The slogan used to promote WrestleMania 3 was “Bigger! Badder! Better!” and in many ways that description fits perfectly. Compared to the first two WrestleMania events, this one was clearly on a completely different scale. The presentation was grander, the crowd was larger, and the entire show felt more like a massive sporting spectacle.
For many fans, this event was the first time WrestleMania truly felt like professional wrestling’s version of the Super Bowl. WWE claimed an attendance of 93,173 people, which is still often mentioned as the largest crowd ever for a WWE event.
The show took place at the Pontiac Silverdome, located outside Detroit, Michigan. The building was normally home to the Detroit Lions of the NFL. Over the years, some fans and historians have debated whether the attendance number was completely accurate. The stadium typically held around 80,000 fans for football games, so people have wondered how the official total reached over ninety-three thousand. However, looking at photos and footage from the event, it’s clear the building was absolutely packed. In addition to the seats in the stadium, thousands of fans were also placed on the floor around the ring area. Whether the exact number was correct or not, the important thing is that the crowd was enormous and created an unforgettable atmosphere.
Throughout WWE history there have been several shows that changed the direction of the company. WrestleMania I was obviously important because it launched the entire concept. However, WrestleMania 3 may be the event that truly pushed Vince McMahon’s promotion into a whole new level of popularity and mainstream success. The event performed extremely well on closed-circuit television and on pay-per-view, which was still a relatively new way for fans to watch big wrestling events in 1987.
Main attraction
The biggest attraction for the show was the WWF Championship match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. Andre had spent years being presented as an unstoppable giant who rarely lost. For most of that time he had also been a fan favorite. Everything changed when he turned against Hogan and aligned himself with the villainous manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
Hogan had already been champion for nearly three years by that point, while Andre was said to have been undefeated for fifteen years. Their feud really took off during an episode of Piper’s Pit, where Andre suddenly ripped Hogan’s shirt and chain from his chest. The moment even caused Hogan to bleed slightly, which made the segment feel even more dramatic. Commentator Gorilla Monsoon famously described the upcoming match as “the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.”
Many people believe that Hogan vs Andre at WrestleMania 3 is one of the most heavily promoted matches in wrestling history, and it’s easy to understand why.
On a personal level, I didn’t actually see this show live when it originally happened. I was still very young at the time. The first WrestleMania I watched live was the following year. However, I did see WrestleMania 3 on VHS a few months after the event took place. One thing that stood out immediately was the incredible crowd reaction. The fans were extremely loud throughout the entire show, even during the early matches on the card. The Michigan audience clearly played a huge role in making the event feel as big as it did.
“When you looked out at that sea of people in the Silverdome, you realised WrestleMania had become something truly enormous.”
— Vince McMahon
Event Information
WrestleMania 3
March 29, 1987
Pontiac Silverdome – Pontiac, Michigan
The show began with a wide camera shot showing the entire stadium packed with fans. It was an impressive visual that immediately showed how massive the event was. Inside the ring, Vince McMahon greeted the audience with his well-known introduction: “Welcome to WrestleMania Three!”
Years later, McMahon explained in documentaries that he was emotional at that moment because he was thinking about his father and how far the company had come.
Before the wrestling began, legendary singer Aretha Franklin performed “America the Beautiful.” The performance helped set a big-event tone and was very well received by the crowd.
The commentary team for the show featured Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura, with occasional appearances from celebrity guests Mary Hart and Bob Uecker. Unlike WrestleMania II, where celebrity commentators stayed for entire segments, these guests were only involved for a couple of matches.
Can-Am Connection vs Magnificent Muraco & “Cowboy” Bob Orton
The opening match featured the babyface team The Can-Am Connection, made up of Canadian wrestler Rick Martel and American partner Tom Zenk. Their opponents were the villainous duo of Don Muraco and Bob Orton, who were accompanied by manager Mr. Fuji.
Muraco started the match using his strength advantage, but Martel quickly responded by using speed and agility to counter him. Martel managed to score an early near fall before tagging in Zenk.
The babyface team worked together effectively, even hitting a double monkey flip on Muraco. When Orton attempted to interfere, he was knocked out of the ring as well. This early sequence helped establish the fast pace of the match.
Orton eventually became the legal man and managed to slow things down by hitting Zenk with a shoulder block. Zenk fought back with a body slam and then applied an armbar to control the match.
Muraco accidentally struck Orton during an attempted attack, which allowed the Can-Am Connection to briefly regain the advantage. Martel later tagged back into the match and continued targeting Orton’s arm.
