Sunday, March 24th, 1991
Los Angeles Sports Arena
Los Angeles, California
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Off The Grid, Volume 9:
There is a lot to unpack here. This was the first pay-per-view that I ever bought at my house and probably the most excited I have ever been to watch any wrestling show in my entire life. As a result, I probably watched this show (particularly the first half), well over 100 times. With that being said, I probably haven't watched it from start to finish in about 10-15 years. Let's see how it holds up.
We get a classic Vince McMahon introduction featuring the best WrestleMania theme song. They really need to bring it back. This show was supposed to take place in the outdoor Los Angeles Coliseum, but due to poor ticket sales (and security) was moved indoors to the Sports Arena. The crowd here is super hot and the atmosphere was pretty incredible all night.
Willie Nelson is here to sing "America The Beautiful". I forgot that he sang this with no music, which was kind of a surprising choice. This leads to Gorilla Monsoon's introduction and since Bobby Heenan is managing in the opener, he brings out Hacksaw Jim Duggan as his guest announcer. Duggan is dressed as Uncle Sam. I used to have all of Duggan's lines memorized here.
Sean Mooney is with The Rockers, who remind us that they are tag team specialists.
Haku & Barbarian vs. The Rockers
The Rockers were absolutely on fire here in early 1991. Michaels and Haku start things off and Haku catches him in a bear hug and throws him into the turnbuckle. Haku catches Michaels on his shoulder, but Michaels escapes and after a couple of leap frogs, he hits a shoulder block. The Rockers hit a double team, but then Barbarian hits a huge clothesline. They recover and hit double superkicks and the heels go to re-group with Bobby Heenan. Barbarian and Jannetty are in there now and Barbarian quickly gets the advantage on Jannetty. Marty slides under the legs of Barbarian and then goes for a sunset flip. It doesn't work, so he goes for a headscissors, but Barbarian catches him. Michaels comes in and dropkicks him and Jannetty gets the hurricanrana in. It doesn't last long and Barbarian nearly take Jannetty's head off with the illegal double team. Jannetty ducks a clothesline and they collide in the middle, but Haku is quickly up and he hits two backbreakers. I will never understand why they didn't do more with Haku and Barbarian. Jannetty attempts a comeback, but Barbarian catches him with an awesome powerslam. Barbarian goes up top and misses with the headbutt. Michaels gets the hot tag and hits a reverse elbow. Michaels hits a reverse neckbreaker for a 2 count. The Rockers clear Barbarian out of the ring and both head up top. Jannetty hits the missile dropkick and Michaels hits the flying crossbody for the pinfall victory. This is such an underrated tag team match. It followed the formula and delivered a great opening match.
Match Rating: ****
Mean Gene is back with the celebrities of the show. Regis Philbin here is absolutely classic. He talks about being afraid of Earthquake, which leads to Gene telling him that he's beautiful. Marla Maples is going to be doing interviews in the locker room. Alex Trebek does a little play on Jeopardy and we head on down back to the ring.
Dino Bravo vs. Texas Tornado
Tornado gets attacked with his robe still on. Bravo clotheslines him out and over and continues the assault. Tornado gets his robe off and hits an atomic drop. He tries to go for the claw, but Bravo blocks it and hits him with some chops. Bravo hits a weak looking inverted atomic drop and follows it up with an elbow. Bravo hits the deadly side suplex, but Tornado kicks out. Heenan is jazzed up tonight and this is honestly one of his best performances of all time here tonight. Tornado gets the claw on and hits the Tornado punch for the easy victory. Short and inoffensive.
Match Rating: 3/4*
We now go back to Sean, who is with Warlord and Slick. Classic Slick stuff here. Mean Gene is with British Bulldog, who cuts one of his weakest promos. Winston does talk to him, so there's that.
