Former WWE editor and writer Brian Solomon shared memories of the WrestleMania X-Seven afterparty on the event’s 25th anniversary, describing it as a blast where everyone in attendance knew the show had been a big success.
Solomon posted on X that the mood was celebratory. He said Vince McMahon was smoking a big cigar, which Solomon called a rare sight, alongside Ed Cohen. Motorhead, the band that performed Triple H’s entrance theme, had their own table at the party.
Solomon said the Gimmick Battle Royal participants had a table of their own, including Kamala, the Bushwackers, and Repo Man. He also said Bobby Heenan was at the party chasing Vince McMahon around trying to get rehired.
WrestleMania X-Seven took place on April 1, 2001, at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas, and is widely regarded as the greatest WrestleMania of all time. The event was headlined by Stone Cold Steve Austin turning heel and aligning with Vince McMahon to defeat The Rock for the WWF Championship in a No Disqualification match. The show also featured the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match between the Dudley Boyz, the Hardy Boyz, and Edge and Christian, as well as the Gimmick Battle Royal that Solomon referenced.
The WM 17 afterparty was a blast. Everyone knew it was a big success. Vince smoking a big cigar (a rare sight!) with Ed Cohen. Motorhead had their own table. Gimmick Battle Royal guys like Kamala, Bushwackers, Repo Man at a table. Bobby Heenan chasing Vince to try to get rehired. https://t.co/xorNss3gyD
— Brian R. Solomon (@BrianRSolomon) April 2, 2026
Solomon is a former editor and writer for WWE who worked on publications including WWE Magazine, Raw Magazine, and SmackDown Magazine, the latter of which he launched during his seven-year tenure with the company. He is also the author of several wrestling books, including WWE Legends, Pro Wrestling FAQ, and the award-winning Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik, which won the 2022 Wrestling Observer Award for Best Pro Wrestling Book. His biography of Gorilla Monsoon, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, was published through ECW Press. He also hosts the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast. His books are available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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