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#1 WrestleMania III
When we're talking classic WrestleMania shows (especially in the time frame we're working with), they don't get any more classic than the third edition of the Show of Shows. Not only was it the biggest event the WWF had put on at the time (with an attendance record - so they say - of nearly 94,000 people at the time). And, it had the biggest - almost literally - main event in pro wrestling history.
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But, while Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant may have sold the tickets, but there were still some other great matches featured on the card.
John Cena's last PPV's name revealed by Kurt Angle? More details HERE
WrestleMania III featured what is considered by some to be the greatest WrestleMania match - or just wrestling matches in general - of all time, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat challenging Intercontinental Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage for his title. There was also a "retirement match" for "Rowdy" Piper (now a babyface after spending the last two WrestleManias as a heel) against "Adorable" Adrian Adonis - a match that also doubled as a Hair vs Hair bout, as well. The match ended with Piper getting the win with an assist from Brutus Beefcake, who used the opportunity to transition not only into a babyface, but also into his "Barber" gimmick.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts took on The Honky Tonk Man in an undercard match that was notable for having rock music legend and Detroit native (WrestleMania III took place just outside of Detroit in Pontiac, MI) Alice Cooper in his corner. Honky had legitimately injured Roberts after hitting him in the head with an actual guitar (as opposed to one designed to break), which led to this match.
And then, we have the Main Event. The lead-up to this match is the stuff of legend. Hogan and Andre had been friends for years - Andre even celebrated with Hogan when the "Real American" won his first WWF Championship. But, eventually, resentment at not getting a shot at the championship, despite being "undefeated" for "fifteen years" (we're talking 1980s WWF math here). So, Andre - now being managed by Heenan - challenged his former friend to a title match at WrestleMania.
The confrontation was epic. Eventually, after taking a beating by the Giant in and out of the ring, he did what (WWE announcers claimed) nobody else had been able to do before - bodyslam Andre and pin him. It may quite possibly be Hulk Hogan's greatest match, outside of his WrestleMania 18 match with The Rock. But, that's for another list.
In general, WrestleMania III isn't just a great time capsule - it's a legitimately fun show. There's not a bad match on the card. I mean, there's some matches that aren't great (the King Kong Bundy/Hillbilly Jim match where they both team with little people is kind of weird), but all of them are fun.
Considering WWE is holding this year's WrestleMania with no crowd, it might just be something to watch one of the shows with one of WWE's biggest crowds ever.
What do you guys think? What are your favorite WrestleManias from the first to the tenth? I'll be back soon to get the New Generation and Attitude Era shows next week. Until then, thanks for reading and stay healthy!
