WWF WrestleMania III Review

WWF WrestleMania III Review:

Since it's less than a month before WrestleMania it's time to start the WrestleMania reviews. Going to start with one of the best of all time. WrestleMania III from Detroit, Michigan on March 29, 1987 which was attended by 93,173 fans and had one of the most stacked cards of all time. Here's the review of the awesomeness that is WrestleMania III. And one thing to note, this was the second wrestling show I'd ever seen behind WrestleMania V so this one will always be special to me.

Review -

Starts off with Vince McMahon in the ring to welcome the fans to the event. Crowd going wild. Vince then introduces Aretha Franklin and she sings "America the Beautiful." This is STILL the best national anthem at a WrestleMania to date.

Jesse Ventura and Gorilla Monsoon in the broadcast position with guest celebrities Bob Uecker and Mary Hart. All four are pumped up for the show.

Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel and Tom Zenk) vs. "Magnificent" Don Muraco and "Cowboy" Bob Orton (with Mr. Fuji) -

Two of my favorite wrestlers of all time are in this match. Rick Martel and Don Muraco are great. Can-Am Connection starting off with quick wrestling moves. Double Monkey Flip by them on Muraco. Fuji regroups his team. Can-Ams keep out maneuvering Muraco and Orton. Can-Ams reversing every move. Muraco accidentally nails Orton but Zenk only gets a two count. Lots of quick tags from Martel and Zenk. Cheap shot by Orton gives his team the advantage. Both teams tag out. Martel on fire against Muraco and now all four are in. Muraco accidentally backdrops Orton. Double Drop Kick by Zenk and Martel. High Cross Body and Trip by the Can-Ams lead to a pin on Muraco. Crowd loves it. Really a good, fun opener with lots of action.

Winners: Can-Am Connection

Nice video package on Hercules versus Billy Jack Haynes in their Battle of the Full Nelson.

Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Bobby Heenan and Hercules. "Billy Jerk Haynes," lol. Heenan is great. Hercules says he's going to make Billy Jack cower at his feet just like Atlas and Samson did hundreds of years ago. He says Haynes will feel the power of the Full Nelson.

Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules (with Bobby Heenan) -

Billy Jack out first to a good ovation. Fans chanting "Weasel" at Heenan when he and Hercules come out. Crowd really onto Heenan. They butt heads to start the match. Hercules takes a cheap shot when the referee is out of position. They then trade the advantage until Haynes press slams Hercules and goes for the Full Nelson but Hercules gets out of it quick. VICIOUS lariat clothesline by Hercules. Awesome spot. Hercules now in total control. Hercules covers him but pulls him up which allows Haynes to make a brief comeback but his back is still hurting so Hercules gets the advantage again. Hercules grabs Haynes into the Full Nelson but his fingers aren't locked. This allows Haynes to fight out of it much to the delight of the crowd until Hercules nails him with a forearm shot to the back of the head. Double Clothesline which knocks them both down. Haynes now in control. Haynes gets Hercules into the Full Nelson but Hercules reaches the ropes and pulls them both out to the floor. Haynes puts the Full Nelson on Hercules on the floor which leads to a double countout. Heenan takes a cheap shot and the crowd goes wild as he stalks Heenan into the ring. "Weasel" chant again. Haynes distracted by Heenan which allows Hercules to nail Haynes with a cheap shot using his chain wrapped around his fist. I LOVE THIS! He nails him four times in the head and Haynes is down bloodied in the ring. Crowd booing loudly. Ventura: "That's called winning the war. Not necissarily the battle but the war." Hercules then puts Haynes in the Full Nelson before throwing Haynes down like a piece of garbage. Crowd really into this at the end and the despite the bad ending the aftermatch really made up for it.

Result: Double Count Out

Mean Gene backstage with King Kong Bundy. Bundy says he's going to squash Hillbilly Jim and his midget partners.

Mixed Six Man Tag Team Match, King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo, and Lord Little Brook vs. Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver, and Haiti Kid -

Bob Uecker joins the announce team. Bundy and team come out. Mean Gene backstage with Hillbilly Jim and his partners. Jim worried about his little buddies but not himself. Ventura says that Bundy is thinking about squashing the midgets just like he is, lol. Uecker excited about this. Rowboat Action with the midgets. Uecker talking about a punk girlfriend he had 20 years ago as it relates to Little Beaver's mohawk haircut. Beaver punches Bundy in the stomach. Bundy comes in and Beaver still wants to fight him. Dropkick by Beaver on Bundy and he tags out to Jim. Jim and Bundy going at it to the delight of the crowd. Bundy now in control. Beaver comes in and smacks him the face with his mocassin. Bundy still is in control. Bundy catches him and then Bodyslams him. He then elbow drops Beaver. Crowd is in shock. Ventura thinks Beaver deserved it, lol. Now Jim and the other midgets are saving Beaver from Bundy. Aftermatch Jim is mad over what happened. Kind of a weird six man match but was still entertaining.

