Passing-of-the-torch moments often result in the most enjoyable WrestleMania endings, as one gets the feeling of watching history unfold as they watch. This is certainly true of Steve Austin's defeat of Shawn Michaels for his first ever WWF Championship, a moment everybody could sense was a watershed moment in the Rattlesnake's career. Stone Cold had been riding an unstoppable wave of momentum into the show, popularity we know now had the potential to transform the promotion's fortunes and help win the Monday Night Wars. As with the previous entry, this moment of significance also enjoyed a big-name celebrity appearance. Mike Tyson was present to count the pinfall, turning his back on a previous alliance with Degeneration X and allowing Austin to finally break through the glass ceiling. A furious Shawn was knocked out with a single blow from the boxer in an iconic post-match moment, but could have been on the receiving end of a more severe beatdown had he refused to put Austin over. The Undertaker, fearing Shawn's reputation as a shady backstage politician, reportedly waited behind the curtain with his fists taped - an ominous unspoken threat to the Heartbreak Kid. Luckily for Shawn - and the WWF as a whole - Austin secured the win.
