WrestleMania Retrospective: Lawrence Taylor Steps Off The Gridiron And Into The Squared Circle At WrestleMania XI

In 1995, WWE sought out a compelling attraction for WrestleMania XI. With business declining, WWE signed former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor to compete on the biggest stage in professional wrestling.

THE BACKGROUND

At the 1995 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, Bam-Bam Bigelow teamed with Tatanka in a losing effort to win the vacant WWE Tag Team Championships in a match against 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly. While the loss was a major upset, the loss impacted Bigelow specifically due to the audience laughing at him and Tatanka. Bigelow lashed out his anger towards Lawrence Taylor in the front row by shoving the former NFL player to the ground. Taylor popped up but was held back from responding to Bigelow’s attack.

Over the next several weeks on WWE television, WWE ordered Bigelow to publicly apologize for his actions and for embarrassing the company. However, Bigelow’s attempts at apologizing were sarcastic and not genuine whatsoever. Ultimately, Bigelow wanted to wrestle Taylor in the ring to beat some respect into the athlete. Taylor accepted the match, and the bout was set for the main event at WrestleMania XI.

Taylor had several NFL players in his corner for the match, including Rickey Jackson, Steve’ Mongo’ Michael, Carl Baks, Ken Norton Jr., Chris Spielman, and Reggie White. At the same time, Bigelow had The Million Dollar Corporation in his corner consisting of Ted DiBiase, King Kong Bundy, Kama, IRS, Tatanka, and Nikolai Volkoff.

Pat Patterson is the special referee of the bout, as well.

THE ACTION

Bigelow starts by shoving Taylor into the corner, but Taylor smirks back at Bigelow, not impacted by the action. Taylor slaps Bigelow and decks Bigleow with a clothesline. The crowd is erupting for Taylor’s offense. LT continues his onslaught by sending Bigelow over the top to the floor with another clothesline. Bigelow remains on the floor regrouping but fails to cheap-shot Taylor. LT drives Bigelow down to the mat with a bulldog for a near fall. Taylor continues with strikes against the ropes, and hip tosses Bigelow to the floor, where the Corporation tries to motivate their stablemate.

Taylor leaps to the floor and gets in Bigelow’s face, not showing any fear. Taylor’s NFL buddies run to the aid of Taylor and have a standoff. Bigelow works over Taylor, delivering several stomps on the mat. Taylor forearms Bigelow but drops to his knees, failing to get much momentum. Bigelow slams Taylor but misses a falling headbutt off the ropes. Taylor responds with a clothesline, but Bigelow rams Taylor into the turnbuckles. Bigelow keeps Taylor in the corner and chokes Taylor over the middle rope.

Bam-Bam controls Taylor on the mat by locking in a Boston Crab submission, but Taylor refuses to submit. Bigelow maintains the advantage with a modified leg lock until Taylor reaches the ropes. Taylor fights to his feet and drives Bigelow down to the mat with a back suplex. Bigelow regains control of the bout with a falling headbutt and a leg drop. Bam-Bam off the top, hitting a twisting splash, but can’t make the cover and holds his knee in pain. Bigelow finally goes for the pin, but LT powers out at two.

THE CONCLUSION

LT comes off the ropes and connects with a powerbomb leading to a near fall. Bigelow responds with a kick to the side of the head and continues with a falling headbutt. Bigelow leaps off the top rope, hitting a diving headbutt, but LT manages to kick out before the count of three. LT fights back with a series of forearms and shoulder rams in the corner. Taylor decks Bigelow with a couple of forearm strikes before going to the middle rope and hitting another forearm blow. Taylor covers Bigelow and pulls off the shocking victory!

THE AFTERMATH

LT wouldn’t ever appear again in the WWE or anything wrestling-related. However, Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael and Reggie White, two athletes in LT’s corner, would work for WCW.

Meanwhile, Bigelow was kicked out of the Corporation shortly after the event and became a fan favorite. However, Bigelow didn’t succeed much and was gone from WWE by the end of the year. Bigelow’s subsequent most significant success came in 1997 when Bigelow joined Extreme Championship Wrestling. Bam-Bam won the ECW World Championship in 1997 and had a memorable feud with Taz before signing with WCW in late 1998.