WWF WrestleMania VI

WrestleMania VI saw the WWF take their flagship show in a slightly different direction. After holding the last two editions in the slightly depressing Trump Plaza in Atlantic City for a crowd of casually interested fans (as part of a cross promotional deal with Donald Trump) the WWF decided to take their show on the road again – this time crossing the border for the first time for WrestleMania – holding the event in Toronto’s magnificent SkyDome.

With over sixty thousand seats to fill in an era before WrestleMania was guaranteed to sell out big stadiums on name value alone (a lesson they would learn the hard way the next year), the WWF promoted one of the biggest dream matches of the era – a rare face/face confrontation between WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Intercontinental Champion the Ultimate Warrior – with Hogan set to pass the torch to the man Vince McMahon believed capable of carrying the WWF into the 1990s. In an effort to guarantee maximum attendance, McMahon shrewdly cut closed circuit outlets in the Toronto area out of airing WrestleMania, forcing local fans to either buy a ticket, or wait for home video.

While the event is considered one of the biggest of the Golden Era, it also has become known as the effective conclusion of it, as Warrior’s title win (much like Sting’s over long time NWA Champion Ric Flair later the same year) ended up failing to meet anyone’s expectations, and business went into decline for years until the Attitude Era.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura (in his last WWF pay per view appearance in this role). Robert Goulet sings O Canada to kick things off.


Opening Match: Rick Martel v Koko B. Ware: This is the second of two WrestleMania's to feature the motorized 'ring carts' - one of the best wrestling memories from the childhood of many an old school WWF fan. Martel jumps him during the referee frisk, but gets head-faked in the corner, and Ware hits a 2^nd rope bodypress. Series of dropkicks and a clothesline put Martel on the floor, and a slingshot brings him back in. Blind charge misses, however, and Martel helps him over the top rope on the way. Suplex on the way back in gets two, and a 2^nd rope axehandle sets up a backbreaker - but he can't get the Boston Crab applied. Martel stupidly goes after Koko's head, and gets blasted with a pair of jumping headbutts in return for two. Another 2^nd rope bodypress, but Martel sees it coming this time, ducks, and hooks the Boston Crab for the submission at 5:30. Nice, well paced back-and-forth match - good opener. *

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Colossal Connection v Demolition: The Connection won the titles from the Demos a few months prior to set up this rematch up. The champs try to jump the Demos before the bell, and work Smash over after Andre the Giant casually tosses Ax to the floor. He shrugs Haku off, though, and the Demos work to cut the ring in half. Criss cross backfires on Ax when Haku wallops him with a chop to the throat, and a backbreaker gets two. The Connection work Ax over (all Haku, with Andre just firing off the occasional cheap shot from the apron - his body legitimately too broken down to do more), but he misses a blind charge, and Smash gets the tag. He's a house of arson, and that finally gets Andre through the ropes - but Smash dodges a savate kick from Haku (right into Andre - who gets tied up in the ropes), and the Decapitator finishes Haku at 9:15 - giving Demolition their (at the time record - today jobbers have matched it) third tag titles. Afterwards, Bobby Heenan runs Andre down about the loss - ending in Bobby trying to slap him around. That... doesn't go well for him... nicely turning Andre face before he rides into the sunset of retirement. Not a great match, but two awesome WrestleMania moments in ten minutes is good enough to pass. ½*

Hercules v Earthquake: Earthquake had been billed as 'Canadian Earthquake' in the months leading up to this, but fear of a face reaction here resulted in the change to the more familiar billing. Hercules does his best to stick and move, but gets quickly overwhelmed in an ill-advised test-of-strength. He tries to power up with a series of clotheslines and shoulderblocks, but stupidly tries to get him up in a Torture Rack (Seriously?! Not even Hulk Hogan would have the balls to try that), and gets appropriately swatted, and buttsplashed for the pin at 4:54. Pretty much just a TV-squash - putting Earthquake on track for his big post WrestleMania push. DUD

