28 years ago today ...

[IANdrewDiceClay]

 

For me, the most pivotal event in modern history. It created the stage which everyone now is performing on. It all started here. People complained about Flo Rida last year, but this event was all about the razzamatazz and the bullshit that goes with it. Not one match went past 13 minutes and only two matches went over 10. But that would be missing the point. Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Roddy Piper, Superfly Snuka, Muhammad Ali, Mr T, Cyndi Lauper, Liberace all in Madison Square Garden. Its like wrestlings version of Live Aid or something. All those names under the one roof.

 

I remember watching this (on video) as a kid and loving it. It was the Rock n Wrestling era. It was pre-86, which meant it was still lit dark. It still looked like old wrestling, with the dodgy speaker system and the lack of slick visuals and banners everywhere. They were still getting the formula down. One thing about back then, though, a lot more people on the card had a sense of their own importance and the way the acts are presented are so well done. Its overflowing with star power from top to bottom. King Kong Bundy tears into SD Jones and they even lie about it being a record time. Bundy comes across looking super strong and he carries himself to justify the hype. JYD and Valentine are over to an incredible level. Talent like that in the fifth match. Andre and Studd have a match completely of its time as well. Wendi Richter is like wrestling royalty the way she is treated. I remember reading the plan at the time was to have her headlining house shows built around her. Sure it all went sour later on, but she was riding the waves of the WWF machine. She was a star of the Hogan cartoon, she was arm and arm with Cyndi Lauper at her height. Then you had the main event with Hogan in his prime looking like a greek god and Mr T who was a massive star wrestling Piper and Orndorff. Even now it looks like a huge specticle.

 

Just look at this picture:

You don't look at that picture and just to the next conversation. What was so great about the WWF's initial boom period was the original staff they had. Now they have a ridiculous turn over of people in charge and you have everyone hating each other. Back in 1985, you had the top man in the company Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon as best mates. He'd let Vince shag his wife (Vince supposedly admitted to his staff on a plane in 2005 that Hogan let him plough Linda), they'd inject each others arses with whatever Dr Zahorian brought round, they'd pump iron together. They were on the same page making huge money and shagging about, like mates do. That's why they probably always end up working together and neither truly buries each other massively in public. They both know where the bodies are buried. You never see a Self Destruction of Hulk Hogan or a full on hatchet job. I bet both have shite on each other.

The Lads.

 

You had George Scott who was an incredible booker and promoter, who helped put together all this along with Vince and never gets the credit he deserved. He was there for all the big ones, like WrestleMania I and Saturday Nights Main Events. Pat Patterson was there as well, who is probably the real genius in WWF/WWE. He's been around forever and everyone he's worked with said his ideas for finishes and storylines are the best they have ever seen. Invented the Royal Rumble, came up with the WWF style which became their trademark, set out the entire Hogan and Warrior match, was the mind behind most of the finishes in the 80s and 90s. They still keep him around now and he still sorts out the big matches at the huge PPVs, which he'll be doing next week at Mania. Jesse Ventura was on commentary. Gorilla Monsoon was a big part of what they did backstage as well. There was a trust and a vision that they all had back then. I still think the mid-to-late 80s was their most vibrant period. The Elizabeth/Hogan/Savage was arguably the best long term storyline they ever did.

 

Its good to look back on this era. If you were a kid growing, the WWF was like superheros come to life. They had cartoons, albums, figures, sticker books, celebrity tie-ins. But actually successful cartoons and music albums. Not stuff only easily pleased lot would have. It was a full on boom period. The characters were regulars on MTV, Saturday Night Live, Grammy Awards, the A-Team and all sorts of other shows, hob-nobbing with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, Billy Crystal, Johnny Carson, Bob Hope and Cyndi Lauper who would all come to the matches off their own back as well.

[ShortOrderCook]

Cracking post Ian.

 

Not sure where this thread goes from here though. Maybe others posting fond memories of other WrestleManias and the time in question?

[Thunderplex]

I remember it being featured on Jonathon Kings Entertainment USA show, and wishing that my premium bonds would come up with a winning number so I could fly over to see it. Ended up waiting till 1988 to see it, and it was worth every minute.