The inaugural WrestleMania, held on March 31st, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, delivered unforgettable moments with Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, and a host of legends. However, buried in this groundbreaking night was a brief, explosive match that introduced the art of the squash match to a national audience. King Kong Bundy’s lightning-fast victory over S.D. Jones may not have been the headline of WrestleMania I, yet this nine-second bout left a lasting impact!
King Kong Bundy in action during his lightning-fast victory over S.D. Jones at WrestleMania I on March 31st, 1985, at Madison Square Garden. This historic squash match introduced a storytelling technique that would become a lasting staple in professional wrestling. Photo Credit: WWE.
King Kong Bundy, SD Jones, and the Squash Match That Defined WrestleMania I
The very first WrestleMania, held on March 31st, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a watershed moment in professional wrestling history. Vince McMahon’s ambitious gamble to blend sports entertainment with mainstream pop culture hinged on the success of this groundbreaking event.
With a star-studded card featuring celebrities like Mr. T, Cyndi Lauper, and Muhammad Ali, WrestleMania I was designed to captivate both die-hard wrestling fans and curious newcomers alike.
The card was meticulously crafted to showcase various aspects of professional wrestling, from high-profile matchups to technical contests. In this carefully orchestrated spectacle, King Kong Bundy and S.D. Jones were tasked with demonstrating a crucial element of wrestling storytelling: the “squash match.”
A squash match is a one-sided contest where one wrestler thoroughly dominates the other, typically resulting in a quick, decisive victory. In the 1980s, the WWF (before it became WWE) consistently used squash matches to promote its top stars as unbeatable forces of nature, often pitting them against lesser-known opponents. This strategy served multiple purposes: it protected marquee talents, built anticipation for more competitive matches, and allowed casual viewers to quickly grasp the concept of wrestling hierarchies.
Mere weeks before his WrestleMania I appearance, King Kong Bundy had debuted in the WWF as a formidable squasher. The 6’4″, 458-pound behemoth quickly gained notoriety for his unique gimmick of demanding a five-count during pins, emphasizing his total dominance over opponents (a trait later adopted by WWE wrestler Big E). This attention-grabbing detail helped Bundy stand out in a roster filled with larger-than-life characters.
As WrestleMania I approached, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. McMahon had invested heavily in the closed-circuit broadcast, a precursor to modern pay-per-view events. The success or failure of this venture would shape the future of the entire wrestling industry. In this high-pressure environment, every match on the card needed to serve a specific purpose and deliver maximum impact.
Though Bundy would ultimately pin Jones via a traditional three-count at WrestleMania I, their brief encounter was designed to accomplish several goals: introduce Bundy as an unstoppable force, demonstrate the concept of squash matches to new viewers, and provide a stark contrast to the more competitive bouts on the card.
In a matter of seconds on that fateful night at Madison Square Garden, Bundy and Jones were set to make wrestling history, laying the groundwork for a storytelling device that would become a staple of WWE programming for decades to come.
King Kong Bundy lifts S.D. Jones, moments before his iconic nine-second squash match victory at WrestleMania I on March 31, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This historic match showcased Bundy’s dominance, cementing the squash match as a staple in WWE. Photo Credit: WWE.
The S.D. in S.D. Jones may have stood for “Special Delivery,” but it was King Kong Bundy who would make a special delivery of his own at WrestleMania I.
After Tito Santana kicked off the inaugural WrestleMania with a submission win over The Executioner, Jones and Bundy – accompanied to the ring by WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart – squared off in the squared circle.
The 6’4″, 458-pound Bundy established his dominance early by catching Jones in mid-air and ramming him into the corner of the ring. Following a decisive shove into the turnbuckle for good measure, Bundy hit both of his finishing moves in rapid succession: an Avalanche Splash in the corner followed by a Big Splash as Jones lay sprawled out on the canvas. A quick three-count later, Bundy stood victorious in what was announced as a record-breaking nine seconds.
However, a closer look at the match reveals that the lightning-quick squash didn’t go entirely as planned.
King Kong Bundy prepares to deliver his finishing splash to S.D. Jones at WrestleMania I on March 31, 1985, at Madison Square Garden, New York City. This decisive move led to one of WWE’s quickest victories and popularized the squash match in front of a massive new audience. Photo Credit: WWE.
In a post-bout pronouncement, ring announcer Howard Finkel stated that the match lasted only nine seconds, but the official time was closer to 24 seconds. Finkel hadn’t misspoken; he was only working off the pre-determined script. Something had gone awry with the in-ring execution.
In an interview decades later with the In Your Head Wrestling podcast, Bundy pinned the blame on Jones for the mishap, claiming that Jones was bitter about having to lose in such a quick fashion and refused to promptly hit the mat to receive the finishing splash.
“He hated doing [the match],” Bundy said. “He didn’t do as good as he could. I lost a lot of respect for him that night, to tell you the truth.”
If all had gone according to plan, the Bundy-Jones squash would be the second-shortest match in WrestleMania history, coming in behind The Rock’s six-second shellacking of Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32. In reality, it is the seventh-fastest match in the “Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment,” but its impact on popularizing the squash match format in front of a massive new audience at the inaugural WrestleMania remains undeniable.
After WrestleMania: The Legendary Careers of Bundy and Jones
The historic King Kong Bundy and S.D. Jones match at WrestleMania I introduced the concept of the squash match to WWE fans and became an unforgettable moment in wrestling history. Photo Credit: WWE.
