Legacy Review
WrestleMania I
March 31, 1985 from Madison Square Garden in New York City
Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura
Vince
McMahon found his new star after buying WWF from his dad in Hulk Hogan
in early '84, and now to really set off national and mainstream
expansion he needed a huge, big time show. That will be this first
Wrestlemania, which was no small gamble. In fact you could say he was
staking the entire company on this show succeeding, because he was. The
idea to put it on closed circuit TV was at least partially inspired by
the success Jim Crockett Promotions had with Starrcade the previous two
years, the start of major wrestling shows being on what would become
PPV. In practice this is essentially a normal MSG show with a few added
bells
and whistles. In keeping with MSG tradition they ring the bell after
every introduction, including managers, something I've never been a fan
of. Get used to hearing "DING DINGDING DING" or minor variations thereof
all night.
This
is also the peak of what was later known as the Rock 'N' Wrestling Era,
though not the peak of the entire '80s boom (that will be WM 3). As
part of that rock/wrestling connection two specials were shown on MTV
before this, The Brawl for It All in July '84 and The War to Settle the
Score in February '85. In a very unusual move for the time both those
shows heavily featured the women's title, due to the involvement of
major pop star Cyndi Lauper. She'll be showing up again tonight as one
of the big celebrity draws.
None
other than Mean Gene opens the show singing the National Anthem.
Singing in only the most technical definition of the word. It's.....OK.
He definitely shouldn't quit his day interviewing job to get on Star
Search. After that we cut to Lord Alfred Hayes, who'll be doing MC like
duties from the entrance area all night tonight introducing matches as
the wrestlers enter and leave, while looking and sounding generally
befuddled the entire time.
Tito Santana def The Executioner in 4:49- Don't
let the fact he's curtain jerking fool you, Santana was a major midcard
player in this era and one of the company's better in-ring workers at
the time. He's here because he's kind of in a hole in between his two
Intercontinental title reigns (he lost it to Greg Valentine in September
and would regain it from him in July). The Executioner is none other
than "Playboy" Buddy Rose under a mask. During his prematch promo he
makes it completely clear what his strategery for this match is, go
after Santana's leg that had been hurt by Valentine early and often,
just like Democrats voting in Chicago. Executioner isn't only billed
from the ubiquitous Parts Unknown (somewhere near Terre Haute if I
remember right), but his weight is also hilariously "unknown". What,
he's so evil he refused to step on a scale before the match? They
quickly go into a criss cross and Santana hits a backdrop. A dropkick
follow up sends Executioner out to the floor. Back in Santana cranks a
headlock and walks up the ropes to flip Executioner over in a takedown.
Executioner, as advertised, tries a shot on the leg but Santana shrugs
it off and rams his head into the mat. Executioner begs off and reset.
Executioner gets the first shot in this time and works some slow generic
heel offense, as you'd expect from a one night masked man that's trying
to look like no one in particular. Executioner starts in some leg work
but Santana escapes and hits some comeback shots. Executioner begs off
again and hides in the corner. Santana still unloads on him. Executioner
backdrops out of a piledriver attempt. Slam and Executioner goes up
top. Santana catches him and slams him off. He tries for a big splash
but Executioner gets his knees up. Back on Santana's leg. Santana pushes
off with his good leg and sends Executioner over the top and out, and
when he lands he lands sitting in an empty chair ringside! Fantastic.
Santana slams him back in off the apron. Flying forearm! Figure four! A
message to Valentine. Executioner has nowhere to go and has to give it
up. Pretty solid match thanks to Santana. **
King Kong Bundy (w/Jimmy Hart) def Special Delivery Jones in :09 :25- Bundy
had just arrived in WWF a couple of weeks before this and was getting a
huge initial push, winning short matches and demanding five counts
because he annihilated his opponents so badly. They always inflated his
weight like crazy though, there's no way in hell he's over 400 pounds.
