# WrestleMania I
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{{Short description|1985 World Wrestling Federation event}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox professional wrestling event
|name = WrestleMania I
|image = WrestleMania1.jpeg
|alt =
|caption = Promotional poster featuring [Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan) and [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T)
|tagline = The Greatest Wrestling Event of All Time!
|promotion = [World Wrestling Federation](/source/WWE)
|date = March 31, 1985
|venue = [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden)
|city = [New York City, New York](/source/New_York_City)
|attendance = 19,121
|lastevent = ''First''
|nextevent = [The Wrestling Classic](/source/The_Wrestling_Classic)
|event = [WrestleMania](/source/WrestleMania)
|lastevent2 = ''First''
|nextevent2 = [2](/source/WrestleMania_2)
|event2 = ''Event''
|lastevent3 = [War to Settle the Score](/source/War_to_Settle_the_Score)
|nextevent3 = [The Wrestling Classic](/source/The_Wrestling_Classic)
}}
'''WrestleMania''', sequentially known as '''WrestleMania I''', was a 1985 [professional wrestling](/source/professional_wrestling) [pay-per-view](/source/pay-per-view) (PPV) [event](/source/List_of_WWE_pay-per-view_events) produced by the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/World_Wrestling_Federation) (WWF, now WWE). It was the inaugural [WrestleMania](/source/WrestleMania) that took place on March 31, 1985, at [Madison Garden](/source/Madison_Garden) in [New York City, New York](/source/New_York_City). The attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by over one million viewers through a [closed-circuit television](/source/closed-circuit_television), making it the largest PPV showing of a wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.[{{cite news|title=Wrestlemania In Photographs: 1-10|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wrestlemania-in-photographs-1-10|work=Sportskeeda|date=April 1, 2017}}]
The event consisted of nine professional wrestling matches. In the main event, [Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan) and [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T) defeated [Paul Orndorff](/source/Paul_Orndorff) and [Roddy Piper](/source/Roddy_Piper). Also, [Wendi Richter](/source/Wendi_Richter) (accompanied by manager [Cyndi Lauper](/source/Cyndi_Lauper)) defeated [Leilani Kai](/source/Leilani_Kai) to win the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWE_Women's_Championship_(1956%E2%80%932010)), and [Nikolai Volkoff](/source/Nikolai_Volkoff) and [The Iron Sheik](/source/The_Iron_Sheik) defeated [The U.S. Express](/source/The_U.S._Express) ([Mike Rotundo](/source/Mike_Rotunda) and [Barry Windham](/source/Barry_Windham)) to win the [WWF Tag Team Championship](/source/World_Tag_Team_Championship_(WWE%2C_1971%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD2010)). Celebrity guests included former heavyweight [boxing](/source/boxing) champion [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali) as referee, baseball player/manager [Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin) as ring announcer, and musician-actor [Liberace](/source/Liberace) as timekeeper.
Retrospective reviews of WrestleMania I have been mixed, with critics generally ranking it as one of the most average WrestleManias in history. While the main event earned generally positive reviews, many of the undercard matches were negatively received. Despite this, its success led to [a follow-up the next year](/source/WrestleMania_2), and set the stage for more over forty annual follow-ups.
==Production==
[[File:Madison Square Garden (MSG) - Full (48124330357).jpg|thumb|The inaugural [WrestleMania](/source/WrestleMania) was held at [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).]]
