History of Wrestlemania

[Baseball Guru]

From http://www.wrestlemaniahistory.com/wm01/index.html

On March 31, 1985, the legacy of WrestleMania was born at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Prior to the event, WWE had held many events, however, none were as successful as WrestleMania. Seen by more than one million fans via closed-circuit television, WrestleMania proved to be the originator of what would come to be know as the greatest spectacular in sports-entertainment history.

The card consisted of a literal who's who of professional wrestling at the time. All the top names competed: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat, Big John Studd were just a few of the headliners. Alongside WWE's top talent were some of the entertainment world's biggest names -- Liberace, Billy Martin, Muhammad Ali were just some of the names involved.

The tradition known as WrestleMania was born on March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The first match in WrestleMania history was Tito Santana against the Executioner. Tito would compete in the first nine WrestleMania events.

The first title change in WrestleMania history saw the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeat Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo for the Tag Team Championship. Also at the first WrestleMania, Wendy Richter defeated Leilani Kai for the Women’s Championship.

The main event at the first WrestleMania saw Hulk Hogan and Mr. T team up against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.

King Kong Bundy defeated S.D. Jones in just nine seconds at WrestleMania. That record would stand for almost 10 years, until Diesel defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWE Championship in just six seconds. Coincidentally, both of those matches took place at Madison Square Garden.

Ring announcer Howard Finkel began his WrestleMania iron-man streak at the first WrestleMania. Finkel is the only performer to appear at all 16 WrestleMania events!

At WrestleMania I, Andre the Giant and Big John Studd competed in a $15,000 body slam match. After Andre slammed Studd, he won the $15,000 – which he threw out to the crowd at MSG before Studd’s manager, Bobby Heenan, snuck up behind him and stole the money back.

Rock and roll megastar Cyndi Lauper seconded Wendi Richter to the ring for her Women’s Championship match against Leilani Kai.

Leilani Kai was the Women’s Champion at the very first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden. Leilani would return to MSG nine years later for WrestleMania X, when she challenged Alundra Blayze for that very same title.

WrestleMania I was the first of three WrestleManias in New York. The following year, WrestleMania II was held at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, and in 1994, WrestleMania X again emanated from Madison Square Garden.

[Baseball Guru]

WM 1 Results:

Tito Santana defeated the Executioner

David Sammartino and Brutus Beefcake wrestled to a double-DQ

Ricky Steamboat defeated Matt Borne

King Kong Bundy defeated S.D. Jones

Andre the Giant defeated Big John Studd in a Body Slam Match
Junk Yard Dog defeated Greg Valentine via countout

Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik defeated Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham to capture the Tag Team Championship

Wendi Richter defeated Lelani Kai for the Women's Championship

Hulk Hogan & Mr. T defeated Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff

[Baseball Guru]

Few people thought WWE could recreate the magic of the first WrestleMania. That is, until April 7, 1986, when the WWE mirrored the success of the first WrestleMania with WrestleMania 2. Much like the original, WrestleMania 2 combined World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars with Hollywood's hottest celebrities for an exciting night of sports-entertainment.

While WrestleMania 2 shared the same level of success as the original WrestleMania, the event was also very much different. For instance, the matches at WrestleMania 2 originated from three separate venues, with main events from each -- New York's Nassau Coliseum, the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago and the Los Angeles Sports Arena.


One of the three main events at WrestleMania 2 was a 20-man battle royal, which featured both WWE Superstars and NFL football players. In the end, Andre the Giant emerged victorious in a battle which also involved such football stars as Jim Covert, Ernie Holmes, Bill Fralic, Russ Francis, Harvey Martin, and William "Refrigerator" Perry.

In another one of the three main events at WrestleMania 2, Hulk Hogan defeated King Kong Bundy in the only steel cage match in WrestleMania history.

WrestleMania 2 was the first WrestleMania which was actually held on Pay-Per-View television. The first WrestleMania was shown on closed-circuit TV at thousands of theatres and arenas across the country.

WrestleMania 2 was the first of four WrestleManias to take place in California. WrestleMania VII took place at the L.A. Sports Arena, and WrestleManias XII and 2000 emanated from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim.

WrestleMania 2 was the first of two WrestleManias in Chicago. WrestleMania 13 took place at the Rosemont Horizon, the same arena which hosted WrestleMania 2.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 2. He would make his final WrestleMania appearance 10 years later, at the 12th annual event.

WWE Hall-of-Famer the Fabulous Moolah competed at WrestleMania 2, pinning Velvet McIntyre. Moolah would also appear 14 years later, at WrestleMania 2000, when she seconded Terri to ringside for Terri’s Cat Fight against The Kat.

Terry Funk teamed up with his brother Dory Funk Jr. – then known as "Hoss Funk" – at WrestleMania 2 to take on the Junk Yard Dog and Tito Santana. Twelve years later, Terry would team up with Mick Foley at WrestleMania XIV to win the Tag Team Championship from the New Age Outlaws – a team which included another dog, the Road Dogg.

