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WWF WrestleMania 3 (1987) Results: Full Recap, Matches, Commentary, Winners, Rating
BY SACNILK
WrestleMania III, held on March 29, 1987, wasn't just a wrestling event; it was a pop culture phenomenon. The third annual WrestleMania cemented professional wrestling's place in mainstream entertainment. ## The Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan became the battleground for the legendary main event: Hulk Hogan, the all-American hero, defending his WWF World Heavyweight Championship against the imposing Andre the Giant. While the official attendance was inflated at 93,173, the estimated 78,000 strong crowd still witnessed a spectacle. ## WrestleMania III wasn't a one-match show. Twelve matches filled the card, including the iconic technical masterpiece between Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Randy "Macho Man" Savage for the Intercontinental Championship. ## The event shattered pay-per-view records, reaching an estimated audience of millions across North America. WrestleMania III wasn't just about in-ring action; it was a cultural touchstone, with the soulful strains of Aretha Franklin's "Who's Zoomin' Who?" setting the tone for the evening. ## WWE WrestleMania 3 Ongoing Results ## The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel and Tom Zenk) vs. Bob Orton and The Magnificent Muraco (with Mr. Fuji) ## The bell rings and Muraco and Martel lock up. Muraco overpowers Martel and sends him to the corner. Martel fights back with a hip toss and a monkey flip for a two count. Both men are trading blows, with Muraco frustrated by Martel's agility. ## Zenk tags in and delivers a quick scoop slam on Orton. Martel joins the attack with an arm bar and sends Orton headfirst into the turnbuckle. Orton tries to fight back with a full nelson, but Zenk reverses it. The chaos continues as Muraco accidentally hits Orton when trying to interfere.## Martel and Zenk take turns punishing Orton's arm. Muraco tags in and delivers a neckbreaker to Martel. Orton gets back in the fight with a diving elbow for a near fall. Muraco tags back in, but Zenk is quick to tag in as well.## The Can-Am Connection is on fire! They double team Muraco and Orton, sending Orton flying out of the ring. With a perfectly executed cross-body, Zenk and Martel pin Muraco for the win! ## WINNERS: The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel and Tom Zenk) ## RATING: ** ## Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules Hernandez w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan ## The bell rings, and Hercules and Haynes lock eyes in the center of the ring. Tension hangs heavy in the air as they circle each other, sizing each other up. Hercules throws the first punch, but Haynes dodges it and retaliates with a headlock. They grapple for position, with Hercules eventually overpowering Haynes and driving him into the corner.## The referee, Dave Hebner, jumps in to separate the wrestlers, but gets caught in the crossfire as Hercules throws a knee. Hercules continues his assault, unleashing a flurry of punches and sending Haynes reeling. Haynes tries to fight back, but his back seems to be bothering him.## Heenan, Hercules' manager, shouts encouragement from ringside. Haynes, fueled by desperation, connects with a powerful slam, but Hercules quickly recovers. The fight continues back and forth, with both wrestlers exchanging blows. They collide in the center of the ring with a double clothesline, both men momentarily stunned.## Haynes gets to his feet first and connects with a series of strikes. He climbs to the top rope and launches himself at Hercules with a diving fist drop. Haynes wastes no time, locking in a full nelson on the weakened Hercules. Heenan screams for Hercules to fight back. ## With a burst of strength, Hercules pulls Haynes towards the ropes, causing them both to crash to the outside. Haynes maintains the full nelson hold, and the referee starts the ten count. Neither man is able to get back into the ring before the count reaches ten, resulting in a dramatic double countout. ## WINNER: Ended in a double countout ## RATING: *** ## Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid, and Little Beaver vs King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo, and Lord Littlebrook ## The action is hot in the ring! Little Haiti and Little Tokyo are battling it out, with Tokyo taking control early with a headlock takeover. But Haiti fights back, whipping him off. The brawl spills outside the ropes as all four wrestlers become entangled. ## Inside the ring, Tokyo and Littlebrook bump chests in a display of dominance. Beaver and Haiti then team up for a unique maneuver, grabbing their opponents' legs and performing a hilarious "rowboat" move. Littlebrook finally gets the upper hand, tagging in against the exhausted Beaver.