WrestleMania 6*small note: on the tagged classic DVD, they list Hogan as Hollywood Hogan. Thought that was odd enough to share*
Its a corny video but its a great hype for WrestleMania! Vince's voice goes well with introducing us to the event! Jesse and Monsoon hype it up some more and I am feeling pumped! Job done very well!
This is a lot quicker an intro than the Anthology and we go straight to the first match, no national anthem. America!, F*** no.....
I prefer the Anthology intro
Rick Martel vs. Koko B. WareGood match to kick off a Mania of this era, Koko brings the fun and enthusiasm and its not too serious straight away. Fans can settle in nicely. Music makes a big difference and Koko has a nice spring in his step too and this WrestleMania has a nice feel to it. The big screen in the background and the WrestleMania banner to the side of the entrance looks
ing awesome!
This is honestly the first time I noticed someone was driving the WrestleMania carts. Nice colourful attires and this Mania seems like its in a newer era than the last 5. The blue really makes it pop. This arena makes this feel like a big time WrestleMania, the only one since 3. Martel does some dirty tricks to take the early advantage but Koko gets his offence in shortly after and the crowd are excited in a match for the first time, they seem to have a good buzz to the too. Model takes control of the match after Koko is sent to the outside and this one is in trouble of being over... wait it is (the ring apron attack by Martel on Koko is cut out of the TC edition). The Anthology edition longer and feels a better opener for this, it cuts out Koko reversing the Boston Crab before it is eventually applied too. Good win for the model but the match felt a little too quick to kick things off because of the edits, I bet some people haven't even taken their seats yet. Good starter match though and WrestleMania 6 is under-way!
Demolition vs. Andre & HakuCool Demolition interview, I really like Sean Mooney as an interviewer, he has a presence like Mean Gene but doesn't detract from the wrestlers.
Mad pop for Demolition, fans
ing love them and the reaction alone makes me love them too!
Andre and Haku already in the ring, dont like that and especially with them being the tag champs. (They have cut out the pre-match interview with Haku, Andre and Heenan).I'm stuck between which edition to watch as the TC is unedited so themes like Demolition is still in but the Anthology is longer and has more content like the interview above.
Feels a little strange going from the kick-off match and straight into one of the bigger matches and rivalries on the card but the crowd seemed pumped for it and it should be a good one. Andre looks heavier than the two previous years and I dont expect him in there much, up to Haku to do the work. I dont like the differentiation between Haku and Andre, they done seem like a proper team. Another quite well done edit to cut down the match time to fit on one DVD I assume. Fans really dig Demolition! Good team work by Andre and Haku to single out Axe and a nice fight back thats squashed immediately by Haku. Smash comes in and hes on fire, fans are pumped again to see their team take control and there's some nice work by both teams. Andre is taken out by his own partner and Demolition wrap it up nicely to capture gold to the roar of 60,000 fans. Heenan is irate! Good match for what it was and the people involved but its not going to win any technical awards. Its more a show of Demolitions popularity than the match goodness.
Heenan makes a big mistake by slapping Andre and he pays for it by some big shots to and near the cranium of the weasel. Andre cleans house and the fans take him in again as Heenan is left reeling on the steps and its a great sight to see Andre moving away in the WrestleMania cart next to the big screen... of the same thing. Good stuff
Earthquake vs. HerculesDebut Mania for Quake and he could have got a better singlet. Pre-match interview was a bit odd, it worked well for what it was but Earthquake bouncing is really off putting and there's only so much earthquake talk i can really take. Hercs music plays in the background too but when we cut to him entering he's only half way there, car man must not have wanted to risk getting a ticket. Its nice to see no "jobber entrance" too for Hercules. Earthquakes music is really fitting, the drum beat really resonates well, the big man is coming.
Herc counters the sneaky offence of Quake to kick things off and gets in some early offence but nothing that's gunna put the big man away. Quakes trying to break the ring and Herc takes a time to think of his next move, a nice stop in action to catch the breath and evaluate whats going on. Quake takes control and Hercs in trouble. The fans are so refreshing after WrestleMania 4's. I love the attempts at getting Quake down, not even trying to beat him, just getting him down. Build Quake up really well and he looks like a force to be reckoned with, still not top calibre yet but he's getting there. This is a "squash" match that does its job perfectly and Earthquake stands tall... and wide.... We get an "aftershock" and a quick cutaway.... Dont be starting that again!
Some interview with Elizabeth and Rona?... Rona has a funny looking face and she thinks Liz looks good, HLA! Liz is better at talking on camera compared to last year but I'm not sure this is needed.... Oh its Brutus, next match time!
