March 31, 1985 - The First WrestleMania ... 24 years ago today!
March 31st, twenty four years ago at Madison Square Garden in New York City, The first Wrestlemania came to reality. As we approach the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania this Sunday night, I can’t help thinking about being at the first (then WWF) press conference in the old Boston Garden, at the Blades and Boards Club.
I was there as a Photographer, and my long time friend John White was there to write the story for the newspaper. We hung out with another media friend, Paula Zahn then Boston Channel 7 news anchor who went onto fame in the national media( NBC,CNN,ect). We jokingly explained to her that Wrestling was real, and how Mr.T would have no problem in the ring.
She wasn’t buying it, and laughed it off!
John And I grew up in the Wrestling days of Bruno Sammartino as the Champion. He would come into the old Boston Garden to wrestle on a Saturday once a month in a show that was never televised. He would record an advance promo that would play that Saturday morning to sell tickets, speaking Italian to the people of the north end, vowing to win that night at the Garden.
So to be there for the start of “This Wrestlemania Show” was really something! A huge show of all-star wrestling on closed-circuit TV. shown only in arenas across the country.
Over twenty-four years have past, we’ve seen the rise and fall of Hulk Hogan as a Wrestler and as a reality sitcom star. Mr. T ?, the 80’s icon and television show star has faded away to Nick at Nite and TV Land.
So on Sunday night, as we cheer on John Cena to win the Championship again, and worry about The Undertaker’s undefeated Wresltemania streak, I’ll think back to meeting Hulk Hogan and Mr.T for the first time and how Vince McMahon brought wrestling out of the dark ages to make it a spectacular show.
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