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Post by Ludwig Kaiser’s Walk on Mar 5, 2024 1:11:38 GMT -5
I’m bored, so I’m going to rewatch all of the Wrestlemania’s starting from the beginning and leave my thoughts here.
Wrestlemania I starts with a bang with Mean Gene powering through the Star Spangled Banner and it only gets better with the fire promo from The Executioner. He’s going for Santana’s leg…but only does it once.
SD Jones gets his ass kicked and the WWF breaks out some early carny shit by flat out calling us all morons and saying Special Delivery lost in 9 seconds. I’d like to see a modern fat guy with the avalanche combo that King Kong does here, because it is pretty devistating, especially for back then.
Steamboat and Borne is quality, especially for this show.
What kind of dog shit match is this between David Sammartino and the Beefer? Too long just to get to a DQ. Should’ve had Bruno kick ass a little earlier.
JYD winning by countout right after is awful booking too.
I got sad when they referred to the US Express as “Windham and Rotunda”
I definitely thought Andre threw out more of the money than he did before the Brain took the bag. That body slam challenge was better than I remember.
Wendy Richter winning by a fluke was a strange choice too, but her and Leilani Kai should’ve had a promo off for months after how fire their promos were! Bonus points for Richter correcting Cyndy Lauper when she intentionally said Kai’s name wrong.
First ever special entrance goes to Hot Rod. Great heat, what a performer. Mr. T physically looked like he belonged, even if on the shorter side.
Liberace was super over too!
Overall, I’d give the show a C+, mostly because it set the stage for everything that came after. Maybe if It was less of a happening and Lord Alfred Hayes didn’t look scared shitless the whole show, that grade may have been higher.
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Post by LiamMcDuggle on Mar 5, 2024 1:49:42 GMT -5
Grew up in the 80's and used to re-watch these old PPV's on VHS. Rented this once and I just hated it as a kid. While it was a great spectacle for its time, compared to modern WWE content (anything after WM 2 really), it's just terrible.
It really kick started the WWE, but sadly its still had a very small production budget and it looked drab and boring as a kick
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Post by Ludwig Kaiser’s Walk on Mar 5, 2024 1:55:15 GMT -5
Grew up in the 80's and used to re-watch these old PPV's on VHS. Rented this once and I just hated it as a kid. While it was a great spectacle for its time, compared to modern WWE content (anything after WM 2 really), it's just terrible. It really kick started the WWE, but sadly its still had a very small production budget and it looked drab and boring as a kick We had a video store called Channel One Video up the street from me and we would rent these from there. This one was up there with one of the most disappointing rentals I had, especially since the first one I saw was X and that seemed much grander even to an 11 year old.
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tafkaga
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Post by tafkaga on Mar 5, 2024 10:06:17 GMT -5
WM1 may not be anything too spectacular compared to later WrestleManias, but compared to the regular monthly MSG offerings of that same period with Rene Goulet and SD Jones going to 20 minute draws, it was a very exciting show.
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Post by David-Arquette was in WCW 2000 on Mar 6, 2024 5:31:51 GMT -5
WM1 may not be anything too spectacular compared to later WrestleManias, but compared to the regular monthly MSG offerings of that same period with Rene Goulet and SD Jones going to 20 minute draws, it was a very exciting show. Yeah I think that's the point to remember. The production is drab as hell, some of the matches and finishes aren't 'wrestlemania caliber', but it's hindsight, based on what would come a couple years later and beyond. Also the celebrities, the main event, the press coverage.. it all worked, and really put the fed on the map as a national powerhouse.
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Post by Jaws the Shark on Mar 6, 2024 16:53:05 GMT -5
It's a funny old show. Spectacle aside, I think it gets a bit of a pass for being the first Wrestlemania because a lot of it really isn't good and I wouldn't say it's actually any better than Wrestlemania 2 in terms of match quality, and that gets a lot of flak. Most of the undercard is filler and the matches are too short for anything of any real value to happen, and Sammartino vs. Beefcake is like having a tooth pulled. The main event is actually pretty decent though.
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Post by Ludwig Kaiser’s Walk on Mar 6, 2024 23:11:04 GMT -5
Wrestlemania 2
New York was a disaster, with a masterful main event with that crappy boxing match.
