At In Your House 13: Final Four Bret Hart won the vacant WWF Championship, but he would be beaten by Sycho Sid the next night on Raw. Sid defended the championship against Bret Hart on the 17th March edition of Raw, cementing this match as tonight’s main event.
Before the match, Shawn Michaels gets an entrance just to
join commentary for the main event. He throws a not-so-subtle Too Sweet before
getting in the ring, he even gets pyro and I agree with King that it’s excessive.
We go backstage to Todd Pettingill and Sycho Sid. Sid says it’s “the biggest
event of the world” before whispering through a promo. He’s the only one not
scared of the darkness. He must be the 5th person to feud with Taker
for that exact reason. Undertaker makes his way out first as I confirm to
myself this segment takes up over the last half-hour of the Pay Per View. Shawn
Michaels calls the match for Undertaker as Sid’s music hits. It’s strange
seeing Sid fist bump with fans on his way to the ring. Lawler thinks HBK is
going to attack Sid, but Michaels says he’s here as a fan. The pyro spelling
out Sid is cool, too.
Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Jerry “The King”
Lawler are on commentary for this match, Howard Finkel is our ring announcer.
SYCHO SID © VS.
UNDERTAKER
(No
Disqualification - WWF Championship)
WWF WrestleMania 13 (23rd March 1997)
The bell rings and we can start… As soon as Bret Hart has had his say. He even let them face off! Bret takes Fink’s microphone and tells Michaels to stay out of the match. He breaks off his friendship with Undertaker and finally gets to Sid. Sid’s face is hilarious. Bret says that he wants the title and says he’s the Best there is, Best there was and Best there ever will be before Sid Powerbombs him to send him packing, with the help of an army of referees. Speaking of referees, Earl Hebner is in the stripes for this match.
I guess the bell didn’t ring last time, but it does as Undertaker jumps Sid from behind. He carries on the attack with right hands but gets sent into the corner by Sid. Sycho Sid runs into a boot in the corner “how about a size 14 for lunch” – Michaels. Undertaker throws Sid in the corner for lefts and rights, then a knee to the midsection. Undertaker hits a Stinger Splash and a scoop slam before covering for 2. I wish it was over that quickly. Undertaker hits Old School and sends Sycho Sid into the corner. Sid catches the Stinger Splash in a bearhug, wearing him down to one knee. Shawn Michaels says he likes being in the ring but he’s thinking about taking up commentary, which doesn’t please Lawler.
Undertaker is back on his feet, entering the second minute in a bearhug. He tries to create some kind of space but Sid wrenches the hold before releasing and clubbing Undertaker across the back. Sid goes back to the bearhug, then releases again for forearm strikes. Undertaker escapes the third bearhug with the ear clap. It’s a classic for a reason. Undertaker runs into a big boot and gets shoved over the top to the floor, characteristically landing on his feet. Undertaker tries to drag Sid to the floor but is sent over the French Announce table. Sid calmly walks around to Undertaker and drops him across the guard rail. Sid slams Undertaker on the table, but it doesn’t break. Sid picks Undertaker up and sends his spine into the ring post before bringing it back to the ring.
Sycho Sid covers but only gets 2. Undertaker cuts off Sid with a kick to the midsection and a back elbow but Sid catches Taker with a boot and clubs the back again. Sycho Sid puts Undertaker in a camel clutch, which I didn’t expect to type before cannonballing across Unertaker’s lower back. Sid hits an ax handle from the top rope but he gives Undertaker time to rest. Undertaker fights from his knees, headbutting Sid when they’re both vertical and driving his head into the turnbuckle. Sid reverses an irish whip and catches Undertaker with a powerslam for three quick nearfalls. Sycho Sid stalls for a while before hitting a leg drop for another 2 count, and a fifth within a short time. Sid forces Undertaker against the ropes for a while, then sends him across the ring with an irish whip. Undertaker ducks the clothesline and leaves his feet to knock Sid down with one of his own. Sid is still the first man to his feet and he kicks Undertaker into the corner.
Undertaker is measured up for a big right hand, but he fights back with headbutts and sends Sid through the ropes. Undertaker follows Sid to ringside and throws him into the crowd. They exchange right hands over the guard rail, which by wrestling physics probably adds more power. Sid is brought back to ringside and sent into the ring steps and back into the ring. Undertaker misses the elbow drop and Sid puts him in a chinlock on the mat. Undertaker stomps on the mat and fights out of the hold. Undertaker peppers Sycho Sid with lefts and rights from his knees. Sid rakes Undertaker’s face to break the momentum and gets caught with a slam. Undertaker covers but Sid kicks out at 2.
Undertaker puts Sid in the trapeze hold, Sid makes it to his feet and breaks the hold, knocking Undertaker back with overhand rights. Sycho Sid sends Undertaker off the ropes but Undertaker catches the big boot, spinning Sid around and running through him with a clothesline. Undertaker covers but only gets 2. Undertaker sends Sid off the ropes and they both connect with a big boot, leading to a double-down. Sid starts moving at 8, he covers Undertaker but only gets 2. He drops onto Undertaker with an ax handle then goes to the middle rope. Sid hits an ax handle and stomps at Undertaker. Sid hits a clothesline from the middle rope and covers but Undertaker kicks out at 2. Sycho Sid goes back to the middle rope, Undertaker catches him on the way down with a right hand to the midsection, Undertaker kicks the midsection then catches Sid with a back elbow but Sid rakes the face again before slamming Undertaker.
Sycho Sid goes to the top rope this time, Undertaker sits up and catches Sid off-guard with right hands. Undertaker sends Sid across the ring from the top rope, then climbs up top himself. Undertaker hits the flying clothesline and covers but Sid kicks out at 2. Undertaker signals for the Tombstone, but Sid kicks his way to the mat, reversing into one of his own. He crosses Undertaker’s arms 1, 2, no! Sid sends Undertaker to the floor in frustration. Sid connects with right hands. Undertaker fights back and grabs Sid by the throat. Bret Hart is back, he hits Sid across the spine with a steel chair! Undertaker drives Sid’s back into the ring post. Undertaker hits the Chokeslam and covers but Sid kicks out at 2! Sid reverses an irish whip, Undertaker ducks the clothesline, Sid ducks the clothesline and Undertaker eats shit. Sid thinks he’s outsmarted someone which is the second funny thing he’s done this match.
Bret Hart is back as Sid sets up the Powerbomb, but in fairness, he could have
hit it by the time Bret got there. Sid attacks Bret but gets his throat dropped
over the top rope. Sid walks into the Tombstone Piledriver and Undertaker
crosses Sid’s arms for the 3.
WINNER: UNDERTAKER (NEW WWF
Champion)
This was one of the worst WrestleMania main events of the decade. It was another slow Undertaker vs. Big Man match that weren’t made for excitement, Bret Hart’s inclusion took away from the match. It wasn’t an especially bad brawl but it wasn’t memorable. Bret being involved directly in the finish tainted Undertaker’s title victory slightly too. [*½] 2/10
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