WWF WrestleMania IV Results
March 27, 1988
Atlantic City, New Jersey (Historic Atlantic City Convention Center)
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
A video introduces us to the show showing some slot machine graphics. We go into the Atlantic City Convention Center to see a lively crowd. The show is being advertised as taking place at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is in the ring, and he welcomes the crowd to WrestleMania IV. Okerlund calls it the greatest wrestling spectacular of all time. Okerlund introduces Gladys Knight, who sings “America the Beautiful.” The crowd gives her a nice hand when she finishes.
Referees bring down the trophy for the Invitational Battle Royal. Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura welcome us to the show. They’re joined by Bob Uecker. Ventura is not pleased to see him, and the feeling is mutual for Uecker.
Battle Royal
Participants: Bret Hart, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Paul Roma, Jim Powers, Sika, “Dangerous” Danny Davis, B. Brian Blair, “Jumping” Jim Brunzell, Bad News Brown, Sam Houston, Jacques Rougeau, Raymond Rougeau, Ken Patera, Ron Bass, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, Boris Zhukov, Hillbilly Jim, “King” Harley Race, George “The Animal” Steele
The bell rings, and a big brawl breaks out with all the participants. Sam Houston is eliminated by Danny Davis, while Sika is eliminated by multiple wrestlers shortly after. Bret Hart tries to eliminate Harley Race, but he’s unsuccessful. JYD chokes Zhukov against the ropes. George Steele is just hanging out outside the ring. The brawling continues in the ring. Neidhart yells at Steele, who still hasn’t entered the match. Steele pulls Neidhart over the top rope to eliminate him. Raymond is taken out. The Killer Bees are also eliminated. Bass is choking JYD, but JYD responds with a head-butt. JYD then dumps Bass over the top rope. Steele punches Bass at ringside. Steele apparently was eliminated at some point and just refuses to leave. Zhukov eliminates Jim. Davis is eliminated by one of the Young Stallions. Jim Powers is eliminated. Race and JYD trade head-butts. JYD gets the better of the exchange. Volkoff and Zhukov are eliminated. Patera is also eliminated during the exchange. Jacques is also eliminated. JYD clotheslines Race over the top rope.
We’re down to the final four: Bad News Brown, Paul Roman, Bret Hart, and the Junkyard Dog. Brown quickly eliminates Roma with a back body drop. JYD holds Hart up for Brown to clothesline. JYD head-butts Brown down before head-butting Hart down. JYD crawls around on all fours and head-butts everyone. Brown quickly grabs JYD’s arm and double-teams him with Hart. Hart holds JYD up, and Brown punches him. JYD tries to fight back, but Brown takes him down. Hart and Brown high five each other. Brown talks strategy with JYD. JYD tries to fight Brown and Hart off, but he’s overwhelmed. They then dump JYD over the top rope. Hart and Brown high five and pose for the crowd. Brown then hits Hart with an enzuigiri out of nowhere. Brown punches and stomps Hart before head-butting him. Brown sends him hard sternum-first into the corner. Brown then sends Hart over the top rope unceremoniously to win the battle royal.
Winner: Bad News Brown
Referees bring the Battle Royal trophy into the ring. Donald Trump is seen at ringside watching and smiling. Brown poses next to the huge trophy. Hart comes in the ring and dropkicks Brown out of the ring. Hart then destroys the trophy and throws it out of the ring. Brown retreats from the ring.
Mike’s Thoughts: Typical 1980s battle royal. Not a lot happened until the end of the match when Brown and Hart teamed up to take out JYD. Brown then turned on Hart and dumped him out like it was nothing. I watch this and marvel at how far the battle royals have come. This just seemed like something thrown together to get everyone on the card. Now these kinds of matches are so thorough and thought out with everyone having something to do and hardly ever an elimination is missed. This was one of the bigger wins of Brown’s WWF career, which never reached the levels it probably could have.
Bob Uecker leaves the commentary booth to go and find Vanna White.
Robin Leach from “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” reads a proclamation for the WWF Championship tournament. We are looking for an undisputed WWF Champion after a 14-man tournament. Leach declares the tournament should begin. Leach says, “With champagne wishes and caviar dreams, may the best man win!”
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ André the Giant and Virgil
The bell rings, and DiBiase quickly puts himself through the ropes to keep Duggan back. They soon lock up, and DiBiase puts Duggan in the corner before giving him a clean break. They lock up again, and DiBiase again powers him to the corner. Duggan blocks a punch and punches DiBiase back. They exchange punches before Duggan hits an atomic drop that sends DiBiase over the top rope. DiBiase talks strategy with André the Giant and Virgil.
