WrestleMania XIV was the fourteenth WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which took place on March 29, 1998 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts.
This pay-per-view event was notable for the involvement of boxer Mike Tyson, who acted as a ring enforcer for the main event. The main event also saw the start of Steve Austin's first WWF Championship reign. His victory in the main event, against Shawn Michaels (who performed despite a severe injury), is often cited as the "official" beginning of the Attitude Era.
Background
After Legion of Doom lost their Tag Team Championship to New Age Outlaws, they were assaulted by the Outlaws and D-Generation X. At the Royal Rumble they lost a championship match largely because Road Dogg handcuffed Hawk to the outside of the ring. Following this they suffered two defeats by the NWA members Jeff Jarrett and Barry Windham and finally on the February 23 episode of Raw, they lost again to the New Age Outlaws when, despite having the match all but won, the non-legal Animal did not leave the ring and while the referee was busy removing him, Hawk was struck by the title belts and lost the match. Following the bout the two brawled all the way to the back and announced their dissolution, not appearing again until WrestleMania.
After the Montreal Screwjob, Owen Hart was the only member of the Hart family to remain with the company, and after a temporary absence returned during In Your House: D-Generation X to attack Shawn Michaels.Following this he turned his attention to Hunter Hearst Hemlsley and the European Championship that Michaels had given to Helmsley as a Christmas present. After weeks of deterring a championship match by way of a fractured kneecap, Triple H finally acquiesced to a match on January 26's Raw is War, only for the Artist Formerly Known as Goldust (who was dressing up from week to week in a bid for attention) to appear in Helmsley's place. After Hart won the match, WWF Commissioner Slaughter declared the disguise so convincing that he upheld the decision and awarded the belt to Hart. On Raw, March 2, Hart defended the title against Mark Henry, Chyna came to the ring and pushed Hart off the turnbuckle allowing Henry to lock on a bearhug, but before he could submit she gave an obvious lowblow to Henry, resulting in a disqualification in favour of Hart. The following week in a match against Barry Windham, Hart landed awkwardly on his ankle suffering a (kayfabe) injury. On a special Tuesday edition of Raw, March 17, the following week Hart joined the commentary team with a supportive case on his leg; while commentating Triple H came to the ringside and goaded him into an impromptu title defence despite his cast, during the match Chyna appeared and hit his ankle with a bat allowing Helmsley to win the title back.
Results
- 1. L.O.D. 2000 (Hawk and Animal) (with Sunny) won by last eliminating The New Midnight Express (Bombastic Bob and Bodacious Bart with Jim Cornette). (15 – team battle royal) (08:19)
- 2. Taka Michinoku (c) defeated Aguila (WWF Light Heavyweight Championship). (05:57)
- 3. Triple H (c) (with Chyna) defeated Owen Hart. (WWF European Championship). (11:29)
- 4. Marc Mero and Sable defeated The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust and Luna. (09:11)
- 5. The Rock (c) (with Kama Mustafa, Mark Henry and D'Lo Brown) defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification. (WWF Intercontinental Championship) (04:49)
- 6. Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie defeated The New Age Outlaws (c) (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg). (Dumpster match for the WWF Tag Team Championship). (10:01)
- 7. The Undertaker defeated Kane (with Paul Bearer). (16:58)
- 8. Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels (c) (with Triple H and Chyna). (les match for the WWF Championship with Mike Tyson as special outside enforcer). (20:02)
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