List of WrestleMania 11 Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow Main Event Controversy

Royal Rumble 1995 — The Push at Bigelow at Ringside

Bigelow Pushed Taylor — Main Event Was Born

At Royal Rumble 1995 in Providence, Rhode Island, Bam Bam Bigelow teamed with Tatanka in a tag title tournament final and lost — the crowd heckled Bigelow, and in frustration he shoved NFL player Lawrence Taylor who was sitting at ringside. The confrontation became WM11's main event.

Lawrence Taylor's NFL Career Background

LT — New York Giants Legend — All-Time Greatest Linebacker

Lawrence Taylor had recently retired from the New York Giants at the time of WM11 — considered one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, 10x Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl champion, and NFL MVP in 1986.

Taylor Trained with WWF Champion Diesel

Diesel as Taylor's Trainer — Real-Life WM Connection

Lawrence Taylor trained with WWF Champion Diesel (Kevin Nash) to prepare for his WM11 match — the very champion who was also defending the WWF title at the same event, creating an unusual real-life overlap between both main events.

Million Dollar Corporation and NFL Players at Ringside

Most Celebrity-Filled WM Match Ringside Ever

The LT vs. Bigelow match featured the most celebrity-filled ringside in WM history — NFL players Carl Banks, Chris Spielman, Rickey Jackson, Ken Norton Jr., Reggie White, and Steve McMichael in Taylor's corner versus DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation stable.

Salt-N-Pepa Performed 'Whatta Man' for Taylor's Entrance

Hip-Hop Icons Introduced Lawrence Taylor Live

Salt-N-Pepa performed 'Whatta Man' live as Lawrence Taylor's entrance music at WM11 — one of the most high-profile celebrity musical entrances in WM history, though the song was later removed from home video releases.

Taylor Won — Bigelow Fired from Million Dollar Corporation

Victory and Consequence — Bigelow Humiliated

Lawrence Taylor won by forearm strike after Bigelow missed a diving headbutt from the top rope — Bam Bam Bigelow was subsequently fired from Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation for the embarrassing loss to a non-wrestler.

Critical Division — Worst or Best WM Decision?

Fan and Critical Community Completely Split

The WM11 celebrity main event decision has never found consensus — some argue it was a creative success that brought mainstream media coverage, others consider it the worst WM booking decision that further damaged the WWF's credibility in 1995.

Mainstream Media Coverage — Most Press for WM Since WM7 Gulf War

Taylor-Bigelow Drew Sports Media Attention

The Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow match generated mainstream sports media coverage for WM11 — more press attention than any WM since WM7's Gulf War angle in 1991.