Wrestlemania I

release year: 1985
genre: vintage wrestling pay-per-view
viewing setting: home DVD, 9/1/12

synopsis: In this very first big wrestling PPV from over 25 years ago, numerous guest-stars, matches, and spectacles abounded.

where it happened: New York City

impressions: This was a very successful early pay-per-view and started the annual event that wrestling fans have come to know and love. I won't go into great detail, but rather mention some highlights. There was a sub-30-second match in which S.D. Jones got squashed by King Kong Bundy. The Iron Sheik spoke really bad English (he refers to commentator Okerlund as "Gene Mean" every single time.) Andre the Giant body-slams Big John Studd, winning the match, and then throws his cash into the audience. Cyndi Lauper prances around like a badly-dressed moron...oh wait. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T beat Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff, resulting in a great Piper temper tantrum. Celebrities on hand for this one (in addition to Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper) were Muhammad Ali, Billy Martin, and Liberace.

final word: The first of a line that continues to this day; it's a must-see for fans of this sort of entertainment.

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