10 Most Infamous Backstage WWE WrestleMania Moments

8. Bruiser Brody's Bounty (WrestleMania I)

The Undertaker shawn Michaels
WWE

Buckle yourselves in. This is wild.

A low-key story that kept alive by clusters of hardcore wrestling fans states that in 1985, with WrestleMania I looming, one of Vince McMahon's rival wrestling promoters had offered legendary brawler Bruiser Bordy a large amount of cash to invade the event, attack Mr. T during his entrance, prevent the A-Team star from competing in the main event, and effectively ruin the show.

Said promoter's justification? McMahon's increasingly predatory and aggressive tactics as a promoter, as he set out to eradicate the competition and establish his WWF as the undisputed number one. The AWA's Verne Gagne was a popular suspect. Having lost the bulk of his top stars to Vince (including Hulk Hogan), he seemingly had the motivation. Pure speculation, of course. Gagne's involvement in any scheme was never proved, though The Iron Sheik once claimed that Verne tried to bribe him into destroying Hogan's knee when news of his WWF signing broken.

The invasion never came to pass, though Dave Meltzer wrote about it in his Wrestling Observer Tributes book and Bruce Prichard has discussed it as well, giving further credence. Not that anyone would've been able to stop Brody, though...

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.