Brutus The Barber Beefcake vs. Mr. PerfectSounds like a good match on card, lets see how it plays out. Perfect already in the ring, dont like that again. WrestleMania isnt the time for non entrances. There was a bit cut out of the interview (basically a back to ringside line) and no Brutus interview either. We also miss a Genius promo and Perfect entrance, really tempted to switch to Anthology.... Ok Anthology is in instead and were back under-way.... The Anthology has a funny white fuzzy line at the top of the picture, I might switch back.
Some nice back and forth action to kick us off and Brutus comes out on top and we see a lovely display of Perfects ability to sell. Both these guys have such unique and quality looks to their attires. Action takes a slower pace and its nice, 90 mph action for 3 hours would be knackering to watch. Some more Perfect selling after an Irish whip and we see how one can go wrong moments after. I can see why Hennig had a bad back. I don't think these two have much chemistry, the action is as crisp as it could be and there's not a real story to the match. A nice snap-mare from Perfect gets a round of 10's from the front row, I like that. Perfect has a really strange build up to a high knee lift. It seems like both men aren't sure what to do, there doing moves for the sake of moves. Bit of a wince moment when Perfect gets his leg caught in the rope after a slingshot, I think it affects the move as well as apparently thats the end of the match and I'm surprised that Perfect not only lost but he did so to a slingshot. Average match, expect better from these men.
Genius gets a trim, the fans are happy, but Perfect doesn't help out at all which is kind of awkward especially when he walks past Beefcake taking Genius in the ring.
Bad News Brown vs. Half Roddy Piper, half mud-pit PiperNice build up video and this one feels like a proper grudge match. Bad News' gut-pack still amazes me. They sort of show 3 gentlemen in tuxedos in the front row, nothing odd except they have Ultimate Warrior face-paint, amazing. Good promo by Piper but his breathing is really distracting. Why is he half black? Fans love Piper though and his entrance is rather iconic, some great visuals.
Roddy takes his time in undressing, and the fans apparently like it. We've got a potential dance off! Nope, we got a brawl instead and it feels quite intense, I like this one until Piper goes for a quick pin, not in this kind of match. Loving the crowd, just like Mania 3 they want to be involved and get some worth out of their ticket prices,
Canada #1, America hck-tooey. Awkward moment as Piper basically waits to get kicked by Bad News, these two seem to be off each others wave-length slightly. Piper gets paint in his eye and we got some underhanded tactics by Bad News but it backfires and Piper is in control, socko? cobra? oh no its Michael Jacksons glove, brilliant. It seems to be having an effect though, I dont like that, a glove shouldn't be an effective weapon. This match is called out as the ring-post is assaulted by a chair but Bad News and Piper continue the fight. A nice way to keep the feud going and it feels personal. The ring-post gets medical attention and is good to go, now to a piano in the John!
The Hart Foundation vs. Nikolai Volkoff & Boris ZhukovThe skit backstage was longer than the match, it was funny but the match sours that and really makes me wish the HF had a better match than this on a WrestleMania. Its twice now the Harts have been given a poor Mania match. This is the time to showcase talent, not squash matches. I did like Brets winning 1, 2, 3 to the camera. Canada fans might have expected a longer match from their own though.
Hype video and location for WrestleMania 7, first time I believe they did this.
The Barbarian vs. Tito SantanaI like how they sold Barbarian being with Brain because he spent a lot of money to acquire him, this sort of stuff needs to be done more. Santana looks like he's still channelling Strikeforce. Barbarian looks good in this, another "squash" match though and this WrestleMania is is suffering from too many repackaged and debuting superstars. I spoke too soon, this match is getting some good time but Chico has little chance of winning this. Brain shows his Brain and helps Barbarian to a victory although Santana botches the finish a bit, nice top rope clothesline by Barby though. Santana didn't look too bad coming off of this and he keeps some credibility as we go to the first match on the card that has main event players.
Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire vs. Macho King Randy Savage & Sherri MartelWould have preferred a singles match between the two but it works well with the storyline I suppose. Good promos before hand but Sapphire comes off as unlike-able to me, she would work as a heel but I'm just not feeling the vibe to get behind her. Macho King has a great presence and he looks good coming to the ring, the carts moving a little slow though, we get an extra tall one for the King. Ok this entrance is dragging on a bit, if this was a WrestleMania today then we'd be moaning about lost match time. Dusty's music is replaced and it sounds shocking, crowd noise is covered up because of it too which is a shame. Sorry Dusty but the yellow top is just not working. I prefer Savages long tights, first Mania for them and they seem a bit too colourful for a bad guy and he has a lot better designs in the future but its nice to see colour in the ring.
