Nostalgic Bites: A Look at the First 13 WrestleManias

As WrestleMania nears its 40^th rendition, I have become immensely interested in examining how the event has evolved over the years. Beginning in 1985, the annual wrestling supercard has often offered the best of that calendar year, mixing spectacle and celebrities to give the event a wider appeal. But up until now, I haven’t watched every WrestleMania, and I had believe that older Manias would be hard to watch given their stilted style and unsophisticated production. I was certainly wrong in some aspects, as these Manias often have quite a lot of value and can be entertaining in their own right, as long as you go in with the proper mindset. So I’m going to go through the first thirteen WrestleManias, which takes us right up to the beginning of the Attitude Era. Here we’ll take on the Golde Era and the New Generation Era to see their effect on the show of shows.

WrestleMania-

The first rendition of the Granddaddy of them All is a charming blend of spectacle, celebrity, and sporting event. The lighting makes the show look like an old boxing card, and it gives the entertainment product a veneer of legitimacy. The workrate isn’t the best here as most matches are short with non-finishes or screwy ones like DQs or countouts. However, that means you likely won’t get bored, as no match really outstays its welcome. The matches are really there to space out the moments, like Cyndi Lauper jogging to the ring with Wendi Richter or the outlandishly entertaining tag main event with Mr. T. There’s some great crowd engagement with Andre taking on Big John Studd in a bodyslam challenge, and even a legitimately good match between David Samartino and Brutus Beefcake. The production might not reach the spectacle of later events, and the show takes a bit to find its stride, but thanks to the fantastic commentary team of Jesse Ventura and Gorilla Monsoon, there’s rarely a dull moment for viewers at home. A welcome experiment that succeeds more than it fails, but one that still struggles to produce a standout wrestling card, relying on crowd fervor and presentation to carry the event. SCORE- 7/10

WrestleMania 2-

If the first Mania was an experiment that succeeded, the direct sequel is one that failed. Splitting the 12 match card between three cities failed to produce the hot crowds that would help carry future Manias. It didn’t help that most of the matches were either way too short- with the Women’s championship match clocking in under two minutes- or featured the non-finishes discussed earlier. The “main events” for each location failed to hype the crowd, save for the Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy cage match. In fact, the boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper was downright terrible, and exposes the choregraphed product by introducing a scripted version of a boxing. It’s overly long- one of the matches on the card you can complain about the long length- with baffling cameos as guest judges from figures like G. Gordon Liddy (of WATERGATE FAME). Even Randy Savage can’t save the show with a repetitive and one-note bout against George “The Animal Steel.” Even viewing it at home can be a chore with the guest commentators who are clearly not trained in this craft, although Elvira is having the time of her life which is charming enough. The main event isn’t the worst in the show’s history, but it’s largely forgettable. SCORE- 2/10

WrestleMania III-

Many consider this to be the first great WrestleMania, and it’s easy to see why. The gigantic crowd, the large stadium, the entrance mini-ring carts, and historic main event create that sense of spectacle that people associate with WrestleMania today. In-ring wise, this card is also a massive improvement over the first two shows. Randy Savage vs Steamboat is an industry-defining classic and don’t sleep on the delightfully fun Roddy Piper vs Adrian Adonis match-up. Yes there are still the short matches with bad finishes, but there’s also burgeoning workhorses like the Can-Am Connection and the Hart Foundation previewing their in-ring skills. And while the main event isn’t a mat classic, it features an iconic moment, and watching Hulk Hogan defeat Andre the Giant on that stage produces a sense of awe unseen these days in modern wrestling. It’s hard to compare to modern manias because of the stuffed card necessitating quick and meaningless matches, but this is the event where WrestleMania became the Showcase of the Immortals. SCORE- 8.5/10

