What Should Have Been EVERY WrestleMania Main Event

WrestleMania XI

Main Event: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor

New Main Event: Owen Hart (c) vs. Bret Hart for the WWF Championship

In 1995, business was terrible for WWF after years of numerous scandals, and Vince McMahon decided to make Diesel the top guy. So what was his genius plan? Have him win the WWF Championship in November 1994 at a house show, make his first title defense on PPV end in a draw and then give the WrestleMania main event spot to NFL’s Lawrence Taylor. And people say it was Nash’s fault…

First of all, I think Nash waiting a bit more to win the gold would’ve only helped him. Winning the title just days after he ended his team with Shawn Michaels was a bit rushed, and plus I think a long storyline in the main event would’ve helped the company way more than an outsider.

I’d go back all the way to 1994, and have Owen Hart use Bob Backlund to take the WWF Title off of his brother, Bret, instead. He then takes advantage of that and beats Bob to capture the WWF Championship, and Bret wins the Royal Rumble Match in January so the brothers can have one final match.

Extra stipulation or not, Bret wins the gold back and then goes on to lose to Diesel at King of the Ring or SummerSlam. Only then, we can start running on “Diesel Power”.

Different main event: Owen Hart (c) vs. Bret Hart for the WWF Championship

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WrestleMania XII

Main Event: Bret Hart (c) vs. Shawn Michaels in an Iron Man Match for the WWF Championship

New Main Event: Unchanged

I don’t think there’s anyone to blame here. The first episode of WCW Nitro had aired in September 1995, Diesel had one of the worst WWF Championship reigns in the entire history of the title. In other words, it would be better to guarantee long-term success for the company than to depend on the number of this show – it was just going to suck.

With that in mind, since Shawn Michaels was getting more and more popular, it was a smart idea to give ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ the ball.

Not an even The Ultimate Warrior’s return could save this show from doing a terrible number, proving my point that no matter what the WWF did at this show, it was smarter to have a solid long-term plan than doing something with no logic at all.

Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels can stay the main event.

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WrestleMania 13

The real main event: Sycho Sid (c) vs. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship

New Main Event: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin in a Submission Match

Well, everything I said about WrestleMania XII can be said here too. Plus, this was the first WrestleMania held after the nWo was created. In other words, Vince was getting his ass kicked even more.

The original main event was actually supposed to be Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in a rematch from the prior year’s event, but that was until Shawn Michaels lost his smile, you know…

That would definitely be my main event if Shawn was available, but considering he wasn’t what else are you going to do? Steve Austin and Bret Hart’s match was an all-time classic match and the launching point for one of the biggest stars in company history. With the benefit of hindsight, we would put that match on last rather than the particularly poor Undertaker vs. Sid match.

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WrestleMania XIV

Main Event: Shawn Michaels (c) vs. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin for the WWF Championship

New Main Event: Unchanged

Starting in 1997, the WWF’s product became a lot better and, in my opinion, it was way more enjoyable than WCW at that point. From the spectacular Bret Hart/Steve Austin feud that turned Austin into the biggest babyface in the world to the entire USA/Canada deal, it was just an awesome year to be a WWF fan.

Business slowly became better and better as well, and once Mike Tyson joined in January 1998, there was no stopping Vince McMahon. I mean, WrestleMania in 1998 alone did better than the 1996 and 1997 shows combined!

In 1997, McMahon decided that Bret Hart was no longer worth the investment at 40 years of age (let’s just all hope he doesn’t think the same about AJ Styles today…), and he told him to contact WCW for a deal.

I wouldn’t have done that personally, because I think there was still money left on the table in the Austin/Bret feud. I would’ve had that be the main event of WrestleMania XIV, with Austin finally pinning Bret for the first time to win his first WWF Championship. However, since Bret was not there at the time already, Shawn can take his spot.

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WrestleMania XV

Main Event: The Rock (c) vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Championship

New Main Event: Unchanged

Just a few years after living its worst years, by 1999 Vince McMahon could do no wrong. Business was great for the Federation, and The Rock was quickly becoming one of the most popular wrestlers in the entire world.

Mick Foley was used to elevate The Rock heading into this bout earlier in the year, and by the time WrestleMania came around Rock was a main-eventer for life.

I would not change anything in this main event at all.

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