===Background===
During the 1980s, the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/World_Wrestling_Federation)'s (WWF, now WWE) main competition in the [professional wrestling](/source/professional_wrestling) industry was from [Jim Crockett Promotions](/source/Jim_Crockett_Promotions). [Vince McMahon](/source/Vince_McMahon) countered [Jim Crockett](/source/Jim_Crockett)'s successful [Starrcade](/source/Starrcade) annual events, which began airing in 1983, by creating the [WrestleMania](/source/WrestleMania) franchise.[{{cite book|title=Sex, Lies and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation|publisher=[Crown Publishing Group](/source/Crown_Publishing_Group)|last1=Assael|first1=Shaun|last2=Mooneyham|first2=Mike|page=[https://archive.org/details/sexliesheadlocks00shau/page/74 74]|year=2002|isbn=978-0-609-60690-2|url=https://archive.org/details/sexliesheadlocks00shau/page/74}}] A rights agreement which Barry Diller, head of [USA Network](/source/USA_Network) and co-owner of [Paramount](/source/Paramount_Pictures), pushed by 1983, also allowed for better access to programming at [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden), including on any regional [pay television](/source/pay_television) network.[{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/28/business/barry-diller-s-latest-starring-role.html|title=Barry Diller's Latest Starring Role|first=Sandra|last=Salmans|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=August 28, 1983|access-date=April 10, 2022}}]
For the first WrestleMania, McMahon began cross-promoting with [MTV](/source/MTV), which aired two wrestling specials. The inaugural broadcast was entitled ''[The Brawl to End It All](/source/The_Brawl_to_End_It_All)'' and aired on July 23, 1984, in which a match from a live Madison Square Garden broadcast was shown on MTV. [Wendi Richter](/source/Wendi_Richter), allied with [Cyndi Lauper](/source/Cyndi_Lauper), defeated [The Fabulous Moolah](/source/The_Fabulous_Moolah), backed by [Lou Albano](/source/Lou_Albano), to win the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship) on the card.[{{cite web|url=https://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/oct5_schramm.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001213111900/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/oct5_schramm.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2000|title=Moolah: Twenty-eight years was the reign|author=Schramm, Chris|publisher=[Canoe.ca](/source/Canoe.ca)|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=May 7, 2008|date=October 5, 1998}}] At the second MTV broadcast, entitled ''[The War to Settle the Score](/source/The_War_to_Settle_the_Score)'' on February 18, 1985, [Leilani Kai](/source/Leilani_Kai), accompanied by Moolah, defeated Richter, once again accompanied by Lauper, to win the Women's Championship.[{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112211 |title=Lelani Kai's reign (1) |publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=May 7, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410132054/https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112211|archive-date=April 10, 2007}}] Aside from Lauper, other celebrities also appeared during the buildup to and at the event; most notably, [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali), [Liberace](/source/Liberace) (with [The Rockettes](/source/The_Rockettes)), and [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) manager [Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin) all appeared during the main event.
WWF announcer [Gene Okerlund](/source/Gene_Okerlund) sang [the national anthem](/source/The_Star-Spangled_Banner), while [Gorilla Monsoon](/source/Gorilla_Monsoon) and [Jesse Ventura](/source/Jesse_Ventura) provided commentary. Okerlund also conducted interviews backstage, while [Alfred Hayes](/source/Alfred_Hayes_(wrestler)) conducted interviews near the entrance to the locker room, right outside the ring. [Howard Finkel](/source/Howard_Finkel) served as the event's ring announcer. The opening theme for the event was the instrumental portion of the [Phil Collins](/source/Phil_Collins) and [Philip Bailey](/source/Philip_Bailey) hit "[Easy Lover](/source/Easy_Lover_(Philip_Bailey_and_Phil_Collins_song))", while the closing theme for the credits was "[Axel F](/source/Axel_F)" by [Harold Faltermeyer](/source/Harold_Faltermeyer). Celebrity guests in attendance included [Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin), [Cyndi Lauper](/source/Cyndi_Lauper), [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T), [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali), and [Liberace](/source/Liberace) accompanied by [The Rockettes](/source/The_Rockettes).[
===Storylines===
[[File:B137.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan) (right) and [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T) (left) at the first [WrestleMania](/source/WrestleMania)]]
The card consisted of nine matches that resulted from scripted storylines.][{{cite web|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks|date=January 13, 2006|publisher=[Discovery Communications](/source/Discovery_Communications)|access-date=March 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2013}}] Three championships were defended at WrestleMania: the WWF Women's Championship, [WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship](/source/WWE_Intercontinental_Championship), and the [WWF World Tag Team Championship](/source/WWF_World_Tag_Team_Championship).
