STW #37: WrestleMania 13

On this episode: WrestleMania 13! Was it an unlucky number for the WWF? Find out as Bruce Prichard and Conrad Thompson take you back to 1997 in Chicago!
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
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[@rocky7895]

8:31 episode starts

[@Super122291]

Barry Otis thanks baby Barry

[@BonesBrigader]

You will end up missing some nice thoughts from Bruce on Jan (Jim Ross's wife)

[@grimmcalypso396]

Real MVP

[@alberts1985]

Houston Texas

[@stevenkunzer9027]

I had the VHS of WM 13 as a kid and I think that is one of the main reasons I love that era of WWF. 96-97 is like the intersection of the New Generation and the start of the Attitude era.

[@BckDrBOYES]

Bruce's Vince impression is amazing!

[@MJAce85]

It is. So good in fact I read that comment of yours in my head as Vince McMahon's voice.

[@MDeezy42069]

I cant say “motherfucker” anymore without doing it in Bruce’s Jim Cornette voice

[@dadncaleb]

Seriously the best STW I’ve ever heard, and I’ve listened to almost all of them

[@shockerrocker1]

Love the podcast fellas, keep up the good work. Thanks for not putting a thousands ads on your youtube videos.

[@UncledadBFD]

2 years later...

[@justinroark88]

@@UncledadBFD I was just about to say that!! Wait about 2 years and every ad has an ad inside of it!

[@everettcrede]

48:54 is why I'm here LMAO "Well Mistur MAKMAN!" LMAO

[@blakerose6606]

WrestleMania needs to be in Chicago again.

[@chriscalvert8023]

I watched a bunch of the old WWF Madison Square Garden shows from the 80s and early 90s that use to be on KZbin and super fan Vladimir was in the front row of every single show.

[@steelersgucci9046]

HBK was doing the Soma Shuffle that night after he announced he lost his smile😵😵😵😵😵😵

[@hardy87781]

How does 1 do the Soma Shuffle

[@philjoyce1548]

Get fucked up on Soma's. And walk

[@Cuddyscott84]

@@philjoyce1548 🤣🤣🤣

[@snoopyfod1807]

@@philjoyce1548 aren't those long gone?

[@philjoyce1548]

@@snoopyfod1807 I believe so my friend.....I'm too young I never got to try em and I'm 31

[@matsong5134]

The Sultan’s music was dope!! One of my favourite themes.

[@baburaoboltoy3434]

Sultan did not have his own music. It was the Sheik's music all the way.

[@Dredsed]

@@baburaoboltoy3434 wrong

[@baburaoboltoy3434]

@@Dredsed Yes bro. It was the Iron Sheik's music. Then they used it for Sultan. Then the tiger Ali Singh. Listen to them then comment.

[@pisserplunker]

An hour into the show and they finally start talking about Wrestlemania 13.

[@MarkoAnzio]

The events leading up to WM 13 are a part of the story, Brah

[@steelersgucci9046]

Podcast of the year back 2 back. Big thanks to Bruce & Conrad. Been listening since episode 1.

[@nickbryant91]

Ahmed Johnson did say in his shoot interview that Hawk gave him those shoulder pads and after Hawk died he put the shoulder pad in this hall of fame type thing.

[@jamesmiller5331]

Hall of Fame type thing?

[@BrogiNaric]

2:07:06 I fuckin died at Conrad's delivery! 😂😂😂

[@retepoteil]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheIndustrialRetrospective]

I loved the blimps back in the day!!

[@justincase813]

I wanted one so bad!!!

[@StanTheMan450]

Conrad doing Vince’s high voice on commentary cracked me up. I always laugh when Vince does that 😂😂

[@freerusty04]

Brett and Steve thought it needed color Steve was nervous Brett called it, took the heat. When it works so well no real punishments, both guys have given interviews saying this

[@BeeBumper]

Except he took no heat. They never admitted it was done

[@armandomorales0921]

Bruce as The Iron Sheik! 1:12:19

[@adamhines9866]

The "lost his smile" horsesh*t is one of the reasons I will never like Shawn

[@evilsWa]

Blah blah, blah… But you suck Bret Hart's dick because he refused to lose it "in Canada" which is literally the same as if Shawn Michaels refused to lose in the United States because he is a hero there.

