Former WWE Head Writer Reveals How WrestleMania X-Seven Became Iconic

Wednesday, April 1, marks the 25th anniversary of a show many wrestling fans consider an all-time great pay-per-view: WWE WrestleMania X-Seven.

Now, one of the brains behind the operation has given insight into how the road was paved for the memorable affair.

Wrestling fans hail WrestleMania X-Seven as one of the greatest, if not the greatest WrestleMania WWE has ever produced. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin aligned with Vince McMahon in the main event, capturing the WWE Championship from The Rock and turning heel in the process. The Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian put on the iconic TLC II hardcore masterpiece. And of course, who could forget the Gimmick Battle Royal?

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vince McMahon | IMAGO / YAY Images

But a show that impactful only came together after a letdown the year prior. Former WWE head writer (and Dwayne Johnson's business partner) Brian Gewirtz opened up about how the failures of WrestleMania 2000 helped fuel what would come a year later at the Houston Astrodome.

"Will never forget the afterparty of WM 2000. No one looked happy. It was like 'um…did we just s**t the bed with an overbooked mess of a show and desperately need to get back to 1-1 matches with huge personal issues?' Big letdown that paved the way for the greatest Mania ever imo," he said on X on Wednesday.

Will never forget the afterparty of WM 2000. No one looked happy. It was like “um…did we just shit the bed with an overbooked mess of a show and desperately need to get back to 1-1 matches with huge personal issues?” Big letdown that paved the way for the greatest Mania ever imo https://t.co/vWqBEhAI0L
— Brian Gewirtz (@bfg728) April 1, 2026

The mess that was WrestleMania 2000

While WWE was hotter than ever in the spring of 2000, WCW was simultaneously cratering, leaving a clear leader in the Monday Night Wars. Even so, WWE didn't exactly stick the landing at WrestleMania 2000 in Anaheim, Calif.

The show featured nine matches, headlined by the fatal-four way with "a McMahon in every corner." The majority of the McMahon's would ultimately conspire against The Rock, as Triple H defeated him, Big Show, and Mick Foley to retain the WWE Championship. It was the first time a heel had ever emerged victorious in the main event of WrestleMania.

Aside from the convoluted finish, eight of the nine matches on the card were multi-man matches. The only singles match featured was a two-minute, 24-second "Cat Fight" between Terri Runnels and The Kat, with Val Venis serving as guest referee.

WrestleMania 2000 did feature the first triangle ladder match between The Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian, laying the groundwork for the next year's show.

WrestleMania X-Seven's legacy

The company would follow the debacle of an event with an all-timer the following year in Houston, headlined by the aforementioned Rock/Austin bout. Even though the finish has been seen as controversial in the years since, the show effectively brought an end to the Attitude Era, as WCW had been purchased by McMahon the week prior.

McMahon was also in action on this show, facing his son Shane in a street fight with Mick Foley as guest referee.

The Undertaker faced Triple H at WrestleMania X-Seven. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Other major matches on the card included the first Undertaker and Triple H match, Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit, and a triple-threat WWE Hardcore Championship match between Kane, Big Show, and Raven.