WrestleMania celebrated its thirtieth birthday in 2014 and World Wrestling Entertainment celebrated accordingly, bringing together the three greatest icons of its long and illustrious history for an opening in-ring segment fans could not have expected. Hulk Hogan kicked off the show, welcoming the audience to the night's festivities and botching the name of the venue in the process. From there, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin interrupted, bringing the two biggest draws in the history of the industry together in the same ring, on the biggest stage imaginable, for the first time. They exchanged a few words before being joined by The Rock. The three Superstars entertained the audience as only they can, even if the entire segment consisted of them spouting off the same catchphrases they have used forever. At the end of the day, those catchphrases have made them millions, and continue to make them millions, and the fans ate them up. In a year that WWE launched its revolutionary network, and celebrated the third decade of existence for its WrestleMania event, it also paid respect to the stars who were instrumental in ensuring the long-term success of the company.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