Warlord vs. British Bulldog
After a few shoulder tackles, Bulldog is finally able to get Warlord down. Bulldog goes for a crucifix, but Warlord drops him on his back. Warlord did have a nice looking elbow drop, I'll give him that. Bulldog gets out of the bear hug, but then Warlord hits a nice looking Stun Gun. Warlord has Bulldog in such a bad chinlock that even Heenan is calling him out on it. Bulldog gets out and hits a nice standing dropkick. Bulldog goes for a piledriver, but Warlord flips him over. Bulldog turns it into a pin attempt and Warlord kicks out at 3. Bulldog runs into a big boot and then Warlord slaps on the Full Nelson. Warlord doesn't have the fingers locked though and Gorilla is all over it. Bulldog breaks the hold and Warlord is in shock. Bulldog gets him up on his shoulder and hits the running powerslam for the victory. That was legitimately the best match that these two could possibly have. The crowd was 100% into that finish too.
Match Rating: **3/4
The Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart are with Mean Gene. LOUD NOISES! They both blow their noses in Gene's handkerchief. The Hart Foundation are with Sean. Bret Hart doesn't think they're nasty, he thinks they're scum.
WWF Tag Team Championship Match
Nasty Boys vs. Hart Foundation
We get our first Macaulay Culkin sighting. Bret gets the better of Sags to kick things off. Both men tag their partners in and Neidhart cleans house. The crowd is still on fire four matches into the show. An illegal double team by Knobbs finally slows the Foundation down. The Nasty's cut the ring in half and work on the back of Bret for awhile. Bret finally is able to pick Knobbs up on his back and slam him back. He then avoids a swinging Knobbs and he makes the tag. However, Earl Hebner didn't see it and doesn't allow it. Hart tosses the megaphone in and it backfires. Neidhart finally tags in and he takes care of both men. He hits a powerslam that leads to a nearfall after Sags breaks up the attempt. Bret starts chasing Sags around the ring and it leads to Knobbs colliding with him. The Harts hit the Hart Attack, but Hebner tells Hart to get out of the ring. This allows the Nasty Boys to use the helmet as a weapon and steal the WWF Tag Team Championships. I remember being absolutely shocked that they won this match and honestly it still is kind of surprising. This was a solid match with a hot finish.
Match Rating: ***1/4
We get a video package on the Jake Roberts/Rick Martel feud, which was really well done.
Blindfold Match
Rick Martel vs. Jake Roberts
Martel's over the top reactions are really good here. Roberts uses the crowd to help him find Martel and the crowd is definitely here for it. They finally lock up and Martel hits a body slam. He goes for an elbow drop, but Jake is out of the way and Martel is frustrated. This one's a pretty easy gig for Danny Davis here. Jake claps to bait Martel into coming near him and gets his hands on him, but Martel is able to escape. Martel accidentally grabs the bag with Damien and he freaks out. They collide and Jake gets knocked out of the ring. Martell rolls out and grabs a chair. He bumps into the ring post and slams the chair into it, hurting his hand. Jake drags him back in, but Martel hits a backbreaker. He puts him in the Boston Crab, but Jake is able to kick out. Jake bumps into him and nails the DDT out of nowhere for the victory. I've grown to appreciate this match a little bit more, but it's hard to really rate it. At the end of the day, the live crowd loved it. After the match, Jake grabs the Arrogance and stomps on it. Damien then makes an appearance and he gets him on Martel until he's able to scoot out of there and to the back.
Match Rating: 3/4*
Marla Maples is backstage with the Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart. In comes the Mountie, Dino Bravo and Earthquake. They bust out the bubbly and this is definitely a highlight of the show.
Jimmy Snuka vs. Undertaker
Well, here is the beginning of the streak and as most people know, it all started with Jimmy Snuka. Snuka was basically a glorified jobber at this point. Taker attacks him from behind and then hits a leaping clothesline, which draws a big pop from the live crowd. Taker hits a huge vertical suplex from the apron. Taker catches Snuka from his slingshot attempt and he hits the Tombstone for the easy victory. Impressive squash match for Taker here.
Match Rating: 1/2*
It's now time for the highlights of one of the better told stories in WWF/E history. Randy Savage's interference at Royal Rumble may be the most memorable interference ever. They then cut to Gorilla and Bobby and Bobby notices Miss Elizabeth in the crowd.
