Retro Wednesday: Where The Grand Spectacle All Started

It was the event that catapulted the WWE into being the biggest professional wrestling company in the nation, defeating the competition of NWA, AWA, USWA, GCW, WCW and other notable promotions over the years. In 1985, WWE boldly organized the first WrestleMania spectacle, putting themselves in a sink or swin situation.

Fortunately, not only did they swim, but they sailed.

Since then, WrestleMania has been the Super Bowl, World Series, and Stanley Cup to professional wrestling, selling out stadiums across the country. This would not have happened if the confidence in Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Mr. T and Paul Orndoff was any lesser than it was heading to the event. Thankfully, the bold idea worked, and WrestleMania 30 proves it.

The main event of the first WrestleMania was built on the rivalry of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. In the mid-1980s, these two were involved in an intense rivalry, which was destined to have an explosive outcome. With the respective alliances of Mr. T (bringing the celebrity flare to the event) and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, as well as Paul Orndorff and "Cowboy" Bob Orton, the stage was set for the first main event of the soon-to-be biggest pay per view in all of pro wrestling.

The match itself was not very technically sound, and depicted the obvious (and understandable) jitters of Mr. T. However, the crowd of over 19,000 in Madison Square Garden was highly involved, and assured Vince McMahon that it was a success.

The tagline of "The Greatest Wrestling Event of All Time" may have not actualized at WrestleMania 1, but within 30 years, not only has it fulfilled that tagline, but it has also become the "Showcase of the Immortals" (no pun intended; well, maybe a little).

What is your favorite part of WrestleMania 1? Sound off below.

Author's Link: Daniel Bryan heading to WrestleMania, Mae Young Tribute, Will the WM 30 main event be for the WWE WHC?, Royal Rumble: 2007-2010