Wrestlemania II

Wrestlemania II

Promotion: WWF
Date: 07/04/1986
Cities & Venues: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York & The Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois & The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
Commentary Teams: Vince McMahon & Susan Saint James (New York), Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Okerlund & Cathy Lee Crosby (Chicago) and Jesse Ventura, Alfred Hayes & Elvira (Los Angeles)
Announcers: Howard Finkel (NY), Chet Coppock (Chicago) and Lee Marshall (LA)



Taking another leaf out of NWA's book, Vince has 'gone one better' and made Wrestlemania 2 take place in 3 different cities. 

The show starts with Vince in the ring saying welcome, and then introduces his commentary partner Susan Saint James, a famous actress at the time who had been in loads of stuff I've never heard of, but had hosted Saturday Night Live a couple of times before this event.. Ray Charles is then presented to the crowd as he sings America the Beautiful, while a montage featuring waves and cliffs amongst other things come on the screen. Not really my cup of tea this. It ends with fake fireworks being set off behind a picture of Hulk Hogan. Lovely idea Vince.

Once it's over Mean Gene comes on the screen from Chicago andtalks about a couple of the matches. Roddy Piper then comes on the screen who has been preparing for his match later in the night, and cuts a promo saying if he gets knocked out in his boxing match he will retire from boxing, wrestling, tiddlywinks and loads of other things. Without warning, we hear Howard Finkel's voice introducing the opening match

Match 1 
"Magnificent" Don Muraco w/Mr Fuji vs "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorf
Singles match,  20 minute time limit

Ornfdorf is still a face following the outcome to Wrestlemania 1's ending. Both men were part of the Wrestling Classic tournament, with Muraco defeated in the first round and Orndorf knocking himself out in the quarter final. They're both big men, but Muraco has the height advantage.

We listen to pre-recorded promos of both men over the beginning of the match. They grapple eachother, break it up, and then both guys trade bodyslams. Muraco then works on Orndorff in the corner, but Mr Wonderful fights back with a back body drop, arm drag and drop toe hold takedown. He works an arm lock onto Orndorff, and Susan Saint James sounds like she's never seen a match before, so it's pretty much all Vince on the mic. Orndorff keeps hold of Muraco's arm & wrist for what seems like ages, before Muraco finally counters back with a samoan drop. They brawl for a bit and oth go over the top rope, but Orndorff has his foot caught in the ropes. Muraco attacks on the outside, goes to ram Orndorff head first into the ring post and we hear the bell ring, but Orndorff shoves Muraco into it instead. Orndorff wants to attack Muraco with the chair, but Finkel announces that both men were counted out.

Draw - Double Count Out

Totally crap and forgettable match. Really not sure what the point to this was, and a dreadful way to start off the show. The crowd even chant BULLSHIT when it's over. The Samoan Drop was just about the only decent  thing in the whole match. 1/5

We go to Mr T in the locker room, who gives a promo while getting rubbed by his mate and a midget. Back to Finkel for the next match

Match 2 
George "The Animal" Steele vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage (C) w/Elizabeth
Singles match, 1 hour time limit for the WWF Intercontinental Championship 

We watch a Savage promo while he's on his way to the ring. Susan Saint James says this is her match and she wants George Steele to win because someone needs to show Savage how to treat a woman. The story going into this seems to be Steel loves Elizabeth and wants her, but she stays with Savage despite how he treats her. Her decision may or may not also include the fact that Steele has more body hair than anyone in the world ever.

Savage won The Wrestling Classic tournament at the last PPV. This is the first George Steele match I'll be reviewing, but I remember seeing him as a kid as a comedy dopey character who eats turnbuckles. 

It starts with Steele running Savage out the ring a couple of times. While waiting for Savage to engage Steele, Vince says that Steele looks like he's covered in fur. Savage leaves the ring a third time but Steele chases after him this time. Steele catches up with Savage when he'e getting into the ring and starts chewing on Savage's calf. This enrages Savage who attacks with a high knee into the corner, but Steele grabs Savage by the throat with two hands and throws him across the ring. Steele goes to Elizabeth but Savage sees this and ties him up in the ropes, leading to a beat down. Savage climbs to the top rope and lands a double ax handle, but Steele kind of rolls backwards with Savage on top. I think Savage wanted to flow this into a pin but was thown a bit far to make this convincing. He pins anyway, gets a 2 count, and Steele throws Savage through ropes as he kicks out.

