(So many months ago, I was going to explore this peculiar WrestleMania with a blog. I ended up being frustrated to how uninspiring this event was. Now, I've decided to take another shot at this since I don't like leaving anything unfinished. This time, I figured out a way to keep me from not being flustered while working on this: drink alcohol. This may be the most innovative way to write or this will be an absolute disaster. Well, here goes nothing.)

The WWF was into the Attitude Era, which gave them money, a lot of publicity and notoriety. While WCW and ECW were about to begin their downfall, the WWF saw record numbers in attendance, merch, and TV ratings. The mainstream gave the company the time of day with the superstars going on talk shows, appearing in TV sitcoms, news telecasts. You name it. Then there was the infamous Super Bowl commercial. The company was on the verge reaching the height of their boom period. So you figured that this WrestleMania would continue their momentum going........In a few words, it fell flat.

Wrestlemania XV took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on March 28, 1999. The night before, the company held a WrestleMania Rage! party that was televised on the USA Network. It featured drunken Shane McMahon, the adventures of Patterson and Brisco, Vince McMahon dancing very humorously and musical acts such as The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Big Pun and Isaac Hayes. The wrestlers just cut promos instead of, you know, partying.

Philly's own Boyz II Men sang their rendition of America The Beautiful, which was astounding. The late "Classy" Freddie Blasse's opening promo to start the show was breath taking.It kind of goes downhill after this.

HARDCORE TITLE

AL SNOW VS. HARDCORE HOLLY VS. BILLY GUNN (Time to open a beer)

The champion, Billy Gunn, came out to the New Age Outlaws' theme without Road Dogg saying his shtick. It sounded awkward. One instance, Gunn took an Irish Whip to the knees on the steel steps that looked like it hurted. Snow used a hockey stick to both men with the crowd chanting "Let's go Flyers!" Hardcore Holly would win the title when he hit Gunn with a chair while covering Snow. Kind of a short match, but serviceable.

TAG TEAM TITLE

JEFF JARRETT/OWEN HART VS. D-LO BROWN/TEST

D-Lo and Test won a battle royal to face Jarrett and Owen for the titles before the event. Kind of tells you about the state of the tag team division during this time. It would get better. Again, another short match with Jarrett and Owen retaining. Also, Debra was basically wearing a bikini to the ring.

BRAWL FOR ALL

BUTTERBEAN VS. BART GUNN (I need to chug this new beer down)

Vince Russo, head writer for the WWF during this time, thought it was a great idea to have a tournament that resembled the Toughman bouts. Wrestling fans hated this and it was considered one of the biggest blunders the company did during this time. So, Bart Gunn won the whole thing and the company decided to put him against legendary Toughman competitor Butterbean. Vinny Pazienza was the referee for this. 31 seconds later, Butterbean decimated Bart Gunn. Hard to watch.

BIG SHOW VS. MANKIND (Beer time)

The stip was that the winner would be the special guest referee for the WWF Title match. Ok, I realize it's part of the storyline, but do you really need a special guest referee for Austin vs. Rock? Big Show coming out to Vince McMahon's entrance music is awkward. Ok, now I'm nitpicking. At one point, Show hits Mankind with a chair outside which should have been a DQ, but wasn't for reasons. Then Big Show chokeslams Mankind onto two steel chairs to earn a DQ. What the hell? Meaning Mankind would be the referee for the title match. Vince McMahon walks out and yells at Big Show, then slaps him. Show decks Vince with a right hand for the first of many, many, face/heel turns in Big Show's WWF/E career.

INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE

ROAD DOGG VS. VAL VENIS VS. KEN SHAMROCK VS. GOLDUST

I should have mentioned before during the Hardcore Title match. Billy Gunn was chasing the Intercontinental Title and had a feud with Ken Shamrock. Road Dogg was chasing the Hardcore Title. Weeks before the event, they decided that Gunn should win the Hardcore Title and Road Dogg win the I.C. Title. I don't want to say it. IT'S A SWERVE, BRO! Remember when Val Venis was the lovable porn actor character who is now a person who hates women winning a men's world title. (Beer time) They had Ryan Shamrock and the Blue Meanie outside for....I'm just confused by this. Road Dogg retains in another serviceable match. C'mon, man.

