'tis the season - air_raid watches EVERY WrestleMania

[air_raid]

Don’t worry gentle reader ; the time I put into this is separate to House Show Happenings 2. Even if temporarily they will both feature Mike Rotundo.

It's not exactly copying Dr Grants Rumble reviews but they may have been in the back of my mind when I decided to finally do this, even though I’ve been thinking about doing it for ages, especially after making a comment not long ago that Mania may rival The Simpsons for "the bad outweighing the good." This is the best chance I’ve had now it’s easier than ever for me to go into the archives - I’ve started watching bits and pieces of old shows on Netflix while preparing Mrs raids lunch in the morning, starting with Mania VI/VII to appreciate bits that Silver Vision cut to keep to a 3 hour run time, but realised I’ve either never or seldom watched Mania I-III in their entirety. So I decided I would, and if I form thoughts, why not share them with you lovely people? Except I’ll end up watching all of them. Which means hundreds of main events, I’m going to be knackered. I’ll try and intersperse snack sized facts and comments on my particular interests - historical relevance, FORESHADOWING, “did you know,” what was going on at the house shows, attendance numbers, that days shipping forecast.

WrestleMania (1985)

What was typically going on at house shows in the build-up?
In March, The Hulkster was defending the title most frequently against Mr Wonderful, or occasionally Ken Patera, Don Muraco or buddy Brutus Beefcake. Andre was tagging with either Junkyard Dog or David Sammartino (subbing for Blackjack Mulligan in what feels like "The Machines" angle hadn't quite wrapped up) against Patera & John Studd including Giant & Dog vs Studd & Patera inside a cage at Maple Leaf Gardens. Jimmy Snuka was having the odd match with Roddy Piper or Orndorff or tagging with JYD against both, title matches had Greg the Hammer defending the ICT against Mania opponent JYD or mortal enemy Tito Santana, and pretty much always The US Express vs Sheik & Volkoff and Leilani Kai vs Wendi Richter. No shocks there. A young (OK, he was 28) Bret Hart was cutting his teeth against low level schlubs like Matt Borne, Terry Gibbs and a certain Buddy Rose.

THE OPEN
31st March 1985, not quite the greatest year in pop culture history but getting there. It’s WRESTLEMANIAAAHHH… not quite. Well, it’s 1985 so we get a fairly timid video of still photos (including some of the celebrities appearing like Cyndi) and the logo, Easy Lover fairly obviously dubbed over, before we cut to an overhead shot of the ring at MSG ; fairly typically of the era the show starts without big cheers, just the hum of people milling about taking their seats, because nobody’s bothered with “We’re about to go live, make some noise, whooo!” If the 19,121 reported inside the Garden is accurate, it’s better attended than some later Manias in bigger arenas and a 9.8 on the Steve Austin scale. First bit I always forget - Mean Gene sings the national anthem. That had to be a rib, right? If you’re wondering, it sounds exactly like you expect Gene Okerlund singing Star Spangled Banner to sound. He didn’t give up his day job, thankfully. We are OF COURSE in the company of Jesse The Body Ventura and the human hype machine Gorilla Monsoon (more hair and less weight than later years) who assures us this is the biggest night in the history of professional wrestling and throws it back to “the locker room area” and “TNTs own” Lord Alfred Hays. Of course, fucktons of modern fans will only know TNT as “the channel Nitro aired on” and have no idea what Tuesday Night Titans was, but whatever. Al says “Thank you Gino” to Gorilla which I found jarring as to now, I’d only heard Jesse call Monsoon that on air. Amusingly Hays isn’t in the locker room but out in the arena with his back to the ring and funnier still has only been cut to, so that he can cut to (and he stresses this) pre-recorded interviews. Keen to underscore something’s taped so people don’t think they’re pretending it’s live? How things change.

(1) TITO SANTANA VS THE EXECUTIONER
There’s a mention of The Executioner being undefeated and suddenly I realize this match may have passed for a bigger deal than I always thought reading about it. Executioner explicitly states he’s going after the leg injured by Valentine and he sounds familiar to me, so I look him up and by golly, it’s that darn Buddy Rose, several years and several dozen pounds before the Blow Away Diet. They make reference to Santana having a great record of success in the Garden and I’m not sure why but I appreciate any allusions to it being the “Mecca.” Hot and heavy start and The Body says its the best he's seen Santana for a while, and is notably less heelish, not even calling Tito "Chico." The match is probably less "meat and potatoes" than I expected, on account of Executioner being less of a blob (the iony!) that I expected from the limited photos I'd seen in magazines from the match. I found it funny that "Voices Of" Gorilla & Jesse popped up on the screen mid-match just in case you joined in progress. Maybe they thought people in the theatres may have missed the start due to long popcorn queues?? Either way, the masked Rose takes a spill to the floor which serves to emphasize how close to the ring the timekeeper etc used to sit, Tito bodyslams him back into the ring and hits the Flying Forearm - a peach, too, and its unusual to see him not go straight for a pin, instead going home with the Figure 4 to send a message to "The Hammer" - even though he'd keep it as part of his repertoire for several years after the end of their feud. TWO Federation wrestlers using the Figure 4? That’s not fair to Flair. Ending's a bit wonky as the timekeeper takes far too long ringing the bell after it's clear that the baddie has called it quits so there's a bit of a muted reaction from the crowd. Stranger still, Tito keeps the hold applied for a while longer after the bell, like a heel. As per the style at the time, several seconds pass further before the bell rings a second time and Fink gives the "official word" as they used to say and declare Santana the winner - a lone exception to what would have been the inverse "Streak," he's going to lose for the next seven Manias in a row.

Gino again sends it "to the locker room" and hilariously, for the second time, Al Hays isn't there. Also for the second time, he passes the baton to Mean Gene for taped interviews. I should add - it's a really weird dynamic the way one wrestler leaves to one side of the room then barely a beat later the opponent enters the camera shot from the other side. Feels a bit "exposing the industry" that you can tell they're stood in the same room and not, in fact, starting a fight with each other. Anyway.

(2) KING KONG BUNDY VS SD JONES
Bundy is a far better speaker than I recall, it's a bit odd that he's allowed to refer to himself as the "biggest" wrestler in the company on a broadcast which will feature Andre The Giant. Jimmy Hart here has less hair and a deeper speaking voice than later years ; "The Mouth Of The South" really became more of a cartoon as the years rolled on. I feel bad for Jones here, having to get hyped up to talk a good game knowing what's coming. Jimmy is just “Jimmy Hart” for The Fink though they are calling him The Mouth on comms. It's about 20 seconds bell to bell, not the famed "9 seconds" they claimed to be a record for years. Strangely after the avalanche and splash earn Bundy the win, even though he mentioned the "5 count" business in his pre-tape, he's too excited to try and force the ref to carry on counting, as you expect. Either way, keeping Bundy strong, he's going to eventually be working Andre on the road in the fall once The Mouth sells his contract to Bobby The Brain.

