Not just the greatest Wrestlemania ever, but arguably the finest ever wrestling show staged in North America, Wrestlemania 17 was a stunning effort from all as the curtain for the crazy, warped, Attitude Era finally came down on the WWE.
MORE: Join DAZN and watch more than 100 fight nights a year
With the disastrous Invasion angle and Ruthless Aggression age loitering on the horizon, the most profitable and productive period in WWE history was reaching its climax. If it was WWE’s intention to bring in a new phase by leaving the previous one with a bang, then Wrestlemania 17 was the stage to do it and nobody disappointed in front of a rowdy Texas crowd at the Astrodome.
Headlined by Stonecold Steve Austin taking on his long-time rival, The Rock, the popular pair delivered a match that perfectly befitted their superstar status as the former done the unthinkable and joined forces with Vince McMahon. Although this inexplicable ending soured a natural ending to one of professional wrestling’s greatest ever feuds, the build-up to the shocking heel turn from Austin was nothing short of mesmerizing. In an era defined by chaos, controversy, and charisma, how fitting that Austin and Rock, pioneers of this golden age of wrestling, were the ones left to turn out the lights on what had been a glorious four years for WWE.
Threatening to steal the show from the main event duo were three tag teams who revolutionized doubles action with their wild antics and outrageous stunts. The Hardy Boys, The Dudleys, and Edge & Christian had battled each other several times in the lead to Wrestlemania, but on the grandest stage of all, they were to take their dispute a level further in a breath-taking Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. What transpired was 16 minutes of death-defying action from all six competitors as the WWE tag titles seemingly felt like the most important prize in the business. In the end, with the audience still catching their breath, Edge and Christian, with hired muscle, Rhyno, outlasted their foes to become tag team champions.
The Undertaker and HHH had their first of three Wrestlemania matches, although the exchanges here didn’t have the same impact as when the legendary veterans would cause when meeting ten years later. Here, HHH, after an impressive 2000, was seen as a legitimate threat to Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak following a year where he was the best performer in all of wrestling by quite a distance. Undertaker had missed the previous year’s Wrestlemania through injury, but alongside HHH, he made up for it here with a solid effort as he collected the victory with a Last Ride powerbomb to take his undefeated streak to 9-0.
Although they would go on to have more thrilling battles, the technical masterclass from Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle was gripping throughout. For those wishing to watch two mat experts at their peak working their preferred style then this is likely to be the match for you. A series of reversals and submission attempts kept everyone guessing throughout, but it was the craftiness of Angle that became the defining factor as his cheap roll up on Benoit was enough to take the victory here.
WRESTLEMANIA 35
Match card | Schedule | Buy PPV & tickets
Elsewhere, Kane, Big Show and Raven went all out in their hardcore bash that was filled with weapons from the outset. Shane McMahon defeated his father, Vince, in a fair effort, although this father vs. son rivalry was only just getting started with an imminent power struggle between WWE and WCW set to be the summer storyline. Even the gimmick battle royal wasn’t offensive as the company performed a decent nostalgia moment with WWE welcoming back many old faces.
Overall, the greatest age in professional wrestling was concluded with the finest Wrestlemania of all time. A wonderful spectacle from beginning to end, WWE moved in a new direction knowing that they had given themselves a wonderful platform to push on from. Fantastic matches, jaw-dropping moments, and shocking angles were aplenty at Wrestlemania 17, and for those reasons, it rightfully takes its place as the best Wrestlemania ever.