really nice elbow drop. Cover gets a two. Owen begins to locks in a stump puller of sorts then tags in Bulldog who stomps Jake down. Running powerslam by Bulldog. Cover, but Jake kicks out (Jake kicking out of Bulldog's finisher seems a bit lame, i dunno). Vader comes in and hits another splash, covering for two. Bulldog tries an elbow drop, but Jake avoids. Jake stumbles about and falls into a Yoko tag as Vader comes in.
Yoko hammers at Vader in the corner, taking the mastodon down. Another splash in the corner. He then clotheslines Owen and Bulldog, following up with a noggin knocker. Samoan drop by Yoko who then tags Jake back in. He tries DDT, but Bulldog stopes it. Ahmed takes out Bulldog as Jake lands the DDT. Cover, but the referee is focused with the fracas outside. Cornette tries to hit Jake with the racket, but Jake grabs him for a DDT. However Vader makes the save and hits a Vader bomb off the corner for the win, so Yokozuna doesn't get his five minutes with Cornette.
I really enjoyed this opener. Felt hot throughout, everyone get a chance to look good in the match, a good bait and switch with Cornette coming out unscathed, and while I feared a lot of "face in peril" work, it never felt like it took up most of the match In the end, the right team won as Camp Cornette need the momentum, especially Vader who shouldn't be losing so soon, especially at Wrestlemania.
We get a video package for the Roddy Piper promo. We recap the mind games between the two men as we then cut to Marlena in the back watching via a monitor. Cut to the footage shot three weeks earlier of the back lot brawl as we see Piper awaiting Goldust with a baseball bat. Goldust shows up in his gold cadillac as Piper shoots it with a hose, then breaks the window with his bat.
Piper chases Goldust around the car, then chokes him with the bat. Piper throws Goldust at the buffet table and smashes him with a trash can, then smashing him into the dumpster. Goldust is buster open as he crawls to his car, only to get bonked again and sprayed at with the hose. Goldust lands on the hood of his car as Piper slams him gingerly on top. Piper hits some stiff sounding fists. Goldust hits a low blow on Piper and climbs back into his gold car, where he then tries to frigging run Piper over. Piper gets hit by the car as Goldust speeds off. Piper heads inside a white bronco (this will be important soon) and gives chase. We'll come back to this match later.
Up next, Stone Cold Steve Austin takes on Savio Vega. These two have been in a heated feud for a few weeks now, starting with their match on the March 11th edition on Raw. This intensified the previous weekend on Superstars as Savio and Austin were forced to team in the tag tournament. Austin refused to tag, so Savio struck him, only for Austin to later drop an elbow. On Saturday, Savio ran in on an Austin match, but get caught in the Million Dollar Dream. Savio says he's at Wrestlemania is here for the fight of his life.
Both men brawl immediately, but Savio gains control, hitting a really nice sidewalk slam. Both men roll out of the ring and continue to hit hard strikes. Savio is distracted by Dibiase, but still manages to get a shot in on Austin. He tries a back drop, but Austin counters with more hard strikes and a throw to the buckle. Ax handle from Austin, followed by more stomping. Cover, but Savio kicks out. He goes for some arm work, wringing the shoulder and locking in a hammerlock, but Savio breaks free and flips behind, landing a kick to he face. Cover, but Austin kicks out.
We get Roddy Piper on the phone who is on the chase of Goldust. We can hear police sirens in the background before he hangs up. Stiff clothesline from Savio (who sells the damage he's taken on the arm), but Austin quickly trips the leg and returns to the hold. Piper is back on the phone in a huff. He says that he's come to fight Goldust even if he has to go to Tijuana. "I've come to make a man out of this fruitcake" he says as his phone goes off again.
Savio ducks a clothesline and hits a cross body for two. Savio reverses a whip, but Austin lands a Lou Thesz press with some punches, only for the two to then get into a series of pinfall attempts. Savio tries a backslide, but the arm is still hurt.
Mid-match we get "aerial footage" of Piper in his Bronco. Now, I did say that would be important, because if that footage looks familiar, there's a good reason...