This time, Gorilla sends it directly backstage to Mean Gene.

(3) RICKY STEAMBOAT VS MATT BORNE
Mean Gene interviews Matt Borne, although when he starts the sentence with "Portland, Oregon's own" I assumed Billy Jack had had his highlights done. And today is the day I learn that the aforementioned Rose was married to Borne's sister for a bit (one of their kids was born(e) in Portland). Huh. Borne mentions, like dozens of opponents over the years, he’ll do whatever it takes but Ricky is too nice. Being OG Doink, this puts Matt in an elite group that wrestled at both Mania I and IX, along with Hogan, Beefcake, Rotunda, and if you count dark matches (which I will) - Santana, bookending his inverse streak with another win. Which is less impressive when you remember Steamer wrestled at both I and XXV - oh, sorry - “the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania” even though it wasn’t. Steamboat says he’s going to “develop” his mean streak, starting this afternoon at the greatest wrestling “extravaganza.” Sounds pretty stupendous to me. Ricky isn’t yet “The Dragon” here, which I hadn’t clocked. Borne is far more imposing without the clown getup though his selling is similar, he’s the smoothest JTTS you ever saw though and a belly to belly is very impressive for 1985. Steamboat with a nice belly to back (not enough of those these days) and a cracking swinging neckbreaker, stays on top for a minute more with knee drops and chops before wrapping with a top rope crossbody. More wrestling here than we may see for a while. However, thus far it’s felt a bit like your average MSG show than the biggest show ever for “millions” of fans watching. The undercard is clearly wrestlers going places beating ones that aren’t, and typical of the next few years some of the bigger issues (Valentine vs Santana) are preserved for selling tickets on the road, which is still king. For a THIRD time Gorilla sends us to his Lordship in “the locker room area” oblivious to the fact he’s stood in the aisle just a few feet from himself.

Hilariously as Al attempts to hype the next match, Johnny Valiant shouts “Wake up!” as he passes Hays on his way to the ring. Might be my favourite part thus far.

(4) DAVID SAMMARTINO VS BRUTUS BEEFCAKE
I don’t have high hopes for this. David looks a deer in the headlights just doing an interview, and this was the take they kept. Worse one yet for “they’re in the same room” as main-evented-Mania-IX Brutus is still visible leaving to camera left as the Sammartini enter right. Why is Beefcake announced as from Parts Unknown? He’s meant to be a chippendale, he’s not in the Dungeon of Doom yet! Humourously Bruno is introduced after Sammartino Jr, because they know he will get the bigger pop. David moves a lot like his dad and isn’t as bad as I remember. While I enjoyed “The Barber” after Beefpiece’s turn, he’s pretty dull as a heel. It’s inoffensive though I was miffed that Sammartino worked the arm before his spell trapped in Brutus’ headlock, then the leg after he escaped. Lacka discipline! Monsoon calls the show “a happening” for what is the first time I’ve caught… by SummerSlam 88, he’ll really be driving that one home. Reckon it’s a Vince-ism. During the babyface comeback Ventura voices mild disbelief that David is able to suplex a guy the size of Beefer. Body, you’re going to lose your mind at what oor Smithers pulls off in later shows. Throw to the outside leads to the inevitable schmozz ending, crowd react very positively to father & son winning the brawl. New Yorkers have long memories. Just the three title matches, Andre and the main to go.

Gorilla still hasn’t been told his Lordship isn’t in the locker room area…

(5) “ICHT” - GREG “THE HAMMER” VALENTINE VS JUNKYARD DOG
There’s an incredible moment where Al says “unblemished record” and “charisma second to none” as The Hammer is walking past and I piss myself… until Hayes clarifies he’s talking about the challenger. We head to pretapes and Valentine says he’s dropped 16 pounds. He’s still podgy so I guess he’s down from “fat.” On screen graphic tells us it’s for the “Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship.” It’s obvious that JYD has Grab Them Cakes overdubbed even though it hasn’t been released yet - he was still using Another One Bites The Dust. Seeing Johnny V in the previous match and Jimmy with Hammer here, it reminds me how it always feels like a parallel universe when I watch back The New Dream team managed by Valiant, when Bravo and Valentine are both so synonymous with The Mouth of The South to me. Here's Jimmy's little over a month into his run in the Federation - does anyone here remember that it was Lou Albano managing Greg when he won the title to begin with? He sure got passed around between 84 and 86, didn't he!? It’s novel seeing Greg with the title here, he was a total loser as I was growing up with wrestling. It’s still the ugly ICT belt, not the Savage/Steamboat/Honky/Warrior one. Match is announced with a one hour time limit - good God, why would you tell The Hammer he’s got an hour?? Mercy. Mind you, he and Tito did a few of those on the road (shudder). Monsoon says “happening” again (you’ve started him up) and that it’s the event of the century, right as “voices of” displays again. I tell you, production is far more stoic than even 89-90 here, Junior took his sweet time turning on the lights and adding some glitz. Match is exactly what you’ll expect if you’ve ever seen these two men wrestle anyone, ever, but doesn’t outstay its welcome. Listening to comms rattle off Hart’s stable of Bundy, Hammer and Anvil gives me Heroes Of Wrestling PTSD. Not referred to here but hey, how many of you remember Jimmy had to buy Anvils contract from Mr Fuji before he formed The Hart Foundation? These occasional managerial Harry Redknapp brown envelope deals used to be a fun little quirk, some yielded success (Anvil to Jimmy, The Brain signing Mr Perfect away from The Genius), most did not (Heenan acquiring Barbar and Slick buying out Warload from Fuji, Harvey Whippleman taking on Warload from him) and some were unmitigated, Lukaku-back-to-Chelsea level disasters (Fuji dropping the reigning and eventual 3-time tag team champions Demolition in favour of the Powers Of Pain - poor lads never caught a break).

I always liked JYDs little crawling headbutts as one of the most characteristic moves in older WWF, though it never looked like there was any contact or that they would hurt. Nice “feet on the ropes” heel pinfall win, but down comes Tito in a buttoned shirt and high wasted beige trousers looking every bit like he’s attending the second afternoon of a conference for encyclopaedia salesmen. He tells the ref what happened, Greg has a strop, and with the mic already descended and Fink in the ring waiting (stoically) the bell rings again and the ref starts counting Valentine out. JYD is declared the winner after all. The Body really isn’t happy and neither am I - why is the ref restarting the match on the say-so of the champions sworn enemy? Gorilla seems to not mind it, in later years he’d be quite upset at the ref calling something he hasn’t seen. Jack Tunney should fire the ref after the show. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at the actions of Santana - they booked him to look stupid in the manner that Valentine beat him for the title, now they're making him look a crybaby too.