I don't think Savage and Rhodes styles compliment each other, both are too showboaty and it clashes. Dusty with his top off is wrong, I miss the yellow shirt. Vintage Macho and the Dreams in trouble, this match has a terrible flow. Another Axe Handle to the outside and were going for the hattrick, Sapphire gets in the way and I feel a bit bad enjoying seeing her gets tossed aside by Macho King. Impressed by the suplex on Dusty. Double noggin knocker and Dusty is taking control of this thing, the pace is still off, the crowd seem to be a bit out of this one. Sapphire is ruining this match, I'm really wishing this would have been one on one instead. Liz does her bit and makes her appearance out there worth while I guess, she didn't do much up to that point. Sapphire getting the win annoys me, the weird stock music annoys me, this match has annoyed me. Not gunna be on any highlight DVD of these men beside the fact its at WrestleMania. Lets move on please, where's the quick cutaway when you want one? Never thought I'd say that to a Randy Savage match but this one just did not click for me.
Another video for WrestleMania 7, the odd thing is its meant to break all attendance records, they could have made a new one for the eventual site of it but its nice to see the original on here.
Heenan promo seems out of place, Andre incident happened about an hour ago which isn't that bad but Heenan is sweating like he just got back from it.
Rona Barrett interview and it seems pointless. She looks odd and she talks about Jess Ventura in a porn film, we almost get the video, instead we get a sweaty man and women on camera of a different type and Savage is irate and Sherri is screaming. This feud isn't over, yippee!....
Demolition show off their belts, wow these interviews are really out of place and are killing the flow of the event, feels like we've been away from the ring for a while now. Nice wrap up by Ventura and Monsoon, apparently while we where watching Demolition, Gorilla was watching Jesse get it on. I'm not sure what to think.
Back to the ring... no were off to Mean Jean and the Hulkster brother for more PromoMania. Say what you will but Hogan builds matches well in his promos, gets you pumped up more for it. Funny thing I noticed here is the "Hulkamania is running wild" from the WWE intro is taken from this interview or at least it sounds like it. Hogans ready and were off to Sean Mooney with the Warrior, no what he said but I liked it, hes pumped for the match as Hogan is and the excitement builds. Hoke Hohgan is in trouble tonight! I miss those dressing rooms.
The Orient Express vs. The RockersI feel if they had their Royal Rumble 1991 match here then it would be more of a well know classic and this Mania could have gone up half a star in peoples book.
More stock music for the Orient Express, shame cos their music was quite cool. I like the elevated ring level, wonder if they'd ever do that again. I also like the ramp-way coming in at an angle, makes the event feels nicely different. This is the slowest the Rockers have ever come to the ring. Some nice double teaming and high flying and the Rockers are rolling early on. Fuji makes his presence known and Jannetty takes a pounding on the outside. Very stop-start match and the flow is off which is a shame as like I said earlier these two teams could put on a very good match. The Japanese Ted Dibiase works over Shawn Michaels and then a very dodgy spot by his partner and Shawn when Shawn nails him with a clothesline. Monsoon sums it up well when he says the Rockers look lethargic. Nice spinning backdrop. Salt in the eyes of Marty and a great and funny spill over the railings, it actually looked quite good. Don't like the count-out paying homage to Trump Plaza here but I am sort of glad this is over, never got going properly. Another case of just a match doing moves for the sake of it waiting to do the finish. Poor work from both teams here.
Yay, some more interviews. Rhythm and Blues talk up their musical performance later, WrestleMania always needs a long drawn out segment to take away from the in ring action.
Jim Duggan vs. Dino BravoThis has all the makings of an average match. USA represented by Duggan here, shame were in Canada but why not... America, F*** YEAH! Some boos ring out for the USA clad Duggan who tries to start a USA chant, this guys an idiot but the crowd join in with the Hoooos, why not. I always found Dino Bravo as a strong man gimmick extremely strange and misplaced. This match is boring me, if there where ever a contender for the 1 minute match on the card then this might be it. Quake gets involved and provides a nice distraction for some Plunder, if you weiiilll. Duggan gets the win but Quake builds his stock up a bit more, this guys a force to be reckoned with. Glad this is finished to be honest.
Ted Dibiase vs. Jake... the Snake... Roberts!Jake Roberts is very good in front of a camera, hes natural and gets his points across well with no wasted words or yelling, top points to you sir. Two good characters battling it out here but I'm not sure if they go well together, they both work better as heels but Jake does make a good good guy too but does he feel right in a feud with the Million Dollar Man? Not for me I'm afraid. These two will have to plan this match well to pull it off right.
