30 Week Journey: Wrestlemania XIII (1997)

The Lapsed Fan 30-week Wrestlemania journey heats up this week as your co-chairmen go deep on the greatest match in Mania history, Bret Hart v. Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13.

Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro dissect what makes the match the best, the precise moments where Austin turns the corner into a beyond-the-pale babyface primed to revolutionize the business, and the rich back story to how Hart crafted the match and a heel turn that was arguably the Hitman’s finest career work.

This week’s TLF installment also includes:

- The dark overtones of the show and its messaging, hints of the Attitude that was on the horizon
- Why this was merely the sixth most-bought wrestling PPV of 1997
- How the legendary blade job in Austin/Hart went down, and why Vince McMahon apologized for it
- JR exclaims about sausages and BLTs as the Godwins go to work in the opener
- The Wrestlemania debut of The Rock, and why it was less than pretty
- Fears for Marlena’s health after Chyna grabs hold
- The entrance to end all Mania entrances: the glass shatters
- The greatest chair shot in WWF history?
- The underrated Nation of Domination entrance theme
- Spirited debate on whether HBK on commentary added or detracted from the head-scratching Undertaker v. Sid main event.

Plus, Wrestling Observer boss Dave Meltzer returns to detail how the magic of Austin and Hart was the results of a series of happy accidents, and detailed thoughts on the Montreal screw job that capped a trying 1997 for the WWF. It’s a can’t miss discussion on a can’t miss Mania as The Lapsed Fan continues to soldier through 30 years. Download now.