1. WrestleMania 17
2. WrestleMania 3
3. WrestleMania 14
4. WrestleMania 13
5. WrestleMania 8
6. WrestleMania 7
7. WrestleMania 6
8. WrestleMania 5
9. WrestleMania 10
10. WrestleMania 1
11. WrestleMania 4
12. WrestleMania 15
13. WrestleMania 12
14. WrestleMania 2
15. WrestleMania 9
16. WrestleMania 16
17. WrestleMania 11

Controversial opinion, bad take, or disconnect?

Baker-man, you tell me:

Hogan/Bundy was the best match at WrestleMania 2.

And Funks vs. Tito/JYD gave the tag title match a run for its money as #2.

As fun as the tag title match was, the weird post-match kinda ruined things for me.

Lastly, Brutus Beefcake is criminally underrated.

Up to this point, watching WrestleManias through from the first to the last, Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules from III is far and away the best and my favorite so far.

Aug 25, 2020 23:26:36 GMT 🤯 said:

Controversial opinion, bad take, or disconnect?

Baker-man, you tell me:

Hogan/Bundy was the best match at WrestleMania 2.

And Funks vs. Tito/JYD gave the tag title match a run for its money as #2.

As fun as the tag title match was, the weird post-match kinda ruined things for me.

Lastly, Brutus Beefcake is criminally underrated.

Another controversial opinion, bad take, or disconnect for Baker-man to confirm...

King Kong Bundy is the low key MVP of the first three WrestleManias, it's a shame he didn't stick around (what happened to him!?), and sucks he was such a shell of his former self when he returned in 1994.

Did Hercules and JYD ever have a chain match? If not, HUGE missed opportunity.

Aug 25, 2020 23:55:17 GMT 🤯 said:

Up to this point, watching WrestleManias through from the first to the last, Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules from III is far and away the best and my favorite so far.

One of my favourites as well, just two hosses getting at one another making a statement with some genuine feeling.

My bad-take is that despite winning, Steamboat was done dirty in that IC match. Savage whooped him from pillar to post, he spent more time sleeping on the outside than he did on offence and Savage got screwed. It was a fantastic Randy performance and for that reason, well worth a watch, but I can see why Ricky isn't as high on it.

🤯 I thought Bulldogs vs. Dream Team was the best match at WM 2. I didn't really like Hogan/Bundy all that much. Though I probably haven't seen it since I learned to stop hating and appreciate The Hulkster.

I don't know if Brutus is underrated (it's not like I'm going out of my way to watch Brutus Beefcake matches) but I will always give him credit for two things- his all time great ring name and those glorious outfits he wore during the first few years of his WWF run.

Bundy is low key in the running for MVP of the first 3 'Manias. Pretty sure I mentioned this once? All 3 appearances were memorable if nothing else. But I think you have to go with Hogan over Bundy for MVP.

I too am a fan of Herc vs. Billy Jerk.

Aug 26, 2020 0:15:17 GMT 🤯 said:

Aug 25, 2020 23:26:36 GMT 🤯 said:

Controversial opinion, bad take, or disconnect?

Baker -man, you tell me:

Hogan/Bundy was the best match at WrestleMania 2.

And Funks vs. Tito/JYD gave the tag title match a run for its money as #2.

As fun as the tag title match was, the weird post-match kinda ruined things for me.

Lastly, Brutus Beefcake is criminally underrated.

Another controversial opinion, bad take, or disconnect for Baker -man to confirm...

King Kong Bundy is the low key MVP of the first three WrestleManias, it's a shame he didn't stick around (what happened to him!?), and sucks he was such a shell of his former self when he returned in 1994.

I think Bundy actually went and got a straight job for a few years before the WWF came calling again in 1994. I want to say real estate or something between appearances on Married With Children. Bundy was an unsung hero of pretty much any event he participated in during the 80's heyday. I agree that the cage match with Hogan was the best on the card.

Aug 25, 2020 23:55:17 GMT 🤯 said:

Up to this point, watching WrestleManias through from the first to the last, Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules from III is far and away the best and my favorite so far.

Finally picked this up again today.

Never realized that the Killer Bees wrestled in Nike sneakers, not wrestling boots.

As good as Savage/Steamboat was, I think I still prefer Herc/BJH.

