WWF 1997.03.23 - Wrestlemania 13

Location: Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois

Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

Welcome to the biggest event of the year! There are 18,197 fans in attendance.

Take a good look at the three commentators. In my opinion, they were the best team of commentators ever. They can never be equalled.

Match 1. Tag Team Elimination Match. (1) The Godwins, (2) The Headbangers, (3) The New Blackjacks, (4) Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon

The winner of the elimination match will be given a title shot tomorrow on Monday Night Raw. As you can expect from the special rules printed above, the match is chaos.

The first team to be eliminated is the New Blackjacks. They're disqualified after attacking the referee Earl Hebner.

The second team to be eliminated is Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon. They're counted out under confusing circumstances. It seems they were standing outside the ring arguing with the already disqualified New Blackjacks.

After this the match becomes a conventional tag team match. Mosh pins Phineas Godwinn, making the Headbangers the victors.

Match 2. Intercontinental title, Rocky Maivia vs the Sultan

The Honky Tonk Man comes to the ring as a guest commentator. Rocky pins the Sultan and retains his Intercontinental championship title. After the match Rocky is ambushed by the Iron Sheik and the Sultan, supported by Bob Backlund. Rocky Maivia's father, Rocky Johnson, enters the ring to defend him. The after-match antics are more entertaining than the match itself.

Match 3. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Goldust

Triple H comes to the ring accompanied by Chyna. Goldust is accompanied by Marlena. The two wrestlers are equally matched, but Goldust is distracted when Chyna threatens Marlena, allowing Triple H to pin him.

Chyna is beautiful.

So is Marlena. I just wish she wouldn't always smoke a cigar at ringside.

I've been accused of posting too many photos of Chyna. This one is my last.

Or maybe just one more.

This is a photo of Triple H being interviewed by Dok Hendrix. I almost didn't notice that Chyna is in the picture as well.

Match 4. Tag team championship, British Bulldog & Owen Hart vs Mankind & Vader

Owen's parents, Stu and Helen Hart, are sitting in the front row watching. Throughout the match Jerry Lawler is insulting them.

The match ends in a double count out. Mankind applies the mandible claw to the British Bulldog outside of the ring and refuses to let go. Since the match is a draw, British Bulldog and Owen Hart retain the tag team title.

Match 5. Submission match, Bret Hart vs Steve Austin

Here's another match for Stu and Helen to watch. Their son Bret Hart is facing Stone Cold Steve Austin in a submission match. There are no pinfalls or disqualifications. The match has to continue until one of the wrestlers says "I quit". Ken Shamrock has been selected as the special guest referee.

This is Bret Hart's chance to win respect from the WWF and the fans. He says that he's been screwed over and over again. He's the best there is, the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be – his words, not mine – but he's not the WWF champion. One of the reasons is Steve Austin, who's had a vendetta against Bret ever since he returned to the WWF after a knee injury.

Usually Bret is a skilled technical wrestler. He doesn't have a chance to show his skills today. The match is little more than a brawl with kicks and punches. Steve Austin sets the match's tone from the beginning.

Bret Hart's daughter is also sitting at ringside with her grandparents. She can't bear to see her father getting beat up.

It's a tough match. Steve Austin's face is cut open when he's thrown onto the timekeeper's table. While in a submission hold, Steve Austin passes out and Ken Shamrock stops the match. So Steve Austin didn't quit. When he wakes up he refuses help and walks out of the arena on his own two feet.

Match 6. Chicago Street Fight, Ahmed Johnson and Legion of Doom vs Nation of Domination (Faarooq, Savio Vega and Crush)

No disqualifications. Weapons of any type are allowed. The combatants bring trash cans, fire extinguishers and wooden sticks to the ring. It's a chaotic fight inside and outside the ring. The Legion of Doom win by pinfall, but the fight continues.

Match 7. WWF Championship, Sycho Sid vs the Undertaker

Shawn Michaels comes to the ring as a guest commentator. He can't fight this year because of his injuries, but at least he can sit at ringside and enjoy the atmosphere. He's a very fair commentator, showing respect to both of the wrestlers.

Sycho Sid has to defend his championship title. Before the match he's interviewed by Todd Pettengill.

The match is delayed by Bret Hart coming to the ring to complain about being screwed. He says that he's the rightful champion, not Sid. He has to be escorted out of the arena so that the match can start.

It's a fair fight between the two. The only problems are interference from Bret Hart, who sneaks back into the arena on two occasions. The Undertaker pins Sycho Sid and becomes the new WWF champion.