Author: Today in Pro Wrestling History: On March 31st, 1985, Madison Square Garden hosted the inaugural WrestleMania, presented by the World Wrestling Federation. Billed as ‘The Greatest Wrestling Event of All Time!’, it drew a live audience of 19,121 and was broadcast on closed-circuit television.
The event was a star-studded affair, featuring celebrities like Liberace, The Rockettes, and Billy Martin.
Today in Pro Wrestling History: (March 31) – The Birth of WrestleMania
Pop star Cyndi Lauper, a central figure of the “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection,” was in Wendi Richter’s corner, who went on to defeat The Fabulous Moolah for the Women’s World title. The main event, hyped for its celebrity appeal, saw WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan and ‘A-Team’ star Mr. T defeat Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.
Mr. T’s popularity from the ‘A-Team’ and his appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ with Hogan contributed significantly to the event’s success.
These stories may also interest you:
- Rowdy Roddy Piper: A Wild Maverick Who Died Too Soon
- Ric Flair: The Nature Boy’s Wild Night Out in the ’70s
- Paul Orndorff: How a Social Media Movement Saved His Home
https://youtu.be/hcUeDbkAFXc
Can’t get enough pro wrestling history in your life? Sign up to unlock ten pro wrestling stories curated uniquely for YOU, plus subscriber-exclusive content. A special gift from us awaits after signing up!
Want More? Choose another story!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and Flipboard!
Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.
Got a correction, tip, or story idea for Pro Wrestling Stories? Contact us! Learn about our editorial standards here.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy!
