WrestleMania IV

Legacy Review

WrestleMania IV

March 27, 1988 from the Atlantic City Convention Hall, rebranded as the Trump Plaza and Casino for this show, in Atlantic City, NJ

 

Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura

 

The second even numbered Wrestlemania brings us another experimental show. WM 2 took place from three different cities over the course of one night. Tonight, the backbone of the show is a huge 14 man one night tournament to crown a new and undisputed WWF Champion, billed as the first of its kind in WWF history. The title was vacated following the controversial "Hebner twin magic" Hulk Hogan/Andre the Giant rematch on The Main Event in February and the subsequent even more controversial Andre handing the title to Ted DiBiase for a giant pile of cash. If Andre hadn't done that he might have kept the title, it was the second part that caused WWF President Jack Tunney to step in and vacate it. A side note on that, Andre set a record for by far the shortest WWF Title reign in history to that point at barely 5 minutes, a record that would stand until the Money in the Bank cash in era. In deference to their status as the most recent champions Hogan and Andre have both been given a bye to the second round in this unique bracket setup, but then they'll collide one final time. However, the tournament isn't the only thing happening tonight. Between tournament rounds we'll have matches for the other two top titles (it is Wrestlemania after all) as well as some other assorted undercard matches. This will be the first of a series of large card WM's with an expanded run time of three and a half hours that will last through WM 7.

 

The "Trump Plaza" isn't the worst venue visually. It definitely looks unique. The size is kind of hard to judge. It looks slightly larger or more spread out than a regular arena. The official attendance for this show was just a tick under 20K. But whenever I see this show all I can see is what's bothered me ever since I was a kid and rented this DOUBLE VHS from the video store, the ugly ass yellow carpet that makes up the entire entrance aisle. Probably smells like stale cigarettes and spilled drinks too. But this is from the same real estate titan that's since buried the entire Oval Office and White House in cheap gold stickies. I almost promise that's the last president era Trump joke I'll have.

 

20 Man Battle Royale- Kicking off with a "get everyone on the roster not already booked a WM payday" match. This is definitely the kind of thing you'd see as a preshow match in later years. The ref gaggle brings down a large trophy to present to the winner ahead of the participants while Monsoon and Ventura do their stand up show intro. PPV's used their time so much more efficiently back then. They're joined by guest celebrity Bob Uecker for this match, appearing at his second straight WM. "First time I've ever had an option renewed!". Legend. I won't list everyone in this or get too deep into it, as I said it's pretty much everyone that's not otherwise booked tonight. George Steele is supposed to be in this but can't seem to figure out how to get into the ring. These things happen when you have a coconut for a brain. Uecker: "This looks like the final cutdown day at the end of spring training!". Hah! Unsurprisingly tiny Sam Houston is the first guy out. Steele and Jim Neidhart seem to have a thing going. Steele pulls Anvil out of the ring by his beard! I guess that counts as an elimination, he did go over the top. Steele just wandered off and vanishes after that, having never gotten into the ring. After the Junkyard Dog eliminates his old foe Harley Race we get down to the final four: JYD, Bad News Brown, Bret Hart and Paul Roma. Brown easily dumps young Roma out. The heels try to team up on JYD but Brown accidentally takes out Bret. Brown never played well with others anyway. JYD goes nuts with his crawling headbutts. When the heels recover Bret shows no hard feelings by continuing to work with Brown. They're more successful this time. We even get a high 5 and low 10. They then strategize and try to corner JYD. The double teams continue, and eventually the heels pretty easily dump JYD out. Bret and Brown celebrate together, making no effort to try to decide a single winner.....until Brown ambushes Bret from behind with the Ghetto Blaster! Bret bump in the corner! Bret's out and Bad News Brown takes the battle royale! As battle royales go, that was pretty crap. But I appreciate Brown getting a small WM moment like this. He was pretty underrated in his day. 3/4*

 

Brown is presented with the trophy that's taller than he is. And that's not a knock on Brown, that thing is huge. Wait, Trump's here. Yuge. Bret gets back in and dropkicks Brown in the back! BRET DESTROYS THE TROPHY! HOW DARE HE that's completely unprecedented in wrestling history! This was Bret's, and later by extension Anvil's, face turn and was intended to be the start of a singles push for Bret, but soon after not for the first or last time the plug was pulled and the Hart Foundation would continue as a team for a while longer.

 

Time to kick off the tournament. The Fink goes over the tournament rules, but commentary talks all over it. Major fail. Fink then brings out another guest celebrity to read a "special proclamation" to open the tournament, The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach. All the pomp and circumstance does help make the tournament feel like a really big f'n deal.