WrestleMania IV-

The World Wrestling Federation did not rest on their laurels. With their fourth WrestleMania, they decided to another experiment- a show-long tournament to crown the new WWF Champion after the title had been vacated. The show would also feature several intermission matches, leading to a whopping 16 matches on the card. The tournament had the usual short match/screwy finish that early Manias had, but unfortunately one of those matches was the much-hyped rematch between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, taking place in the second round. The double disqualification finish was a cheap way to end a match the show was built around, but story-wise it made the whole tournament more dramatic. Ted DiBiase got to sail through thanks to the time limit draw of Jake Roberts vs Rick Rude. Meanwhile, Randy Savage had to compete in every round and against a fresher opponent in the semi-final thanks to the double DQ of Hogan/Andre. Savage vs. DiBiase was good, but it was all about Savage winning the whole tournament. This gives the show a jolt of energy which helps overcome the rather pedestrian venue. The intermission matches help keep things fresh, but overall there’s not much to remember inside the ropes. The best match is Rick Rude vs Jake Roberts, which earns boring chants at one point but manages to hook the crowd for a heartbreaking finish. It’s also one of two matches that goes longer than ten minutes. Still, a fun story and it gives us the only real main event without Hulk Hogan (officially as he does a run-in) in the first 9 Manias. Score- 7/10.

WrestleMania V-

The return to Trump Plaza produced a more subdued crowd, and there’s just not as much energy as there could be throughout the event. However, much like WrestleMania III, there’s more going on in the ring than you might expect. In addition to the Hart Foundation, Mr. Perfect, and the Rockers in the midcard, Randy Savage is in the main event again, this time as a heel taking on Hulk Hogan. The main event had an all-time build as the two men had joined forces only to be split apart by jealousy and paranoia. The result is a clinic of a heel performance from Randy Savage. Meanwhile, the Jake Roberts/Andre the Giant match is huge fun and Rick Rude takes on the Ultimate Warrior in a very engaging Intercontinental title clash. Fourteen matches is still too much but the real thing that knocks this mania down from comparisons to say Mania III is the overly long, boring, and cringey segment between Roddy Piper, Brother Love, and Moton Downey Jr. It doesn’t ruin the show, but it absolutely brings the show to a halt. Still, there are plenty of good matches on the card to enjoy! SCORE- 7/10

WrestleMania VI

What a difference a change of scenery makes. The Canadian crowd is MOLTEN, especially for the main event of Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan. Hogan puts his work boots and leads Warrior to an epic clash of titans that has the right winner and genius structure. Elsewhere on the card are special moments like Andre turning face and leaving the Heenan family and the Hart Foundation getting a home country squash. The Rockers help add to the in-ring action by taking on the talented (but poorly named) Orient Express, and Dusty Rhodes electrifies the crowd with his mixed tag match taking on Savage and his valet, Sensational Sherri. Sure, it’s not the best use of Dusty Rhodes, but he and his manager Saphire are super over with the crowd, and they bite on every moment. There’s some solid yet unspectacular matches down the card, but the non-finishes still plague this Mania. Honestly, the show could stand to lose about three or four matches. And the first on the chopping block would be Roddy Piper vs Bad News Brown, mainly because well.. Piper has black face on half his body. It’s uncomfortable stuff. But it cannot completely diminish the work put out by guys like Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts and Mr. Perfect. The spectacle is on full display here with the return of the mini-ring carts, thus making WrestleMania VI one of the all-time great events. SCORE- 8.5/10

WrestleMania VII

One year removed from Hogan passing the torch to Ultimate Warrior and… well Hogan is back in the main event while Ultimate Warrior contends himself with wrestling one of the most emotionally satisfying matches in Mania history lower down the card. The crowd bites on every moment in Savage vs Warrior, and when Elizabeth runs down to the ring to save the Macho Man from a beatdown by Sherri they erupt in joy. It brought the audience to tears. The crowd are pretty excited for a decent chunk of the card, including a bit of fun sport entertainment from Jake Roberts and Rick Martel in a blindfold match, and fun tag performances from Mania staples like the Rockers and the Hart Foundation in two separate but good tag matches. The Main Event between Sgt. Slaughter and Hogan is a slog though, and the crowd can’t even save a lethargic performance by Slaughter, miscast as a top heel. There are screwy finishes, too many short matches, and moments that go on just hair too long, like the post-match beatdown angle in the Virgil/Ted Dibiase match and the Andre the Giant interference. It feels like a disjointed Mania with fewer big moments than the previous installment, although it is the beginning of the Undertaker’s iconic streak, starting at this show with an enjoyably brief squash match. The America themed venue is passe, and while there are some decent matches on the card, there’s only one outstanding one, and it’s halfway through the show. Much like Mania VI, if the fat was trimmed, maybe the show would be better remembered. But the best thing would probably be to switch the main event with Savage/Warrior to end on the biggest possible high. SCORE- 7/10

