WrestleMania XV

Infobox Wrestling event
name=WrestleMania XV


tagline=The Ragin' Climax
promotion=World Wrestling Federation
date=March 28, 1999
venue=First Union Center
city=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
attendance=20,276
lastevent=
nextevent=
event=WrestleMania
lastevent2=WrestleMania XIV
nextevent2=WrestleMania 2000

WrestleMania XV was was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which took place on March 28, 1999 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the fifteenth annual WrestleMania event and starred the WWF wrestlers.

Ten professional wrestling matches were scheduled on the event's card, which featured a supercard, a scheduling of more than one main event. The main event contested the WWF Championship between the challenger Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock while the penultimate match saw The Undertaker wrestle Big Boss Man inside the Hell in a Cell, a roofed cage that surrounds the ring. Lower down on the card, six of the seven active championships were defended on the card, including the first WrestleMania defence of the Hardcore Championship. Also on the undercard was a Brawl For All match, an unscripted type of shootfight between wrestler Bart Gunn and boxer/mixed martial artist 'Butterbean' Eric Esch.

The ticket sales of 20,276 drew a gross of $1,437,050.

Background

When Road Dogg (Brian Gerard James) and 'Bad Ass' Billy Gunn (Monty Sopp) lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to The Corporation,cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321211112|title=Big Boss Man & Ken Shamrock's first tag title reign|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-18] they inadvertently tried their hand at singles wrestling for some time with Gunn failing in his attempts to win the WWF Intercontinental Champion, but Road Dogg becoming Hardcore Championcite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/hard/|title=WWE Hardcore Championship title history|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-18] until an injury prevented him from honouring a championship match with Al Snow (Allen Sarven) who ended up fighting himself, and then Bob Holly (Robert Howard) for the vacant belt at with the latter winning the banks of the Mississippi River.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb15_massacre.html|title=McMahon makes a Giant mistake|publisher=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-09-15] When Road Dogg won the Intercontinental Championship on "Raw is War"cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322568|title=Road Dogg's first Intercontinental Championship reign|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-15] Gunn fought Bob Holly (now Hardcore Holly) and won when Holly crashed into an ad-hoc announce table Jim Ross had constructed for his pirate broadcast of the show.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/|title=Raw is War 1999 results|publisher=Online Word of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-09-15] Holly felt enraged that circumstances had conspired against, while Snow still wanted another chance at the belt.

In the previous year, due to the suddenly enlarged roster, a shootfighting (unscripted) knockout tournament entitled WWF Brawl For All was organised on a voluntary basis with Bart Gunn winning the tournament in August 24cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1998/|title=Raw is War 1998|language=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-09-15] after defeating every opponent by knockout aside from his opening round opponent Bob Holly. When Bob Holly rechristened himself Hardcore Holly on February 15, decrying the poor gimmicks and tag team partners he had been given in the past, Gunn made his first appearance since winning the tournament, to remind Holly that not all his partners were of a poor calibre. After a hardcore match between the two, which Gunn dominated until a masked assailant threw him off the stage, noted mixed martial artist and boxer Eric 'Butterbean' Esch, who held a 43-1-1 record at the time, challenged him to a Brawl For All fight.

From November's Survivor Series until the night after St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Mankind (Mick Foley) traded the WWF Championship between themselves numerous time as Mr McMahon screwed Mankind time and time again on his quest to headline WrestleMania. In their final match, a "Raw is War" ladder match, 'Big Show' Paul Wight delivered the Showstopper to Mankind as he was about to win the match, removing his chances of appearing the main event. However, as Mr McMahon's Corporate conspiracy of appointing Big Show as special guest referee to secure The Rock as champion began to fall apart, Mankind constantly reared his head offering his services as a second official. With The Rock and Big Show causing infighting in The Corporation Mankind successfully canvassed for a chance to referee, but rather than have two conflicting referees a match was booked which would see the winner have the right to officiate.

When Ryan Shamrock (Alicia Webb) appeared front row on "Raw is War", January 11, she gained attention not only from her brother but also Val Venis (Sean Morley), who performed a flirtacious dance for her, and 'Bad Ass' Billy Gunn who lived up to his moniker by mooning her. Enraged, Ken Shamrock (Kenneth Kilpatrick) fought Gunn at the Royal Rumblecite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan25_rumble.html|title=McMahon wins Rumble, Rock champ again|last=Gramlich|first=Chris|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-18] and then Venis at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, with Venis winning the Intercontinental Championship thanks to help from Ryan. Venis soon dumped Ryan thoughcite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb16_raw.html|title=Shane wins, Mankind loses|last=Powell|first=John|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-18] and she began a relationship with Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Venis also unwittingly lost his championship to Road Dogg on "Raw is War" and so he found himself having to defend his championship against all the important men in Ryan Shamrock's life in a four corners elimination match.

ambushed X-Pac and drove off with Shane in their car.