[@markmenning1804]

I grew up on a pig farm so Henry Godwin was my hero

[@JAlves88]

I understand but to top you is. I'm Portuguese so portuguese man of war was who I was cheering for, didn't have much luck with that.haha. Bret the Hit man hart. Was is and will always be the best.

[@Dessan01]

The phrase getting “Vinced” has a whole new meaning now - that girl probably went into that office not thinking she’d allow him to park a turd on her face 😂

[@chubbycatfish4573]

"Goddamn, pal... the audience doesn't know the name of the holds." They might if you started calling them...

[@dan223344556677]

What a manoeuvre!!

[@bourbonbruce5422]

@@dan223344556677 god you butchered this

[@Ty-dp7iv]

My favorite macmahon commentary line was " 1, 2, and no" he said that every time there was a near fall

[@chubbycatfish4573]

@@Ty-dp7iv Or when he'd count to 3 after they obviously kicked out and yell "No!"

[@Pillar5770]

Undertaker stabilized the WWF title picture by holding the belt for 5 months.

[@rackballjones6585]

Had to

[@BlockaderunnerCSA]

Best part of Wrestle Mania 13 was Undertaker coming out in his old school attire.

[@miracleboyboxing]

Bret vs Austin match as well

[@Dizzy1980]

35:34 Actually, Undertaker had been WWF champion at that point. He famously defeated Hulk Hogan on 11/27/91 at the Survivor Series. This was corrected at 2:23:13.

[@Tsadi9Mem9Khet9]

Maybe that's why the St. Patrick's Cathedral people were on high alert when the Opie & Anthony thing happened several years later.

[@danieltempleton838]

Owen made me believe that those slammys were better than world champ belt. Like they were real gold

[@guyincognito5706]

Mark

[@Efourty407]

I was there had an awesome time rooting for stone cold

[@rackballjones6585]

Prove it

[@joemazza2583]

The best part of this episode just might be the “My Cousin Vinny” reference when Conrad says “when I was a yoot” 😂 love it

[@marcusmccormick8399]

This was great. Was at the show live, still got my mania chair. A lot of stuff pointed out I didn't notice. I did buy the 6th row ticket in November hoping for Bret/Shawn. Hightlights for me Bret/Austin, road warriors double clothesline, Bret calling Shawn out, and poor marlena getting rag dolled, looked cool, hated it happened to her, commend her for pulling her dress down when laid out. In her shoot, she talked about one day getting and couldn't move, since chyna was rag dolling her every night.

[@Eric-wu7bp]

The first time Wrestlemania used standard numbers on there logos was Wrestlemania 2, not 13

[@marvelousrevolution6521]

Vladimir, the greatest wwe fan ever took me to my first match at the Manhattan center. He lived upstairs 4th floor my grandma building 107th street nyc

[@steelersgucci9046]

Kabuki Time

[@enigmaticpsychocw]

48:55 lmfao. Well, Mr. MacMahon! 😂

[@plovy5115]

Meltzer always underrated Goldust.

[@cerealboy3763]

Big Dick Dave pounds out the facts , if you dont like that then he cant help you.

[@addi543]

I always thought that Meltzer’s hate of Dustin is an extension of the heat between Dave and Dusty

[@PV24]

I disagree with Meltzer. Goldust & Triple H had great chemistry way back in the day. I really liked their matches. Their rivalry was believable & I wish Goldust was able to elevate up the card as Triple H elevated up into Steph 😂😂😂

[@BeeBumper]

Naw Steph went slumming

[@polkaproductions9120]

Someone should photoshop Meltzer wearing a "I'm A Bruce Prichard Guy" tee just to troll Bruce.

