WrestleMania History
WrestleMania: the dynasty begins
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
WrestleMania. It is the most distinguished event in pro wrestling. Simply
put, it is the show of shows. The brainchild of Vince McMahon Jr., the first
WrestleMania, broadcast in 1985, expanded the pay-per-view market (along with closed circuit TV) and added a
whole new dimension to the industry as a whole. So influential was
McMahon's venture that the business of pro-wrestling now is almost entirely
built around pay-per-view broadcasts.
If you're like us at SLAM! Wrestling, every year you like to refresh your
memory and once again experience those WrestleMania moments that are an
essential part of why you remain a devout wrestling fan. You dust off those
tapes, DVDs or that Best Of WrestleMania tape you dubbed on your own and
distributed to the other members of the office staff, slam them into the
player and transport yourself back in time. To help guide you along your
journey and celebrate the history of WrestleMania, SLAM! Wrestling will be
publishing a WrestleMania review each and every day (Monday to Friday) leading up to the big
show. We invite you to come along for the ride and share in your favourite
moments too. The events are rated as Poor, Average, Good and Excellent.
WrestleMania, the dynasty begins
History Of WrestleMania
Date: March 31st, 1985.
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York.
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Okay. It wasn't the greatest card to ever come out of Titanland
(Executioner who?) but it was the first so we've got to give the original
show its due. Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper, the rulers of the WWF heel and
face factions during the eighties, face-off with their chosen back-up at
their side.
Piper smartly chooses the highly-skilled and charismatic Paul
"Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff as his partner while Hogan picks the toughman
bouncer turned movie star, Mr. T. Hogan and T train extensively week after
week while Orndorff, Piper and "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton mock Mr. T. The match itself isn't a classic
but what it lacks in a scientific display it makes up for in humour.
Andre
The Giant and Big John Studd give a good pounding to each other as Andre
tries to win the money Studd and his manager Bobby Heenan put up in a
bodyslam challenge. The World Tag Team Title match ain't that bad either.
WrestleMania was the launch of the eighties Rock 'n' Wrestling gimmick
joining pro-wrestling with the music industry.
Favourite Moments: Orton bonking Orndorff with his cast. King Kong Bundy beats S.D.
Jones in record time. Andre The Giant throws Heenan's money to the crowd.
Least Favourite Moments: Mr. T. wrestling.
Rating: Average.
WrestleMania Results
Match | Winner(s) |
| 1. Tito Santana vs The Executioner |
Tito Santana. |
| 2. David Sammartino vs Brutus Beefcake |
Double DQ. |
| 3. Ricky Steamboat vs Matt Borne |
Ricky Steamboat. |
| 4. King Kong Bundy vs S.D. Jones |
King Kong Bundy. |
| 5. The Junkyard Dog vs Greg "The Hammer"
Valentine (Intercontinental Title) |
The Junkyard Dog (by CO). |
| 6. Andre The Giant vs Big John Studd |
Andre The
Giant. |
| 7. Wendi Richter vs Leilana Kai (Women's Title) |
Wendi Richter. |
| 8. The Iron Sheik / Nikolai Volkoff
vs The U.S.A. Express (Tag Team Title) |
The Iron Sheik / Nikolai
Volkoff. |
| 9. Hulk Hogan / Mr. T vs "Rowdy" Roddy Piper / "Mr.
Wonderful" Paul Orndorff |
Hulk Hogan / Mr. T. |