Career Ending Match
Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior
To steal from Gorilla Monsoon, the atmosphere is electric for this one. Savage tries outsmarting Warrior, but Warrior continually gets the better of him. Sherri gets in the ring and Warrior accidentally tosses Savage into her and she is hurt. Warrior gets Savage tied up in the ropes and gets a few kicks in. Savage is just on another level. Savage is able to fight back and hit a leaping clothesline. Savage goes up top, but Warrior catches him and then sets him down to slap him in the face. Savage tosses a chair in the ring and it allows him to sneak attack Warrior. Warrior still gets the better of him though and clubs him with roundhouse rights. Warrior goes for a splash in the corner and misses and falls to the floor. Sherri is there to do what she does best and Savage hits him with the double ax handle off the top rope. Sherri continues interfering, but Warrior shoves her to the floor. Savage attacks him from behind and throws him into the ring post. Monsoon announces that tonight is the largest audience in the history of pay-per-view, which is great and all if there was actually a way for them to tally that up on the fly. Warrior goes for a shoulder tackle, but Savage moves and gets a 2 count. They have the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand. Warrior breaks out of the sleeper hold and they hit a double clothesline. Savage hits Warrior with a knee to the back and it knocks the referee down. Savage holds Warrior and Sherri goes up top with her shoe. Warrior moves out of the way and hits Savage in the head. Warrior chases after Sherri, so Savage rolls him up and gets a nearfall. Savage goes nuts on offense and hits FIVE elbow drops, but Warrior kicks out. Warrior hits a series of clotheslines and hits the gorilla press slam and splash, but Savage kicks out! Warrior starts to look up to the heavens and then starts talking to his hands. Warrior starts walking out of the ring, but then Savage clubs him out of the ring. Savage goes for another double ax handle, but Warrior sidesteps it and Savage hits the steel guardrail. Warrior makes up his mind and is back to business. Warrior hits three running shoulder tackles and stands on Savage for the pinfall victory. This match was absolutely awesome, but we're just getting started here. Sherri comes in the ring and starts yelling at Savage, who is still selling the attack from Warrior. Sherri starts literally kicking him while he's down. Elizabeth jumps the guardrail and runs into the ring. She grabs Sherri by the hair and tosses her out of the ring. Savage is oblivious to all of it and keeps pushing Elizabeth away. Once he realizes it was Elizabeth who came to his rescue, the two embrace and the the city of Los Angeles loses it. This whole thing is one of the greatest moments in WrestleMania history. The current roster and staff really needs to be reminded that fans get attached to the characters that are portrayed, not the machine. They did nothing fancy in the match, but it was action packed and the crowd was on the edge of their seat for the whole thing.
Match Rating: ****3/4
We are at intermission now and Monsoon and Bobby go over the Boss Man/Perfect match. They kick it over to Regis, who is with Undertaker and Paul Bearer. They don't say anything, but Taker starts measuring Regis. They go over to Alex Trebek with Demolition and Mr. Fuji, sorry Master Fuji. They then go to Tenryu and Kitao. Philbin tries to interview them, but he's getting no response. They then go into Japanese companies and they respond with "Kathie Lee". Now Jake is with Trebek, who is scared away by Damien. Heenan then claims that he picked all of the people for the celebrities to interview.
