On March 29, 1987, Vince McMahon and WWE presented WrestleMania III. It was the third of McMahon's annual supercards, an event featuring the biggest stars in the biggest matches of the year. The third incarnation of the show featured a monumental main event unlike any the wrestling industry has ever seen. Hulk Hogan, the biggest star in the sport, defended the WWE Championship against Andre the Giant in the biggest main event of all-time. 93,173 jam-packed suburban Detroit's Pontiac Silverdome for the huge event, all wanting to see if the Hulkster could retain his title and, in the process, end Andre's 15-year undefeated streak or if the giant would put an end to Hulkster's run at the top of the industry. They got their answer when Hogan dropped the leg and pinned Andre to retain his title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwbaywz8QO0 Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a wrestling classic to win the Intercontinental Championship, Alice Cooper accompanied Jake Roberts to the ring for his match against Honky Tonk Man and the Hart Foundation teamed with evil referee Danny Davis to defeat the British Bulldogs and Tito Santana in a huge Six-Man Tag match. The card was built spectacularly, laid out even better and the result was the first WrestleMania that felt like the spectacle it would eventually become. Easily the first truly great 'Mania produced and promoted by McMahon.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