[@BonesBrigader]

It's becoming a regular thing to trip balls when I hear him do cornette. I remember a shot at the first Wrestlemania where I made a connection as a kid when they showed Muhammad Ali waving to the crowd with the tag chord in the corner but for some reason in my mind I always accosiated that with being a noose because it just seem that vivid to me. Like it was a subliminal shot ot something. I maybe reading too much into it but just thought I'd mention it being the talk of the noose spot. I'm going back to find that Sid/Arn sign hahaha Speaking of signs, when I went to Wrestlemania 28 in Miami i saw a dude walking through the wraparound concession area and passed by us with a sign that read "God, please take John Cena and give us back Owen Hart" Dude I'm not gonna lie, Sid scared the shit outta me when I was watching in 92 especially when he would go ballistic lol I remember seeing this one fan at every WWF event dating back way back in the day and for years, must be the Vladimir dude. If he's the one with the glasses. Austin was just as red hot to me before that night with Tyson as he was after. More people tuned in after that but he had me already.

[@Illusionistical822]

Wrestlemania 13....the first In Your House Wrestlemania.

[@sabercrosby8128]

brilliant! you summed it up perfectly haha that was awesome

[@jhot2477]

try 9,10,11 too 12 was only good because of the iron man match, and 13 has one of thee most overrated matches of all time between hitman and stone cold, it's so hyped it's not even a great match, it might of had a meaning as far as stone cold winning over the fans and lauching his character and the blood dripping down his face but the match isn't even that good

[@Godeater13273]

@soabcnsk2012 👏

[@Stonewall2]

soabcnsk2012 perfect retort

[@Ekolishift]

@@jhot2477 good troll attempt on Austin vs Hart. They did a double switch for christs sake. Nice try buddy

[@heathmcrigsby]

Conrad: "Yeah. Great."

[@matsong5134]

In 1997 Shawn Micheals and Triple H needed a good ass kicking! Smart asses!

[@Njbear7453]

Speaking of “superfans” at every show, the guy with the long hair and the guy with the neon green shirt and goatee/ hat are legit at every single ppv ringside.

[@lowwill2986]

Oh wow that was the Sikorsky bridge in Stratford CT. Yeah that's pretty much suicide going 60mph when raining or snowing.

[@ravishingrickrude3527]

Prayers for JR

[@gocanuckurself1]

I'm just here for the thumbnail

[@brandonford4474]

2:01:19 Lengthy Cornette Rant. Fantastic.

[@YoungGrizzly82]

One of the WORST Wrestlemanias produced one of the BEST matches in its history (Bret/Austin)

[@joshwilbur4980]

The Beautiful People was the theme for Smackdown.

[@lordtrigon1733]

Yeah, 2001-02. Raw theme in 1997.

[@braddockakalatis2]

Why didn't Shawn drop the belt to Sid like Backlund did for Diesel?

[@zodiacz3737]

braddockakalatis2 ego buddy. But that’s what happens when ur great like that

[@sketchstevens5859]

Sid could've just done a shoot for him

[@Ty-dp7iv]

Shawn was selfish and that's why to me he will always be number 2 greatest wrestler of all time.

[@Stonewall2]

He gave away 5 titles. Shawn didn’t take a pin for anyone cause he was a selfish dick.

[@joemama7163]

I could listen to Bruce do Jarrett all day long.

[@jasonbudrow7376]

Huhhhhhhh

[@jaserogers997]

Jonny Ace *and* Sheiky Baby, in one fucking episode?! This is gold.

[@BeeBumper]

Actually Hart Austin reminds of why I was a fan

[@andrewholland853]

Dr James Andrews came on and said how bad his knee was the next week. Dr James Andrews isnt putting his reputation on the line for a guy whos knee was fine

[@strathroyaaron]

LOD went to a double CO with the Headbangers in their return at Manhattan Centre... They didn't win as Conrad said.

[@daedaethomas47]

greatest thumbnail ever!!!!! Lolololol

[@nonamerequired123]

Bruce's statement about the entertainment event, yeah it but it's still a very physical event. It's not bullshit to check someone's blood pressure when they gotta perform the kind of stuff the Wrestlers do. The "entertainment event" excuse is bullshit because they're still performing very physical acts.

[@cptnmrgnkid]

nonamerequired123 oh you must be right and the guy who worked in the business for almost 30 years must be wrong. 😒

[@nonamerequired123]

Well since you don't need to have run for office to criticize politicians or have gone to medical school to sue for malpractice,(imagine if doctors had that attitude? "Oh you say I botched your surgery? Tell me, what medial school did you go too? How was your last triple bypass surgery? You've never worked in a hospital before so who are to tell me someone who's gone through medical school and works at a hospital daily that I messed up?")what makes you think wrestling is above criticism? Give me a break. Just because it's not an athletic competition, doesn't mean they don't do physical stuff. He's acting like it's performing a broadway play. Erroneous to say that post Jerry Lawler having a heart attack on Raw.