TRIPLE H VS. KANE

Kane comes out and the San Diego Chicken attacks him, then Kane unmasks the Chicken and it's Pete Rose. Rose gets Tombstoned by Kane in the middle of the ring. At least he's in the WWE Hall of Fame. Teddy Long is the referee in this match, HOLLA, PLAYA! By default, this is the best match of the night, so far. So, Chyna was burned in the eye weeks before when Kane wanted to burn Triple H, but unfortunately, it hit Chyna. Months back, Chyna aligned herself with the Corporation thus breaking her trust with Triple H. (Beer Time) The ending was Chyna was going to let herself hit Triple H, but instead hitting Kane with a chair, causing a DQ. But she was back with Triple H.

Big Show gets arrested, and Kevin Kelly interviews Vince McMahon and he proclaims that he will be the guest referee for the WWF title match.

WOMEN'S TITLE

SABLE VS. TORI (Need to chug this one, too.)

Sable was the Women's champion......and it wasn't because of her wrestling ability. The future Mrs. Brock Lesnar would face Tori, and no, not Torrie Wilson. Tori......look her up. Be glad that the women's division is better now. Nicole Bass comes out to help Sable, like she needed it. Sable wins the match.

EUROPEAN TITLE

SHANE MCMAHON VS. X-PAC

If I'm being frank, I was never a fan of Sean Waltman. There is a term in wrestling communities deemed "X-Pac Heat". But the man is about to become a two-time WWE Hall of Famer with the NWO going in this year and DX inducted last year. So, I respect the man. X-Pac was going to beat Shane McMahon, here. Because at the time, Shane McMahon isn't a guy who can work. He isn't a guy who can sacrifice his body for the business. X-Pac comes out and the Stooges come out and attack him, but they become stooges and X-Pac fights his way out of that. So, Shane and X-Pac were aloud to use belts and there was so many interferences going on. Is this No DQ? After this, Triple H and Chyna come out to help X-Pac, but turns out, Triple H turns his back on X-Pac, allowing Shane to get the victory......IT'S A SWERVE, BRO.

HELL IN A CELL

UNDERTAKER VS. BOSS MAN

One of the most boring Hell In A Cell matches of all-time. Plain and simple. Undertaker and Boss Man deserved better. Undertaker gets the win and Boss Man would be hung out of the Hell In A Cell. This would be a segway to bring in Stephanie McMahon into the fold.

WWF CHAMPIONSHIP

ROCK VS. AUSTIN PART I

J.R. would be doing commentary during this match. Vince would come out as the referee, but the Commissioner Shawn Michaels comes out and says that he is the man who can opponent a referee for the match, despite the fact Vince owns the company. But, I don't know anymore. Rock vs. Austin, clearly, the match of the night, as the WWE Championship should be. So, during the match, Austin wanted to hit Rock with a chair, but hit referee Mike Chioda instead. (By the way, #mikechiodaforwwehof). Tim White would come out to referee for a little bit, then Rock hits White with the Rock Bottom. Now referee Earl Hebner comes out to referee for a little bit. Then, Vince McMahon comes out and beats up Earl Hebner and he and the Rock double-team on Austin, until Mankind shows up. Mankind hits McMahon......and the match continues. Rock tries to execute the Rock Bottom, but Austin counters and hits the Stunner, gets the 3 count and wins the title, despite the dismay of Vince McMahon. Austin would beat up Vince and cover him with beer to end the show.

Ok, so it is, WrestleMania 15 is one of the most underwhelming shows of all-time. At the height of the Attitude Era, they didn't capitalize on the company's wealth during this being the biggest show of the year. The matches were meh at best, Austin vs. Rock was great, instead of the constant interference. This show was littered with that. Too many face and heel turns. Keep it simple. Have one big heel/or face turn to surprise the viewer. Other than that, just have wrestling. That's all you need.

Now that this experiment is done, it's time for me to take a nap.

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