WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 12

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 31, 1996

Venue: Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)

Attendance: 18,853

On Commentary: Jerry "The King" Lawler & Vince McMahon 

Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart in a 60 Minute Iron Man Match

Alex's Opinion

Best: Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart had the best match of this WrestleMania, hands down.  There wasn't even a close second.  The pace they kept was insane, and they nailed everything.  It's one of the best matches ever.

Worst: The Ultimate Warrior was completely gassed just from his entrance.  The only caveat in this match is that we get a glimpse of Triple H before he blew up.  Who would've thought he'd be the future king of wrestling?

Violet's Opinion

Best:  The Ultimate Warrior returned after a several year absence to squash the up and coming Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Generally speaking, I hate squash matches. But, what I hate even more than a regular squash match is one that takes place on PPV. And, I especially hate matches that put veterans over promising new stars. So, there was very little for me to like about this segment.

Worst:  The Iron Man match between Shawn Michael and Bret Hart stands out as the best segment of WrestleMania 12. The fluidity and pacing of the match was perfect. It didn't feel like there were any slow or rests points in the action, which is truly impressive for a match that was over an hour in length. I liked that the match had to go into overrun as it was a pleasure to watch Michaels and Hart do what they do best: put on an entertaining and athletic wrestling match. The fact that there was only one fall over the course of match made Hart look strong in defeat.

Full Results

Vader, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog defeated Yokozuna, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Ahmed Johnson in a 6-Man Tag Match (12:51)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega (10:00)

The Ultimate Warrior defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (1:40)

The Undertaker defeated Diesel (16:46)

Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Goldust in a Hollywood Backlot Brawl (12:15)

Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in Overtime of a 60 Minute Iron Man Match (1:01:52)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

Remembering Paul Bearer

by Alex Archer

There isn't much to say about Paul Bearer's career that hasn't already been said on every wrestling news site and blog on the internet, so I'm not even going to try.  These are some of my favorite memories of Paul Bearer.

Paul Bearer makes his debut on "The Brother Love Show"

Paul Bearer attempts to regain control of his Undertaker

Paul Bearer tells the story of Kane

Funeral Parlor segment featuring Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Paul Bearer, The Undertaker, The Ultimate Warrior, and a Casket

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@TheAlexArcher | @FTLOW_Official

Versus: Who Was the Better Partner for Kofi Kingston?

by Violet Buttle

Evan Bourne vs. R-Truth

 

Evan Bourne: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne won the WWE Tag Team Championship on August 22, 2011, just seven days after teaming up. Soon after, the team began going by the name Air Boom. Air Boom was a well-received tag team and much of that has to do with how well-matched Kingston and Bourne were. Their high flying, energetic in-ring styles complimented each other well, and their jovial, upbeat personalities made them appear as believable friends. Air Boom dropped the titles on January 15, 2011 following Bourne’s second suspension for a violation of WWE’s Wellness Policy.

R-Truth: On April 30, 2012, Kofi and Kingston and R-Truth won the WWE Tag Team Championship, becoming the first black wrestlers to win the titles as a team. The team didn’t seem very cohesive, as Truth and Kingston had very different in-ring styles and gimmicks. For instance, every time the team entered the ring, Kingston would try to hurry Truth through his Little Jimmy antics, even though the Little Jimmy routine was an important of Truth’s character at the time. Kingston and Truth dropped the titles at the Night of Champions Pay-Per-View on September 16, 2012 to the up-and-coming Team Hell No. The team mutually parted ways on October 8th, but they have occasionally tagged together since.

The Better Partner for Kofi Kingston: Evan Bourne

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@VioletButtle

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 13

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 23, 1997

Venue: Rosemont Horizon (Rosemont, IL)

Attendance: 18,197

On Commentary: Jerry "The King" Lawler, Vince McMahon, and Jim Ross 

Main Event: The Undertaker vs. Sycho Sid in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin was clearly the best match of this WrestleMania. It’s one of the all time classics. When you think about iconic wrestling imagery, one of the first things that come to mind is Austin in the Sharpshooter, blood pouring down his face, reaching for the ropes while he’s screaming in pain. When you take the storyline and the story of the match into account, it was one of the best matches and best finishes in wrestling history.

Worst: The Legion of Doom & Ahmed Johnson taking on The Nation of Domination was just awful to watch. Eleven minutes of guys bashing each other over the head with all sorts of absurd weapons, including an actual kitchen sink. The highlight of the match, however, is the infamous Colt Cabana punch! A young Colt Cabana was in the stands and managed to take a few swings at Hawk of the LOD.

Violet's Opinion

Best: Goldust and Hunter Hearst Helmsley had a very entertaining match that told a good, cohesive story. Outside the ring, Chyna and Marlena played their parts well and really enhanced the story that the guys were telling. Good work from everyone involved.

Worst: The match for the Intercontinental Championship made Rocky Maivia and The Sultan look like the most limited wrestlers that WWE has ever had. So dull. So uneventful.

Full Results

The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham and Blackjack Bradshaw), The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) and Doug Furnas and Phil LaFonp to determine the number one contenders for the WWF Tag Team Championship(10:39)

Rocky Maivia defeated The Sultan for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (9:45)

Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Goldust (14:28)

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog fought Mankind and Vader to a double countout for the WWF Tag Team Championship (16:08)

Bret Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in a submission match (22:05)

The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) and Ahmed Johnson defeated The Nation of Domination (Farrooq, Crush, and Savio Vega) in a Chicago Street Fight (10:45)

The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship (21:19)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 14

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 29, 1998

Venue: Fleet Center (Boston, MA)

Attendance: 19,028

On Commentary: Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler

Main Event: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Mike Tyson as Special Guest Enforcer for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Once again the main event was the best match at WrestleMania.  None of the undercard matches even came close to stealing the show in this one.  Austin and Michaels were both great; Michaels despite an injured back.  You could tell how excited Tyson was to be there and it was cool to see him having such a blast.  He did a good job of hitting the ring on cue and played his part perfectly.  I doubted that Tyson was a good idea before this all played out back in 1998, but it was clearly a great move.

Worst: The dumpster match was just a waste of 10 minutes.  I really don't like matches that leave the vicinity of the ringside area.  It really takes away from the match, in my opinion.  Not like there was much to take away from in a garbage (oh god...) match like this.  WWF Hardcore matches were always awful.

Violet's Opinion

Best: The main event match for the WWF title between Michaels and Austin was easily the best part of this lackluster WrestleMania. Usually I think that celebrities detract from the matches that they are involved in, but I liked the role Tyson played here. His betrayal of Michaels at the end of the match was surprising and exciting.

Worst: You know what’s dumber than a dumpster match? A dumpster match that finishes backstage instead of wrapping up in front of the live audience.

Full Results

L.O.D. 2000 (Hawk & Animal) won a 15 Team Battle Royal to become # 1 Contenders for the Tag Team Championship (8:19)

Taka Michinoku defeated Aguila to retain the Light Heavyweight Championship (5:47)

Triple H defeated Owen Hart to retain the European Championship (11:27)

Marc Mero & Sable defeated The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust & Luna in a Mixed Tag Match (9:05)

The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock to retain the Intercontinental Championship (4:49)

Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack defeated The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn) in a Dumpster Match for the Tag Team Championship (10:00)

The Undertaker defeated Kane (16:48)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship (20:01)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official