As we get ready for Wrestlemania 33 on April 2, it’s time to look at the past Wrestlemania events. Here’s a list of the first 10 Manias with recommended events or matches worth checking out.
Wrestlemania 1
The spectacle looks primitive compared to today’s shows. However this was a big risk for the then WWF and the celebrity involvement. This looked like your basic event from the era however the celebrities involved included Cyndi Lauper, Billy Martin, Mr. T, Muhammad Ali, and Liberace.
What to Watch
Tito Santana vs. The Executioner – First ever Wrestlemania Match.
King Kong Bundy vs. S.D. Jones – For years this stood as the shortest Wrestlemania match.
Wendi Richter vs. Leilani Kai – Cyndi Lauper was there, it was a rock and wrestling connection that worked big time for the WWF.
Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff – The Main event that features Muhammand Ali, Liberance and Billy Martin as part of the match. Entertaining for the time.
Wrestlemania 2
Held in three different cities on the same night, Uniondale, NY, Chicago and Los Angeles. While there are some moments that are great to watch, the event as a whole doesn’t work as many matches are too short and seem rushed. The boxing match with Mr. T and Roddy Piper was a dud and the main event with King Kong Bundy and Hulk Hogan was ok. There was much better on the card to see.
What to Watch
Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs. George “The Animal” Steele – This feud made both men bigger stars then they are already were. Savage is outstanding in this match.
20 Man Battle Royal – This featured WWF wrestlers and NFL players that were active at the time (something that wouldn’t happen now) including William “Refrigerator” Perry.
British Bulldogs vs. The Dream Team – Classic match for the Tag Team titles. Ozzy Osbourne was in the corner for the Bulldogs. If you watch one match from the show, make it this one.
Uncle Elmer vs. Adrian Adonis – One of the rushed matches. Elmer was not a great wrestler at all and it shows here but Adonis was a big guy who could move. This match is far from a classic and only on the list to see how rushed they were.
Terry and Hoss Funk vs. Tito Santana and Junk Yard Dog – Very entertaining match, Terry Funk steals the show and this match had hardcore moments years before anyone know what it was.
Wrestlemania 3
This event featured record crowds and 2 matches that are still talked about to this day. This is one of the great Wrestlemanias and almost worth watching from beginning to end. Over 90,000 people on hand to witness some pretty good moments and matches. For years the clip of Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant has been played all over WWF/WWE events.
What to watch
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant – People complain that this wasn’t a great match from a technical stand point. It didn’t need to be, the crowd was electric in a way that rarely gets seen today. Plus it features the body slam heard around the world. Looking back, the at older footage the build up to this match was very well done and one you didn’t see coming.
Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat – A classic that made wrestlers want to wrestle. One of the greatest Wrestlemania matches ever. At the time when it was only the main event that got to shine, this one stole the show.
Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – Piper’s “Retirement” Match. Piper who was a villian for years became an over the top hero.
The Hart Foundation and Dangerous Danny Davis vs. The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana – A fun match that usually gets overlooked. Bret Hart would later became a big time WWF Superstar years later.
Wrestlemania 4
This Mania featured one day tournament for the WWF Title. Overall this is not one of the better shows. It just seems flat, maybe there were too many matches (16) or the matches just weren’t that good. In the tourney, they missed out on having a Steamboat vs. Savage rematch. It did crown a new Champion in Randy Savage.
What to Watch
20 Man Battle Royal – While Bret Hart was years away from a Championship, you can see him start to breakout a little.
Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase – Final match from the tournament that included involvement from Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.
Wrestlemania 5
The build up for this year started months ago before Randy Savage turned on Hulk Hogan. This was held in the same venue as Wrestlemania IV. It also featured the return of Roddy Piper in a forgettable Piper’s Pit. While a one match show, this one isn’t a bad show overall, it’s better than 4.
What to watch
Randy Savage vs Hulk Hogan – Savage was outstanding in this match. This feud would last for almost a year after this event.
Mr. Perfect vs. The Blue Blazer – Mr Perfect was on his way up and wasn’t pinned in the WWE for about 18 months. The Blue Blazer was played by Owen Hart who would later become a star.
Rick Rude vs. The Ultimate Warrior – This is an underrated match. Rude pulls out a great performance from the Warrior.
Wrestlemania 6
A one match show that featured 2 really popular wrestlers at the time. This was also the first Wrestlemania to be held in Canada and featured the last Wrestlemania match with Andre the Giant and the only Wrestlemania match with Dusty Rhodes. A few too many matches didn’t click and the blow off to the Jake “The Snake” and Ted DiBaise feud was disappointing.
What to Watch
Demolition vs. Haku and Andre the Giant – This was Andre’s last Wrestelmania match, although he never officially tagged in.
Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior – Time hasn’t been kind to this match but it was well done.
Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr Perfect – One of the better matches from the undercard.
Wrestlemania 7
This initially was going to be at the Los Angeles Coliseum but due to low ticket sale and according to the WWF security issues it was moved to a smaller venue. It’s not a bad show, there are a couple of bad matches but there is some good wrestling on the show. The main event is probably the most predictable of any that the WWF has ever had for a Wrestlemania as Hulk Hogan took on Sgt. Slaughter, who at the time was an Iraqi sympathizer, an angle that turned off a lot of people at the time.
What to Watch
Randy Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior – What was billed as a retirement match was a pretty good match. This also featured the return of Miss Elizabeth.
Mr. Perfect vs. The Big Bossman – The ending of this match isn’t great but the match it’s self features some great wrestling.
The Undertaker vs. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka – This was the Undertaker’s first Wrestlemania match and the beginning of the streak.
Wrestlemania 8
This show featured a double main event. The first is a classic between Randy Savage and Ric Flair. The second was Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice, which brought on the return of the Ultimate Warrior who was gone from the company for about 6 months. The show also featured an underrated match between Roddy Piper and Bret Hart. Other than that, there’s not much else on the show worth checking out.
What to Watch
Undertaker vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts – Jake’s last Wrestlemania for a few years. Undertaker was now a fan favorite and seemed unstoppable.
Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart – Great match for the Intercontinental title.
Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair – For the WWF Title. It didn’t close the show because of Hulk/Sid main event, but it was much better match. The way these two played off each other makes this even better.
Wrestlemania 9
A show that because a mess because Hulk Hogan because involved in a impromptu match after Bret Hart and Yokozuna fought. The Undertaker fought Giant Gonzales in one of the worst Wrestlemania matches ever. This was the time the WWF didn’t know what to do with the Undertaker and bring in or create guys for him to fight. Gonzales couldn’t wrestle and it showed.
What to Watch
The Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers – The only Wrestlemania match from the Steiners is pretty good.
Crush vs. Doink the Clown – Doink was an evil clown, while some people hated the gimmick, the heel clown was one of the best characters they had. That changed when the clown became a fan favorite a few months later and because more of a comedy act.
Wrestlemania 10
This is one of the best Wrestlemanias and features two matches that could be considered 5-star classics. This was also the first Wrestlemania without Hulk Hogan, it was time for the next generation of stars to come through and what a show they put on.
What to watch
Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart – This is an outstanding match between the real life brothers and an ending that no one saw coming at the time. Make sure to watch this.
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – The first PPV Ladder matches and it’s one of the best ever. This match set the standard for later ladder matches. Make sure to watch this one too.
Men on a Mission vs. Quebecers – Underrated tag match. This match was better than it deserved to be.