Bret Hart made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 2. In his 12 WrestleMania appearances from WrestleMania 2 to WrestleMania 13, Hart would compete in numerous kinds of matches – battle royals, six-man tags, submission matches, Tag Team Championship matches, Intercontinental Championship matches, and WWE Championship matches. Hart would also compete in the main event of two WrestleManias.

[Baseball Guru]

Paul Orndorff and Don Muraco wrestled to a double-countout
Randy "Macho Man" Savage defeated George " the Animal" Steele via pinfall

Jake "the Snake" Roberts defeated George Wells via pinfall

Mr. T defeated Roddy Piper by DQ in a boxing match

Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah defeated Velvet McIntyre

Cpl. Kirschner defeated Nikolai Volkoff via pinfall

Andre the Giant won a 20 man battle royal

British Bulldogs defeated Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake for the Tag Team Championship

Ricky Steamboat defeated Hercules via pinfall

Adrian Adonis defeated Uncle Elmer via pinfall

Hoss & Terry Funk defeated Junk Yard Dog and Tito Santana

WWE Champion Hulk Hogan defeated King Kong Bundy in a cage match

[Baseball Guru]

In front of 93, 173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, WWE held its third annual WrestleMania. The event will forever be known for shattering the world's indoor attendance record, previously held by the Rolling Stones.

The event was highlighted by the mega-main event, pitting Andre the Giant against WWE Champion Hulk Hogan. In addition, in one of the greatest matches ever, Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat defeated Randy "Macho Man" Savage for the Intercontinental Championship. Also, Roddy Piper took on Adrian Adonis, Junk Yard Dog battled Harley Race, Billy Jack Haynes faced Hercules and much more.

WrestleMania III was the only WrestleMania which did not have a Tag Team Championship match.

WrestleMania III featured the first time the Intercontinental Championship changed hands at a WrestleMania, as Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage for the title in a classic battle.

Roddy Piper’s match at WrestleMania III was billed as his retirement match – even though Piper would go on to compete in the sports-entertainment business for another decade, including at WrestleMania XII.

One of the more famous matches in WrestleMania history was a WrestleMania III encounter pitting King Kong Bundy and two midgets – Little Tokyo and Lord Littlebrook – against Hillbilly Jim and two midgets – Little Beaver and the Haiti Kid.

After defeating the Rougeau Brothers, Greg Valentine turned on his partner, Brutus Beefcake, to form an alliance with Dino Bravo.

Harley Race defeated the Junk Yard Dog at WrestleMania III, and as per a pre-match stipulation, JYD was forced to bow down to Race after the match.

[Baseball Guru]

Rick Martel and Tom Zenk defeated Bob Orton & Don Muraco
Billy Jack Haynes and Hercules wrestled to a double-countout

Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid & Little Beaver defeated King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook via DQ

Harley Race defeated Junk Yard Dog via pinfall

Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake defeated the Rougeau Brothers via pinfall

Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis

The Hart Foundation & Danny Davis defeated the British Bulldogs and Tito Santana via pinfall

Butch Reed defeated Koko B. Ware via pinfall

Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage to capture the Intercontinental Championship

Honky Tonk Man defeated Jake the Snake" Roberts via pinfall

Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated the Killer Bees via DQ

WWE Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Andre the Giant via pinfall

[Baseball Guru]

Wrestling fans all around the world converged on Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City to witness WrestleMania IV. Subtitled "What the World is Watching," no truer words were spoken, as millions of people witnessed the event live, via closed circuit television and on Pay-Per-View.

For the first time in WrestleMania's history, there was no champion going into the event. As a a result, then World Wrestling Entertainment President Jack Tunney declared that the new champion would be crowned after an elimination tournament at WrestleMania IV.

WrestleMania IV was truly an event for the ages. From beginning to end, the action was non-stop. Whether it was watching the Hulkster help the Macho Man capture the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship, or Bret Hart destroy Bad News Brown's trophy; the millions who witnessed this mega event live, via closed circuit or PPV knew they were a part of something special.

WrestleMania IV featured a 14-man tournament for the vacant World Wrestling Entertainment Championship – one of only two such championship tournaments in World Wrestling Entertainment history. The other took place over 10 years later, at the 1998 Survivor Series.

WrestleMania IV featured the first time that the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship changed hands at WrestleMania, when Randy Savage was crowned WWE Champion.

WrestleMania IV was the first WrestleMania event – and the only event until WrestleMania X – which did not feature Hulk Hogan competing in the main event.

The opening match of WrestleMania IV was a 20-man battle royal, the second battle royal in WrestleMania history (Andre the Giant won the first one at WrestleMania 2). Bad News Brown emerged victorious from the match.

Hulk Hogan battled Andre the Giant at WrestleMania IV, in a rematch from the year before. This is one of only two matches which took place at consecutive WrestleManias – Bret Hart took on Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX and X.

The WWE Championship was declared vacant in the days leading up to WrestleMania IV – the first time the title had ever been vacant since Buddy Rogers became the first WWE Champion in 1962.

The One Man Gang reached the semi-finals of the championship tournament at WrestleMania IV, but by WrestleMania V he would take on an entirely new persona as the African Dream, Akeem.

