It seems, like nearly every year, that fans online will complain about older guys from the past getting booked at WrestleMania to go over or to get the better of the younger guys on the main roster.
I outline the 5 most memorable instances where the new guys got “buried” at WrestleMania by their older counterparts.
#5 WrestleMania 32 – Austin, Michaels and Foley bury The League of Nations and The New Day
After The League of Nations had beaten The New Day, King Barrett took the mic and began referring to The League of Nations as the toughest guys in WWE history. This then led to the surprise arrival of Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The trio then beat down the League of Nations, hitting all their finishers in the process – because no burial would be complete without them. Austin, Michaels and Foley then celebrated with The New Day.
Also read: 5 Wrestlers who main evented WrestleMania the most
However, Xavier Woods pushed his luck when he tried to convince Austin to dance to The New Day’s music.
Stone Cold busted out a couple of dance steps before swerving Woods and giving him a Stone Cold Stunner. He then grabbed some beers to share with his fellow two legends in the ring, while the New Day took care of the knocked out Woods.
#4 WrestleMania 21 – Hulk Hogan buries Hassan and Daivari
Muhammad Hassan was in line for a huge push in the summer, including a world championship run, you would never have guessed it from this segment, however.
Eugene initially walked out to the ring to express his joy about being at WrestleMania, before being interrupted by Hassan and Daivari.
Hassan and Daivari ranted about not being part of WrestleMania and said that they were going to make their own WrestleMania moment. They attacked Eugene and put him in a Camel Clutch before Hulk Hogan made the save.
He beat up Hassan and Davari, while Jim Ross screamed, "This is a WrestleMania moment!"
#3 WrestleMania 32 – The Rock and Cena bury The entire Wyatt Family
Bray Wyatt was conspicuous in his absence from the WrestleMania 32 card and many feel that he would have been better off staying at home. Bray and his Wyatt Family came out to interrupt The Rock, who had already wasted 10 minutes shooting flames and announcing the record attendance.
Initially, The Rock did actually put over Bray, speaking about his tools, his charisma, the sway in which he holds the fans. Then came the burial.
The Rock decided he had the power to book a match on the fly, on a show that was already over-running.
He went one-on-one with Erick Rowan, in a match that ended in six seconds via a Rock Bottom. Wyatt then rallied the troops, with Braun Strowman, Bray and Erick Rowan all circling the ring. This prompted John Cena’s music to hit and Cena arrived to team up with his former WrestleMania rival.
The pair took out the Wyatts, with Five Knuckle Shuffles and People's Elbows.
#2 WrestleMania 12 – Ultimate Warrior buries Triple H
Triple H once called Ultimate Warrior one of the most “unprofessional” athletes that he had ever worked with. That comment was made on the “self destruction of The Ultimate Warrior” DVD and was in reference them working together at WrestleMania XII.
Warrior returned to the WWE for one more run in 1996. Before their scheduled match, Triple H approached the Warrior to work out how the match should go.
The Warrior shot down all his ideas, telling him in a not-so-polite way that they were doing a squash match, which is exactly what they did. The backstage incident and the match itself left a bad taste in Hunter’s mouth.
However, in the long-run, it probably aided Triple H in becoming the ruthless powerful backstage politician that he would go on to become. The Warrior seemed to agree, based on what he wrote on his website, following the release of the DVD:
“I’m the most unprofessional person you’ve ever stepped into the ring with? Well, now, ain’t that pretty. Because what I remember, Mr. Stephanie McMahon, is that you were only in the ring with me one time — and for less than 5 minutes.
Here all these years since leaving the ring and becoming interested in mentoring young people, I often wonder what kind of impact I am having because I take it seriously and it is important to me do it effectively.
Well, it sure sounds like I taught you very well in the 5 minutes you had in the ring with me. Because from what I hear you are the biggest unprofessional asshole the business has ever seen. You are welcome.”
#1 WrestleMania 9 – Hulk Hogan buries Yokozuna and Bret Hart
Hulk Hogan was bought back at WrestleMania IX as Vince McMahon knew that the Bret Hart vs Yokozuna match wasn’t going to do a big number. Hogan and Brutus were set to win the tag titles from Money Inc.
Thinking he was above the tag titles, Hogan pitched an idea where he would come out after Yokozuna had beaten Bret Hart and would challenge him to a WWE title match on the spot, ending the show as the WWE Champion. Hogan insisted that he would drop the title back to Yokozuna at the King of the Ring.
Vince agreed to the idea.
Hogan beat Yokozuna in under 2 minutes, seconds after Yokozuna had just beaten Bret Hart – burying both men in the process. Although Hogan insists that he was always dropping the belt to Yokozuna, Bret Hart believed that Hogan was dropping the belt back to him. Only Vince McMahon knows the truth.
Here is what Bret hart had to say in his book about WrestleMania IX:
“Fuji stayed in the ring, absurdly challenging Hogan to a title match with Yoko right then and there. Yoko was still teetering from exhaustion and looking for a second wind that wasn’t there.
Hogan blinked in astonishment at his sudden good fortune. As scripted, with my face buried in the crook of my arm, I waved him to avenge my loss. ‘Go get ’em, Hulk!’
I was really thinking, go ahead, Hogan, take from me what I worked so hard to get. We’ll see just how long you last! Hogan was champion again without even having a match — and before I’d even made it backstage.
He simply ducked the powder Fuji threw in his face, clotheslined Fuji and dropped his big leg on Yoko. I could hear the one . . . two . . . three, the roar of the crowd and Hogan’s music thumping.
I couldn’t help but stare at the TV monitor watching Hogan work the crowd with the same old posing routine, a hand behind the ear, shaking the World belt in the air as if to say that it belonged to him all along.
A few minutes later, Hogan came up to me excited and happy and said, ‘Thank you, brother. I won’t forget it. I’ll be happy to return the favor.’”
As we all know, Hulk Hogan never did return that favour.
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