List of WrestleMania 5 Unique and Quirky Facts

Howard Finkel Introduced King Haku by Wrong Name

Called Him 'King Tonga' on Live Broadcast

Ring announcer Howard Finkel introduced King Haku as 'King Tonga' on the live WM5 broadcast — Tonga Fifita had previously used that ring name but had since changed to King Haku. The intro was re-dubbed for the home video release.

WM5 Was Owen Hart's Only WM Ever

Blue Blazer Match Against Mr. Perfect Was His Only WM

Owen Hart's WM5 Blue Blazer match against Mr. Perfect was his only WrestleMania appearance — despite being one of the most talented wrestlers of his era, Owen's tragic death at Over the Edge 1999 meant he never returned to WM.

Jesse Ventura's Feud with Morton Downey Jr.

Celebrity Confrontation Became WM5 Highlight

Jesse Ventura and Morton Downey Jr. had a memorable and heated ringside confrontation at WM5 — the two loud, opinionated personalities clashing in a moment that became one of WM5's more talked-about celebrity interactions.

Warrior's WM Debut Was Also His First Pinfall Loss

Two Records Set At Once — WM5

The Ultimate Warrior's WM5 IC title match was simultaneously his first WrestleMania appearance and his first-ever pinfall loss in the WWF — Rick Rude achieved both milestones against Warrior in one match.

WM5 and WM4 Are the Only Back-to-Back Same Venue WMs

Until WM41 and WM42 in Las Vegas

WM4 and WM5 both at Atlantic City Convention Hall (Trump Plaza) were the only consecutive same-venue WrestleManias in history — this record stood from 1988–1989 until WM41 (2025) and WM42 (2026) were both held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Shawn Michaels Lost His WM Debut — Became Greatest WM Performer

Lost First WM — Won Greatest WM Legacy

Shawn Michaels lost his WM5 debut (The Rockers lost to Twin Towers) — he would go on to become 'Mr. WrestleMania' with the greatest WM career in history, including iconic matches against The Undertaker, Ric Flair, John Cena, and others.

Bobby Heenan Managed 4 Clients and Lost His Own Match in 31 Seconds

Busiest Night for Any Manager in WM History

Bobby Heenan's WM5 night was the most active for any manager in WM history — four clients competing and winning (Rude won IC title), plus Heenan himself losing to The Red Rooster in approximately 31 seconds.

Miss Elizabeth Was Sent to the Back by the Referee During the Main Event

WM5's Most Dramatic Mid-Match Moment

One of WM5's most dramatic moments was referee Joey Marella sending Miss Elizabeth to the back during the Hogan-Savage main event — her removal from ringside amplified the match's drama and Savage's dangerous vulnerability without her calming influence.

The Main Event II Drew 33 Million Viewers — WM5 Setup

Most-Watched WM Setup Show in History

The Main Event II on NBC on February 3, 1989 — where the Mega Powers officially exploded — drew approximately 33 million viewers, making it not only the setup show for WM5 but also one of the most-watched wrestling programs ever.

WM5 Had No Celebrity Athletic Participant (Unlike WM1 Mr. T)

First WM Without a Celebrity Competing in Matches

Unlike WM1 (Mr. T competed), WM2 (Mr. T boxed), WM5 featured celebrities only in performance and hosting roles — making it the first WrestleMania where no celebrity competed as an actual match participant.