10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (March 31)
5. Vince McMahon Encouraged 'Mania III's Roster To Watch The Crowd File in
Up until WWE smashed their own record at WrestleMania 32, 1987's 'Mania III held the record for largest attendance at the annual event; even if the disputed 100,000 plus number is taken with a pinch of salt, Dave Meltzer's Dallas estimation of around 97,000 is still larger than either of 'Mania III's reported 93,000 or 78,000 figures.
On the card, the popular Hillbilly Jim worked a six-man tag-team bout alongside The Haiti Kid and Little Beaver. Facing King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo and Lord Littlebrook in a comedy match, Hillbilly told the Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast that he doesn't remember the bout as fondly as some others.
Instead, the country-boy good guy actually thinks of Vince McMahon's encouragement before the card had even started - and not his match.
As thousands filed into the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, the WWF's owner told all of his wrestling staff to peek through the curtain and watch in awe; reminding them that this could very much be a one-off, McMahon pressed his performers to take in just how many people were coming to see them.