I liked the almost bawling start, there meshing well so far and maybe I was too quick to write these two off together. There hasn't really been a non-stop action style of match yet, Dibiase keeps going to the outside so no chance of that here. Nice arm work by Jake but not sure if this goes well with is trying to always hit the DDT early tactic, strange match plan to me. This match should have more hype behind it, feels a little like a random pointless match a bit too much to me. Jake takes a nasty bump for him, the crowd seem a little tired for this one. Oh, they just woke up and Dibiase goes to a submission, great way to get the crowd silent again but they combat it with a wave! Nothing like a good old Mexican Wave and its actually a goosebumps inducing thing to see. Jesse loves it as much as me. Its not a bad match but it just feels something is missing. Some lovely shots of the Skydome crowd in this match. I think my earlier theory was right, these two dont seem to be clicking as well as they should on a WrestleMania. Ugh, countout win, these need to stop being so frequent. I do like the look of that belt, Dibiase and Virgil wasting a bit of time waiting for Jake to come back in for his annual WrestleMania snake appearance. Good DDT and the Snakeman has found a way to buy some fans. Jakes music is awesome, they need more unique tunes like this. Average match again, this WrestleMania hasn't been stellar.
Big Boss Man vs. AkeemI think Bossman is underrated on the mic, always delivers whats needed and does it well. Some more stock music, ugh. Akeems dancing always amuses me. Strangely looking forward to this match, I think its the build of it they showed as well as seeing these two team at last years Mania so I can pretty much guess the feud in my head leading up to it. They covered up Bossmans music, not happy, his pop sounds crap now as well. You can still get bits of the Bossmans music but its not enough. Oh look, its Ted. I like that this is part of the feud with Slic and Bossman and Akeem mentioning about Ted and money. Good beat down too, its believable that Bossman could be hurting from that. Bossman is better shape this year and his selling work is better. Akeem hugs him into the turnbuckle, why not? Some real nice offence by Bossman and he picks up the win with the winds of change! Quick match but it worked well for me, this is the kind of match that works well for this kind of time and Bossman gets the one up and closes the door on the Akeem feud whilst the Dibiase one grows stronger. No idea if the fans like it, they have been covered over.
Cool little bit with Sean Mooney in the crowd, funny kid. I really like Sean Mooney, he has a cool personality and he seems respectful enough when he has a, I assume, impromptu interview with this Mary Tyler Moore. The crowds back then seem so much more PG, including the adults.
Rhythm and Blues thing I' got long sideburns and ma hair slicked back, I'm gunna do your town in ma pink Cadillac, I'm just a Honky Tonk Man!...... Gets me every time!
Cool to know its DDP behind the wheel. This is corny enough it works for Honky but this really needs someone to come in here and break stuff up. Kind of an awkward reveal of the Bushwhackers, they should have at least got their hands on someone before the getaway. Sturdy Guitars. Cool little segment I guess but could have been shorter and have more a point to it. Yet, like everyone else in the arena, I'm doing the Bushwhacker.
Another WrestleMania 7 preview, ok now these are getting old. Once was good, twice is fair enough, three times is too much.
Honka honka honka honky love, Honka honka honka honky love, you know ya gotta gotta gotta have some hHonky Love!...... Goddammit
Rick Rude vs. Jimmy "Superfly" SnukaI've never found either men really entertaining but Rude has had some good matches, I wouldn't think this one would last long anyway. This just feels like a stepping stone to the main event, one last match we have to sit through and we get the good stuff.
We get Steve Allen on commentary, he sounds dodgy for a wrestling commentator. Funny line about the foreign object though. Awesome tights for Rude, Snuka gets stock music, yay! Snuka always looks awkward in the ring to me. I'm not sure why these two are facing each other. Some nice bits of action to be fair but like previous matches there just doing moves for the sake of it, no meaning to them or build up to something. Allen has a few funny comments but overall he is saying nothing. Rude does his move and we get the end of this match, this would have been one of the worse matches if it where in the tournament at WrestleMania 4. Next match please!
Main EventHulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate WarriorWhen was the last time an Intercontinental Champion could legitimately challenge the WWF/E Champion at WrestleMania? This feels like THE Main Event, two giants in Wrestling who are active roster members going on on one and its at WrestleMania! They don't build them up like this anymore.
Some nice build up video they show, Warrior looks so awkward but he pulls it off well, if thats even a thing. Warrior loves to run doesn't he. Fans are pumped for this and Warrior makes quite a grand entrance, another awesome attire. Big cheer for Real American, America F*** Yeah! Couple of boos can be made out to, Canada, F*** Yeah?