The action soon became chaotic as all four wrestlers ended up brawling inside the ring. During the confusion, Muraco accidentally back-dropped his own partner. The Can-Am Connection took advantage by hitting a double dropkick on Muraco. Moments later, Martel executed a crossbody while Muraco tripped over Zenk on the mat, leading to the three-count.
Winners: The Can-Am Connection
Match Thoughts
This was a solid opening match. It didn’t last very long, but it moved at a fast pace and kept the crowd interested. Opening a big event with energetic action and a babyface victory is usually a smart decision, and that’s exactly what happened here.
Hercules vs Billy Jack Haynes
Before the match began, a video package explained the story behind the rivalry. Both wrestlers used the Full Nelson submission hold as their finishing maneuver, so the idea was to determine who truly had the stronger version of the move.
Backstage interviewer Mean Gene Okerlund spoke with Bobby Heenan, who was managing Hercules. Heenan mocked Haynes by calling him “Billy Jerk Haynes” while Hercules promised to prove that he was the true master of the Full Nelson.
The entrances were also interesting because the wrestlers were brought to the ring on small moving platforms that carried them down the aisle. Since the Silverdome didn’t have a traditional entrance ramp, these platforms helped make the wrestlers more visible to the massive crowd.
Once the match began, both men relied heavily on strength and power. Haynes managed to lift Hercules with a press slam early in the match, but Hercules responded with a clothesline and later a suplex.
The pace remained fairly slow, with both wrestlers trading heavy strikes and slams. Hercules attempted to apply the Full Nelson, but Haynes managed to resist.
Eventually Haynes gained momentum and locked in his own Full Nelson, which caused the crowd to react loudly. However, Hercules managed to reach the ropes to break the hold.
The fight eventually spilled outside the ring where Haynes again applied the Full Nelson. Because both men were outside the ring for too long, the referee counted them out.
Result: Double Count-Out
Match Thoughts
This was a decent match, although it never became particularly exciting. The concept of two wrestlers competing over the same finishing move was interesting, but the pacing of the match prevented it from reaching a higher level.
King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook vs Hillbilly Jim, The Haiti Kid & Little Beaver
The next match on the card was a six-man tag team match that mixed a giant heavyweight wrestler with two smaller competitors on each side. Hillbilly Jim teamed up with The Haiti Kid and Little Beaver to face King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo, and Lord Littlebrook.
Hillbilly Jim received a big reaction when he came out to the ring, dancing along to his entrance music as the crowd cheered. His partners followed behind him, and the contrast between the towering Bundy and the much smaller wrestlers made the matchup feel unusual right from the start.
Early in the match the smaller wrestlers exchanged quick attacks and fast movements. Because of their size and speed they relied on agility rather than strength. When Bundy eventually entered the match, the pace immediately slowed down. His size advantage made him look far more powerful than anyone else involved.
The comedy element of the match became clear when Bundy tried to chase the smaller wrestlers around the ring. The crowd reacted loudly whenever the little wrestlers managed to avoid his attacks.
Eventually the situation escalated when Bundy grabbed Little Beaver and delivered a big splash. The move looked brutal compared to the light-hearted tone of the match up to that point. The referee immediately called for the bell and disqualified Bundy.
After the match Hillbilly Jim celebrated with the crowd while Bundy and his partners argued with the referee.
Winners: Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid & Little Beaver (by disqualification)
Match Thoughts
This match was clearly meant to be a comedy segment rather than a serious wrestling contest. The crowd seemed entertained, but from a wrestling perspective it wasn’t particularly memorable. Compared to the rest of the card it’s probably the weakest part of the show.
“King” Harley Race vs Junkyard Dog
The next contest featured Harley Race, who at the time was portraying the arrogant “King” character after winning WWE’s King of the Ring tournament. His opponent was the popular fan favourite Junkyard Dog.
The storyline behind the match was simple: the loser would be forced to bow down to the winner.
When Junkyard Dog made his entrance the crowd erupted. He was incredibly popular during this period, and the Pontiac Silverdome audience was clearly excited to see him.
Once the match started, Race immediately tried to use his technical skill and experience to control the pace. Junkyard Dog responded with pure strength, using headbutts and punches to push Race back.
The match itself was fairly short. Race eventually gained the advantage and executed a belly-to-belly suplex, which allowed him to secure the pinfall victory.
After the match Race demanded that Junkyard Dog bow before him. Instead, JYD attacked him and grabbed the king’s robe and crown. For a brief moment Junkyard Dog wore the crown while celebrating with the fans.
Winner: Harley Race
Match Thoughts
This was a quick match that mostly existed to continue Race’s “King” character. The action was limited, but the crowd reaction kept things interesting.
