THE EXECUTIONER VS. TITO SANTANA

   The opening video package is pretty basic, it shows some NYC scenery and the WWF logo then images for tonight's card and guests. Gorilla Monsoon welcomes us to Madison Square Garden for WrestleMania, he's on commentary tonight with Jesse "The Body" Ventura. We throw to the ring so Howard Finkel can introduce "Mean" Gene Okerlund to sing the National Anthem. Next Lord Alfred Hayes, in a really weird place right next to the curtain the wrestlers go through and looking like a deer in headlights, sends us to some interviews with Mean Gene from earlier in the night from the first match's competitors.

Tito Santana is first and he tells Okerlund he knows nothing about his opponent but he has goals and no one will stop him from achieving them. No news on what the goals were. The Executioner (Buddy Rose in a discount wrestling mask) enters from the other side of the screen and tells Gene that we’ll know about him when he’s through with Tito Santana, although he stumbles the words. He’s going after Tito Santana’s leg that was injured by Greg Valentine. I’m not sure how smart it was but I guess with technology limitations at the time he might have gotten away with it. The interviews were played over the entrances so we’re ready to kick off.

 

THE EXECUTIONER VS. TITO SANTANA

WWF WrestleMania (31^st March 1985)

  They circle and lock up. The Executioner grabs a headlock but is sent off the ropes. Santana runs the ropes and drops down so Executioner can run over him and catches him with a backdrop.

  Tito Santana knocks Executioner out of the ring with a dropkick, The Executioner takes his time getting back in and jaw-jacks with the crowd. They lock up and this time Santana works a headlock, climbing up the ropes to flip The Executioner over and take him down to the mat. Damn kids with their high-flying! They’ll kill the damn business! The Executioner's shoulders go down for 2. Tito Santana keeps hold of the headlock as he gets onto his feet and true to his word earlier, The Executioner targets the knee but Tito Santana punches him a couple of times and slams The Executioner's head into the mat. The Executioner begs off in the corner and gets to his feet, he keeps his distance from Santana before catching him with a kick to the midsection and sending his face into the top turnbuckle. The Executioner headbutts Santana as Gorilla says we know so little about The Executioner that could be a special move, but we don’t have a clue.

  Tito Santana is sent off the ropes after that masterful revelation into a knee to the midsection. He stomps the midsection before trying to put Tito in a spinning toehold. Tito Santana kicks him away, but The Executioner grabs the leg again, putting Santana in a leglock but leaving himself open for a chinlock from Santana’s free leg. Tito Santana rolls it into a pin but The Executioner kicks out at 2.  Tito Santana connects with kicks o the midsection and a right hand. The Executioner backs into the corner again, but it doesn’t slow Santana down for long as he continues kicking the ribs. Tito connects with a right hand and sends The Executioner into the turnbuckles. It looked like Santana was waiting for The Executioner to walk out of the corner, but he doesn’t. Tito Santana attempts a piledriver, but it’s countered with a rough looking back body drop.

  The Executioner slams Tito Santana and climbs to the top rope, but Santana brings him back down to the mat. Tito Santana hits the ropes but his splash hits The Executioner’s knees. The Executioner cannonballs on Tito Santana’s ankle on the bottom rope, but is kicked over the top to the floor. Tito Santana brings The Executioner back in the ring with a slam and hits the Flying Forearm. The Executioner is dragged away from the ropes, but instead of pinning him Tito Santana puts on the Figure Four leglock, forcing The Executioner to give up.

WINNER: TITO SANTANA

This was a nice opener for the event. It was back and forth for the short run-time, the right person got the win and it continued the feud between Santana and Valentine, the fans enjoyed it and it actually holds up pretty well for a basic match. [**] 4/10