Winners: Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver, and Haiti Kid

Mary Hart interviews Miss Elizabeth. She asks Elizabeth a question until Randy Savage sneaks in and takes over the interview. "My phone number is on the back of my license plate." lol, that was a great line by Savage.

Video package for Harley Race versus Junkyard Dog. Race is King of the WWF and Dog thinks that there's only one king and that's the good lord above. Heenan forcing Dog to bow before Race was great.

Mean Gene backstage with Harley Race, Fabulous Moolah, and Bobby Heenan. Race says there's going to be a recarnation of him as King. Moolah wants to crown Race again and have Dog bow before the King like he should. Heenan gives Moolah the crown jewels.

King of the WWF crown on the line with the loser Bowing to the Winner, Junkyard Dog vs. "The King" Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan and Fabulous Moolah) -

Uecker bolts the broadcast position to go and find Moolah because he's in love with her, lol. Mean Gene interviewing the Junkyard Dog. He says he's going to be wearing that crown just as he's black and the sun shining, lol. Dog gets a HUGE ovation from the crowd. Heenan grabs the Dog's leg right at the start. Race takes advantage but Dog soon gets control again. Race throws Dog out to the floor but misses a headbutt off the apron and hits the floor head first. Race hits his face on the apron after getting knocked out to the floor. Race knocked out to the floor for a fourth time by the Dog. Dog in total control. Race nails a Belly to Belly Suplex and pins the Dog. After the match the Dog bows before Race but then grabs the steel chair Race was sitting on and nails him in the head with it. Dog leaves with the royal cape and the crowd loves it. A little short but the aftermatch was good.

Winner: Harley Race

Vince McMahon backstage with Hulk Hogan. Hogan talking about people telling him it was last ride. Says you've got to live and die and face the truth. Says all he has to do is beat a 7'4, 550 lb. giant. He says that Andre is going to feel the wrath of Hulkamania.

Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond Rougeau) vs. Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (with Lucious Johnny V and Dino Bravo) -

Mean Gene backstage with the Dream Team. Lucious Johnny V goes on a strange rant and Dino Bravo speaks in French. Good wrestling to start. Jacques misses a crossbody block off the top rope. Valentine in control now. Dream Team has the advantage. Bobby Heenan joins the announce team. He says he's two-for-two. Monsoon starts arguing with him by saying he's really one-for-three. Heenan says he doesn't deal with or like midgets, lol. Raymond tagged in and has control. Beefcake messes up his save and the Rougeaus hit their finisher but the referee is distracted by Beefcake and Jacques fighting. Bravo comes in and attacks Raymond leading to Valentine covering him for the win. Beefcake trying to tell the referee what happened and the rest of the Dream Team leaves him in the ring. Nice paced short match.

Winners: Dream Team

Great Roddy Piper versus "Adorable" Adrian Adonis video package. Really makes it seem like a blood feud between the two. Piper says he's not going to lose to some guy in a dress and that there's going to be "No Retreat and No Surrender."

Loser Gets their Head Shaved, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart) vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper -

Adrian comes out with hedge clippers and Hart has a mirror. Mean Gene with Adonis backstage. Adonis starts naming all sorts of hair styles while showing off the hedge clippers. Piper walks out to a standing ovation. This was his "Farewell Match." Loud chant for Roddy. Ventura says "We're either going to have a bald Scot or Humpty Dumpty." Piper whipping Adonis with his belt and then grabs Hart to the delight of the crowd. Adonis now using the belt against Piper. Adonis does a three sixty over the top. Piper drags in Adonis and Hart. Does a Double Head Knocker before whipping Hart into Adonis causing them both to fall out to the floor. Crowd LOVES it. Piper whips Adonis across the ring into the turnbuckles and then he throws Hart off the top turnbuckle into Adonis. Crowd is going wild over this. Adonis whips Piper into the ropes and Hart trips Piper. Adonis with the advantage beating down Piper. Adonis takes Piper to the floor and rams him into the timekeeper's table. Hart cheapshots Piper on the floor. Piper calling for Adonis to keep coming. Hart sprays Piper's face with some substance or perfume Adonis uses. Adonis grabs Piper into the Goodnight, Irene Sleeper Hold. Piper tries to fight out of it but to no avail. Piper's arm only goes down twice but Adonis celebrates. Brutus Beefcake out and he wakes up Piper. Piper punches Hart and Adonis nails himself with the hedge clippers on accident. Piper grabs Adonis into the Sleeper Hold and wins it. Crowd goes wild! Beefcake shaves Adonis' head to the delight of the crowd as Piper holds down Hart to keep him from interfering. Adonis wakes up and Piper shows him how he looks with a mirror. Adonis punches the mirror and tries to chase down Piper but can't catch him. Adonis leaves with Hart covering his head with a jacket so no one can see his hair. Some fan jumps in and Piper shakes his hand before the security rushes the ring to take the guy down, lol. Best match so far. Fun and completely out of control. This was also the starts of Brutus Beefcake's face run as "The Barber."

Winner: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Mary Hart and Bob Uecker are in the broadcast booth with Gorilla Monsoon. He tells them that Jesse has insisted on being introduced to the crowd.

On cue Howard Finkel introduces Ventura to the crowd. Jesse shakes hands with Jimmy Hart, Danny Davis, and the Hart Foundation.

Six Man Tag Match, Hart Foundation and "Dangerous" Danny Davis (with Jimmy Hart) vs. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) and Tito Santana -

Mean Gene with the Hart Foundation, Danny Davis, and Jimmy Hart. Jimmy says that the Hart Foundation is the best, says the Bulldogs are crybabies, and says there will be nothing left of the Bulldogs after they are finished with them. Gorilla gives a backstory about Davis and the opposing team. Santana and Smith ram Hart into Neidhart before the Bulldogs throw Davis from the ring onto them on the floor. Starts off with Santana and Hart. Ventura leaves with Matilda to the back. Bulldogs have the advantage but Neidhart gets control and the Harts and Davis cheat in the corner. That's great "skill wrestling" (aka cheating) right there. Hart misses a middle rope elbow and the Dynamite Kid gets the hot tag. Kid gets the advantage but Hart takes over after Neidhart saves him from being pinned. Hart now in control. Neidhart has Kid in a Camel Clutch. Davis comes in, struts, and kicks Kid three times before strutting out of the ring. Harts and Davis in complete control. Davis tagged in, struts, and kicks Kid before tagging out to the boos of the crowd. Hart Foundation catapults Davis onto Kid but he gets the knees up. Kid tags Santana and crowd going wild over Davis getting beat up by Tito. Flying Forearm by Santana. Davis is out of it. Smith tagged in and now he's beating up on Davis. Tombstone Piledriver by Smith to Davis. Crowd goes wild again. Smith powerslams Davis but Neidhart breaks it up. Tito in and it's out of control. Hart throws in the megaphone to Davis and he nails Smith with it before covering him for the win. Crowd is pissed. Jimmy and the Hart Foundation have to help Davis to the back. Crowd really mad. This was GREAT. Best match so far.

Winners: Hart Foundation and Danny Davis

Mean Gene with Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan. Heenan says Andre is going to win because he's undefeated, Hogan has never faced a man like him before, and says that Hulkamania is DEAD! IT'S OVER! He says everyone is picking Andre to win and nobody can defeat him or come close to defeat him. He's excited that he's going to manage the new Champion of the World.

"The Natural" Butch Reed (with Slick) vs. Koko B. Ware (with Frankie) -

Fans into Koko. Ventura showing off his WrestleMania shirt and his arm muscles to the camera, lol. Slick telling the announcer what to do. Ventura: "The B stands for Buckwheat." LMFAO This is great. Ventura mentions Koko's glove and says that "Michael Jackson wears a glove but Buckwheat dont." LOL The two wrestlers feel each other out before Reed gets control. Koko fights back and dropkicks Reed over the top rope and out to the floor. Koko punching with his gloved fist but Reed gets control again. NICE punch to the throat. That's skill wrestling right there. Koko makes a comeback and the crowd loves it after he dropkicks Reed down. Reed reverses momentum on a Cross Body and pulls the tights for the win. Koko attacks Reed until Slick attacks him with his cane. Tito Santana makes the save and rips up Slick's suit before Slick runs off to the back. Tito and Koko then double dropkick Reed out to the floor. Another good short match on the show. Not a bad match so far.