The Rougeau Brothers vs The Dream Team
Next up was a tag team match featuring The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond Rougeau) against The Dream Team, made up of Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Brutus Beefcake, who were accompanied by manager Johnny Valiant.
At this point in time the Rougeau Brothers were still portrayed as heroic fan favourites, which is very different from the villainous characters they would later become.
The match began with both teams showing solid tag-team fundamentals. The Rougeaus relied on quick tags and speed, while Valentine and Beefcake used their strength advantage to slow things down.
Raymond Rougeau started strongly, landing several quick strikes and a dropkick. Valentine eventually turned the momentum by delivering a knee strike and tagging in Beefcake.
Beefcake attempted to dominate with power moves, but the Rougeaus managed to counter with teamwork. Jacques Rougeau later entered the match and delivered a series of punches before hitting a dropkick.
The action became chaotic when all four wrestlers entered the ring. During the confusion, Dino Bravo suddenly appeared at ringside and attacked Jacques Rougeau from behind. This allowed Valentine to take control and secure the victory.
Winners: The Dream Team
Match Thoughts
This was a decent tag team match with some good moments of teamwork. The interference from Dino Bravo helped create a storyline continuation, although it also meant the match ended in a slightly messy way.
Roddy Piper vs Adrian Adonis (Hair vs Hair Match)
One of the most personal rivalries on the entire card came next: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs Adrian Adonis in a Hair vs Hair match.
The feud had been building for months. Adrian Adonis had changed his character into an extremely flamboyant personality, which constantly irritated Piper. Meanwhile, Adonis and his manager Jimmy Hart had repeatedly mocked Piper and interfered in his matches.
To make things even more dramatic, Piper had announced that he would be retiring from wrestling, meaning this could potentially be his final match.
Adonis entered the arena first, accompanied by Jimmy Hart and their ally “Dangerous” Danny Davis. The crowd responded with loud boos.
When Piper’s music hit, the reaction inside the Silverdome was massive. Piper walked to the ring with intense energy, clearly ready for a fight.
The match quickly turned chaotic. Piper attacked aggressively while Adonis tried to slow things down using his strength. Jimmy Hart repeatedly attempted to interfere, which frustrated Piper even more.
At one point Piper was knocked down and Adonis applied his sleeper hold, nearly winning the match. However Piper managed to escape and regain momentum.
Eventually Piper locked Adonis in his own sleeper hold, and the referee called for the bell when Adonis lost consciousness.
After the match the crowd erupted as Brutus Beefcake came to the ring with hair clippers. Piper and Beefcake then shaved Adonis’s head while Jimmy Hart tried desperately to stop them.
This moment became one of the most memorable scenes of the night.
Winner: Roddy Piper
Match Thoughts
From a pure wrestling standpoint the match wasn’t particularly technical, but the storytelling and crowd energy made it very entertaining. The post-match haircut also helped create a memorable WrestleMania moment.
The Hart Foundation & Danny Davis vs Tito Santana, The British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware
The next match on the show featured a six-man tag team contest. On one side were The Hart Foundation, made up of Bret “Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, teaming with controversial referee Danny Davis. Their opponents were Tito Santana, The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid), and Koko B. Ware.
Danny Davis had originally been a referee in the WWF, but he became involved in several controversial decisions that favored villainous wrestlers. Eventually he was fired from his refereeing role and turned into a full-time wrestler aligned with the Hart Foundation. This match was essentially the babyface team trying to get revenge for Davis’ previous actions.
Ring entrances
The crowd was very enthusiastic during the entrances, particularly when the British Bulldogs came out. Their bulldog mascot Matilda was also present at ringside, which always got a strong reaction from the fans.
Once the match began, the babyface team started with strong momentum. Santana and the Bulldogs used quick tags and aggressive offense to keep their opponents under pressure. Dynamite Kid showed off his speed with fast attacks, while Davey Boy Smith used his strength to throw Neidhart around the ring.
Danny Davis eventually entered the match and immediately received loud boos from the audience. The fans clearly enjoyed seeing him get beaten down by the opposing team.
As the match continued, the Hart Foundation managed to slow the pace down by isolating Koko B. Ware in their corner. Bret Hart used his technical wrestling ability to control Koko while Neidhart added power moves to wear him down.
Eventually the match broke down into chaos, with several wrestlers entering the ring at the same time. During the confusion, Davis managed to sneak behind Davey Boy Smith and strike him with a running attack.
Davis then pinned Smith to secure the victory for his team.
Winners: The Hart Foundation & Danny Davis
Match Thoughts
This was a very entertaining six-man tag match. The storyline involving Danny Davis gave the crowd someone to strongly dislike, which made the babyface comebacks feel even more exciting. The action was fast and energetic, making this one of the better matches on the undercard.
