{"id":123620,"date":"2024-03-28T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=123620"},"modified":"2024-03-27T22:17:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T02:17:05","slug":"wwe-wrestlemania-xv-25-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/28\/wwe-wrestlemania-xv-25-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE WrestleMania XV: 25 Years Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

With\u00a0<\/span>WWE WrestleMania XL<\/span><\/em><\/strong> being less than two weeks away, it seemed pertinent to take a look back at the previous iterations of “The Show of Shows.” Since 1985, WWE<\/strong> fans have been treated to some of the biggest moments in wrestling history, as well as some hilariously bad ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the 2024 edition of\u00a0<\/span>WrestleMania<\/span><\/em>, WWE is bringing the \u2018Showcase of the Immortals\u2019 to Philadelphia, for the first time in 25 years. I\u2019ve decided to revisit the last \u2018Mania to take place in the \u2018City of Brotherly Love\u2019:\u00a0<\/span>WWE WrestleMania XV<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bizarrely, there are still six of the 25 competitors from the main card that are still considered to be active wrestlers today, but more on them later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Billy Gunn (c) vs. Al Snow vs. Bob Holly – WWF Hardcore Championship<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kicking things off was the Hardcore Championship Triple Threat match, between\u00a0<\/span>Billy Gunn<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Bob Holly,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Al Snow<\/span><\/strong>. This match took place during a bizarre storyline, wherein Gunn and his tag partner\u00a0<\/span>Road Dogg<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0decided to essentially swap their respective divisions. (Thanks,\u00a0<\/span>Vince Russo<\/span><\/strong>.)<\/span><\/p>\n

In the late 90s, triple-threat matches were not something that WWF<\/strong> had perfected, so this match can feel quite clunky looking back. However, a fairly inoffensive opening match saw Bob Holly reclaim the Hardcore Championship after stealing the pin from Gunn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two of our first tenured performers appeared in this match, with both Gunn and Al Snow having performed in matches in 2024. The irony here, perhaps, is that the winner of this match is the only man to not still be competing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Test & D\u2019Lo Brown vs. Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett (c) – WWF Tag Team Championships<\/span><\/h3>\n

The next match on the card was set up less than an hour before the show, as\u00a0<\/span>D\u2019Lo Brown<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Test<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0earned their right to challenge for the WWF Tag Team Championships in a battle royal on\u00a0<\/span>WWF Sunday Night Heat<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0that same night.<\/span><\/p>\n

This match was slightly disjointed, with the Philly crowd not overly interested in it. It remains one of the strangest decisions in\u00a0<\/span>WrestleMania<\/span><\/em>\u00a0history, as the bout would likely have been better placed on an episode of\u00a0<\/span>WWF Monday Night Raw<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeff Jarrett<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Owen Hart<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0retained their tag belts in a match that lasted less than four minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The segment was mostly dominated by the dissension between the challengers, but the lack of fan interest made for an underwhelming moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One-half of the champs continue to perform today, as Double J has found success alongside his \u201cTotal Nonstop Arseholes\u201d in AEW<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to the current standing of the Tag Team Championships, where the titleholders are gearing up for a six-team ladder match, surrounded by compelling stories, this match pales in comparison and serves as a historic reminder of darker days for the booking of the tag straps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bart Gunn vs. Butterbean<\/span><\/h3>\n