Gino throws us back to Lord Alfred without claiming he’s in the locker room this time ; I’d have pissed myself if by now he actually was, but not to be.

(6) TAG TITLE - THE US EXPRESS VS IRON SHEIK & NIKOLAI VOLKOFF
Nice quip from Gene offering the floor to “Commie” before correcting himself to “Comrade” Volkoff. The champs interview managed by Captain Lou, which I had no memory of, and especially not with hair that short! Rotundo says time for talk is over and that they’re going to the ring, Baz echoes that sentiment despite wearing a white polo shirt and jeans, which definitely isn’t what he’s wrestling in. Hmm. More edutainment for me here, I’ve spent decades thinking Anvil attacks Volkoff at Mania VI for launching into an unprecedented second verse of the Soviet national anthem, today I learn it wasn’t the first time. Good reaction for the champs coming out, here they have something generic dubbed over, at the time they were using Born In The USA.

Jesse says he’s seen dead SuperBowls and World Series but “you’ll never see a dead WrestleMania.” Just you wait, Body. This is the first time I’ve watched Rotundo as a babyface in forever and… I didn’t hate it. He moves well and the crowd are behind him, 2 for 2 in fair enjoyment of wrestlers I usually consider terminal bores, although I’m glad I’m not doing SummerSlam 91 any time soon. I only just clocked ; Irwin beating Hammer there is avenging a tag title loss of the Express to the Dream Team years before! Sheiky Baby accidentally knocks Volkoff off the apron with a dropkick (!) then when they get the advantage, really gets up with an elbow drop, he’s in good form, on top of being the original Human Suplex Machine. Barry gets the hot tag and cleans house, hitting a bulldog on Volkoff that was definitely the end if Sheiky Baby hadn’t broken it up. Rotundo makes himself look real stupid keeping the ref tied up while Sheiky Baby bonks Windham with Blassie’s cane seemingly right in his field of vision, but making sure he exits in time for Nikolai to get the pinfall. You’d get yourself disqualified in that situation, surely? If I saw my partner struck with an international object and vulnerable to a pin, I’d roshambo that ref in a heartbeat. Although, if it was my brother-in-law per Rotunda’s POV here, I’d actually do nothing too. Reply angle is even more damning, Mike’s looking right at the infraction! After regaining the belts they will lose them to The Dream Team in virtually identical fashion too, Rotundo oblivious to Barry getting cheated right in front of his eyes. Never trust this man to do your taxes, he’s a moron. Can’t believe the Express stay together long enough to win the belts back, Strike Force broke up over less! Monsoon repeats over and over that the crowd are stunned as Freddie’s boys leave with the belts, ugly cheap looking NWA title belt knock offs as they look, and refers to this “unbelievable happening” and the physically impossible “25,000+” in attendance at MSG. Workers gotta work.

Gino throws it to the locker room to Geno, who amusingly, is actually there. The new champs give comment to “Gene Mean” (thanks, Sheik) and we move on.

(7) SLAM MATCH : ANDRE THE GIANT VS BIG JOHN STUDD
Detail I forgot along the way here is that as well as Studds $15,000, Andre has staked his retirement, which probably gave away the result far more than it already had been. Jesse manages to call John “the Giant Studd” on four separate occasions during the match, I wonder if he’d had a few crèmes de menthe? He’s not the only one, as Monsoon refers to the visual of the cash stuffed inside a “World Wrestling Federation briefcase” despite the duffel bag/holdall looking nothing like a briefcase. Andre as a babyface here… well, he wrestles exactly like he used to as a heel including terrifying choke in the corner then those butt smashes. Gorilla implores the ref to get them out of the corner, seemingly abhorring cheating even if it’s from a babyface… let’s remember that when we get to Mania VI, yeah? Big John gets almost no offence in, beteeen the usual bear hugs and traps hold Andre throws in several roundhouse kicks to Studds thigh, a good two decades before your favourite pleather clad lad debuted on indies, and eventually puts him out his misery with the requisite bodyslam. The Brain runs off with the money (LOL) earning him some choice words shortly after from the Giant. “Wizel” he calls him and everything! He also claims the money doesn't matter to him. We'll see. If you've only ever seen the bodyslam and not the rest of the match... you haven't missed much.

His Lordship stumbles through trying to introduce our first Rock n Wrestling Connection match, distracted as he is somehow by first Moolah then Leilani kissing him on the cheek as they pass by.

(8) WT - I mean, LT - LEILANI KAI VS WENDI RICHTER
In case your forgot, here it’s the World Wrestling Federation Ladies Championship. You may notice that the female athletes used to have the weights announced just like the men, but now they don’t. Equality is it? Regardless, inevitable great reaction for challenger and “manager” Cyndi Lauper even though “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” is inevitably dubbed over with Basketball Highlights #27. It’s hard to describe or imagine if you didn’t live through it what a big deal Cyndi was to making the WWF something cool that people wanted to watch at the time, with her at her absolute peak of superstardom. It would be like WWE of today getting Sabrina Carpenter or Chappell Roan to have serious involvement in a featured storyline over a number of months, as opposed to when they get an obscure, niche or fading star to pop up and do one spot, which has been the norm forever. This one goes all the way back to The Brawl To End It All in July where Richter (with Lauper behind her) took belt from Moolah and ran through the taping of The War To Settle The Score where Kai won it from Wendi with Moolah's distractions (which aired on TNT) - both emanating from the Mecca. Hands up, how many of you knew Cyn did backing vocals on Real American? Place bets now, was it Barry or IRS she was fond of. Match is what you used to get prior the abandonment, hammerlocks and snapmares with zero running the ropes. Still feels like a distraction from the real feud which was Richter and Moolah, Wendi must have had her head spinning with Timeless Toni also on her mind. Couple of very ropey moments including a complete faff of reversing a gutwrench suplex which somehow lands Wendi on top for 2… it was a good job she was over. Ventura betrays his “with it” image when he suggests Dave Wolff ringside needs a haircut, to which old man Monsoon agrees. Moolah tries to interfere and Cyndi, far and away the most interesting thing about the match, tries to fend her off hitting her with what in real time looks like a cuddly toy. Monsoon warms my heart by saying if Wendi loses this one there’s no “return clause.” Good, lazy 21st Century trope that it is. Awful looking roll through from a flying crossbody lands the title back into Wendi's hands (for now) and the Garden goes crazy. Realistically, unless you're big on your history, we're two in a row for matches you don't really need to watch unless you've got a soft spot for Moolah's mugging and pratfalls, and in 2025 nobody should. Backstage interviews, Mean Gene says "Dave Wolff, don't go anywhere" - as if he would. I always got the impression Wolff thought he, rather than Lauper, was the star.

