WWE alum Jimmy Hart reflects on historic WrestleMania III, which will be on FS1, a TV first
For the first time on TV, relive the 1987 spectacular WrestleMania 3 (Hulk vs. Andre) in its entirety, at 8 p.m. Tuesday on FS1.
WrestleMania III is the granddaddy of them all, what really started the WrestleMania juggernaut it has become today.
A very integral part of WrestleMania III was manager extraordinaire WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart. The Mouth of the South participated in three big matches on a 12-match card, featuring a who’s who of WWE legends and talent.
The main event was WWF Champion Hulk Hogan against the undefeated Andre the Giant with Bobby The Brain Heenan.
The original commentary will be heard, too, from Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse The Body Ventura.
In addition to WWE’s three-hour WrestleMania III airing on FS1, there will be a live “watch with” second-screen experience with the “WWE Backstage” crew plus some special guests from WWE and the sports and entertainment worlds.
Join “WWE Backstage” host Renee Young, co-host Booker T, Mark Henry and Co. as they watch WrestleMania 3 (with you) while chatting about it (via Zoom) on the WWE on FOX and FOX Sports social media platforms. They will have a bevy of special guests popping in and out throughout, such as Hart.
Then an all-new “WWE Backstage” will follow at 11 p.m. on FS1.
About WWF WrestleMania III
WrestleMania III — featuring WWF Champ Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant with Bobby The Brain Heenan — was highlighted by the slam heard round the world, before 93,000-plus fans at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit and millions more watching from home.
That particular show served as the springboard for what WrestleMania has become today, selling out large stadiums throughout the United States.
The stellar WrestleMania III card also included an all-time classic. Randy “Macho Man” Savage with Miss Elizabeth battled Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat with George the Animal Steele for the Intercontinental title and more.
WWE Hall of Famer Mean Gene Okerlund and celebs Mary Hart and Bob Uecker conducted backstage interviews.
Who can forget Andre grabbing Ueker around the neck with his giant hands during an interview segment backstage, another classic WrestleMania moment.
Mary Hart and Uecker added commentary as did Heenan, and Mary Hart was also a guest timekeeper.
WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel was the ring announcer, and Uecker, another WWE Hall of Famer, introduced the main event.
The Queen of Soul, Detroit’s own, Aretha Franklin opened the event by singing beautifully “America the Beautiful,” while playing the piano. Jimmy Hart was part of a rock music group The Gentrys, best known for their 1965 top-five Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Keep on Dancing”.
In my audio interview with Hart, he discusses his involvement in WrestleMania III, the spectacular event, Aretha Franklin, Damien, others involved and more about it.
Hart-a-Mania
Not to be outdone, Hart was an integral part of WrestleMania III. He displayed his managerial skills, megaphone and elaborate jackets in three matches during the 12-match card.
Hart took some incredible bumps and felt the wrath of Damien.
His first appearance occurred with “Adorable” Adrian Adonis who fought “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in a Hair vs. Hair match.
That was followed by a six-man tag match, pitting the Pink-n-Black Attack The Hart Foundation (Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) and “Dangerous” Danny Davis with Jimmy Hart against the British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith) and Tito Santana.
Jimmy Hart’s third appearance on the show was when The Honky Tonk Man wrestled Jake “The Snake” Roberts who had rock legend Alice Cooper in his corner. Following that match, Hart was left alone in the ring where Roberts and Cooper teamed to terrorize him with Roberts’ pet snake Damien.
Hart led his wrestlers to two victories The Hart Foundation, Dangerous Danny Davis and the Honky Tonk Man were on the winning side. The Adorable one lost his match and hair to Hot Rod.
Hart, 77, was named Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Manager of the Year in 1987, an award he won again in 1994 and maybe should have captured in 1988, too.
At WrestleMania IV in 1988, Hart received a “bad” haircut from Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, after interfering in the Intercontinental title match between Beefcake and the Honky Tonk Man, helping Honky Tonk Man retain the belt by getting disqualified.
WrestleMania III card
Main event: WWF Champ Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (with Bobby The Brain Heenan).
The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Slick) vs. The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jumping Jim Brunzell).
The Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) vs. Jake The Snake Roberts (with Alice Cooper and Damien).
Intercontinental Champ Randy “Macho Man” Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (with George “The Animal” Steele).
Butch Reed (with Slick) vs. Koko B. Ware.
Dangerous Danny Davis and The Hart Foundation (Bret Hitman Hart and Jim The Anvil Neidhart) (with Jimmy Hart) vs. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) and Tito Santana.
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Adorable Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart). Hair vs. Hair.
The Dream Team (Brutus The Barber Beefcake and Greg The Hammer Valentine) (with Dino Bravo and Johnny Valiant) vs. The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau).
King Harley Race (with Bobby The Brain Heenan and The Fabulous Moolah) vs. Junkyard Dog. Loser Must Bow.
Haiti Kid, Hillbilly Jim and Little Beaver vs. King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo and Lord Littlebrook.
Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules (with Bobby The Brain Heenan).
The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel and Tom Zenk) vs. Cowboy Bob Orton and The Magnificent Muraco (with Mr. Fuji).
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