## The wrestlers lock up against the ropes, tension building. Littlebrook backs away strategically, but Tokyo sees an opening and tags in. However, the ever-present King Kong Bundy muscles his way in, demanding a piece of the action. Haiti and Beaver charge towards the massive Bundy, but their attacks seem futile. Beaver manages to slip through Bundy's legs and lands a dropkick, but the giant barely flinches. ## The mayhem continues as Hillbilly Jim tags in for his team. Fists fly as Jim and Bundy trade punches. Jim ducks a clothesline and delivers one of his own, followed by a devastating elbow drop. Haiti and Beaver jump on Jim's back to try and pin the enormous Bundy, but even with their combined weight, Bundy kicks out at the two count. ## Just as Jim starts regaining momentum, Bundy connects with a brutal back elbow. To further dominate his opponent, Bundy throws Jim in a punishing chin lock. Beaver, seeing his teammate in distress, rushes in and delivers a slap to Bundy's face. ## Jim manages to cut off Bundy before more damage can be done, but the enraged giant retaliates by avalanching Jim in the corner. Beaver, ever the fighter, charges in again, launching himself at Bundy. However, Bundy overpowers him with a ferocious scoop slam, followed by a merciless elbow drop. The referee, witnessing this blatant disregard for the rules, steps in and disqualifies King Kong Bundy. ## WINNER: Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid, and Little Beaver ## RATING: ** ## Loser Must Bow match: Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan and The Fabulous Moolah) vs. Junkyard Dog ## The bell rings and wrestlers circle each other. They lock up and one slams the other into the ropes. A flurry of punches is exchanged before an ankle is pulled from outside the ring. The fight spills out of the ring as one chases the other around ringside.## Back in the ring, one head-butts the other sending them down. The fight continues outside the ring with one getting kicked from the apron. They take a hard bump on the floor before narrowly avoiding a diving head-butt. With help from the manager, the fighter who avoided the head-butt throws their opponent back in the ring.## Dominance continues with a scoop slam and abdominal stretch. The opponent escapes and connects with a head-butt. The momentum from a corner maneuver sends the opponent flying out of the ring. They return and face a barrage of head-butts. A distraction allows the opponent to land a belly-to-belly suplex for the win! ## WINNER: “King” Harley Race ## RATING: ** ## The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (with Johnny Valiant and Dino Bravo) vs The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau) ## Beefcake starts the match against Raymond Rougeau and applies a hammerlock. Raymond flips over him and hits an atomic drop. Jacques Rougeau tags in, and the Rougeau Brothers double dropkick Beefcake out of the ring. ## Back in the ring, Valentine and Jacques exchange punches. Raymond tags in and hits a standing cross-body block for a two count. Jacques tags back in but misses a springboard cross-body block as Valentine ducks. Valentine takes control, hitting elbows and a scoop slam before tagging Beefcake back in. ## Beefcake stomps away at Jacques for a two count. Valentine tags in and clubs Jacques while Beefcake hits a backbreaker. Bobby Heenan joins the broadcast booth, arguing that he's undefeated tonight despite Hercules' loss earlier. Valentine applies a Figure Four Leglock, but Jacques reaches the ropes. He fights back with a back body drop on Valentine and tags in Raymond. Raymond kicks Valentine down and applies a sleeper hold.## Chaos erupts as Beefcake attempts an axe handle from the second rope but accidentally hits Valentine when Raymond moves. Jacques tags in and The Rougeau Brothers hit a double-team maneuver. However, outside the ring, Dino Bravo takes advantage of the distraction. He leaps from the second rope and connects with a flying elbow on Jacques. With the referee distracted by Beefcake, Valentine pins Jacques for the victory. ## WINNER: The Dream Team ## RATING: ** ## Hair vs. Hair Match: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart) ## Roddy Piper and Adorable Adrian Adonis lock up in a furious brawl to kick off their highly anticipated retirement match. Punches fly, a belt comes into play, and even Jimmy Hart gets involved in the chaos. Piper throws both Adonis and Hart out of the ring, much to the delight of the roaring crowd.## The action continues inside the ring with Piper controlling Adonis with a headlock. Adonis fights back and delivers a series of blows, launching Piper out of the ring. At ringside, Adonis continues the assault, leaving Piper wobbly on his feet. Back in the ring, the punishment continues with Adonis applying a sleeper hold. Jimmy Hart celebrates prematurely with a pair of hedge clippers.## Suddenly, the tide turns. Piper rallies, punches out Hart, and sends Adonis into the ropes with the clippers still in his hand. Piper capitalizes on the opportunity, locking in his signature Sleeper Hold. Adonis weakens, and the referee delivers the three count. ## WINNER: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper ## RATING: *** ## Danny Davis and The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) (with Jimmy Hart) vs Tito Santana and The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) ## Santana unloads on Hart before sending him cornered. Hart attempts a slingshot maneuver but Santana catches him and brings him down with a thud. Neidhart tags in for a struggling Hart, and Smith counters with a side headlock. Neidhart whips Smith off the ropes, but Smith cleverly redirects him into Hart. Santana tags in and wrenches Neidhart's arm. Neidhart uses a sneaky distraction to allow Hart and the referee a cheap shot on Santana. Neidhart maintains the pressure on Santana, but Santana fights back and tags in Smith. ## Smith delivers a back body drop on Neidhart, who responds with a swift elbow to the face. Neidhart overpowers Smith with a scoop slam before tagging Hart back in. Hart misses a flying elbow drop, opening the door for the Dynamite Kid. Kid tags in and takes Hart down with a vicious sternum-first attack. Neidhart breaks up the pin attempt. The fight continues as Santana rushes in to stop Neidhart's assault on Kid. Neidhart applies a chin lock on Kid, before tagging Hart back in. The Hart Foundation executes a double-team maneuver, but Davis creates further controversy by tagging himself in for his wrestling debut! Davis throws punches at Kid before tagging Hart back in. ## The beatdown on Kid continues with punches, headbutts, and tags between Davis and the Hart Foundation. Santana finally breaks the onslaught with punches and a scary back body drop on Davis. He throws the Hart Foundation out and connects with a flying forearm on Davis. Santana applies the Figure Four Leglock, but Neidhart breaks it up. Smith tags in and overpowers Davis. The crowd erupts as Smith delivers a series of devastating moves on Davis, culminating in a running powerslam. Neidhart breaks up the pin just in time. The chaos continues as Davis uses Jimmy Hart's megaphone to strike Smith in the head while the referee's back is turned. Davis with a pin attempt, and the referee awards the victory to The Hart Foundation by disqualification. ## WINNER: Danny Davis and The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) (with Jimmy Hart) ## RATING: *** ## Butch Reed (with Slick) vs. Koko B. Ware ## The bell rings and Ware and Reed circle each other. Ware throws a punch but Reed ducks away. They lock up and Ware pushes Reed into the ropes. Ware dances around the ring before clinching with Reed again. Reed lands a punch and sends Ware into the ropes. Ware avoids an elbow and tries a roll-up, but Reed holds the ropes for leverage. Ware dropkicks Reed out of the ring and celebrates. Reed climbs back in and Ware punches him in the midsection. ## Ware throws punches with his taped fist before sending Reed into the ropes again. Reed counters with a blow to the back, taking Ware down. Frankie the parrot squawks from ringside. Reed continues to pummel Ware with punches. Ware reverses a whip into the corner and executes a hip toss. Ware dominates with punches before a dropkick for a two count. He tries another pin but only gets a two count again. Ware attempts a running cross-body block, but Reed rolls through and grabs his tights for a surprising victory. ## WINNER: Butch Reed ## RATING: ** ## WWF Intercontinental Championship: Ricky Steamboat (with George Steele) vs. Randy Savage (c) (with Miss Elizabeth) ## Miss Elizabeth escorts Savage out of the ring. Steamboat and Savage circle each other before locking up. Steamboat gains the upper hand with arm drags and takes Savage down. Savage retreats outside the ring to regroup.## Steamboat chases Savage back in, but Savage attacks him and takes control. Savage throws Steamboat into the corner and chokes him on the ropes. Steamboat fights back and wrenches Savage's arm. The action spills outside the ring, with both men trading blows.## Savage sends Steamboat crashing over the top rope. Steele checks on his friend, but Savage continues the assault. Back in the ring, Savage dominates with a series of near falls. Steamboat shows resilience, fighting back with punches and chops.