RSR Looks Back at Wrestlemania X-7: Stone Cold Steve Austin Vs The Rock
Chris Jericho (c) vs. William Regal
Intercontinental Championship
Jericho’s strong start eventually leads to Regal targeting Jericho’s left shoulder to switch the momentum, applying a number of maneuvers to weaken it. Regal is on a roll, hitting a belly to back flip suplex. Regal exposes a turnbuckle. Regal hits a big top rope hip toss. Jericho initially attempts a Walls of Jericho, but Regal manages to counter out of it due to Jericho’s weak shoulder. Regal applies his Regal Stretch (modified STF) to Jericho, who manages to grab the rope to break the submission up. Jericho chops Regal’s chest. Jericho fakes a bulldog, knocks Regal down, and connects with a Lionsault, pinning Regal for the victory.
Chris Jericho pins William Regal; retains the Intercontinental Championship: ***
Shane McMahon arrives, exiting his WCW1 limousine. When his father Vince purchased the company, Shane signed the papers to officially acquire the company.
Right to Censor (Val Venis, Bull Buchanon, Goodfather w/Steven Richards) vs. Tazz, Acolytes (Farooq & Bradshaw) w/Jackie
Richards takes the mic in the ring, but Tazz interrupts him with his entrance. APA enters, and it’s a brawl to start. Things settle down, and Tazz ends up on the receiving end of beatdowns from RTC. Goodfather missed splash leads to Bradshaw’s hot tag. Bradshaw is in control, and eventually hits a super back body drop from the top rope on Val Venis. Bull Buchanon and Goodfather hit a Double Powerbomb on Bradshaw. Goodfather attempts a Ho Train splash to the corner on Bradshaw, but Bradshaw evades the attack and nails a clothesline from hell for the victory.
Bradshaw pins Goodfather; Tazz & APA def Right to Censor: **
Trish Stratus walking Linda McMahon in her wheelchair backstage. Bratty Stephanie McMahon disrespects Trish, telling her to “fetch her a coffee.”
Raven (c) vs. Kane vs. The Big Show
Hardcore Championship Falls Count Anywhere
Raven attacks Kane with a neon crosswalk man before Big Show enters. Kane tosses Raven onto Big Show, then hits a top rope clothesline onto Big Show on the outside. Fight moves to the crowd, backstage. Big show locks himself into a cage with Raven and the ref, but Kane breaks the padlock and enters. Kane tosses Raven through glass window, then Big Show knocks Kane through a door. This leads to the Big Show and Kane choking each other and falling through a wall. Raven attempts to get away by driving a golf cart into a fence with Big Show on back. Kane follows Big Show and Raven with his own golf cart with the ref on the back of it, hitting Raven’s leg with the golf cart. The Big Show drags Raven across a table full of refreshments. Fight moves to stage, where Kane big boots Big Show, who’s holding Raven in a military press, off the stage through a section of side-stage. Kane hits a flying leg drop off stage and covers the Big Show for the victory in an entertaining hardcore match.
Kane pins The Big Show, def. Raven for the Hardcore Championship: ***½
Cut to Kurt Angle backstage with Edge and Christian, saying he never officially tapped out to Chris Benoit. Cut to The Rock, who enters his locker room.
Eddie Guerrero w/Perry Saturn vs. Test (c)
European Championship
Saturn’s wearing a ridiculous fluffy, pink top hat. Test’s power and pace gives him an advantage. Guerrero misses a Frankensteiner, then Test misses a big boot and gets his right leg stuck in the ropes. Saturn cheap shots Test, who is still stuck. Guerrero continues to hit Test and work Test’s right ankle. Good improvisation by ref, Guerrero, and Saturn. The crowd starts an Eddie sucks chant, but Guerrero is in control. Test hits a big Tilt-a-Whirl Slam, and follows up with a Tilt-a-Whirl Powerbomb. Guerrero hits a low blow, and when the ref is distracted by disciplining Guerrero, Saturn hits his signature move on Test. Sure this is over as Guerrero covers Test, but Test kicks out! Guerrero hits a brain buster, but misses his Five Star Frogslpash from the stop rope.
