WrestleMania X Review

Sunday, March 20th, 1994
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York

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After a quick intro, Vince is here to introduce Little Richard to sing "America The Beautiful". Sadly, they use the new WrestleMania theme instead of the legendary guitar riff version. This leads into the lengthy Bret/Owen video package. I guess that I should also note that Jerry Lawler makes his return here with Vince on announcing. 

Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart

We get some mat wrestling to start, with both men getting the better of each other. Bret dumps Owen out of the ring and when Owen returns, he fires back with a slap to the face of Bret. Bret hits a monkey flip and then clotheslines Owen out of the ring. Bret throws Owen back in the ring and they get into a shoving match. Owen hits a spin kick and then drives Bret into the ring post. Back in the ring, Owen slaps on the Camel Clutch in the middle of the ring. Bret gets out, but gets hit with a belly-to-belly suplex. Owen hits a German suplex into a bridge for a nearfall. Owen counters a backbreaker into a Tombstone piledriver. Owen climbs the ropes, but Bret is able to get out of the way and both men are down. Bret starts  to make his comeback and hits a backbreaker this time. Owen is able to hit an enzuigiri out of nowhere and then goes for the Sharpshooter. Bret is able to roll through, so Owen tries a pinfall and gets a 2 count. Bret launches himself over the top rope onto Owen, but Bret also hurt his knee on the fall. Owen goes right after the knee in the ring and then slams it into the ring post. Owen slaps on the Figure Four, but eventually Bret is able to get over to the ropes. Bret is able to hit an enzuigiri of his own and throws Owen into the turnbuckle sternum-first. Bret hits a big piledriver and that gets a 2 count. Bret then hits a big superplex, but Bret is slow to cover him and only gets a 2. Bret gets the sleeper on, but Owen grabs the rope and with the ref trying to break the hold, Owen hits a low blow. Owen locks in the Sharpshooter and is close to tapping. Bret is able to push out of it and he locks in the Sharpshooter, but not for long, as Owen grabs the ropes. Bret gets on the shoulders of Owen and goes for a pinfall, but Owen blocks it and steals the victory for an absolutely fabulous finish to an incredible match. This is A+ storytelling, booking and action for one of the greatest matches in WWE history. 

Match Rating: *****

We get the infamous interview with Owen and his loogie on his lip. Owen rubs it in and predicts that Bret won't be winning any title here tonight. 

Ah yes, WrestleMania 2 and that awesome battle royal. Right. 

Sy Sperling is introduced and he brings how Howard Finkel with hair, which gets a tepid reaction. It's a shame that they didn't have Fink announce the opener for this. 

Mixed Tag Team Match

Bam Bam Bigelow & Luna Vachon vs. Doink & Dink

Bam Bam attacks Doink before the bell and then hits a dropkick. Doink is able to battle back and tags in Dink, which means that Luna has to come in. We now get a bunch of comedy spots from Dink until he goes up top and misses with a splash. After a body slam, Luna decides to go up top and she also misses. In come Doink and Bam Bam and Bam Bam clotheslines Doink over the top rope. Doink goes for a sunset flip, but Bam Bam squashes him. Doink hits a nice leaping spike DDT, but then misses with the Whoopee Cushion. Bam Bam accidentally knocks Dink off the apron and then he goes up top and hits the headbutt for the fairly quick victory. After the match, Luna and Bam Bam go after Dink. I guess Doink makes the save? Everything after the bell was really bad. The match itself wasn't great either. 

Match Rating: 3/4*

They then show "Bill Clinton" in the audience. He is sitting next to Jack Tunney and IRS is behind him. 

They show WrestleMania III and Hulk and Andre. 

Falls Count Anywhere Match

Randy Savage vs. Crush

Savage attacks Crush in the entrance ramp and we are underway. Crush hits his spinning backbreaker and then he drops Savage on the barricade, scoring him a pinfall. In this weird variation of the Falls Count Anywhere match, he has 60 seconds to get back into the ring. On his way back in the ring, Fuji gives him a love tap with the Japanese flag. Savage is able to roll back in before the count is over and Crush is back on the offense. Fuji hands Crush some salt while Savage is in the tree of woe. Savage is helped down by the ref and knocks the salt back in Crush's face. Savage hits a double ax handle off the top rope and follows it with his signature elbow drop. He kicks him out of the ring and gets the pinfall just outside the ring. So if they can't pin one another inside the ring, then technically falls don't count anywhere. Fuji dumps some water on Crush's face and he's able to break the count. Crush sends Savage flying over the top rope. Savage clotheslines Crush over the barricade, but Crush hits a big kick in the crowd. Crush goes for a piledriver, but Savage counters into a back body drop. They start moving backstage. Savage throws Crush into some doors and gets another pinfall. Savage then starts tying up Crush's legs and hangs him upside down. He pretty much immediately falls down. Savage starts attacking Fuji in the ring as the Fink counts down to 0. The rules of this one just made it almost impossible to get into this match and Crush just wasn't good enough. For as heated of a feud as this was, it didn't get much time. When I rented this, I had never seen a Falls Count Anywhere match, so I thought this was incredible. This one does not hold up. 

