For wrestling fans, Sunday is the biggest day of the year. It’s Christmas, Halloween, Super Bowl Sunday, Purim, and Italian Dunkers Day all rolled into one. Yes Virginia, it’s WrestleMania 33. Whether you call it “the granddaddy of ‘em all,” “the grandest stage of them all,” or “the showcase of the immortals,” since 1985 it’s been the WWE’s premiere event where storylines culminate, stars become legends, and moments are immortalized. While Vince McMahon’s federation has changed quite a bit from the '80s “Rock 'N’ Wrestling” period through the '90s Attitude Era to today, WrestleMania’s importance has been a constant. But what’s also notable is that the most important WrestleManias all seem to end in 3’s. And if history is any indication, Wrestlemania 33 could be one hell of a show.
It all started with WrestleMania 3, back in 1987, which is perhaps the most famous professional wrestling event ever. As important as the original WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden that featured Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in the main event, 3 has become the iconic moment that cemented the WWF as the industry’s leader. Just outside Detroit, the Pontiac Silverdome set an indoor attendance record as 93,173 fans packed the arena.
The main event featured clashing generations of wrestling’s biggest icons as WWF champion Hulk Hogan successfully defended his title against Andre the Giant. At that point, Andre the Giant had been wrestling’s most famous touring attraction around the world, which the WWF would acknowledge, touting he was “undefeated for 15 years.” However, when asked if he would ever compete for the WWF’s highest prize, Andre for years would shrug it off, implying he didn’t need to be the champion when he was already the Giant. His character changed into a jealous one once the beloved Andre returned to the WWF after filming The Princess Bride and saw the company making a bigger deal of Hogan’s three-year title reign than Andre’s 15 years without a loss. Under the tutelage of despicable manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Andre turned on his one-time friend, tearing his shirt and crucifix necklace off on an episode of "Piper’s Pit," setting up one of the largest-drawing main events in wrestling history.
While nostalgia does tend to generously rose-tint memories, the energy felt from every moment of this titanic encounter was stunning. In addition to perhaps the most famous wrasslin’ showdown of all time, the undercard boasted “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat for the Intercontinental Championship in a match still considered the greatest match ever. Throw in “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s (then) ”Retirement Match” as well as Alice Cooper accompanying Jake “The Snake” Roberts to battle The Honky Tonk Man and a card that also contained Harley Race, The Junk Yard Dog, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and The Iron Sheik, and you have one of the most star-studded nights of wrestling ever assembled.
But it’s the visual of Hulk Hogan lifting the mammoth Andre the Giant and slamming him, something even wrestling fans who’d “seen everything” would never think they would witness, that has become perhaps the most famous single moment in wrestling history. It’s the three seconds that flash in the mind of probably every person who hears the words “pro wrestling.” It was the zenith of Hulkamania, effectively cementing him as the most famous professional wrestler on the planet.
Ten years later, following a period of sagging business and diminishing public interest, WrestleMania 13 from Chicago’s Rosemont Horizon became the night the WWF’s ship was set back on course. While the evening featured The Rock’s WrestleMania debut, the return of The Legion of Doom, and The Undertaker winning his first WWF Championship in over a half-decade, 13 is best known for the brutal “I Quit” match between longtime fan favorite Bret “The Hitman” Hart and rising star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Refereed by UFC icon Ken Shamrock, the first time that promotion and WWF had crossed-over, Hart and Austin didn’t just have the match of the year, but the match of the decade. While the only path to victory was to make one’s opponent utter the words “I Quit,” Hart emerged the victor when Austin passed out from the pain and Shamrock stopped the match. In an unprecedented WrestleMania moment, this finish saw Austin earn fans’ respect as Hart’s reluctance to remove the hold summoned their ire. The most popular and most hated personas in the entire company swapped places in a wrestling storytelling device that’s come to be known as “a double turn.” Only this one would see anti-hero Austin morph into the WWF’s biggest box office attraction in history.
It was the match that would define the tides turning in favor of the company as Hart-Austin became the “must watch” match that everyone from WWF-hating WCW-loyalists to staunch wrasslin’ traditionalists had to see. Rooted in the classic wrestling face-vs-heel dynamic, Austin and Hart showed what happened when two absolute virtuosos at their craft have the freedom to cut completely loose and changed the industry forever. Austin entered the foul-mouthed villain and left the ring a bloodied permission slip to root for the anti-hero. Hart’s warpath took him from the valiant warrior to the sanctimonious crybaby who disgusted those who moments earlier were cheering him on. It revitalized Hart’s career, making him the hottest bad guy in the company, and his feud with Austin kept the WWF not just afloat during a time of troubled business, but helped gain much-needed momentum in the charged Monday night ratings wars between WCW’s Monday Nitro and WWF’s Monday Night Raw. While Hart would defect for the rival promotion six months later while still on top, this match solidified Austin as the guy who would carry the company to its greatest financial boom period.
By 2007, Hart and Austin had both retired, leaving largely a new crop of now-WWE superstars to catch the imagination of a generation. But it was the main event of WrestleMania 23 that saw the newest top dog, John Cena, cement his place as the face of the company, successfully defending his WWE Championship against “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, considered to be such a top performer at the annual event that he’d earned the moniker “Mr. WrestleMania.” That same night, WWE’s other new top draw Batista had perhaps the finest match of his career losing his World Heavyweight Championship to The Undertaker as the legend become the first person ever to have a WrestleMania streak of 15-0.
However, looking back at 23, the most historic moment might be the “Battle of the Billionaires” as WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and future President of the United States Donald Trump put their hair on the line. The company’s hottest stars Bobby Lashley and Umaga did battle, with returning familiar face “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as the guest referee. McMahon’s head was shaved and Austin gave Trump a Stone Cold Stunner.
Now with WrestleMania 33 approaching, the finest roster the WWE’s ever assembled looks poised to possibly have additional moments that will forever alter the industry. Maniacal cult leader Bray Wyatt defends his WWE Championship against longstanding pillar of the company Randy Orton. Living legend Chris Jericho faces former best friend Kevin Owens in a grudge match that’s been brewing for the better part of a year. Vince’s son Shane McMahon faces worldwide wrestling standard-bearer AJ Styles. Two of the world’s greatest cruiserweights have their first-ever encounter as Austin Aries faces Neville for the cruiserweight title. The Undertaker goes up against the face of the current WWE generation Roman Reigns. John Cena and longtime girlfriend Nikki Bella go against real-life husband and wife (and fellow reality show stars) The Miz and Maryse. And, in a match nobody would believe would be happening a year ago, former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar faces '90s wrestling icon Bill Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship. All this plus the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal makes this one of those historic WrestleManias that should have something for all fans to talk about for decades to come.
