33 Most Defining WWE WrestleMania Images
19. Passing The Torch
Mike Tyson raises Steve Austin's hand after the main event of WrestleMania XIV, having turned on Shawn Michaels and counted Stone Cold's pinfall.
One of the clearest torch-passings in WWE history, Shawn Michaels' defeat to Steve Austin was a clear shift in priority and tone. Here Vince and co. fully embraced the grittier direction wrestling was heading in, making a foul-mouthed anti-hero their top guy.
HBK was physically and mentally broken down by this point of his career, and was rumoured to be reluctant to drop the title. Legend has it that Undertaker stood in gorilla position with his fists taped, an unspoken warning to the Heartbreak Kid: don't try anything funny out there. Fortunately Shawn did the honours for Austin, falling victim to a Stunner - before getting in Mike Tyson's face and eating a straight right from the infamous boxing great.