[@rmelvin82273]

Do they show up to check the BP of the dancers at concerts/musicals? They're doing some pretty physical stuff too at those "entertainment events."

[@bkellam]

47:25 Sounds like John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

[@alberts1985]

What is him always reading from Dave Melzer?

[@CAMZAB]

Hogan music during the betting ad foreshadowing STW #38

[@martymclochlin4836]

Awful tragedy. RIP Mrs. Ross

[@coolinwithq2405]

“It’s miller time”

[@josephboza7448]

Undertaker and Sid did a good job for what they got. Not sure how long they had to plan the match. I think Shawn didn't want to do the job to Bret. I have always been on that side of the argument. He thought he was hot shit. I wonder partly how much his mother wanted him home. At this point, he had been in the business what 8-9 years. Shawns Bullshit injury and I lost my smile speech bs, made them rewrite probably 2 months of Tv and 2 PPVs. Wrestlemania 13 described perfectly the first quarter of 1997: this was a giant clusterfuck. 5 WWE Championship changes in 3 months. Very surprised that they were interesting in Vitor Belfort. Vitor had just won the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament. I think the guys that ran UFC at the time were trying to protect their talent. Who would jump shift to pro wrestling besides Ken Shamrock (Ken had been in wrestling before making MMA Seriously).

[@Njbear7453]

Rewatching the match I thought it was boring. Undertaker got his ass kicked the entire match and I didn’t like how they had to have bret hart interfere and then all of a sudden - tombstone 123. I get they wanted to make sid look strong but having taker get beat up the entire match like he was “smaller” was just stupid. The match could’ve been a lot better than it was.

[@chrishowe4009]

Nobody remembers Colt Cabana being here, because he's not relevant. At all

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

Bruce's Patterson's impression is Horrible, Patterson does not sound Italian, He's a French Ferry

[@rolltide91011]

romans52345 yeah i was wondering why he always made him sound italian

[@Bryan8329]

He's a boat?

[@joshuaedwards6692]

@@Bryan8329 Apparently. Here I thought he was gay, turns out he's a boat. Who knew?

[@jaserogers997]

#RIPJanRoss

[@gammabravo1654]

So juicy Smullet doing the noose okay or no ?

[@michaelpitt2330]

Chat me up

[@Super122291]

Chat me up gorgeous😙😙

[@dusteedawg2915]

Nice transition into commercial....perfect .....know when to hold em and fold em

[@jamesomalley4641]

I was there :)

[@joshuabowen6589]

From what I've gathered you should never ever ever ever ever ever ever eeevveeerrr ride with Vinny Mac

[@calamaty9963]

Charles Manson guy is known as Faith No More guy in ECW.

[@essej4944]

Looking back it really seems like WWF should have had the Toronto sky dome be their location for Wrestlemania 13, instead of the special 2 hr raw in February 97. How much bigger would it have been to see Bret Hart main event? Or hey, maybe even have summerslam 97 at the sky dome. Why waste the sky dome on a monday raw show? Mind boggling.

[@Allenwhite5425]

Has anyone else made a strange coincidence between the phrase Prichard uses “getting Vinced” when they have their mind set on whatever and doing the opposite after talking to Vince 1on1 ...CONvinced

[@Allenwhite5425]

They being the talent ...”pronouns pal”

[@dusteedawg2915]

Gamer here.......got my ps4 sitting here......my ps3, my nintendo, my ps2, my game boy.......my god were getting sooo fn old ....eeewww were gaross.

[@ChannelEleven59]

“You’ve been Vinced” should have been called “You’ve been Con-Vinced” get it? See what I did there? Bueller?

[@strokeraceventura2550]

Like you did for Snuka. Classic!!!!

[@Ekolishift]

Stroker Ace was awesome but sadly gets lost under The Bandits shadow

[@godawgs7098]

Well 1997 was The Undertaker's year. He held the WWF Title longer than anyone that year.

