HISTORY OF WRESTLEMANIA!

A Complete walkthrough from WRESTLEMANIA 1 through to WRESTLEMANIA 2000!

On March 31, 1985, the legacy of WrestleMania was born at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Prior to the event, the World Wrestling Federation had held many events, however, none were as successful as WrestleMania. Seen by more than one million fans via closed-circuit television, WrestleMania proved to be the originator of what would come to be know as the greatest spectacular in sports-entertainment history.

The card consisted of a literal who's who of professional wrestling at the time. All the top names competed: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat, Big John Studd were just a few of the headliners. Alongside the Federation's top talent were some of the entertainment world's biggest names -- Liberace, Billy Martin, Muhammad Ali were just some of the names involved.


Few people thought the World Wrestling Federation could recreate the magic of the first WrestleMania. That is, until April 7, 1986, when the WWF mirrored the success of the first WrestleMania with WrestleMania 2. Much like the original, WrestleMania 2 combined Federation Superstars with Hollywood's hottest celebrities for an exciting night of sports-entertainment.

While WrestleMania 2 shared the same level of success as the original WrestleMania, the event was also very much different. For instance, the matches at WrestleMania 2 originated from three separate venues, with main events from each -- New York's Nassau Coliseum, the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago and the Los Angeles Sports Arena.


In front of 93, 173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, the World Wrestling Federation held its third annual WrestleMania. The event will forever be known for shattering the world's indoor attendance record, previously held by the Rolling Stones.

The event was highlighted by the mega-main event, pitting Andre the Giant against WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. In addition, in one of the greatest matches ever, Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat defeated Randy "Macho Man" Savage for the Intercontinental Championship. Also, Roddy Piper took on Adrian Adonis, Junk Yard Dog battled Harley Race, Billy Jack Haynes faced Hercules and much more.


Wrestling fans all around the world converged on Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City to witness WrestleMania IV. Subtitled "What the World is Watching," no truer words were spoken, as millions of people witnessed the event live, via closed circuit television and on Pay-Per-View.

For the first time in WrestleMania's history, there was no champion going into the event. As a a result, then World Wrestling Federation President Jack Tunney declared that the new champion would be crowned after an elimination tournament at WrestleMania IV.

WrestleMania IV was truly an event for the ages. From beginning to end, the action was non-stop. Whether it was watching the Hulkster help the Macho Man capture the Federation Championship, or Bret Hart destroy Bad News Brown's trophy; the millions who witnessed this mega event live, via closed circuit or PPV knew they were a part of something special.


Once again, the World Wrestling Federation and Atlantic City came together for the production of the greatest sports-entertainment event of all time -- WrestleMania. For the second year in a row, 20,000 fans jam-packed the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, as the Federation put on a record-breaking 14 matches.

WrestleMania V will always be remembered for the rebirth of Hulkamania. However, when it was all said and done, the event proved to be significant for numerous other reasons as well. In addition to it being the final time the late Andre the Giant and Big John Studd would meet in a WrestleMania ring, it also marked the beginning of two brilliant WrestleMania careers when Big Bos Man and Shawn Michaels faced each other in their WrestleMania debuts.


WrestleMania VI will forever be known for many things. In addition to being the first-ever WrestleMania to be held outside of the United States, it was also the site of the epic encounter between Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. The under card was equally impressive. Some of the more memorable matches include Demolition taking on the team of Haku and Andre the Giant, and a mixed tag team match pitting Randy Savage and Sherri against Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire.

To this day, WrestleMania VI still holds the record for the highest single-event attendance in the illustrious history of the SkyDome - a record which many still talk about with a hint of disbelief. Other than setting attendance records, WrestleMania VI also will be remembered forever because of its obvious influence on the World Wrestling Federation of the next millennium.


In terms of raw emotion, there is perhaps no other night in the rich history of the World Wrestling Federation that can compare to March 24, 1991. The largest audience in the history of Pay-Per-View, as well as many celebrities, including Donald Trump, Regis Philbin and Henry "The Fonz" Winkler, watched as Old Glory took center stage at WrestleMania VII.

With the Persian Gulf War raging in the Middle East, the United States was experiencing a period of intense patriotism. From Maine to Montana and beyond, American were quick to discuss the insatiable love they felt for their country, and were just as quick to utter their disdain for their enemies.

Through Hulk Hogan, Federation fans experienced that undying patriotism, as the Hulkster face Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter.


There is no doubt that the two greatest emotions are love and hate. Either can motivate a man to do things he never dreamed. As the Macho Man Randy Savage entered the battle at WrestleMania VIII to take on Nature Boy Ric Flair, ha was fueled simultaneously by both emotions. Savage defeated Flair in a brutal match that saw the Macho Man walk away with the two things he loved the most - Miss Elizabeth and the World Wrestling Federation Title.

Also at WrestleMania VIII, Hulk Hogan appeared in what was thought by many to be his last match, the Ultimate Warrior made a memorable return and the Undertaker showcased his dark side in a match against Jake Roberts.


Here's a WrestleMania riddle...

On any given night, who is the unlikeliest Superstar to walk away as World Wrestling Federation Champion?

As you might have guessed, it's a Superstar who's not scheduled to compete for the prestigious title.

If you had walked into the "World's Largest Toga Party" at Caesars Palace that April 4, 1993, predicting that Hulk Hogan would become the Federation champion before the night was over, most people would have thought you spent too long at the craps table. Not that the Hulkster isn't always a good pick to walk away with the gold, but at WreslteMania IX, he was involved in the Tag Team Championship match, not a battle for the Federation Title.