Steele is on the attack now and throws Savage out the ring again. Savage rolls under the ring, and Steele can't see him. Savage rolls back out the other side and gives Steele a running knee to the back. Savage goes for a sleeper, but Steele counters by biting his arm. Savage leavess the ring again and comes back with flowers. He hits The Animal with them, but Steele starts biting the arm again, and shoves the flowers into Savage's face. Savage is down in the corner, but instead of attacking some more Steele goes into another corner and starts eating the padding on the top turnbuckle. Quite animalistic. Savage uses this opportunity to grab hold of Steele, who then tries to feed the padding to Savage. Savage leaves the ring again, Steele chases him but stops when he sees Elizabeth. She slowly backs away from Steele, giving Savage time to climb to the top rope and land another double ax handle, this time to the outside of the ring. They get back in the ring, Savage bodyslams Steele in the middle of the ring, setting him up for the big elbow drop from the top rope, and Vince thinks it's all over. Steele kicks out at 2, quite surprisingly, and then grabs Savage in the face. He throws Savage into the corner and tries to attack, but the ref gets in the way. Savage grabs Steele by his legs, pins him with his feel on the middle ropes and this time gets the win.

Winner - Randy Savage Retains by pinfall (feet on ropes)

I love watching Savage, but this wasn't good viewing. Steele acts like a loveable moron, but I don't remember him hitting Savage with any moves. Savage tried to play this like cat and mouse, which might have sounded good in theory, but didn't play out well at all. At least the crowd seemed into it, and Savage got a cheating heel win. This scrapes 2/5

Savage quickly crawls out the ring, grabs the belt & Elizabeth and leaves. Steele starts crying in the corner and eats another turnbuckle. We see a replay with Savage's feet on the ropes again, before going back to Steele in the ring, who is running after the referee trying to give him some padding. Vince announces we're going to Chicago with Mean Gene Okerlund. He has an NFL player and Big John Studd with him in anticipation of a battle royale match later in the night. It looks like it will be WWF vs NFL. We then go back to Vince & Susan Saint James in New York who talk about the next match, before going back to Finkel

Match 3 
George Wells vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Singles match, 20 minute time limit

Jake and Damien get the cheers, but not many. I'm pretty sure anyone who watched Wrestling as a kid in the 80's & 90's knows Jake The Snake, but I can't say I've heard of George Wells before.

Jake leaves Damien in his sack in the corner, and the match starts quickly, with Wells landing a back body drop and then an uppercut. Jake starts swinging punches through the air, but takes control and throws Wells out the ring. He goes after him but Wells fights back and rolls Jake back into the ring. Roberts is whipped across the ring, but he steps over Wells who had him lined up for another back body drop, and starts showing off to the crowd. Wells runs against the ropes and clocks Roberts with a jumping shoulder block. Roberts takes a headbutt and is whipped into the corner. Wells is definitely on top at this point, beats on Jake in the corner and lands a pretty good looking head scissors take down. This leads to Roberts signalling for a time out. Wells then picks up Roberts to body slam him back down (I hate this), gives him a chop to the chest, and then Jake really sells a knee lift almost ending upside down with his foot on the top rope. Wells then lands a powerslam and goes for a pin, but only gets a 2 count. 

Jake is struggling here but thumbs Wells in the eye to give himself some time. Roberts slides out the ring, Wells goes after him, Jake gets back in the ring and attacks Wells as he is climbing back in with a knee lift. Roberts then goes to Damien's sack, hits is famous DDT on Wells and gets the win.

Winner - Jake The Snake by pinfall (DDT)

Jake The Snake basically got battered all match, landed his DDT and won. I've read up on Wells after this match and he was basically a jobber. But he had all the offence in this match. I guess they wanted to make the DDT look like a really strong move. 2/5

Jake grabs Damien and throws him on top of Wells, wrapping him around Wells neck. Wells starts selling this brilliantly and even foams at the mouth. Jake and Damien leave soon after. Vince says that Jake is unbeaten at this point. We now watch a video showing how Mr T and Roddy Piper's feud got started. Basically Mr T has boxing gloves on, Piper comes down to the ring and challenges him, but Bob Orton attacks T from behind. Vince now goes to LA where Jesse Ventura has Hulk Hogan for an interview. Hogan looks like he wants to feud with Jesse, which I'd love, but sadly I don't think this goes anywhere. Back to Finkel, who introduces the guest announcer Joan Rivers (urgh). She introduces NBA player Daryl Dawkins as a guest judge, as well as Cab Calloway and G. Gordon Liddy. Cab Calloway is a musician, while Liddy is a lawyer who was convicted during Watergate, and booed loudly. The time keeper is Herb, no idea who he is. 

Match 4 
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper w/"Cowboy" Bob Orton & Lou Duva vs Mr T w/"Smokin" Joe Frazier & The Haiti Kid
10 round Boxing match

I'm a bit surprised to see Smokin Joe here, as he appeared at Starrcade 84, but I probably shouldn't be, Vince was all over celebrities at this event. Roddy Piper I last saw lose to Hogan via DQ at The Wrestling Classic, while Mr T was at Wrestlemania 1 with Hogan where they beat Piper and Paul Orndorff.

Round 1: Piper punches more, Mr T dodges. Lots near grapples. Piper punches a lot when the ref is breaking them up. This is totally boring. The carry on fighting after the bell rings.