Hart had also recently arrived in WWF from Memphis. Bell ring. Jones
tries a charge but Bundy bear hugs him and backs him into the corner.
Avalanche! Big splash! Good night. Officially WWF called the win in 9
seconds so they could call it a record, something Vince really wanted to
have on this show. In reality it was around 25 seconds. Crazy quick,
but not a record. But I also have zero issue with the booking as Bundy
was on tap to be the new big monster heel and for better or worse would
main event WM 2 with Hogan, while Jones wasn't going anywhere. Except
through the mat in this match. NR
On a quick closeup of commentary we see Ventura has a crystal in his chin dimple. Amazing.
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat def Matt Borne in 4:39- Steamboat
had just jumped over from JCP after losing the blowoff match of his
long chase of Tully Blanchard's NWA TV title at Starrcade. Upon arrival
in WWF he was given the nickname "the Dragon", which stuck with him the
rest of his career regardless of company. He's our first guy on the
night that wrestled in both the first Starrcade and first Wrestlemania.
Borne was a journeyman that would later be most well known as the
original and best heel Doink the Clown (sorry Big Josh fans), but he was
also a very underrated technical wrestler. Steamboat's still in trunks
instead of long tights. Long lockup to start. Speed run and Steamboat
does a couple of leapfrogs before swinging a double hand chop. Borne
grabs the ropes to dodge it, but Steamboat gets him on the second try.
Borne tries to flip Steamboat out of a headlock but Steamboat lands on
his feet. Steamboat definitely brought a level of athleticism WWF hasn't
seen much of to this point. Second time with the same result and
Steamboat hits an atomic drop, then has some fun mocking Borne's selling
of it. Another headlock and this time Borne lifts him up into an
inverted atomic drop, then hits a kneelift. Steamboat hits a chop off
the second rope and another karate like shot. Now Steamboat works a
front facelock. Borne backs him into the corner and hits a couple of
knees to the gut. Belly to belly suplex from Borne. Snap suplex for 2.
Forearm/chop exchange that Steamboat wins. Back suplex from Steamboat.
Swinging neckbreaker. Monsoon gives us out first "external occipital
protuberance" of the night. Drink! Diving chop from Steamboat for 2.
Another speed run. Steamboat ducks a wild clothesline swing and hits a
sort of flying forearm. He goes up top. Borne sees and tries to get out
of the way (nice touch) but Steamboat hits the big crossbody and gets
the pin. **1/4
Someone
handed Hayes the show's program to hold during his bits. That's
hilarious. Also hilarious is Borne quickly correcting course returning
to the back when he realizes he's about to walk between Hayes and the
camera. During pretaped promos for the next match Beefcake blows a
raspberry into the mic. Probably his best promo for years.
Brutus Beefcake (w/Johnny Valiant) and David Sammartino (w/Bruno Sammartino) double DQ in 11:43- Original
Friend of Hogan Ed Leslie came to WWF in late '84 and took the name
Brutus Beefcake, originally having the gimmick of a heel male stripper.
David is the son of the legendary Bruno Sammartino and was living proof
that genetics didn't equal success or talent. They were trying hard with
him to try to keep his dad happy though, especially after his
relationship with Vince Senior ended acrimoniously. Unsurprisingly Bruno
gets a way bigger pop than his son. Beefcake and Valiant take their
sweet time getting Beefcake disrobed for the match, which I guess fits
into his gimmick. Lockup and Beefcake easily shoves David into the
corner. He goes to lockup again and Beefcake swerves away and struts a
bit. Another lockup with David winning and Beefcake runs into a very
sloppy drop toe hold. Beefcake gets a waistlock takedown but David
outmaneuvers him on the mat and Beefcake slides out to the floor. David
works another takedown into a front facelock. He's got the amateur stuff
down, I'll give him that. Beefcake takes a rope break to get away.