DiBiase gets back in the ring, and he rakes the eyes of Duggan before chopping him back. DiBiase sends Duggan into the ropes, but he misses an elbow. Duggan then connects with a clothesline. Duggan gets him in the corner and does the 10 punches. Duggan sends him to the opposite corner and charges, but DiBiase big boots him down. DiBiase bounces him off the turnbuckle and punches away at him. DiBiase then clotheslines him down. DiBiase stomps Duggan’s head before going to the second rope for a flying elbow. DiBiase hits his trademark falling fist for a near fall. Duggan fights back at DiBiase until DiBiase rakes the eyes. DiBiase sends him into the ropes, but Duggan counters with a sunset flip for a two count. DiBiase sends him into the ropes and turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. DiBiase drops an elbow before trying for a suplex. Duggan blocks it and hits a suplex. DiBiase goes to the middle rope and jumps, but Duggan punches him out of mid-air. Duggan punches him in the corner before hitting a clothesline. Duggan sends him into the ropes and hits a big scoop slam. Duggan gets in the 3-point position, but André the Giant sweeps the feet. Duggan yells at André, so André punches him. Duggan is stunned, and DiBiase hits a fist drop for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
Mike’s Thoughts: Just a match. With a 14-man tournament with multiple rounds, I’m sure we’ll be getting a lot of these “just a match” kind of matches.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Beefcake will be facing the Honky Tonk Man for the WWF Intercontinental Championship later tonight. Beefcake snaps his hedge clippers around Okerlund’s hair, but he says he’s already got his haircut. Beefcake says when all is said and done, he will be the Intercontinental Champion. If Jimmy Hart interferes, his clippers will be waiting to get his hair.
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin vs. “The Rock” Don Muraco w/ “Superstar” Billy Graham
The bell rings, and they lock up before releasing. Bravo shoves him to the corner and shoulders him in the midsection. Bravo chops the chest before having a whip to the opposite corner reversed on him. Muraco hits a corner clothesline before slamming him down. Muraco goes to the second rope for a slingshot splash, but Bravo is out of position. Bravo kicks out and viciously takes Muraco down. Bravo drops some elbows before hitting a gutwrench suplex. Bravo bounces him in the corner before sending him to the opposite corner. Bravo punches away at Muraco before sending him across the ring. Bravo misses a running knee, and Muraco takes him down. Muraco works on the leg with stretches and leg breakers. Muraco applies a spinning toe hold. At ringside, Billy Graham gets into it with Frenchy Martin. Bravo fights out of the hold, so Muraco takes him down and reapplies the spinning toe hold. Bravo quickly kicks him, and Muraco gets his head stuck between the ropes.
Bravo sets up for a piledriver and connects. Bravo celebrates while the crowd boos. Bravo then covers for a near fall. Bravo stomps away at him before trying for another piledriver. Muraco counters with a back body drop. Muraco ducks a clothesline, and they take each other out with dual clotheslines. Muraco punches Bravo before sending him into the ropes for a flying forearm. Muraco hits a scoop slam before accidentally wiping the referee out with a flying forearm. Bravo pulled the referee into the way on purpose. Bravo hits a sidewalk slam and covers, but the referee disqualifies him.
Winner by Disqualification: “The Rock” Don Muraco
Don Muraco will battle Ted DiBiase in the Quarterfinals of the WWF Championship Tournament.
Mike’s Thoughts: Clunky big man match with two beefy dudes. It actually wasn’t all that bad. This is the first of many non-finishes in this tournament. You’d think they’d be ok with letting guys get pinned clean to put over the importance of the WWF Championship, but that isn’t the theme of the night.
Bob Uecker is backstage with WWF Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart. Uecker is talking about finding Vanna White. Uecker says they’ll soon be finding Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Uecker says they’ll be losing their title. HTM says this is serious business. They’re talking about the Intercontinental Championship. Beefcake is going to get it even if he has to backstroke up the Mississippi.
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat made his entrance holding his infant son, who is wearing a matching outfit with his father.
They circle the ring and lock up. Valentine shoves him off twice. Steamboat applies a side headlock, so Valentine whips him off. Steamboat goes into the ropes over Valentine before sliding through the legs. Steamboat hits a pair of deep arm drags before applying an arm bar. Steamboat wrenches the arm a few times before kicking him. Steamboat uppercuts him down for a two count. Valentine whips him into the ropes, but Steamboat shoulder blocks him down for a two count. Steamboat shoulders him again for another two count. Valentine sends him over the top rope, but Steamboat skins the cat back into the ring. Steamboat dropkicks him into the ropes and goes for a roll-up, but they mistime it.