I did enjoy the Jake the Snake/George Wells match, even with it being so short. Of course the commentary was a disaster too.
Chicago starting off with Moolah pinning McIntyre as she has two legs on the ropes within 2 minutes was great. Just what people wanted after watching that great boxing match on closed circuit.
The Flag Match ending in a pin in 2 minutes was great too. Just amazing booking all around to start the show.
The celebrities were a slight step down from Wrestlemania, although I’m sure Herb and Clare Peller were super over at that time.
Battle Royal is fine for what it is
Tag Title match was fun, thankfully that breaks up a pretty shitty start.
Honestly, this might be my least favorite Wrestlemania now after not seeing it for like 20 years.
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Post by sarkerpolseng on Mar 6, 2024 23:35:02 GMT -5
Wrestlemania 2 New York was a disaster, with a masterful main event with that crappy boxing match. I did enjoy the Jake the Snake/George Wells match, even with it being so short. Of course the commentary was a disaster too. Chicago starting off with Moolah pinning McIntyre as she has two legs on the ropes within 2 minutes was great. Just what people wanted after watching that great boxing match on closed circuit. The Flag Match ending in a pin in 2 minutes was great too. Just amazing booking all around to start the show. The celebrities were a slight step down from Wrestlemania, although I’m sure Herb and Clare Peller were super over at that time. Battle Royal is fine for what it is Tag Title match was fun, thankfully that breaks up a pretty shitty start. Honestly, this might be my least favorite Wrestlemania now after not seeing it for like 20 years. I just watched it for the very first time last week. I still think 11 is worse, but I won't argue anyone who says 2 is the worst. Only Mania I hadn't seen. I did it because Brian Zane reviewed it and it was released today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OQu_jyQRw
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Post by Ludwig Kaiser’s Walk on Mar 7, 2024 0:45:40 GMT -5
Wrestlemania 2 New York was a disaster, with a masterful main event with that crappy boxing match. I did enjoy the Jake the Snake/George Wells match, even with it being so short. Of course the commentary was a disaster too. Chicago starting off with Moolah pinning McIntyre as she has two legs on the ropes within 2 minutes was great. Just what people wanted after watching that great boxing match on closed circuit. The Flag Match ending in a pin in 2 minutes was great too. Just amazing booking all around to start the show. The celebrities were a slight step down from Wrestlemania, although I’m sure Herb and Clare Peller were super over at that time. Battle Royal is fine for what it is Tag Title match was fun, thankfully that breaks up a pretty shitty start. Honestly, this might be my least favorite Wrestlemania now after not seeing it for like 20 years. I just watched it for the very first time last week. I still think 11 is worse, but I won't argue anyone who says 2 is the worst. Only Mania I hadn't seen. I did it because Brian Zane reviewed it and it was released today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OQu_jyQRwI’ll have to check that out! I do think that the LA portion is much better than the rest. The Uncle Elmer match is atrocious, but I didn’t mind the rest.
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Post by Famous Rocking Chimes on Mar 7, 2024 9:51:16 GMT -5
I’ve been watching all the WrestleManias in the build up to 40 as well, onto 22 just now.
It’s been enjoyable, most of the shows are at worst solid. The only real stinkers so far have been 2, 4, 9 and 11.
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CMWaters
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Post by CMWaters on Mar 7, 2024 9:59:37 GMT -5
If I remember right, Moolah's win came so fast because Velvet had a wardrobe malfunction.
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thecrusherwi
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Post by thecrusherwi on Mar 7, 2024 10:01:37 GMT -5
WM1 may not be anything too spectacular compared to later WrestleManias, but compared to the regular monthly MSG offerings of that same period with Rene Goulet and SD Jones going to 20 minute draws, it was a very exciting show. Very true. Also, Wrestlemania I used tons of copyrighted music that had been cut from most releases. Even the 1985 Coliseum Video. If you can see a copy of the original or from the 1997 Wrestlemania Box set, where all that music is in tact, the show really comes alive in a way it doesn’t otherwise. The way the Garden explodes at the first few guitar strums of Eye of the Tiger is awesome.