David works on Beefcake's arm a bit, but again refuses to press an
advantage the second Beefcake tries to back off or stall. Beefcake gets a
headlock takedown. They get a bit of speed going with Beefcake getting a
shoulderblock and hiptoss. Another drop toe hold from David and he
wraps up Beefcake's legs for some work there. They go through a stretch
where Beefcake pushes with his legs to escape but David immediately gets
another leg takedown into some more basic leg work. Beefcake finally
goes to an eye rake with one of his forearm coverings to get free.
Backdrop from Beefcake. Very generic offense from Beefcake as he was
still just this side of awful at this point. He'd get marginally better
as the '80s went on before the parasailing accident. Eventually David
reverses a corner whip and hits a backdrop. Slugfest that David wins.
Suplex from David for 2. Beefcake hits a headbutt to the gut and tosses
David out. Valiant picks David up and slams him on the unpadded floor.
Bruno comes over, rolls Valiant into the ring and goes nuts on him! That
finally gets the crowd invested. All four guys brawl in the ring and
the ref calls for the bell, throwing the match out. Not an ideal finish,
but Bruno was the only guy anyone cared about so whatever. It's insane
that got so much time, especially after Santana and Steamboat got so
little. 3/4*
WWF Intercontinental Championship: The Junkyard Dog def Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (c) (w/Jimmy Hart) by countout in 6:55- After
being the NWA US champion at the first Starrcade, Valentine comes into
the first WM as IC champ. He may not have been main event material, but
there wasn't a midcard or tag title available to him that he didn't hold
at some point. JYD jumped over to WWF in the summer of '84 after being
the face of Mid-South Wrestling, the first black wrestler to ever be the
top star in a major territory. Unfortunately he left most of his
motivation back there along with whatever shock sticks Bill Watts zapped
him with to make him go harder in matches. And it turned out he was
ahead of the curve, as there was about to be a major exodus of Mid-South
stars to WWF as that territory collapsed. JYD gets the first full
entrance with (dubbed over) music on the night. Both guys posture and
tease swinging punches at the start, much to the ref's consternation.
JYD switches gears and cranks an arm wringer. He catches a Valentine
kick attempt and puts him down with a punch. Next lockup Valentine gets a
couple of shots but JYD dodges a diving forearm attempt. He starts
laying in the patented crawling headbutts that send Valentine all the
way to the floor. Back in we get a knucklelock test of strength.
Valentine waffles JYD with a forearm, followed by a running clubbing
blow. He starts laying in the leg work, setting up the figure four,
which was Valentine's regular finisher. Santana was using it earlier to
annoy him. He mixes it up with his diving headbutt to the gut, then goes
for the figure four. JYD powers him off before it's on. JYD slugs back
in the corner. Headbutts. Valentine flop! Hart gets on the apron,
sensing Valentine's in trouble. JYD "dodges" an ambush attempt and
Valentine wipes Hart out. Valentine leg takedown in the corner, feet on
the ropes and he gets the illegal leverage pin to retain. But wait.
Santana is out here! Already in his street clothes, that was a quick
shower and change. He tells the ref Valentine got an illegal pin. And
the ref says OK and restarts the match! On Santana's word? Valentine's
sworn nemesis? I'd want some more evidence. Can we at least get the
replay review monitor out? Valentine refuses to get back in the ring and
the ref counts him out. Valentine wants to go with Santana right now
but Hart pulls him away. As mentioned earlier, Santana will regain the
title from Valentine in July. Valentine tried but 7 minutes is barely a
warmup for him. *
WWF
Tag Team Championship: The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff (w/Freddie
Blassie) def The US Express (c) (/Capt. Lou Albano) in 6:55- The
Express are young and future brothers-in-law Barry Windham and Mike
Rotunda. Sheik drops a classic "Gene Mean" during the prematch promo. As
usual, Volkoff croons the Soviet national anthem before the match, with
NWO era levels of trash being thrown in the ring. Gene Mean was better,
which isn't saying much. The Express also get a full entrance with
music. Albano's got a rubber band dangling off his cheek. How is he
holding that up? With a hook in his cheek? And you thought modern body
piercing was nuts. Rotunda and Sheik start. Sheik gets a quick
shoulderblock, but Rotunda quickly fires back with a
hiptoss/dropkick/slam sequence. Windham gives Sheik a shot from the
apron, then tags in and hits a forearm off the top rope. Legdrop to
Sheik's crotch/gut area. Sheik powers Windham into his corner. Windham
dodges and Sheik dropkicks Volkoff! That's nearly a full on
international incident as the heels argue. Maybe they realized that a
theocratic Islamic regime isn't compatible with Soviet style
communism. No, they both remember they're both essentially dictatorships
that hate the US and move on with Volkoff tagging in. After we lose a
bit for a replay Rotunda hits a couple of elbows on Volkoff for 2.