[@The1TheBob]

What is the noise at 9:34 ?

[@nickfoxx9310]

It's probably a marker for editing purposes, a place where they were going to splice in an ad or something. You hear on it almost every one of these, I think they just forget to edit them out.

[@NikateeN]

Whatever it is, it scares the shit out of me when I’m at work listening on my ear buds and it pops up out of nowhere twice as loud as everything else. 👂

[@FreneticZetetic]

Agreed. Several times, I thought I was about to be abducted by aliens. Not fun at night in the dark alone.

[@Super122291]

Frenetic Zetetic I’ll cuddle with you ❤️

[@polkaproductions9120]

guey

[@sawyersoze8104]

I would listen to an episode with Bruce imitating Sheiky Baby the entire couple of hours.

[@blakerose6606]

Always wondered why Bruce and conny never do the video show

[@strathroyaaron]

Billy Gunn didn't become Rockabilly until May.... just sayin' Conrad.... Hey Bruce... need a new co-host?

[@codystrader7594]

Nope. Rockabilly was on free for all.

[@jackigoon6168]

I'm old school... but WHAT in THE HELL was this scissor sign all about??? Even as a sex joke I'm absolutely clueless.

[@maxxdahl6062]

Because it ISN'T a sex joke.

[@jackigoon6168]

maxx dahl yes I know this dickhead... hence the reason behind presenting it as acknowledged. Your contribution to the matter is a precise & absolutely ZERO. 🙌

[@maxxdahl6062]

Like your idiotic question?

[@jackigoon6168]

maxx dahl provided you answer the question? You can call it whatever you like... but not before.

[@maxxdahl6062]

Derp.

[@spellmanpat8233]

if you're not first you're last!! greetings from the best city in the world Buffalo NY

[@EmperorTaebok]

Is there a second Buffalo, NY I'm not aware of?

[@philjoyce1548]

.....everyone is impressed by your loyalty....but Boston is much better and the Bills are terrible

[@johnnieriot13]

Phil Joyce give me a break

[@MrRwk314]

Buffalo is cool. If you like snow and snow.

[@dnice2000]

@@philjoyce1548 Bills are terrible huh?

[@coxx5150]

Who was Austin's original opponent Was Bret always going to wom Final four Was the Bret vs Shawn rematch going to be for the WWF title or was Shawn supposed to drop it to Sid

[@michaelpitt57]

Austin was supposed to face The British Bulldog at WrestleMania 13 apparently

[@armandomorales0921]

Road Warriors and Ahmed Johnson vs The Nation of Domination 1:56:14

[@stewartfan717]

Armando Morales thank you. Best part of the episode.

[@robrico129]

Miss these good shows with quality genuine comedic moments. Not as much of those in the most recent few months of episodes. Kinda seems to just be going thru the motions.

[@troywright359]

wait, Bret Hart invented the clique symbol? 2:17:15

[@philjoyce1548]

GOD DAMN PAL!!! Fucking great

[@MJAce85]

57:30 welcome to NJ Bruce. That's why people are leaving here in droves. So once residents leave and there's less tax revenue, the idiots like me that stay here get to pay even higher taxes to make up for it

[@TheTEAMBUTLER]

Bet vince paid n laid hbk to do the job

[@sithari518]

Anyone believe the story Bruce tells about Tiger Hatori?

[@supershawn77]

Great for your guys succes and providing so much good old school info but Conrad....., stop trying to slip in other wrestling figures words. Jr etc. Think your gonna be the colour guy for NXT someday?

[@JR7827]

*47:35*

[@troywright359]

Can RGT 4 Law answer me this question: can you not speak every 5 minutes?? lol

[@Ekolishift]

?

[@jayb-clay2724]

FRUSTRATED ISN'T THE GOD DAMN WORD FOR IT!! THIS IS BULLSHIT!! I remember it like it was yesterday lol

[@BishopM1]

2:07:57 is funny af and I’m black lmao

[@hazi5961]

1:12:19 LMFAO!

[@jaserogers997]

#Cowabunga

[@strathroyaaron]

so first Candido is sitting right next to Sunny, next minute... oh he's not even with the company.... jeez conrad... jeez

[@i_GiveFRUIT]

1:27:00 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