WrestleMania VIII

A lot of people point to this Mania as the end of Hulkamania, and while there is some truth there, the crowd is still white hot for Hulk Hogan and the product as a whole. The stadium and crowd are underrated in Mania history, and they help elevate a much tighter WrestleMania. The opener with Shawn Michaels vs. Tito Santana gives the audience a taste of what the show stopper can bring in singles competition on the Grandest Stage of Them All. The Undertaker fights Jake Roberts in a match rife with mind games and a compelling story. Then, we get to one of the best intercontinental title matches in Mania history with Piper vs. Bret Hart, again showcasing future singles talent in the WWF. The story these two tell is beyond compelling, and mixes in grappling with soap opera drama. That drama is potentially one-upped by Savage vs. Ric Flair for the WWF Title, as Randy Savage- despite supposedly being retired the previous year- finally takes down the heel who made inappropriate advances towards Savage’s wife. Everything on the card either works, or is at least inoffensive. That is, until the Main Event. The crowd is hot for it, but it’s a bad match with a botched DQ finish in the main event of the Show of Shows. Ultimate Warrior returning, only to leave the company shortly after, sent the crowd home happy, and the story of the match being Hogan’s potential last match (a lie), helps give the show a story. But the dud of an ending puts paid to an event on track to being on the level of the best from this era. Still, at only nine matches on the main card, this is a lean event with far less fat, making for a more enjoyable viewing experience. SCORE- 7.5/10

WrestleMania IX

stleMania IX-

               This show feels just a bit off. Outdoors near at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, there’s a charming toga theme, and the opening match is actually very good, until the count-out finish. The tag match between the Headshrinkers and Steiner Brothers also cooks a bit, with a powerslam counter from an electric chair position really standing out. From there, the show is entirely downhill. The Tag Title match between Money Inc and the Mega-Maniacs is especially bad, with the Hulkamania schtick simply unable to save a plodding match with a DQ finish- the second on the card. That finish ends the horrid bout between The Undertaker and the near immobile Giant Gonzalez. Past Manias have their fair share of nonfinishes, but they usually had more than 8 matches advertised for the main card, so it was easier to overlook. The final insult of this show is the main event, which starts out fairly okay, but finishes way too short with the heel Yokozuna (a Samoan cosplaying as a Japanese sumo wrestlers) defeating the champion Bret Hart, only to be challenged and immediately beaten by Hulk Hogan. This event officially kicks off the New Generation Manias, but rather than signify this changing of the guard with a win by the company’s future, they doubled down on Hulk Hogan even knowing he wasn’t long for the federation thanks to the steroid scandal. A couple decent opening bouts keeps the show from being the very worst, and it goes by quickly enough, but ends on such a sour note that it’s difficult to find much enjoyment in the event. SCORE- 4/10

WrestleMania X

A lot of people have this as a top WrestleMania, and there’s three reasons for that distinction. The first is a banger of an opening match between Bret and Owen Hart, one of the best openers of any wrestling show. The second is the continuation and culmination of Bret’s journey to the top of the mountain, regaining his title from a Yokozuna in a serviceable match after losing in the opening bout. Owen shows up to signify that he will be coming for Bret’s title, so one chapter closes and a new one opens. The third reason is the bar-setting Intercontinental ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon. However, the show isn’t quite perfect. There’s an overly long comedy match with Doink and Dink, two clown gimmicks which are quite cartoony. Alundra Blayze and Leilani Kai could have had a real match on their hands, but they were given an insulting match time under 4 minutes. Lastly, Yokozuna’s first title match against Lex Luger truly stinks up the joint, even before the DQ finish. It’s the worst traits of both men on display- slow, plodding, with overly long rest holds. The crowd is hot for quite a bit of the action, though nowhere near the peak of Hulkamania. The long period between the opener and the ladder match dulls the shine a bit, but this is still a very good Mania, and a great improvement over the previous installment. SCORE- 8/10