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tafkaga
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Post by tafkaga on Mar 7, 2024 10:07:24 GMT -5
WM1 may not be anything too spectacular compared to later WrestleManias, but compared to the regular monthly MSG offerings of that same period with Rene Goulet and SD Jones going to 20 minute draws, it was a very exciting show. Very true. Also, Wrestlemania I used tons of copyrighted music that had been cut from most releases. Even the 1985 Coliseum Video. If you can see a copy of the original or from the 1997 Wrestlemania Box set, where all that music is in tact, the show really comes alive in a way it doesn’t otherwise. The way the Garden explodes at the first few guitar strums of Eye of the Tiger is awesome. Something about knowing that Hogan should be coming out to Eye of the Tiger and hearing Real American instead that's very unsatisfying.
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CMWaters
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Post by CMWaters on Mar 7, 2024 12:25:09 GMT -5
Very true. Also, Wrestlemania I used tons of copyrighted music that had been cut from most releases. Even the 1985 Coliseum Video. If you can see a copy of the original or from the 1997 Wrestlemania Box set, where all that music is in tact, the show really comes alive in a way it doesn’t otherwise. The way the Garden explodes at the first few guitar strums of Eye of the Tiger is awesome. Something about knowing that Hogan should be coming out to Eye of the Tiger and hearing Real American instead that's very unsatisfying. There were a few music edits on the show from what I remember: -Junkyard Dog came out to "Another One Bites The Dust". -Windham & Rotunda came out to "Born in the USA" -Wendi Richter came out to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". -Opening instrumental was "Easy Lover" -End Credits music was "Axel F" Biggest music change after this IIRC was at Mania 3 and 4, Steamboat came out to "Sirius" and at Mania 4, Muraco came out to an instrumental of "Jesus Christ, Superstar"
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Post by Ludwig Kaiser’s Walk on Mar 7, 2024 13:01:51 GMT -5
If I remember right, Moolah's win came so fast because Velvet had a wardrobe malfunction. Which makes WAY more sense than the way it ended. I’m not sure it was going to go long anyways, but that was a hella quick finish.
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tafkaga
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Post by tafkaga on Mar 7, 2024 16:06:34 GMT -5
There was a Royal Rumble or Survivor Series from the early 90's that uses 'Leave that Thing Alone' by Rush in the end credits/highlights package which I always found to be a very odd inclusion since it came well after they stopped using other copyright music.
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Post by johnnyk9 on Mar 7, 2024 19:19:13 GMT -5
WM 1 was an experiment that paid off
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Post by FALLOUT Goldashausen #BLM on Mar 8, 2024 22:58:49 GMT -5
This thread came around at a really interesting time, I literally just ended up buying the Wrestlemania Legacy VHS box set from 1997 (the one with the "20th Century Fox" logo, not the scratch logo).
They're used copies, so I'm not sure what I'm in for quality-wise (especially considering they were produced in EP Mode) but I'm going to try to digitize them for my private use. I'm a huge physical media supporter, so having these without the revisionism of the DVD/Network era is a big deal regardless.
My first experience watching WM1 (born after 1985) was from the standalone WWF Home Video release on VHS with the original "Easy Lover" and uncensored theme music. I only stumbled upon the Coliseum versions of WM1 and WM2 much later.
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Post by government mule on Mar 9, 2024 2:12:24 GMT -5
I remember buying Wrestlemania 2 on VHS from a car boot/jumble sale in the mid-90's and being so excited to see it, only to find the experience f***ing horrible because of the nature of the 3 main events and lack of quality. It really put me off as a kid watching anything retrospectively from the 80's because I thought all events would be like that.
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Post by Jaws the Shark on Mar 9, 2024 8:49:34 GMT -5
I remember buying Wrestlemania 2 on VHS from a car boot/jumble sale in the mid-90's and being so excited to see it, only to find the experience f***ing horrible because of the nature of the 3 main events and lack of quality. It really put me off as a kid watching anything retrospectively from the 80's because I thought all events would be like that. I also bought this VHS, but from a little vintage video games shop in The Village “shopping centre” in Slough. What’s annoying in hindsight is I’m sure they had a load of tapes of territorial wrestling that I wasn’t really old enough to appreciate. I will say that Wrestlemania 2 does have one or two glimmers of light in the darkness, the tag titles match is very good.
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