Tori (Terri Poch) was sitting front row as a plant as early as September 14's "Raw is War" but it was not until late December that she began to act with stalker tendancies, sending flowers and notes to Sable (Rena Mero), the WWF Women's Champion and even helping her to defend her title against Luna Vachon (Gertrude Vachon) at the Royal Rumble. On "Raw is War" the night after the previous pay-per-view, Tori invaded the ring again and was publicly shouted at and humiliated by Sable. Vachon then brought Tori to the ring a fortnight after, reprimanding Sable for her ego but a still-obsessed Tori helped attack Vachon. The following week on 8 March's "Raw is War" Tori fought Vachon with Sable in her corner but after receiving a squash from Vachon, Sable also gave Tori a Sable Bomb leading to Tori interrupting Sable's Playboy interview by demanding a championship match at WrestleMania.

) and setting alight to it reducing Vince to his knees.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb27_und.html|title=Seeing Undertaker's gift burn more than McMahon can bear |publisher=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-09-16] Trying to defeat either of his problems, McMahon declared he'd never show such weakness again and put Mankind against Undertaker which ended with Undertaker almost chokeslamming McMahon through the announce table until Boss Man saved him. Undertaker continued with his mind games on March 8, ordering his Ministry to look for Boss Man all night and attacking any innocents who were in his way, eventually capturing Boss Man and crucifying him. Boss Man managed to escape while police were being beaten off by Undertaker's minions until he offered himself to the police while being derided by McMahon. The following week he continued his assault, with videos playing throughout the evening of the Ministry at McMahon's mansion ending in McMahon coming to the ring while Triple H brawled with Kane, begging Kane to help him. Kane ripped off his mask to reveal it was actually The Undertaker who grabbed McMahon by the throat as the lights turned off in the arena and when they came up, he was gone with McMahon alone in the ring.

The main event of the evening could arguably be traced back over a year. When Stone Cold Steve Austin won the Royal Rumblecite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811511/mainevent/|title=Royal Rumble 1998 result|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-16] Mr McMahon made it quite clear he was not happy with a rebellious, foul-mouthed beer drinker as the potential representative for his company should he win the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XIV. When he didcite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm14/mainevent/|title=WrestleMania XIV Main Event|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-16] McMahon set on a six-month long quest to dethrone Austin as champion, which he eventually did in a de facto handicap match at against The Undertaker and Kane, who could not pin each other.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/sep28_breakdown.html|title=Austin loses title at Breakdown|last=Powell|first=John|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-17] As both pinned Austin at the same time the belt was made vacant, with the two men ostensibly fighting for it the next month at but McMahon's attempt to further humiliate Austin by have him officiate the match went awry when he attacked both men ending it in a no contest.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday1998/mainevent/|title=Judgment Day 1998 Main Event|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-17] A "Deadly Games" tournament was scheduled for Survivor Series in November in which it turned out that The Rock, not Mankind, was McMahon's choice for winner and duely had the tournament manipulated to his advantage, while Austin lost in a match when McMahon's son Shane, acting as referee, refused to count a pin fall to go to the finals.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov16_survivorseries.html|title=The rock wins Survivor Series tourney|last=Powell|first=John|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-17] Knowing Rock would be busy feuding with Mankind, McMahon realised Austin was likely to use the Royal Rumble, rather than a personal attack, to attempt to reclaim the belt and laid down the stipulation that he must win a Buried Alive match against The Undertaker to be in the Rumble. When he did, with some help from Kane,cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec14_rockbottom.html|title=Foley screwed again|last=Powell|first=John|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-17] McMahon further tried to prevent Austin winning back the championship by 'randomly' drawing him as the first entrant in the Rumble and drawing himself as the thirtieth. Having annoyed Commissioner Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) McMahon was placed into the match as the second entrant.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan9_fol.html|title=Foley wins Rocks WWF|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-18] Despite a $100,000 bounty on his head, Austin survived almost all of the match, being the last person eliminated by Mr McMahon thanks to the distraction of The Rock, meaning that McMahon had earned a right to go to WrestleMania. As a part-time wrestler and a fellow member of The Corporation, McMahon explained the following night that he would be relinquishing his place at WrestleMania, the first Royal Rumble winner to do so, only to be told by Commissioner Michaels that if the winner is unable or unwilling to fight then the place goes to the runner-up. With McMahon irate, Austin revealed that he was willing to put his place on the line and not headline WrestleMania if McMahon would give him the opportunity to fight him one-on-one with no interference from The Corporation, and if he could beat him Austin would not go to WrestleMania. Their steel cage match at St. Valentine's Day Massacre mostly consisted of McMahon running away but eventually the two fought with Austin winning the match under unusual circumstances when 'Big Show' Paul Wight made his debut, coming from under the ring and throwing Austin into the cage with the walls of it coming open, meaning that Austin had inadvertently won the match.