Also, Jake/HTM was way better than I thought it would be.

And now Shieky Baby & Niki Volks are having their best Mania outing. Love Shrik's shorts!

EDIT: Anyone know why Slick's shirt was already torn to shreds BEFORE the match?

Tito came out and attacked Slick after he interfered to help Butch Reed beat Koko.

Sept 3, 2020 22:10:39 GMT Strobe said:

Tito came out and attacked Slick after he interfered to help Butch Reed beat Koko.

Thank you. This is what I get for pausing and then resuming WrestleMania III days apart with no sleep in between.

Just finished, and pretty sure WrestleMania III might be one of the few WrestleManias requiring zero rebooking.

son & I are resuming our WrestleMania Watch Thru...

WrestleMania IV

Honestly, better than I recall it being.

Also, I've lived my life up to this point criminally underrating Honky Tonk Man in the ring.

Oct 10, 2020 0:00:47 GMT Baker said:

I will always be here for Honkytonk Man praise. Although even I won't go so far as saying HTM was good/underrated in the ring. His greatness came in other aspects of pro wrestling.
=================

Guess I should clarify.

Historically, I've always remembered HTM as an immobile uncoordinated fatso. How wrong I was based on these rewatches. He's not svelte by any stretch, but his build is arguably better than Jake Roberts' and maybe closer to a Brutus Beefcake than a Greg Valentine. And he's actually mobile and great at selling!

Maybe I always just saw HTM's gimmick and automatically layered the Fat Elvis persona onto him? Anyway, his match against Jake at WMIII and Beefcake at WMIV have been surprise highlights for me on these rewatches.

In fact, lots of guys overall are massively increasing their stock and/or reversing previous stances. Meanwhile, others are falling (but perhaps that's because of the standard I hold them up to instead?)... For instance: Brutus Beefcake, Honky Tonk Man, Dino Bravo, Bob Orton, Don Muraco, Hercules, King Kong Bundy, Greg Valentine, Billy Jack Haynes, Danny Davis, Nikolai Volkoff, Ultimate Warrior, Jim Duggan, Adrian Adonis, and the Can-Am Connection have all increased their stock quite a bit and/or totally reversed previous stances. SD Jones and George Wells even earn kudos.

Ricky Steamboat, Butch Reed, Bam Bam Bigelow, Ted DiBiase, Rick Rude, Jake Roberts, One Man Gang, and the US Express have all fallen down a bit. JYD is discounted along with Harley Race as age and fitness seem to play big into their suckage.

Hogan, Andre, Piper, Orndorff, Tito Santana, the Bulldogs, Matt Borne, Buddy Rose, and Bret have all cemented their legends. Meanwhile, Studd and Sheik hold their previous ground.

I know what you mean about the physique. I'd never think of Honky as in good shape, when he was. Not great by wrestling standards or ripped by any means, but good condition.



I think it goes back to childhood and how I viewed almost anyone that didn't look like Warrior as being fat. Demolition as an example. They may have been a bit soft compared to LOD or the Powers of Pain, but those were big guys.

Oct 10, 2020 1:38:04 GMT 🤯 said:

In fact, lots of guys overall are massively increasing their stock and/or reversing previous stances. Meanwhile, others are falling (but perhaps that's because of the standard I hold them up to instead?)... For instance: Brutus Beefcake, Honky Tonk Man, Dino Bravo, Bob Orton, Don Muraco, Hercules, King Kong Bundy, Greg Valentine, Billy Jack Haynes, Danny Davis, Nikolai Volkoff, Ultimate Warrior, Jim Duggan, Adrian Adonis, and the Can-Am Connection have all increased their stock quite a bit and/or totally reversed previous stances. SD Jones and George Wells even earn kudos.

Ricky Steamboat, Butch Reed, Bam Bam Bigelow, Ted DiBiase, Rick Rude, Jake Roberts, One Man Gang, and the US Express have all fallen down a bit. JYD is discounted along with Harley Race as age and fitness seem to play big into their suckage.

Hogan, Andre, Piper, Orndorff, Tito Santana, the Bulldogs, Matt Borne, Buddy Rose, and Bret have all cemented their legends. Meanwhile, Studd and Sheik hold their previous ground.

