Posted in: The Classroom The Classroom - History Of: WrestleMania Part 7
By Sean Taylor
Feb 1, 2009 - 10:23:51 PM
You know, Amber, you’re not doing so well in school and a young, eighteen year old woman likes yourself shouldn’t have to compromise about your education. Maybe if you drop by my office after school . . . . Oh! Hello there LOP-ites and welcome back to The Classroom. This time around we’ll be discussing the events and happenings surrounding WrestleMania VII.
But first, I want to thank everyone for the great feedback. Congratulations to Michael M., Sean M., Alan, and Ayden for earning Star Pupil status. They knew that Diamond Dallas Page was the driver of Rhythm & Blues’ pink Cadillac because he owned the car. I don’t have time to waste with mindless chatter so while you all enjoy Part 7, I’m going to track down Amber before she disappears.
WrestleMania VII: Superstars & Stripes Forever
Date: March 24, 1991
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, California)
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Attendance: 16,158
In 1991, the world stage was in turmoil. Iraq President Saddam Hussein led his military into the small country of Kuwait in an attempt to seize Kuwait’s oil fields. The United Nations stepped in and declared war on Iraq and set off to defend Kuwait against Hussein’s attacks. The American military code-named their mission Operation: Desert Storm and was the bulk of the Kuwaiti defense. American pride was running high as people wove flags and wore yellow ribbons to show their support.
The WWE was no different. Patriotic wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan carried large American flags to and from the ring, red, white, and blue half circle tapestries were hung around the arena, and the WWE started airing their pay-per-views through the military’s television network. Babyface wrestlers saluted the “fighting men and women” in every promo and all wished them a safe and swift return home. Everyone was joined together with hopes that the war in the Middle East would end quickly.
Never being one to miss a moneymaking opportunity, Vince McMahon capitalized on the high sense of American pride. Sgt. Slaughter was a US Army drill instructor turned wrestler who as a fan favourite was the first to get an action figure made of him as a part of a G.I. Joe series. But in the summer of 1990, Slaughter announced that he was an Iraqi sympathizer and praised Hussein as a great, conquering hero. This made Slaughter public enemy number one. The separation of “in character” and real life was ignored by the fans. They would spray paint swear words onto his rental car, flip his rental car over, and even tried to run him off the road if they recognized him on the highway.
The WWE received threats of violence and even death against Slaughter. For most of this time in Slaughter’s career, he wore a bulletproof vest under his wrestling gear. WrestleMania VII was scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Olympic Coliseum, which was an open-roofed stadium. But there so many bomb and death threats received, the WWE had to move the even to the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The attendance decreased from an estimated 100,000 to less than 20,000 but it was still sold out. Even though they hated Slaughter, the fans were dying to see Hulk Hogan take back the WWE Heavyweight Championship for America.
From Texas to England
WrestleMania VII started off with country music legend Willie Nelson singing a passionate rendition of “America the Beautiful”. The opening match was a tag team bout pitting The Rockers (Shawn Michaels/Marty Jannetty) against Haku and The Barbarian (managed by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan). The Rockers’ speed proved to be too much for the two Samoans and the Rockers picked up the victory. After the match, Heenan joined Monsoon at ringside at the commentator’s table and would stay there for the rest of the night.
Kerry Von Erich grew up in the famous Von Erich family that ran the World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) territory in Dallas, Texas. After a lackluster run with the NWA World Championship belt, he signed with the WWE and was nicknamed “The Texas Tornado”. His opponent at WrestleMania VII was the aging Dino Bravo (managed by Jimmy Hart). Von Erich made quick and easy work of Bravo and focused on his Intercontinental Title aspirations.
The following match was a battle between two muscular behemoths. Both members of the British Bulldogs and of the Powers of Pain had gone their separate ways. The Warlord changed his appearance from animal pelts and face paint to plastic body armour, face mask, and five-foot staff topped with a “W”. Davey Boy Smith continued his gimmick however and became “The British Bulldog”. Davey Boy broke out of the Warlord’s Full Nelson and hit his Running Powerslam for the win.
Oh Quagmire, That’s Naaaaaasty!!
Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags made up the tag team called The Nasty Boys. The Nasty Boys left WCW in December of 1990 and signed with the WWE. On the February 16, 1991 episode of Superstars, a seven team battle royal to determine the number one contenders for the WWE World Tag Team Championships. The Nasty Boys last eliminated the Legion of Doom with outside help from Power & Glory. They cashed in their title shot at WrestleMania VII challenging champions The Hart Foundation. Knobbs borrowed a motorcycle helmet from Jimmy Hart (Nasty Boys’ manager) and nailed Neidhart in the head behind the referee’s back. The illegal maneuver worked out as the Nasty Boys were crowned the new tag team champions.