 

First Round: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil and Andre the Giant) def "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in 4:54- Neither Duggan or DiBiase have music yet. This is a battle between former top Mid-South guys, they're very familiar with each other. Andre and DiBiase will be cornering each other all night tonight due to the standing business agreement between them. Commentary is surprised at Andre being out there. Pretty cautious start. After faking Duggan out with a clean corner break DiBiase goes for a cheap shot on the next one, but Duggan was still ready for him. Slugfest. Duggan ducks a punch and hits an atomic drop that sends DiBiase 360 over the top to the floor. Back in DiBiase hits some chops to back Duggan up. Side note, for some reason the ref for this match is VERY angry. Like permanently angry. Shouting every instruction at the top of his lungs. Maybe he lost a ton of money at the tables. Duggan hits a clothesline, followed by mounted punches. DiBiase gets a boot up in the corner. Clothesline from DiBiase. Duggan seems to be bleeding a bit in his mouth. DiBiase hits a double ax handle off the second rope and a fistdrop for 2. Duggan tries to come back with punches but DiBiase cuts it off with an eye rake. Duggan gets a sunset flip! Who knew? That gets a 2 count. Knee to the gut and another fistdrop from DiBiase. Suplex leverage fight that Duggan wins. DiBiase tries coming off the second rope again and takes a punch to the gut. Another Duggan clothesline. Slam and he sets up for the 3 point stance tackle. Andre grabs Duggan's leg! DiBiase knees Duggan in the back while Andre also possibly hits him, covers and gets the pin. Meh. *1/2

 

First Round: "The Rock" Don Muraco (w/Superstar Billy Graham) def Dino Bravo (w/Frenchie Martin) by DQ in 4:53- I can't exactly remember why Graham got hooked up with Muraco, probably had something to do with both guys being on their last legs, but Muraco's definitely embraced Graham's tie dye look. Muraco's also using what I'm pretty sure will later be babyface Hercules' music. This is definitely a power vs power match. Bravo gets the early edge and hits some shots in the corner. Muraco responds with a corner clothesline and slam. He tries for some kind of springboard move off the second rope but something goes wrong and nothing comes of it. He covers Bravo anyway for 2. Armdrag from Muraco. He goes for another but Bravo dodges it, then drops a couple of elbows. Gutwrench suplex. Muraco dodges and Bravo rams his knee into the corner. Muraco quickly goes to work on it. Spinning toe hold! Even in 1988 that was an old school classic. Bravo pushes free and Muraco's throat gets tied up in the ropes! I'm not kidding, he's literally being hanged. Fortunately he quickly gets free. Bravo hits a piledriver, which was Muraco's finisher. He takes forever covering and only gets 2. Bravo goes for another one. Muraco backdrops free. Double clothesline! Flying forearm from Muraco. Bravo pulls the ref in front of him and Muraco wipes him out. Bravo hits the side suplex and covers. The ref waves Bravo off and calls for the bell. Bravo's been DQ'd for pulling the ref into harm's way. Weak finish, but the match was more on the upper side of what you'd expect from these two. Not that's saying much. *

 

First Round: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart) def Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat in 9:12- Steamboat brings young Richie, then less than a year old, with him on his entrance. Both these guys are former IC champs, and outside WWF canon also former NWA US champs, some nice prestige in a first round matchup for the top title in a day not a lot of guys got to hold belts. Lockup stalemates to start. Big speed run. Steamboat slides under Valentine, gets a hiptoss, then the first DEEP armdrag. Nice back kick from Steamboat. He drops a chop for 2. Steamboat tries some rapid fire covers off shoulderblocks, then when Valentine counters skins the cat. Dropkick to Valentine's back! Cover for 2. Valentine absorbs an arm wringer to get an opening to start laying shots in. Steamboat gets dropped on the back of his head, allowing Monsoon to break out the "external occipital protuberance" which flummoxes Ventura, and Valentine drops a hammer for 2. Steamboat flips out of an atomic drop attempt and gives Valentine a buckle shot. Valentine flop! Steamboat keeps things grounded with an armbar. Valentine counters that with an inverted atomic drop. Clothesline. Elbows to Steamboat's head. We get a shot of wrestling fan Trump sitting in green tee douche's future permanent seat. Steamboat fires off a series of chops for 2. He tries a slam but Valentine falls on him for 2. Gutbuster from Valentine. Diving headbutt to the gut. He goes for the figure four but Steamboat fights it off. Nice chopfest exchange. Again two former JCP guys, they knew how to get stiff with that. Steamboat nails Valentine with one and we get another wonderful delayed flop. Thumb to the eye from Valentine and he hits a shoulderbreaker for 2. Valentine goes up top and hits an overhand chop. He goes for the figure four again. Steamboat barely manages to keep it from getting hooked on. He rams Valentine's face into the mat. Back elbow as Valentine is definitely hitting his flop quota tonight. Steamboat goes up top. Big chop and another flop for 2. More buckle shots for Valentine. Hebner actually steps in to stop it. Steamboat goes up top again. The crossbody hits! But Valentine reverses it, grabs a handful of tights and gets the pin! A minor upset. Rock solid match. **1/2