Demolition vs. Tenryu & Kitao
I'm not sure that they ever really explained why Tenryu and Kitao were even here. The two big hosses start off and Fuji gets involved early on by hitting Kitao in the back with his cane. Crush hits the double ax handle off the top rope, as Demolition cuts the ring in half early on. This is the first match that the crowd is just not into. Kitao explodes out of the corner for a clothesline and hits a hot tag to Tenryu. He goes for a reverse elbow off the top rope, but Smash is able to move. Crush hits a spinning backbreaker and Smash hits the back suplex. They go for their finisher, but Kitao gets in there to distract Crush. Crush dumps him out, but then Kitao knocks him off the top rope. Tenryu hits the powerbomb and are victorious. This was a really tough spot for these guys and the match just wasn't very good. What a fall from grace for Demolition too. From one of the biggest pops in WrestleMania history at VI to the worst spot on the card just a year later.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Big Boss Man, who is in the best shape of his career here, is all fired up and reminds Heenan that crime does not pay. Perfect is, of course, perfect in his interview.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Big Boss Man vs. Mr. Perfect
Lord Alfred Hayes joins Monsoon here. Perfect throwing the towel at Boss Man's face and then Boss Man wiping his butt with it and throwing it back in Perfect's face is great 90s stuff. Boss Man slaps Perfect and Perfect goes spinning like only he can. Boss Man slides under the bottom rope and back in the ring and tosses Perfect over the top rope. Man, if Boss Man could have stayed this weight his whole career, he could have had some real great matches. Boss Man is waking up the post-intermission crowd. Boss Man takes off his belt and starts whipping Perfect with it right in front of the ref. I'm not sure how you can logically defend that, but they let it go. Perfect locks in the abdominal stretch that even impresses Gorilla. Perfect releases and hits a standing dropkick. Perfect goes for the Perfect Plex, but Boss Man counters with a small package for a 2 count. Perfect hits a reverse Blockbuster and gets a 2 count. Perfect goes up top, but he's greeted with a big boot. Heenan's facial expression is tremendous. Perfect proceeds to bump all over the place and then Boss Man crotches him on the ring post, which again should probably be a DQ. Boss Man hits him with an uppercut over the top rope. Boss Man turns his attention to Heenan, so Perfect throws him into the steel steps. Heenan gets in a few cheap shots and out comes Andre The Giant. Andre grabs the Intercontinental belt and Perfect isn't happy about it. Perfect tries to snatch it, but Andre hits him with it in the head. Both men are down and the ref starts the count. Boss Man gets a nearfall. In run Haku and Barbarian to attack Boss Man. Boss Man sends them out of the ring and Andre gets a few chops in. Boss Man wins the match by DQ and obviously doesn't win the title. After the match, he and Andre celebrate. The match was enjoyable, but I don't want to see that finish on one of the featured matches.
Match Rating: ***
Earthquake vs. Greg Valentine
During Quake's entrance, Mean Gene is in the crowd is with Donald Trump, Chuck Norris, Henry Winkler and Lou Ferrigno. That is quite the quartet. As a result, basically all of Valentine's entrance is missed. Earthquake hits the big powerslam and gets a 2 count. Valentine gets in a few elbows and jabs. A second rope elbow drop finally knocks Earthquake down. He hits a headbutt to the mid-section and then tries for the Figure Four. Jimmy Hart distracts him and he gets attacked by Quake. He gets hit by a huge elbow drop and then the big splash for the easy victory. He goes for another one after the match, but Valentine is able to roll out of the ring. This was just a reason to get Quake on the card.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Legion of Doom aren't very happy and when they get done with Power & Glory, they'll be Sour & Gory.
Power & Glory vs. Legion Of Doom
Hercules and Roma attack them on their entrance, but Hawk hits a double clothesline. Roma hits a body slam on Roma, but when he goes up top, Animal catches him and hits a powerslam. They hit the Doomsday Device and get the quick victory. 1991 me absolutely loved this and this is the reason you bring in a team like Legion of Doom, but Power & Glory deserved better.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Ted DiBiase vs. Virgil
Roddy Piper is in Virgil's corner and the crowd is chanting "Virgil" to start the match. Virgil kicks off the match with a boxing technique and DiBiase is flustered. DiBiase is distracted by Virgil and he brings him in the hard way. But as quickly as he brings him in, he clotheslines him right back out to the floor. DiBiase finally gets to let out some of his frustration and starts slamming Virgil face-first into the mat. DiBiase levels Virgil with a big clothesline and then a piledriver for a 2 count. DiBiase hits a couple of suplexes and dumps Virgil right in front of Piper. After throwing Virgil back in the ring, DiBiase shoves over the injured Piper right in front of Trump. DiBiase goes off the ropes, but Piper uses his crutch to lower the rope and DiBiase is once again outside. DiBiase hits Piper with a right hand and then is counted out. DiBiase attacks Virgil and puts him in the Million Dollar Dream. Piper crawls his way back into the ring and hits DiBiase with his crutch. Out comes Sensational Sherri and she grabs the crutch from Piper, allowing DiBiase to attack his injured leg. Virgil is able to get DiBiase out of there and Piper refuses help to get back up on his feet. Virgil grabs the mic and urges Piper to get up. Piper gets up and they embrace and head to the back. The match wasn't bad, but with as hot of a feud as this was, they made it too much about Piper. They would have the perfect blow off to the feud at SummerSlam.