(9) HULK HOGAN & MR T VS RODDY PIPER & PAUL ORNDORFF
No pretapes for the main, curiously. Perhaps they felt the story spoke for itself. Here’s the match that started it all, which no doubt you’ve seen if you bought as a kid either WrestleManias Greatest Matches (original commentary) or The History Of WrestleMania on tape - the latter released in 93 which retro-dubbed commentary over any Venture work featuring Gene and Monsoon, who uses the word “happening” more times in one match than he probably had in the previous five years combined. Fink takes a backseat for Billy Martin as they introduce the rest of the celebrities which takes forever, especially Liberace dancing with the Rockettes, and we’ve got entrances. Gorilla forgot to take his meds for his hyperactive hyperbole gland as he’s upgraded the event to “the happening of the century.” Live bagpipers play in the heels to Scotland The Brave and Gino says “my bonnie lassie’s coming home to me” which is odd because (a) that’s not the lyrics to Scotland The Brave and (b) that’s actually not the lyrics to My Bonnie Lassie either. Jesse must have slipped something into his drink, I shudder at what state his lapels are in by now. Goodies entrance for the obvious reason has Real American dubbed over so we don’t catch Gorilla exclaim "The Eye of the Tiger, Jess!" before Ventura replies "And that can mean none other than you know who, World Wrestling Federation Champion, there is, the incredible Hulk Hogan!" Famously Vince is visible in the tunnel. Oddly Hulks pre match posing synchs nicely with the dub. Cornermen, if you forget, are Superfly for the faces and “Cowboy” Bob Orton for the heels. Ventura says all four are “precision trained” before HE gets on the exaggeration express and calls it the “biggest match in the history of wrestling.” Fair enough it’s the match asked to carry the can for Jr’s make or break roll of the dice but it’s still weird to me, coming as it does between two huge Hogan vs Piper title fights at The War To Settle The Score on MTV (featuring an accident, as it happens, appearance by Andy Warhol) and The Wrestling Classic in their first real home PPV - non finishes, both. Ventura REPEATEDLY says Orndorff looks “like a Greek god.” OK.

Bell rings and we stall brilliantly - Hogan and Mr Wonderful start but Piper asks to come in so Paul tags him. Gorilla, a pedant after my own heart, points out that as there was no contact a tag wasn’t actually required. T begs to face Piper so Hogan tags him in, again unnecessarily. The bit of chain wrestling and fireman’s carry that follows, no doubt you remember, basic but gets a great pop from the crowd. Remember this moment when Hulk makes a main eventer of Jay Leno in 98, guys. Amusingly Gorilla claims Hogans been teaching Mr T the wrestling (he picked up in Japan obviously) and T’s been teaching The Hulkster “street sense.” So… all those years Terry was the biggest cheat on the roster, gouging, scratching and biting, it was BAs fault? Got it. Why didn’t he teach him how to “rig up” a fully operational tank with nothing more than straw and pipe cleaners? He’d never have lost the belt then. Hogan gives Piper the atomic drop which always amuses, the subsequent melee is well remembered for ringside ref Muhammad Ali taking a swing at Cowboy Bob, which looks far better than if they’d tried to work him actually hitting him, which is what they’d do today. T gets another flurry on the heels including bodyslams and a hiptoss I forgot, before eventually the baddies get their heat. It’s a bit of a paint-by-numbers heat stretch for the era on the champ, but includes a double atomic drop, which is such a silly move The Bushwhackers should have used it. Mr #1derful misses a top rope Bret-style elbow drive and The Hulkster gets to the corner but T soon finds himself a bit overwhelmed and tags Tez back in, he hasn’t quite got the “Hulk Up” routine here and it’s apparent he’s tagged back in too soon as Orndorff plants him with a bag suplex. Another outbreak of chaos has Orton rush the ring only for Snuka to give him a headbutt ; ref Pat Patterson gets distracted ushering the murderer from the ring triggering the memorable finish ; T cuts off Piper with Orndorff pinning Hulks arms back, and Ace leaps from top attempting to hit Hogan with the dreaded cast, but Hulk moves and Cowboy clocks Wonderful. Pat turns around and Hogan gets the pinfall. It’s a bit rubbish watching it back, Orton overshot massively and would have hit Orndorff whether Hogan had moved or not, but there you have it.

With Paul out cold, Hot Rod decks Patterson and he and Orton skulk off. When Orndorff comes round the heroes try to keep him calm and explain “Your mates just left you, bro.” It wasn’t until the advent of dial up that I learned that Orndorff reverted to his heelish ways between this show and Survivor Series 87 after which he disappeared from the WWF, considering retirement and managing a bowling alley (according to a 93 issue of SOW). He looks miffed understandably - could be worse buddy, in WCW they’ll be calling you Paula. Hulkster again bends the rules of time and space, posing in perfect synch with Real American that he can hear from the future but that MSG can’t. In something that would seem alien to modern viewers instead of closing immediately we have post match interviews backstage with the winners. They even let Snuka get a word in. “Woo! Woo! Woo!” Just joking, he’s articulate here, despite what he’s relied on in evading justice. We cut back to Gorilla (unnerving me with how much hair he has) and Jess for the wrap - The Body says “we haven’t seen the last” of Piper & Orndorff - well, as a tandem, we have. The pair seem awestruck, even solemn, about what a big event it’s been. Which is fitting, I guess - they couldn’t know, but their world has changed forever. We get proper credits to close, like WCW used to have. I miss WCW.

Here's the only use of Real American on telly by the US Express - four days later (16/10/85) Windham would work his last match for the WWF and by December the song would be donated to The Hulkster ;

NUMBER OF WRESTLEMANIAS WATCHED : 1
NUMBER OF WRESTLEMANIAS GENUINELY ENJOYED : 1 (100%)
NUMBER OF MATCHES WATCHED : 9
NUMBER OF MATCHES GENUINELY ENJOYED : 6 (67%)

What did the house shows typically look like out the back end of this Mania?
In April, Hogan defends the belt a fair few times against Piper as well as still the odd Beefpiece, Andre still feuds with the Heenan Family except now he's occasionally wrestling Studd one on one, and in Detroit beats Studd and the Brain in a handicap. Snuka vs Orton is a new run, it's still usually Valentine vs Santana and The US Express beating the new champs by DQ or count-out, and The British Bulldogs are beating various combinations of Barry O, Moondog Spot, Rene Goulet and others.