 

The general expectation among smart fans was Steamboat was going to win this match to set up another show stealing match with Savage after their WM 3 classic. That was certainly what Steamboat was lobbying hard for. Vince and WWF bookers backed off that idea on the excuse that they didn't want to risk Steamboat getting cheered more than Savage considering what was planned for Savage tonight. It was also pretty clear by that point that Steamboat had fallen out of favor with WWF, going nowhere since his short IC title run the year before. Right after this show Steamboat left the company, as was usual in his career whenever he clearly hit the glass ceiling. He'd take the rest of the year off to rest and heal up, then return to what was Jim Crockett Promotions but had become WCW at the start of '89 on the promise of a renewed push. And what a push it was. A certain trilogy of NWA World title matches you may have heard of. 

 

First Round: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) def "The Natural" Butch Reed (w/Slick) in 5:07- One of the more famous things from this show is Savage and Elizabeth's gear/costume changes in between every one of their matches. First off is a blue cape for Savage with matching blue dress for Elizabeth. Yellow boots and purple trunks under. For Savage. To be clear. After the bell Reed does some strutting and posing. Dude, you are never going to top Savage in mind games. Don't even try. Reed tries a cheap shot on a rope break but Savage dodges it. Savage grabs a waistlock but Reed backs him into the corner. Snap mare and fistdrop from Reed. Savage blocks a buckle shot and gives Reed one. Kneelift. Suplex fight that the stronger Reed wins. Elbow drop for 2. Reed snaps Savage over the top rope and he falls to the floor. Reed stomps him as he comes back in. Back elbow from Reed. Fistdrop off the second rope. Savage counters a backdrop attempt and hits some jabs. Reed reverses a whip and hits a diving clothesline. He walks over toward Elizabeth, jaws at her and slowly climbs up top. Savage catches him and slams him off. He quickly spring up the other side. Elbow! That's it. Pretty paint by numbers face Savage match, taking a beating then short comeback, hit the elbow and win. *

 

First Round: One Man Gang (w/Slick) def Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Oliver Humperdink) by countout in 2:56- Hoss fight! Bigelow's music sounds like the intro for a late night talk show. I actually think it was later repurposed as a show intro by WWF but I can't remember for sure. Angry ref is back, and he's still angry. OMG jumps an unprepared Bigelow clearly after the bell had rung. That one's on Bigelow. Chest first corner bump for Bigelow and OMG squashes him. On the other side Bigelow dodges in the corner, hits s shoulderblock, does a cartwheel for flash, then hits a tiny big splash for 2. Crossbody from Bigelow! That gets 2. Bigelow continues pounding away. Diving headbutt from Bigelow. He goes for another splash. Slick pulls the top rope down and Bigelow tumbles to the floor! Not sure how angry ref didn't see that. Bigelow fights OMG off and casually strides back in the ring, but angry ref turns and calls for the bell. A countout? Bigelow got back in! That didn't come off right at all. Not much going on during it either. 1/2*

 

Hogan promo time, and it's a doozy. Apparently he's going to slam Andre through Trump Plaza and down into the earth through a fault line that doesn't exist, sending Andre and his next two opponents (just those three guys, no one else) into the ocean. Then while Trump's hanging onto the top of the Trump Plaza as the waves wash around him, so we're now into a full on disaster movie, he's a big enough Hulkamaniac to let go of his worldly possessions and dog paddle away to save his family. Hogan then backstrokes out of the promo. Clearly mandatory drug testing hadn't started yet.