WrestleMania IV had 15 matches, the most of any WrestleMania event.

Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth wore different outfits for each of the four matches they were involved in at WrestleMania IV.

[Baseball Guru]

Bad News Brown won a 20-man battle royal
Brutus Beefcake defeated Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man via DQ

The Islanders & Bobby Heenan defeated the British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware via pinfall

Demolition defeated Strike Force for the Tag Team Championship



Round One, Championship Tournament:

Ted DiBiase defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Don Muraco defeated Dino Bravo by DQ

Greg "the Hammer" Valentine defeated Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat via pinfall

Randy "Macho Man" Savage defeated Butch Reed via pinfall

One Man Gang defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via countout

Rick Rude and Jake "the Snake" Roberts wrestled to a 15-minute draw



Round Two, Championship Tournament:

Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan wrestled to a double DQ

Ted DiBiase defeated Don Muraco via pinfall

Randy Savage defeated Greg Valentine via pinfall



Semifinals, Championship Tournament:

Randy Savage defeated One Man Gang by DQ



Finals, Championship Tournament:

Randy Savage defeated Ted DiBiase to capture the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

WrestleMania V was held in the same venue as WrestleMania IV – Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

Both Shawn Michaels and the Big Boss Man made their WrestleMania debuts at WrestleMania V – taking on each other! Shawn and his partner, Marty Janetty, took on the Boss Man and Akeem at the event.

Rap superstars Run D.M.C. performed a special WrestleMania rap at WrestleMania V. Eleven years later, Run D.M.C. would again be featured at WrestleMania – their version of the D-Generation X theme song from the "Aggression" CD accompanied Road Dogg and X-Pac to the ring.

Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage to become World Wrestling Entertainment Champion in the main event of WrestleMania V – the first of three times Hogan would win the title at a WrestleMania. At WrestleMania VII, he defeated Sgt. Slaughter for the title, and at WrestleMania IX, Hogan beat Yokozuna.

After facing off in a body slam match at WrestleMania I, Andre the Giant and Big John Studd were again involved in the same match at WrestleMania V, when Studd served as guest referee for the match between Andre and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

Bruce Prichard, who currently works for the WWE as vice president of talent relations, assumed his alter ego of "Brother Love" at WrestleMania V. Brother Love was stripped of his kilt in a memorable segment which also involved Roddy Piper and Morton Downey Jr.

When Rick Rude defeated the Ultimate Warrior to win the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania V, it marked the Warrior’s first pinfall loss in WWE.

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka made a surprise guest appearance at WrestleMania V. It was the first time that Superfly had shown up at WrestleMania since accompanying Hulk Hogan and Mr. T to the ring at the first WrestleMania event.

The tag team of Strike Force – Rick Martel and Tito Santana – broke up at WrestleMania V after losing to the Brain Busters.

[Baseball Guru]

The Twin Towers defeated the Rockers via pinfall

Ted DiBiase and Brutus Beefcake wrestled to a double-countout

Hercules defeated King Haku

The Bushwackers defeated the Rougeau Brothers via pinfall

Mr. Perfect defeated the Blue Blazer via pinfall

Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated the Powers of Pain and Mr. Fuji via pinfall

Dino Bravo defeated Ron Garvin

Jake Roberts defeated Andre the Giant via DQ

The Brain Busters defeated Strike Force via pinfall

The Hart Foundation defeated Greg Valentine and Honky Tonk Man via pinfall

Rick Rude defeated Ultimate Warrior for the Intercontinental Championship

Bad News Brown and Jim Duggan wrestled to a double-DQ

Red Rooster defeated Bobby Heenan via pinfall

Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.

[Baseball Guru]

WrestleMania VI was the first Pay-Per-View event held outside the United States.

The event drew 67,678 fans to Toronto’s SkyDome.

The main event of WrestleMania VI was a title-for-title match, as Intercontinental Champion Ultimate Warrior took on World Wrestling Entertainment Champion Hulk Hogan.

Demolition won the Tag Team Championship from Haku and Andre the Giant at WrestleMania VI, becoming just the second team in World Wrestling Entertainment history to have three reigns as Tag Champions. The first team was the 70s combination of Mr. Fuji (who appeared at WrestleMania VI as a manager) and Prof. Toru Tanaka.

WrestleMania VI featured the first mixed tag match in WrestleMania history, when Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire took on Randy Savage and Sensational Sherri.

Prior to the Pay-Per-View, a special "dark match" was held for the fans inside the SkyDome, as World Wrestling Entertainment technicians made final preparations for the broadcast to start. The referee for that match was none other than Shane McMahon.

Ten years before he and Christian captured the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 2000, Edge sat ringside at WrestleMania VI, proudly wearing a "Hulk Rules" T-shirt!

Hulk Hogan’s loss in the main event of WrestleMania VI was the only loss Hogan ever suffered in 10 WrestleMania matches.

Andre the Giant ended his three-year association with manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan at WrestleMania VI, much to the delight of the fans on hand.

