Wrestlemania VII: Red, White and Blue

Wrestlemania VII was held in 1991 right after the end of the first Persian Gulf War. The WWF capitalized on this and gave this Wrestlemania a patriotic flavor.  The Wrestlemania logo was in red, white, and blue colors. American flags were hung around around the arena, and the tag line for this one reflects the patriotic mood: “Superstars and Stripes Forever”.  The main event pitted Hulk Hogan vs. Sargent Slaughter. Slaughter played an former American hero turned into an Iraqi sympathizer.

Originally slated to be held at the Los Angeles Coliseum, it was instead held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which was a better venue to hold this event in my opinion. There were a couple of theories relating to the venue change. One was a bomb threat at the coliseum. The other, and probably more accurate, were low ticket sales. That didn't stop the crowd from getting into this show though. This crowd was fantastic, as they were really into this show throughout the entire event.

The hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. This is the first Wrestlemania without Jesse Ventura commentating.  Heenan also did double duty as a manager. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Alfred Hayes filled in for the two matches Heenan managed in.

Celebrity guest hosts are Regis Philbin, Alex Trebek, and Marla Maples. Willie Nelson performs “America the Beautiful” to start the show.

The matches on the card were:

The Rockers vs. The Barbarian and Haku with Bobby Heenan (winners: Rockers)

Decent opening match to get the event and crowd going . Typical tag match of big guys vs. speed and agility. The Rockers were at the peak of their popularity at this point in time. All four performers were good workers and athletes, and showed it in this match. Barbarian gets dumped out of the ring. The Rockers finish the match with a flying dropkick off the top rope by Marty Jennetty to Haku followed by a flying splash off the top rope by Michaels. ***1/2

Texas Tornado vs. Dino Bravo (winner: Texas Tornado)

Nothing to write home about in this match. Bravo hits with his sidewalk slam finisher, but Tornado kicks out at two. Bravo comes off the ropes, but Tornado is able to put the claw on him. Tornado discus punch and pin. No rating.

British Bulldog vs. The Warlord with Slick (winner: British Bulldog)

Here we have a match between a mid-carder (Bulldog) vs. a muscular jobber (Warlord). In the promo the Warlord says nobody has ever broken out of his full nelson finisher. In 1991 WWF, if a heel said his finisher can't be broken or countered, you know it would be.

With that, this was a match of two musclebound men. Heenan makes some funny comments about Bulldog (“Little twig of a neck”). Anyhow, Warlord does go for his full nelson, but Bulldog gets free. Bulldog gets Warlord up for his running power slam. *

WWF Tag Team Title match: Hart Foundation vs. Nasty Boys with Jimmy Hart (winners and new champions: Nasty Boys)

A good tag match here with some decent in-ring psychology. Hart Foundation looks like they're going to win it after hitting Saggs with the Heart Attack finisher. However, the ref gets distracted. Jimmy Hart, manager of the Nasty Boys, tosses in his megaphone to Knobbs, who hits Jim Neidhardt with it on the back of the head while he was covering Saggs. Saggs rolls his arm over Neidhardt for the pin.

Normally, I'm not a fan of these kind of finishes, but this worked. The Hart Foundation would part ways and enter the realm of singles competition, and the Nasty Boys were put into a feud with the Legion of Doom. ***

Blindfold Match: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “The Model” Rick Martel (winner: Jake Roberts)

Less said of this match the better. Slow, uninteresting, and an anti-climatic way to end the feud between these two. No rating.

Jimmy Snuka vs. The Undertaker with Paul Bearer (winner: Undertaker)

Let's get the undefeated streak started! Taker comes out to a loud pop, which was unusual for a heel at that time. Snuka's role at this point in time was to put talent over. Undertaker looks very impressive and dominant here.

Snuka tries to get some offense in, but to little effect. He tries a flying body press off the top-rope, but taker catches him, and hits Snuka with the Tombstone for the pin.

While this would seem a dud of a match, considering how Undertaker looked, and how well Snuka put him over, I'd give this match **.

Retirement Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy “Macho King” Savage with Queen Sherri (winner: Ultimate Warrior)

We get a recap of what led to this match. Before the match starts, Heenan looks off to the side, as if he sees someone he recognizes. The camera pans over, and sitting in the audience is Miss Elizabeth, former manager of Macho King.

We get a fantastic match here. Back and forth between the two with Sherri providing an assist to Savage a few times during the match. Savage gets the upper hand when Warrior misses with his flying shoulder. Savage hits Warrior with not one of his flying elbows, but five! Warrior kicks out at two, and starts getting an adrenaline surge.

Warrior starts to question his gods, but it took Savage a hit from behind to get an answer. Sherri tries to assist Macho by climbing to the top rope to hit Warrior with a shoe while Savage holds him. Warrior gets out of the way, and hits Savage instead. Warrior dumps Sherri outside.

Warrior hits Savage with some flying shoulder blocks, and pins him for the win. Sherri gets back into the ring and starts hitting Savage. Elizabeth comes down to the ring to fight her off Macho King. Macho and Elizabeth a reunited in perhaps the most emotional moment of this Wrestlemania.

