US EXPRESS VS. SHEIK & VOLKOFF

Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura are on commentary for this match. The US Express consists of Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo, the future Irwin R Schyster.”Classy” Freddie Blassie is out with Volkoff and Sheik. They missed a trick by announcing his weight in pounds, not kilos. He goes on to recite the USSR National Anthem to a chorus of boos from the crowd. The US Express come out accompanied by Lou Albano and as soon as their music hits the fans change mood.

U.S. EXPRESS © VS.IRON SHEIK & NIKOLAI VOLKOFF

(WWF Tag Team Championships) - WWF Wrestlemania (31^st March 1985)

  Mike Rotundo and Iron Sheik start the match. Iron Sheik gets a headlock but is sent off the ropes, he knocks Rotundo down with a shoulder block but gets tricked with the over-under spot and is caught in a hip toss.

 Iron Sheik gets to his feet but a dropkick sends him back down. Mike Rotundo knocks Sheik back into the corner for Windham to get a cheap shot in before slamming Sheik down. Iron Sheik is on the mat in a headlock, he rolls Rotundo over for a nearfall with a handful of tights and gets to his feet. Barry Windham gets the tag, dropping Iron Sheik with an elbow from the top rope. Barry Windham hits a low leg drop. Barry Windham has Iron Sheik in a headlock but ends up in the wrong corner. Nikolai Volkoff grabs Windham but Windham is able to avoid a dropkick from Iron Sheik. Somewhere in there, a tag was made so Volkoff enters the ring. Barry Windham has a side headlock and tags Rotundo back in as we see a replay of the miscommunication, as we go back to live action Mike Rotundo sends Volkoff off the ropes and hits him with an elbow, a second elbow on the mat follows and Rotundo gets a 1 count.

  Mike Rotundo wrenches the arm as he gets another tag. Barry Windham comes off the top rope with another elbow drop and goes back to the arm. Rotundo gets the tag and tries to keep the focus on the arm but Volkoff backs him to the ropes and breaks the hold with a forearm to the chest. Mike Rotundo is sent into Iron Sheik's boot before Sheik gets the tag. Iron Sheik sends Rotundo off the ropes and sends him over with a back body drop before hitting an elbow drop for a nearfall, a gutwrench suplex gets Iron Sheik a second nearfall but Mike Rotundo blocks a suplex attempt. Rotundo hits his own suplex but Iron Sheik is able to make the tag. Nikolai Volkoff hangs Rotundo over the top rope but can't outwrestle Rotundo on the mat. Jesse Ventura calls it instinct as Rotundo is backed into the ropes. Volkoff tries to soften Rotundo up with a forearm and a headbutt, however, he ducks early and gets caught in a sunset flip.

  Nikolai Volkoff kicks out after 1 and sends Rotundo off the ropes. Mike Rotundo runs into a knee to the gut and the Russian stomps him on the mat. Mike Rotundo tries to fight back but Iron Sheik gets the tag (after Rotundo is sent into his boot, naturally.) We see the managers having words at ringside as Iron Sheik locks in an abdominal stretch. Iron Sheik doesn't have it on properly and Mike Rotundo hip tosses him over. Mike Rotundo misses an elbow drop. Iron Sheik makes a quick tag to Volkoff but that allows Rotundo time to tag Windham in, who fires off right hands on Volkoff, throwing in some lefts for good measure. Barry Windham hits the bulldog out of the corner but Iron Sheik breaks up the pin. Mike Rotundo is in the ring too, sending Iron Sheik out of the ring with a dropkick.

  Jesse Ventura mentions that it's 2 on 1 favouring the US Express as Iron Sheik hits Windham over the back with Freddie Blassie's cane behind the referee's back. Nikolai Volkoff covers and gets the win.

WINNER: IRON SHEIK & NIKOLAI VOLKOFF (NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)

Wow. That was the first title change in Wrestlemania history. It made sense for the time period for the heels (foreign heels, at that) won the match through illegal means but that was a weak match. It wasn't even enough for me to say if I want to see more of the US Express or not. It was a basic match with a finish that was of its era. – WORKRATE: 3/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2/5 OVERALL 5/10

After the match, we see replays of what just went down. That is not a new thing WWE are doing, it goes this far back in history.