 

First Round: Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan) 15:00 time limit draw- Holding back another rant on Rude's replaced music. It hurts for me because his proper music is some of my favorite. During his usual prematch shtick Rude says "The odds are in my favorite". New message from the Panem Capitol: May the odds be ever in your favorite. No one knew it at the time but this was a kickoff match of sorts for what would be a big feud over the summer, when Rude started going after Roberts' wife Cheryl. We get some slow lockup shenanigans to start. Then an exchange of bodyslams. Rude realizes he's in the corner with Damian and gets the hell out of town. Roberts cranks an arm wringer with some enthusiastic Rude selling. Roberts hangs on despite everything Rude tries to do to get free. Finally Rude backs Roberts into the corner and hits some shoulderblocks, then puts Roberts on the second rope to punch him from a different angle. The ref backs Rude up and Roberts uses that position to hit a high angle kneelift. He calls for the DDT. Rude quickly scrambles to the floor and gets some advice from Heenan. Back in Roberts goes back to the arm work. Criss cross! Roberts scoops Rude into another slam. He goes for another kneelift but Rude dodges it. Clothesline and Rude gives us a hip swivel. Elbow drop for 2. Match killing chinlock time. After a Roberts escape Rude hits an ax handle off the second rope and clothesline for 2, then back to the chinlock. Another escape and Rude faceplants Roberts. Rude goes up top and hits a fistdrop for 2. I love Heenan coaching the ref on how exactly to count. Chinlock the third. Roberts tries to back suplex out but Rude hangs on. Roberts tumbles down to the apron and Rude stomps away on him. MOAR chinlock! There's some definite "boring" chants bouncing around the arena. We go to arm drops. Roberts leans back up then fades right back down again. More arm drops and this time Roberts jawbreakers out. Classic Roberts short jabs. Backdrop. Short clothesline. That's the usual DDT setup. He goes for it but Rude backs him into the corner. Roberts hits a gutbuster for 2. Two matches that have had that rare move tonight. Rude counters a headlock hook with a back suplex for 2. Double clothesline! Rude tries a leverage pin in the corner. The bell rings while the ref is counting. As usual WWF doesn't do time announcements so no one is sure until Fink announces it's a time limit draw and both are eliminated. That gives One Man Gang a bye to the semifinals. Roberts gets Damien out to say hi since he's done for the night. I don't hate this match quite as much as others do, but there's still way too much obvious draw stalling for it to be anything close to good. A more experienced post-IC title run Rude from a year or two later would likely have done much better with this. Certainly WCW era Rude would have. **

 

With the first round done for the first time tonight we finally see the official tournament bracket board backstage with Mean Gene. Probably would have been a good idea to show that earlier. Okerlund brings guest celebrity Vanna White in to work the board, since that was her regular job and all. The whole thing has been sort of designed like the Wheel of Fortune board. There's also a whole recurring thing going on with White and Uecker all night but the less said about that the better. 

 

The Ultimate Warrior def Hercules (w/Bobby Heenan) n 4:29- Warrior successfully navigates the stairs on the entrance aisle while running at near his usual speed. He was still fairly new at this point. He had been winning a ton of short squash matches and this is his first real feud. Herc bounces off the ropes, then bounces off of Warrior without Warrior moving an inch. They jaw nose to nose for a bit. Another midring collision. Shoves, posing and a proper lockup. Hebner has to force a corner break. Warrior uses that opening to hit some shots in the corner. Herc hits clotheslines that barely faze Warrior. A third one finally puts him down. He goes for a short clothesline but Warrior beats him to it. Warrior tries to drop Herc on the top rope but misses badly. Herc ducks a punch against the ropes and dumps him over the top to the floor. Warrior seems to consider trying to skin the cat, then decides better of it and drags Herc out by the trunks instead. They slug it out on the floor. Back in neither guys seems to know what to do so Herc hits some punches. Back elbow. Warrior rebounds off the ropes and pops Herc in the back of the head. That looked kind of shooty. Mounted punches from Warrior. Herc counters with an inverted atomic drop. The full nelson is on! Warrior kicks off the top rope in the corner and flips over on Herc. All four shoulders are down, but Warrior gets his up just before 3 and gets a pin! That at least came off better than other times that finish has been used. I think they would have been much better off making that another quick Warrior squash. Warrior was, well, pretty godawful still at this point. Herc was a solid pro but he's not going to carry anyone. After the bell Herc tries to choke Warrior with his chain but Warrior powers free, steals the chain and swings it around wildly thankfully without hitting anyone. 1/4*

 

There's a pretty obvious edit here for intermission. During that we get the full recap of the longrunning Hogan/Andre feud that's been carrying the company for over a year now, as well as the addition of Ted DiBiase earlier this year trying to buy the title and the heels' plan initially succeeding at The Main Event.