BECAUSE THE FOOTAGE IS LITERALLY THE OJ SIMPSON WHITE BRONCO CHASE!!! I kid you not.
Back to the match, Savio tries a middle rope splash, but Austin gets his knees up. Roll up by Savio for two. Austin hits an elbow and a body slam. Austin then takes the top rope for an elbow, but Savio gets his boot up. Savio whips Austin and hits a chop followed by a back body drop and a clothesline combo. Savio tries a spin kick, but hits referee Tim White. This allows for Dibiase to hand Austin the Million Dollar Belt.
Austin tries a Million Dollar Dream, but Savio boots him. Dibiase distracts Savio as Austin hits him with the belt. Sets Savio on the apron and crowns in with the belt again. He chokes Savio while Dibiase throws a drink at the referee to wake him up. He does the arm drop spot, and for the first time in this blog, it actually leads to a victory. I liked this match. Just two brawlers being hard hitting for a good amount of time. Right ending as well as we continue Austin's heelish nature. In fact Austin keeps the choke on Savio for a good while until the officials arrive to stop him. Even more bronco footage is seen as Vince takes the piss out of it saying that it looks familiar.
Mr. Perfect is backstage with Diesel. He shows Diesel the footage of being dragged down by Undertaker at In Your House, followed by the teleporting taker and the diesel visage in the casket. Diesel says that he's not affected by Undertaker's mind games. He doesn't sweat the small and big things. He says he takes cool of Taker and wishes Shawn good luck because he's got him next.
Up next is Hunter Hearst Helmsley taking on The Ultimate Warrior. More importantly is who is the shoulder candy for Hunter for Wrestlemania. This would indeed be the then-current Mrs. Marc Mero, and the soon-to-be Mrs. Brock Lesnar, Rena Mero, AKA Sable. And if you think the company's got the hard on for Sunny, wait until we get further into the Sable push. Lawler claims that the Ultimate Warrior is 400 pounds with a shaved head, but that is not the case as Warrior runs down to the ring with his normal bombastic energy to a great crowd reaction.
Hunter sneak attacks Warrior with some clubbing blows, then hits a Pedigree, which Warrior immediately no-sells because of course he would. He starts powering up and hits some clotheslines, a shoulder block, a press slam and a splash in a bewilderingly short 1:39. Which is fine, I don't want a long Warrior match, but my god does that make Hunter look super weak, especially his finisher.
As Vince stumbles in his words, we cut to Todd Pettengill with Johnny B. Badd, now going by his real name of Marc Mero (or Marc Maro as Todd puts it). He says that it's been five long years he's been waiting to arrive, and now he's arrived. Todd lists the names of potential opponents and Marc says to look in his eyes. Hunter shows up and bumps into Mero and the two begin to brawl as Marc spears Hunter in to the security gate and the two roll around.
Up next is the Undertaker taking on Diesel. Early brawl to start things off. Diesel throws Taker hard to the buckle and hits a clothesline. Taker gets a boot out of the corner and lands a clothesline. Jumping elbow is dodged by Diesel who then clotheslines Taker over the ropes. Taker stands up after being thrown out and the two continue to brawl. Taker slams Diesel into the steps as Paul clutches the urn in approval. Taker tries a tombstone, but Diesel slides behind. Taker manages a cross body, covering for two.
Taker grabs the arm and heads up to the top rope, hitting the clothesline to the shoulder. Taker tries another cross body, but Diesel ducks. Taker manages a guillotine to Diesel on the ring ropes. Taker heads back into the ring and lays a few more punches that send Diesel tumbling outside. Taker tackles Diesel into the post, then grabs a steel chair. He swings, but Diesel avoids, causing Taker to clatter the post. Diesel then throws Taker into the steel barricade. Taker rolls in and out, grabbing Taker and slamming him spine-first into the steel post twice.