Test hits pumphandle slam on Guerrero, but Saturn stalls Test’s pin. Test knocks Saturn off the apron with a boot to Saturn’s face, and then Guerrero’s face as well. Test covers Guerrero, but Dean Malenko runs down to the ring and breaks up the count. Saturn tosses Guerrero the European belt while the ref is distracted by Malenko, and Guerrero hits Test with the belt. He covers Test for the victory, and the three Radicalz walk up the ramp, celebrating Guerrero’s title victory.
Eddie Guerrero pins Test to win the European Championship: **½
Backstage, Mick Foley says he will be a fair and impartial referee, and then Stone Cold Steve Austin enters his locker room.
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
Angle provokes Texas citizens when he hits the ring, telling them to lose the freaking cowboy hats. Benoit enters second, and the match begins. In a technical wrestling clinic, Angle lands the first takedown. The two wrestlers are focused on submissions. Benoit teases the Crippler Crossface three times early on Angle. Advantage goes to Benoit for outwrestling Angle. After regrouping, Angle decks Benoit to start the brawl. Angle throws Benoit into steel steps, taking control by switching styles. Benoit fights back with hard chest chops, then Angle puts on a suplex clinic, connecting multiple belly to belly and German suplexes. From what started as a match of one-upsmanship in amateur wrestling, to a brawl, to a back-and-forth classic.
Benoit hits a superplex on Angle from the top rope. Benoit tries for three suplexes but Angle counters into the ankle lock twice. Benoit then counters into an ankle lock of his own, and then into a crossface. Now Angle counters into a crossface on Benoit, who reaches the ropes to break up the submission. The ref gets knocked down, and Benoit locks in the crippler crossface on Angle. Angle taps, but the ref is down! Angle gets up and hits an Olympic slam on Benoit as he revives the ref. Pin by Angle, but Benoit kicks out at 2. Angle misses a moonsault, then Benoit hits a flying headbutt on Angle. Cover, 1, 2, but Angle kicks out. Angle hits a low blow on Benoit, then rolls him up and pulls Benoit’s tights during the pin for the victory. Angle stole one here.
Kurt Angle illegally pins Chris Benoit: ****
Commissioner Regal is backstage, and Kamala is doing weird stuff on his table. Kurt Angle is being interviewed backstage by Kevin Kelly, saying that he has no respect for Benoit. Cue Benoit, who sneaks up from behind and locks Angle into a Crippler Crossface, and Angle taps again before referees break up the scuffle.
Ivory (c) vs. Chyna
Women’s Championship
The rest of RTC is banned from ringside, and If Ivory breaks Chyna’s neck there will be no legal recourse
Ivory pleads with Chyna to start, as she just wants to talk, and is holding on to her belt. Before the bell rings though, Ivory deceives Chyna and hits her with belt. Ivory, with the quick advantage, attacks Chyna’s neck. Chyna catches Ivory, and the squash begins. Chyna pounds Ivory down. Chynaline? Maybe not. Let’s stick with maybe not. Chyna hits a huge Chynabomb on Ivory and covers her, but Chyna relinquishes the pin to continue punishing Ivory. Chyna hoists Ivory into a Military Press and drops Ivory stomach-first to the ring. Chyna nonchalantly covers Ivory for the victory.
Chyna squashes and pins Ivory to win the Women’s Championship: *½
Houston Astros baseball players Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou are at ringside with Coach. Backstage, Vince asks Trish if she doubled up on Linda’s meds. Vince tells Michael Cole that if he wants shocking, then he will get shocking.
Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
Grudge Match Street Fight w/Special Guest Referee Mick Foley
Shane gives a shout out to Houston and his WCW wrestlers in skybox, and introduces Foley as the guest referee. Vince enters and slaps Shane in the face, taking an early advantage. Shane fights back but Stephanie stops the action and slaps Shane. Shane baseball slides Vince and takes the fight to the outside. Shane finds a kendo stick under the ring and beats Vince down. Shane knocks Vince in the head with a video monitor and rolls Vince onto the Spanish Announce table. Shane jumps from the top rope through the Spanish Announce table, missing a flying elbow as Stephanie pulls Vince out of harm’s way. Trish pushes Linda down to ringside in her wheelchair. Trish slaps Vince in the face, then Stephanie slaps Trish in the face, and the result is a catfight in the ring. Slick Mick Foley picks up Stephanie to break it up, who slaps him in the face for his efforts. Trish chases Stephanie up the ramp and into backstage. Vince calls Linda a b-word at ringside, but she is unresponsive, seemingly sedated. Foley prevents Vince from putting his hands on Linda, and the crowd chants Foley! Vince hits Foley in the back with a chair as Foley wheels Linda away, then hits him in the head to knock him down.
Vince rolls Linda into the ring as the crowd chants, “asshole,” then sets up a chair in the corner in which to prop Linda up. Vince rolls Shane back into the ring and tosses some garbage cans in with him. Linda watches Vince beat Shane down with the garbage cans, but before Vince can hit Shane with a third, she gets up to the crowd’s delight. Vince lifts the garbage can up, but before he hits Shane, Shane points behind him, where Vince discovers his conscious wife. Linda then kicks Vince in the McMahon family jewels, and then Foley gets back in the ring and beats Vince down, eventually running his knee into Vince’s face in the corner. At this, Shane props a garbage can in front of Vince’s face, then jumps across the ring from the top rope and dropkicks the can into his father’s face. Shane covers Vince and Foley counts to three for the victory.
Shane McMahon pins Vince McMahon: ****
Triple H readies himself backstage, as does the Undertaker, for their match.
The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz (c)
Tag Team Championship Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match (TLC II)
Jeff Hardy hits his senton on the Dudleys to start. Edge and Christian smack their competitors with a table. E and C trip Jeff face first into a chair. Edge tries to climb the ladder, as does Matt Hardy, but they stop each other. Jeff dropkicks Edge off the ladder. Hardyz hit a double baseball slide onto Dudleys. Hardyz hit a leg drop and splash onto Christian. Dudleyz hit the Whazzup on Edge, and Bubba tells Devon to get the tables! Bubba powerbombs Jeff Hardy onto Edge through a table.
Dudleyz set up four tables outside in a box formation. Three ladders are erected in the center of the ring. All six men climb to the top of each, but each fall off the ladders after reaching for the belts. Spike Dudley runs to the ring and hits a Dudley Dog on Edge in the ring, and then hits another on Christian off the top rope/apron through a table on the outside to a big pop. Rhyno Gores Bubba Ray, then he Gores Matt Hardy through a table. Lita runs down to the ring and tosses Edge off the ladder before he can reach the belts, but Rhyno catches Lita. Spike saves the day and low blows Rhyno, then Lita hits Rhyno. Spike Dudley hits a chairshot on Rhyno into a ladder, knocking over the only remaining ladder in the ring. The Dudleyz hit a Dudley Device on Rhyno, then Lita surprisingly chair shots Spike in the face.
To retaliate, the Dudleyz hit a 3D on Lita. Edge chairshots Devon, then Christian Conchairtos Bubba Ray. Jeff Hardy jumps off a jumbo sized ladder and hits a Swanton Bomb onto Rhyno and Spike Dudley through a table. Edge brings the jumbo ladder into the ring. Christian and Devon climb to the top and reach the belts. Matt removes their ladder, and the two hang from the title rung. Devon eventually falls, as does Christian. Meanwhile, Jeff steps across the tops of three ladders to reach the titles, and now he hangs from the rung! Bubba Ray removes his ladder, and Edge hits a BIG spear from atop a ladder onto Jeff, and the two drop to the ring as the crowd lets out a HUGE pop of approval.
Rhyno pushes Matt Hardy and Bubba off the ladder in the middle of the ring onto and through the four tables set up on the outside, effectively ending their nights. Back in the ring, Devon climbs the ladder for victory, but Edge grabs him before he can reach the title belts. Meanwhile, Rhyno elevates Christian up the other side on his shoulders to grab the titles! Christian unwraps each from the rungs, and this one is over. Everyone is hurting and Paul Heyman is enthralled at ringside after that one.