 

Second Round: Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant (w/Ted DiBiase and Virgil) double DQ in 5:22- Here's the big one everyone came to see. Again. This doesn't *quite* have the atmosphere the WM 3 match had. This is the first time in over four years Hogan's made his entrance on a major show not as champion. Hogan charges down the last part of the aisle and slides into the ring, right into the waiting boot and hands of Andre. The seconds clear out and the bell rings as Andre pounds away on Hogan, still with his headband and shirt on. Hogan comes off the ropes with forearms to fire back. DiBiase gets on the apron and Hogan grabs him. Double noggin knocker for the heels. Chops from Hogan as he still has his shirt on. Andre gets tied in the ropes. Now Hogan tears his shirt off and poses as DiBiase and Virgil try to get Andre free. After another punch Andre slowwwwwwwwwwwwly goes down to one knee, then down completely. Hogan drops some elbows. Andre grabs him with a choke! Andre squashes Hogan, then DiBiase gets a quick shot in. Andre puts on the big choke from behind Hogan, then a chop into a front choke. I guess that could generously be called a nerve hold. Arm drops and Hogan fights back up. He powers free and punches Andre back. Corner clothesline. Hogan calls for a slam. Now Virgil is on the apron. DiBiase comes from behind and hits Hogan with a chair! That barely hurt Hogan and he chases DiBiase off. Hogan grabs the chair. Andre tries to block it, but Hogan hits him with it! Now Andre gets the chair and after another fight just straight drops it on Hogan's head! Ref Joey Marella calls for a very late bell. He always was slow. Just ask Ventura. Hogan hits Andre with a running chairshot that puts him down, then he chases DiBiase and Virgil up the aisle. DiBiase pushes Virgil into Hogan and runs away! Well, I guess that's what Virgil gets paid for. Hogan suplexes Virgil in the aisle! As Monsoon makes the official announcement for the TV audience that it's a double DQ Hogan slams Andre to send the crowd to the next match happy. But both Andre and Hogan are out. We're definitely getting into diminishing returns for this matchup. 1/2*

 

Since it's the last time he'll be out tonight (supposedly) Hogan still does his full postmatch pose down. Egomania is running wild, brother. It's not a surprise that among casual and "normal" mostly still kayfabed fans Hogan was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament, and now both he and Andre are out the whole thing has been blown wide open. But, "smart" in the know fans, such as they were back then in the pre-internet days, knew better going in. More on that when we get to the end.

 

Easiest sign that Savage is now a babyface: he lets Elizabeth talk during his promo. 

 

Second Round: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase def "The Rock" Don Muraco (w/Superstar Billy Graham) in 5:44- Thanks to the double DQ the winner of this match will now advance all the way to the finals. DiBiase comes back down the aisle already with his suit off after just being out the last match. Andre hasn't recovered enough to be back out with him yet, and we won't see Virgil again the rest of the night after Hogan suplexed him in the entrance aisle. Muraco's in a hurry and pulls DiBiase off the floor to the apron by his hair, then the bell rings. Muraco slams DiBiase off the apron into the ring and hits a clothesline. Scoop powerslam for 2. Back elbow and Muraco goes to the second rope. Fistdrop for 2. Snap mare into a neck snap. DiBiase backs into the corner trying to get some space. Muraco pulls him back out. Standing dropkick! Didn't know Muraco had that in him. DiBiase finally rolls to the floor to recover, but on the same side Graham is on. Graham threatens him with his cane and DiBiase quickly gets back in. It stays all Muraco. Finally DiBiase pulls Muraco into the corner, crashing him over the corner. Oh yeah, angry ref is here again. Right into the camera mics this time. DiBiase knocks Muraco around and hits a clothesline for 2. Knee to the gut. DiBiase drops a couple of fists. Muraco gets a foot on the rope on the cover. Muraco counters a backdrop attempt but DiBiase stays on him. Slam. DiBiase misses a back elbow off the second rope. Muraco comeback time. DiBiase catches him with a hot shot! That gets DiBiase the pin and a finals birth! Very bleh match. Both guys already look a bit worn down just in their second match. *1/4

 

One Man Gang is in the ring to officially accept his bye. I miss tournaments doing this. I hate how in modern G1 Climaxes when someone has to leave the tournament due to injury all the forfeit points are automatically doled out. They should be done on a night by night basis like they used to be as recently as Naito's injury in 2021 if I remember right. Would make the standings easier to follow too. 