Round 2: Piper comes out smothered in grease. The ref cleans this off. piper throws a flurry of punches. The grapple some more. Piper is on top, and gets T on the canvas. T gets up on 8.T is knocked down again as the bell rings, Piper hits him while he's down, T gets up on 5.

Round 3: Cowboy Bob throws water on T between rounds. Piper goes down in the corner but gets up on 8. Piper later sells a big punch from T and falls out the ring. Piper gets back in and up at 9. 

Round 4: Piper throws his stool at T before the round starts. The swing punches at eachother and don't bother defending. The crowd boo a fair bit. Piper pushes the ref down and bodyslams Mr T. This is over.

Winner - Mr T via DQ (ref push & Piper bodyslam)

Absolutely awful from start to finish. Again, an idea that probably sounded good on paper but in reality was bull shit. Too long and pointless. 1/5 

This is the end of the New York section, and we now go to the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Gorilla Monsoon and Gene Okerlund are on hand to introduce the matches. Cathy Lee Crosby will be on commentary with Gorilla. Chet Coppock introduces the next match

Match 5 
Velvet McIntyre vs Fabulous Moolah (C)
Singles match for the WWF Womens Championship

Moolah is the champion is booed out the building. I remember her briefly as a kid in the late 90's or so where she would turn up with May Young (I think) and she delivered a mean snapmare. Moolah was at WM1 in Leilani Kai's corner, I've never heard of Velvet McIntyre before.

True to my memories, Moolah starts the match by doing 3 snapmares in a row. Velvet jumps over Moolah when in position to do a back body drop, and nearly falls over, then lands a poor dropkick, then a better one. Moolah takes a body slam, but rolls out the way when McIntyre goes for a splash off the top rope. Moolah pins her, the ref counts to 3, but doesn't see McIntyre has her foot on the ropes.

Winner - Fabulous Moolah Retains via pinfall (missed splash, Velvet foot on rope)

1/5. Pointless match that did nothing for anyone. Waste of time. This wouldn't have lasted much more than a minute if that. Moolah was in her 60's at this point, womens wrestling seems more like an afterthought.

We get a trademark "Holy Mackerel!" from Gorilla when the match finishes. Looks like Mean Gene has joined the commentary team from this point. Chet Coppock (this might be one of the best names ever) announces the next match

Match 6 
Nokolai Volkoff w/"Classy" Freddy Blassie vs Corporal Kirschner
Flag match, 20 minute time limit

The winner of the match gets to wave their nation's flag when the match ends. Why they wouldn't do that anyway is beyond me. Volkoff does his usual singing of the Soviet national anthem, to a chorus of boos from the crowd, Kirschner interrupts this with his military drum parade music. I last saw Volkoff, Dynamite Kid beat him in seconds at The Wrestling Classic, although he did win a tag team match at WM1. Kirschner lost a forgettable match at The Wrestling Classic in the first round to Adrian Adonis.

Volkoff starts off strongest with a spinning kick to the gut and a knee lift. Kirschner is thown out the ring and into the steel post, before Volkoss starts biting him. Kirschner is thrown into the post again as Volkoff gets back into the ring. Kirschner starts to fight back, much to the fans delight, and lands some punches. Kirschner is bleeding according to Mean Gene, and punches Volkoff some more in the corner. The referee tries to pull him back, but gets too close and takes an elbow to the face, sending him flying across the ring. Volkoff is struggling here and Blassie tries to throw his cane into the ring, Kirschner catches it, smacks Volkoff across the head, throws it away and gets the pin as the ref recovers.


Winner - Corporal Kirschner via pinfall (Cane shot)

Another quick match, with no real moves taking place or enough time for it to go anywhere. The crowd love this one though purely because it's been billed as USA vs Soviets. This would have been better if they scrapped the womens match and gave this more time, at least it had a bit of brutality in it and could have gone somewhere. 1/5

Kirschner wins and waves his flag high and proud. He wasn't allowed to do that if it wasn't a flag match, you see. The crowd cheer and we hear his drum roll parade music again. It's now the main event for Chicago already! Chet Coppock gives Mean Gene mic duties as he introduces the next match - a 20 man Battle Royale and explains the rules - you are eliminated if you're thrown over the top rope and touch the ground. He introduces the time keeper Claire Peller, who has found the beef, and special guest referees Dick Butkus and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Butkus is a former NFL player for the Chicago Bears and Too Tall Jones is another NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys. The match is between Wrestlers and Football players from the NFL

I've not done a match like this before, so I'll try to get all the contestants and eliminations correct:

Match 7 
Jimbo Covert (Chicago Bears), Pedro Morales, Tony Atlas, Ted Arcidi, Harvey Martin (Dallas Cowboys), "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey, Hillbilly Jim, King Tonga, The Iron Sheik, Ernie Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers), The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & "Jumping" Jim Brunzell, Big John Studd, Bill Fralic (Atlanta Falcons), Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart, Russ Francis (San Francisco 49ers), "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, William "The Refridgerator" Perry (Chicago Bears), "The 8th Wonder of the World" Andre The Giant
20 man Battle Royale 

Ernie Ladd joins Gorilla on commentary duty, and mayhen ensues. A bunch of WWF guys try to get Refridgerator out, but he's helped by another NFL player. It's quite hard to see what else goes on so I'll mention eliminations and anything of note. I'm also a bit surprised that a young Bret Hart was on WM2!


