WrestleMania I: The Night It All Began [Videos]



March 31, 1985. Madison Square Garden. The birth of WrestleMania. What began as a gamble became the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. With celebrities, legends, and larger-than-life showdowns, WrestleMania changed wrestling forever. This one professional wrestling event brought this unique form of entertainment to the mainstream media and culture for the first time like never before! WrestleMania was seen by over a million viewers through closed-circuit television, making it the largest pay-per-view showing of a pro wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time! 

March 31, 1985. Madison Square Garden. The Fans.


In attendance at Madison Square Garden were 19,121 fans. A few of these fans were interviewed before the start of the event and can be seen in the first video clip below.

WrestleMania Fan Interview
March 31, 1985
New York City, New York

Star Power in the Spotlight




WrestleMania wasn’t just about the ring — it was about the show, and the mainstream American culture and media loved it!

Muhammad Ali as the special guest referee


Liberace with the Rockettes dancing at ringside


Cyndi Lauper and Wendi Richter
with Mean Gene Okerlund Promoting WrestleMania


The Main Event That Made History

Hulk Hogan. Mr. T. Rowdy Roddy Piper. Paul Orndorff.

Add Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and “Cowboy” "Ace" Bob Orton to the mix and you’ve got one of the wildest tag team main events ever. Hogan and Mr. T weren’t just fighting for a win — they were fighting for the future of the WWF (and in many ways, the wrestling business itself).


Legacy of WrestleMania I

WrestleMania I set the standard for future wrestling events, blending sports and entertainment in a way that captivated audiences. Its success paved the way for WrestleMania to become an annual extravaganza, showcasing the best of professional wrestling to the world.


💬 What’s your favorite WrestleMania I moment? Drop it in the comments and let’s relive the madness together.

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Wrestling never dies. It just gets more legendary.

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