10 Best WWE WrestleMania Endings Ever

4. WrestleMania XIV

Steve Austin WrestleMania XIV
WWE

Let's talk about the dawning of a new era that actually did last, shall we?

1998 was a crucial year for the WWF. It was still losing its battle to WCW, Bret Hart was gone with the controversy of Montreal hanging over him, and top champion, Shawn Michaels was about to step away from the ring with a serious back injury.

But the company had one last trick up their sleeve. A bald, beer-drinking, middle fnger-throwing trick.

Stone Cold's rise to prominence had generated a new interest in the company and Vince McMahon needed to capitalise on it. He won the Royal Rumble in January and was set to face off against HBK for the WWF title in the main event of WrestleMania XIV.

The match had the added intrigued of Mike Tyson at ringside. "The Baddest Man On The Planet" had been brought in by D-Generation X as an insurance policy and his interactions with Austin in the build-up to this match played a huge role in drawing interest to the show.

After a fantastic match, Austin sealed the deal with a Stunner. Tyson, who had turned on HBK mid-match, counted the three, and raised Austin's hand, crowning him the new champion.

To paraphrase JR, "The Austin Era Had Begun!"

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.