Watch WrestleMania 2
- TV-PG
- 1986
- 3 hr 1 min
-
6.1 (1,219)
WrestleMania 2 is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event that took place on April 7, 1986. The event is produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and is the second edition of the WrestleMania franchise, the biggest annual event in the history of professional wrestling. The event was held in three different locations â Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, and Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The main event of the show was a Steel Cage match between Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. This was a rematch from their previous encounter in December 1985 at the first edition of the WrestleMania event. Bundy had injured Hogan's ribs during their previous match, and this time, Hogan was out for revenge. The Steel Cage stipulation ensured that no interference from outside could take place, making it one of the most intense matches in the history of the event.
Another significant match on the card was for the WWF Intercontinental Championship between Randy Savage and George Steele. Savage had won the title from Tito Santana in February 1986 and was making his first title defense against Steele. Savage was accompanied to the ring by his valet, Miss Elizabeth, who played a crucial role in the match's outcome.
In addition to these two marquee matches, the event also had several other matches featuring popular wrestlers of the time. One such match was a Boxing match between Mr. T and Rowdy Roddy Piper. This was not a traditional wrestling match but rather a simulated boxing match. It was one of the most hyped matches on the card, and the two competitors went toe-to-toe in the ring, with Mr. T ultimately emerging victorious.
There was also a tag team match between The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) and The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine) for the WWF Tag Team Championship. The British Bulldogs had won the title from The Dream Team in April 1986, and this was their first defense of the belt. The match was a classic tag team encounter, with both teams showcasing their unique styles and abilities in the ring.
Other notable matches on the card included a Battle Royal, where 20 wrestlers competed in a match explicitly designed for eliminating one another by throwing over the top of the rope. The last wrestler standing was declared the winner. This match featured several big names, including Andre the Giant, William "The Refrigerator" Perry, and NFL Hall of Famer Jimbo Covert.
In addition to the in-ring action, the event also featured several notable celebrities, including Joan Rivers, Liberace, and Ray Charles. Rivers served as a backstage interviewer, while Liberace played the guest timekeeper for the main event. Ray Charles also performed a live rendition of "America the Beautiful" before the show's start, which has become a staple of modern-day WrestleMania events.
Overall, WrestleMania 2 was a huge success, drawing more than 40,000 fans combined across the three different locations. The event solidified the status of wrestling as a mainstream entertainment form and helped to establish the WrestleMania brand as the most significant event of the wrestling calendar. It is a must-watch for any wrestling fan who wants to understand the history and evolution of the sport.