Leading up to the event, [Greg "The Hammer" Valentine](/source/Greg_Valentine) had feuded with [Tito Santana](/source/Tito_Santana) over the Intercontinental Heavyweight belt. Valentine defeated Santana on September 24, 1984, for the championship.[{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322396 |title=Greg Valentine's reign |publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE) |access-date=August 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723223700/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322396 |archive-date=July 23, 2008 }}] [Mike Rotunda](/source/Mike_Rotunda) and Barry Windham won the WWF Tag Team Championship three months before WrestleMania from the team of [Adrian Adonis](/source/Adrian_Adonis) and [Dick Murdoch](/source/Dick_Murdoch).[{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212122 |title=Rotundo and Windham's reign |publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE) |access-date=August 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129204915/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212122 |archive-date=November 29, 2005 }}]
In the months leading up to the first WrestleMania, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper began a talk-show segment on WWF television entitled "[Piper's Pit](/source/Piper's_Pit)". On one episode of the show, Piper would hit [Jimmy Snuka](/source/Jimmy_Snuka) over the head with a [coconut](/source/coconut) after verbally berating him, leading to a heated feud between the two men. As part of the storyline, Piper recruited "Cowboy" Bob Orton to be his bodyguard. Some time later, during another episode of "Piper's Pit", Piper spoke out against the burgeoning [Rock 'n' Wrestling](/source/1980s_professional_wrestling_boom) connection, which led to a confrontation with Hulk Hogan. In February 1985, the two men faced each other in a WWF Heavyweight Championship match at ''The War to Settle the Score'', where the reigning champion, Hogan, won by disqualification after interference by Paul Orndorff and Mr. T. Their ongoing feud led to their match at WrestleMania.[{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522073632/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2015|title=Rowdy Roddy Piper|last=Milner|first=John|publisher=[Canoe.ca](/source/Canoe.ca)|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=May 8, 2008|date=March 22, 2005}}]
As part of the promotion for the event, Hogan appeared on a talk show entitled ''Hot Properties'' four days prior to WrestleMania, where he put host [Richard Belzer](/source/Richard_Belzer) into a front chinlock. It was a move that cuts off the flow of blood to the brain, as a way to prove to Belzer and the audience just how real professional wrestling is. Belzer, however, fell to the floor unconscious and began to bleed profusely. His injury required eight stitches.[{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141573,00.html|title=Hype! Hell Raising! Hulk Hogan!|last=Corliss|first=Richard|magazine=[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))|access-date=July 8, 2008|date=June 24, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629010403/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141573,00.html|archive-date=June 29, 2011}}] Belzer later sued Hogan for $5 million, but they eventually settled out of court.[{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/movies/person/182439/news/articles/1529910/feature.jhtml|title=20 Things You Didn't Know About Hulk Hogan|last=Wilser|first=Jeff|publisher=VH1.com|access-date=July 8, 2008|date=April 30, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919145514/http://www.vh1.com/movies/person/182439/news/articles/1529910/feature.jhtml|archive-date=September 19, 2008}}] The night before WrestleMania, Hogan and Mr. T hosted an episode of ''[Saturday Night Live](/source/Saturday_Night_Live)'' to help promote the event.[{{cite episode|title=Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, and The Commodores|episode-link=List of Saturday Night Live episodes#1980s| series=Saturday Night Live|series-link =Saturday Night Live|network=NBC|season=10|number=193}}]
==Event==
===Preliminary matches===
thumb|upright|Tito Santana vs. The Executioner
Gene Okerlund opened the event by singing [the national anthem](/source/The_Star-Spangled_Banner). The originally intended singer, a celebrity guest that Okerlund and Vince McMahon refused to name, failed to appear.[{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/wrestlemania-hit-big-time-garden-event-30-years-article-1.2157817 |title=WrestleMania! 30 years ago, wrestling hit the big time, packing the Garden in a mega event that's still kicking ass |website=[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News) |date=March 22, 2015 |access-date=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711031236/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/wrestlemania-hit-big-time-garden-event-30-years-article-1.2157817 |archive-date=July 11, 2016 }}]
{| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;"
|+Other on-screen personnel
|-
!Role:
!Name:
|-
|rowspan=2|[Commentators](/source/Sports_commentator)
|[Gorilla Monsoon](/source/Gorilla_Monsoon)
|-
|[Jesse Ventura](/source/Jesse_Ventura)
|-
|rowspan=2|Interviewers
|[Gene Okerlund](/source/Gene_Okerlund)
|-
|[Lord Alfred Hayes](/source/Lord_Alfred_Hayes)
|-
|rowspan=2|[Ring announcer](/source/Ring_announcer)s
|[Howard Finkel](/source/Howard_Finkel)
|-
|[Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin) {{small|(Main Event)}}
|-
|rowspan=5|[Referees](/source/Referee_(professional_wrestling))
|[Jack Lotz](/source/Jack_Lotz)
|-
|[Dick Kroll](/source/Dick_Kroll)
|-
|[Joey Marella](/source/Joey_Marella)
|-
|[Pat Patterson](/source/Pat_Patterson_(wrestler))
|-
|Henry Terranova
|-
||Special Guest [Timekeeper](/source/Timekeeper)
|[Liberace](/source/Liberace) {{small|(Main Event)}}
|-
||Special Guest Outside Referee
|[Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali) {{small|(Main Event)}}
|-
||Special Guests
|[The Rockettes](/source/The_Rockettes) {{small|(Main Event)}}
|}
The opening match was between Tito Santana and The Executioner ([Buddy Rose](/source/Buddy_Rose)). Santana won the match by submission after applying a [figure four leglock](/source/Professional_wrestling_holds) on The Executioner, which was a shot at current Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine, as the figure four was his finishing move.
Following the opening match, [King Kong Bundy](/source/King_Kong_Bundy) (accompanied by [Jimmy Hart](/source/Jimmy_Hart)) and [Special Delivery Jones](/source/S._D._Jones) made their way to the ring. After crushing Jones against the [turnbuckle](/source/Wrestling_ring) and executing a [big splash](/source/Big_splash_(wrestling)), Bundy won the match. The WWF's official time for the match is a then-record time of 9 seconds (a record since surpassed by [The Rock](/source/Dwayne_Johnson) defeating [Erick Rowan](/source/Erick_Rowan) at [WrestleMania 32](/source/WrestleMania_32)),[Shields, Brian. ''Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s'', p.149.]
thumb|left|Junkyard Dog (left) vs Greg Valentine (right)
The first championship match of WrestleMania was between [Junkyard Dog](/source/Junkyard_Dog) and the reigning [WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion](/source/WWF_Intercontinental_Heavyweight_Championship) [Greg Valentine](/source/Greg_Valentine), who was accompanied to the ring by his manager [Jimmy Hart](/source/Jimmy_Hart). Junkyard Dog began the match in the offensive position, performing [headbutts](/source/headbutts) and punches on Valentine. As the action went back and forth, Hart climbed on the ring apron, where Valentine accidentally hit him. Later, Valentine pinned Junkyard Dog with his feet on the ropes for leverage, which is an illegal maneuver. As a result, Tito Santana ran down to the ring and explained to the referee what had happened and the match was restarted. Junkyard Dog eventually won the match by count-out as Valentine failed to re-enter the ring. Valentine, however, kept his title as titles do not change hands through count-out.
thumb|Volkoff (right) and Sheik (left) celebrate winning the WWF Tag Team Championships with manager Blassie (center).
The following match was for the [WWF Tag Team Championship](/source/WWF_Tag_Team_Championship). [Nikolai Volkoff](/source/Nikolai_Volkoff) and [The Iron Sheik](/source/The_Iron_Sheik), accompanied to the ring by [Freddie Blassie](/source/Freddie_Blassie), challenged the reigning champions, [The U.S. Express](/source/The_U.S._Express) ([Mike Rotundo](/source/Mike_Rotundo) and [Barry Windham](/source/Barry_Windham)), who were accompanied by [Lou Albano](/source/Lou_Albano). The U.S. Express dominated the early part of the match until Volkoff and The Sheik began to gain the offensive advantage over Rotundo. Rotundo then tagged in Windham, who performed a [bulldog](/source/Professional_wrestling_attacks) on The Sheik. After nearly being pinned, The Sheik hit Windham in the head with Blassie's cane as the referee had his back turned. After Volkoff got the pin, Volkoff and The Sheik were crowned as the new tag champions, becoming the first wrestlers to win a championship at WrestleMania.[
===Main events===
thumb|right|André the Giant vs. Big John Studd
thumb|André the Giant (bottom) bodyslams John Studd (top).
