Here we are, on the cusp of one of the greatest anniversaries in the history of professional wrestling. The greatest show on earth on the grandest stage of em all…WrestleMania 25.The diehard fan that I am can honestly say that I have not missed a WrestleMania in 25 years. Truth be told, I have attended WrestleManias 1, 2, III, V and X8. My favorite would be hard to call. As far as matches go, that’s a hard one too. I would have to say I really enjoyed X8 but the freshness of the original event is something I will never forget. The excitement was unbelievable! A first of its kind. I still have in my possession the programs for 1, 2 and III.
Lets break it down now. For real. This is monumental. How many people thought that it would ever make it this far? How many thought that 'Mania was a fad? That Vince was crazy from jump? They were all wrong.
Mr. McMahon revolutionized pay-per-view. Thanks Vince!
And we all owe him for the fantastic entertainment that WrestleMania has provided. I myself am personally grateful and don’t know what life would be like without this annual event. It has become a staple in my life as a fan. If you know your wrestling history or your WrestleMania history, you know how many great matches we have all witnessed at WrestleMania. Too many to list.
I'd have to say some of my favorite bouts took place at the original WrestleMania event. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs Roddy Piper and Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff. I get chills just thinking back to watching it happen at the time. I talked about it at school for weeks – I was 10. Electrifying is not the word. I was so hype on it my nickname on my hockey jersey that year was Mr. Wonderful. (I like the heels - heel Hogan is still among my faves).
Some of my other favorites I’d have to say included Hollywood Hogan vs The Rock, Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar and Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart although I could go on forever, there are so many. I’d love to hear some of your favorite matches.
At any rate, the bottom line is that any true wrestling fan can appreciate what the original WrestleMania sparked. All the other pay-per-views. The SummerSlams, No Way Outs, Armageddons, King of the Rings, etc..
Not to mention all the other pay-per-views from WCW. So basically we all need to pay homage and respect to the event that sparked it all because without it, our lives with would be a little less entertaining. Honestly I don’t know where the sport would be at this point without WrestleMania.
So this year as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the greatest show on earth, let us not just sit back and enjoy the show but remember all the amazing memories from past WrestleManias and all the other annual pay-per-views we have witnessed. Let us pray and hope that in another 25 years we’ll be ringside or watching from home WrestleMania 50!!!
Long live the greatest show on earth: WrestleMania! Once again, I say with all my heart. Thank you Vince McMahon for without you and your vision, my life would be a lot less entertaining. I hope you all agree that we should pay homage this year and big up Vince.
This year is truly special and I will be enjoying every second of the big event. You best believe I wouldn’t miss a WrestleMania ever!
6 comments: on "25 Years Later"
You liked Goldberg/Lesnar? That was the worst fight I have ever seen.
My top 5 mania matches are:
1: Steamboat vs Savage
2: Hogan vs Rock
3: E & C vs Hardys vs Team 3D (TLC)
4: Hart vs Michaels
5: Hogan vs Warrior
Honorable mention goes to Lesnar vs Angle.
I didn't list Hogan vs Andre on the list because even though that match did so much for wrestling in general, it was a very sloppy and short match. The main event at Wrestlemania 3 was less than 10 mins. In comparison that's about the length of a match on Impact. But yet 22 Wrestlemania's later the image of Hogan slamming Andre is the one that sticks out the most.
Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit was a match that I loved. A great story was told in that match that I appreciated. It was three great workers in there showing the world something and the run in by Eddie after the match still makes me tear up a little. It was my Steamboat/ Savage. I'd also have to put Flair/ Michaels. I can't believe that's not up here already. I actually cried watching that(manly tears were shed like when your best friend dies or something)
Goldberg & Lesnar was fascinating to watch, as the crowd just COMPLETELY turned on them before the match even started, and it never let up. If I remember correctly, the match itself consisted of about a half dozen moves. Wasn't it like 15 minutes of pacing around, restholds, and both guys trying to pretend like they didn't know they were being booed out of the building? It was the definition of a trainwreck, one of the most painful and embarrassing things to watch, and anyone who says that this is a favorite match of theirs doesn't really deserve to be taken seriously.
wtf? no love for Hart vs. Hart at WM X?? wow... that was far and away a better match than savage/steamboat
I wasnt gonna respond BUT in my own defense and for the fact that you totally missed the point. I wasnt attempting to list all my favs, that wasnt the point and if i did they would be mine, not yours. We all have our own opinions. That being said. The mere reason Golberg vs Lesner is a fav of mine is because of the never thought i would ever see it factor. Just like Rock/Hogan, Hall/Austin and Flair/Hogan in the 80's. I could also go on with this kind of list. Hopefully you get the point. Techinically and match wise Lesner vs Goldberg was not a great match but the fact that i got to see it at all makes it one of my favs.
Here 's My Top 10 Officially
1. Hogan/Mr.T vs Piper/Orndorf (Orton)
2. Savage vs Steamboat
3. Hogan vs Rock
4. Flair vs Savage
5. Michaels vs Austin
6. Hogan vs Savage
7. Lesner vs Angle
8. Rock vs Austin
9. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart
10. Rock vs Austin
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