## Savage remains relentless, but Steamboat counters a back suplex and delivers a flying chop. He pins Savage, but only gets a two count. The fight continues outside the ring, with Steamboat sending Savage crashing into the commentary table.## Back inside, Savage connects with a flying elbow and nearly pins Steamboat. He continues to dominate, but Steamboat refuses to give up. He counters a move and rolls Savage up for the win. ## WINNER: Ricky Steamboat ## RATING: ** ## The Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) vs Jake Roberts (with Alice Cooper) ## Roberts starts the fight strong, attacking HTM as he enters the ring. He throws HTM around the ring and lands several punches before HTM tries to escape. Roberts follows him out of the ring and continues the assault, taking the fight to the outside.## Alice Cooper is enjoying the beatdown, while HTM seems desperate. Roberts throws HTM back into the ring, but HTM fights back with knees and kicks. The fight continues back and forth with both wrestlers trading blows.## There's a stir in the corner as Damian appears to be trying to break free from his confinement. Roberts attempts a DDT but HTM escapes again. Roberts pursues HTM outside the ring but gets distracted by Jimmy Hart. HTM takes advantage, slamming Roberts into the ring post.## Cooper is tending to Roberts at ringside as HTM celebrates inside the ring. HTM maintains control, repeatedly knocking Roberts down. HTM goes for his signature move but Roberts counters. The fight swings back in Roberts' favor as he lands punches and kicks.## HTM tries to plead for mercy but Roberts is relentless. HTM seems on the verge of defeat but Jimmy Hart intervenes during a DDT attempt, allowing HTM to roll up Roberts for a controversial win. ## WINNER: The Honky Tonk Man ## RATING: *** ## The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Slick) vs The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell) ## Sheik and Volkoff jump The Killer Bees at the bell, attacking them from behind. The chaos spills into the corner as both teams trade blows. The referee struggles to regain control.## The Killer Bees turn the tide, sending Sheik and Volkoff into each other before taking them down. Volkoff gets knocked out of the ring, leaving Sheik to face a double team. The Bees focus on Sheik's arm, weakening him with quick tags and a series of maneuvers.## Brunzell takes control, connecting with a dropkick on Sheik. Volkoff breaks up the pin attempt, sparking a brawl between him and Blair. On the other side of the ring, Sheik and Volkoff take turns attacking Brunzell, keeping him isolated.## Sheik applies a Camel Clutch on Brunzell, but Duggan charges into the ring. He chases Volkoff away and blasts Sheik with his signature 2×4, causing the disqualification. ## WINNER: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff ## RATING: *** ## WWF World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) vs André the Giant (with Bobby Heenan) ## Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant face off in the ring. Gorilla Monsoon calls it, "The irresistible force meeting the immovable object!" Hogan strategizes while circling the giant. Andre stares him down. ## Suddenly, Andre charges at Hogan, knocking him down. Hogan retaliates with a shove, then lands a punch on Andre's chest. He attempts his signature scoop slam but struggles under Andre's weight. The referee counts a near fall, and Andre disputes it, demanding a two-count. ## Andre dominates, battering Hogan's back and slamming him twice. He steps on Hogan's back with a smirk, then throws him into the corner effortlessly. Heenan urges for more punishment, and Andre complies, delivering shoulder blocks and a hip attack. Hogan rallies, throwing punches and landing a running elbow. He chops Andre's chest and bounces him off the turnbuckle repeatedly. Andre staggers. ## Hogan charges, but Andre catches him with a boot and applies a bearhug. Hogan breaks free with punches, hurting his hand but connecting with shoulder blocks. Andre chops Hogan down and tosses him out of the ring, continuing the assault. Hogan dodges a headbutt, causing Andre to hit the ring post. Hogan seizes the opportunity, pulls back the ringside mats, and attempts a piledriver on the concrete. Andre counters, but Hogan ducks a big boot and clotheslines him. Hogan hits his scoop slam and Leg Drop, covering Andre for the three-count. The crowd erupts as Hogan celebrates his historic victory, ending Andre the Giant's 15-year undefeated streak. ## WINNER: Hulk Hogan ## RATING: **** ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...