This also doesn't surprise me as such. This was the era of WWF where even the best in-ring workers sleptwalked through most matches but most people had a good character. So most matches are watchable enough just for the fun characters and there are few top level matches (outside of some of the bigger house shows). So guys who you weren't expecting much from coming across better and guys you were expecting more from coming across worse makes sense to me.

How did the Islanders turn heel? They seem like such natural faces with these bright tights and exciting in-ring stylings.

Oct 11, 2020 21:39:01 GMT 🤯 said:

How did the Islanders turn heel? They seem like such natural faces with these bright tights and exciting in-ring stylings.

Controversial opinion?

Hart Foundation vs. Greg Valentine & Honky Tonk Man @ WMV > British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake @ WM2

Another controversial opinion:

Rick Rude's absolute chicken legs are utterly distracting.

No wonder Vince didn't like Rude. He skipped Vince's favorite day of the week, Leg Day!

Oct 17, 2020 15:37:32 GMT 🤯 said:

Controversial opinion?

Hart Foundation vs. Greg Valentine & Honky Tonk Man @ WMV > British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake @ WM2

I would say so. It has been a while for both, but I remember that Bulldogs tag being really good and that Foundation tag being solid at best.

Oct 17, 2020 15:42:31 GMT 🤯 said:

Another controversial opinion:

Rick Rude's absolute chicken legs are utterly distracting.

No wonder Vince didn't like Rude. He skipped Vince's favorite day of the week, Leg Day!

How distracting they are may be a matter of debate, but it is a well-known fact that he was a leg day skipper. Austin has talked about teasing him about it and Rude claiming its an upper body business.

Oct 17, 2020 16:13:43 GMT Strobe said:

Oct 17, 2020 15:37:32 GMT 🤯 said:

Controversial opinion?

Hart Foundation vs. Greg Valentine & Honky Tonk Man @ WMV > British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake @ WM2

I would say so. It has been a while for both, but I remember that Bulldogs tag being really good and that Foundation tag being solid at best.

Oct 17, 2020 15:42:31 GMT 🤯 said:

Another controversial opinion:

Rick Rude's absolute chicken legs are utterly distracting.

No wonder Vince didn't like Rude. He skipped Vince's favorite day of the week, Leg Day!

How distracting they are may be a matter of debate, but it is a well-known fact that he was a leg day skipper. Austin has talked about teasing him about it and Rude claiming its an upper body business.

On the tags... the Bulldogs/Dream Team while good wasn't head and shoulders above the Funks/Tito & JYD match, IMO. But I might've also been soured a bit by the super bizarre post-match. Feel like it should've led to Bulldogs rightfully turning heel against Albano.

On Rude, his lifts are equally distracting. This is so bizarre. Rude is so good, and always been known as a body guy... But from the waist down he might as well be on present day NXT. As much as I'm against short guys in pro wrestling, I'm more against obvious and awkwardly thicc lifts.

/////

Here's a what-if I'm curious for Strobe and any others to help play out...

Post-Mania III, Predator and Running Man are released with prominent roles for Jesse Ventura. As a result, Hollywood's hottest new action might star The Body gets a special random intro and posed own as a mini intermission at WrestleMania IV.

Then at WrestleMania V, there's a trailer for No Holds Barred that makes Jesse so incensed he breaks professionalism and cuts a super heated promo into the camera before storming off. He returns, because he's a pro, but he's still pissed. Then he gets anti-Hulk livid again in the main event.

Jesse's commentary theme takes an arc over WrestleManias from the first two where I think he's still occasionally wrestling, to III and IV where it's a rear view thing but he teases a return, to V where he outright says he ought to come back just to do something about Hogan.

I think Ventura got involved more directly in the Mega Powers tensions too when he had to begrudgingly count the pinfall in the SummerSlam 1988 main event as special guest referee.

That all said, how fucking epic could a Hogan/Ventura program have been for the title at WrestleMania VI? I'd need to read up on Jesse to know if his health would've allowed it. But if it did... I'm thinking it's got ingredients to be epic.