Mr. Perfect v Brutus Beefcake: Perfect follows everyone else's lead tonight, and tries to jump Beefcake before the bell, but ends up getting caught with a big right hand to send him to the floor. Atomic drop triggers another classic Perfect oversell, and he hangs out on the floor for a bit to kill Beefcake's momentum. Back inside, Perfect rakes the eyes, but gets reversed on a cross corner whip, and bodyslammed. Perfect's Genius pal passes him his metal scroll to turn the tide with, and the Hennig-necksnap gets two. Perfect slaps him around, but gets caught in a slingshot - overselling all the way into the ringpost to allow Beefcake the pinfall at 7:47 - ending Perfect's long standing undefeated streak (though he had been pinned in non-televised matches before), and setting up Beefcake's winning the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam, if not for a parasailing accident that nearly ended his career getting in the way. Perfect's heat segment was a little dull, but his always brilliant, almost visceral selling carried Beefcake's offense, and it wasn't too long to wear its welcome out. ½*

Roddy Piper v Bad News Brown: This was set up at the Royal Rumble, when both men got into a brawl. It is also the famous match (though he did the bit more than once) where Piper paints half his body black (right down the middle), and does a series of offensive dances to irritate Bad News. Then again, Bad News' standard operating mode is 'pissed off,' so no big achievement there, really. Lots of schoolyard brawling to start (rolling around on the mat - scratching, clawing, biting), until Bad News starts firing off headbutts. Nervehold slows things down, and a bodyslam gets two. Piper rakes the eyes to turn the tide, and starts unloading closed fists in the corner, so Brown rakes his eyes right back. He takes off the top turnbuckle pad for good measure, but gets reversed on a whip into it. Piper takes the opportunity to pull out a loaded glove (with no objection from the referee) for some shots, but it quickly spills to the floor, and both men get counted out at 6:47. Not nearly as intense as what they were going for - these two just didn't click as well as you'd think, and the non-ending at WrestleMania didn't do it for me. This felt like WCW-era Piper. DUD

The Hart Foundation v The Bolsheviks: The Harts jump the Bolsheviks as they sing the Soviet National Anthem, and kill Boris Zhukov with the Hart Attack at 0:20. Super squash here - the Harts already in line to get the tag titles at SummerSlam. DUD

Tito Santana v The Barbarian: Barbarian tries to overpower him early on, but Tito uses his speed to evade him - hitting a bodypress out of the ropes for two. He unloads on Barbarian with closed fists, but walks into a clothesline, and takes a shoulderbreaker - but dodges a 2^nd rope elbowdrop. Fists of fury and a pair of dropkicks take the big man off of his feet, and the diving forearm for two - as manager Bobby Heenan puts Barbarian's foot on the ropes. Tito stupidly goes after him, and the distraction allows Barbarian to take his head off with a flying clothesline at 4:33. Someone order another helping of squash? ¼*

Mixed Tag Team Match: Randy Savage and Sherri v Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire: Dusty introduces the 'crown jewel' to stand in his corner - Miss Elizabeth, making her return after a few months away. This is one of those sad matches where everyone involved (including Liz) have passed - except Rhodes, which I don't think anyone would have predicted, considering he was grossly overweight, and the oldest. Savage starts with Rhodes, and Macho's distracted by Elizabeth's presence, and gets hammered - so Sherri tries to make the save, and it's noggin-knockin' time. Tag to Sapphire for an airplane spin on Sherri for two, and a bodyblock for two before she tags back to Rhodes. No mixing allowed, however, so that brings Savage back in - leading to Rhodes ramming them together again. A double-team puts Dusty on the floor for a flying axehandle, though, and another coming in gets two. Suplex for two, and a royal scepter-assisted flying axehandle leaves Dusty for dead, so Randy tags Sherri for a flying splash - which the referee actually counts for two. So much for the 'no mixing' rule. Doesn't matter, though, 'cause Rhodes starts firing off elbowsmashes, and Sapphire cradles Sherri for the pin at 7:31. More played for comedy than a proper intense blowoff (Savage's fall down the card during this period is still depressing), but it was fun for what it was - if not great wrestling. ¼*

The Rockers v The Orient Express: Marty Jannetty starts with Tanaka, and a four-way brawl quickly breaks out after Marty powerslams him. The Rockers clean house (including the always crowd pleasing stereo plancha spot), but some Oriental double-teaming leaves Marty on the floor after a shot into the ringpost. The Express cut the ring in half, but Tanaka walks into a double-superkick, and Shawn Michaels backdrops him into a tag to Sato. Swinging neckbreaker for him, so Tanaka fires a cheap shot off of the apron to turn the tide, and Sato gives him a gutbuster. The Express throw their new plaything around, but Tanaka gets clotheslined, and Marty's a crackhouse of fire! Four-way brawl dominated by the Rockers, but Express manager Mr. Fuji gets involved, and a handful of salt to the eyes (sold beautifully by Marty - falling into the first row) gets the Orients the countout victory at 7:36. They would have a much better match at the Royal Rumble the next year, when The Rockers weren't hung over, and ready to work. *