Born Christopher Alan Pallies, King Kong Bundy went on to achieve significant success in the WWE after his WrestleMania I match.
During the three years that followed, Bundy engaged in a memorable feud with Andre the Giant, showcasing a clash of titans that captivated audiences.
His career reached new heights at WrestleMania 2, where he faced Hulk Hogan in a steel cage match for the WWE Championship. Although Bundy didn’t capture the title, his mammoth girth and devastating splashes came close to dethroning The Hulkster.
Bundy’s imposing presence continued to make waves as he formed a formidable tag team with Big John Studd and participated in a six-man tag team match at WrestleMania III.
Following a five-year semi-retirement period from 1988-1993, during which he wrestled sporadically, Bundy made a high-profile return to WWE in 1994. This comeback saw him join Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Corporation, compete in the 1995 Royal Rumble, and face The Undertaker at WrestleMania XI, adding another chapter to The Deadman’s legendary streak.
Bundy showcased his enduring appeal and wrestling prowess while wrestling on and off for various independent promotions, including ECW, from 1995 to 2007.
He ultimately passed away in 2019 at the age of 61, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most unique and devastating individuals to ever set foot in the ring. Despite his significant contributions to professional wrestling, Bundy has yet to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. According to reports, his exclusion may be due to purported bad blood with WWE, culminating in his participation in a class action lawsuit against the company in 2016.
As for S.D. “Special Delivery” Jones, whose real name was Conrad Efraim, the Antigua native carved out a niche as one of WWE’s unsung heroes throughout his nearly 20-year career. While he never attained elite superstar status or championship gold, Jones earned respect as one of the toughest opponents in the business.
His dedication and work ethic were legendary, wrestling an astounding average of 240 matches per year during his career, even surpassing the 300-match mark twice in 1978 (302) and 1984 (305).
Jones’ career highlights included a notable tag team partnership with Tony Atlas in 1981, during which they challenged Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito for the World Tag Team Championship several times. His popularity among fans and peers alike was evident, with many WWE legends citing S.D. as one of their toughest opponents.
S.D. Jones, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 63, received posthumous recognition for his contributions to professional wrestling. In a fitting tribute to his legacy, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the Legacy Wing. This honor solidified Jones’ place in wrestling history, recognizing him as a true workhorse and an integral part of WWE’s golden era.
How the King Kong Bundy and S.D. Jones Squash Match Shaped Wrestling’s Future
Brock Lesnar faces Goldberg at the 2016 Survivor Series on November 20th, 2016, in Toronto, Canada, delivering a modern take on the squash match format. Their quick showdown was a tribute to the squash match legacy, which began with Bundy and Jones at WrestleMania I. Photo Credit: WWE.
The brief but impactful bout between King Kong Bundy and S.D. Jones at WrestleMania I ushered in the squash match as a legitimate storytelling device in professional wrestling. With wrestling reaching a national audience on that monumental night at Madison Square Garden, the crowd witnessed firsthand how a quick, one-sided match could be used to establish a wrestler’s dominance and create a memorable moment.
As fans tuned into subsequent wrestling programs, they became accustomed to the fact that these quick-and-dirty match-ups were part of the show, serving a specific narrative purpose. The WWE, in particular, began employing the squash match to incredibly creative degrees, using it to elevate newcomers, highlight the quality of great clashes, and prove a superstar’s dominance.
Over the years, the squash match has evolved beyond simply showcasing a larger wrestler overpowering a smaller opponent. It has been used to shock audiences with unexpected upsets, like when the 1-2-3 Kid defeated Razor Ramon on Monday Night Raw in 1993, or to add an unexpected twist to a longstanding feud, as seen when Goldberg squashed Brock Lesnar at the 2016 Survivor Series.
The squash match has also played a crucial role in establishing the careers of numerous WWE superstars. From Braun Strowman to Bron Breakker, many wrestlers have used squash matches to showcase their abilities, build their characters, and eventually become household names.
While some modern wrestling fans may view the squash match as a cheap gimmick, its effectiveness in establishing an engaging narrative cannot be denied when executed correctly and creatively. The Bundy vs. Jones match at WrestleMania I laid the foundation for this storytelling tool, demonstrating its power to create memorable moments and shape the future of professional wrestling.
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Legacy of King Kong Bundy’s Squash Match Triumph at WrestleMania
King Kong Bundy’s nine-second victory over S.D. Jones at WrestleMania I on March 31st, 1985, in Madison Square Garden set a new standard for squash matches, shaping WWE storytelling for years to come. Photo Credit: WWE.
The brief match between King Kong Bundy and S.D. Jones at WrestleMania I was more than a quick win—it was a turning point in wrestling storytelling. By using a squash match in such a high-profile setting, WWE underscored the power of this tactic, which has been utilized to build larger-than-life personas and create shocking moments in the ring ever since.
From Bundy’s infamous nine seconds to recent squash matches, this format continues to evolve, proving that sometimes a short story can leave a lasting legacy.
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Richard Thompson is an aspiring screenwriter and longtime journalist, having written for online publications such as FanBuzz and MovieWeb. His favorite pro wrestler growing up was Scott Hall, and his childhood dream was to join the nWo. Sadly, while that dream never came true, getting the opportunity to write about wrestling is a solid consolation!
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