With a chance to strike it rich around every corner, most people refer to Las Vegas as the "City of Dreams." At WrestleMania IX, Hulk Hogan was able to capitalize on a unique opportunity and fulfill the dreams of the millions of Hulkamaniacs all over the world.


Every year, the entire country seems to catch "March Madness." People everywhere become transfixed on the men's and women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments, wondering "Who will make it to the Final Four?" To be one of the four remaining teams is an honor, but there can only be one champion.

Every spring, World Wrestling Federation fans catch their own "madness" when WrestleMania rolls around. On March 20, 1994 at WrestleMania X, it wasn't a "final four" but a "terrific three" who were bestowed the honor of battling it out to become the best. In the end, Bret Hart would prove to Lex Luger and Yokozuna that although it's prestigious to vie for the gold, it's euphoric to win it.

If WrestleMania X was the Federation's version of "March Madness," then the Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Title was the Duke/Stanford of this tournament - a contest that didn't receive top billing before it got underway, but when it was all said and done, it would be remembered forever. Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon competed in what many argue to be the greatest match in Federation history.


WrestleMania XI was truly a star-studded event. Some struggles ended, while other were just beginning.

The battle between Diesel and Shawn Michaels led to a drastic turn of events just one night later, as the two became friends again. Diesel would keep the championship until Survivor Series, but the events of the next year would continue to rock the Federation.

WrestleMania XI will always be remembered for its share of surprises. Owen Hart revealed Yokozuna as his mystery Tag Team partner, and the duo became World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions. Owen's brother, Bret, made Bob Backlund do what was considered the impossible -- quit. And NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor shocked the world by defeating Bam Bam Bigelow in a one-on-one match!


One boy's dream. One man's destiny.

This paints the perfect picture for WrestleMania XII, which emanated from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California, on March 31, 1996.

The World Wrestling Federation Championship was on the line as two of the greatest performers in Federation history, Bret "Hit Man" Hart and the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, were set to duel over Bret's title in a 60-minute Iron Man Match.

After neither man could notch a pin or submission within the initial hour, Federation official Gorilla Monsoon called for sudden death rules until a winner was determined. Michaels ended up proving he was the best that night when he landed a superkick to Hart's face for the victory and the right to be called World Wrestling Federation Champion.

WrestleMania XII also saw the Undertaker hit a Tombstone Piledriver on Diesel to pick up the win. Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Goldust in a wild Hollywood Back Lot Brawl. The Ultimate Warrior returned to pick up a victory over a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley. And Steve Austin made his WrestleMania debut to earn a win over Savio Vega.


Chicago was the site of an event which would usher in the "Dark Daze" of the World Wrestling Federation -- WrestleMania 13. Some feuds would be settled in the Windy City on the night of March 23, 1997, while others would pick up even more steam by the end of the extravaganza. The Phenom of the World Wrestling Federation, the Undertaker, had been on a quest to capture the Federation Championship for quite some time, and his long journey would be complete after his match against the man who headed into WrestleMania 13 as the Federation Champion, Sycho Sid.

WrestleMania 13 rocked Chicago as well as the future of the World Wrestling Federation. The Undertaker brought on the "Dark Daze," Rocky Maivia solidified The Rock of his future, and even though Stone Cold Steve Austin didn't win the battle, he went on to win the war. Certainly, the thirteenth WrestleMania set the Rattlesnake's tidal wave of unprecedented popularity in motion.


WrestleMania XIV was one of the most highly anticipated WrestleManias of all time. Not only was the epic feud between Stone Cold Steve Austin and World Wrestling Federation owner Vince McMahon just beginning, but McMahon had also signed one of the most controversial personalities in the history of sports -- "Iron" Mike Tyson -- to appear at Boston's FleetCenter that March 28, 1998.

WrestleMania XIV was truly a memorable event. Many point to this night as the beginning of the huge popularity of the World Wrestling Federation and the entire sports-entertainment industry. The next few years would certainly prove that assertion correct.


WrestleMania XV was dubbed "The Ragin' Climax," and that's exactly what it turned out to be. Tensions among the participants in almost every match had been building for months, especially between the World Wrestling Federation Champion, The Rock, and his opponent, Stone Cold Steve Austin. The night of March 28, 1999 represented the end of The Rock's reign and the beginning of Austin's third as Federation Champion.

The drama of WrestleMania XV was not restricted to the main event. Professional boxer Butterbean made quick and stunning work of Bart Gunn in a Brawl for All match. Triple H reunited with Chyna after she assisted him in his match with Kane, and showed his true colors later that night by turning on his best friend, X-Pac, and joining forces with the Corporation.


WrestleMania 2000 emanated from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California on April 2. The main event was, quite possibly, the most star-studded main event in WrestleMania history -- a Fatal Fourway for the World Wrestling Federation Championship, with a McMahon family member in the corner of each participant.

World Wrestling Federation Chairman Vince McMahon chose The Rock as the man he wanted to become champion. Stephanie was at the side of her husband and champion, Triple H. Shane stood behind the Big Show. Linda, the matriarch of the McMahon family, convinced Mick Foley to come out of retirement so he could live his dream and fight in the main event at WrestleMania. In the end, Vince betrayed The Rock to help Triple H retain the Federation Title, and was reunited with Stephanie.

Also at WrestlleMania, Edge and Christian captured their first Tag Team Championship in a memorable Tables and Ladders Match, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit were crowned European and Intercontinental Champion, respectively, and Hardcore Holly emerged victorious in a wild Hardcore Battle Royal.