Edge & Christian win TLC II and the Tag Team Championship belts: *****
Howard Finkel announces that Wrestlemania has set an attendance record at the Astrodome: 67,925. Commentator Mean Gene Okerlund and Color Analyst Bobby Heenan join JR and Heyman at ringside for the Gimmick Battle Royal.
Luke and Butch Bushwhacker vs. Duke the Dumpster Droese vs. The Iron Sheik vs. Earthquake vs. The Goon vs. Doink the Clown vs. Kamala w/Harvey Whippleman and Kimchee vs. Repo Man vs. Jim Cornette vs. Nickolai Volkoff vs. Freebird Michael Hayes vs. One Man Gang vs. The Gobbly Gooker vs. Tugboat vs. Hillbilly Jim vs. Brother Love vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Gimmick Battle Royal
Iron Sheik wins by tossing Hillbilly Jim over the top rope last, but Sgt. Slaughter reenters the ring and locks a Cobra Clutch on the Sheik after the match for good measure!
Iron Sheik outlasts the rest of the legends to win the Battle Royal: *
Triple H vs. The Undertaker
Motorhead plays Triple H’s entrance music “The Game” live from the stage to set the tone of this match. Undertaker enters on his motorcycle and then jumps out of the ring to start the brawl on the outside. Triple H falls through the makeshift Spanish Announce table. Back in the ring, the competitors trade punches then Triple H hits a jumping knee to Undertaker’s face. Undertaker gets up quickly though and takes control. Triple H counters Old School by tossing Undertaker off the top rope. Referee Mike Chioda begins instructing Triple H to fight cleanly, to which Triple H responds with a “shut up.” Nice moment. Triple H covers the Undertaker twice to no avail, and ragingly pushes the ref, but the ref pushes Triple H back, refusing to take his crap. Undertaker fights back, but Triple H hits a facebuster on Undertaker.
Triple H pushes the time keeper over the barrier and grabs his sledgehammer. After pushing the ref out of the way, Triple H goes to hit Undertaker with it but the ref catches the sledgehammer and returns it to the timekeeper. Undertaker catapults Triple H into the ref in the corner, knocking the ref down. Undertaker chokeslams Triple H and goes for the cover, but the ref is slow and can only count to two before Triple H kicks out. Undertaker, clearly frustrated, beats down the fallen ref and tosses Triple H over the ropes to the outside. The fight is really out of hand now, and is taken over the barrier, through the crowd, and up the aisle to the main camera station. Triple H whacks away on Undertaker with a steel chair atop the camera station, but before he can manage to finish Undertaker off, Undertaker grabs Triple H’s throat, and chokeslams him off the top, prompting the crowd to chant “Holy $*!+” in marvel. Undertaker then jumps off himself and hits an elbow on Triple H. EMTs gather around Triple H, but Undertaker pushes them away from him and walks Triple H back through the crowd into the ring. Undertaker attempts to hit Triple H with sledgehammer, but Triple H kicks him downstairs.
Undertaker nails a Tombstone Piledriver on Triple H, but there’s no ref for the count. Undertaker attempts a Last Ride on Triple H, but Triple H hits him whilst hoisted in the air with his sledgehammer, which he managed to grab before he was hoisted up. Triple H pounds on Undertaker in the corner, then Undertaker grabs him and hits the Last Ride! Undertaker pins Triple H for the victory in this masterpiece of a wrestling match.
Undertaker pins Triple H: *****
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock (c)
WWF Championship No Disqualification
Austin doesn’t waste any time, hitting a Lou Thesz Press and a redneck elbow on the Rock. The wrestlers tease us with an early rock bottom, early stunner, reverse stunner, all of which are countered until Austin throws the Rock over the top rope. The crowd is hinging on this match’s every move, and the fight moves to outside. Austin and Rock trade punches in the stands. Back in the ring, Austin hits a superplex on the Rock for a nearfall. Austin unwraps the padding off of a turnbuckle. The Rock fights back, hits a belly to belly flip suplex, and clotheslines Austin over the top rope. Rocky throws Austin into the announce table and time keepers table, repeatedly bashing his head in. When Earl Hebner tries to break things up, the Rock backs the ref over the steps. The Rock turns around and Austin hits him in the face out of nowhere with the ring bell. Austin throws the time keeper down, and then he throws Rock through the announce table. Back in the ring Austin punches the rock all over the squared circle, off the ropes, and on the canvas. Austin connects with a neckbreaker, flips off crowd, and pins Rock for a near fall. The Rock’s face is busted wide open, and Austin is in control. Austin chokes the Rock in the corner, and Austin this time pushes the ref away after he tries to break things up. As was the case the last time Hebner broke up the match, The Rock fights back and shifts momentum. With a clothesline and a few right hands, The Rock then tosses Austin face first into the exposed turnbuckle, foiling Austin’s plans.