WrestleMania XI

From the highs of Mania X to the crushing lows of WrestleMania XI, this event feels desperate in a truly disheartening way. Rife with random and pointless celebrity involvement from 90s icons like Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Pamela Anderson, even the main event falls prey to this trope. Instead of the tag match from the first WrestleMania, the WWF ran a football player- Lawrence Taylor- against a solid midcarder- Bam Bam Bigelow. With only seven matches on the card, the roster is thin, and there are few moments that really stand out. Owen Hart teaming with Yokozuna to win the tag titles is probably the best one that comes to mind. Shawn Michaels and Diesel wrestle a pretty decent main event, with very little heat, as Sid is the only one who receives sustained cheers. Bret Hart- usually dependable for producing a great match for Mania- can’t drag a passable bout hampered by Piper as guest ref interrupting the action with a microphone asking the contestants if they quit. The crowd is noticeably quiet for most of the bouts, but it’s hard to blame them. It’s no secret that 1995 was one of the worst years for the company, and their crown jewel shows it. The main event actually isn’t bad, but it’s indicative of the lack of trust in their roster to produce a great wrestling event. SCORE- 3/10

WrestleMania XII

Maybe the most difficult WrestleMania to rate. Quite a few manias are one match shows, but few matches are as divisive or long as this one. Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart may be an acquired taste, telling an epic hour-plus long story about two of the best wrestlers in the world trying to prove that they are better than the other. It’s truly a chess match throughout, as Bret waits patiently for Shawn to make a crucial mistake and then capitalizes but cannot turn it into a victory. Finally Bret gets the sharpshooter, but the time expires. If you can get into it, it’s a great story and proves the main event of WrestleMania can be blockbuster, but it can also full of substance. This is kind of like a Martin Scorsese film vs the Avengers. Sure one may be endlessly watchable and enjoyable with its own craft, but the other can be a true layered masterpiece. However, the undercard isn’t all awful, with a strong Undertaker/Diesel matchup that is probably Taker’s best match of the streak up to this point. Piper and Goldust earn groans in their Hollywood Backlot Brawl, and much like Piper’s blackface moment, it hasn’t aged well. It’s a short walk to get to the main event, with a few forgettable moments, an ill-advised Ultimate Warrior return, a razor thin roster. The logo is also kind of cool, adapting the 20^th Century Fox logo, giving the show a slightly distinctive feel. If you can get into the main event, half of the wrestling time in the show is pretty great, but as an event it’s held down by the lack of engaging midcard. SCORE- 6.5/10

WrestleMania 13

This one is a bit like the previous entry- a one match show. The match is arguably better than the main event of Mania XII as well, with Bret Hart and Stone Cold putting together a match that would exemplify and change their characters forever. This is the event that solidified Steve Austin as the next top guy.  Unfortunately, that match is followed by an interminably boring street fight with little rhyme or reason. The main event is also a bit of a snooze, with Sid and Undertaker wrestling a 20-minute match that should have been trimmed by half. Not only do the matches on this card put the TV audience to sleep, but they do the same for the live crowd. Both The Rock and Triple H get victories on this card, and you wouldn’t’ know they would become industry defining stars in three years’ time by their performances or how well they over with the crowd. As good as that Bret/Austin match is, it doesn’t take nearly the time on the card that the Iron Man match does the year prior, which means more time is spent on the heatless midcard that just can’t seem to click well with the fans. SCORE- 4/10

Well that’s it for this first look at Mania. And coincidentally, this Mania would be the last before the Attitude Era swings in to save the day for the WWF. The next article will look at Manias 14-26, with some good Manias on the docket. Honestly, I can understand why some folks out there can’t get into these early Manias. The matches are often short with nonfinishes, and the in-ring workrate isn’t always the best. But if you just allow yourself to escape into that time in wrestling, where escaping bear hugs earned you a monster pop and sending the fans home happy was the most important thing, you can have a great time. I know I did.