OK, I don’t have access to historical shipping forecasts. So let’s go back in time in a different way.
What was the UK number one on the day of this Mania?

If you’ve got the strength to stay with me for all 41, I’ll do my best to clear them. Realistically it may be 42 by the time we get there.

Edited July 18, 2025 by air_raid
She'll take your heart but you won't feel it.

[Chili]

I'm going to love this but you are going to go fucking mad doing this and I wish you the best!

Edited March 13, 2025 by Chili

[DavidB6937]

There's plenty of talk this time of year about Jesus suffering for us but jeez, I bet he never sat through every Mania. @air_raid you have my respect. Best of luck.

[Olly1984]

Echo what Chili says, it's gonna be must read and appreciate the mammoth effort it's gonna take....... You crazy bastard!! 

[Supremo]

Absolute insanity to spend so much time watching and typing about pro-wrestling.

(I LOVE it).

[The Gaffer]

Going to be silently lurking on all of these but thank you in advance. 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

There are going to be some highs and lows during all these Mania's and I can't wait. You are a maniac for even contemplating it let alone doing it. 

[Dr. Alan Grant]

I was thinking about what to move on to next once I’ve finished my Rumble marathon (which I will get back to on the weekend) and going through all the Manias seemed a logical step. Instead I’m going to save myself the trouble of sitting through such horrors as the mixed 6-man from WM III and anything featuring IRS and just read your reports instead. I appreciate your sacrifice. 

[TibBo]

I’d much rather sit through 1 - 9 than watch any of the 2000s generic pleather era. Looking forward to reading these! Thank you for your service.

Edited March 13, 2025 by TibBo
I can’t spell era…

[RedTwoster]

This is fucking sensational. Rather you than me, given how bleak some of these shows are, but I’m really looking forward to the next one. 

[Arch Stanton]

God bless you @air_raid, I have no idea how you can be arsed! 

[wandshogun09]

Incredible stuff. Looking forward to the rest. 

[Statto]

I did this kind of thing once, but when there was only about half as many to get through. I'd just picked up that Silver Vison box set of the first 15 on VHS cheap somewhere - lowest quality tape I ever experienced, it was like someone has waved some iron filings vaguely near some sellotape. 

The thing I remember most about the experience was that Mania 2 nearly made me tap out of doing it early, and I've never watched a moment of it again. God speed, Raid. 

[air_raid]

WrestleMania II (1986)

I mean, they love to talk about WrestleMania being a gamble but for me this is the big one - another live PPV into people’s homes so soon after The Wrestling Classic flopped, and the technical aspect of doing it from three venues? Yes, Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale NY (16,585 sellout), the Rosemont Horizon in suburban Chicago (9000) and LA Sports Arena (14,500) all received mini 4-match cards and their own main event - just two Manias in, four matches can say they main evented!! Let’s see if the 40,000 fans in attendance got their moneys worth.

What was typically going on at house shows in the build-up?

Most commonly The Hulkster defends the title for half the month against Big John Studd, then Studd loses several in a row to Andre (including on last at LA Sports) and we get a few rounds of Hogan & the Junkyard Dog defeating Terry & Dory Funk Jr. Randy Savage vs Tito Santana rematches are going on for the ICT, there's the odd round of Paul Orndorff vs Roddy Piper or vs Cowboy Bob Orton, and sometimes Orndorff & Santana defeat Piper & Orton. Tag title is nearly always Dream Team vs Bulldogs or there are two singles, Velvet McIntyre gets her eye in for Moolah by beating former champ Leilani Kai a few times, there are several instances of Ricky Steamboat vs Magnificent Muraco, Bundy warms up for Hogan by squashing Hillbilly Jim, Hart Foundation vs Rougeau Brothers has started up. Current readers of House Show Happenings 2 will have their hearts warmed by a visit to Jaffa Mosque on 18th - double main of tag title then Savage vs Santana.

THE OPEN

A logo, and a voiceover saying “What the world has come to” before we go to Vince at Nassau telling us welcome to “the greatest sports entertainment spectacular of all time” and then the “Welcome to WrestleMania” which was sampled a dozen times over the years, and introduces “America’s number one actress today” Susan Saint James (she was on Kate & Allie... no, me neither) who for some inexplicable reason is on colour with him, then Ray Charles to kick off with what becomes Mania tradition, America The Beautiful. What ISNT a tradition is that it’s Monday. This is the last time we have Mania not-on-Sunday until Covid. We cut to Mean Gene is Rosemont… purely so he can flip us back to Nassau for comments from Roddy Piper. Strap yourselves in. He’s grown his hair long so viewers can tell him and Mr T apart, he says. Hmm. He promises to retire from wrestling and “quit dating girls” if T knocks him out. “Never will I shave my hair like an Indian and paint myself black.” You what??

(1) PAUL ORNDORFF VS MAGNIFICENT MURACO

We’re still in New York for commencement of the matches, nice pop for Wonderful at intro. A clash of future partners from Survivors 87, right before Paul will head out to run that bowling alley. We get pretapes as voiceovers as the match starts, which is different. Muraco refers to his own manager as “the sinister Mr Fuji.” The difference in physique to what he’ll later achieve as “The Rock” is stark. He steps off the bottom turnbuckle to try and reverse an armbar but Orndorff rolls through.. hey, that was nice. Vince says he thinks this is the first time the two have met. Well, if he’d borrowed Hulk Hogans time machine and traveled into the future where a House Show Happenings thread will cover the era, he’d know they wrestled three times on the road the previous October and November, not including tags. Susan says Paul’s using some “ancient Chinese techniques… slow torture.” You what? Don reverses the momentum with a Samoan Drop… that should be it for 1986 surely??? He doesn’t hold it for long. Both spill over the ropes and start brawling on the floor, and before I can take breath both are counted out. Huh?? Well, I suppose they do have 12 matches to power through. Wiki has it down as 4:10 - only knowing the finish, I assumed this would be rubbish as I never much cared for heel Muraco but in spite of the brevity (or perhaps because of it) it was enjoyable. There’s a lot of faff waiting for the official word with Fink already in the ring - I believe they’ve lost power to the mic and Howard looks pissed off. They cut to a Mr T pretape where they’ve got Haiti Kid with him like a Mini Me. T says he’ll let his fists do the talking but then contradicts himself by continuing talking, while you hear Fink confirm the double count-out.. thanks How, we knew that five minutes ago.

