WrestleMania

Wrestlemania (1985) was Vince K. McMahon's big step into mainstreaming pro-wrestling. Back in the day Wrestlemania was huge and Hulk Hogan was the muscle behind it. The card and the matches weren't so hot but the hype sure was. I have to hand to V.K. McMahon for pulling off this great event. He turned a dying "sport" into "sports entertainment and am I ever so thankful.

P.S. Don't play the video game that came out a few years later on the N.E.S. because it's real bad. If you ever get that nostalgic trip watch a couple of Andre The Giant vs. Big John Studd matches circa. 1988-1989, you'll stop cold turkey believe me.

This is the card that started wrestling on the road to becoming a multi billion dollar sport. If it wasn't for WrestleMania we probably wouldn't have PPV or a two hour wrestling show every Monday. This card marked the beginning of an era for American wrestling.

Most fans were not interested in seeing five star matches. Just seeing the wrestlers in the ring waving to the crowds was enough for most people. Just hearing the wrestlers theme tunes was satisfactory. Some people probably just tuned in to see popular celebrities such as Cyndi Lauper, Liberace and Muhammed Ali. Anyone who criticizes this event obviously has a built in hatred of wrestling.

It was the perfect card for the 1980's. Compare it to current events and you'll notice the differences such as the dark arenas, the relatively small crowds and the lack of technical wrestling. But this didn't matter.

There were some great matches on this card. All the wrestlers were larger than life and in my opinion they had much more charisma than many stars today. The top WWF heel of the time King Kong Bundy squashed S.D. Jones in less than half a minute. Big John Studd met fellow monster Andre the Giant in a bodyslam match. The main event was phenomenal. The hugely admired Hulk Hogan teamed up with tough guy Mr T-from The A-Team-to battle the truly despised Mr Wonderful and Rowdy Roddy Piper in a wild brawl.

I strongly recommend this to current fans who have never watched it. If you're a fan of current stars such as The Rock and Triple H then watch this and learn how the stars of yesteryear helped make the sport into the billion dollar showbiz entertainment it is today.

Though no one can say that the first Wrestlemania wasn't a landmark event in professional wrestling history, this event (for a number of reasons) just doesn't pass muster compared to other events that would come later.

First of all, the presentation is not befitting of an epic event. The announcing team of Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura is rock-solid, but the transitions between matches and camera work leaves much to be desired. Instead of the truly magnificent feel of later shows, "Wrestlemania I" is a bit dark and sparse.

In terms of the matches themselves, they really don't start to get going until the last half hour or so. Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd in a Slam Match is kind of fun, as is the women's match featuring Cyndi Lauper. The finale (Rowdy Piper and Paul Orndorf vs. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T) is full of energy, if not a bit anti-climactic.

Overall, it is clear from viewing this in hindsight that the WWF was still searching for the "magic touch" to truly make Wrestlemania a must-see event.

Vince McMahon's Wrestlemania is a classics in sports history. Maybe not the greatest moment, but it is way up there (right up there with Mays throwing the ball from outfield and the 1994 Rangers Stanley cup victory). McMahon's vision of a true sports event in wrestling is pure genius, in which he has Mr T fight the "American hero" Hulk Hogan in one of the most memorable matches ever. Great fun, with McMahon there to produce and star in this spectacle that is only matched (maybe even greater) by the super bowl. A++

March 31, 1985, Wrestlemania was born!!

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T squared off against Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff. The very first main event of a Wrestlemania. Truly memorable.

The Executioner got kicked over the top rope, but landed right on a chair!! Classic!