Jimbo Covert and King Tonga are the first to go, eliminating eachother as they fall over the rope onto the ground, with a little help from Bill Fralic.

There's several brawls going on all over the ring, Andre The Giant seems to have been left one on one with I think Russ Francis, gets him over the top rope but he doesn't hit the ground. Ernie Holmes is eleminated in the corner by Bruno Sammartino.

The Hart Foundation eliminate Jumping Jim Brunzell. The Killer Bees were trying to get Bret out, but the Anvil came in from behind to force Brunzell over Bret and out of the ring. They start to double team Dan Spivey in one of about 5 or 6 different encounters going on around the ring, one of which is Tony Atlas getting eliminated by The Refridgerator to a massive pop from the crowd!

John Studd and The Refridgerator are pounding away at eachother which gets Gorilla's attention. Pedro Morales and Harvey Martin eliminate eachother, and shortly after Ted Arcidi has B. Brian Blair over his head in a Gorilla press position, and with help from Hillbilly Jim gets him over the top rope, but not on the floor. He comes back in and helps Hillbilly Jim, Dan Spivey and Iron Sheik eliminate Arcidi. Spivey then goes for Iron Sheik, but gets eliminated after Sheik ducks under an attack and back body drops Spivey over the ropes. Iron Sheik isn't done yet, helping Hillbilly Jim push the remaining Killer Bee over the top rope, but Blair hooks his leg round Hillbilly Jim, taking him out with him!

Iron Sheik is on bit of a roll here, as he helps Big John Studd force Bill Fralic out over the top rope. This leave the last 8 as Sheik, Studd, Redridgerator, Hart Foundation, Andre, Sammartino and  Russ Francis.

Iron Sheik's run comes to an end, as he's eliminated by Bruno Sammartino the same way he eliminated Spivey. Sammartino now takes on Studd, Andre is brawling with Francis and The Hart Foundation take on The Refridgerator. Bruno has Studd in the corner and lifts his legs up, but can't quite get them over the top rope. Studd thumbs Sammartino in the eye and, while he's dazed, throws him over the rope to make it 6 left.

After taking a bit of a beating, The Refridgerator tackles both Bret and Anvil at the same time, sending them over the ropes but not onto the floor. Studd and Refridgerator square off, with Studd taking a big tackle in the corner. Studd sees the next one coming and blocks this with his shoulder, and quickly eliminates Perry. The Refridgerator wants to shake Studd's hand from the outside. Studd falls for the oldest trick ever and is pulled from the ring, getting another big pop from the audience.

Ray Martin is the last footballer left, up against Andre and The Hart Foundation. Andre gets tied up in the ropes, giving Bret & Anvil time to throw Martin out. The Harts now double team Andre for a bit, but are eventually overpowered. Bret takes a huge boot to the head, and when Anvil takes one he's eliminated. Andre picks Bret up in the Gorilla press slam position and throws Bret onto Anvil to get the win.

Winner - Andre The Giant via eliminating Bret Hart

While there was a lot going on, this was quite fun. Easily match of the night so far, but that isn't saying a lot. Andre was the right guy to win, he looks impossible to lift. The crowd were into this too, and loved it when The Refridgerator eliminated Tony Atlas and Big John Studd. This is also where the 'celebrity involvement' has worked best so far. 3/5

Andre is announced the winner to big cheers, Gorilla comments that Andre has won more Battle Royals than anyone in history but he looks hurt (I think he started to take a bit more time off around this time of his life). We then go to Vince and Susan Saint James in New York who are talking to Roddy Piper. Piper loves what has happened and cuts an amusing promo. We go back now to Mean Gene who has Jimbo Cobert with him who starts crying about being eliminated. Iron Sheik is interviewed next, and of course starts his answer off saying "Gene Mean" which always makes me laugh. We watch another replay of Andre eliminating Bret, Studd eliminating The Refridgerator. Gorilla then goes back to the ring announcer for what I think is the headline match for Chicago

Match 8 
The Dream Team (Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (C)) w/Lucious Johnny Valiant vs The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid) w/Captain Louis Albano
Tag team match for the WWF World Tag Team Championships

I want the Bulldogs to win. They've brought Ozzy Osbourne with them, and he's wearing a pink suit. I've liked what I've seen of the Bulldogs so far since doing these reviews. Davey's match with Ricky Steamboat at The Wrestling classic was good before it ended, and Dynamite Kid was eliminated by Randy Savage in the semi finals in a great match. Greg Valentine I last saw at Wrestlemania 1, where he thought he had defeated Junk Yard Dog, only for the match to restart and he was counted out. Beefcake was also at WM1, getting disqualified with David Sammartino. The hasn't started his Barber gimmick yet, which is what I remembered him for as a kid. There's two referees for this match, I guess one for the outside. Mean Gene says Ozzy is from Manchester. If so, that's the best Brummie accent impression I've ever heard.