Jim Duggan v Dino Bravo: Power-showdown to start - ending in Duggan backdropping Bravo, and clotheslining him to the floor. Back inside for an atomic drop, but a blind charge misses, and Bravo unloads right hands. Inverted atomic drop, and a nice elbowdrop get two, but Duggan's 'TARDING UP!! Fists of Fury! Series of Clotheslines! 3-Point Stance - but Earthquake (on the floor with Bravo) gets involved to stop it. It backfires, however, as the referee goes to break it up, and in the chaos, Duggan grabs his 2x4 for the pin at 4:15. Thankfully short - which kept it from getting restholdy. ¼*

Million Dollar Title Match: Ted DiBiase v Jake Roberts: Jake stole the prized Million Dollar Belt to set this up - surprising everyone by not hocking it for beer money before the match. Both guys get right into a slugfest - Jake tearing into him - but DiBiase hits the deck on a DDT attempt, and bails to the floor to regroup. Inside, Ted slips away again, as even Jesse Ventura is on his case for repeatedly trying his finisher so early on. Jake must have heard him, too, 'cause he goes for a hammerlock instead, and dumps DiBiase as he tries to reverse. Back in, DiBiase dodges a running kneelift - sold wonderfully by Jake - and Ted drives his own knee to the back of the head a few times. Front-facelock, as the crowd starts doing the wave out of boredom (calm down guys - it's really not that bad), though the announcers cover up nicely - selling it as part of the fun of a WWF event. It makes for a neat visual, either way - with over sixty thousand people playing along. A visibly annoyed DiBiase piledrives Roberts, and hooks the Million Dollar Dream - but Jake makes the ropes. 2^nd rope axehandle gets blocked, and Jake backdrops him to set up a short-clothesline. DDT, but Virgil pulls Jake out of the ring before he can hit it, and Roberts gets counted out - giving DiBiase back the title (since it's not a sanctioned title, it changes hands) at 11:53. Creative booking there - keeping Jake from jobbing, but getting the belt back to DiBiase. Not technically bad, just dull - which the crowd wasn't shy letting them know about. I've seen much worse - but understandably, the crowd was getting anxious with all the filler (especially in the cheap seats), and needed to blow off some steam. ½*

Big Bossman v Akeem: The Twin Towers broke up to set this up - Bossman turning face when he refused payoffs from Ted DiBiase. Custody of Slick went to Akeem. In a great bit (that I loved as a kid), DiBiase pops out from underneath the ring (never going back to the dressing room after the last match), and jumps Bossman. I'm sure the live crowd saw that coming, but it came off wonderfully for TV (or home video, the way I first saw it in 1994). That allows Akeem to squash him with an avalanche, but gets atomic dropped out of a ten-punch, and the Bossman Slam finishes at 1:50. Even as a kid I thought that was underwhelming for a blowoff (Under two minutes? At WrestleMania?), but, really, longer would not have went well. DUD - but fun.

Honka Honka Honka Honky Love: No, not porn. It's Rhythm and Blues riding a pink Cadillac to the ring to perform their 'latest single!' This segment is only notable for a pre-fame Diamond Dallas Page (who owned the Caddy) acting as their chauffeur, and a bemusing interview with a clueless Mary Tyler Moore (‘...Elvis…?') before hand.

Rick Rude v Jimmy Snuka: I always love Rude entrances, if only to watch the production team scramble to find any decent looking women in the crowd to highlight as he takes his robe off. Rude jumps him at the bell, but misses a dropkick, and Snuka face plants him with a flapjack. Big backdrop and a falling headbutt allow him to dropkick Rude to the floor. Inside for another backdrop, but he telegraphs it, and Rude suplexes him. Backdrop of his own, but he makes the same mistake of going to the well once too often, and gets faceslammed. Diving forearm, but Rude dodges the Superfly Splash, and the Rude Awakening finishes at 3:51. This marked the official beginning of Rude's transition to main eventer, as a foil for the Ultimate Warrior. Totally decent match, short as it was. *