Butch Reed vs Koko B. Ware
Next up was a singles match between Butch Reed and Koko B. Ware. Reed was accompanied by his manager Slick, while Koko entered the arena with his colourful parrot Frankie perched on his arm.
Koko’s entrance music and energetic personality made him very popular with the audience. The Pontiac Silverdome crowd reacted loudly as he danced his way down the aisle.
Once the match began, Reed used his strength advantage to control the early moments. He landed several heavy strikes and quickly knocked Koko down with a powerful shoulder block.
Koko responded with his speed and agility, managing to dodge some of Reed’s attacks and land a few quick dropkicks. However, Reed soon regained control by catching Koko with a clothesline.
For several minutes Reed dominated the match, slowing the pace down and using power moves to keep Koko grounded. Slick constantly shouted instructions from ringside while the crowd tried to rally behind Koko.
Eventually Koko managed to mount a comeback. He hit a series of punches followed by a dropkick that sent Reed stumbling backwards.
However the momentum didn’t last long. Reed soon caught Koko and delivered a powerful clothesline, which allowed him to score the pinfall victory.
Winner: Butch Reed
Match Thoughts
This match was fairly short and didn’t stand out as much as some of the other contests on the card. It served its purpose but wasn’t particularly memorable.
Intercontinental Championship
Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
This is the match that many wrestling fans consider the highlight of WrestleMania 3.
The rivalry between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat had been building for months. Savage had brutally attacked Steamboat earlier in the year by striking him in the throat with the ring bell, which caused a serious injury. That attack kept Steamboat out of action for a while and created a strong revenge storyline leading into WrestleMania.
When Steamboat finally returned, the fans were completely behind him.
Savage entered the match first, accompanied by Miss Elizabeth, while holding the Intercontinental Championship. His intense personality and arrogance made him one of the most entertaining villains in wrestling at the time.
Steamboat entered next and immediately received a massive reaction from the crowd.
As soon as the match began, it became clear that the pace would be much faster than most of the other matches on the show. Both wrestlers used quick counters and technical wrestling to try to gain the advantage.
Savage attempted several aggressive attacks early on, but Steamboat avoided them and responded with fast arm drags and dropkicks. The crowd became more excited with every near fall.
The match continued with a series of impressive exchanges. Steamboat used his agility to stay one step ahead, while Savage relied on clever tactics and occasional distractions from Miss Elizabeth.
At one point Savage attempted a diving double axe handle from the top rope to the outside of the ring, a move that had been responsible for injuring Steamboat months earlier. This added extra tension to the moment because fans remembered how dangerous that attack had been.
Referee floored
Later in the match the referee was accidentally knocked down during the action. This allowed Savage to grab the ring bell and attempt to repeat the attack that originally injured Steamboat. However, Steamboat managed to avoid the strike.
The match reached its climax with a series of rapid near falls that had the crowd completely on the edge of their seats. The wrestlers traded pin attempts back and forth in a dramatic sequence.
Finally Steamboat rolled Savage into a small package pinning combination. The referee counted to three, and the arena erupted as Steamboat won the Intercontinental Championship.
Winner and New Champion: Ricky Steamboat
Match Thoughts
This match is widely considered one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history. The pacing, storytelling, and execution were all outstanding. Savage and Steamboat clearly put an incredible amount of effort into planning every moment of the match, and the result was a performance that still holds up decades later.
“That match was one of the greatest nights of my career.”
— Randy Savage
For many fans, this is the match that truly defines WrestleMania 3.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs The Honky Tonk Man
The next match featured Jake “The Snake” Roberts facing The Honky Tonk Man, who was accompanied by his manager Jimmy Hart.
Honky Tonk Man’s character was heavily inspired by Elvis Presley, and his arrogant personality made him one of the most disliked wrestlers in the company. Jake Roberts, on the other hand, had a very dark and mysterious presence that made him extremely popular with fans.
Before the match began, Roberts carried his snake Damien to the ring inside a bag. The crowd always reacted loudly whenever the snake was involved, which added an extra layer of tension to his matches.
The early part of the contest saw Honky Tonk Man trying to avoid Roberts whenever possible. He often backed away or hid behind the ropes while Jimmy Hart shouted instructions from ringside.
Roberts eventually managed to catch him and started using his methodical wrestling style to control the match. Unlike many other wrestlers on the card, Roberts worked at a slower pace and focused on wearing down his opponent.
Honky Tonk Man briefly gained the advantage by targeting Roberts’ throat and neck area. However Roberts soon fought back and regained control with a series of punches and knee lifts.
