On a recent edition of FOLEY IS POD, Mick Foley discussed the Royal Rumble 1998, which featured Mike Tyson making an appearance in the audience. This would lead to Tyson’s involvement with Steve Austin and Austin’s match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14. Here are the highlights: 

Tyson feeling bigger than a regular celebrity: 

“It does feel big. Big to the point where I remember being on one of those Legends roundtables, right before Mania? You may have seen it because I left there feeling kind of disrespected. I was stomped on by the panel when I said that Tyson was the most important celebrity we’d ever had, I got jumped on for that! ‘What are you trying to say, [WrestleMania] wasn’t big without it [Tyson’s involvement]?’ Yeah, it was big… but it was big within wrestling.”

The mainstream coverage WWE received: 

“Tyson made it big in the mainstream. That was really important, it was really difficult to get mainstream coverage. [Tuesday morning] it was everywhere. It was one of the best things WWE had ever done. I think it was the biggest celebrity appearance that we’ve ever had. Mike and [Steve] Austin, hitting the news around the world, that was really important.”

How much bigger 1998’s WrestleMania was than the 1997 edition: 

“You look at the 97 Mania versus 98. 97 was epic with Bret [Hart] and Steve [Austin] , but as far as a buyrate, it was very much in line with what other PPVs were doing.”

Mania 14 being a transition show: 

“I think 98 became the moment when it stopped being an ‘event’ and became more than a weekend. Now it’s WrestleMania, week right? People come from around the globe because they know it’s not just one event, it’s a series of events and attractions and matches. Different promotions from around the world, all setting up camp in whatever city we choose. I think Tyson’s appearance had a lot to do with ushering in that new era where WrestleMania re-establishes itself as the big kid on the block.”

The first time he met Mike Tyson:

“When Mike met me, he was talking about ‘Mankind hanging out with rats.’ He was talking about the original vignettes, which I had forgotten I’d even did.”

H/T to 411 Mania

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