 

Second Round: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) def Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart) in 6:06- Savage/Elizabeth outfits #2: A pastel colored robe with a pretty cool white front/collar that has "MM" on it for Savage, with classic Savage orange trunks, his "default" color. Pink dress for Elizabeth. Valentine quickly takes control after a perfunctory lockup. Savage comes back in the corner and Valentine takes a chest first corner bump. Snap mare/kneedrop combo from Savage for 2. Valentine rakes Savage's eyes and goes top top to drop a forearm. Big windmill elbow for 2. Shoulderbreaker for 2. Valentine tosses Savage over the top rope to the floor, then drops an elbow on him from the apron. Big NWA chops from Valentine on the floor and Savage takes a guardrail shot. More elbows from Valentine with Savage on the apron. Back in Valentine softens up Savage's leg a bit and goes for the figure four. Savage drags him over to get a rope break before it's on. Suplex from Valentine for 2. Backbreaker for 2. Savage has a sudden comeback flurry in the corner, like a switch went off, and hits a back elbow. Setup slam. Double ax handle off the top rope for 2. A Hart distraction gives Valentine an opening. Back elbow. Savage blocks and hits a suplex. He tries another double ax handle off the top. Valentine catches him coming down, but also took a glancing blow and flops down himself. Hart helps Valentine get out of the way and Savage crashes into the ropes. Another figure four attempt. Savage Paul Smackage counter to get the pin! Well done. Another pretty typical face Savage match, but Valentine was plenty good enough to make it interesting. **3/4

 

So ends the second round and back to the bracket board with Mean Gene and Vanna White. 

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake def The Honky Tonk Man (c) (w/Jimmy Hart and Peggy Sue) by DQ in 6:30- Finally getting to our first title match of the night. Honky is approaching 10 months on his improbable title reign. Peggy Sue is none other than Sensational Sherri in a blonde wig and '50s skirt. Beefcake is another guy that hasn't gotten music just yet. This is a natural matchup as the only thing that Honky loves more than the title and maybe his music is his hair. Lockup and Honky gets a cheap shot on the ropes. Beefcake blocks a kick and spins Honky around for a big atomic drop. Then Beefcake musses up Honky's hair! Wars have been fought over less. Honky tries to hide in the corner and Beefcake teases some hair cutting. Buckle shots for Honky and he flops down. Beefcake hits a high knee and Honky bails to the floor. Beefcake grabs him by the hair to drag him back in. Honky tries to counter a backdrop but Beefcake dodges the counter. Honky then dodges an elbow drop and stomps on Beefcake. Snap mare/fistdrop combo from Honky. Hart throws a cheap choke in. Honky hooks up for the Shake Rattle and Roll, but then changes his mind and hits a knee. Now he goes for it again, but they're by the ropes so it's obvious what's coming. He gets the Shake and Rattle, but Beefcake grabs the ropes to stop the Roll. Comeback flurry from Beefcake. Backdrop. Honky begs off. Beefcake says nah. Sleeper! Honky slowly fades down. Hart gets on the apron to distract the ref, then nails the ref with his megaphone. Meanwhile, Honky's out and Beefcake thinks he's won, but then sees the ref is out. Beefcake's not overly bothered, he cares more about cutting hair anyway. Hart tries to run away with the cheap WWF souvenir duffel bag that Beefcake's TITANIUN STEEL BLADES are in but Beefcake chases him under the ring. Beefcake gets his small scissors and cuts Hart's hair! Hart's locks go everywhere. Meanwhile, Honky and the ref are still out with Peggy Sue and all the other refs trying to revive them. Peggy Sue grabs a jug of water and throws it on Honky to wake him up while the refs stop Beefcake in the ring with the big blades. Fink announces Beefcake as the winner by DQ even though the bell never rang to stop the match. Honky's improbable title reign continues the same way it's kept going all this time, cheap DQ's and countouts. Terrible match, even worse finish. Incidentally Beefcake was originally scheduled to win the title here before plans changed at the last second, not the last time that'll happen with Beefcake and the IC title. 3/4*

 

In the back, the legendary Andre choking Bob Uecker segment takes place. Andre is happy despite the fact he's out of the tournament because he knocked Hogan out and that's what DiBiase paid him to do. 

 