Windham comes in off the top rope again. So does Rotunda as the faces
quick tag. Volkoff pulls Rotunda's hair to give him a shot, then runs
him into Sheik's boot spike. Big backdrop from Sheik on Rotunda,
followed by an elbow drop for 2. Gutwrench suplex for 2. Rotunda blocks
and hits a suplex. Volkoff tags in and cuts a tag off, then drops
Rotunda on the top rope. Rotunda gets a sunset flip on Volkoff for 2.
The heels get Rotunda back in peril as the managers get on the same side
and argue on the floor. Sheik abdominal stretch on Rotunda. Rotunda
hiptosses out and both sides tag. Dropkick from Windham on Volkoff.
Bulldog! Sheik breaks the pin up! DONNYBROOK! Rotunda dropkicks Sheik to
the floor. While out there Sheik gets Blassie's cane and nails Windham
with it! Volkoff covers and gets the pin to steal the titles! Huge boos
from the crowd for that. Solid if short match with Windham and Rotunda
both looking fantastic. They would win the titles back in June, then
drop them to the newly formed Dream Team (Beefcake and Valentine) in
August before leaving WWF. Both would later, via separate paths, find
singles stardom in Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW. **1/2
Gene Mean joins the celebrating new champs in the back. Blassie denies he ever had a cane. Classic.
$15,000 Bodyslam Challenge: Andre the Giant def Big John Studd (w/Bobby Heenan) in 5:53- Vince
convinced Andre to sign his first ever full time contract in '84,
ending his many years as a roving special attraction. Studd had been one
of the company's established monster heels for several years before
then, making this a natural feud. Heenan and Studd put up $15K of
Heenan's money as "bait". Andre has to slam Studd to win the match and
the money, and if he fails to he must retire. Kind of gives the ending
away. I love how the money is stuffed into a cheap WWF duffel bag that
cost maybe 10 bucks at the merch stand. Even better when you see it
close up during the prematch promo it's clearly a bunch of ones that
have been crumpled up to make the bag look full. Studd jumps Andre from
behind before the bell and we're off. He pounds away on Andre in the
corner. Andre hits chops to get free. A headbutt sends Studd flopping
out to the floor, where he and Heenan restrategize. When Studd gets back
in Andre chokes him like crazy in the corner. Heenan rightly gets
furious at the ref for not breaking it. Classic Andre squash in the
corner. Studd hits a knee to the gut or lower and tries for a slam but
Andre fights it off. Bear hug from Andre. Studd tries to power or eye
rake out but can't. Eventually Andre hits a shot to Studd's back and
lets go. He then puts Studd in a kind of standing crossface. Headbutt
from Andre, then he decides to work on Studd's arm a bit. He catches a
Studd kick attempt and gives Studd some hammy kicks. Chop in the corner
from Andre. More hammy kicks. He scoops Studd up and slams him! That's
it. Completely one sided match, Studd got maybe two moves in after the
start of match ambush. In probably the first truly memorable moment from
this first WM, Andre starts throwing the money out of the bag into the
crowd. Heenan snatches the bag away and runs off with it! Andre's not
worried about it. 1/4*
Moolah
plants a kiss on Hayes as she walks out for the next match, leaving
lipstick behind and getting a "GOOD GRACIOUS!" reaction.
