WWF Wrestlemania is a 1985 professional wrestling event put on by the World Wrestling Federation. It is the second event of the alternate WWF Timeline, and the first ever Wrestlemania Mega Event. The show, shown on Closed Circuit Television, was the culmination of several scripted storylines within the professional wrestling presentation. It was main evented by WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defending his title against "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. In the undercard, WWF Women's Champion Sherri Martel defended against former champion Wendi Richter, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine defended against former Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana, Andre the Giant battled "Big" John Studd in a Bodyslam Challenge and former WWF Champion Bruno Sammartino returned to the ring to team with his son David against Luscious Johnny V and Brutus Beefcake.
Prelude[]
At the previous month's event, The War to Settle the Score, WWF Champion Hulk Hogan had been a part of a losing effort in a six-man tag match against Piper, Bob Orton and Paul Orndorff. While Hogan himself was unpinned, Piper used this victory to successfully lobby for a championship match at Wrestlemania. To keep order at ringside between Piper's "bodyguard" Orton and Mr. T, WWF Commissioner Arnold Skaaland stated that former boxing champion Muhammad Ali would be the Special Guest Ringside Enforcer for the match.
Following her title loss the previous month, Wendi Richter was forced to defeat members of Moolah's Angels (a stable of female wrestlers managed by The Fabulous Moolah) Leilani Kai and Judy Martin in a handicap match in order to earn her rematch against Sherri Martel. She was successful, and due to Moolah's actions at ringside the previous month, Arnold Skaaland decreed that if she interfered in the title match, then she would be barred from ever challenging for the Women's Championship ever again.
The Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant, had been feuding with fellow giant Big John Studd over the title of the true giant of professional wrestling. The feud reached its apex when Andre was handcuffed and knocked out with a chloroform soaked rag by Studd and fellow Heenan family member Ken Patera, as The Brain proceeded to shave off Andre's trademark long hair in the center of the ring. Heenan then challenged Andre to a match, he would put up $25,000 if Andre could slam John Studd inside of 15 minutes. If he couldn't, then Andre would have to retire from wrestling. Andre agreed to the stipulations.
When he won the Intercontinental Championship, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine had severely injured the knee of former champion Tito Santana with his patented Figure-4 Leglock. After a few months of rehab, Santana returned at the War to Settle the Score, when he informed the referee of Valentine's cheating ways and cost him a match against the Junk Yard Dog. This led to a title rematch at this event.
Following their double disqualification at the War to Settle the Score, David Sammartino and Brutus Beefcake enlisted the aide of their respective corner men to compete in a tag team match. For David's father Bruno, this would mark his first match inside Madison Square in nearly 5 years, since his retirement as a full-time competitor.
Event[]
The event opened with WWF commentator "Mean" Gene Okerlund singing the National Anthem. Later speculation was that the original planned singer of the National Anthem has been made, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Billy Joel, but no definitive answer has ever been given. The event began with a match between Rocky Johnson and Buddy Rose, which Johnson was victorious in. This was followed by a 15-Man Battle Royal. The final three men in the match were The Magnificent Muraco, The Junk Yard Dog and George "The Animal" Steele. Both Steele and Muraco at the time were managed by Mr. Fuji. In the course of the match, Muraco tricked Steele into being eliminated, leaving only Muraco and JYD. This caused Steele to turn on Muraco and Fuji, resulting in the JYD winning the match.
Next was a match involving newly signed giant King Kong Bundy defeating longtime undercard worker S.D. Jones in under twenty seconds (the stated match time of 8 seconds was overstated for dramatic purposes). Newly signed worker Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat then defeated Matt Borne in a quick match. This was followed by the tag team match, as the Sammartinos fought Johnny V and Brutus Beefcake. Despite his father's best efforts, the father-son duo were tricked into losing after a high knee rollup from Brutus. However in the aftermath, both David and Bruno took turns body slamming Johnny V. In a follow up match from the previous month, Paul Orndorff defeated Jimmy Snuka after a piledriver.
World Tag Team Champions the US Express then successfully defended their tag team titles against Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik, despite interference from Classy Freddie Blassie. In what was deemed match of the night, Tito Santana defeated Greg Valentine with two Flying Forearm shots to win the Intercontinental Championship. Andre then defeated Big John Studd via Bodyslam, however manager Bobby Heenan ran away with the $25,000 prize as Andre was throwing the money into the crowd.
The Women's Championship was decided next, as Wendi Richter defeated Sherri Martel to regain her title, reversing a cross body attempt into a roll up of her own to pick up the victory. She then celebrated in the ring with her manager/friend Cyndi Lauper.
In the main event, former Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali acted as the special guest enforcer between Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. Piper took the early advantage over the champion, using quick strikes to counter the Hulkster's Power. On several occasions Bob Orton looked to help his friend out, but every time was beaten back by Mr. T (and on one occasion Ali threatened to knock him out). In the end, Hogan made a come back and defeated Piper with his Atomic Leg Drop finisher, to retain the belt.
Results[]
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Soulman" Rocky Johnson d. "Playboy" Buddy Rose by Pinfall | Singles Match | 10:42 |
| 2 | The Junk Yard Dog Won a Battle Royal | 15 Man Battle Royale | 17:44 |
| 3 | King Kong Bundy w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan d. S.D. Jones by Pinfall | Singles Match | 0:17 |
| 4 | Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat d. Matt Borne by Pinfall | Singles Match | 6:59 |
| 5 | Brutus Beefcake & "Luscious" Johnny V d. Bruno & David Sammartino by Pinfall | Tag Team Match | 13:01 |
| 6 | "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff d. "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka by Pinfall | Singles Match | 9:33 |
| 7 | The U.S. Express [Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo] w/Capt. Lou Albano (c) d. Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik by Pinfall | Tag Team Match for the WWF Tag Team Championships | 14:02 |
| 8 | Tito Santana d. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/Jimmy Hart (c) by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship | 19:43 |
| 9 | Andre the Giant d. Big John Studd w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan with a Body Slam | Wager Match for $25,000. If Andre failed to Body Slam Studd, he would have been forced to retire. | 12:34 |
| 10 | Wendi Richter w/Cyndi Lauper d. "Sensational" Sherri Martel w/The Fabulous Moolah (c) by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWF Women's Championship | 8:55 |
| 11 | Hulk Hogan w/Mr. T (c) d. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWF Championship | 15:46 |
(c)= Denotes Champion Heading Into Match.
Aftermath[]
Piper/Hogan and Richter/Moolah would continue to feud for the remainder of the spring, settling it in respective steel cage matches that May. Santana would successfully defend his title against Greg Valentine in the aftermath before moving on to a feud with Brutus Beefcake. Due to a disagreement with WWF management, Cyndi Lauper would end her association with the company shortly after Wrestlemania.