35 Years Of WWE WrestleMania Mistakes
13. WrestleMania 23 - Trying To Recreate WrestleMania III
One of the problems with trying to replicate the past is that more often than not it just serves to highlight how much better it was than the present. This was precisely the case as WWE paid homage to WrestleMania III as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
Returning to Detroit, the show began with a clip of Vince McMahon welcoming the fans before handing over to Aretha Franklin, who belted out America The Beautiful just as she had two decades previously. Though the echoes of the past brought up fond memories of Steamboat vs. Savage and André vs. Hogan, fans actually got Melina vs. Ashley and The Great Khali vs. Kane.
The finishing touch was the 'Big Red Machine' slamming Khali in a moment designed to resemble Hogan's "bodyslam heard around the world" - except this time, there were just groans heard around living rooms.