10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE In 1991
2. It Was Actually Class
The WWF was rightly savaged for exploiting the Gulf War as the key selling point of WrestleMania VII, and karma gave them the old ten punches on the top turnbuckle: the show was downsized from a stadium to an arena and drew a pitiful 400,000 buys because Hulk Hogan wasn't the man anymore, the theme was ugly and transparent and desperate, and the WWF fad did what fads do: died.
The thing is, the period between Royal Rumble and WrestleMania was strong, ignoring all that, and since hundreds of horrific world events have unfolded since 1991, a dim, calloused memory, it's a lot easier to watch it all - and admire the narrative dexterity of the booking - in retrospect.
Randy Savage entered an incredible heel performance at the Rumble, which, in collaboration with Pat Patterson's superb knack of booking finishes, linked together the two main attractions at 'Mania VII brilliantly. Savage almost tripped over Warrior, he was so intense and desperate to mess him up, and he absolutely nailed him with the sceptre shot to hand Sgt. Slaughter the title. You've seen a million interference finishes, but Savage made it feel like a brutal, unconscionable injustice.
This set up both Slaughter Vs. Hulk Hogan, which was serviceable, a bit long, but very, very loud, and Savage Vs. Warrior - hefty, unique, super-dramatic, an indelible spectacle in and of itself and a backdrop to one of the most moving angles in wrestling history.
WrestleMania VII in general was the best 'Mania up 'til that point, and wasn't bettered until X. The Warlord and British Bulldog was an improbably great, resourceful undercard match, the Jake Roberts Vs. Rick Martel Blindfold match was as silly as it was deafening, and, in the Rockers Vs. Haku & the Barbarian and Hart Foundation Vs. Nasty Boys, the WWF delivered what was then the best pair of tags in 'Mania history.
The former was a dynamic spot of escapology on the part of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, where the latter was a blinding way of getting heat on the heels. You're probably sick of hearing a commentator say "They stole one!", but the Nastys really did do an awesome smash and grab.