Event

Pre-Show

The event was marked with a "Rage Party" the preceding evening, playing on the tagline of the event, much like "Fan Axess" that would come in later years. It featured music from Isaac Hayes and Big Pun among others.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM15/mar27_rage.html|title=WWF fans all in a Rage|last=Oliver|first=Greg|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-16]

During the Sunday Night Heat pre-show, Jacqueline (Jacqueline Moore) pinned Ivory (Lisa Moretti) after a back suplex.cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/wm15.html|title=WrestleMania XV Card|publisher=Complete WWE|accessdate=2008-09-16] After the match, Terri Runnels burned her cigar into Ivory's cheek. The second Heat match saw a 21-man battle royal match with the last two competitors becoming a tag team for the evening to face the Tag Team Championship holders. In the event D'Lo Brown and Test (Andrew Martin) were the last two, still fightng without realising the match was over when Droz (Darren Drozdov) and The Godfather (Charles Wright) eliminated each other. The show officially began with Boyz II Men singing America The Beautiful in the ring before the opening video.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM15/mar28_wm.html|title=Austin WWF champ again|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=April 1, 1999|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-16]

Preliminary matches

The inaugural WrestleMania Hardcore Championship match began with Al Snow striking Billy Gunn as he tried to make a pre-match speech. With Gunn in the corner, Snow fought with Hardcore Holly outside the ring, wrapping his neck in cable but, after some fighting from Gunn, Holly was able to suplex Snow. After Gunn again interjected himself, Snow was able to go underneath the mat to find some weapons including a Philadelphia Flyers hockey stick much to the delight of the crowd. The match ended when Gunn put Snow through a table in the corner, originally intended for Gunn and then used the |accessdate=2008-09-19]

The Brawl For All match began with the two meeting in the middle, Gunn running into some blows from Butterbean. The two traded punches, neither man managing to contact properly until Butterbean shook Gunn with a left hand jab followed by a right hook which stunned Gunn allowing Bean to corner him, giving him another right hook which knocked him down. Gunn immediately came back up on his knees, but took advantage of the eight seconds before standing up fully. As soon as he stood up though he was met with an immediate right hook which knocked him straight back down, giving Butterbean a victory via knockout. The match lasted a total of 34 seconds.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/factsstats/|title=Facts/Stats|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-20] This was followed with an appearance from the San Diego Chicken, who mocked special referee Vinny Pazienza and was punched to the floor for it.

When Mankind entered the ring he was immediately headbutted out, but as Big Show followed him out, Mankind slammed Show's head into the steel steps. He then tried a double-armed DDT into the steps but was shoved over the steps falling backwards. Show dominated Mankind in the ring afterwards, using his sheer size to punch and throw mankind with Mankind eventually being tied up in the ropes allowing him to back body drop Show out of the ring and take out Mr Socko to give Big Show a mandible claw three times when he returned. The third claw came with a low blow, for which Mankind was not disqualified. When Show stood back up, he had Mankind on his back and jumped backwards so that his entire body landed on Mankind. As the two recovered, Show kicked his opponent out of the ring, grabbing a steel chair and thrusting it into Mankind's chest then hitting it over his back. Big Show threw that chair and another in the ring, setting them both in seated positions and Show Stopping Mankind through the middle of them. At this point Earl Hebner finally decided to disqualify Big Show, with Show taking out his anger by attacking Mankind more with the chair. Mr McMahon made his way to the ring afterwards, berating Big Show for risking the WWF Championship match at which point Show grabbed him by the throat. He then thought better of it and released him, only to be met with another tirade from McMahon and a slap, causing Show to punch McMahon and knock him out.

