Wrestlemania II

release year: 1986
genre: vintage wrestling pay-per-view
viewing setting: home DVD, 9/2/12

synopsis: In this second annual event, fights are broadcast from three different cities (New York, Chicago/Rosemont, Los Angeles.)

where it happened: Uniondale, New York and Rosemont, Illinois and Los Angeles, California

impressions: As before, I won't go into great detail, but rather mention some highlights. George "the Animal" Steele eats some turnbuckle stuffing as well as Randy Savage's leg and arm. Jake the Snake's unnamed-at-the-time python terrorizes some jobber and causes him to foam at the mouth. Roddy Piper and Mr. T have a boxing match. Andre the Giant wins a 20-man battle royal filled with wrestlers, football players, and Tony Atlas. The British Bulldogs have an outstanding tag-team win over Johnny Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. Hulk Hogan wins a steel cage match against King Kong Bundy, and then beats the crap out of Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. Also great throughout was the running commentary of Jesse Ventura, who always praised/defended the bad guys while criticizing the good guys; he's hilarious. Celebrities on hand for this one (in addition to any already mentioned above) were Ray Charles, Joe Fraizer, Tommy Lasorda, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Rivers, Susan Saint James, Cathy Lee Crosby, Elvira, Ricky Schroder, Dick Butkus, Eddie "Too Tall" Jones, and Claire Peller (the "where's the beef?" old lady.) Susan Saint James may have been the worst guest commentator ever; during the Piper/Mr. T boxing match, she must have said "Come on, T" two dozen times in her flat monotone voice.

final word: A fun time for fans of this sort of entertainment.

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