*************************************

On a personal note: one of my favorite Wrestlemania's:clap2:

[Baseball Guru]

The Model Rick Martel defeated Koko B. Ware by submission

Demolition defeated the Colossal Connection for the Tag Team Championship

Earthquake defeated Hercules via pinfall

Brutus Beefcake defeated Mr. Perfect via pinfall

Roddy Piper and Bad News Brown wrestled to a double-countout

The Hart Foundation defeated the Bolsheviks via pinfall

Barbarian defeated Tito Santana via pinfall

Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire defeated Randy Savage & Sherri via pinfall

The Orient Express defeated the Rockers via countout

Jim Duggan defeated Dino Bravo by pinfall

Ted DiBiase defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts

The Big Boss Man defeated Akeem via pinfall

Rick Rude defeated Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka via pinfall

The Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

In terms of raw emotion, there is perhaps no other night in the rich history of World Wrestling Entertainment that can compare to March 24, 1991. The largest audience in the history of Pay-Per-View, as well as many celebrities, including Donald Trump, Regis Philbin and Henry "The Fonz" Winkler, watched as Old Glory took center stage at WrestleMania VII.

With the Persian Gulf War raging in the Middle East, the United States was experiencing a period of intense patriotism. From Maine to Montana and beyond, American were quick to discuss the insatiable love they felt for their country, and were just as quick to utter their disdain for their enemies.

Through Hulk Hogan, WWE fans experienced that undying patriotism, as the Hulkster face Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter.

Millions of fans watching worldwide took a ride that was an emotional roller coaster that was WrestleMania VII


Shawn Michaels competed in the opening match of WrestleMania VII - the first of three consecutive WrestleManias at which the Heartbreak Kid competed first.

WrestleMania VII marked the final WrestleMania appearance of Andre the Giant.

WrestleMania VII was originally supposed to take place at the L.A. Coliseum, which holds over 100,000 people. But due to security concerns related to the Gulf War, the event was moved to the L.A. Arena.

Ted DiBiase and Virgil went one-on-one for the first time at WrestleManai VII.

Country star Willie Nelson sang “American the Beautiful” at WrestleMania VII.

After the Nasty Boys won the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania VII, they partied all night with Willie Nelson. When they showed up the next day at a TV taping, they only had one title belt with them, because they had given the other one to Nelson as a souvenir!

The British Bulldog competed at seven WrestleMania events, but WrestleMania VII was the only time he ever wrestled in a singles match. He took on the Warlord one-on-one.

Jake Roberts and The Model competed in a “Blindfold Match” at WrestleMania VII, in which both men’s sight was completely blurred by a black cloak!

The Ultimate Warrior defeated Randy Savage in a retirement match at WrestleMania VII. Seven months later, the Warrior had left World Wrestling Entertainment, and Savage had been reinstated. And one year later - at WrestleMania VIII - Savage regained the WWE Championship.

[Baseball Guru]

The Rockers defeated the Barbarian & Haku via pinfall

Texas Tornado defeated Dino Bravo via pinfall

The British Bulldog defeated the Warlord via pinfall

The Nasty Boys defeated The Hart Foundation for the Tag Team Championship

Jake Roberts defeated The Model in a Blindfold Match

Undertaker defeated Jimmy Snuka via pinfall

Ultimate Warrior defeated Randy Savage in a Retirement Match

Genichiro & Koji Kiao defeated Demolition via pinfall

Big Boss Man beat Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect via DQ

Earthquake defeated Greg Valentine via pinfall

Legion of Doom defeated Power & Glory via pinfall

Virgil defeated Ted DiBiase via countout

The Mountie defeated Tito Santana via pinfall

Hulk Hogan defeated Sgt. Slaughter to capture the WWE Championship

[Baseball Guru]

There is no doubt that the two greatest emotions are love and hate. Either can motivate a man to do things he never dreamed. As the Macho Man Randy Savage entered the battle at WrestleMania VIII to take on Nature Boy Ric Flair, ha was fueled simultaneously by both emotions. Savage defeated Flair in a brutal match that saw the Macho Man walk away with the two things he loved the most - Miss Elizabeth and the World Wrestling Entertainment Title.

Also at WrestleMania VIII, Hulk Hogan appeared in what was thought by many to be his last match, the Ultimate Warrior made a memorable return and the Undertaker showcased his dark side in a match against Jake Roberts.

The Godfather - then known as “Papa Shango” - made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania VIII, making a run-in during the main event.

Over 60,000 people attended WrestleMania VIII, held at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Ind.

Reba McIntyre sang “America the Beautiful” to open WrestleMania VIII.

WrestleMania VIII marked Ric Flair’s only WrestleMania appearance.

Jake “The Snake” Roberts exited the WWE after his loss to the Undertaker at WrestleMania VIII. He would return at the 1996 Royal Rumble, nearly four years later.

After vanishing several months earlier, the Legion of Doom returned to WWE at WrestleMania VIII.

Lex Luger did an interview at WrestleMania VIII, just weeks after signing with World Wrestling Entertainment.

