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Wrestlemania 5
By Johnny Platinum
 
With the biggest day in wrestling Wrestlemania 25 just
around the corner, I thought I’d do something different and
wind the clock back 20 years to the 2nd April 1989 where
Atlantic City Trump Plaza was the host venue for one of my
favourite Wrestlmanias of all time “Wrestlemania 5”. With
that being said I went back through my collection of VHS
tapes and pulled out my original copy of Wresltemania 5 as
recorded off the channel ten network some 20 odd years ago,
placed my backside comfortably into my favourite lounge and
took myself back down memory lane.
Back now to Wrestlemania eve in April 1989 and I have the
vivid recollection of my English teacher Ms Taylor asking me
“What do you think Johnny?” sadly I was day dreaming and had
absolutely no fucking idea of what the situation called,
again my teacher pressed further asking me what was on my
mind and for once I responded with the absolute truth “ I do
believe Strikeforce (my favourite tag-team at the time) will
be too strong for Bobby Heenans Brain Busters. With that the
room filled with laughter and I’d just confirmed my status
of resident nerd in my class, Australian teenagers in 1989
cared little for the going-ons of the WWF back then and even
if you did watch it you’d never admit it as it simply wasn’t
cool enough. Too add just a little more to my woes Strike
force not only lost that confrontation but were never to
wrestle as a team again after Wm5.
Never mind all that though and the big night was finally
here, I was so excited on a number of levels. Firstly it was
my mans Hulk Hogans opportunity to re-claim his World title
that he’d been without over the past year since Randy Savage
won it Back at WM4 a year earlier. Then there was the Big
Grudge Match between Jake the Snake Roberts and Andre the
Giant. Ravishing Ric Rude had the chance to wrestle the
Ultimate Warrior away from the Intercontinental
Championship. There was a special edition of “Pipers Pit”
which was the first time in a couple of years since we’d
seen Roddy Piper, and as I mentioned earlier Strikeforce
were re-uniting to take on the Brain Busters (Tully
Blanchard & Arn Anderson) in which was the part I was most
looking forward to seeing for the night., not that it went
that well for me as it was indeed Strikefoces last match
together and for much of the next 2 years they concentrated
battling each other rather than working together as I’d
preferred to see.
So the much anticipated night finally arrives and I strap
myself into the arm chair ready for a big 4 + hours of
wrestling action and a great night which held up to all it’s
great expectations as far as I was concerned even though it
was declared the “Worlds Worst Wrestling Show by the
Wrestling Observer Newsletter” an accolade I obviously
disagree with as Hulkamania ran wild all over Macho Man
Randy Savage resulting with the gold belt being strapped
firmly once again round the Hulkster waist much to my
approval.
Now for some Wrestlemania 5 Quotes and happenings of the
night.
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Ring Announcer Howard Finkle messes up from the get
go and in the opening contest and introduces “King
Haku” as “King Tonga” (a name which Haku had not
been associated with for some 3 or 4 years)
Jesse Ventura states – “I’m not really sure who this
Blazer is just yet!” (Blue Blazer “Owen Hart” fell
to his death some 10 years later whilst playing that
same character, by that time we sadly all knew who
the Blue Blazer was).
Slickster remarked during his teams match (the Twin
Towers against the Rocker) – “What we need is a
Black Referee” ( Teddy long granted the Slickers
wishes some 11 years later when he became the first
Black Referee to work for the WWE.
Jesse Venture talking to Gorilla Monsoon “I used to
like working with you, but you’re now getting worse
than McMahon.
Gorialla Monsoon to Jesse Venture “Could you tell
that from your vantage point Jesse? Jesse responds
with “You’re darn right I can, I don’t got coke
bottle glasses like you do”.
Gorialla Monsoon to Jesse Venture, talking about
Monsoons finishing move the Big Splash “You were
lucky you were never a recipient of the big Gorilla
Splash Jesse , You’d of had no career if that
happened” Jesse responds with “Yeah but I’d have to
have been 72 years old for that to have happened”.
During the Warrior & Ric Rude Match Jesse Ventura
comments to Monsoon “He’s biting him Monsoon! What
possible cause is there for that?” To which Monsoon
responds “Perhaps he’s hungry”
Run DMC rapped some horrendous number they called
Wrestlemania Rap- it was enough to turn me off Run
DMC for ever and I never bothered to listed to
another piece of their music.
Shawn Michaels debuted in a tag-team match and along
with Hacksaw Jim Duggan are the only competitors 20
years later to be performing at WM25. Michaels has
the unenviable task of attempting to stop the
Undertakers impressive record of 16 wins and 0
losses at Wrestlemania, (Good Luck Mr Michaels,
you’ll need it).
The Wrestlemania Bruch was a classic with Butch and
Lukes table eating mannors being a little left to be
desired,
Superfly Jimmy Snuka made a guest appearance to
announce his comeback after a 4 year absence.
Unfortunately for Jimmy his next Wrestlemania was
against the Undertaker who’s amazing streak of
victories began that night against poor Jimmy. Still
the streak had to start somewhere I guess.
Rowdy Roddy Piper hosted a special Pipers Pit and
ended up turning a fire extinguisher on his guest
Morton Downey Junior, quite possible causing some
frost bite to Downey’s ass.
Bobby the Brain Heenan got his ass handed to him by
the Red Rooster of all people, in what could had
been close to a Wrestlemania recored for the
shortest match of all time. Only worse performances
are that of SD Jones (RIP) against King Kong Bundy
at WM1 and the Bloshevicks versus the Harts at WM6.
Chavo Guerrero also came close to that accolade last
year against Kane.
Millon Dollar Man Ted Dibiase wrestled Brutus
Beefcake at Wrestlemania 5. Twenty years later his
son Ted Dibiase Junior gets to make his Wrestlemania
debut.
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Sadly you wont see any guest appearances from these folk,
they‘ve all pasted away since there appearances at
Wrestlemania 5
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Dino Bravo
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Big Bossman
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Joey Marella
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Blue Blazer
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Gorilla Monsoon
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Lord Alfred Hayes
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Hercules Hernandez
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Big John Studd
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Elisabeth
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Andre the Giant
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Bad News Brown
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Sensational Sherri
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Mr Perfect Curt Hennig
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Ravishing Ric Rude
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So there it is, my Wrestlemania Wrap up, in less than 24
hours Wrestlemania 25 will all be a part of history and no
double will be a classic show as each of the 24 shows before
had have been……I still look back so fondly when it comes to
those early Wrestlemanias and thank all the performers past
and present and those who are no longer around to join in
all the festivities, you’ve changed my life, you’ve enhanced
my life and for that I am truly grateful
But before we go….. Johnny Platiunms hot tips for
Wrestlemania 25
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Undertaker to defeat Shawn Michaels and go 17 / 0 in
the win loss department.
Triple H to walk away with the WWE Championship
Edge to maintain his World Championship
My Surprize tip for the Womens invitational Royal
Rumble is Rockin Robbin
And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Koko B Ware have
some input in the events somewhere as well.
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Anyway folks it’s getting late and I really should get some
sleep ready for the big day tomorrow, as has every year for
the past 25 I’ve got nerve of excitement just waiting to be
let loose when Wrestlemaina kicks off tomorrow.
Have a good one everyone and speak soon,
Stay Cool
Johnny Platinum 06.04.09
WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE
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