Main Event: WWF Title v WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Hulk Hogan v The Ultimate Warrior: This was less a proper feud than the two biggest stars (and champions) in the promotion having a bunch of run-ins in early 1990, setting up what was billed as 'The Ultimate Challenge' - the winner getting both title belts. Both men dismiss the motorized carts - Warrior stupidly deciding to full-on run the long aisle, and winding himself up in the process. The always astute Jesse Ventura makes sure to note how dumb that move was - even from a kayfabe perspective. Big staredown to start - Warrior shooting first with a shove. They trade a couple to gauge the crowds reaction (pretty even - Hogan with possibly a slight edge), and a test-of-strength ends in a stalemate as well. Big criss cross ends in Hogan slamming him - but Warrior pops right up, and another ends in Warrior returning the favor. Clothesline sends Hogan to the floor - hurting his knee on the way out - and the Hulkster's limping. Warrior actually kicks him while he's down, even shoving the referee in the process - possibly a nod to the fact that a lot of people expected him to turn heel here. Still, risky booking with such a divided crowd - especially since they were counting on Warrior to carry the promotion after this. Hogan shrugs it off with a ten-punch count, and a bodyslam sets up a pair of elbowdrops for two. Front-facelock, but Hogan doesn't want to risk triggering another Wave, and tries a chinlock instead. Lariat gets two and a backbreaker for two. Side suplex for two, and another chinlock - but Warrior powers out, and they do the most dramatic double knockout spot in history. Warrior just beats Hogan to a vertical base, but Hulk's in trouble 'cause Warrior's BLOWING UP!! Series of Clotheslines! Series of Cross Corner Whips! Suplex! - but it only gets two, so he hugs him like a bear instead. Hogan's got the Power of Hulkamania, and shit, though, and powers up - bumping the referee in the process. Warrior keeps after him with a pair of flying axehandles, but Hogan sidesteps a diving shoulderblock - only there's no referee! The distraction allows Warrior to come from behind (Bearhugging? Coming from behind? That don’t make the world work!) with a side suplex for a super dramatic two count. Hogan schoolboys him for an equally dramatic two, and a backelbow sends Warrior toppling over the top. Slugfest out there ends with Warrior posting him (seemed less malicious than the knee work, as Hogan was trying to do it to him first), and he brings him in for a shoulderblock. Press slam/splash combo to finish, but Hogan kicks out at two, and he's HULKING UP!!! Fists of Fury! Big Boot! - but the Legdrop misses, and Warrior catches him with a splash on the rebound to win the WWF Title at 22:50. Afterwards, Hogan gets the WWF Title belt - and with tears in his eyes - passes the torch to Warrior, embracing at center ring before literally riding into the sunset. Ultra dramatic stuff, especially in an era before lots of finisher exchanges (or even face/face matches) became commonplace. Lots of restholds, but with the crowd having near heart attacks whenever they got going, it actually came off as a nice break between exciting series of spots - with great subtle bits like Warrior's offense being just that much more effective each time. Much like Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat three years prior, these two meticulously pre-planned the entire match for weeks in advance (to the point where they called out numbers to represent spots), working hard to give the fans a truly satisfying, and appropriate match for the epic buildup and promotion - and it worked. It’s actually an interesting match, because it (successfully) relies so heavily on dramatics. If the same match – move for move – had been done by, say, Bossman and Akeem earlier, it absolutely would not have worked. These two took a one/two-star level match, and just pushed, and pushed, and pushed until it became a classic.  *** ¼

BUExperience: Not a solid card top to bottom, but a legendary main event, and a terrific, memorable atmosphere (a big plus for a show running nearly four hours) keeps this one from the DUD-pile. Much like the main event itself, it’s pitch perfect dramatics and atmosphere make entertaining what could have been dull. Take, for example, the Great American Bash from 1992 – a better card from a pure wrestling standpoint – but far less memorable, with a dismal atmosphere hanging over it to the point where it becomes outright boring, and a chore to sit through.

Unfortunately, Warrior’s title win – while still historically significant – couldn’t carry that spirit much further, and has come to be associated with the end of the Golden Age. Though, realistically, the slump had more to do with wrestling’s cyclical nature than anything Warrior did/didn’t do,  this effectively became the going away party for the excesses of the 80s, before the belt-tightening 90s. **