The Nasty Boys would hold the titles until SummerSlam later that year when they were defeated by the Legion of Doom in Madison Square Garden in a Street Fight. The Hart Foundation split after WrestleMania VII leading to Bret Hart’s successful singles career.
The Blind Wrestling The Blind
On an episode of Superstars, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and “The Model” Rick Martel were guests on the Brother Love Show. Words were exchanged and Martel sprayed Roberts in the eyes with his Arrogance cologne. A couple of weeks later, Roberts reappeared on the Brother Love Show and announced that he was blind and that doctors told him he might never be able to wrestle again. He wore dark sunglasses and carried a cane and vowed that he would somehow get his revenge on Martel. Martel came out and teased and taunted Roberts, eventually knocking off Roberts’ glasses. Roberts attempted to DDT Martel but got Brother Love instead. Roberts then looked into the camera displaying his now permanently crossed eyes.
Weeks later, Roberts was in the ring and once again Martel taunted him with jokes about being blind. Suddenly Roberts sprung his trap and DDT'ed Martel. His eyes had healed and was now at one hundred percent healthy. Roberts then challenged Martel to a Blindfold Match. Both men’s heads would be covered with a black hood and they would not be allowed take it off until the match was over. Roberts said that he wanted Martel to experience for one match what he experienced in everyday life.
The match itself was not a hit with the fans. Though the live crowd got caught up in trying to help Roberts find Martel, the fans watching at home got bored with the very slow game of cat and mouse. Martel attempted to play the comic relief by swinging at thin air, unknowingly challenging the ref, and tripping over his own two feet. Eventually, Roberts hit Martel with his DDT and picked up the win.
Debut of The Deadman
At Survivor Series 1990, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase announced that the mystery partner for his team was The Undertaker. A six-foot-ten monster dressed in black walked to the ring with his manager, Brother Love. Starting that night, The Undertaker began a dominating career. He defeated every one of his opponents with his Tombstone Piledriver in less than ten minutes, placed them in a body bag, and carried them to the back. His mannerisms, demonic entrance, and ability to roll his eyes back into his head were done so well that the WWE cameras would catch young children in the audience crying out of fear. When Paul Bearer took over managing duties, the gimmick was complete and made even spookier.
At WrestleMania VII, The Undertaker made quick and easy work of the legendary “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Because it was only his first appearance at WrestleMania, no one – not even Undertaker - had any idea what historic feat had started that night.
Oooooohhh No More!
The Ultimate Warrior and “Macho King” Randy Savage squared off in an epic match where the loser would have to retire. It all stared at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Warrior was scheduled to defend the WWE Heavyweight Championship against Sgt. Slaughter. Backstage, Savage issued a challenge to the winner of the title bout. Slaughter agreed but after a face-to-face interview with “Sensational” Queen Sherri, Warrior turned it down. Angered, Savage sneak attacked Warrior during the match eventually hitting him in the forehead with the royal sceptre. Warrior would lose the title thanks to Savage and immediately set out for vengeance.
The Loser Must Retire Match was a classic example of how to tell a story during a match. Warrior came out for the match and gained an early upper hand but Savage soon turned it around. Warrior started to feel his powers leaving him. He was beginning to believe that the Gods were taking his powers away. Savage dropped five Elbow Drops in a row but Warrior still kicked out. Warrior then began to feel his God given powers coming back and mounted a comeback on Savage. Warrior hit Savage with his patented Gorilla Press/Big Splash combination and counted along with the referee’s three-count.
Warrior celebrated in the ring and ran out of the arena. Savage, lying defeated on the mat, realized that he now had to retire from active competition. Sherri also realized this and took out her anger on Savage. She entered the ring, attacked Savage from behind, and began kicking him with her high-heeled shoes. Savage’s estranged wife, Miss Elizabeth, was sitting in the audience and couldn’t watch Sherri’s attack anymore. She climbed over the guardrail, entered the ring, and pulled Sherri off of Savage. Sherri unsuccessfully tried to retaliate but Elizabeth threw her out of the ring. Savage finally regained his senses and saw Elizabeth in the ring. Elizabeth explained that it was Sherri who attacked him and then mouthed the words “I love you”. Savage looked around the ring at the cheering audience, stepped forward, and hugged Elizabeth. Despite being losing the match, Savage had won back Elizabeth’s heart.