Ventura as challenger gets Hogan co-star Zeus in his corner. Hogan as champ counters by revealing Jesse's BFF Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to appear in HIS corner! Jesse, as a former U.S. Navy Seal draws Heat by shitting on the fans because the show is in Canada. Or maybe Jesse doesn't need the cheap heat add-on... Anyway, Arnold gets a Mania moment when he gets to take Zeus out at ringside perhaps? Maybe if all parties are willing and the stars align, this somehow leads to a Hogan & Arnold vs. Ventura & Zeus tag main event at SummerSlam? Or maybe sub Savage in for Zeus, and relegate Zues to a cornerman considering his skill level?

I'm thinking if Jesse calls Hulk out a year in advance, maybe he has time to train under doctor supervision to make a return for one or two one-off matches lesser threats to his health?

Anyway...

Then...

Meanwhile, maybe we can move up Warrior/Savage from WrestleMania VII to WrestleMania VI. Then Hogan/Warrior happens for the first time at WrestleMania VII instead, with enough momentum to fill the 100,000 seat Stadium? Maybe André's last act at WM6 becomes putting over Warrior then turning face against Heenan after?

Then we give Savage and Liz time off a year earlier. Maybe they can have a kid, or at least ease their marital issues? Maybe they stay together?

That's all I've got for now. Someone, help me visualize this through.

At WrestleMania VI, Jesse is rarely expressing an open bias for a face in Roddy Piper because their Tag Team television show must've been in the works.

So... Add Roddy as special guest referee for WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger) vs. Jesse Ventura (w/ Zeus)?

Oct 18, 2020 13:57:20 GMT 🤯 said:

At WrestleMania VI, Jesse is rarely expressing an open bias for a face in Roddy Piper because their Tag Team television show must've been in the works.

So... Add Roddy as special guest referee for WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger) vs. Jesse Ventura (w/ Zeus)?

🤯 imagine this.

Wrestlemania VI

Jesse Ventura (w/Arnold Schwarzenegger) vs. Hulk Hogan (w/Sylvester Stallone)

Arnold vs. Sly

The Body vs. Hulkamania

The match ends with Sly and Arnie banding together to endorse Hulkamania. Mike Tyson and Austin style.

I think it could work. Jesse's biggest issue is that he was just a commentator, it would be the Jerry Lawler curse where it just seemed like he was a lower mid-card act at a certain point. Making him into this major Hollywood star would put him on equal pegging with Piper and if you can get him rubbing shoulders with Carl Weathers and the like they could really make it a peak Wrestlemania match.

If not, maybe we could get Fleetwood Mac and REO Speedwagon to accompany The Body like from that AWA promo that's on YouTube. Imagine Jesse making his big entrance to those electric power chords from Keep On Loving You (and yes, add it to the infinite playlist).

Oct 19, 2020 8:52:02 GMT Big Pete said:

Oct 18, 2020 13:57:20 GMT 🤯 said:

At WrestleMania VI, Jesse is rarely expressing an open bias for a face in Roddy Piper because their Tag Team television show must've been in the works.

So... Add Roddy as special guest referee for WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger) vs. Jesse Ventura (w/ Zeus)?

🤯 imagine this.

Wrestlemania VI

Jesse Ventura (w/Arnold Schwarzenegger) vs. Hulk Hogan (w/Sylvester Stallone)

Arnold vs. Sly

The Body vs. Hulkamania

The match ends with Sly and Arnie banding together to endorse Hulkamania. Mike Tyson and Austin style.

I think it could work. Jesse's biggest issue is that he was just a commentator, it would be the Jerry Lawler curse where it just seemed like he was a lower mid-card act at a certain point. Making him into this major Hollywood star would put him on equal pegging with Piper and if you can get him rubbing shoulders with Carl Weathers and the like they could really make it a peak Wrestlemania match.

If not, maybe we could get Fleetwood Mac and REO Speedwagon to accompany The Body like from that AWA promo that's on YouTube. Imagine Jesse making his big entrance to those electric power chords from Keep On Loving You (and yes, add it to the infinite playlist).

Ho Lee Fook.

I totally blanked on the Sly connection.

THIS. IS. AMAZING.

I bow down.

Do my a favor, my god among men, help me round out what the rest of the card would look like then (not that it matters with a main event like that).

Offhand I'm thinking...

