WrestleMania III - Hogan Slams The Giant
The most-often used image from this event is probably that of Hulk and Andre facing off right before the bell rings. The former friends looked so uncharacteristically cold and serious, and it was a rare occasion when Hogan looked small. I had three images competing in my mind for most iconic here: the first is that opening shot of the Pontiac Silverdome. As I sat in my local arena, in the very front row, eagerly anticipating my first-ever PPV, that opening scene took my breath away, and gave me that first shot of wrestling adrenaline that makes a fan come back for more. The second image is that of Ricky Steamboat holding the IC Title, as he motored back down the aisle on those little ring carts. He was my favourite, and I was both overjoyed that he had conquered Savage and annoyed that he had to share the spotlight with the goofy George "The Animal" Steele. Those two images are pretty special to me, but the one of Hogan actually picking up Andre for the slam trumps them both. It represents a moment that immortalized Hulk Hogan, and I could not have been more amazed and thrilled by it. Hogan slamming Andre proved to me that wrestling was REAL, and the grown-ups didn't know what they were talking about.