When Miss Elizabeth tried to run down to ringside during the championship match between Randy Savage and Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII, several WWE officials tried to stop her. One of those officials was none other than Shane McMahon.

The match between Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice at WrestleMania VIII was billed as Hogan’s retirement match.

[Baseball Guru]

Shawn Michaels defeated Tito Santana via pinfall

Tatanka defeated The Model via pinfall

Natural Disasters defeated Tag Team Champions Money Inc. by countout

Undertaker defeated Jake Roberts via pinfall

Virgil, Big Boss Man, Sgt. Slaughter & Jim Duggan defeated The Mountie, Repo Man & the Nasty Boys via pinfall

Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

Bret Hart defeated Roddy Piper for the Intercontinental Championship

Owen Hart defeated Skinner via pinfall

Hulk Hogan defeated Sid Justice via DQ

[Baseball Guru]

Bret Hart defended the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship at WrestleMania IX, making him the first superstar to compete for three different titles at three consecutive WrestleMania events - at WrestleMania VII he and Jim Neidhart defended their Tag Team Championship, and at WrestleMania VIII, he defeated Roddy Piper for the Intercontinental Championship.

The WWE Championship changed hands twice at WrestleMania IX. First, Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart, and moments later, Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna.

Rikishi made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania IX. Competing as Headshrinker Fatu, he teamed with Samu against the Steiner Brothers.

WrestleMania IX was the only WrestleMania ever held outdoors.

Billed as the “World’s Largest Toga Party,” WrestleMania IX emanated from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Jim Ross made his World Wrestling Entertainment debut at WrestleMania IX.

WrestleMania IX was the second consecutive WrestleMania event at which Money Inc. defended their Tag Team Championship. They were successful in both defenses.

Although he first won the WWE Championship in 1978 - eight years before the first WrestleMania - WrestleMania IX was the first WrestleMania appearance for Bob Backlund.

WrestleMania IX was Ted DiBiase’s last WrestleMania as an in-ring competitor.

Going along with the Roman motif, Howard Finkel’s name at WrestleMania IX was changed to “Finkus Maximus.”

[Baseball Guru]

Tatanka defeated Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels by DQ

The Steiners defeated the Headshrinkers via pinfall

Doink defeated Crush via pinfall

Razor Ramon defeated Bob Backlund via pinfall

Tag Team Champions Money Inc. defeated Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake via DQ

Lex Luger defeated Mr. Perfect via pinfall

Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzales via DQ

Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship

Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna for the WWE Championship

[Baseball Guru]

Hulk Hogan and Tito Santana both competed at the first nine WrestleMania events, but neither competed at WrestleMania X.

Leilani Kai competed for the Women’s Title at WrestleMania X - her first WrestleMania since she competed for that same title in the same building at WrestleMania I.

WrestleMania X featured two defenses of the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship. Yokozuna successfully defended his title against Lex Luger in the first defense, but lost the title to Bret Hart in his second defense.

Both WWE Championship matches at WrestleMania X featured guest referees. Mr. Perfect officiated the first bout, while Roddy Piper served as referee for the second.

Bret Hart wrestled in the first and last match at WrestleMania X. He was pinned by his brother Owen in the opening match, and he defeated Yokozuna to become World Wrestling Entertainment Champion in the final match.

WrestleMania X featured a unique mixed tag match, as Bam Bam Bigelow teamed with a woman - Luna Vachon - to take on Doink and a midget - Dink!

Tickets sold out so quickly for WrestleMania X at Madison Square Garden that the show was also shown at the Paramount Theater adjacent to MSG on closed-circuit television!

After taking several months off from the broadcast booth, Jerry “The King” Lawler returned to World Wrestling Entertainment at WrestleMania X to provide color commentary!

WrestleMania X featured the now-legendary Ladder Match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon.

[Baseball Guru]

Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart via pinfall

Bam Bam Bigelow & Luna defeated Doink & Dink via pinfall

Randy Savage defeated Crush

Women's Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Lelani Kai

Men on a Mission defeated Tag Team Champions the Quebecers via countout

World Wrestling Entertainment Champion Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger by DQ

Earthquake defeated Adam Bomb via pinfall

Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship

Bret Hart defeated Yokozuna for the WWE Championship

[Baseball Guru]

Owen Hart promised a mystery partner at WrestleMania XI for his Tag Team Championship match against the Smoking Gunns. That partner turned out to be Yokozuna! When the duo defeated the Gunns for the titles, it marked the first title Owen ever held in the WWE.

After competing for the WWE Championship just one year earlier at WrestleMania, Lex Luger competed in the opening match of WrestleMania XI.

Bret Hart defeated Bob Backlund in an “I Quit” match at WrestleMania XI, with Roddy Piper serving as guest referee. It was the second consecutive WrestleMania event at which Piper was the guest referee for Bret Hart’s match.

For his match against Bam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania XI, football star Lawrence Taylor enlisted help in the form of his “all-pro team” - football players Ken Norton Jr., Carl Banks, Rickey Jackson, Steve McMichael, Reggie White and Chris Spielman.

WrestleMania XI aired just one month before the first-ever “In Your House” event.