What I love about this match is the crowd is actually split and the two wrestlers work it as a good vs. good match instead of one guy going for the more underhanded tactics. Monsoon and Jesse really adds to the stare down, this is great commentating. This match has a quality vibe to it, you can just feel it and as a wrestling fan it really doesn't get much bigger than this to me. Crowd are practically gagging for this match to kick off now, both men starring at each other wearing the belts and they look like 2 superstars of wrestling. Hebner in charge, never realised this.
Stare-down to kick things off, show of strength and a couple taunts and poses, this is it! The problem I have with this match now is that every time I see it I think of that gif that implies sexual activity between the two. They put effort into the strength moves, they look like there actually going for it rather than putting on a show and there really is no better way to start this off than this for these two men, good ring work here and good storytelling. Lovely zooming in style angle that shows off the crowd then pinpoints the action. This is all about one upping the other and showing off there power and strength early on, fitting considering the two big egos in the ring and this is what its all about. Hogan injures his knee after a clothesline to the outside, I always thought this was legitimate. Monsoon and Ventura really have passion in their voices that pushes this above, why the
do we have Michael Cole?!?! The crowd count as Hogan pummels the Warriors face on the turnbuckle and hes asserting his dominance as the more experienced of the two and the Ultimate one is in trouble of choking at his first big WrestleMania Main Event. The great thing about this is from the setting, the style of match, the commentary, it feels like a sport, this was one of the best things that drew me in and to try and slowly get rid of that in modern wrestling is criminal to me. That big screen in the background is awesome, I'm starting to see the WrestleMania X8 scaffolding around it now.
"Right into the cervical vertebra area there!" "No Monsoon, its the back!" Quality! Starting to get a little bored with the rest holds but the crowd reaction and commentary has held me over nicely while these two men just sit there with an arm around a head for a while, Warrior fights back to get some quick action after the lull and were at a stalemate after a double clothesline, gripping stuff now. I've seen this a lot of times before but it still has me every time I watch it and you can feel the excitement in the arena, these two men put on a show here. Warrior is starting to exert his dominance and Hogan can't stop it, an unusual position for Hulk to be in. Both men look knackered now, like last year this really adds to the match, makes it look so much more demanding and a battle of stamina comes into play as well. Longest bear hug ever? Ok were off and running again and Hogan is as close to Hulking up as he has ever been but Hebner has to be the centre of attention again and he goes down. I like the switch of play by the Warrior going to the top for some double axe handles. Nice counter by Hogan but no referee and this match goes on! Back suplex and Hogan is pinned for 3, from a back suplex, the apparent new finisher from the Warrior, why not. Referee comes too and Hogan kicks out, the crowd are getting louder. Its Warriors turn to take a tumble to the outside but no knee injury for him. Bad move by Hogan as it allows Warrior to introduce him to the steel post and Warrior is in control once more, back and forth, back and forth and this action is tremendous. Dodgy gorilla press slam but the splash follows and Warrior has won, 1,2,
3... No, Hulkster kicks into his reserve energy and he is Hulking up! Why does no one just stop punching him? Hogan gets the boot and here comes the leg drop, 1,2,
3! Hulkamania is running wild and Real American plays over the sound system in Canadia and the Canadians are delighted to sing along! America, F*** Yeah! Wait, hold on, thats not Real American and thats not Hogan celebrating. This is one of my favourite Mania finishes, so well done with the big finale of Hogan just missing and Warrior hitting one more splash to capture the win and grab his big WrestleMania moment. Everything about match, the entrances, the match itself and the aftermath are so good to watch. Hogan looking dejected and defeated as he hangs his head on his way to the back in the WrestleMania in the shadows of the ring and the Warrior as he stares back to the belt he once owned in the Ultimate ones hand, a belt he hands to him and a great symbolic passing of the torch. If you dont enjoy this as a wrestling fan then I think your watching the wrong programme, this is how you do a WrestleMania main event!
7/10A lot of matches that seemed a bit pointless and didn't really add anything as well as matches that seemed to have people that didn't click together but the Main Event... by golly what a Main Event, thats what a WrestleMania Main Event is all about! The rest of the card ranges from mediocre to average though so this isn't a poor WrestleMania but its not the greatest and overall it may be in the bottom half depending on your opinion.
After watching up to WM6 (this one took about half a week to watch for various reason) and seeing someone complain that WM9 had too many screw finishes I can honestly say that every WrestleMania of that era had some screwy finishes in them. Strange that they would be so popular on the biggest PPV of the year.
WrestleMania 7 is up next!