Here’s Part 10 of our WrestleMania Retrospective series, looking back at past WrestleMania events as we march towards WrestleMania 29 on April 7th
WrestleMania X (1994)
Tagline: “Ten Years In The Making”
Date:Â March 20, 1994
Venue:Â Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Attendance:Â 18,065
The Undertaker’s Streak:Â 3-0 (Did not Compete)
WrestleMania X was the tenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on March 20, 1994. The central focus of the pay-per-view was the WWF Championship, which was defended in two matches. Lex Luger challenged champion Yokozuna first but the storyline saw Luger disqualified for pushing the referee. Bret Hart faced Yokozuna later in the evening and won the championship by pinning Yokozuna. This led to a lengthy worked feud between Bret and his brother Owen, who defeated Bret in the opening match of the pay-per-view.
Several other major feuds were also highlighted at this event. Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in a Ladder match to resolve an angle in which the two had argued over the rightful holder of the Intercontinental Championship. Bam Bam Bigelow gained revenge against Doink the Clown, with whom he had been feuding, by teaming with Luna Vachon to defeat Doink and his partner Dink. Randy Savage also settled his feud with Crush by defeating him in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
The event was attended by 18,065 who paid a total of $960,000 in admission fees. The buy rates for this pay-per-view were also less than last years as WrestleMania X drew a buyrate of 1.68 which was less than the 2.0 buyrate that WrestleMania IX achieved.
The Undertaker
His rivalry with Yokozuna culminated in a WWF Championship casket match at the 1994 Royal Rumble. During the match, champion Yokozuna sealed The Undertaker in the casket with the assistance of several other villainous Wippleman-managed wrestlers to win the match. The Undertaker appeared from inside the casket on the video screen, representing his spirit, warning that he would return. The Undertaker did not appear in the WWF for seven months after his loss to Yokozuna including WrestleMania X. In reality, he was given time off to allow a back injury to heal.
For the Ladder match, the Intercontinental belts belonging to Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels were both hanging above the ring, and the first wrestler to use the ladder to reach both belts would be declared the winner. This was the first ever Ladder match at a Wrestlemania. This match has been highly regarded as one of the all time great WrestleMania Matches.
The final match of the night was the WWF Championship match between Yokozuna and Bret Hart. The guest referee for the match was Roddy Piper, while the guest ring announcer was Burt Reynolds and the guest timekeeper was Jennie Garth. Towards the end of the match, When Yokozuna attempted the Banzai drop, he lost his balance and fell to the mat.Hart quickly pinned Yokozuna to win the title.He celebrated in the ring with several of the face wrestlers including Lex Luger, Roddy Piper, Razor Ramon, Tatanka, the 1–2–3 Kid, Sparky Plugg and Randy Savage. Others who joined in the celebration included Burt Reynolds, Rhonda Shear, Donnie Wahlberg, and WWF commentators Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon. Owen Hart stood in the aisle, glaring at Bret, then quickly left.
WrestleMania X Results
• The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) (with Jim Cornette) defeated The Bushwhackers (Luke Williams and Butch Miller)
• Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart
• Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon defeated Doink the Clown and Dink
• Randy Savage defeated Crush (with Mr. Fuji) Falls Count Anywhere match
• Alundra Blayze (c) defeated Leilani Kai Singles match for the WWF Women’s Championship
• Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo) (with Oscar) defeated The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre) (c) (with Johnny Polo) by countout Tag team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship
• Yokozuna (c) (with Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) defeated Lex Luger by disqualification Singles match for the WWF Championship with Special Guest Referee Mr. Perfect
• Earthquake defeated Adam Bomb (with Harvey Wippleman)
• Razor Ramon (c) defeated Shawn Michaels (with Diesel) Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
• Bret Hart defeated Yokozuna (c) (with Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) for the WWF Championship with Special Guest Referee Roddy Piper