Winner: Butch Reed

AWESOME video package to set up Savage versus Steamboat. Savage injures Steamboat's throat using the railing and a ringbell. He comes back and helps George Steel kidnap Elizabeth.

Macho Man backstage. Says he was in shock when Steamboat came back. Says he's going to embarass, pin, and put Steamboat of wrestling for good. Says he's the Lord and Master of the ring.

WWF Intercontinental Championship, "Macho Man" Randy Savage (c) (with Miss Elizabeth) vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (with George "The Animal" Steele) -

Savage comes out to a great reaction. Mean Gene backstage with Steamboat. he says the day has finally come and they will clash like two titans. Says there will be only one winner, that he will scorch Savage's back, and win the Intercontinental Title. Crowd really into Steamboat. Nice reversal by Steamboat at the start. Savage moves Elizabeth away from Steele on the floor. Excellent quick armdrags by Steamboat followed by choking. Crowd loves it. Savage lures him out to the floor and attacks him when he follows him into the ring. Nice top rope clothesline by Savage. Savage in control but Steamboat takes over and works over Savage's arm. NICE elbow to the chest by Savage. He then throws Steamboat over the top rope and out to the floor. Savage kicks Steamboat right back out to the floor when he tries to come back in before elbowing him in the throat when he tries to get back in again before kicking him back out to the floor again. Savage drags him back in and elbows him in the head and hits a high jumping knee drop. Steamboat briefly comes back and ties Savage in the ropes. Savage gets out and they reverse each other. High crossbody, arm drag, and multiple pin attempts by Steamboat. Savage throws Steamboat into the ropes and nails him with a knee to the back. Steamboat thrown over, holds onto the top rope, and pulls himself back in but Savage clotheslines him out to the floor. Savage then running knees him in the back again and sends him over the timekeeper's table and into the front row. Steele helps Steamboat back in. Savage throws him over the top rope and out to the floor again. Savage nails him with the top rope double axehandle down to the floor. Nice top rope clothesline by Savage followed by an atomic drop and he gets three successive two counts on his pin attempts. Suplex by Savage only gets a two. Steamboat briefly comes back but Savage rakes his eyes and nails a Gutwrench Suplex for another two count. Steamboat comes back with martial arts and backdropping Savage over the top rope and down to the floor. Steamboat with a top rope chop gets a two count. Sunset Flip by Steamboat gets a two count. Steamboat with multiple pin attempts only getting two counts. Slinshot Suplex by Steamboat on Savage only gets a two count. Savage saves himself by pulling Steamboat shoulder first into the ringpost. Double reversal leads to referee being knocked out. Nice hangman's clothesline by Savage. Savage hits the Top Rope Elbow Drop and covers but no referee. Crowd loves it. Savage gets the bell but Steele grabs it from him. Savage kicks Steele down and goes to the top rope with the bell before Steele shoves him off the top rope. Steamboat grabs Savage into a small package and wins the title. Crowd erupts! This was one of the best matches of all time. I LOVED it. I HIGHLY recommend seeing this match.

Winner: Ricky Steamboat

Mean Gene with Jake Roberts and Alice Cooper. Nice backstory between Honky Tonk Man and Roberts. Good interview.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts (with Alice Cooper) vs. Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) -

Crowd into Jake and Cooper. Mean Gene with Honky and Hart. Honky says he's going to sing and stop Alice from singing a nightmare song before he thanks the fans. Jake beating up on Honky early. Jake ripping off Honky's Elvis suit on the floor. Jake in total control. Ventura wants to see Alice fight Hart, lol. Honky now in control. Jake comes back with a short clothesline. Jake goes for the DDT but Honky sneaks out to the floor. Fight on the floor. Jake rammed into the ringpost and falls into the barricade. Jake tries to climb back in but Honky knocks him off the apron and into the barricade again. Alice trying to help Jake. Honky in control again. He goes for the Shake, Rattle, and Roll but Jake backdrops him. Honky punching Jake in the corner but Jake inverted atomic drops him. Jake now fighting back. Honky getting knocked around in a Rocking Chair spot. Jake grabs Honky for the DDT, Hart grabs his ankle, and Honky rolls him up while holding the ropes for the pin. Jake grabs the guitar and misses hitting Honky with it and hits the ringpost. Hart goes to fight Cooper in the ring. Jake grabs Hart and Alice gets Damian the snake as Jake holds Hart. They throw Damian the snake onto Hart and Honky comes back out to save Hart. Crowd into this too. Yet another good match on this show. Excellent wrestling show so far.