The interesting note about the aftermath of this match is that six months after WrestleMania VII, the Ultimate Warrior was fired from the WWE and Savage was reinstated in order to feud with Ric Flair.
Demolition: Rise In Numbers, Fall From Prominence
The next match pitted Tenryu & Kiato against Smash & Crush of Demolition. Since winning the tag titles at WrestleMania VI, Demolition added a third member, Crush (aka Bryan Adams). The storyline was that Demolition wanted to show off their new (heel) attitude. Backstage, Bill Eadie’s (Ax) health was jeopardized due to a hospitalizing shellfish allergy and Vince McMahon wanted to have a third member to step in if Eadie wasn’t able to compete. Demolition began competing under the “Freebird Rule” which allowed any two of the three to compete in a match and defend the titles. More often than not, Smash and Crush would wrestle in the match while Ax waited under the ring for the purposes of interference.
Demolition would lose the tag belts to The Hart Foundation, after the Legion of Doom prevented Ax from cheating. In late 1990, WWE President Jack Tunney demanded that Demolition officially cut out one of their members and only compete with two. Ax left the WWE leaving Smash and Crush to continually lose to teams like The Rockers, the Legion of Doom, and at WrestleMania VII, Tenryu and Kiato who were short-lived Japanese imports into the WWE. The WrestleMania VII loss was Demolition’s last match in the WWE as Smash would become The Repo Man and Crush adopted a Hawaiian surfer gimmick and renamed himself, Kona Crush.
What Did You Say About My Mama!?!?
When the Ultimate Warrior won the WWE Heavyweight Championship from Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI, he became the first man hold the World Title and Intercontinental Championship at the same time. But the rules of the WWE stated that no wrestler could hold two singles championships at the same time so Warrior vacated the Intercontinental title and it was put up in a tournament. The finals saw Mr. Perfect defeat Tito Santana. Perfect and his new manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan were a lethal combination of brains and brawn for Intercontinental title contenders. Only “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich could take the belt off of Perfect but Perfect quickly took it back thanks to interference from Ted DiBiase.
Around the same time, the Big Boss Man began to feud with The Heenan Family because Bobby Heenan made derogative remarks about Boss Man’s mother. Boss Man’s WrestleMania VII match against Mr. Perfect was an extension of that feud. In order to counter Heenan’s presence at ringside, Andre the Giant came out during the match as a corner man to Boss Man. Boss Man won the match via disqualification when the Barbarian and Haku interfered so the belt remained with Mr. Perfect. After the match, Andre helped Boss Man clear the ring area of Heenan and his family.
Anyone For A Game of Squash?
During the superstars’ entrances for the next match, “Mean” Gene Okerlund met with some of the celebrities sitting in the audience. The celebrities included Donald Trump, actor Chuck Norris (“Walker Texas Ranger”), actor Henry Winkler (Fonzie on “Happy Days”), and actor/body builder Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”).
At the Royal Rumble, Greg Valentine turned on stable mate Dino Bravo beginning a face turn. Valentine was supposed to enter into a feud with former Rhythm & Blues teammate, the Honky Tonk Man. But Honky Tonk Man left the WWE leaving nothing scheduled for Valentine. An unfortunate turn of luck led to Valentine getting defeated quickly and decisively by Jimmy Hart’s Earthquake
After costing The Legion of Doom a chance to challenge for the WWE Tag Team Championships, Power & Glory found themselves facing an angry Hawk and Animal at WrestleMania VII. Despite a sneak attack before the opening bell, the Legion of Doom and their patented Doomsday Device quickly finished off Power & Glory.
The Man Ain’t Gunna Keep Me Down!
For years, Virgil was the bodyguard of the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. In late 1990/early 1991, DiBiase expressly touted his mantra of “everyone has a price”. Vignettes aired showing that Virgil would do anything DiBiase told him to do just because he was paying Virgil to do it. Virgil was show wiping sweat off of DiBiase’s forehead, cleaning animal droppings from DiBiase’s boots, and massaging DiBiase’s feet. Each vignette showed a close up of Virgil’s face and that he was getting more and more fed up of being a servant to an evil boss.
At the 1992 Royal Rumble, Dibiase and Virgil defeated Dusty and Dustin Rhodes. After the match, DiBiase publicly embarrassed Virgil by demanding that he get on his knees and pick up the Million Dollar belt. DiBiase gloated but when he turned around, Virgil nailed his boss between with the eyes with the belt. Virgil quit his job and began haunting DiBiase. On an episode of Superstars, Virgil came to the ring and stalked DiBiase on the outside of the ring causing him to be counted out while the win went to a nameless jobber.