The next match on the card was a [$15,000 Body Slam Challenge](/source/Professional_wrestling_match_types) between [André the Giant](/source/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant) and [Big John Studd](/source/Big_John_Studd), who was accompanied by [Bobby Heenan](/source/Bobby_Heenan). The stipulation of the match was that André the Giant had to body slam Studd to win $15,000, and if he failed, he would be forced to retire. After beginning the match in the defensive position, André countered with chops and a headbutt. From then on, André controlled the match and after weakening Studd's knees with multiple kicks, André was able to lift Studd over his shoulders and execute a body slam to win the match. After André collected his prize money, he started throwing the money out to the audience. Heenan, however, grabbed the bag holding the remainder of the winnings and ran from the ringside. As a result of the match, André was able to continue his career and his WWF undefeated streak was unscathed.
thumb|Richter and Lauper (back) face off against Kai and Moolah (front, facing away) before the match.
After all the men had left ringside, it was time for the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship) match between [Wendi Richter](/source/Wendi_Richter), managed by singer [Cyndi Lauper](/source/Cyndi_Lauper), and [Leilani Kai](/source/Leilani_Kai), managed by former champion [The Fabulous Moolah](/source/The_Fabulous_Moolah). Shortly after the match began, Moolah grabbed Richter as she was outside on the floor, but Lauper saved her from an attack. Kai then performed a flying crossbody from the top rope, but Richter used Kai's momentum to [roll-up](/source/Pin_(professional_wrestling)) Kai in a pinning position. With this pin, Richter became the new Women's Champion.][
thumb|Mr T. hoists Roddy Piper up onto his shoulders as Hulk Hogan cheers in the background during the main event.
The main event and last match of the night pitted [Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan), the reigning [WWF World Heavyweight Champion](/source/WWE_Championship), and [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T), accompanied by [Jimmy Snuka](/source/Jimmy_Snuka), against ["Rowdy" Roddy Piper](/source/%22Rowdy%22_Roddy_Piper) and ["Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff](/source/%22Mr._Wonderful%22_Paul_Orndorff), accompanied by ["Cowboy" Bob Orton](/source/%22Cowboy%22_Bob_Orton). Professional [boxer](/source/boxing) [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali) was the [special guest referee](/source/Professional_wrestling_match_types) (on the outside of the ring), [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees) manager [Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin) was the guest ring announcer while [Liberace](/source/Liberace) (accompanied by [The Rockettes](/source/The_Rockettes)) was the guest time keeper. First, Piper, Orndorff, and Orton made their way to the ring as drums and bagpipes played, causing the crowd to boo. Crowd favorites Hogan, Mr. T, and Snuka made their way to the ring next. The match began with Mr. T and Piper in the ring and the two traded blows. Midway through the match, all four men began brawling in the ring, and Muhammad Ali punched Piper in an attempt to restore order. After the match's order was restored, Orndorff and Piper had the offensive advantage. As Orndorff locked Hogan into a [full nelson](/source/Nelson_hold), Orton climbed the top rope to attempt to knock out Hogan. Instead, Orton mistakenly hit Orndorff, and Hogan pinned him to win the match. In frustration, Piper knocked out the in-ring official, [Pat Patterson](/source/Pat_Patterson_(wrestler)), before he and Orton retreated backstage leaving Orndorff alone in the ring with Hogan, Mr. T, and Snuka.][{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/1/mainevent1|title=WrestleMania 1: Main Event|publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=January 6, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110628014908/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/1/mainevent1|archive-date=June 28, 2011}}]
==Reception==
The attendance at the event was 19,121.[Shields, Brian. ''Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s'', p.148.][{{cite web|url=https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania1.html|title=WrestleMania: The Dynasty Begins|publisher=[Canoe.ca](/source/Canoe.ca)|work=Slam! Sports|last=Powell|first=John|access-date=May 6, 2008}}] In addition, the event was seen by over one million viewers through [closed-circuit television](/source/closed-circuit_television),[ making it the largest wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.][ A technical glitch ended the closed circuit broadcast early into the showing at the [Civic Arena](/source/Civic_Arena_(Pittsburgh)) in [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania](/source/Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania). To appease angry fans who pelted the screen with garbage, WrestleMania was broadcast in its entirety on local [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) affiliate [WTAE-TV](/source/WTAE-TV) two weeks later.][''The Valley Independent''. Monday, April 1, 1985. This mishap is mistakenly attributed to WrestleMania 2 in the "True Story of WrestleMania" DVD and Blu-ray release.]
