35 Years Of WWE WrestleMania Mistakes

22. WrestleMania XIV - The DX Band

WWE Network

The WWF's late decision to have Gene Okerlund belt out the national anthem at the first WrestleMania might have been uninspired to say the least, but it was a necessary compromise. The company had no excuses thirteen years later for the choice of Chris Warren's abominable DX Band.

Warren was already booked to serenade Shawn Michaels and his D-Generation X cronies out to the ring, so having him do double duty by performing The Star-Spangled Banner was an efficient option in keeping with the promotion's shift in an edgier direction.

Unfortunately, his troupe's screeching performance was utterly execrable. Fans at Boston's FleetCentre booed vociferously, and the national media worked themselves into a fury over the 'disrespectful' act. WWF took the criticism to heart; Warren's heinous butchering of the national anthem was edited out of all future releases of the show, including its addition to the WWE Network.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.