Davey Boy and Valentine start the match. They trade blows, Valentine misses a quick elbow drop, giving Bulldog the chance to throw on an arm lock and work on the shoulder. Valentine escapes with a whip and hip toss combo, but misses a falling forearm. Bulldog tags in Dynamite Kid while having The Hammer in a headlock, keeping control of the bout. Valentine falls to the ground dazed. Dynamite uses a shoulder block and an impressive snap suplex, tagging Davey back in. Valentine counters a couple of suplex attempts, goes for his own, but can't quite get Bulldog high enough. Davey shows him how it's done with a textbook suplex, which gets a 2 count. Valentine backs into the corner and rolls out the ring to break the momentum. He gets back in, strikes Bulldog in the corner, and after a reversed whip knocks Bulldog to the ground, and lands a jumping headbutt. Brutus Beefcake is tagged in and works on Bulldog's arm. He doesn't keep the hold on for long though, and Davey Boy impressively reverses this into a press slam, getting a big crowd reaction, and tags in Dynamite Kid.

Kid goes to work on Beefcake, hitting a clothesline and knife edge chop. He uses a small package pin and gets a 2 count. Davey is tagged back in and lands a bridging cradle suplex, again for a 2 count. Beefcake is struggling here, so lowers his body and grabs onto Bulldog, slowing bringing him into the Dream Team's corner (I doubt many people would have considered Valentine & Beefcake as a dream team). The Hammer is tagged in and jumps from the top rope, laning a forearm onto the back of Davey Boy's neck.

The Hammer hits a suplex and works on a headlock. Davey gets up and tags in Dynamite Kid without Valentine being aware. They brawl with Dynamite coming out on top, forcing The Hammer into the corner, and works away on him with a series of shoulder thrusts. This leads into a two count and Davey is tagged back in, leading onto the Bulldogs using a doubleshoulder block. Another 2 count and Valentine is struggling again here. He motions for Beefcake to get into the ring, which he does, leading to both men attacking Dynamite, and giving The Hammer the chance to get back into it. He messes it up though as Dynamite telegraphs the back body drop and instead tries a sunset flip. It works, and he gets another two count. Beefcake makes the save after a backbreaker. Valentine kicks out on 2 after a knee drop, Mean Gene says Ozzy Osbourne is shaking at ringside, but doesn't elaborate...

Valentine has managed to get enough going on his side to land a piledriver onto Dynamite Kid, and gets a 2 count. Valentine tries to hold the shoulders down, and looks to claw some more momentum his way, and leaps for a knee drop, but gets a crotch full of shin for his efforts. Valentine ignores the tagging oppotunity and goes to the top rope, but Dynamite is onto him and slams him back down. Valentine is done for and motions again for Beefcake to come in. Brutus does as he's told, but Davey Boy sees this and comes in as well. This makes the ref break his count. Beefcake is chased from the ring, and valentine takes a bodyslam. The Bulldogs work together to press Dynamite onto him, but The Hammer bails before the drop happens. 

Valentine is back in the ring and beats on Dynamite some more, which forces him to tag in Davey. He manages to get Valentine on his shoulder immediately, which means he's going for the Running Powerslam. It works, and bounces Davey Boy about a foot off the mat! Valentine barely kicks out, and then takes another suplex, and kicks out again. Dynamite is on the second ropes cheering Davey on. The momentum swings again as Valentine reverse a whip into the corner, sending Davey Boy through the ropes, his shoulder crashing into the post. A hammerlock is thrown on and amazingly Brutus Beefcake is tagged into the match. He lands a forearm from the middle ropes. Beefcake slams Davey Boy down after another hammerlock. Davey's shoulder is rammed into The Dream Team turnbuckle and Valentine is tagged in again. He elbows the shoulder from the top rope, and then hits a shoulderbreaker. He goes for the pin, but Valentine breaks his own pin, being the cocky heel he is. He tries to hurt Bulldog some more, but is shoved head first into Dynamite Kid in the corner, knocking him out. Davey falls onto Valentine to get the pin.

Winners - The British Bulldogs (New Champions) via pinfall (Davey Boy Smith pinned Greg Valentine following a head collision)

At last, Wrestlemania 2 has a good match! Watching it back it's almost a handicap match as Brutus Beefcake is barely in it, and is only tagged in for Valentine to have much needed breathers. Valentine was excellent considering this, and the Bulldogs were solid and entertaining throughout. More involvement from Beefcake would have made this a better and more believable tag team match, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. 4/5  

The crowd explodes with the result. Davey sells his condition really well after the match, and Mean Gene speaks with Lou Albano and Ozzy Osbourne about what has happened, Ozzy just shouts "BRITISH BULLDOGS FOREVER!!!!!!" Davey Boy says that the Bulldogs will remain in America now that they are champions. Gorilla Monsoon goes over a replay of the win, and goes to Vince again in New York. Vince talks with Susan Saint James for a while, and she just screams and does sound bites.They then go to Los Angeles for part 3. 

