Welcome back to the drill!! Ready for the stretch run? I'll be updating twice today to meet my deadline so to speak. So get ready for Wrestlemania's 15-21!!! There some graphic pics in this one also. Just so we're clear ok? On with the show!
First Union Center-Philadelphia, PA
March 28, 1999
The last Wrestlemania of the millennium would feature the biggest match since Hogan vs Warrior at Wrestlemania VI. Two of the company's biggest names would be going at it in the main event.
WWF champ The Rock, who for months had carved out a cocky persona that the fans loved to hate would face "Stone Cold" Steve Austin who was hell bent on getting his WWF title back.
The WWF was in full "Attitude" mode by the time "Wrestlemania XV" rolled around. Gone was the old WWF block logo to be replaced with the WWF "scratch" logo. This new "WWF Attitude" would put them back in the mainstream. Suddenly, being a wrestling fan was cool again.
By this time, WWF Chairman Vince McMahon had become a full time performer on his shows. Playing the evil "Mr McMahon" character, he felt that Austin was not good enough to be the champion and he wanted someone who was more to his liking. That person being The Rock. It promised to be another Wrestlemania classic.
Mr McMahon was determined to keep the WWF title off of Austin. So much so, that he appointed himself guest referee for the match. This didnt sit well with WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels (Yes, THAT Shawn Michaels. He had been forced to retire after Wrestlemania XIV) who ordered McMahon back and brought in a new impartial referee.
The match was chaotic as both men fought hard. The Rock was determined to walk out as champion and Austin would do everything in his power to not allow that to happen.
The Rock would hit Austin with his "Rock Bottom" finishing move, but to no avail as Austin kept coming.
Finally after several attempts to take the other out and despite some outside interference from McMahon, Austin was able to defeat The Rock and celebrated his victory with some beer. As you can see Mr. McMahon was not too happy. ;-)
Austin's second reign had begun!
Arrowhead Pond-Anaheim, CA
April 02,2000
Wrestlemania XVI (Or Wrestlemania 2000 as it would be called later) would bring Wrestlemania back to Anahiem for a second round. It would feature the first "Fatal Four Way" main event. It included WWF Champion Triple H defending against The Rock, The Big Show and Mick Foley. This would be the first main event in the "Austin Era" that "Stone Cold" would not be a part of. This match featured a McMahon in each corner as each member of Vince McMahon's family would accompany a fighter to the ring.
WWF Chairman Mr. McMahon had chosen The Rock as the man he wanted to become WWF Champion. In order for the People's Champion to accomplish this, however, he would have to take it away from a man supported by another McMahon – Triple H.
Mr. McMahon's daughter Stephanie, who was married to Triple H, said she was going to support him no matter what her father, or anyone else in her family, had to say.
Upon hearing that, Shane McMahon, Stephanie's brother, decided that it was time for WWF to move in a new direction. And the man who would be his champion was The Big Show.
The matriarch of the McMahon family and WWF CEO, Linda, saw the fighting taking place between her family members, and decided it was time for her to take control. To do that, she convinced Mick Foley to come out of retirement so he could live his dream and fight in the main event at WrestleMania.
The stage was set for perhaps the most electrifying WrestleMania of all time. All four men went at each other like they had nothing to lose
It seemed that The Rock had the match won, but then Vince McMahon showed his true colors by turning on The Rock and costing him the victory
Triple H retained the WWF Championship becoming the first man to do so since Diesel did it at Wrestlemania XI, but Vince, Shane and Stephanie were all knocked out by The Rock after the match.
The first Wrestlemania of the new millennium was in the books!
Astrodome-Houston, TX
April 01, 2001
It took two years, but at "Wrestlemania X-7" (17..gotta love those marketing people) WWF Champ The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would face off once more. This match was bigger than their first Wrestlemania match as both men went in as top fan favorites.
The buildup for the match rivaled only that of the "Hogan/Warrior" match in that the fans were split in their loyalties wherever they went. While one half of the fans chanted "AUSTIN!! AUSTIN!! AUSTIN!!" the other half would be chanting "ROCKY! ROCKY!! ROCKY!!!" It promised to be a huge main event.
67,925 people jammed the Astrodome in Houston to witness this confrontation. And they didn’t go home disappointed!
It seemed that both men picked up where they left off. Austin didn’t even allow The Rock to go through his pre match poses as Austin attacked him before the bell even rang. The match was a "No DQ" match so anything went as both men took turns wailing away on each other.
At one point in the match both men were bloodied.
The Rock seemed to have things under control and was getting ready to deliver his "People's Elbow" on Austin and put him away.
Suddenly, Mr. McMahon came down to the ring and made his presence known. At first no one knew what to expect, but then he interfered on behalf of Austin and the crowd was stunned. McMahon handed Austin a steel chair and he began to wail away on the champion. Finally after leaving The Rock a bloody and beaten mess, Austin pinned the Rock and captured the title again.
The real shocker was afterwards when Austin and McMahon stared each other down in the ring and then shook hands. It seemed that Austin had finally joined Mr. McMahon and the WWF would never be the same again.
To be CONCLUDED!!!
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