Diesel begins to stalk Paul Bearer briefly, then returns to the ring and taunts to boos. Taker tries to stumble back in, but gets hit with a knee. He then grabs Taker and brings him back in, landing a whip and a big boot to the face. Diesel picks up Taker and nails a couple more punches as the crowd chants "Rest in Peace". Sidewalk slam from Diesel who covers for two. He picks Taker up and hits a snake eyes in the corner, followed by a jumping squat on the ropes. He takes Undertaker to the corner and continues to pummel with knees and punches. Hard whip to the buckle, but Taker comes back with an elbow and some more strikes. Both men land elbows and boots at one another, taking them both down.
Both men get up, but Diesel nails Taker in the back. Another stiff corner whip, turning into a bearhug. Taker breaks free after about a minute, but Diesel puts in a headlock, only to be back suplexed. Taker drops an elbow. He then heads to the top buckle and lands a flying clothesline. Cover, but Diesel kicks out at two. Diesel catches Taker and lands a nice Jackknife powerbomb. Diesel takes his time and doesn't go for an immediate cover. He kicks Taker around, but Taker sits right up. Diesel calls for a second Jackknife, connecting. Diesel again takes his time, playing to the crowd instead of going for a cover.
Diesel tries a cover, but Taker grabs him by the throat. Diesel punches him down and tries again, but Taker once again grabs him by the throat. Diesel punches him down yet again. One more throat grab, this time standing up. However, Diesel lands a back suplex. Taker sits back up as Diesel goes back in for strikes. Taker hits more strikes, whips Diesel. Diesel reverses, only for Taker to land a big clothesline. Chokeslam from Undertaker who stands up once more. Diesel gets up, only to be caught in a Tombstone Piledriver for the win for Undertaker.
I liked this match. After having to cover two of Undertaker's worst Wrestlemania matches, it's good to see an actually good match for the dead man with a guy who put in a hell of an effort. It was booked just right. It felt like a brawl between to men with a long-standing rivalry, had some great spots, Diesel was being overly confident as we'd expect of him, and in the end the right person went over, giving Undertaker his fifth Wrestlemania win.
Todd Pettengill is at the security monitors as we see Goldust's cadillac and Piper's bronco make it to the arena. Goldust and Marlena try to get out of the way as Piper begins to hunt htem down. Piper and Goldust make it ot the entrance way as Goldust begs Hot Rod off. Piper runs at Goldust and the two begin to brawl in the ring. Goldust gains control and starts beating down on Roddy's legs, following with a leg drop to the groin. Goldust feels himself as he seems pleased by the damage he's done.
He puts Piper between his legs for a piledriver, but feels Piper's ass instead. Piper breaks free, but Goldust takes him down, tearing his shirt off and choking him with it. Goldust smashes Piper's leg into the post. Piper begins to fire up, but Goldust continues to damage the knee. He gets on top of Piper and feels himself and Hot Rod. He goes for a kiss, but Piper has none of that. However, Goldust has the higher ground and hits Piper some more. Goldust then heads to the top buckle, but Piper shakes the rope, sending the golden one groin-first into the buckle. Goldust kisses Piper in the face, which finally angers Piper enough to no-sell Goldust's offense. Piper grabs Goldust by the golden globes and slams him to the mat, following with a knee to the groin.
He then pulls off Goldust's gear to reveal lingerie underneath. Piper then lip locks Goldust and trips him to the mat, yanking off the rest of the ring gear. One more knee to the groin as Goldust rolls out. Marlena tries to cover up Goldust as the two just leave and this strange "match" ends. It was entertaining for what it was meant to be, which was bug nuts crazy. Definitely a more experimental idea, and for the guff I give about the blatant OJ Simpson footage, it was actually kind of funny to see them go to that length. Overall, it can be considered offensive in ways, but I still enjoyed this.
Up next, it's time for the iron man match for the WWF Championship. Bret Hart defending against Shawn Michaels. Rules are simple: Sixty minutes in length. The winner is the one who gains the most falls by the end. Pinfalls, submissions, count outs and disqualifications count as falls. In a video package Shawn says tonight is the final chapter, while Bret says that one man's sunset is another man's dawn. He just wants to wake up tomorrow morning with the title. Well that's telling. In the ring is Gorilla Monsoon who has been reinstated as president as Howard Finkel introduces both men. Shawn's music hits and out comes Jose Lothario hilariously. Where is Shawn?