Match Rating: *3/4

Todd Pettengill interviews "Bill Clinton" and then IRS. Todd then shows us clips of the Fan Fest and play the glorious classic WrestleMania music. Savage is now shown over at the Paramount Theatre. 

They show clips of Savage winning the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV.

WWF Women's Championship Match

Leilani Kai vs. Alundra Blayze

Blayze has hardly gotten any televised matches on Raw and Superstars, but here she is. Blayze hits a couple of sunset flips, but Kai is dominating the early stages of this match. They work this one at a pretty quick pace, most likely because they were given no time. Blayze then hits a German suplex into a bridge and gets the quick victory. This was a pretty good match actually for the couple of minutes they got. 

Match Rating: *1/2

Of all the things to show from WrestleMania V, they of course show the Roddy Piper segment. 

We go to Todd Pettengill and he's with Rhonda Shear, who is one of those people that I know the name, but don't really know anything about. Shawn Michaels tries to pose for a picture with her, but Burt Reynolds steals his thunder. This was terrible, so of course Vince laughs. 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Men On A Mission vs. Quebecers

The Quebecers attack Men On A Mission before the bell, but Mabel retaliates with a double clothesline. Jacques launches Pierre over the top rope and on to Mo for a nice move that doesn't get the reaction it deserves. Mo pulls out his somersault, but he's not able to make the tag. Pierre misses a top rope leg drop and this time Mo is able to make the tag. Mabel cleans house, but then misses with the splash in the corner. The Quebecers go for a double suplex and hit it the second try. I love the Quebecers. They go for their finisher and hit it, but Mabel is able to kick out. Mabel hits a spin kick on Pierre and Johnny Polo and Oscar start getting involved. Mabel splashes Pierre with the help of Mo on the outside. This all leads to a countout, which is such a garbage finish for a WrestleMania. However, it does work for the Quebecers as characters. This match is underrated thanks to the really strong performance of Jacques and Pierre. It's nothing out of the ordinary, but they really tried their best to make it WrestleMania worthy. 

Match Rating: **1/4

They show the Ultimate Warrior/Hulk Hogan clip from WrestleMania VI. This leads to Fink announcing guest timekeeper Rhonda Shear and guest ring announcer Donnie Wahlberg. Donnie announces that Mr. Perfect is the guest referee for the match and comes out wearing the most 90s looking referee outfit there ever was. 

WWF Championship Match

Yokozuna vs. Lex Luger

They start off going at a quicker pace than you would imagine to start off. Luger even hits a top rope crossbody for a close call. Luger goes for the slam, but Yoko's weight is too much for him. Yoko is able to untie a turnbuckle behind Perfect's back. This all leads to the dreaded rest hold by Yoko and it's a long one. Luger is able to eventually get out of it, but he ends up running into Yoko and is of his feet again. Yoko once again works on the trapezius. This match has just come to a screeching halt. Luger finally gets a chance to be on offense and uses the exposed turnbuckle. Luger hits the body slam and then the hits the forearm. Luger attacks both Cornette and Fuji, but then Perfect won't make the count. He's insisting on Fuji and Cornette leaving the ring, so Luger confronts him. Luger ends up shoving him and so Perfect disqualifies him and heads to the back. How do you do a countout and then a disqualification in back-to-back matches at a WrestleMania? Terrible booking and boring match. 

Match Rating: 3/4*

The crowd isn't having it and Pettengill interviews Perfect. He claims that it was called right down the middle. In walks Luger and they get into a shouting match. 

They use the Blindfold Match for the WrestleMania VII moment. If you aren't going to use Warrior, why not use the Undertaker's debut? 

Fink is out and Harvey Wippleman insults the Fink and rips his suit, so Fink shoves him down. Out comes Adam Bomb and then Earthquake to make the save.