Winner: Honky Tonk Man

Howard Finkel says that Mean Gene has a special announcement to make. He announces that the show has set a new world indoor attendance record of 93,173. Crowd goes wild upon this being announced.

The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Slick) vs. The Killer Bees (B.Brian Blair and "Jumping" Jim Brunzell) (with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan) -

Crowd really hating on Sheik and Volkoff. Monsoon: "I don't want to hear him sing." Ventura: "I like his singing. He has a voice like Pavaratti." lol Volkoff's singing brings on Vickie Heat. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan runs out and chases them out with a 2x4. Duggan says Volkoff wont sing that anthem because this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Crowd loves it. Starts off with chaos. Bees get the early advantage. Bees tag in and out against the Sheik. Nice double team moves by the Bees. Volkoff stops the pin attempt on Sheik and now all four men back in again. Sheik and Volkoff take over after cheating in the corner. Loud "USA" chants and there's trash all over the ring. Sheik and Volkoff in control on Brunzell. Sheik really dominating Brunzell. Duggan chasing Volkoff on the floor. He chases Volkoff into the ring and nails Sheik with the 2x4 to the back while Sheik has the Camel Clutch on Brunzell. Duggan grabs the microphone and starts a "USA" chant after the match. The streak of good matches continues.

Winners: Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik

Mean Gene again with Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan. Andre says that he's going to go to the ring and come back in front of the camera with the world championship belt around his waist. Heenan says that Andre is going to make him famous and he's going to be the manager of the world champion.

EXCELLENT video package about the Hogan versus Andre backstory. Makes them seem like the best of friends followed by Hogan stealing Andre's spotlight and then finally Andre challenging Hogan. Andre rips off Hogan's shirt and crucifix necklace. Hogan loudly accepts Andre's challenge and the crowd went wild.

Mean Gene with Hulk Hogan. Hogan says everyone outside of the Silverdome is in danger. He says the whole Earth is going to shake when Andre feels the wrath of Hulkamania. He says that the state and the world have turned upside and that the whole world is going to shake at his feet.

Guest Celebrity Ring Announcer for the main event Bob Uecker is introduced and gets a great ovation. He then introduces the Guest Celebrity Time Keeper Mary Hart. Jesse says that Mary calls him all the time and would like to wipe a little sweat off of his body, lol. This is great. He also says that maybe her and Uecker will sing a duet for us, lol. This stuff is awesome.

WWF/E World Heavyweight Championship match, "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Andre the Giant -

Andre comes out with Heenan to a chorus of boos. Andre waving at the fans is funny to me since he's the heel. People are throwing trash at them eht entire way down to the ring. Jesse gives the tale of the tape for Andre. Hogan's music hits and the crowd erupts. Hogan walks out to a tremendous reaction. Jesse gives Hogan's tale of the tape. Camera flashes are everywhere too. Jesse says this is the biggest match in all the history of wrestling. Hulk punches Andre three times and goes for a slam but Andre falls on him and referee counts three but Hogan barely got his shoulder up. Andre checks with the ref but the referee says it was a two count. Hogan's back is hurt. Andre starts working over Hogan's injured back. Andre mocking Hogan after slamming him by telling him to get up. LOVE the spot where he walks over Hogan's back. Andre in total control mauling Hogan in the corner. Hogan fights back and stuns Andre. He knocks him into a corner and rams his head repeatedly into the top turnbuckle. Crowd going wild. Hogan goes for a running punch but Andre catches him with a big boot to the face. Andre back in control with a Bear Hug. Hogan almost out of it but fights back with punches as the crowd goes nuts. Hogan knocks Andre to the floor and goes for a piledriver on the floor but gets backdropped. Back in and Hogan knocks Andre off his feet. Crowd going wild. HOGAN SLAMS ANDRE! He hits the Atomic Leg Drop and covers for a three count. Crowd loving it. Hogan poses for the crowd as Andre is driven off in shame with Heenan. Hogan poses for awhile and then leaves.

Winner: Hulk Hogan

Overall - This was one of the best wrestling shows of all time. Not a bad match on the show, crowd way into it, and the Savage/Steamboat match is one of the greatest matches of all time. I really recomment watching this. Its worth it. Nothing bad on this entire show.