5 Times the live audience made a WrestleMania match great

#3. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3

For its mechanical limitations, Hogan vs. Andre remains one of the most iconic wrestling matches of all time.

In 1987, it was virtually impossible to book a match between two higher-profile professional wrestlers than Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. The Hulkster was riding an unprecedented wave of popularity as the face of WWE and the anchor of the company’s national expansion.

Andre the Giant was a legend known worldwide, seemingly on the verge of getting phased out of the limelight. Only here he was for one more main event angle, uniquely positioned as the insurmountable heel to Hogan’s heroic face character.

Any fan who watches their WrestleMania 3 main event with their television muted is likely to feel underwhelmed, particularly with the expectations for pacing and action contemporary wrestling has established. However, with the sound on, it’s easy to get lost in the historic moment as these two had 93,000 fans in the palms of their hands all match long, culminating in Hogan’s positively iconic body slam and leg drop to retain his world title.