Adam Bomb vs. Earthquake

Quake hits the big body slam and his finisher and that is all. Vince claims he almost sets a record, but it's not even close. I still wonder what the plan was for Quake and Ludvig Borga. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

They kick it back to Pettengill again and a riled up Cornette says that Mr. Perfect did a great job tonight. 

WrestleMania VIII's moment is just the Undertaker walking down the aisle. Who came up with this list of moments? 

Ladder Match For The Intercontinental Championship

Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon

Razor gets thrown out of the ring early on and Diesel hits him with a clothesline. Earl Hebner then ejects Diesel from ringside, but what would happen if he didn't go? There are no disqualifications, so I'm not sure why he just doesn't stay. Razor is back and takes it to Michaels. He clotheslines Michaels over the top rope and then lifts up the mats on the outside. This gives Michaels time to recover and throw Razor back in the ring. Ramon goes for a Razor's Edge but Michaels counters and dumps him over the ropes and onto the exposed concrete. Michaels goes for a ladder, but he's too slow and Razor stops him. As Razor is headed to the ring, Michaels hits the baseball slide into the ladder. Back in the ring, Michaels drives the ladder into the midsection of Razor. Michaels is the first one to start climbing and then Razor pulls down Michaels and his trunks to stop him. Michaels sets up the ladder in the corner and hits the famous splash from near the top of the ladder. Michaels again starts to climb and this time Razor tips the ladder on its side. Both men collide and are down in the center of the ring. Razor hits the catapult on Michaels and launches him into the ladder outside the ring. Razor rams the ladder into Michaels, knocking him to the outside. Razor now has his first chance to start to climb, but Michaels leaps off the top rope to stop him, but the ladder then lands on Michaels. Both men start climbing up the ladder and start trading right hands. Razor body slams Michaels off the top of the ladder and the ladder accidentally falls over. Razor tries to climb again and this time Michaels dropkicks the ladder and Razor falls, but the ladder doesn't. Michaels climbs up the ladder and rides it down onto Razor's chest. Michaels climbs the ladder and Razor crotches him and then Michaels' leg gets tied up in the ropes. Razor climbs the ladder and retrieves both titles to become the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. This match is so outstanding even after all of these years and so many ladder matches. The pace is great, the action is almost non-stop and they don't overdo anything. 

Match Rating: *****

We go backstage to Jeff Jarrett, IRS, Rick Martel and the Headshrinkers all fighting over who the captain is, which is apparently enough to cancel the match. We then go back to Todd and Clinton, who then talk to Ted DiBiase. 

The WrestleMania IX moment is basically the theme and then Bret getting screwed with salt in his eyes. We get video packages for both men and they then announce Jennie Garth and Burt Reynolds. 

WWF Championship Match

Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart

Reynolds announces Roddy Piper as the guest referee. Bret is still selling the knee on his way to the ring. Yoko attacks Bret on his way into the ring and we are underway. Bret has little bursts of attempted comebacks, but Yoko stays in control. Yoko misses with a big splash and Bret knocks down Yoko with a headbutt. Bret is selling the headbutt as well though. Did he forget that he's not Samoan despite being Samoan? Bret goes for a pin, but Cornette pulls Piper out of the ring, so Piper hits him with a right hand. Yoko dumps Bret out of the ring, but Bret breaks up the count at 9. Yoko misses a splash in the corner and Bret hits a bulldog off the second rope. Bret gets a close call on the pin attempt and then hits the second rope elbow drop. Bret goes off the second rope again, but this time Yoko catches him and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Yoko drags Bret to the corner and sets him up for the Banzai Drop. Yoko raises his hand up and loses his balance. Bret hooks the leg and we have a new WWF Champion, as Yoko is in shock. Burt Reynolds then does a terrible announcing job, but it doesn't matter. The right guy won here and they put on a really solid Yokozuna match. As Bret finally gets up to celebrate, Luger is now in the ring. They hug and celebrate with Roddy Piper joining in. Burt Reynolds joins in and then every babyface does as well. After getting screwed at WrestleMania last year, this was a nice apology. However, out comes Owen Hart and he looks on as his big moment was once again overshadowed by Bret. 

Match Rating: **1/2

This show contains two of the absolute most famous matches in company history, which is already a thumbs up. Add in a great finish in the main event and this is easily one of the best WrestleManias up until this point. I'm not sure who hasn't seen Owen/Bret and Shawn/Razor, but if someone like this does exist, please watch those matches.

Overall Rating: 91%