7 WrestleMania Matches That Weren’t All Bad
7. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant - WrestleMania III (1987)
Panned by many critics for its clumsy exchanges and glacial pace, the match between WWF heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III has been described as one of the shoddiest WrestleMania matches ever presented. However, if you can bring yourself to overlook its (admittedly glaring) technical flaws, you will discover a match which has much to savour: a simple yet effective story, dense crowd noise and a stunning outcome. This match deserves a repeat viewing.
To set the scene: Hogan was hellbent on revenge after Andre, his longtime friend and partner, had turned his back on him in January 1987, took the despised Bobby Heenan as his manager and challenged him to a heavyweight title match at WrestleMania. A bewildered Hogan refused to believe Andre could succumb to the dark side and consort with Heenan, until Andre tore off Hogans T-shirt and necklace. The symbolism was obvious: like Hogans chain, the friendship between Hogan and Andre was broken.
Tension mounted when Andre eliminated Hogan, with remarkable ease, from a battle royal broadcast on Saturday Nights Main Event on March 14, 1987. Fifteen days later, Hogan and Andre clashed one-on-one at WrestleMania from the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.
The sell out crowd of 78,000 (or 93,193, according to WWE lore) was a-buzz as Hogan made his entrance. This is the biggest match in the history of professional wrestling, said announcer Jesse Ventura. Based on the live attendance, then the largest in wrestling history, and combined closed-circuit and pay-per-view audiences, also record-breaking, he was right.
As a wild-eyed, shuddering Hogan approached a sneering Andre, Gorilla Monsoon remarked, The irresistible force meeting the immovable object. It was neither the first nor the last time Monsoon uttered those words. Never were they more apt.
The towering, massively muscled Hogan had reigned as WWF heavyweight champion since January 23, 1984. Andre, who was even larger, had been undefeated for 15 years, according to the pre-event hype.
Hogan struck with blows to Andres head and attempted a bodyslam. Failing to support Andres 500-pound frame, Hogan toppled backwards and hit the mat with Andres weight upon him. Hogan barely raised a shoulder before the referees count of three.
Hogans miscalculation pushed the drama levels up to maximum. WWF fans had seen Hogan absorb and recover from umpteen beatings from monsters. But Andre was in a league of his own in that department. How could Hogan rebound from this setback, just moments into his defence against the omnipotent, supposedly unbeaten-in-15-years Giant?
Andre worked over Hogans back, which the defending champion sold with conviction. From there, the match settled into a pattern of Hogan comebacks, which Andre thwarted. Crowd noise rose and fell accordingly.
Fittingly, the finale was the high point of their emotional roller coaster ride.
Hulking up, Hogan lifted spectators into a frenzy, which peaked when he successfully hoisted Andre for the slam he had earlier failed to complete and landed the customary legdrop for the three count. Hogan had done it again: he defeated the apparently unbeatable Giant.
Despite the spotlessly clean ending, the dispute between the mega-over Hogan and Andre continued well into 1988. So revered were these two titans of the ring, their quarterfinal match in the WWF heavyweight title tournament at WrestleMania IV was the main selling point of the show. The match lacked the intense atmosphere and drama of the historic Mania III collision. No need to watch this one again.