With baseball players still on strike, American League umpire Larry Young stepped into the ring, as the referee for the match between the Undertaker and King Kong Bundy at WrestleMania XI.

WrestleMania XI was the second consecutive WrestleMania event at which Razor Ramon competed for the Intercontinental Championship. The year before, he and Shawn Michaels competed in their legendary ladder match, and at WrestleMania XI, he challenged Jeff Jarrett for the title.

WrestleMania XI marked the WrestleMania debut of “The One” Billy Gunn, then Billy of the Smoking Gunns.

[Baseball Guru]

Allied Forces defeated Eli & Jacob Blu via pinfall

Razor Ramon beat Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett by DQ

Undertaker pinned King Kong Bundy

Bret Hart defeated Bob Backlund in an "I Quit" Match

Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated the Smoking Gunns for the Tag Team Championship

World Wrestling Entertainment Champion Diesel defeated Shawn Michaels via pinfall

Lawrence Taylor defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via pinfall

[Baseball Guru]

One boy's dream. One man's destiny.

This paints the perfect picture for WrestleMania XII, which emanated from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California, on March 31, 1996.

The WWE Championship was on the line as two of the greatest performers in World Wrestling Entertainment history, Bret "Hit Man" Hart and the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, were set to duel over Bret's title in a 60-minute Iron Man Match.

After neither man could notch a pin or submission within the initial hour, WWE official Gorilla Monsoon called for sudden death rules until a winner was determined. Michaels ended up proving he was the best that night when he landed a superkick to Hart's face for the victory and the right to be called World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.

WrestleMania XII also saw the Undertaker hit a Tombstone Piledriver on Diesel to pick up the win. Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Goldust in a wild Hollywood Back Lot Brawl. The Ultimate Warrior returned to pick up a victory over a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley. And Steve Austin made his WrestleMania debut to earn a win over Savio Vega.

WrestleMania XII featured just six matches, and for good reason - the main event was a 60-minute Iron Man Match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels.

On the Free-for-All before the event, the Bodydonnas defeated the Godwinns in a tournament final to win the vacant Tag Team Championship.

Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H both made their World Wrestling Entertainment debuts at WrestleMania XII.

After almost a three-year absence, the Ultimate Warrior returned to World Wrestling Entertainment at WrestleMania XII.

WrestleMania XII was held in the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif. - the same venue which would later host WrestleMania 2000.

Mankind would made his World Wrestling Entertainment debut the day after WrestleMania XII.

Although Owen Hart and Yokozuna teamed up to win the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania XI, they were on opposite teams at WrestleMania XII.

During the “Free For All” prior to WrestleMania, “The Huckster” fought the “Nacho Man,” with “Billionaire Ted” as the special guest referee.

In a World Wrestling Entertainment poll taken in April 2000, fans picked the Michaels/Hart Iron Man Match as their favorite WrestleMania match of all time.

[Baseball Guru]

Owen Hart, Vader & the British Bulldog defeated Ahmed Johnson, Jake "The Snake" Roberts & Yokozuna via pinfall

Roddy Piper defeated Goldust in a Backlot Brawl

Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega

Ultimate Warrior defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley via pinfall

Undertaker defeated Diesel via pinfall

Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart in an Iron Man Match to win the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

The Submission Match at WrestleMania 13 produced a “double-turn,” as Bret Hart turned heel and Stone Cold Steve Austin turned face in the same match. Bret’s heel turn ended a nine-year stretch of being a face, which began at WrestleMania IV.

The Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 13 pitted Rocky Maivia against the Sultan. Years later, the two men - now known as The Rock and Rikishi - are still battling!

WrestleMania 13 emanated from the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, which was one of the three arenas which hosted WrestleMania 2.

WrestleMania 13 is the only time that the Undertaker has been in the main event of WrestleMania.

The Undertaker’s title win at WrestleMania 13 was the first time he had held the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship in over five years!

The Headbangers won a Fatal Fourway Match at WrestleMania 13 to earn a Tag Team Championship match the following night on RAW. Owen Hart and the British Bulldog - the Tag Team Champions - successfully defended their titles against Mankind and Vader at WrestleMania, and then again on RAW against the Headbangers.

Ken Shamrock made one of his first appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment at WrestleMania 13, acting as the special referee for the Hart/Austin Submission Match. Shamrock would go on to compete at WrestleManias XIV and XV, both times in matches for the Intercontinental Championship.

Shawn Michaels - who a month earlier had “lost his smile” - provided color commentary for the main event of WrestleMania 13.

The day before WrestleMania 13, the Undertaker was in a minor car accident. Although a bit banged up, Taker sucked it up and captured the WWE Championship from Sycho Sid!

The man now known as The Rock made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 13. Competing as “Rocky Maivia,” he successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship.

[Baseball Guru]

The Headbangers defeated the Blackjacks, Furnas & Lafon and the Godwinns in a four team elimination match

Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia defeated the Sultan

Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Goldust via pinfall

Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin in a Submission Match

Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & the British Bulldog wrestled Mankind & Vader to a double-countout

The Legion of Doom and Ahmed Johnson defeated Crush, Faarooq & Savio Vega in a Chicago Street Fight

Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

Shawn Michaels’ match at WrestleMania XIV was his last match in World Wrestling Entertainment.

The day before WrestleMania XIV, D-Generation X held a public workout in the city of Boston which drew over 15,000 fans.

The band which plays DX’s theme music appeared live at WrestleMania XIV to play a rendition of “America the Beautiful” to open the night’s festivities.

The first European Championship match in WrestleMania history occurred at WrestleMania XIV.

WrestleMania XIV marked the first time that Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor ever teamed with each other. Today, Christopher is known as “Grand Master Sexay” and Taylor is known as “Scotty 2 Hotty” - yes, Too Cool was born at WrestleMania XIV.

In an interview with Gennifer Flowers at WrestleMania XIV, The Rock used the term “if you smell what The Rock is cooking” for the first time!

Mick Foley competed at WrestleMania XIV as “Cactus Jack,” teaming up with Terry Funk - competing as “Chainsaw Charlie” - to win the Tag Team Championship.

The day after WrestleMania XIV, X-Pac returned to WWE. He, Triple H and the New Age Outlaws would unite to reform DX!

WrestleMania XIV marked the first-ever battle between the Undertaker and Kane.

Pete Rose made his first WrestleMania appearance at WrestleMania XIV, where he was attacked by Kane. That would mark the first of many WrestleMania appearances at which Rose was attacked by the Kane.

Boxer Mike Tyson served as the special “ringside enforcer” at WrestleMania XIV for the main event between Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin. When referee Mike Chioda was knocked out, Tyson jumped in the ring and counted the 1-2-3 as Austin became champion!

By winning the 15-team battle royal at WrestleMania XIV, the Legion of Doom secured a Tag Team Championship match the following month at the Unforgiven Pay-Per-View. Unfortunately for L.O.D., the Outlaws retained their titles in that match.

[Baseball Guru]

LOD 2000 won a 15-team battle royal

Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku defeated Aguila

European Champion Triple H defeated Owen Hart via pinfall

Marc Mero & Sable defeated Goldust & Luna

Intercontinental Champion The Rock beat Ken Shamrock by DQ

Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie defeated the New Age Outlaws in a Dumpster Match to capture the Tag Team Championship

Undertaker defeated Kane via pinfall

Steve Austin pinned Shawn Michaels to become World Wrestling Entertainment Champion

[Baseball Guru]

WrestleMania XV was dubbed "The Ragin' Climax," and that's exactly what it turned out to be. Tensions among the participants in almost every match had been building for months, especially between the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, The Rock, and his opponent, Stone Cold Steve Austin. The night of March 28, 1999 represented the end of The Rock's reign and the beginning of Austin's third as WWE Champion.

The drama of WrestleMania XV was not restricted to the main event. Professional boxer Butterbean made quick and stunning work of Bart Gunn in a Brawl for All match. Triple H reunited with Chyna after she assisted him in his match with Kane, and showed his true colors later that night by turning on his best friend, X-Pac, and joining forces with the Corporation.

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock to win the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship at WrestleMania XV - making him the only man ever to win the WWE Championship at consecutive WrestleMania events (he toppled Shawn Michaels for the title one year earlier).

On the episode of HEAT prior to WrestleMania XV, a battle royal was held with a unique stipulation - the last two men left standing would team up to challenge Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett for the Tag Team Championship later in the night at WrestleMania! Test and D’Lo Brown emerged victorious in the battle royal, but the champions retained their titles.

After being a member of the highly popular D-Generation X for over a year, Triple H turned his back on the group at WrestleMania XV.

One of the more unique contests at WrestleMania XV was the “Brawl for All” match, pitting pro boxer Butterbean against Bart Gunn. Just 34 seconds into the first round of action, Butterbean scored the win.

The first Hardcore Championship match in WrestleMania history occurred at WrestleMania XV.

Both Kane and the Big Show turned face at WrestleMania XV.

The day after WrestleMania XV, Goldust defeated the Road Dogg for the Intercontinental Championship, and just two days after WrestleMania XV, Kane and X-Pac defeated Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart for the Tag Team Championship.

The night before WrestleMania XV, the “WrestleMania Rage Party” aired live on USA Network. The show was a pre-WrestleMania party featuring numerous musical acts and superstars.

Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett defended the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania XV - making Jarrett the third different championship partner that Owen had at WrestleMania events! At WrestleMania XI, Owen and Yokozuna won the Tag Team Championship, and at WrestleMania 13, Owen and the British Bulldog held the titles.

Mick Foley counted the pinfall in the main event of WrestleMania XV, when Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock to become the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.

