Countdown To Wrestlemania 24: Wrestlemania XII

Posted on March 17, 2008 by sideshowraheem

Live from Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA Wrestlemania XII saw the Wrestlemania debut of two future legends “Stone Cold” Steve Austin(wrestling under the name “The Ringmaster”) and Triple H. Triple H accompanied to the ring by Sable who was making her WWE debut was defeated by the returning The Ultimate Warrior who was wrestling in the WWE for first time 12 years. Although Warrior swashed Triple H in just 1 minute and 36 seconds this would be his final Wrestlemania appearance. Wrestlemania XII was also the first Wrestlemania that didn’t have Intercontinental Championship match on the card in fact the only other titled defended that night was the WWF Championship.

Wrestlemania XII featured just six matches, and for good reason the main event was a 60-minute WWE Iron Man Match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Whichever Superstar scored the most decisions via any method pinfall, submission, countout or disqualification within a 60-minute span would be declared the winner. With no true winner declared after 60 minutes, the match was ordered to go into sudden death overtime. In overtime, Michaels was able to secure the victory and his first WWF Championship after hitting Hart with Sweet Chin Music. At a full 61 minutes and 52 seconds this Iron Man Match was the longest bout in Wrestlemania history and in a WWE poll taken in April 2000, fans picked the Michaels/Hart 60-minute WWE Iron Man Match as their favorite Wrestlemania match of all time.

The Date:

  • March 31, 1996

The Card:

  • Owen Hart, British Bulldog & Vader w/ Jim Cornette def. Yokozuna, Jake “The Snake” Roberts & Ahmed Johnson
  • Hollywood Backlot Brawl
    “Rowdy” Roddy Piper def. Goldust w/ Marlena
  • The Ringmaster w/ “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase def. Savio Vega
  • Ultimate Warrior def. Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/ Sable
  • Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Diesel
  • WWE Iron Man Match for WWE Championship
    Shawn Michaels def. Bret “Hit Man” Hart in overtime

Celebrities In Attendance:

  • Although Wrestlemania XII took place in Anaheim, CA and had a Hollywood/Movie theme for the first time the WWE did not book any celebrity appearances.

After the break see Triple H’s Wrestlemania debut against The Ultimate Warrior and the classic Iron Man Match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart(c)………

Triple H vs The Ultimate Warrior

a

Iron Man Match

Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart(c) for the WWF Championship

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

-sideshowRaheem

Filed under: pro wrestling blog | Tagged: , , , , , , ,

« »

11 Responses

  1. Lex Luthor, on March 17th, 2008 at 9:48 am Said:

    In my opinion, this was the best Wrestlemania main event of all time…and the second best Mania match of all-time…behind the “Blood from a Stone” match.

    Reply
  2. the crusher, on March 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am Said:

    I still have nightmares from that hollywood brawl.

    Reply
  3. Maccaveli3, on March 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am Said:

    In total agreement with Lex, my favorite Wrestlemania and the HBK/Bret match is my all-time favorite. Such a great moment when Shawn is kneeling in the ring and the announcers are playing up the fact that this was his boyhood dream.

    Reply
  4. 313rd Perfectionist, on March 17th, 2008 at 11:26 am Said:

    Blood from a stone match?? What and when was that? Between who? Undertaker and Mankind?

    Anyway, but was it just me or did it seem like after Warrior got into the ring and after the pyro and was still shaking the ropes the crowd kinda died down and was like “Okay we get it! You’re back already!” Lol thats why Vince had to come in and say something as a cue to tell Warrior to stop.

    Reply
  5. sideshowraheem, on March 17th, 2008 at 11:44 am Said:

    -313rd Perfectionist

    The Blood From A Stone Match was the next year at Wrestlemania 13 when Stone Cold faced Bret Hart in a submission match. Stone Cold bladed and passed out while in the sharp shooter ratter then tap out. That was the moment Stone Cold went over big for the first time even though he lost the match. Fucking awesome Wrestlemania match but losses points because it was not for a title.

    Reply
  6. "The" Jsnwwf, on March 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm Said:

    match of the night: main event

    moment of the night: Rowdy Piper strips goldust

    worst match: Warrior/HHH.

    For a wrestlemania, a squash should completely be out of the question!

    Reply
  7. "The" Jsnwwf, on March 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm Said:

    Austin was already over big…..to go against bret hart at mania, you have to be big, ok?

    Reply
  8. Shane Slone, on March 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm Said:

    LOL it took Tripple H and Warrior longer to get in the ring then the match lasted. I’m pretty sure if Tripple H hadn’t jumped Warrior he would still be overplaying that enterence right now.

    Reply
  9. sideshowraheem, on March 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm Said:

    -”The” Jsnwwf

    I mean over as a face Austin waked in to that match a heel and walked out as one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster at the time.

    Reply
  10. "The" Jsnwwf, on March 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm Said:

    oh, well then yeah.

    Reply
  11. The Rated X Superstar, on March 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm Said:

    I liked wreslemania XII alot. The Iron man match was just sick and the last 20 minutes of the match was just crazy. Whether you are a mainstream fan or a hardcore fan, this match was really entertaining and fun and just shows why Bret Hart is one the best wrestlers ever and HBK.

    Will probably never see a macth like that.

    Reply

Leave a Reply