WWF Women's Championship: Wendi Richter (w/Cyndi Lauper) def Leilani Kai (c) (w/The Fabulous Moolah) in 6:14- As
I mentioned in the open, the women are getting way more featured here
thanks solely due to the presence of Lauper, who was huge at the time.
Moolah was the longest reigning champion for anything ever, officially
holding the NWA, then WWF, Women's title for nearly 40 years. Richer
defeated her for it at The Brawl to End It All, then Moolah protege Kai
took it at The War to Settle the Score. More replaced music for
Richter's entrance, I guess they didn't want to keep paying Lauper
rights fees. After the lockup they go right to the women's hair pulling.
Richter hits a shot out of the corner and Kai does a ridiculous delayed
flop across the ring. Richter tries an armbar but Kai kicks free.
Another mat exchange with Richter getting a hammerlock. She tosses Kai
around with it. Kai grabs a handful of hair to snap mare Richter around.
More hair pulling to keep Richter in an arm wringer. Richter tries to
swing back with her good arm but Kai stays on the bad one. Kai leg
takedown into a straight choke. Richer uses that position to put on a
body scissors. A couple of ugly takedowns from Richter get 2 counts.
Another hair snap mare from Kai. Richter pushes out of the corner with
her legs. They get in the ropes and Moolah pulls Richter out by the
hair. Lauper goes over to make the save. "Big" boot from Kai back in.
Richter gets a fireman's carry slam for 2. Kai gets her knees up in the
corner. That was a nice hit. Cover for 2. Backbreaker from Kai for 2.
Setup slam and Kai goes up top. Crossbody! Richter is supposed to roll
through and just about does, and that gets the pin to win the title
back! Lauper and Moolah get into a bit again after the bell. Pretty
typical women's match for the era but not a terrible one grading on that
curve. *1/2
To
set up the main event- Hogan and Piper were the top feud in the company
going back to '84, Hogan's first major feud since winning the title in
January of that year and a huge draw both in arenas and on TV. Piper was
always one of those guys that never wanted to lose though, so to have a
definitive finish in the main event a tag match was set up instead. The
famous Piper's Pit segment where Piper smashed Jimmy Snuka in the head
with a coconut set up Snuka's involvement. Piper and Orndorff had been
loose teammates ever since they both arrived in WWF, and were soon
joined by "Cowboy" Bob Orton, dad of Randy. The last spot is another of
tonight's big celebrity draws, actor Mr. T teaming with Hogan. T
appeared alongside Hogan in Rocky III as Clubber Lang, then became a
national star as one of the lead characters on the hit TV show The
A-Team. Famously T's involvement was resented by the other non-Hogan
wrestlers as he hadn't "paid his dues" in their eyes, but everyone acted
like professionals up to and through the match.
Before we get into the match, we get the final cavalcade of celebrities
brought in to really make this show feel like a huge deal. Former, or
possibly current depending on George Steinbrenner's mood this particular
minute, Yankees manager Billy Martin is the guest ring announcer. For
guest timekeeper we have Liberace, who comes in with some Vegas showgirls
and they have a kick line in the ring, another iconic moment from this show
that's still used in video packages today. As guest (outside) referee it's
none other than the greatest boxer of all time Muhammad Ali, to my memory making one
of his final appearances before the Parkinson's really started to take
hold.
WWF
Champion Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (w/Jimmy Snuka) def "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
& "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (w/Bob Orton) in 13:34- This
remains the only WM in history without a WWF/E Championship match. Piper
and Orndorff get a full Piper themed bagpipe and drum corps entrance.
