10 Fascinating Tales From WWE WrestleMania History
Fascinating facts about WWE WrestleMania
6. Piper Without Pity
Much of WrestleMania 1's success was due to Vince McMahon's proficiency in blending larger-than-life wrestling with cheerfully-gaudy pop culture, creating a potent formula that The Chairman has continued to concoct ever since.
A-Team star Mr. T was tabbed for the tag team main event, joined at the hip of WWE Champion Hulk Hogan in battle with Rowdy Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.
Complications arose, however, and it was more than just the prospect of putting a novice outsider like Clubber Lang in such a high-profile wrestling match.
It's been made quite clear through the years that Piper and Mr. T did not like one another, and by some accounts, Orndorff wasn't fond of the TV tough guy, either.
The heat among these parties had grown so intense that on WrestleMania Sunday, Mr. T nearly walked out of the show, reportedly due to a fear that Piper (a Gold Gloves boxer who also had a background in judo) would try to shoot on him.
Hogan allegedly had to keep Mr. T calm, reassuring him that The Hot Rod would play ball. The two enemies ended up working together without any incident and then fought the following year in a worked boxing match.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