Shawn is high above the rafters on a zipline. He zips down, landing into the crowd. Bret comes out normally to a decent enough reaction. Both men meet in the ring as the referee Earl Hebner checks them both out and explains the rules to the both of them. Bret gives glasses to his son Blade as the bell rings and we are off to the races.
Lock up to start as Shawn takes Bret to the corner and Bret follows. Both men break and go back in. Waistlock takedown and an exchange of holds from both men as we get another break and some pacing. Headlock by Bret is broken with a takedown by Shawn, followed by a second. Shawn works the shoulder until Bret gets a headlock takedown, keeping the pressue on Shawn. Shawn tries to break free, but Bret keeps in the hold for a good while. We're into the first three and a a half minutes in as both men try falls within this headlock spot but to no avail.
Shawn breaks free and hits a hiptoss, but Bret manages to regain control and reapply the headlock as we have passed our first five minutes of this match. Shawn breaks free, as the two lock in wrist locks, however Bret manages to take Shawn down again, locking in a front facelock. Shawn breaks free and gets in some arm drags, applying an arm bar. He drops the leg around the elbow and continues the arm work. Bret breaks free and tries to locks back in the headlock, but Shawn overpowers and applies a hammerlock, returning to the arm bar. Bret takes Shawn to the corner, forcin a break. Cheap shots in the corner by Bret, but Shawn comes back with strikes of his own. Shawn gets a headscissors that sends Bret to the outside as we have passed our first ten minutes.
Bret returns as Shawn returns to the arm bar. Bret regains momentum and throws Shawn over the ropes. Shawn skins the cat and returns to the ring, bringing Bret down for another arm bar. Bret recovers, whips Shawn and gets a knee to the midsection, following with a headbutt ot the midsection. Leg drop by Bret, following in to a headlock. Jawbreaker by Shawn who then hits a leg drop. Back into the arm bar as in this first fourteen minutes, Shawn's ring style has gone from his normal bombastic energy to a mat-based style. Very impressive stuff. Bret ges a headlock, but Shawn escapes, only for Bret to grab Shawn and hit a spinebuster. He tries for a sharpshooter, but Shawn slides right into the ropes. Bret then clotheslines Shawn hard over the ropes.
Shawn throws Bret into the post, causing Bret to fall on to timekeeper Tony Chimel. Sweet Chin Music attempt by Shawn, but Bret avoids, causing Shawn to superkick Chimel. Bret brings Shawn back in as we've passed fifteen minutes amd reapplies the chinlock. Officials are checking in on Chimel while Bret still has the hold, screaming at the referee to ask Shawn if he gives up. Shawn escapes, hitting a clothesline on Bret. Bret reverses a whip and hits a clothesline of his own, going right back into the chinlock. Shawn breaks free with some punches, going behind and hitting a dropkick to the face. Arm drag, and a return to the arm bar as we pass the twenty minute mark.
Shawn drives some knees to the shoulder of Bret and continues to stretch the arm. Bret tries a roll into a headlock, but Shawn returns to the arm work. Bret takes Shawn to the corner and hits some elbows to the face. He hits a few stiff uppercuts in the corner. Shawn reverses a whip to the corner and throws Bret shoulder-first into the ring post. He then grabs the arm and wraps it around fast and hard. Shoulder breaker by Shawn. He then goes ot the second buckle and hits an ax handle to the shoulder as Shawn continues to work on damaging the limb of Bret. Hammerlock body slam followed by shoulder throws into the buckle. Bret tries to regain momentum, but hard armbar takedown by Shawn gets Bret down again as we pass the twenty five minute mark.