So a match was signed for WrestleMania VII pitting DiBiase against Virgil brought his trainer and mentor “Rowdy” Roddy Piper to the ring with him. Piper was dealing with a leg injury and walked to the ring with crutches. Eventually DiBiase was dumped to the outside near Piper. Just like Virgil had done earlier Piper stared down DiBiase making him forget about the referee’s count. DiBiase got counted out and Virgil gained a measure of revenge against his former employer.
After the match, DiBiase put Virgil into the Million Dollar Dream until Piper climbed into the ring. DiBiase broke the hold and begged off. Piper was about strike DiBiase with a crutch but “Sensational” Sherri slid into the ring and stopped Piper. DiBiase and his new manager double teamed Piper and left the ring. Virgil recovered and then pleaded with Piper to get up much like Piper had inspired him to stand his own. Piper stood and the two friends left the ring area.
The next match featured Tito Santana squaring off against Jacques Rougeau’s latest incarnation, The Mountie. Dressing up as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police caused controversy leading to litigation in the Great White North. The dispute was resolved quickly and caused the WWE to make a point of mentioning that The Mountie was in no way affiliated with the RCMP on their television shows. At WrestleMania VII, The Mountie utilized his shock stick to incapacitate Santana and easily picked up the win.
Ho-oh-gan Can You See
After Slaughter defeated the Ultimate Warrior for the WWE Championship, he and his manager, General Adnon, amped up the USA-bashing and Iraq-praising. It cannot be understated how much the fans of the WWE hated Sgt. Slaughter. Robert Remus (the man who played Slaughter) was putting his life on the line every time he stepped into public. In addition to the aforementioned bulletproof vests, Slaughter was guarded by highly paid twenty-four hour security and was usually led to the arena, hotel, or airport by local police escort. Slaughter even caused fan outrage when he burned a Hogan poster and a “Hulk Rules” t-shirt. The WWE wanted Slaughter to burn the American flag but the networks threatened to never air WWE programming again.
Hogan was the epitome of Americana and was the perfect hero to put against Slaughter. In the fans’ eyes, Slaughter represented Iraq and Hogan was the United States of America. For the weeks leading to WrestleMania VII, Slaughter gained the upper hand each time he was in the ring. On Superstars, one week before the pay-per-view, Sgt. Slaughter put Hogan in the Camel Clutch and walked out laughing while Hogan lay in the ring.
Celebrity interviewers Regis Philbin (“Live with Regis and Kathy Lee”), Marla Maples (actress and wife to Donald Trump), and Alex Trebek (host of “Jeopardy”) acted as guest commentator, guest timekeeper, and guest ring announcer for the main event respectively. The match itself was a standard Hulk Hogan match action-wise. Hogan got out to an early advantage, Slaughter cheated to swing the momentum to his side, and Hulk came back with the Big Boot/Leg Drop combination for the win. But the match wasn’t the end of it. The following week on Superstars, it was revealed that Slaughter and Adnan waited for Hogan in his locker room. During a post-match interview with “Mean” Gene Okerlund, Slaughter threw a fireball into Hogan’s face and stole the WWE Championship belt.
The Hogan/Slaughter continued throughout the summer of 1991. Hogan got his belt back after winning a Desert Storm Match against Slaughter at Madison Square Garden. The Desert Storm Match was an attempt to recreate the Boot Camp Match Slaughter had against The Iron Sheik in the early eighties. There was no ref and the winner would be the one who could get “an unconditional surrender” from his opponent. Months later, The Iron Sheik and The Ultimate Warrior were brought into the feud which ended with the Match Made In Hell at SummerSlam 1991.
With Sgt. Slaughter reign of terror now over, Hogan would have to deal with new threats to his title. A brush with death . . .
. . . and the real World’s Champion.
Well that about wraps up Part 7. I hope you all enjoyed it. As always, you can send me your thoughts, comments and critiques here. Don’t go away for too long though. In order to keep my schedule, I need to post Part 8 by Monday, February 2 and keep a two-columns-a-week schedule after that. The good thing about this is that if I can maintain this pace, I’ll have time for a WrestleMania XXV preview column and I’ve got some cool ideas for that one so keep your fingers crossed. Also, because of my tight schedule this weekend, there will be no trivia this time around but I promise to bring it back next time.
