Dead or Alive? (Wrestlemania 1)

[Moon Bird]

I was interested to see who is still alive and who is dead that took part in the first ever WWF PPV, Wrestlemania 1 on March 31st 1985....so let's take a look together!

Lets start with Mean Gene (R.I.P) opening the proceedings with the National Anthem.

On commentary we had Gorilla Monsoon (R.I.P) and Jesse Ventura.

Announcing was Howard Finkel (R.I.P)

(we aren't even at the first match yet and we've already lost 3 people...things aren't looking good....)

Opening match was Tito Santana vs The Executioner Buddy Rose (R.I.P)

King Kong Bundy (R.I.P) with Jimmy Hart vs S.D Jones (R.I.P) followed.

Third match was Ricky Steamboat vs Matt Borne (R.I.P)

Brutus Beefcake with Johnny Valiant (R.I.P) vs David Sammartino with Bruce Sammartino (R.I.P) was next

Fifth match was The Junkyard Dog (R.I.P) vs Greg Valentine

Tag Team action followed with The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff (R.I.P) vs Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda with Captain Lou (R.I.P)

Next was Andre The Giant (R.I.P) vs Big John Studd (R.I.P) with Bobby Heenan (R.I.P)

Womens Championship match next with Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai with The Fabulous Moolah (R.I.P)

Main event time and it was Hulk Hogan & Mr. T with Jimmy Snuka (R.I.P) vs Paul Orndorff (R.I.P) & Roddy Piper (R.I.P) with Cowboy Bob Orton

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and there you have it. Of the 30 wrestlers & valets/managers on the card, 16 are no longer with us.

Along with Mean Gene, Gorilla Monsoon, Howard Finkle, Pat Patterson (R.I.P) who was special guest referee for the main event, and referees Jack Lotz (R.I.P) and Joey Marella (R.I.P)

Well that was bleak. If this one gets enough likes I might do NWA Starcade (1987), WCW WrestleWar (1991), ECW Barely Legal (1997) and any other inaugural PPVS people suggest.

 

[Chris]

A bit morbid but I like numbers enough that this intrigues me

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Alright, take my like, damn you.