Shawn continues to wear the arm down with another armbar. Bret breaks free, but Shawn is right back on the offense in the corner, hitting an elbow to the face. Headlock takedown and another arm bar variation follow. Bret recovers, grabbing Shawn and hitting a stun gun that sends Shawn throat-first into the second rope. Bret catapults Shawn into the buckle. Bret slowly covers for two. Bret tries to ram Shawn into the buckle, but Shawn blocks, throwing Bret head-first into the buckle. He tries a running cross body in the corner, but Bret avoids, causing Shawn to get caught up and open for some strikes. Inverted atomic drop and a clothesline. Bret covers for two. Bulldog by Bret who then goes up top, but Shawn grabs him. Bret pummels, and hits a hair pull slam on the mat that causing him to hit Hebner as we are officially in the halfway point of the match with no falls.
Shawn recovers with a powerslam and covers for a two count. Bret gets in a piledriver and falls on Shawn, but still only two. Bret goes back up top, but this time Shawn throws him off the buckle. Hurricanrana by Shawn who peppers in a bunch of punches. He goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Bret gets the ropes. Rib breaker by Shawn who covers for two. Elbow to the face takes Bret to the corner. Shawn tries again for the superkick, but Bret rolls outside.
Shawn dives off the top rope and connects on to Bret with a cross body. Shawn rolls in, but rolls back out, breaking the count. He rolls Bret in and goes up, hitting another cross body, but Bret rolls it around and covers for two yet again. Shawn reverses a whip and tries a hiptoss, but Bret turns it into an attempted backslide. Shawn flips free and gets in a small package for a two count. Fisherman suplex by Shawn only gets a two count. We are now thirty five minutes in as Shawn locks in a sleeper hold. Bret takes Shawn to the corner, but Shawn goes right back in. Arm drop spot, but Bret recovers. He tries to take Shawn to the corner, but Shawn counters, and reapplies the sleeper. Bret tries a back suplex, but Shawn flips and gets in an elbow and a kick to the face.
Stiff whip the the buckle by Shawn who goes after Bret, but Bret back drops him over the buckle to the outside. Bret grabs Shawn and slams him back-first into the steel. Bret brings Shawn back in and works the back with elbows and headbutts. Hard whip to the buckle followed by a patented Bret elbow drop to the lower back of Shawn. Bret catches Shawn off a whip and hits a backbreaker and a knee drop to the back. We're not forty minutes in as Bret continues to pound the back. Whip to the corner as Shawn flips up to the top buckle. Bret grabs him quickly and hits a back suplex off the top buckle. He crawls to the cover, but Shawn kicks out at two.
Bret goes into a camel clutch, sitting on the lower back. Shawn gets up and gets a few shots to the midsection. Sunset flip barely gets a two count. Shawn favors the lower back as Bret goes back in. Bret sets Shawn on to the top buckle for a superplex, but Shawn fights him off. Diving ax handle by Shawn is met with a shot to the midsection from Bret. Russian leg sweep and a cover by Bret only gets a two still.
He whips Shawn into the corner so hard that Shawn flips over and ends up clipping Jose Lothario with his knee. Bret then whips Shawn into the steps as Shawn again crashes into Jose. Bret brings Shawn back in and yells at Jose as we enter the forty five minute mark. Belly to belly suplex by Bret who covers for two. Shawn comes back with some rights, but Bret goes right back to the lower back with more clubbing blows. More stiff corner uppercuts from Bret followed by a vertical suplex attempt. However Shawn turns it into a roll up for two as Bret throws him to the outside.
Bret hits a suicide dive on Shawn by the entrance way. He returns to the ring and tries to get a count out fall. We get some stalling as he argues with the ref briefly. This allows Shawn to get ot the apron as Bret goes for a over rope suplex. Shawn counters, but Bret counters again with a German suplex, bridging for a two count. Both men exchange punches, but Bret wins the exchange. Shawn cockily calls for more, which Bret obliges. Bret returns to the camel clutch as we pass fifty minutes. Ten remain, and still no falls.
