WrestleMania
Madison Square Garden
New York, New York
March 31, 1985

Tito Santana vs. The Executioner

Result: Santana wins with a Figured 4 on the Executioner in 4:50

Comments: Not too bad, The Executioner needed more work as it was clear to see that Santana carried them to a respectable match here.

King Kong Bundy (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. S.D. Jones

Result: Bundy with the huge assed splash on Jones at 0:25. No five count on that one.

Comments: What the hell!!! Squash city! The announcers try to put over that Bundy killed Jones in 9 seconds but it was a nice try anyways.

Ricky Steamboat vs. Matt Borne

Result: Steamboat with the flying crossbody on Borne in 5:00

Comments: Very technical from Borne's view. Steamboat was very aggressive in this match due to Borne telling him that he lacked the aggression to get far in the business. Solid effort all around.

Brutus Beefcake (w/ John Valiant) vs. David Sammartino (w/ Bruno Sammartino)

Result: Double disqualification after all men were brawling in the ring at 11:43

Comments: Another solid effort by these two wrestlers. This match was very back and forth with lots of working over one body part. There was too much stalling though on Beefcake's part that brings the match down. Where is David Sammartino now?

Intercontinental Title Match

Champion
Greg Valentine (W/ Jimmy Hart ) vs. Junk Yard Dog

Result: Valentine pins JYD with feet on the ropes at 5:45. Santana comes out to complain so the match continues and Valentine is counted out at 5:57 officially giving him the victory.

Comments: Reversed decisions kinda suck. I really don't know why have a Dusty-type finish in a championship match, no matter the belt. Oh well. Pretty good match, typical heel champion getting his ass handed to him throughout.

Tag Team Title Match

Champions
M. Rotunda & B. Windham (w/ L. Albano) vs. Iron Sheik & N. Volkoff (w/ Fred Blassie)

Result: Volkoff pins Windham at 7:15 to become new champions after a kane shot over the shoulder.

Comments: Really good tag match, pretty typical of the time. Volkoff doing the Russian anthem on the stick was great, the crowd was just hot over that. Post-match, more taunting of the New York crowd by Iron Sheik.

$15,000 Body Slam Match

Big John Studd (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs. Andre the Giant
Special Stipulation: If Andre loses, then he must retire from wrestling

Result: Andre slams Studd at 5:54

Comments: Andre looks light on his feet in this one. Both looking good in this match of big men. Announcers drive the retirement stip throughout the match. Post-match, Andre throws money out to the crowd but Heenan runs off with the rest before it is gone.

Women's Title Match

Champion
Leilani Kai (w/ Fabulous Moolah) vs. Wendy Richter (w/Cindy Lauper)

Result: Richter reverses flying body block by Kai for the pin at 6:14.

Comments: Crowd was hot for this one too. Lauper gets into it with Moolah halfway through the match. Post Match, new champ dances in the ring with Lauper.

Main Event Tag Team Match

Guest Timekeeper: Liberace
Guest Ring Announcer: Billy Martin
Guest Referee: Muhammad Ali

Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff (w/ Bob Orton) vs. Mr. T & Hulk Hogan (w/ Jimmy Snuka)

Result: Hogan pins Orndorff at 13:26 after a top rope cast shot by Orton.

Comments: The crowd is just rabid at this point. Lost of heat to Piper and Orndorff with the biggest pop of the night going to champion Hogan and T. The match itself is just hectic with lots of run-ins, outside interference and just overall mayhem. Not bad for it's time at all.

Overall Event Comments:

I'll be honest, I like the show a lot. Sure, the interviews sucked big time as guys had probably never been on the stick except Hogan and Piper. Very few laughable matches on the card really except for the Bundy/Jones match. That was a waste of time. The Women's title was ok but both wrestlers needed more work as did a few others but overall, a watchable show. It was cool to see a lot of these WWF superstars who became fixtures later on in their start. Good show.

That is it for WrestleMania. Check back Tuesday and I think I will have WrestleMania II ready to go. 3 Venues, 3 Cities, 3 Main Events!!!

Send your mail to: corey_steadman@hotmail.com

See Ya!!