Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania I (2015): When Big House Shows Meant Something
IMG Credit: WWE
Wrestlemania I
Date: March 31, 1985
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 19,121
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Jesse Ventura
The opening video is a montage of shots of the matches tonight with the Wrestlemania logo in the middle. Not exactly high thinking stuff but it was a simpler time.
Tito Santana vs. The Executioner
S.D. Jones, a self described music man, is more than ready for King Kong Bundy on the biggest show ever.
King Kong Bundy promises a splash and a five count.
King Kong Bundy vs. S.D. Jones
Bundy shoves him into the corner and hits a pair of splashes for the pin at 24 seconds. This is billed as nine seconds for a record but it takes nearly double that much time for the first splash to connect. To continue the lying, Bundy only got a three count. How can I ever trust someone like that?
Matt Borne, a pretty generic heel (I mean he wears sunglasses inside. How can he possibly be a good guy?), thinks Ricky Steamboat is just too nice of a guy and needs to get beaten up.
Matt Borne vs. Ricky Steamboat
Steamboat is a newcomer and in trunks instead of tights here. Feeling out process to start and a big chop puts Borne down. A headlock has Borne in trouble and a big atomic drop makes him gyrate a bit. The left handed Borne comes back with some shots to the ribs and a hard whip into the corner, only to have Steamboat come back with chops and another headlock. Ricky wins a slugout and drops a knee for two. Back up and the high cross body gives Steamboat the pin at 4:38.
Brutus Beefcake vs. David Sammartino
Intercontinental Title: Junkyard Dog vs. Greg Valentine
Tag Team Titles: US Express vs. Iron Sheik/Nikolai Volkoff
Rating: C-. This was just for the historical value and little more. Sheik and Volkoff getting the titles was a major surprise but they would drop them back to the Express just a few months later. They kept the formula simple here as the Express dominated until the very end where the villains cheated to take the belts. Quick and efficient here to give the show something historic.
Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd
In the back, Andre laughs off the idea of retiring.
Richter and Lauper spin around in circles post match. They continue to be happy in the back after the match.
Roddy Piper/Paul Orndorff vs. Mr. T./Hulk Hogan
Piper decks Patterson and leaves. Orndorff wakes up and has no idea what happened but leaves without any violence.
We look back at the ending as everyone leaves.
Mr. T. says this is real and not for wimps. Hogan says that was what it was all about. Snuka says these men are his brothers. He would be gone soon after this.
Gorilla and Jesse wrap it up.
A package of stills from the show and the credits (a sign of the times) take us out.
Ratings Comparison
Tito Santana vs. Executioner
Original: C
2013 Redo: C-
2015 Redo: D+
King Kong Bundy vs. S.D. Jones
Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
Ricky Steamboat vs. Matt Borne
Original: C-
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D+
Brutus Beefcake vs. David Sammartino
Original: D-
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Junkyard Dog vs. Greg Valentine
Original: D+
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik vs. US Express
Original: B-
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: C-
Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd
Original: D+
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: F+
Lelani Kai vs. Wendi Richter
Original: B
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: D
Hulk Hogan/Mr. T. vs. Paul Orndorff/Roddy Piper
Original: B
2013 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: C+
Overall Rating
Original: C-
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: C-
Forgive me on the first version. It was literally the first review I’ve ever done so I actually didn’t know what I was doing yet.
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
And the 2013 Redo:
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