John Powell of ''[Slam! Wrestling](/source/Slam!_Wrestling)'' rated the event as average, citing that it "wasn't the greatest". Despite his overall rating, he praised several moments, including Orton hitting Orndorff with his cast, King Kong Bundy's win, and André the Giant throwing the money into the crowd. Powell listed Mr. T wrestling as his least favorite moment of the pay-per-view, saying the main event match, in which Mr. T took part, was humorous despite its lack of technical wrestling.[ ''[Pro Wrestling Illustrated](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated)'' awarded the main event match its annual [PWI Match of the Year](/source/PWI_Match_of_the_Year) honor. The event was included in a July 2007 special that aired on the [MSG Network](/source/MSG_(TV_channel)) titled "The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden", ranking at No. 30.]["The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden". [MSG Network](/source/MSG_(TV_channel)). July 12, 2008.]
In the December 2002 issue of ''Wrestling Digest'', the main event match-up was listed as number five in the most memorable twenty-five matches of the past twenty-five years.[{{cite web|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_4_4/ai_94123536|title=The main events: ladies and gentlemen, may we present the 25 most memorable matches in the last 25 years|author=Eck, Kevin|publisher=Wrestling Digest|access-date=October 14, 2007|date=December 2002|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071015121440/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_4_4/ai_94123536 |archive-date=October 15, 2007}}] Echoing John Powell's thoughts, Kevin Eck of ''Wrestling Digest'' stated, "The match itself was far from a technical-wrestling classic, but it delivered in terms of entertaining the crowd."[ In another ''Wrestling Digest'' article, written by Keith Loria, the main event was ranked third in the top ten matches in WrestleMania history. In contrast to Powell, Loria believed that Mr. T "proved to be an adequate grappler".][{{cite web|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_6_4/ai_98249762/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050415231336/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_6_4/ai_98249762|url-status= dead|archive-date= April 15, 2005|title=Mania madness: with WrestleMania XIX right around the corner, we choose the top 10 matches from the fabled history of WWE's showcase event|last=Loria|first=Keith|publisher=Wrestling Digest|date=April 2003|access-date=September 16, 2009}}]
Several of the undercard matches received a more negative reception. Reviewing for ''tjrwrestling'', John Canton rated the Body Slam Challenge between Big John Studd and Andre The Giant as a "Dud", stating it needed "to be two minutes tops" and noting how limited both men were.[{{Cite web |author=John Canton |date=2022-02-23 |title=WWE WrestleMania 1 Review – TJR Wrestling |url=https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-wrestlemania-1-review/ |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=tjrwrestling.net |language=en-US}}] Reviewing for ''411mania'', Kevin Pantoja was mildly more positive, highlighting the "novelty of someone possibly body slamming Andre The Giant" and its nature as "pure spectacle", but stated it had plenty of "plodding moments".[{{Cite web |title=411MANIA |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/kevins-restrospectivemania-series-wrestlemania-1/ |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=Kevin’s RestrospectiveMania Series: WrestleMania 1 |language=en-US}}]
==Aftermath==
Approximately three months after WrestleMania, on July 6, 1985, Greg Valentine lost the Intercontinental Championship back to Tito Santana in a [cage match](/source/cage_match).[{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322400 |title=Tito Santanas' reign (2) |publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE) |access-date=August 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706202107/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322400 |archive-date=July 6, 2008 }}] At about the same time, Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik lost the WWF Tag Team Championship back to The U.S. Express.[{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|title=Title history: World Tag Team|publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=May 7, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215092223/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam|archive-date=February 15, 2012}}] They held the titles until August, when the team of Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine, later known as the Dream Team, became the new champions.[
On July 8, 1985, [Don Muraco](/source/Don_Muraco) won the inaugural [King of The Ring](/source/King_of_The_Ring) tournament by defeating the [Iron Sheik](/source/Iron_Sheik) in the finals.