World Wrestling Federation Championship Match (w/ special guest referee "Rowdy" Roddy Piper): Hulk Hogan (c) (w/ Sylvester Stallone) vs. Jesse "The Body" Ventura (w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger)

*Just like Big Pete laid out with Arnie joining with Planet Hollywood buddy Sly & Hulk.

/////

Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake vs. Zeus

*Beefcake gets squashed as a Hogan proxy to set Z up as Hogan's next monster challenge. Or am I getting my timelines fucked up? Had Z already done his SummerSlam main event tag appearance? If so, maybe Beefcake wins then. Fuck it!

/////

"Long Live the King" Career Threatening Match: The Ultimate Warrior vs. "Macho King" Randy Savage (w/ "Sensational Queen" Sherri)

*Bump this up from WrestleMania VII to continue Warrior's momentum heading into his first clash with Hogan in front of 100k fans. Savage takes issue with Warrior's popularity and momentum, costs him the IC belt to Perfect, we build to this.

Zeus was 89 because you had the Hogan/Beefcake vs. Savage/Zeus match from SummerSlam that year.

I only watched Wrestlemania VI in full for the first time earlier this year (so in Covid time, 5 years ago) so I'm not overly knowledgeable but a couple of things I'd do.

I'd keep Dibiase/Roberts, Brown/Piper, Bossman/Akeem and the Colossual Connection/Demolition. I believe all those matches served a purpose on the show and while they could have been executed better I'm fine with them taking place.

If we're marrying up guys, I'd go Dusty Rhodes/Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Championship for Perfect to keep his Perfect streak together and get a huge win at Wrestlemania. It sets it up for a rematch between Perfect/Warrior where Warrior regains the title, ends the streak and puts himself on a path with Hogan who cross paths for more often in the lead up to VII.

That's why I would have Arnie endorse Hogan at the end of the match. I think you could do a Sting-Luger type deal where a babyface happens to be friends with a heel but in this case Arnie's presence would backfire ala Tyson-DX.

It would literally be Wrestlemania XIV on (more) steroids.

I feel like The Wave breaking out during DiBiase/Roberts at WMVI is proof that they were boring wrestlers at least in the WWF. No?

Oct 25, 2020 15:03:33 GMT 🤯 said:

I feel like The Wave breaking out during DiBiase/Roberts at WMVI is proof that they were boring wrestlers at least in the WWF. No?

I'd say, just proof it was a pretty boring match. Both men had some good matches in the Fed. Jake typically did a good job of engaging the crowd. DiBiase was always solid in the WWF, but seldom the most engaging in-ring. It is a shame that the wrestlers weren't the most motivated in-ring during this era, due to a combination of what the company cared about and the gruelling schedule. The talent involved clearly could've produced greater matches in the Hulkamania years.

Losing some momentum on the WrestleMania WatchThru, but finally just finished WM6...

Man, I can't even imagine how unreal Hogan vs. Warrior must've been for fans in real time.

Also, I'll go on record to defend that Hogan's 3.1 kickout didn't hurt the finish at all IMO based on the story the match was telling. Shame we never got an Ultimate Rematch and Ultimate Rubber Match.

Nov 7, 2020 16:10:33 GMT 🤯 said:

Losing some momentum on the WrestleMania WatchThru, but finally just finished WM6...

Man, I can't even imagine how unreal Hogan vs. Warrior must've been for fans in real time.

Also, I'll go on record to defend that Hogan's 3.1 kickout didn't hurt the finish at all IMO based on the story the match was telling. Shame we never got an Ultimate Rematch and Ultimate Rubber Match.

Halloween Havoc 1998 has entered the chat.

Nov 7, 2020 17:37:58 GMT WP said:

Nov 7, 2020 16:10:33 GMT 🤯 said:

Losing some momentum on the WrestleMania WatchThru, but finally just finished WM6...

Man, I can't even imagine how unreal Hogan vs. Warrior must've been for fans in real time.

Also, I'll go on record to defend that Hogan's 3.1 kickout didn't hurt the finish at all IMO based on the story the match was telling. Shame we never got an Ultimate Rematch and Ultimate Rubber Match.

Halloween Havoc 1998 has entered the chat.

I had hoped it would go without saying that I meant in the WWF, and ideally prior to 1993.

:lol: