So, I found myself with a bit of downtime the other day and decided to take a trip down memory lane. Specifically, I wanted to revisit WrestleMania 17. Man, what a show that was. My focus this time around, though, was that whole Hardcore Championship scene, particularly thinking about Tommy Dreamer’s involvement.
First things first, I had to actually find the thing. Dug through some old collections, eventually got it queued up. Settled in, ready to see if it held up to memory.
Watching the Chaos Unfold
I skipped ahead to the Hardcore title match. Raven defending against Kane and The Big Show. Just as nuts as I remembered. They were all over the Astrodome.
- Golf carts flying around.
- Guys going through walls and tables.
- Just pure mayhem, really.
Now, here’s the thing I specifically wanted to re-check: Tommy Dreamer. My memory had him heavily involved, and he was, but not quite how some might think. He wasn’t actually in the match for the belt. He was one of the guys who ran in, part of that whole ECW invasion vibe that was starting to bubble up.
Seeing him charge out there, kendo stick swinging probably, it brought back that feeling from 2001. Even in the WWF environment, Dreamer just carried that hardcore spirit. He didn’t win the belt that night (Kane did, pinning Big Show after a leg drop off the stage), but his presence was definitely felt.
Some Thoughts After Watching
It’s interesting what sticks with you. I remembered the chaos, the big spots. Watching it again, you see the little moments too, the crowd reactions, the sheer scale of the event. It felt raw, less polished than maybe some stuff you see today.
That whole hardcore style? It was a product of its time, wasn’t it? You don’t see matches quite like that at the top level these days, maybe for good reason regarding safety, but there was an energy to it.
Funny thing, revisiting this stuff. Makes you realize how much time has passed. I remember watching this live, or close to it, back when finding wrestling shows wasn’t just a click away. Had a whole ritual around getting the big PPVs. Now? It’s different. Easier to access, maybe, but sometimes feels like something’s lost in translation.
Anyway, that was my little project. Just spending some time with an old favorite, checking the details, and seeing how it felt years later. Still a wild ride, that match. And yeah, Tommy Dreamer definitely made his mark on WrestleMania 17, even without being an official competitor in that specific title bout.