The four corners Intercontinental match began with Ken Shamrock and Road Dogg in the ring, with the latter being thrown from corner to corner until Goldust tagged his way in, with running shoulder barges that floored Shamrock. Shamrock tagged in Venis who came in and instantly attacked Shamrock until Goldust backdropped him. Goldust tried the Curtain Call but Venis flipped over Goldust's back only to be knocked down again by a clothesline from Goldust who then put Venis on the turnbuckle and attempted a superplex but Venis fought back and replied with a diving bulldog following with a fisherman suplex pin which would only make a two count. The two then collided in the turnbuckle, causing Goldust to fall down and Venis to fall on him, headbutting his crotch. Shamrock took a blind tag from Road Dogg, after he replaced Goldust, immediately putting an ankle lock until Venis grabbed the bottom rope. As Venis grabbed the ropes to stand up again Shamrock charged him but was tossed over the ropes as Ryan Shamrock insulted him. Venis went after Ken Shamrock and the two fought up the walkway with Shamrock running back to the ring but not fast enough to avoid a double count-out. Shamrock, not accepting the decision belly to belly suplex slammed both competitors before leaving. When they recovered Goldust irish whipped Road Dogg but had it reversed and as Goldust ran into the ropes he had his leg caught by Ryan Shamrock, seemingly trying to grab Road Dogg's leg. Road Dogg charged Goldust and was picked up for a powerslam but managed to roll Goldust round, crashing him into the floor and covering him for a succesful pin count.

Before Kane's match with Triple H, Kane entered the ring only to be attacked while he was performing his signature entrance by the San Diego Chicken. Kane fought back and unmasked the chicken, revealing it be Pete Rose, trying to gain revenge for the previous year's incident but receiving a tombstone piledriver.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM15/mar29_wrecal.html|title=Snake snags Vince|last=Pyette|first=Ryan|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-19] Triple H also tried to ambush Kane by coming through the crowd while all eyes were on the stage entrance, hitting Kane out of the ring and then hitting him into the ring post and whipping him into the steel steps. Kane then picked Helmsley up and straddled him on the crowd barrier, pushing him into the Mean Street Posse who were at ring side, picking him up again to ram his back into the steel post three times. Back inside the ring Kane dominated Helmsley with his rough fighting style, using his foot to choke Triple H and knocking him down with clotheslines and punches until Triple H gained momentum from a reversal, smashing Kane's face into his knee. Kane was allowed time to recover when Triple H was distracted by Chyna coming to ringside. Triple H tried to Pedigree Kane as he stood up but failed while Chyna pushed the steel steps into the ring. Kane picked them up and ran into Triple H, who used the turnbuckle to swing his feet up and kicked them back into Kane causing Kane to stagger backwards and drop them before smashing his face into the steps from a drop toe-hold. Triple H then clotheslined Kane out of the ring, following himself and attempting to Pedigree Kane on the steps but was backbody dropped. When they made it back into the ring Kane chokeslammed Triple H while Chyna entered the ring with a steel chair, telling Kane she wanted to attack Triple H but as Kane turned, Chyna hit him with the chair causing him to corner her but again was hit with the chair, this time by Triple H who followed it up with a Pedigree onto the chair. Chyna and Triple H celebrated the reunion of D-Generation X afterwards.

The Women's Championship match began with Tori taking her time to enter the ring, Sable grabbing her hair when she finally did and tossing her back out. Tori regrouped outside and pulled Sable out by her legs, ramming her face into the barrier and the apron but she was whipped into the barrier herself and as she recovered Sable performed a crossbody from the outside apron. Sable kicked her on the floor in the ring but Tori tripped her and sat on her torso, punching her repeatedly. Tori tried a sunset flip pin which began a series of pinning reversals ending in a stalemate. Afterwards Tori tried a running attack on Sable but took out referee Jimmy Kordeiras unwittingly. Sable then tried to perform her Sable Bomb but Tori jumped out of it. As she tried to perform her own powerbomb, a muscled woman, later identified as Nicole Bass, came into the ring to gorilla press slam Tori. This allowed Sable to Sable Bomb Tori and pin her to retain the championship.