The Islanders & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan def The British Bulldogs & Koko B Ware in 7:30- The story here is Heenan was tired of animals in wrestling so he hired the Islanders to dognap Matilda, who was soon after returned safely. The Bulldogs say they've trained Matilda to be the first ever "weasel hunting" dog. Ware got wrapped up in this because he also has an animal mascot, the bird Frankie. Knowing how the Islanders were portrayed I'm surprised they didn't steal Frankie, then cook and eat him. Heenan comes out wearing an anti-dog suit. There's still a big wet spot in the ring from the water dumped on Honky earlier. After the Bulldogs' entrance Heenan wildly runs away from the clearly just wanting to play Matilda. Dynamite takes out both Islanders after the supposed bell, which I'm pretty sure didn't ring again. Is it broken? Hiptoss and backdrop on Tama. Slingshot and Tama goes over the top in the corner to the floor! Tama dodges a Davey Boy elbow drop and tags out to Haku. He and Davey Boy have some power standoffs. Davey Boy hits a crossbody for 2. Crucifix from Davey Boy for 2. Haku gets Davey Boy in an arm wringer and tags out. Davey Boy gets Tama up in a press slam. Back elbow from Haku on Davey Boy. Davey Boy flips out of a backbreaker and tags Ware in. Ware dropkick on Haku. The Islanders get Ware up in a kind of magic killer position (a move decades away from being invented) but it's Ware that rolls around and does the damage. Clothesline from Dynamite on Haku. Haku gets a foot up on Dynamite in the corner. Heenan tags in! He hits some stomps on Dynamite. After one shot from Dynamite he tags right back out, even with all the padding he has on. Backdrop from Tama on Dynamite. He tries a Vader bomb but Dynamite gets his knees up. Tag to Ware. He whips the Islanders into each other. Haku counters a backdrop to put Ware down and in peril. Heenan comes in again now it's safe and gets some shots on Ware. Has that outfit been checked out by the ref and legal? Ware tries to flap up on Heenan and gives him some shots. Eye rake from Heenan. Whip reversal and Heenan chest bumps in the corner. Dropkick to Heenan's back and he flips into the corner! Heenan could bump with the best of them. The Islanders jump Ware from behind. DONNYBROOK! The Islanders slam Ware, lift Heenan up and splash him down on Ware, and Heenan gets the pin! Bobby Heenan pins Hall of Famer Koko B Ware! After the bell the Bulldogs get Matilda to chase Heenan up the aisle and try to make it look like she's attacking him. Pretty nothing match and the heels didn't even get their comeuppance for the feud blowoff, but Heenan pinning Ware is hilarious to me. *1/2

 

Everything stops so Fink can give Ventura an introduction and Ventura poses on a platform for the crowd. Definitely time that could have been better used elsewhere. After that DiBiase is in the ring to accept his bye to the final. I can see how that conversation went. "How much for the bye?" "You don't have to pay anything Mr. DiBiase, you earned it." "Don't play coy with me, just tell me how much." "No really, you don't have to pay for it." "I don't understand." ".......That'll be $500." "Here you go. Everybody's got a price! HAHAHAHAHA!"

 

Semifinals: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) def One Man Gang (w/Slick) by DQ in 4:05- Outfits the third: Matching black cape and dress this time, and back to purple trunks. The odds are REALLY stacked against Savage since he's already wrestled twice while the much larger OMG had a bye last round. There's black feathers all over the ring as they lock up. Angry ref not doing his job there. Savage quickly tries his agility advantage, dodging in the corner and trying to lay some shots in there. Savage grabs OMG by the beard and clotheslines him over the top rope! OMG quickly recovers and backs Savage into the corner. Standard generic big man offense follows. Angry ref is still very angry by the way. I really hope he recoups his losses at the tables after the show. OMG gets a couple of near falls. Savage dodges the 747! Another dodge in the corner and Savage hits some jabs and elbows. OMG flops through the ropes out to the floor. Savage double ax handle off the top to the floor! Slick helps OMG get back in. Savage tries a slam and that's a mistake. Meanwhile Slick decides to accost Elizabeth for some reason. While the ref is talking to her OMG gets Slick's cane and hits Savage with it. He continues to try to hit Savage with the cane while Savage dodges, and angry ref eventually sees and calls for the DQ. Well that was pretty dumb. Right result though, and our finals are set. 1/4*

 

WWF Tag Team Championship: Demolition (w/Mr. Fuji) def Strike Force (c) in 12:33- Demolition has been on a slow but steady ascent since debuting as a team in early '87 and are getting their first shot at the tag titles here. You talk about all time great entrance music, Demolition's is definitely up there. By contrast, Strike Force's music is as peppy '80s as you can get. Smash and Martel start. Smash quickly smashes. Martel tries a crossbody but Smash catches him. Santana comes in and dropkicks him down! Early donnybrook. The faces get Ax out to the floor and hit a couple of double team moves on Smash. Smash manages to escape and tag out. Ax walks into a Santana armdrag. The champs work on Ax's arm a bit. Smash tags back in and fares little better. Smash catches running Santana into a bear hug. Fuji distracts Marella and Ax nails Santana from the apron. Now the Demos are in control. Ax hits a Mongolian chop. They keep Santana trapped right in their corner. Powerslam from Ax for 2. Demolition keep Santana isolated and sucker Martel in for some quick double teams. Suplex from Smash for a long 2. Santana manages to hit a couple of shots but the tag is cut off both times. Santana flying forearm outta nowhere! Both guys crawl. Smash tries to stop it but Santana makes the tag! Hot tag flurry from Martel. Dropkicks for everyone. Swinging double ax handles. Martel gets the Boston crab on Smash! Santana cuts Ax off from breaking it up, then gives Fuji a shot on the apron. But Fuji dropped his cane. Ax gets it, nails Martel, and Smash covers for the pin and the titles! Demolition's first tag title win. This is the start of the reign that will set a new record of 478 days, which stood until it was broken by The New Day in 2016. The match was OK but no more. **1/4