Jesse Ventura introduces the LA leg of the night with Lord Alfred Hayes and Elvira, who looks hot. It's quickly into the first match.

Match 9
Hercules Hernandez vs Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Singles match, 20 minute time limit

I was hoping Steamboat would be on this, and I'm glad he is, but he's up against Hercules Hernandez, who I've not taken to at all in the few matches I've seen him in.

Hercules attacks from the off, forcing The Dragon into the corner. The sound quality is pretty poor, meaning the crowd can barely be heard, and it takes a while for the commentators to say something. They haven't missed much, only a barrage of elbow attacks from Hercules. Herc's control over the match doesn't last long, with Steamboat sliding through his legs a couple of times before whipping Hernandez against the ropes and striking him down with a chop. He then uses his classic arm drag takedown a couple of times, but keeps hold of Hercules on the second one to work in an arm wrench. Hernandez counters this eventually whipping Steamboat against the ropes. Hernandez then miss times picking Steamboat up, but The Dragon flips out of this and kicks Hercules to the ground.

Another armdrag into an arm lock is thrown on Hernandez and The Dragon is focussing on the arm and shoulder. Jesse and Elvira call Steamboat wimpy because he has a small scarf around his knee, while Hayes is calling the match. Hercules has barely attack since the first 30 seconds, and he's struggling more here, getting whipped and leapfrogged a couple of times before running into a back elbow. Suplex from Steamboat, who picks Hernandez up and hesitates slightly. Hernandez takes this as a chance to get back into this, slamming Steamboat's head into the top turnbuckle and delivering a powerful clothesline. 

Hercules stomps away on Steamboat, whips him, then drops his throat onto the ropes. Herc takes an age to bring The Dragon to his feet, causing Steamboat to up the pace a bit and get in a couple of quick strikes. He goes for a body slam but Herc is too heavy and lands on top of Steamboat for a 2 count. Hercules lands a couple of heavy punches and uses the turnbuckle again. Hernandez attacks again with a back elbow followed by a couple of elbow drops. He delays the pin and Steamboat kicks out. He fights back with some thuddening chops, but Hernandez powers back with a clothesline. A lazy pin gets a couple more two counts. He then presses Steamboat above his head, and drops him unconvincingly. He does a much better job second time round. He then climbs to the top rope and tries a splash, with Jesse saying he's never seen Hernandez go to the top rope before, which explains why it's no surprise when Herc lands on nothing but knees & shins. Steamboat now struggles to the top rope and lands a flying cross body to get the win.

Winner - Ricky Steamboat via pinfall (Flying Cross Body)

I think this match shows why I've never really been a fan of Hercules Hernandez. He's put in a match with one of the best guys around at the time, has a clear size advantage, yet spends 95% of his offense on striking the opponent, rather than using power moves which would work and make this look better. I don't think this was a classic Steamboat performance either, although he did what he could with such a poor opponent. 2/5 

The network seems to take a chunk out of the recording and we go straight into the next match

Match 10
"Adorable" Adrian Adonis w/"Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart vs Uncle Elmer 
Singles match, 20 minute time limit

Adrian Adonis was defeated by Dynamite Kid in the Wrestling Classic tournament quarter final, while I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've seen Uncle Elmer, who may as well be a fatter version of Hillbilly Jim. Adonis is dressed like a I don't know what. Closest description I can give is Mrs Doubtfire, hungover on a bad day.

Elmer starts off on top with a big whip into the corner, followed by a punch to the head. Which makes himself fall over, for one of the worst sells ever. And he did the move! Not to be outdone, Adonis gets up from the punch, stumbles round and falls through the ropes. I can see where this is heading 5 seconds in...

Adonis rips the Wreslemania 2 sign fastened to the ringside off and tries to bring it into the ring with him. Emler 1 punches him out the ring again. Elmer rips the dress Adonis is wearing when he's back up on the apron, and slingshots him back in the ring. Elmer then belly bounces Adonis into the ropes, getting himself tied up. Elmer punches some more and Hart breaks Adonis free. Adonis uses his first attack of the night, a punch, to take Elmer to his knees. Adonis takes off his Homer Simpson fat guy dress thing off, but Elmer whips Adonis into the corner and hits him with an avalanche, but misses the follow up leg drop. Adonis goes to the top rope, splashes onto Elmer and everyone is made up it's over.