Outstanding match. Best one on the card. This was the best match for the Ultimate Warrior in the WWF, and one of Savage's best as well. I usually consider Ultimate Warrior to be bad in the ring, but he came through on this match. This is an overlooked Wrestlemania classic, and one of my top ten Wrestlemania matches. **** 3/4

Demolition with Mr. Fuji vs. Tenryu and Kitao (winners: Tenryu and Kitao)

Watching this match, I wondered who the heck are Tenryu and Kitao. Gorilla Monsoon gives us some background on them. Not much happens with this match. Tenryu gives Smash a powerbomb for the win. No rating.

Intercontinental Championship: Mr .Perfect with Bobby Heenan vs. Big Boss Man (winner by DQ Big Boss Man)

The background to this match was Boss Man was defending the honor of his mother, as Heenan had constantly made fun of her. Boss Man defeated members of the Heenan Family except, one, Mr. Perfect.

Lord Alfred Hayes fills in for commentary during this match, and he's terrible.

This match was somewhat boring. It was saved by some of Perfect's signature moves. A standing dropkick, somersault neck snap, which he does again in reverse!

Who comes down to ringside? None other than Andre the Giant! Referee gets distracted, and Andre takes the IC belt and hits Perfect with it. Barbarian and Haku come down to the ring and beat up on Boss Man. Referee sees that, and disqualifies Perfect. Boss Man wins, but Perfect retains the title.

Andre beats up on Barbarian and Haku, and celebrates with Boss Man.

Another anti-climatic ending to a feud which made me feel unsatisfied, but with Perfect retaining the title, it would lead to his classic match with Bret Hart at that year's Summerslam. *1/2

Greg “The Hammer” Valentine vs. Earthquake with Jimmy Hart (winner: Earthquake)

Squash match here. Earthquake, while past his main event push, was dominant. Valentine gets some offense in, but gets distracted by Jimmy Hart. Earthquake hits from behind, follows up with a power slam, and Earthquake Splash. Match gets an extra half star just because of Earthquake.

*1/2.

Power and Glory with Slick vs. Legion of Doom (winner: L.O.D.)

L.O.D was getting a major push at this point in time. Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma), were a half-way decent team, but got buried here. Hercules gets dumped out of the ring, and Doomsday Device to Roma. Match was over in about a minute. No rating.

Ted DiBiase vs. Virgil with Rowdy Roddy Piper (winner: Virgil)

This was really the only time that Virgil had a working storyline in the WWF. This match was boring. Virgil performed his boxing routine. Piper had a leg injury, and DiBiase goes outside to attack him. Best part of the match along with Heenan's commentary. DiBiase gets counted out. Virgil wins.

Sensational Sherri comes down to the ring, and gets her new meal ticket in DiBiase. *

The Mountie with Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana (winner: The Mountie)

Why was this match even on this card? Mountie sneaks in his cattle prod and hits Santana with it. Match is over in less than two minutes. No rating.

WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan vs Sargent Slaughter with General Adnan (winner and new WWF champion: Hulk Hogan)

Prior to the match we get a recap of the events that led to this match. Slaughter cuts a promo where he implies he may get himself disqualified or counted out to keep the title. Funny stuff, and makes you wonder if he's going to take the cowardly way out.

Slaughter looks good in this match. He puts Hogan in some submission holds, busts him open, and does heel tactics such as chocking Hogan with a cable wire outside the ring, etc. Despite the performers in this match, it had good flow and great in-ring psychology to it. This is highlighted towards the end of the match. Slaughter pins Hogan, and covers him with the Iraqi flag. Hogan goes into hulking up mode, and rips up the flag. He follows it up with punches, big boot, and leg drop for the win.

At first I wasn't a fan of this main event, but the more I watch it, the more I appreciate it for the in-ring psychology and how it played upon the patriotism that the United States was wrapped up in in early 1991. ***

Some other highlights to the show were Regis Philbin as one of the guest hosts. He had some funny segments, and did a good job commentating during the main event. Alex Trebek joins the fun with the funny/awkward botched line of the night.

Mean Gene: My good friend, Alex Trebek.

Trebek: Nice to be here Jim.

Thought that was funny.

From a nostalgic standpoint, this is one of my favorite Wrestlemanias, and the one I still tend to watch the most. It had an atmosphere that fit with what was going on in 1991 regarding the recently concluded Persian Gulf War. The crowd was fantastic all through the night and was into the whole card. While there was a lot of filler on this card, there were good things too. There was an outstanding stipulation match (Warrior vs. Savage), a strong opening tag match (Rockers vs. Barbarian and Haku) and a solid, fun main event (Hogan vs. Slaughter). It had funny moments with Regis, and Heenan praising the LAPD (this event took place several months after the Rodney King beating). The only downer to this event is watching it and realizing so many of the performers on this card have passed away

I recommend giving this Wrestlemania a shot. *** 3/4