Before X-Pac could make his way to the ring Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco attacked him from behind but caused little problem to X-Pac who beat them then ran into the ring, with Shane McMahon fleeing. Shane eventually made his way to the ring and was punched into the corner, escaping a Bronco Buster when Test pulled him out of the ring. Shane tried to escape once again but X-Pac chased him and threw him back into the ring, only to be struck down by Test and then have his crotch rammed into the ring post. When he returned to the ring Shane scoop slammed him and attempted a Corporate Elbow, with X-Pac sitting up just before the end but he was brought back down with a low blow as referee Mike Chioda was distracted by Test. Shane continued to push the disqualification boundaries by whipping X-Pac with his belt several times before being back body dropped out of the ring, recovering only to be met with a flying crossbody. The Mean Street Posse tried to restrain X-Pac but he fought back, only to be floored by Test. After a superplex, the pincount was broken up by Test but he was soon kicked out of the ring then X-Pac whipped McMahon with the belt before round house kicking him into the corner and performing the Bronco Buster. When Chioda checked on McMahon afterwards, Test struck X-Pac with the championship belt but by the time McMahon covered him he managed to kick out. Test tried to interfere but took a Bronco Buster too. Triple H and Chyna came to the ring to pull Test out but when McMahon was floored by an X Factor, Chyna distracted the referee to allow Triple H to Pedigree X-Pac and cover him with Shane, allowing him to retain the title. The New Age Outlaws ran in the ring and brawled with Triple H and Test until the lights went out and Kane's music began to play but by the time the lights came up The Corporation were clear of the ring and had fled.

Main event matches

The Hell in a Cell match began with Big Boss Man punching The Undertaker into the corner until he ducked out and returned the same. Although Boss Man was able to deliver a swinging neckbreaker, Undertaker took control again throwing Boss Man into the cell. Boss Man reversed an irish whip and threw Undertaker into the cell too, handcuffing one hand to the chain fence. Boss Man taunted Undertaker's lack of control before striking him repeatedly with his night stick causing Undertaker to fall to the floor and rip the handcuffs, though Boss Man carried on using the nightstick and cut Undertaker open. Undertaker fought back by grabbing Boss Man at the throat and throwing him back into the fence again, striking him with a chair and running Boss Man face-first into the chain fence with a fireman's carry. As the two returned to the ring Boss Man tried to clothesline Undertaker but he ducked and performed a leaping flying clothesline of his own before going Old School, ultimately falling into the ropes. The two began a fist fight in the middle of the ring with Undertaker failing a tombstone piledriver attempt, but succesfully performing it seconds later and pinned him afterwards. Undertaker stood up and looked to the heavens with his hands upwards, signalling The Brood to descend onto the roof of the cell. They cut open the roof of the cell and passed through a noose, securing the other end to the top of the cell. The Brood then ascended back into the rafters as Undertaker put the noose around Boss Man's neck, with Paul Bearer causing the Cell to rise and take a hanging Boss Man with it. After the match a video package of the "Rage Party" was shown while Boss Man was taken down and carried off on a stretcher.

Before the main event, Michael Cole (Michael Coulthard) announced Jim Ross returning to call the match. Mr McMahon then came to the ring as the special guest referee but once he was in the ring Shawn Michaels' music began to play. Commissioner Michaels came to the ring and cut a promo joking that he had to buy a ticket to get in, then explaining that only the commissioner is entitled to appoint a referee for WrestleMania, ordering McMahon to the back and barring all members of The Corporation from ring side. The main event began with the two wrestlers insulting each other before Steve Austin threw the first punch, The Rock instantly returning. The majority of the early part of the match took place outside the ring, with Austin being choked with a t-shirt then taking Rock through the crowd before returning back into the secure area and into the crowd the opposite end. When Rock threw Austin back into the secure area he choked him on some cable and took him up the walkway, but Austin fought out of his grasp and threw him into the steel barriers, trying to piledrive him but being backbody dropped so that his knee landed onto light support girders. Rock picked up Austin and threw him into the WrestleMania XV sign but Austin circled round and threw Rock into them instead, then dragged him back towards the ring having a suplex reversed on the concrete walkway. Rock then tried to throw Austin back through the crowd at ringside, spitting water in his face but Austin took control and put him onto the Spanish announce table, performing two elbow drops to break the table and then spat water into Rock's face. Austin threw his opponent into the ring, celebrating to the crowd but when he entered the ring Rock sprang up and drove Austin into the floor with a Rock Bottom, following with an unsuccesful pin cover. The Rock grabbed a chair but Austin took it from him, Rock blocked the oncoming chair shot by pulling referee Mike Chioda in front of him, who took the chair shot. but Austin moved out of the way at the last second. Rock caught Austin's foot and spun him round, trying to Rock Bottom him again but Austin elbowed him away and delivered a stunner, finally securing a pin fall and winning the WWF Championship.

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/ The Official Website of WrestleMania XV]