After André the Giant defeated Big John Studd at the event, Studd formed a tag team with King Kong Bundy, and the duo faced André and Hulk Hogan on several occasions.][{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/bigjohnstudd/bio/|title=Hall of Fame: Big John Studd|publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=September 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20121123012926/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/bigjohnstudd/bio/|archive-date=November 23, 2012}}] Later, the team of Studd and Bundy teamed up in [Handicap match](/source/Handicap_match)es—a two against one wrestling match—against André, which renewed the feud between André and Studd.[{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/andrethegiant.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919175750/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/andrethegiant.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2015|title=Andre the Giant's results|publisher=[Canoe.ca](/source/Canoe.ca)|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=August 11, 2008|date=July 30, 2005|last=Nevada|first=Vance}}]
In late 1985, Wendi Richter lost her WWF Women's Championship in controversial fashion.[ She wrestled a masked female wrestler known as The Spider Lady, who pinned Richter to win the title. After the match, the Spider Lady was revealed as the Fabulous Moolah.][ This finish was a [screwjob](/source/screwjob), i.e. one participant (in this case Richter) was unaware of the planned title change. Richter left the WWF shortly after, and Moolah held the title for approximately two years.][
In a new storyline after WrestleMania, Roddy Piper began training Bob Orton as a boxer. Hulk Hogan accepted a challenge on the behalf of Mr. T to face Orton in a match on the February 15, 1986 ''[Saturday Night's Main Event V](/source/Saturday_Night's_Main_Event_V)''. After Mr. T won the match, Orton and Piper attacked him, leading to a boxing match at [WrestleMania 2](/source/WrestleMania_2) between Piper and Mr. T. At the second annual WrestleMania, Piper was disqualified in the fourth round.][
The main event of this inaugural WrestleMania would also be the only time that a tag team match would be contested in the main event until [WrestleMania 39](/source/WrestleMania_39) in 2023, when [The Usos](/source/The_Usos) ([Jey Uso](/source/Jey_Uso) and [Jimmy Uso](/source/Jimmy_Uso)) defended the [Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship](/source/Undisputed_WWE_Tag_Team_Championship) against [Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn](/source/Kevin_Owens_and_Sami_Zayn) in the main event of Night 1, in what would also be the first time a tag team championship would be defended in the main event.
WrestleMania would become considered the company's flagship event. It has since become the longest-running professional wrestling event in history and is held annually between mid-March to mid-April.][{{cite web|last1=Benigno|first1=Anthony|last2=Clapp|first2=John|date=April 3, 2013|title=WrestleMania 29 press conference brings WWE to Radio City Music Hall|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/wrestlemania-press-conference-radio-city-music-hall|work=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=March 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407013602/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/wrestlemania-press-conference-radio-city-music-hall|archive-date=April 7, 2013|url-status=live|quote=... WWE's flagship event lights up MetLife Stadium ... WrestleMania}}] Following the advent of [Survivor Series](/source/Survivor_Series) in 1987 and then [Royal Rumble](/source/Royal_Rumble) and [SummerSlam](/source/SummerSlam) in 1988—WWF's four original pay-per-views—the four would eventually be dubbed the "Big Four", with [Money in the Bank](/source/WWE_Money_in_the_Bank) becoming a part of the "Big Five" in the early 2020s.[Ian Hamilton. ''Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition'' (p. 160)] WrestleMania would eventually be described as the [Super Bowl](/source/Super_Bowl) of [sports entertainment](/source/sports_entertainment).[{{cite web|last=Gelston|first=Dan|title=WrestleMania is Super Bowl of sports entertainment|url=https://apnews.com/article/f7ba8479c0434c7ba347a50c5a75c65e|work=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press)|date=April 4, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=March 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331101111/https://bigstory.ap.org/article/wrestlemania-super-bowl-sports-entertainment|archive-date=March 31, 2014}}]