[Baseball Guru]

Hardcore Holly defeated Al Snow and Billy Gunn for the Hardcore Championship

Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeat D'Lo Brown & Test

Butterbean defeated Bart Gunn in a Brawl for All

Mankind defeated the Big Show via DQ

Road Dogg defeated Ken Shamrock, Goldust and Val Venis in a Four Corners Elimination Intercontinental Championship Match

Kane defeated Triple H via DQ

Women's Champion Sable defeated Tori via pinfall

European Champion Shane McMahon defeated X-Pac via pinfall

Undertaker defeated Big Boss Man in a Hell in the Cell Match

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock to capture the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

WrestleMania 2000 emanated from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California on April 2. The main event was, quite possibly, the most star-studded main event in WrestleMania history -- a Fatal Fourway for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship, with a McMahon family member in the corner of each participant.

World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon chose The Rock as the man he wanted to become champion. Stephanie was at the side of her husband and champion, Triple H. Shane stood behind the Big Show. Linda, the matriarch of the McMahon family, convinced Mick Foley to come out of retirement so he could live his dream and fight in the main event at WrestleMania. In the end, Vince betrayed The Rock to help Triple H retain the WWE Title, and was reunited with Stephanie.

Also at WrestleMania, Edge and Christian captured their first Tag Team Championship in a memorable Tables and Ladders Match, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit were crowned European and Intercontinental Champion, respectively, and Hardcore Holly emerged victorious in a wild Hardcore Battle Royal.

Triple H’s win in the main event of WrestleMania 2000 was the first time that a “heel” had ever emerged from a WrestleMania event as World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.

Hardcore Holly emerged from WrestleMania 2000 as the Hardcore Champion. It was the second consecutive WrestleMania at which he won that title.

At WrestleMania 2000, Kurt Angle lost both the Intercontinental and European Championships - without being pinned! Competing in a two-fall Triple Threat Match with Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, Angle lost the Intercontinental Title when Benoit pinned Jericho, and the European Title when Jericho pinned Benoit!

Edge & Christian won their first Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 2000.

When Chris Benoit won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 2000, it marked the first time that title had changed hands at a WrestleMania event in eight years - dating back to WrestleMania VIII in 1992!

WrestleMania 2000 marked the Big Boss Man’s sixth WrestleMania appearance.

WrestleMania 2000 saw the Hardcore Championship change hands 11 times, as a result of the unique stipulations of the 15-minute Hardcore Battle Royal! At the end of the match, Hardcore Holly was the champion.

WrestleMania 2000 is the only WrestleMania ever which did not feature a traditional one-on-one match.

Chyna made her WrestleMania in-ring debut at WrestleMania 2000, teaming with Too Cool to take on the Radicalz.

The nine men who competed in matches for the Intercontinental, European and Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 2000 - Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Edge, Christian, the Dudley Boyz and the Hardy Boyz - were all making their in-ring WrestleMania debuts.

[Baseball Guru]

The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan defeated the Godfather and D'Lo Brown

Hardcore Holly won a Hardcore Battle Royal to become the new World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Champion

Test and Albert defeated Al Snow and Steve Blackman

Edge and Christian defeated the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz in a Tables and Ladders Match to become the new World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions.

Terri defeated The Kat in a catfight.

Too Cool and Chyna defeated Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko

In a Triple Threat Match for Kurt Angle's Intercontinental and European Championship, Chris Benoit pinned Chris Jericho to win the Intercontinental Title. Later, Jericho defeated Benoit to win the European Championship.

Kane and Rikishi defeated X-Pac and Road Dogg

Triple H defeated The Rock, Mick Foley and the Big Show in a Fatal Four Way to retain the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship

[Baseball Guru]

An incredible 67,925 fans packed the Reliant AstroDome in Houston, Texas, for WrestleMania X-Seven, on April 1, 2001!

The event set revenue and attendance records for World Wrestling Entertainment, with over 100,000 fans in total attending WrestleMania and AXXESS: The Fan Festival, held at Reliant Hall in Houston. In all, the gate receipts for WrestleMania alone was over $3.5 million!

In a rematch from WrestleMania XV, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock faced off in the main event of the show, with Stone Cold emerging victorious to claim his fifth World Wrestling Entertainment Championship!

The Rock competed in his third consecutive WrestleMania main event at X-Seven; he has lost all three.

Stone Cold improved his main event record to 3-0, and has won the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship in all three of those main events.

Stone Cold vs. The Rock is only the second match to be a main event at two WrestleMania events -- Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna highlighted WrestleMania IX and X.

Five different championships changed hands at WrestleMania X-Seven -- the most ever.

WrestleMania X-Seven marked the WrestleMania in-ring debut of Vince McMahon, the man who conceptualized the event.

[Baseball Guru]

Chris Jericho pinned William Regal to retain the Intercontinental Championship

Tazz & APA defeated Right to Censor

Kane defeated Big Show and Raven in a Triple Threat Match to become Hardcore Champion

Eddie Guerrero pinned Test to win the European Championship

Kurt Angle pinned Chris Benoit

Chyna pinned Ivory to win the Women's Championship

Shane McMahon pinned Vince McMahon in a Street Fight

Edge & Christian defeated the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz in TLC II to win the Tag Team Championship

The Iron Sheik won the Gimmick Battle Royal

Undertaker pinned Triple H

Stone Cold Steve Austin pinned The Rock to win the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship