411 Ranks The WrestleManias: #6 – WrestleMania 3

WrestleMania was a success. WrestleMania II’s concept was considered disastrous by many; but the promotion’s leader Vince McMahon was behind the concept of the big show and the company built to WrestleMania III. The location would be the Pontiac Silver Dome, a huge venue and the company was determined to fill it up. To do so they would have to headline the event with a match almost bigger than the company and the business itself. They would build to an epic battle of the “undefeated” Andre The Giant, who was one of the biggest draws of the 70’s, and he would face current champion and former friend, Hulk Hogan. A reported 93,173 filled the Dome to see the battle, let’s talk about it…

* The Can-Am Connection defeated Don Muraco and Cowboy Bob Orton via pin @ 5:38
* Billy Jack Haynes and Hercules fought to a double count out @ 7:53
* Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver and The Hati Kid defeated King Kong Bundy, Lord Little Brook and Little Tokyo via DQ @ 4:22
* Harley Race defeated The Junkyard Dog via pin @ 3:23 in a “Loser must kneel” match
* The Dream Team defeated The Rougeau Brothers via pin @ 4:05
* Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis in a hair vs. hair match via submission @ 6:45
* The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis defeated The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana via pin @ 8:52
* Butch Reed defeated Koko B. Ware via pin @ 3:39
* Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage via pin to become the NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion @ 14:25
* The Honky Tonk Man defeated Jake Roberts via pin @ 7:04
* The Iron Sheik and Nikoli Volkoff defeated The Killer Bees @ 5:44 via DQ
* Hulk Hogan © defeated Andre The Giant via pin @ 12:08

Sean Garmer
The Best Thing on the Show And Why: Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat [*****] – WrestleMania’s first five star classic wrestling match came right here at WrestleMania III. I don’t think Chris Jericho was the only guy to ever want to learn this match move for move. This match told a story and it had two great performers, who were allowed to go out there and have a killer match. Not to mention, this made the Intercontinental Title look like a million bucks by the end because they had so many near falls and pivotal moments in here. This may have been only fifteen minutes but it was fantastic use of outside interference and even rest periods. Too many times wrestlers use submissions as rest holds, but instead the action came fast and furious here, with a few lulls when the action went to the outside. The match really drove home the point that Steamboat was going to stop at nothing but payback Macho Man for his dastardly deed in destroying Steamboat’s throat. These two may have used simple maneuvers that many fans today would dismiss as boring, but WWE fans had not seen very many matches like that up until this point. It had some high-flying, constant pins, and a lot of action and they were able to fit that into a nice pocket of time as well. This was an outstanding match that showcases what WrestleMania can truly bring if WWE doesn’t put their focus solely on making the main event the only match of importance on a show.

The Worst Thing on the Show And Why: Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules: [DUD] – This match screams classic Vince McMahon, “hey let’s have two big guys compete in a full nelson vs. full nelson match.” Really? This was boring and I would just tell you to fast forward through this and the midget match on this show. Hercules isn’t bad for a big guy but Billy Jack is awful, and when each guy is doing just enough damage to try to lock in a freaking full nelson, what can we expect from the match. Then the match is made useless by the stupid double countout ending. I hate non-finishes at PPV’s especially when it is in a feud that means nothing to the overall product.

Show MVP And Why: Macho Man & Steamboat – These guys could have decided to just go out there and have a serviceable match for the IC title. Hogan vs. Andre was the main event, in the casual fans eyes they are just filler to help them get to the main event of the evening. Instead, Savage and Steamboat went out there and tore the house down and had the first match in WrestleMania history that would stand up against any other match that would come after it. They went out there and did more than they had to, and they should get major props for that. RIP Macho Man, you are missed.

Your Thoughts on The Show: This PPV is known for one great wrestling match and the other timeless historic confrontation between Hogan and Andre. Roddy Piper’s “Retirement” hair vs. hair match was fun because seeing Adonis wake up with a shaved head and punch the mirror was hilarious. The Jake Roberts vs. Honky Tonk Man match wasn’t too bad either come to think of it. However, the rest of the card was just kind of there, we had mostly filler with a few other nice matches that help the quality of the show a tad. The show still has those two classic matches and that makes it a PPV worth watching in my view.

Jack Stevenson
The Best Thing on the Show And Why: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant- Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant- In this case, star ratings are irrelevant. Semi-paraphrasing a fellow writer for this site, many matches can claim to be the biggest and most important of all time, but only one actually can, and it’s Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant in the main event of the biggest show of all time. It’s a match that has been watched, rewatched, analyzed, discussed and debated more than any other in pro wrestling history, but it still somehow remains shrouded in mystique. 25 years after it first took place, there is still an aura about it, a special feeling that is only found in the greatest pro wrestling matches. This is entirely down to the build to and execution of the match; the story leading up to it was absolutely perfect, and that continued into the bout itself. Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were hardly the most mobile and energetic competitors, but never have two men made so much out of so little. Every move was meaningful, heightening the tension to an absolute fever-pitch, and hooking the crowd into the story. 80,000 people were all 100% behind Hulk Hogan, and you only have to listen to the finish as evidence. And god, what an amazing finish. The slam and the leg drop, more powerful and memorable than a million indy high-spots, permanently etched into the consciousness of everyone who saw it. It truly is the WWF’s, and arguably, pro wrestling’s shining accomplishment. Not one thing could possibly be changed to make it better

The Worst Thing on the Show And Why: Junkyard Dog vs. Harley Race [1/4 *] Junkyard Dog vs. Harley Race- This was a really disappointing match between two talented workers. The after match shenanigans were entertaining enough, but on the biggest stage these two would ever wrestle on nothing seemed to click in the ring, which is a real shame. It’s not exactly an embarrassment to the WrestleMania legacy, but it was certainly the lowest ebb of a magnificent show.

Show MVP And Why: Andre the Giant- I was torn between Hogan and Andre, and contemplated giving it to them both. However, this was very much Andre’s crowning WrestleMania moment, and the biggest match of his entire career. Yet despite that, he agreed to sacrifice a chunk of his legacy to take Hulk Hogan to the next level in terms of popularity, and that’s commendable. I think we can all agree it worked out well both everyone involved in the end, and was thus a worthwhile risk on Andre’s part.

Your Thoughts on The Show: I guess there have been better shows in terms of pure match quality, shows that don’t feature bigoted King Kong Bundy matches and three tag team bouts that are more or less exactly the same and four minute matches with Butch Reed but not Ron Simmons. But, it’s got arguably the best match in wrestling history on it, and arguably the most important match in wrestling on it, and it’s brimming with fun, fun matches, fun moments, fun celebrities, fun times. It’s also the absolute pinnacle of the most awe-inspiring juggernaut of a boom period the WWF has experienced to date, and is really just the ultimate triumph of sports entertainment, the show that confirmed, more or less, the sort of wrestling we’d be watching for decades to come. It’s unmissable!

Scott Rutherford
The Best Thing on the Show And Why: Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat [*****] This is one of the greatest matches of all time and I personally have it as my number one. While most will cite Flair/Steamboat as being better just the sheer pace this match was worked and the culmination of storylines involving these men plus Steamboat corner man George “The Animal” Steele finally getting his revenge on Savage and the historic nature of the card, you just can’t go past this match. I used to be able to recite this match move for move to anyone that cared to listen when I was a kid and I literally broke my family VCR, I watched this match so often.

The Worst Thing on the Show And Why: King Kong Bundy/Lord Little Brook/Little Tokyo vs. Hillbilly Jim/Little Beaver/The Haiti Kid [-***] From main event to midget squasher, how the might have fallen hey Bundy? No wonder he quit the promotion soon after this but while this much was the shits the image of him obliterating Little Beaver is a thing of beauty.

Show MVP And Why: Savage & Steamboat (tie). No surprise here since they had the best match of the show, the decade and maybe ever.

Your Thoughts on The Show: Easy thumbs up as Vince started getting the hang of how to book these things. Hot opener, a couple of hot angle matches, a big title change and a legendary main event. Like WM1, it has history dripping off it and needs to be watched by every fan at least once.

The List So Far…
30. WrestleMania 9
29. WrestleMania 2
28. WrestleMania 11
27. WrestleMania 4
26. WrestleMania 15
25. WrestleMania 27
24. WrestleMania 29
23. WrestleMania 25
22. WrestleMania 5
21. WrestleMania 13
20. WrestleMania
19. WrestleMania 6
18. WrestleMania 16
17. WrestleMania 7
16. WrestleMania 12
15. WrestleMania 8
14. WrestleMania 22
13. WrestleMania 28
12. WrestleMania 18
11. WrestleMania 14
10. WrestleMania 26
9. WrestleMania 23
8. WrestleMania 24
7. WrestleMania 21
6. WrestleMania 3

REMINDER, each 411 writer had the opportunity to rank the WrestleMania events (based on overall quality, historical significance and personal preference), those rankings went into creating the final list.