Let’s break up the wall of text by reminding ourselves how the IC(H)T landed recently in the hands of Macho Man ;

 

(2) ICHT : RANDY SAVAGE VS GEORGE “THE ANIMAL” STEELE

Why did I always get it in my head they went back and forth between cities? Must be another time distortion. We’re still in Nassau, Steele gets a nice reaction. Randy is accompanied by “his manager Elizabeth” - no “First Lady of Wrestling” yet. Pomp & Circumstance brings in the champ and it’s nice to hear a theme neither overdubbed or replaced with with beige. Macho Man is wearing the best remembered version of the IC belt from the era, Hammer having destroyed the old one having lost the title back to Tito on a crap “escape the cage” finish - who then lost it to Savage. Saint James is very believable in her enthusiasm for someone teaching Savage some respect (I'd expect nothing less from America's number one actress) - although I feel a bit uneasy hearing how badly Randy treats her given that there's some "art imitates life" going on there. In an inset promo Randy days after the match the Animal will say “Excuse me Macho Man, you are the greatest in the world, no doubt about it!” I fucking love Savages bluster, that he puts such eloquent words into Steele’s mouth. Bell rings, Vince says he expects a “unique matchup.” You’re not wrong. Did you ever notice Vince always had a hard on for “matchup” when he was on comms, it was never simply “match.” I remember hating what I’ve seen of this match. In fact, I just hated George full stop. Steele bites Savages calf early on but gets distracted by Liz. Savage presses his advantage, nearly overshoots a crossbody off the top and gets pressed to the floor. Soon after Steele is biting Savage in the arm but again allows himself to get distracted, Randy gets back in the ring armed with (according to Vince) flowers someone wanted to give to Elizabeth - hey, they were always lethal on No Mercy, right? The Animal belts Macho Man with the flowers then opens the turnbuckle up to start “eating” it. He’s disgruntled when Savage interrupts so he starts raking it into Randys eyes and stuffing it in his mouth. McMahon says the ref is allowing “bending if not out and out breaking of the rules.” That’s one way of looking at it. George again lets his attention wander to Liz. this time going all the way to the floor leaving himself open for the flying double axe handle. Randy gets him inside for a slam then then the big elbow which I’m dismayed to say only gets 2. Steele regains the advantage by grabbing Randy by the face (nose, mostly) and boots at him down in the corner. Mercifully that same scoop and feet on the ropes finish as the ICT match from last year gets the win for the champ, only this time it’s going to stand. Good. God bless the Macho Man, he tried, but this was irredeemable. It’s still wild to me that in a company still fairly “serious professional wrestling” that they featured “The Animal” eating turnbuckle pad stuffing and acting subhuman. Even seeing bits of this as a kid, I felt sorry for Randy, and that hasn’t waned. The right man won.

We cut to Chicago again where Gene films a face to face between Atlanta Falcons’ Bill Fralic - who I remember getting quite a heel response later - and Big John Studd who he refers to as “The Dud” - heh. Studd first addresses The Fridge who he promises to “bury in your own hometown” even though Perry’s from South Carolina, then goes nose to nose with Fralic. Back in Nassau, Vince asks Susan if she likes snakes, and when he mentions Jake’s wrestling George Wells, she puts him on the spot and asks if George likes snakes. Vinny Mac doesn’t know, I’m assuming he knows about as much about Wells as I do, which is nothing.

(3) JAKE ROBERTS VS GEORGE WELLS

George looks absolutely terrified during introductions. It’s rather odd watching Jake walk down without Snake Bit playing. “We’re told” there’s a python in the bag, Vince says. Have you not been paying attention, Vincent? Wells attacks Roberts before the bell which surprises me. Jake is rather too quick to congratulate his mental acuity after his distinctive sort-of leapfrog and eats a shoulder tackle - Vince channels his inner JR and refers to Wells’ “Canadian football days” so he knows something about him at least. Wells has, to my shock, virtually all of this match including a nice old-fashioned headscissor takeover and with Jake running the ropes, a deep powerslam which would pass for a finish in 86 but only gets a 2. Not the Snake showcase I was expecting at all! Spill to the outside and Jake catches George coming back in with a kneelift, then wastes no time hitting the DDT, or as McMahon simply says “the manoeuvre that’s knocked out many an opponent.” Won’t catch on, I shouldn’t imagine. Three count obviously, and when Roberts goes to bag Vince hopes out loud there’s nothing in it, despite noting earlier it was moving. OK. Jake wraps Damian around Wells as if to simulate constriction and George foams at the mouth. That’s a bit much. In the replays and wrap Vince tars Jake with the dreaded “undefeated” brush, Susan says George “should have taken him out earlier when he had the advantage” which is right on the money, then Vince says “Jake and his friend the snake continue their victorious reign.” Christ, Vince was rotten here.

He segues into the next clip with yet more bizarre verbiage - “somewhat of a history of how Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr T started their feud”… “first began in Phoenix.” This being an SNME featuring a T vs Bob Orton boxing match taped February gone and aired 1st March. So… nothing to do with last years event? “Started?” “Began?” … are you OK??? We’re looking forward to that matchup, again. We get an interview from Jesse Ventura with The Hulkster - by here the ugly belt has been replaced by what I clearly consider the WCW Television Championship. Hulk is nonchalant about his own match and predicts victory for Mr T later telling Ventura that he like Hot Rod and others take shortcuts. The Body gets the last word on the WWF Champ saying “I’ll just say this - good guys don’t always finish first!” I think he was going for “nice guys finish last” - maybe he’s been at the crème de menthe. If The Hulks suggesting cheats never prosper, we’ll learn numerous times during this journey they often do, and I’m not even thinking about heels as I type. “There’s no doubt we’re looking up to that matchup too.” OK Vince.

(4) “10 ROUNDS OF BOXING” - MR T vs RODDY PIPER

Fink introduces the guest ring announcer I have no memory whatsoever about being here, with “She is without a question of a doubt (sic) the premiere comedienne in the world today” Joan Rivers… except he pronounces it “comedianne” to rhyme with Anne. Huh? Finks had a drink too? I’m sure the judges and timekeeper mean something to someone but not me, but I’m gobsmacked to recall Smokin Joe Frazier in Ts corner. They had the touch, no doubt. Entrances are pretty quick and Piper gets no bagpipes. As for the fight… it sucks, what do you want me to say? It’s an actor and a wrestler attempting a worked boxing match, but they have a wrestling style heel heat section in the second round and babyface comeback in the third, failing to convince due to numerous incidents that you’d call either a DQ or a stoppage if it were real, aided by woeful Vince referring to Ts style as “peekaboo” three separate times and mentioning a “brawling type matchup” as if he expected anything else. Mercifully Roddy performs the bodyslam that gets him disqualified in the 4th, all chaos breaks loose, and T is announced the winner to a mixed reaction from Uniondale, who probably came to the wrestling show to see wrestling. They’d be disappointed, I reckon. Actually they were gypped all ends up by their card.