The turning point came when Jimmy Hart attempted to interfere in the match. His distraction allowed Honky Tonk Man to land a cheap shot on Roberts.
Despite this, Roberts managed to recover and delivered his finishing move, the DDT, which was still a relatively new and devastating maneuver at the time. The referee counted the three-count, giving Roberts the victory.
After the match Roberts pulled Damien from the bag and placed the snake on Honky Tonk Man, causing Jimmy Hart to panic and run away.
Winner: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Match Thoughts
This was an enjoyable match largely because of the personalities involved. Roberts’ dark character and the involvement of Damien made the segment memorable for the audience.
The Killer Bees vs Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik
The next contest was a tag team match featuring The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell) against the team of Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik, who were accompanied by their manager Slick.
Before the match officially began, Volkoff performed the Soviet national anthem, which always caused loud boos from American audiences. The Pontiac Silverdome crowd responded exactly as expected, creating a very hostile atmosphere.
Once the match started, the Killer Bees used their speed and teamwork to control the early portion of the contest. Brunzell landed several quick strikes while Blair followed up with fast tags to keep their opponents off balance.
Volkoff and Sheik eventually slowed the pace down by using their strength and experience. Sheik in particular focused on grounding Blair with heavy strikes and suplex attempts.
The match included several moments where both teams nearly secured the victory. The crowd reacted strongly whenever the Killer Bees started a comeback.
At one point the Killer Bees used their famous mask switching tactic, where they briefly wore identical masks to confuse their opponents. This allowed them to switch places without the referee noticing.
Despite their efforts, the match eventually ended when the referee lost control of the action and called for the bell during a chaotic sequence involving all four wrestlers.
Result: Double Disqualification
Match Thoughts
The match had some entertaining moments, especially the crowd reactions during Volkoff’s anthem and the Killer Bees’ mask trick. However the ending felt a little unsatisfying due to the disqualification.
WWF Championship
Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant
The main event of WrestleMania 3 was the WWF Championship match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, a rivalry that had been heavily promoted for months.
“The irresistible force meeting the immovable object!”
— Gorilla Monsoon
Andre entered the arena accompanied by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and the crowd reaction was mixed. For many years Andre had been a beloved hero, but his recent betrayal of Hogan had turned him into one of the most talked-about villains in wrestling.
When Hogan’s entrance music began, the entire stadium erupted with cheers. Hogan walked down the long aisle wearing the WWF Championship around his waist while fans waved signs and shouted support for him.
Once the match started, Andre immediately used his massive size advantage to control Hogan. He shoved the champion to the mat and dominated the early moments with heavy strikes.
Underdog
Hogan attempted to fight back with punches and body slams, but Andre’s strength made it difficult for him to gain any real momentum.
Andre eventually trapped Hogan in a bear hug, squeezing the champion tightly while the crowd loudly encouraged Hogan to escape. This submission hold lasted for a long time and helped build tension inside the stadium.
After struggling for several minutes, Hogan finally managed to break free and started building momentum. The crowd grew louder as Hogan delivered a series of punches and knocked Andre backwards.
The moment that everyone remembers came next.
Hogan managed to lift Andre off the mat and deliver a bodyslam, something that had rarely been seen before because of Andre’s enormous size. The Silverdome crowd exploded with excitement when the giant hit the canvas.
Hogan immediately followed the slam with his finishing move, the leg drop, before covering Andre for the pinfall.
The referee counted to three, and Hulk Hogan successfully retained the WWF Championship.
Winner and Still Champion: Hulk Hogan
Match Thoughts
From a purely technical wrestling standpoint the match was fairly simple. However the importance of the moment and the incredible crowd reaction made it one of the most iconic matches in wrestling history.
Hogan slamming Andre became one of the defining images of the entire WrestleMania franchise.
Final Thoughts
WrestleMania 3 is remembered as one of the most important events in professional wrestling history. The massive crowd inside the Pontiac Silverdome created an unforgettable atmosphere, and the show featured several moments that fans still talk about decades later.
Two matches in particular stand out:
- Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental Championship, which is widely considered one of the greatest WrestleMania matches ever.
- Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant, which delivered one of the most famous moments in wrestling history when Hogan bodyslammed the giant.
While some of the undercard matches were weaker or ended in disqualifications, the overall spectacle and the legendary moments helped make the event extremely memorable.
WrestleMania 3 proved that professional wrestling could fill a massive stadium and create a spectacle that felt larger than life. It played a huge role in establishing WrestleMania as the biggest annual event in wrestling.
Best Match: Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat
Most Iconic Moment: Hulk Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant
Overall Rating: 7/10