Match Rating: *3/4
We now get a recap of Sgt. Slaughter burning Hogan's shirt. Sean Mooney now interviews Slaughter and Adnan. Slaughter says that he is the new ruler of the WWF and there's nothing Hogan can do about it. They then show Slaughter attacking Hogan with a chair at The Main Event. Slaughter teases that he might get disqualified or counted out tonight and that Hogan would not be the champion. This was much more cartoony than his other promos and a little weak.
Mountie vs. Tito Santana
Mountie tries to leapfrog, but Santana was going for a flying forearm and they collide in mid-air. Satana hits a double noggin knocker on Mountie and Hart and then hits an atomic drop. Hart sneaks the shock stick to Mountie and hits Santana in the gut behind the ref's back and gets the victory. Tito deserved better than the Skinner WrestleMania VIII treatment.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Now it's time to hear from Hulk Hogan. They show clips of Hogan vs. General Adnan with Slaughter ambushing him with the WWF Championship. Hogan says he's not the same man because he's done a 360...which would mean he's the same man.
We get to hear the glorious WrestleMania theme one more time as they bring out the celebrities again.
WWF Championship Match
Sgt. Slaughter vs. Hulk Hogan
Well, as a kid in 1991, this was the match that I cared about the least. I disliked both wrestlers and never went on to be a Hogan fan at any time of my wrestling fandom. The storyline was obviously flawed, but within the bubble I felt like they did do a decent job of building it up. After a lot of stalling, they finally lock up and Hogan overpowers Slaughter, where he humorously complains that he grabbed his hair. Slaughter was 42 years old here and Hogan was 37. Hogan gets his hands on Adnan and Slaughter taps Hogan on the back with a chair, which Hogan doesn't sell. Hogan dominates the early going here, as he does in most of his matches. Adnan tries to grab Hogan's leg on the second rope and then he and Slaughter seem to have a miscommunication, so Hogan of course just keeps going after Slaughter. He tries to go up to the top rope and this time Adnan grabs his leg and it works. Slaughter dominates and again hits Hogan with the chair. Slaughter then uses one of the camera cables to choke Hogan. Slaughter gets Hogan in the Boston Crab and he finally grabs the rope that he's right next to. Even Philbin is yelling at him to grab the rope. Slaughter goes back to working on the back of Hogan. Hogan is busted open now and Slaughter is attacking it. Slaughter locks in the Camel Clutch in the middle of the ring. He releases the hold and stomps on the back of Hogan, before locking it in again. Hogan is back on his feet and has Slaughter on his back, but Slaughter is able to shove him into the turnbuckle sternum-first. He grabs the Iraqi flag and puts is on Hogan for the pin attempt. Hogan kicks out and rips the Iraqi flag. It's time for the Hulk up. Hogan hits the big boot and the leg drop for the victory. That was a little anti-climatic to an otherwise decent Hogan match. Hogan must pose and of course he does.
Match Rating: **1/4
This WrestleMania really had a little bit of everything. For better or worse, it had the beginning of the Undertaker's streak, a blindfold match, a decent Hogan match, a surprise title change, an Andre surprise appearance and an epic retirement match with one of the greatest reunions in wrestling history. Was it perfect? Of course not. The Gulf War stuff doesn't hold up well, but honestly it didn't hinder the show as much as I thought it would. If you love this era of wrestling, I believe this is one of the highlights of the time and one of the most underrated WrestleMania's of all time. Big thumbs up from me.
Overall Rating: 88%
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