In a blink of an eye we’re in Rosemont with (sigh of relief) Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Okerlund and guest Cathy Lee Crosby, more than 10 years after Lynda Carter supplanted her as Wonder Woman. Chet Coppock is a name I’ve heard but never known who he was - why, he’s the ring announcer from the second part of Mania 2! We’ll start with the World Wrestling Federation “Ladies Championship.”

(5) LT : FABULOUS MOOLAH VS VELVET MCINTYRE

It’s barely a match!! Moolah does some hair mares, Velvet returns fire with two awful one foot dropkicks then gets over excited and misses a splash from the second rope, and Moolah simply pins her. What? I barely had time to clock how ridiculous the ref looks in his white polo and loud blue trousers. Dud. “An unbelievable happening!” OK, Gorilla.

(6) FLAG MATCH : CORPORAL KIRCHNER BS NIKOLAI VOLKOFF

Right before Nikolai sings, you twice hear clearly a bloke in the crowd shout “Kill the Russian!” Ok mate. Something that isn’t The Caissons Go Rolling Along is dubbed onto the Cpl’s entrance, presumably when this version was edited the WWF didn’t want to get on the Army’s bad side. It’s a bit reminiscent of when someone would turn up on WCW on a Saturday afternoon with a bad soundalike of their old WWF theme. “And listen to that crowd!” - I wish I could, Cathy. The Corporal is a huge bloke next to Volkoff, who isn’t small. Match spills outside inside the first minute and Kirchner blades off hitting the ring post, Gene slips and calls Monsoon “Gino” in pointing it out. Corporal waylays the ref seemingly on purpose to my eyes then intercepts Blassies cane, clocks Volkoff with it and gets the pin just like that. It took me nearly as long to type. Everyone just wants to go home or what?

(7) WWF vs NFL 20 MAN BATTLE ROYAL

Chet says it’s time for “the Chicago portion of our main event” which is… not quite what he meant. Mean Gene does the intros. Chicago doesn’t pop in the slightest for Pedro Morales which wounds me a bit, but they like Hillbilly Jim. Fuck sake. Everyone’s favourite uncle King Tonga (Haku) is here! Sheiky Baby gets huge boos. Here’s the fuckin Harts, yeah baby!!! Polite applause for Bruno, massive pop for The Fridge, as you’d expect (the Bears just won the SuperBowl), nearly as big a reaction for Andre. Big Cat Ernie Ladd is at the table too on comms for this one. “Action personified” says Monsoon of the heaving 20 man dogpile. “Golden Boy” Danny Spivey looks and moves like a CAW you made of Hogan but with the gait and wild lefts you remember from Waylon Mercy, it’s very unsettling. Battle royals are usually shit, aren’t they? Great pop when Perry dumps Tony Atlas and a nice one too when Bruno tosses Sheik, right before the Horizon EXPLODES when the Fridge double tackles the Foundation and goes toe to toe with John Studd who gets him out but then falls for Fridge’s offer of a handshake and gets yanked to the floor. Andre gets left alone with the Harts, and if you haven’t seen it, you can guess what happens. You know what, I saw it as a kid on tape, and I expected to tell you all that it’s shit like all battle royals, but the heat made it watchable. There’s probably not a parallel I could draw to the involvement of NFL players here, especially Perry & Covert in Chicago straight after the SuperBowl. Maybe if “Leeds’” Davey Boy Smith had gone for the ICT at Elland Road instead of Wembley in 92 and been brought out by Rod Wallace and Lee Chapman?

Back in New York, Vince and Susan interview Hot Rod, who suggests he was stepping on Ts tongue while they were fighting. Chortle. Back in Chicago Gene interviews Jimbo Covert who somehow thinks Bill Fralic cheated him by throwing him out (umm) and Sheik has some choice words for “Gene Mean.” They’re sure killing time considering two matches earlier were painfully rushed.

In case watching the US Express lose the belts once because Rotundo is an idiot wasn’t enough for you this journey; let’s do it again.

 

(8) TTT : DREAM TEAM VS BRITISH BULLDOGS

Proper belts by now. Champions introduced first? Do I not like that. Better get used to it, the WWF is going to be “babyfaces second” regardless of where the title is for a while. Lou Albano is with Dyno n Davey here, not content having managed Valentine to the ICT and the US Express as tag champs within the previous 18 months, and so is Ozzy Osbourne. Okerlund claims Ozzy is from Manchester… you fuckin what, Scheme Gene???? There is reference to the Bulldogs beating Greg & Beefer non-title in the build... DO I NOT LIKE THAT. Hammer starts slow (doesn’t he always) absorbing the ever impressive snap suplex from Dynamite and a vertical suplex from oor Smithers though not quite the delay he’d do later. Brutus tags in but he soon absorbs a press from Davey then… fuck, the Perfect-Plex??? Doesn’t lock the fingers, doesn’t get the 3. Valentine tags back in a gets the heat at last, briefly, but Dyno gives him a good beating and a pendulum backbreaker before falling victim to the old fashioned kneeling piledriver (!) from Hammer. Ric Flair errant climb to the top is cut off by Dynamite and the Bulldogs tease the press-headbutt but get cut off. David Boy tags back in, powerslam only gets 2 (the fuck) and he hits another nice suplex before Hammer reverses a turnbuckle sending Davey in shoulder first. Quick tags now from the Dream Team. Valentine hits a shoulder breaker but picks Smith up at 2! Moron. Davey shoves Hammer into the corner and hits heads with Dyno who takes a SICKENING bump to the floor, but Smithers pins Greggles to win the belts! Kid can barely get in the ring, and Davey cuts a bizarre promo that they’re going to stay in the States now they’re champs. Dynamite doesn’t talk. Fucking hell that was nonstop! Bulldogs or not, that was still a ton better that I expected and a boatload more fun than your average Hammer match. Beefpiece wasn’t in much but you can’t have everything. 2/3 down and so far Rosemont is clearly winning - two matches barely happened but the other two delivered sizzle then steak.

