WWE's Biggest Booking DISASTER Every Year (1986-2026)

41. Fake Boxing Headlines WrestleMania (1986)

Technically, it was Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy inside the old blue-barred steel cage that headlined WrestleMania 2, but here's a quick refresher on some frankly wild plans. Vince McMahon beamed his 'Mania sequel from 3 distinct locations: New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Those "lucky" hardcores in NY's Nassau Coliseum were "treated" to a fake boxing match pitting Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T. It was as thrilling as it sounds. Sure, seeing 'Hot Rod' and the A-Team/Rocky TV/movie star square off did have box office appeal in 1986, but the whole exercise felt painfully drawn out at over 13 minutes.

If given the choice, surely most in attendance would've plumped for The British Bulldogs vs. Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine or the aforementioned Hogan vs. Bundy cage effort instead. At least those were title matches which fit within the WWF context. Piper vs. T did not, not even amidst the sports entertainment hysteria of WrestleMania.

In essence, sticking Roddy and Mr. T out there to go longer than either subsequent main event on the other 2 legs was...a choice. There honestly isn't a lot to be sour on from '86, largely because the fed's pay-per-view model hadn't kicked into high gear yet, but this wannabe Rocky Balboa vs. Clubber Lang exhibition sucked.

It wasn't even something Piper was particularly into. He'd sound off on T even being involved in the WWF at all, and it's pretty obvious the pair didn't see eye to eye before, during or after this duffer of a "fight".