The Rock grabs the ring bell and hits Austin in the face in the middle of the ring for retaliation. Cover, 1-2-Austin kicks out. Now the Rock is punching Austin around the ring. The fight moves to the outside, where Austin regains control using the barriers against the Rock. Austin catapults The Rock into the ringpost. Austin continues by knocking the Rock in the head with a monitor and rolls him back in the ring. Cover for a near fall, then Austin attempts a Stunner, which Rock counters into a sharpshooter! Shades of Bret Hart and Austin from Wrestlemania 13.
After a struggle, the bloody-faced Austin reaches the ropes to break it up. Rock tries the sharpshooter again, but Austin rakes his eyes. Austin locks in the sharpshooter now on the Rock, but Rock frees himself, reaching the ropes. Austin gives Earl Hebner the finger before finally relinquishing the hold. Seemingly back to his Ringmaster persona from Money Inc, Austin slaps a Million Dollar Dream on the Rock. Hebner raises Rock’s arms for a two-count, but the Rock flips back for a pin on Austin, but only a 2-count. Rock counters an Irish Whip into a Stunner on Austin! 1-2-Austin kicks out again!
Time for controversy: Vince McMahon walks down the ramp to ringside to a chorus of boos form the crowd. Austin nails a spinebuster on the Rock and covers him for a near fall. Now Rock hits a spinebuster on Austin, followed up with a People’s Elbow. Rock covers Austin, 1-2-but Vince McMahon pulls the Rock off of Austin to break up the count! The Rock is pissed. He chases Vince around the ring, but runs right into a Rock Bottom from Austin for a near fall. Austin attempts a Stunner, but the Rock counters and pushes Austin into Hebner, knocking him out of the ring. Austin hits the Rock with a low blow, then motions for Vince, of all people, to get a chair. Vince obliges! These two men hate each other—Vince enters the ring and hits the Rock in the face with the chair as Austin holds him up. Austin covers the Rock, and the ref is back in the ring to count, but he kicks out after 2. Austin attempts to hit Rock again with the chair but Rock catches Austin and hits a Rock Bottom!
Vince distracts the ref before he can count, so the Rock throws Vince over the ropes and into the ring. After the Rock punishes Vince a bit, Austin surprises the Rock with a Stunner. Austin covers Rocky, 1, 2, but Rock kicks out after 2 again! Austin looks distraught now, and Vince gives him the chair again, which Austin uses on the Rock. This one HAS to be over. The cover, 1-2-no, the rock kicks out again! Austin flips off the ref, and the savage beat down begins, as Austin beats the living hell out of the Rock with the steel chair multiple times as Vince watches on. This is a traveshamockery. Austin covers the Rock again as Vince counts on with the referee: 1-2-3, and Stone Cold Steve Austin is the new WWF Champion. Who would have thought that Steve Austin and Vince McMahon ever would team up? Austin celebrates by drinking a beer with Vince in the ring, cheering over the fallen Rock. Austin’s not done, however, and nails the Rock in the face with the title for good measure before drinking another beer and leaving with Vince. Monster heel turn for Austin by joining forces with Vince McMahon, having been the face of the company for the past four years.
Stone Cold Steve Austin pins The Rock to win the WWF Championship: *****
One of my fondest wrestling memories growing up, Wrestlemania X-7 is an instant classic. Check it out if you haven’t. Questions, comments, hate mail- you know where to reach me. Until next time…