Vince momentarily welcomes us back to New York to hype the main. “Nonetheless, it’s a steel cage matchup.” Fucking matchup. We shoot for the first time live to LA where we’ll stay, and to Jesse Ventura, Al Hays and Elvira - as Jesse says “What a pair we make” Elvira seems to react knowingly to the barely subtle innuendo. It won’t be the last time someone gets a Mania gig just for having a great pair of tits, will it? Bless her, she says how great it is to be surrounded by “flesh and violence.” It’s an eclectic trio, Lord Alfred next to The Body like sitting Arnold Schwarzenegger next to Jon Craven.

(9) RICKY STEAMBOAT VS HERCULES HERNANDEZ

Ricky had earned the “Dragon” moniker since last year. Herc starts off with a sneak attack with some gusto but Steamer comes back with excellent armdrags and a nice suplex. Herc gets advantage with a BRUTAL standing lariat and slows things down but still looks far more mobile than he’d be later. A stun gun, hard left sided clothesline and two military presses all look like they hurt, but he deviates from his own game by going for a flying splash and meets the knees, then the flying crossbody gets the pin. Very nice, played to the strengths of both, didn’t outstay its welcome.

(10) ADRIAN ADONIS VS UNCLE ELMER

LA seems to be chanting a slur at Adonis during his intro. Uncle Elmer comes down, (I can only assume) Dont Go Messin With A Country Boy is dubbed over with what sounds like the Benny Hill theme fucked a banjo. Adonis bumps like a nutter but it’s still not good. Elmer hits the avalanche even though it’s Bundys move, goes for a legdrop even though it’s Hogans move and misses, sloppy direction means we virtually miss the match winning splash or headbutt from the top. Naff.

We get words from Hulk Hogan to Lord Alfred, even though he gave some to The Body earlier. I’m not loving the pacing or production here.

(11) TITO SANTANA & JUNKYARD DOG VS THE FUNK BROTHERS

Spirited early going features Tito send Terry over the top with the stiffest clothesline of the night, before JYD bonks Terrys head on the buckle 10 times then a further 7. Dory Jr (I’m not calling him Hoss) absorbs the flying forearm from “Chico” but it’s broken up before we get our heel heat. JYD tags in and runs riot, a huge backdrop is about Terrys third or fourth big bump to the floor then he gets slammed on the timekeeper’s table. Mad bastard. Back in the ring, Santana makes himself look dumb not for the first time in this project by putting the Figure 4 on Dory even though neither is legal, then when the ref ushers him out, Terry clocks Dog with Jimmy Harts megaphone for the win. Despite some good stuff and who’s in it, not worth going out of your way to watch.

Footage from SNME where Bundy gets help from future Survivors 87 opponent Muraco to turn Hogans ribs into apple sauce. We see a pretape in the gym with Hogan, his doctor and Hillbilly Jim, yet more snarling from Hogan and there’s some overlap with what he said a couple of minutes ago. Opposing views from The Brain and Bundy - as I touched on last time, Bundy was a decent talker. We simply have to cut to Vince and Susan one last time while they erect the blue cage. Speaking of erections, Elvira admits to having never seen anything like it. Jesse drops some wisdom about this particular cage that “usually it’s a cyclone fence” but this cage has been specifically made reinforced with Bundy in mind. So now you know, more than a decade of the blue bars cage, was all because of King Kong Bundy.

(12) CAGE MATCH, WWFT : HULK HOGAN VS KING KONG BUNDY

Assorted US celebrities we don’t know, blah blah blah. Alfred says “this is what the world has come to” - hey, that’s our tagline! Hogans rather over in LA and he has the early going like always until Bundy targets the ribs. He ends up stripping some of the protective tape from the Hulks ribs to choke him with it as Elvira squeals “He’s taking off more clothes!” Bundy goes for the door but Hogan goes for the eyes and drags him back in. He throws Bundy into the bars several times and the challengers bleeding. Hogan climbs the cage and treads on Bundy while his throat is on the rope. Hays mentions “tit for tat” (oo er) regarding cheating which gets Jesse’s ire, with Elvira asking “Jealous you don’t have a cartoon show?” The champ errs when he goes for a slam and Bundy falls on him but when he goes for the door again Hogan returns the favour choking him with the rib tape, but gets reversed into the corner and squashed with the avalanche and a splash. A seemingly beaten Hogan pulls on Bundys foot to stop him going out the door again, so Bundy turnbuckles Hogan again and repeats the avalanche to zero effect as Hogan no sells to a massive pop. He sends Bundy into the corner, powerslams him and drops the leg, before climbing over the top and hitting the floor before King Kong gets to the door.

The Brain gets inside and takes a bump into the bars followed by the Hogan favourite, the atomic drop. Elvia further winds Ventura up about Hogan winning and Jesse enigmatically states “Someday sometime, he’s gonna have the showdown with me.” Which of course, never happens - The Body’s just grumpy he had to wind down doing jobs to Uncle Elmer. Match was OK, not long enough to be bad and Hogans always enjoyable around here. LA did better than Uniondale but I hope nobody went into debt for their tickets. We cut to Vince on audio who hurriedly tells us he hopes we enjoyed WrestleMania 2, and we’re out. No proper credits like WCW used to do. I miss WCW. Well… that was a fucking slog. When the good was good, it was pretty damn good, but there was way more bad. Worse than the bad was the pointless - matches too brief to matter and/or where one party was going nowhere. Far from the “what’s the biggest card we’ve got” feel they’ll shoot for in later years.

NUMBER OF WRESTLEMANIAS WATCHED : 2

NUMBER OF WRESTLEMANIAS GENUINELY ENJOYED : 1 (50%)

NUMBER OF MATCHES WATCHED : 21

NUMBER OF MATCHES GENUINELY ENJOYED : 11 (53%)

What did the house shows typically look like out the back end of this Mania?

After a rather C show international tour, it's all a bit B show and not much has changed, still Savage vs Santana and Bulldogs vs Dream Team although of note there's Savage vs Steamboat 20th at the Capital Center (Dragon by count out) and 29th at the Cow Palace Hogan retains the big one over Muraco.

If you fancy a slice of Hogan at his peak without just watching this PPV, maybe watch a Bundy rematch in front of 17,000+ at the Spectrum from June 28th ;

 

What was the UK number one on the day of this Mania?

 

Fucking A.

To honour mine and Ozzy’s fellow Brummie Jasper Carrott turning 80 this week, I have hidden a Punt & Dennis reference from Canned Carrott in this write-up. Let me know if anyone knows it.

Edited March 18, 2025 by air_raid
Grab them cakes.

[BomberPat]

Wrestlemania 2 is the absolute maddest one for celebrities. The judges for the Mr T/Piper match are a basketball player, jazz legend Cab Calloway, and G. Gordon Liddy - one of the Watergate burglars, who at the time was just a few years of reinventing himself as an angry right-wing talk radio host.