I remember it like it was yesterday. All the media hype leading up to the event, a special appearance by Grammy winner and Captain Lou Albano co-conspirator Cyndi Lauper and a card that was loaded with all the big names of the day.
In many ways it was the culmination of what the WWF would evolve into (WWE). After years of television success, the WWF at that time under Vince McMahon decided it was time to take it to another level and what better way than with a spectacle that had the garish gall to call itself WrestleMania?
From 1985 to today, that spectacle has only grown in size and stature. Mania has come a long way from being a punchline in 1993’s “Groundhog Day” and today is regarded in the same manner as the Super Bowl as an international attraction. And like any good circus, the attractions change with the times and Mania is no different. Everyone from musicians to pro athletes to even future Presidents have shown up on this show of shows because it is THE main event.
The pinnacle of any Superstar’s career comes not with a belt or a great run but from that WrestleMania moment. With the whole world watching and talking about what manner of entertainment you bring to the party any given year, WrestleMania is nothing if not a defining thing, just ask Shawn Michaels or The Undertaker sometime.
Are some Manias better than others? Sure but that’s never been the point. Regardless of which celeb du jour shows up, it’s still a professional wrestling show and either it’s a good one or a great one, it just depends on who shows up that day to make it theirs. All the hard work, the sacrifices, the time on the road to get there and the time the in the gym to be ready for when that moment arrives - that’s what WrestleMania means to me. I wonder who will make history this year?
- Dave Parrish
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