 

Time for the main event and tournament finals. As usual we get a ton of ceremony to build up to it. First off is Robin Leach again, this time bringing down the brand new greatest belt of all time, the Winged Eagle, to the ring. This wasn't its debut, it was first used at The Main Event for the disputed Hogan/Andre title match. Next up is Bob Uecker as guest ring announcer, then Vanna White as guest timekeeper.

 

Tournament Final for the Vacant WWF Championship: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) def "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (w/Andre the Giant) in 9:27- Final outfits: an awesome white cape with blue trim for Savage and white dress for Elizabeth. Savage is also back in his traditional orange trunks. On paper this has tons of potential, but with both guys working multiple matches already tonight and not much time left in the show it likely won't get there. Savage blocks DiBiase's cheap shot attempts in the corner and hits an elbow, but then immediately gets tripped by Andre. Already making his presence felt. Savage points out what happened and Hebner gives Andre a warning. The crowd immediately starts chanting for Hogan and everyone looks to the entrance expecting him to come out. They have a nice little stand up counterwrestling sequence into a speed run. Andre trips Savage again with Savage selling it as only he can. More Hogan chants. Arm ringer tradeoff in the ring. DiBiase changes it up by giving Savage a buckle shot. Chops in the corner. Clothesline for 2. DiBiase tries a sunset flip but Savage punches free. Clothesline from Savage for 2. DiBiase backs into the corner to rethink things. DiBiase hits a knee to the gut to get on offense again. Another speed run and Savage hits a running elbow, then snap clotheslines DiBiase over the top rope. A high knee in the back sends DiBiase 360 over the top to the floor. Savage sets up for the top rope double ax handle but Andre stands in front of DiBiase and literally dares Savage to jump. Savage has had enough. He goes over, says something to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth runs to the back. Gee, I wonder who she possibly could be going to get? DiBiase gets back on offense in the ring but all the focus is on where Elizabeth is going. DiBiase realizes it and puts on a chinlock to kill time. And there it is. Elizabeth is back out, with the Hulkster in tow. Hogan gets a chair, plunks it down in Savage's corner, and has a seat. Andre doesn't seem sure what to think. DiBiase isn't happy but stays focused on Savage. Andre pulls Savage down in the corner. Hogan runs over and pops Andre! Another clothesline and elbow drop from DiBiase for 2. Suplex for 2. Gutwrench suplex for 2. Slam and DiBiase goes up top. Savage catches him and slams him off! He quickly hops up the other side! DiBiase dodges the elbow drop! That almost never happened, nice one for DiBiase. The Million Dollar Dream is on! Andre has Hebner distracted and Hogan nails DiBiase with a chair to get Savage free! Savage goes up top. The elbow hits! Savage gets the pin to win the tournament and the title! Savage's first WWF Championship. There was definitely a lot of moving parts when it would have been much better two leave these two to their own devices, but there's still enough there to call it good and sadly the best match on the whole show. ***

 

Savage, Hogan and Elizabeth have the first of what will be many celebrations together over the following months to close the show. Back to the original plans. For a long time the word was DiBiase was going to win the tournament and title, then drop it to either Savage or Hogan (reports varied there) at the first Summerslam, which was already on the calendar. Instead they'll put all four of these guys in that main event and start the tradition of tag matches main eventing the early Summerslams. DiBiase would never get as close to winning the top title again, but early next year he'll be given a sort of consolation prize- his personal Million Dollar Belt.

 

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- As usual with these one night tournaments it's definitely too ambitious by half. That's a lot of matches to get through, even with the extended runtime, especially with all the other non-tournament matches sprinkled in. And you can tell it from the crowd, as they got quieter and more disconnected as the night went on. Savage's win is a great moment, but I can't recommend getting through the rest of this slog to get to it. And ultimately this WM only really exists to start setting up the mega money main event match for NEXT year's WM.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: D+

 

v2.0 published 8/31/26