Confusion about the WM13 Era

[odysseus]

Taker/Sid seemed more like a main event than Austin/Hart at the time. Plus, like lots have said, Austin/Hart was on a more personal level. They didn't need the title. Both were great wrestlers, which didn't hurt either. Keep in mind, it was his bloodied face after that match that pretty much solidified himself in the top ranks.

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Because, in all honesty, not many people were going to buy a WrestleMania where you knew the outcome of the main event was never in doubt. With the undercard seriously up in the air, you either better have:
1) a solid main event in which people would love to see, or,
2) quickly rebuild your undercard and make that your focus.

Remember, WCW was gaining fans every week with casual fans because "you never knew what was going to happen". WWF was basically the same stuff shoved down our throats every week.

The Royal Rumble's controversial ending saved the WWF some face. Instead of having a predictable main event, you had all these guys suddenly involved in the title picture.

Steve Austin: coming off of two of his greatest matches since entering the WWF (Survivor Series & Royal Rumble) and really on a roll as a bad-assed heel. "Taking his Rumble victory away" invigorated him as somebody with something to prove to the world.

Sid: Former champion slighted because of Shawn's sudden departure, never got his rematch after losing the belt. (A match I understand he was supposed to win. Rocky winning the I-C belt on that "Thursday Raw Thursday" was actually Plan B.)

Undertaker, Vader & Bret: All were "illegally eliminated" by Steve in Rumble. All feel screwed out of the title shot. Vader beat 'Taker at the Rumble. Undertaker finally put Mankind away and was looking to move ahead. Bret was...well, he was Bret.

Having an unpredictable battle for the WWF title made the WWF not so predictable...lol. Steve screwing Bret out of his 4th World title when he hit him with a chair built up the animosity between those two. Undertaker finally got convincing wins to put him in the running. Sid teaming up with Taker, then refusing because he "smelled something fishy" because of Taker's former alliance with Paul Bearer built another internal story.

There was a lot going on for those two months leading into WM, and that saved the WWF. A lot of layers were added that you would have never expected before.

In the meantime:

Goldust's valet Marlena being attacked by "that Amazon" (Chyna), when it turned out she was Hunter's new valet.
Paul Bearer united Vader & Mankind.
Owen & Bulldog with their internal struggle for respect (mainly Owen).
Furnas & LaFon and their push towards the tag title.
Is Rocky legit? Or is he just keeping the belt warm for somebody else?
Faarooq & the Nation's bid to remove the WWF of Ahmed Johnson. Ahmed counters with Chicago legends the Legion of Doom. (That was cool.)

Look at it like this: when I got those two WrestleMania tickets from my brother for Christmas, the main event was expected to be Bret versus Shawn. Good match I'm sure it could have been, and Bret winning his 4th title.

But once Shawn stepped away and chaos erupted, those tickets seemed more valuable in my eyes. You never knew what you were going to see on that March 23rd afternoon. The WWF grab bag of possible matches!

I think I made out a whole lot better.