If you want proof how extensively steroids were used in WWF in this
period, just look at how bloated Piper's face is versus earlier and
later in his career. Orton is wearing his famous cast that he had on
forever, claiming a broken arm. Hogan's music is dubbed over with Real
American despite the fact it hadn't been written yet. Hogan's so fired
up he rips T's shirt off. Pat Patterson is working as the main ref for
this match, Ali will be on the outside. Patterson and Liberace both in
or near the ring at the same time? San Francisco's whatever it's called
district temporarily cedes the crown of gayest place in America. The
heels share a big three way hug and Orndorff wants to start with Hogan.
The bell rings, and Liberace rings his own little bell he brought with
him! Fantastic. Piper changes his mind and wants to start instead.
Orndorff tags him in. Now T demands Hogan tag him in. Hogan says go for
it. T and Piper go nose to nose in the middle of the ring. Slap
exchange. Piper teases a time out then hits a quick kick. Waistlock
takedown. Piper rides T and slaps the back of his head. T finally
manages to escape. Lockup and stalemate. Fireman's carry scoop from T!
He carries Piper a bit then slams him down. Piper tackles T into his
corner. Hogan runs in and it's an all over wild DONNYBROOK already! Ali
gets in the ring to help restore order. Orton puts one foot in the ring
but thinks better of it. Snuka perches on the top rope, but also thinks
better and jumps back down. Everything calms down and the heels go to
the floor to rethink things. They tease leaving. Hogan stops Patterson's
count because he wants them back, not a cheap countout win. The heels
do eventually come back and get knocked around again. Hogan corner
clothesline on Piper. Double noggin knocker. Hogan atomic drop on Piper
as things settle back in. He and Piper trade eye rakes. Hogan and T
double clothesline Piper. T hits a slam. Orndorff comes in and T
hiptosses him. Another slam for Piper. A Hogan big boot sends Piper 360
over the top to the floor! Orndorff ambushes Hogan from behind, also
sending him out to the floor. Piper drops a thickly padded chair on
Hogan. The heels keep Hogan trapped in their corner back in and work T
and the ref to keep double teaming him. Ali has to get back in to try to
get things under control again. Orndorff suplex on Hogan. Piper waffles
Hogan with some big right hands and a kneelift for 2. Orndorff standing
elbow off the top rope for 2. Backbreaker. Orndorff goes up top again.
Hogan dodges! Tag to T! T fires away on Orndoff, but Piper attacks him
from behind to now get him in peril. T tries to dodge around Orndorff to
tag but Orndorff keeps him trapped. Piper front facelock on T. T
manages to dive backwards and get the tag! Another double noggin knocker
from Hogan. Orndorff gets Hogan with a back suplex. Piper distracts
Patterson so Orton can come in. Snuka cuts him off and headbutts him
back to the floor! More ref maneuvering and Orndorff hooks Hogan up for
Orton to hit him with the cast off the top rope. Hogan dodges and
Orndorff takes it! Hogan covers and gets the pin! High energy and pure
chaos, in a good way, all through the match and everyone played their
parts perfectly. A very fun first WM main event. ***1/4
Piper
decks Patterson on his way out, then he and Orton leave Orndorff behind
for losing the match. When Orndorff comes to Hogan and T don't attack
and allow Orndorff to leave. That will be Orndorff's face turn, albeit a
temporary one. All the celebrities converge in the ring as Hogan poses
down to end the show.
OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- There's
nothing even close to resembling a classic match to be found here, but
there's no denying the overall atmosphere and sense that you're watching
something special as it unfolds. The MSG crowd definitely felt it. At a
svelte 2 and a quarter hours it doesn't overstay its welcome either.
It'd take a couple more years for WWF to settle on a definitive formula
for it, but Wrestlemania as the center of calendar was here to stay and
WWF's '80s boom would only get bigger from here. When putting a final
grade on this show, you have to do it on a huge historical importance
curve above beyond the pure match quality.
OVERALL SHOW GRADE: C
v2.0 posted 4/27/26