Winner - Adrian Adonis via pinfall (Top rope splash)

Urgh, that was painful. Terrible match that got far too many minutes more than it deserved. Hopefully these two never meet again. 1/5

Adonis celebrates and beats on Elmer some more, and I just want them both off my TV. Jimmy Hart talks into the megaphone and finally they leave. We watch a recorded interview between Alfrred Hayes and Hulk Hogan. Hulk cuts a promo he's done 1000 times before and will do 1000 times after talking about believers, Hulkamaniacs and standing tall like a man. Back to the ring for the next match

Match 11
The Funk Brothers (Terry & Hoss Funk) w/Jimmy Hart vs Junk Yard Dog & Tito Santana
Tag team match, 30 minute time limit

Terry Funk is a hardcore ledgend, Hoss Funk I know less about ie nothing. Junk Yard Dog is a fan favourite, probably more with kids than anything, who I've yet to see put on a good match despite his Wrestling Classic tournament victory. Tito Santana won the first ever match at Wrestlemania, not a bad thing to be known by, and from what I've seen looks like he could be pretty good with the right opposition. Jesse also keeps up his schtick of calling him Chico Santana. JYD & Santana are the fan favourites.

JYD & Hoss start off. Hoss gets in a few forearms, and goes to whip Dog from one corner to the other, but Terry Funk is bizarrely flipped into the ring. JYD whips Hoss into Terry, and then makes alternate body slams before the Funk brother regather outside the ring. Santana and Terry Funk are tagged in when it settles down.

Terry Funk chops away at Santana, but Santana whips him away, tripping Funk as he jumps over him which makes Terry stagger. Santana takes advantage of this by clotheslining Terry Funk out of the ring. Hoss runs in the ring but is dealt with by two Sanatana drop kicks. JYD is tagged in. Both strike boxing poses, but it's JYD who gets the punches in. He rams Terry Funk's head into the turnbuckle for a 10 count, the does the same on the opposite corner. Funk has jelly legs and is thrown out of the ring. Terry Funk gets back in near his corner and tags Hoss immediately. JYD slaps a headlock on Hoss, brings him to his corner and tags in Tito. Santana carries on the headlock, but Hoss escapes with a knee and works away with a melee of uppercuts. Santana is whipped against the ropes, Hoss leap frogs a couple of times, but this is what Santana wants as he jumps into a flying forearm. Hoss is pinned but Terry Funk dives across the ring to make the save.

The Funk brothers leave the ring to break up the momentum, but Hoss is brought back in by Tito. They criss-cross against the ropes, but Terry Funk kicks Santana in the back when the referee isn't looking. Terry Funk is tagged in and throws Santana through the ropes. Jimmy Hart gets a couple of stomps in, but the Funk Brothers won't let Tito back in the ring. JYD tries to scare Jimmy Hart away and gets Santana back in the ring. Terry Funk lands a suplex and gets a 2 count. He goes for another, but can't get Santana quite high enough. Tito lands and counters with a suplex of his own. Both men run into eachother, but Terry Funk lands in his own corner, making a tag to Hoss, but Santana is in a neutral corner on his own.

Hoss comes in and hits a perfect double underhook suplex, but this only gets a 2 count. Santana tries to fight back but Hoss blocks him off. Terry Funk is tagged in and they take Tito down with a double clothesline. Funk uses a leg drop on Santana, who only just kicks out. I guess it only works when Hulk does it. Funk then goes for a running elbow drop but misses. Tito is desparate for a tag, but gets a headbutt from Funk for his troubles. Not put off by this, Santana then crawl and rolls around Funk, and makes a hot tag to JYD. He comes in and starts beating down on the Funk brothers, giving them the double head knockers, and Terry Funk gets a clothesline for good measure. The referee has his back turned, and after Hoss has been knocked down off the apron, Terry funk wraps a small chain around JYD's neck. Dog headbutts his way out of it, then sends Funk to the outside with a big back body drop. There's no mats on the outside in LA, and it makes me want to chant E-C-DUB, but that won't happen for a few years.

Dog headbutt's Hoss and bodyslams terry Funk onto a table. I'm guessing this is way ahead of it's time here, and it must be a sturdy table as it doesn't break. Jimmy Hart helps Terry Funk back into the ring, as he right knee is busted. Dog lightly kicks this, then turns his attention to Jimmy Hart, dragging him up to the apron, only to strike him back down again. 

Both Hoss and Tito want to get back into the ring, so they use a small package pin from JYD as a good excuse. Hoss makes the save, but Tito knocks him down and slaps on a figure-4 leg lock! It's to no avail though as neither is the legal man. The ref gets Santana out the ring, and while his back is turned Jimmy Hart throws his megaphone to Terry Funk. Funk drives this into JYD's head, goes for the pin and gets the victory.