==Results==
{{Pro Wrestling results table
|results = [{{cite magazine |author= | title=Historical Cards: WrestleMania I (03-31-1985) | magazine=PWI 2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of facts | location= Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | publisher= [London Publishing](/source/London_Publishing) | date=June 2007 | editor-first=Harry | editor-last=Burkett | page=84 | isbn=978-25274-00389}}]
|times = [{{Cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1748 |title=WWF WrestleMania - "The Greatest Wrestling Event of All Time!" « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database |access-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801073001/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1748 |url-status=live }}]
|match1 = [Tito Santana](/source/Tito_Santana) defeated [The Executioner](/source/Buddy_Rose) by submission
|stip1 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling))[
|time1 = 4:49
|match2 = [King Kong Bundy](/source/King_Kong_Bundy) (with [Jimmy Hart](/source/Jimmy_Hart)) defeated [Special Delivery Jones](/source/Special_Delivery_Jones)
|stip2 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling))][
|time2 = 0:09][{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/fastest-wrestlemania-matches/page-6|title=10 Show of Show Shorties: Return to sender|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307062734/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/fastest-wrestlemania-matches/page-6|archive-date=March 7, 2013|last=Clapp|first=John|date=April 3, 2012|publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|access-date=April 5, 2012}}]
|match3 = [Ricky Steamboat](/source/Ricky_Steamboat) defeated [Matt Borne](/source/Matt_Borne)
|stip3 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling))[
|time3 = 4:39
|match4 = [Brutus Beefcake](/source/Brutus_Beefcake) (with [Johnny Valiant](/source/Johnny_Valiant)) vs. [David Sammartino](/source/David_Sammartino) (with [Bruno Sammartino](/source/Bruno_Sammartino)) ended in a [double disqualification](/source/double_disqualification)
|stip4 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling))][
|time4 = 11:43
|match5 = [Junkyard Dog](/source/Junkyard_Dog) defeated [Greg Valentine](/source/Greg_Valentine) (c) (with [Jimmy Hart](/source/Jimmy_Hart)) by [countout](/source/countout)
|stip5 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling)) for the [WWF Intercontinental Championship](/source/WWF_Intercontinental_Championship)][
|time5 = 6:55
|match6 = [The Iron Sheik](/source/The_Iron_Sheik) and [Nikolai Volkoff](/source/Nikolai_Volkoff) (with [Freddie Blassie](/source/Freddie_Blassie)) defeated the [U.S. Express](/source/U.S._Express) ([Barry Windham](/source/Barry_Windham) and [Mike Rotundo](/source/Mike_Rotundo)) (c) (with [Lou Albano](/source/Lou_Albano))
|stip6 = [Tag team match](/source/Tag_team_match) for the [WWF Tag Team Championship](/source/WWF_Tag_Team_Championship)][
|time6 = 6:55
|match7 = [André the Giant](/source/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant) defeated [Big John Studd](/source/Big_John_Studd) (with [Bobby Heenan](/source/Bobby_Heenan))
|stip7 = [Career vs. $15,000 Body Slam Challenge](/source/Professional_wrestling_match_types)][Shields, Brian. ''Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s'', p.150.]
|time7 = 5:53
|match8 = [Wendi Richter](/source/Wendi_Richter) (with [Cyndi Lauper](/source/Cyndi_Lauper)) defeated [Leilani Kai](/source/Leilani_Kai) (c) (with [The Fabulous Moolah](/source/The_Fabulous_Moolah))
|stip8 = [Singles match](/source/Singles_match_(professional_wrestling)) for the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship)[
|time8 = 6:14
|match9 = [Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan) and [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T) (with [Jimmy Snuka](/source/Jimmy_Snuka)) defeated [Paul Orndorff](/source/Paul_Orndorff) and [Roddy Piper](/source/Roddy_Piper) (with [Bob Orton](/source/Bob_Orton_Jr.))
|stip9 = [Tag team match](/source/Tag_team_match) with [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali) and [Pat Patterson](/source/Pat_Patterson_(wrestler)) as [special guest referee](/source/special_guest_referee)s][
|time9 = 13:34
}}
{{note|Bundy/Jones}}The WWF's official time for the match is a then-record time of nine seconds (a record since surpassed by [The Rock](/source/Dwayne_Johnson) defeating [Erick Rowan](/source/Erick_Rowan) at [WrestleMania 32](/source/WrestleMania_32)),]