Let's start with the grandaddy of them all. WrestleMania represented a huge gamble for Vince and Linda McMahon as they famously put everything on the line to make the first WrestleMania a success. It had to be a success or WWE as we know it today wouldn't exist. Mania was viewed by over one million fans through Closed-circuit television, making it the largest event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time. However, all wasn't plain sailing for the McMahons as a technical glitch ended the closed circuit broadcast early into the showing at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. The event was shown in its entirety on terrestrial television a couple of weeks later to appease angry fans. The card itself was littered with matches that captured the imagination of the WWE Universe. Nine matches took place while several celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Liberace and Cyndi Lauper appeared the make the event all the more special. The highlights saw The Junkyard Dog defeat Greg Valentine for the Intercontinental Championship, Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik defeat The U.S. Express while Andre The Giant defeated Big John Studd in a body slam challenge. The semi main event saw Wendi Richter, with Cyndi Lauper, defeat Woman's Champion Leilani Kai for the strap. In a who's who of celebrity at the time, the main event saw WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, accompanied by Jimmy Snuka, face off against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff, accompanied by Bob Orton. Muhammad Ali was the special guest referee, the New York Yankees manager Billy Martin was the guest ring announcer while Liberace, who was accompanied by The Rockettes, was the guest time keeper. After Ali dropped Piper, Orndorff locked Hogan in a full nelson, Orton climbed the top rope to attempt to knock out Hogan. Instead, Orton mistakenly hit Orndorff, and Hogan pinned him to win the match.