Bret transitions into another near-sleeper chinlock. Shawn recovers and breaks out with some elbows. He ducks a clothesline, but both men collide into one another. Shawn nails him with some elbows, but Bret gets him into the corner and hits the superplex. Bret tries for a Sharpshooter, but Shawn blocks with kicks to the face. Bret turns around the leg into a half-crab, but Shawn grabs the ropes. Bret keeps the hold on for a while as the crowd boos. Bret hits a backbreaker as we enter the final five minutes. Bret goes up for the elbow again, but Shawn gets the feet up, kicking Bret in the face. Big dropkick by Shawn sends Bret into the corner. He hits a forearm then whips Bret sternum-first into the buckle.
Shawn nails Bret with another forearm as both men collapse to the mat. Shawn nips up as he seems to have his second (or as Lawler puts it, ninteenth) wind. He whips Bret and hits a big elbow. He goes up and hits an ax handle on to Bret. Cover still only gets a two. Shawn then follows with a snap suplex. He goes up top and hits an elbow drop. Cover still only gets a two. Shawn whips Bret and hits a gutwrench powerbomb. Shawn goes back up, hitting a moonsault and covering again for still only two. Shawn gets a boot up and dives again for a hurricanrana, rolling up Bret for still just two. Slam by Shawn who stumbles as he gets to the top buckle again as we're under a minute to go. Bret gets up as Shawn dives. Bret catches him into a sharpshooter. Shawn struggles and refuses to give up as the time ticks away. Time eventually runs out as we're officially in a draw position right now.
Confusion is abound as Bret grabs his belt and leaves the ring. Gorilla Monsoon talks to the referee and we learn that the match is now in overtime until we get a definitive win. Bret returns to the ring and argues with Gorilla. Bret returns to clubbing the back and driving the knees. Big back body drop by Bret who then goes for a backbreaker. Bret whips Shawn, but Shawn escapes and hits Sweet Chin Music, but collapses to the mat.
Shawn recovers and hits another Sweet Chin Music, covering for the three count. We have a new WWF champion as the boyhood dream comes true. Shawn is handed the belt as Bret just walks off angrily. Long celebration in the ring for Shawn as the show goes off the air with a video recap.
This was a really great match, paced and booked near flawlessly. The first half being a heavy focus on holds and ground work with splashes off energy and intensity throughout. The highlight being the superkick being to Chimel. Once we reached the second half however, the action felt nonstop with both Bret and Shawn putting on some of their best in-ring offense ever. A true testament to both men who, while they may have hated each other (though not quite to the level they will in a year's time), still managed to put on a professional exhibition and an absolute clinic in wrestling.
And I know this match is considered overrated or overhyped, and that many people may not like it, but honestly, sitting through it from start to finish, I really liked it more than I thought I would go in. It has its slow points, but they're deliberate. I also like that the two most competitive men in the company can go an hour at one another and not get a fall. The ending did feel a bit rushed with the sudden death, but even that still worked great. Shawn's time with the belt begins, let's see how that road goes.
As for Wrestlemania XII overall, we've definitely stepped back into "good Mania" territory. The entire card was good with great booking throughout. A hot opening six-man tag, a really good brawl with Austin and Savio Vega, a quick and logical Warrior/Hunter match (even if the Pedigree got horribly buried), a bizarre as hell, but entertaining Goldust/Piper match, Undertaker's best Wrestlemania match to date, and a true classic in the Iron Man match between Bret and Shawn. After the mess that was Wrestlemania XI, it's great to go into such a strong show throughout. But how do I compare it to Wrestlemania X? While Mania X had two all time classics, it was muddied with a messy midcard. This however was a strong show starting and a strong show finishing. Hell, I won't even let the Billionaire Ted stuff hurt it since that was pre-show. In the end, Wrestlemania earns a strong A-. Other than a hiccup or two, this is a must-watch Wrestlemania.
And with that, we close the book on Boyhood Dreams. Shawn Michaels is the WWF champion. What awaits him in his next challengers? Mankind makes his debut at long last. A PPV suffers from power problems, and a kliq collapses as top stars jump ship to WCW. So join us next time as we kick off the next chapter of Taste of the New Generation: Curtain Calling.
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