Intro:
WrestleMania XI tool place on April 2, 1995, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, CT. The main event featured recently retired New York Giant great Lawrence Taylor battle Bam Bam Bigelow. The match brought the WWF some major mainstream publicity at a time when the wrestling business greatly needed some good publicity.
The Set Up:
At the Royal Rumble, Bam Bam Bigelow shoved LT. Bigelow felt that LT, who was sitting at ringside, was making fun of him for losing a match. This event led to this match. As part of the promotion, a public workout was held at Times Square where the angle was furthered. LT brought in several football players to watch his back because Bam Bam Bigelow had the entire Million Dollar Corporation in his corner.
The Match:
Despite never wrestling before, LT was surprisingly competent in the ring and the match one of the best of the night (which is why many consider this one of the worst WrestleMania events). LT’s ring entrance was performed by Salt-n-Pepa. They sang Whatta Man but changed the lyrics for LT. On of the wrestlers in LT’s corner, Steve McMichael would go on to be a star for the rival WCW promotion.
The World Title Match :
Shawn Michaels earned the right to fight his former bodyguard Diesel by winning The Royal Rumble. Shawn’s new bodyguard was Sid. Diesel won the match due in part to some mistakes made by Sid. In a backdrop to this match, Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson both left the ring with Diesel. The next night, Sid turned on Shawn and the friendship between Diesel and Shawn was renewed.
The Start of the Monday Night War:
That fall, WCW launched Monday Nitro. The show ran against Monday Night Raw. The show was broadcast live, as opposed to RAW being taped, and WCW would give away the results of the WWF program. Vince McMahon decided to fight the threat of WCW in a bizarre fashion that would culminate at the following WrestleMania.
Random Facts:
- The LT and WWF Title matches were broadcast on a Fox TV special a few weeks after WrestleMania.
- The Undertaker’s urn was stolen and was melted into a gold chain by Kama Mustafa (The Godfather).
- The fan dressed as Bam Bam Bigelow in the fifth row center was yours truly.
- The loudest ovation of the night was when it was announced before the event that the U Conn women’s basketball team won the NCAA championship.
Match Results:
- Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith beat Eli & Jacob Blu
- I-C Title: Razor Ramon beat champ Jeff Jarrett by DQ. Jarrett keeps the title.
- The Undertaker beat King Kong Bundy
- Tag Team Title: Owen Hart & Yokozuna win the titles from The Smokin' Guns
- I Quit Match: Bret Hart forces Bob Backlund to submit. Roddy Piper was guest referee.
- WWF Title: Champion Diesel pinned Shawn Michaels
- Lawrence Taylor pinned Bam Bam Bigelow