Winners - The Funk Brothers via pinfall (Terry Funk pins Junk Yard Dog, megaphone shot)

Another good tag team match here. The Funk brothers mixed it up with good moves and strikes, Terry Funk took a big landing onto the concrete and was slammed onto a table, while Hoss was the more tecchnical wrestler, executing a great double underhook suplex. I'll also say that this is the best match I've seen Junk Yard Dog involved in, while Santana impressed me yet again. Good match from all involved, and I look forward to hopefully seeing the Funk brothers again 3/5 
 
Terry Funk looks injured, but the crowd boo him regardless when they leave the ring. The corwd are chanting BULLSHIT again, this time for different reasons. The match worked as planned, the heels are hated. We watch a replay of the megaphone shot.

There's a bit of a gap while a steel cage is being prepared for the headline match. We watch a video building up into the main event between Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy. It includes:

Hulk doing weights while bandaged around the ribs. One of the hillbilly characters is with him, and someone else with a mad 80's muzzy. King Kong Bundy attacked Hogan on an episode of Saturday Night Main Event. Bundy and Don Muraco work together to break Hogan's ribs. The attack is coordinated by Bobby Heenan. Mean Gene interviews muzzy man who is a doctor, who says Hulk shouldn't participate. Hogan does another of his promos, and we watch him do chin ups with a 100lb weight round his neck.

We then watch an interview with Bobby Heenan and King Kong Bundy, both questioned by Jesse Ventura. Bundy isn't bad on the mic here considering he looks like a thumb. Elvira then takes us back to Vince & Susan Saint James in New York. Her answers to Vince's questions are a bit crap but he's improvises well. Chicago must feel left out. The cage is ready and the match can get going...but not before some more celebrities. For the main event, Tommy Lasorda of the LA Dodgers will be the guest announcer, Ricky Schroder (an actor who I only recognise from 24 as Mike Doyle) is the time keeper, and the referee is Robert Conrad.

Match 12
Hulk Hogan (C) vs King Kong Bundy w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Steel Cage match (Escape Rules) for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Bundy finally makes his way to the ring and is booed out the building. Hogan is cheered beyond belief, and is still wearing bandages round his ribs & lower back. He's been champion now for over 2 years, but I've never been able to warm to him.

Hogan starts off the stronger of the two after a brawl and lands a big right hand after running off the ropes. Bundy is whipped into a big boot not long after. Hogan then uses Bundy's straps to choke him, and rams Bundy's head into the cage. Bundy takes a clothesline in the corner, and several strikes and slaps. Hogan goes for one ram into the cage too many and Bundy blocks this to go on the offense. He focusses on the mid-section straight away with lots of strong kicks and a bodyslam. Bundy asks for the door to be opened but Hogan grabs him before he can get through the ropes.

Bundy is annoyed by this so picks Hogan up and runs his back into the cage. Bundy goes for another escape, but Hogan clings onto him desparately. Bundy then starts to unravel the bandages Hogan is wearing and starts to use these to choke Hogan, and then ties Hogan to the rope. Bundy goes for the door again but Hogan frees himself just in time to stop Bundy escaping. 

Hogan goes on the offence again with a series of strikes, and throws Bundy into the cage again. Bundy is bleeding, and Hogan focusses on this area, but his punches aren't convincing. Hogan throws Bundy into the cage some more, climbs the cage and chokes Bundy on the top rope. Hogan then goes for a bodyslam, but it's too much right now and Bundy comes crashing down on top of him. Bundy goes towards the door again, but gets choked with the bandages by Hogan. Bundy fights back and lands an avalanche on Hogan, and follows it up with a big standing splash. Bundy starts crawling towards the door, but Hogan sits up within seconds, basically no selling Bundy's moves (even though these are the moves which "broke" his ribs 5 weeks previously).

Bundy is pulled back, but Hogan is starting to Hulk Up and no sells another avalanche, reverses a whip and body slams Bundy, before using his leg drop. Hogan climbs the cage, but Bundy is right behind him. Hogan kicks him away, climbs over the cage and gets the win.

Winner - Hulk Hogan (retains) via climbing out the cage
  
King Kong Bundy didn't really put a foot wrong in this match. He was in a championship match, where all he has to do is escape the cage before his opponent. And he tried to do so at every opportunity. His methodology was good. Hogan in fairness was the same - this guy had broken his ribs 5 weeks previously, so Hogan wanted to punish him before winning the match. I think the bodyslam moment was pretty big considering the size of Bundy, I don't know if anyone else had done this before. However, as much as what happened made logical sense (minus the no selling), I couldn't really get into the match. They tried to make this physical, yet only Bundy bled. I also will never be sold on the leg drop as a finishing move. 2/5

Hogan goes back in the cage after the match and beats on Bobby Heenan, throwing him into the cage, and giving him an atomic drop.

This show wasn't good or pretty. Two good tag team matches and a fun battle royal were the stand outs, but the rest varied from passable to horrific. Adding up the match scores, this gets a pitful 23/60, but there were far too many bad matches on the card for this to be memorable in anyway. Overall, unfortunately Wrestlemania 2 will only score 3/10 from me

The next ppv after this was another Great American Bash, but again this isn't on the network. So my next review will be NWA's flagship event of the year, Starrcade 86: Night of the Skywalkers