At the first Wrestlemania Hulk Hogan brought in a friend to help face “Rowdy” Rody Piper and Paul Orndorf. That friend was B.A Barracus from the A-Team, 80's Icon Mr T. By the next year The Hulkster had moved on, Roddy Piper and Mr T had not though, leading to a match between them as the main event of the New York portion of this event. In researching for this match I found out that Mr T had become a special “WWF Boxer” competing in boxing matches for the promotion in preparation for tonight. Vince McMahon and Susan St James are on commentary for this match. We see the video of Saturday Night's Main Event, where Roddy Piper confronted Mr T after T beat Bob Orton Jr in a boxing match, distracting him and allowing Ace to jump him from behind. We shoot over to Los Angeles where Jesse “The Body” Ventura is with Hulk Hogan. Hogan says he's going to face King Kong Bundy with his injured ribs and defend his championship before predicting Mr T to win the next match. Joan Rivers is our ring announcer, introducing the judges and timekeeper for the match. As Roddy Piper enters with Lou Duva and Bob Orton Jr as seconds, Joan Rivers remembers to announce the referee also. Mr. T enters with Lennox Lewis, John Colloway and The Haiti kid as his seconds.
RODDY PIPER VS. MR. T (Boxing match)
WWF Wrestlemania 2 (7th April 1986)
As the referee goes through the rules Roddy Piper talks trash, leading to Mr T getting in his face, forcing them to be separated and taken back to their corners ready for the match.
Round 1 starts with Roddy Piper using his reach advantage to keep Mr T at bay. Mr T gets in a few body shots before they clinch and go to the ropes, forcing a break. Back to the jabs by Roddy Piper, as soon as Mr T gets something going with body shots Piper takes it back to the ropes, this time jabbing at Mr T whilst they break and getting a warning a minute in. Mr T comes back swinging, taking Piper into the corner with more shots to the ribs until they break, which he does cleanly. Mr T weaves and hinges at the hips to avoid Piper's punches getting a decent shot in on the counter. Roddy Piper has to back off and clear the cobwebs for a second as St. James says Mr T's exerting too much energy. This match could go 10 rounds if there's no decision. Piper has Mr T on the ropes and has to break again. Roddy Piper starts reaching out to Mr T, trying to bait him in and he does but Mr T tries to fight his way away from the ropes, putting Piper in the corner for a break.Mr T keeps Piper near the ropes for the final minute of the round. Roddy Piper ends up in the corner for the last 30 seconds and they refuse to break as the round ends, forcing the seconds to come in and take them to their respective corners. During the break Piper taunts Mr T in T's corner, St James wants him to take advantage of the sit downs between rounds.
Round 2 begins but Mr T complains to the referee over something. Roddy Piper has too much of the grease each corner uses to treat their fighters between rounds still on his head, which stops the gloves having any impact, they just slide over the skin. Piper's face and Mr T's gloves are cleared of the gunk and they start to jab. Mr T has Roddy Piper against the ropes, forcing him into the corner and is slightly late to break. Roddy Piper puts his guard down to dare Mr T before they go again. Mr T's forced into the corner, trying to fight out but Roddy Piper isn't giving him space to move. Roddy Piper connects with some haymakers, knocking Mr T down, but the referee doesn't begin the count until Piper is in his corner. Roddy Piper kicks Mr T on the ground before the count starts but Mr T gets to his feet at 8. Mr T tries to keep Roddy Piper at a distance for the final 20 seconds but Piper is able to get some good shots in. Mr T drops at the end of the round and the referee starts to count as the seconds come in. Again Piper attacks Mr T on the floor. Mr T is up at 4 and gets helped to his corner. During the break, Bob Orton throws water at Mr T's corner.
Round 3 starts with Roddy Piper jabbing Mr T and getting cocky now he's knocked T down twice. Mr T fires back with more shots to the ribs, lifting Piper off the ground and backing him into the corner. Roddy Piper drops to the mat in the corner but uses the ropes to get to his feet. Mr T goes back and beats him down in the corner, dropping him again, but Roddy Piper beats the count but can't get anything going against Mr T. Mr T starts pushing Roddy Piper into the corner. Piper storms at Mr T from the corner and gets knocked under the bottom rope with a right hand. Duva and Orton try to bring Piper back to the match with water and he beats the count by a second to continue the match. The last 30 seconds are Mr T clinching at Piper in the corner and against the ropes although by Boxing rules 3 knockdowns count for a win. Roddy Piper is fighting somehow, but he doesn't look like he quite knows it. The round ends cleanly and they go to their respective corners. This time Mr T makes the trip to talk shit to Piper during the break.
Round 4 begins with a flying stool as Roddy Piper launches it at Mr T. They meet in the middle of the ring with their guard dropped and exchange right hands. Roddy Piper is able to get a combination going, staggering Mr T. Mr T fights back but his mouthguard is knocked to the floor from a punch by Piper, which seems to fire Mr T up. They're throwing exhausted punches and Mr T takes it back to the corner with a clinch. Roddy Piper knocks the referee down and bodyslams Mr T for the disqualification.
WINNER: MR T (DISQUALIFICATION 1:14 Round 4)
After the match Piper jumps on Mr T, bringing in the seconds and turning it into a brawl, members of WWF staff try to break it up, but they have no hope. Mr T is announced as the winner amongst the chaos.
I'm far from a boxing fan. I prefer just seeing highlights after the fact and this match showed why. This was a worked boxing match so it was slightly different but the format was the same and it meant the big moments were meant to be there. It was a spectacle for this portion of the show but I don't think it was worth it in hindsight. – WORKRATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 1/5 OVERALL 3/10
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