Steamboat wrenches the arm and elbows him. Valentine comes back with some chops before stepping on his throat. Valentine pulls him off the ropes and slams him down. Valentine hits a falling forearm for a two count. Steamboat flips through a back suplex and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Steamboat drops an elbow before going back to an arm bar. Valentine hits an inverted atomic drop to get out before clotheslining him down. Valentine elbows him in the forehead a few times before pulling him onto the apron and clubbing the throat. Steamboat punches him back, but Valentine jabs away at him. Donald Trump is shown sitting at ringside. Steamboat viciously chops Valentine down for a near fall. Steamboat goes for a scoop slam, but he collapses under Valentine’s weight. Valentine picks up a two count. Valentine forearms him and hits a gutbuster. Valentine drops a knee to the midsection and kicks him into the ropes. They exchange hard chops before Steamboat takes him down. Valentine hits a shoulder-breaker for a near fall. Hart is shouting wildly on his megaphone. Valentine goes to the top rope for a diving chop to the back of the head. Valentine sets up for a Figure Four Leglock, but Steamboat punches him down. Steamboat slams the face off the mat a few times before sending him into the ropes. Steamboat hits a jumping back elbow. Steamboat heads to the top rope for a flying chop. Steamboat picks up a near fall. Steamboat slams Valentine off the top turnbuckle, and Earl Hebner steps between him. Steamboat is not happy. Steamboat hits a flying cross-body block, but Valentine rolls through and grabs the tights for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
Mike’s Thoughts: For the two guys in this match, I expected a lot more, even with a short amount of time. It was pretty dull, some mistimed things, Valentine’s selling was poor… just a big disappointment.
Donald Trump is again shown sitting at ringside enjoying the action.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with the British Bulldogs. Matilda is back after being taken by the Islanders. Dynamite Kid says Matilda has been through some special training. Davey Boy Smith says she’s the only certified “weasel dog.” They’re going weasel hunting. Koko B. Ware says he smells a weasel, as does Matilda. The Birdman and the Bulldogs are fired up!
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
“The Natural” Butch Reed w/ Slick vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth
The bell rings, and Savage throws off his headband and poses. Reed poses to boos. They lock up, and Reed pushes him into the ropes. Savage ducks a right hand and backs up. They lock up, and Savage applies a waistlock. Reed quickly powers him to the corner and starts to knee him. Reed hits a snapmare before hitting a fist drop. Reed bounces him off the top turnbuckle before taking him across the ring. Savage blocks a shot and bounces him. Savage goes for a suplex, but Reed blocks it and hits one of his own. Reed drops an elbow for a two count. Reed punches away at him before snapping him off the top rope. Savage falls to the floor. Reed poses in the ring as Savage gets in. Reed stomps away at him before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Reed goes to the second rope for a flying fist drop. Savage rolls around in pain and goes to the apron. Reed sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Savage punches and elbows him before having a whip to the corner reversed. Savage sidesteps an avalanche before hitting the ropes. Reed then hits a clothesline and yells at Miss Elizabeth. Reed goes to the top rope, but Savage flips Reed down to the canvas. Savage hits a Flying Elbow Drop for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Randy Savage will go on to face Greg Valentine in the Quarterfinals.
Mike’s Thoughts: Just a match!
We go backstage to see Bob Uecker claiming that he has finally caught up with Vanna White, who is just around the corner out of sight. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan walks up to him with The Islanders. Uecker tells them that Matilda is back and gets into a back and forth with Heenan. Heenan says his Islanders aren’t scared of what’s to come.
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink
Gang attacks Bigelow as his back is turned and clubs away at him. Gang sends him hard into the corner sternum-first and avalanches him. Bigelow sidesteps another avalanche and shoulder blocks him down. Bigelow does a cartwheel and a splash for a two count. Bigelow ducks a clothesline and hits a running cross-body for a two count. Bigelow drops a head-butt and clubs away at Gang for another two count. Bigelow punches and head-butts Gang before clotheslining him down. Bigelow elbows and head-butts him down before hitting a falling head-butt. Bigelow hits the ropes, but Slick pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Bigelow gets on the apron, but the referee counts him out.
Winner by Count-Out: One Man Gang
Mike’s Thoughts: That was bowling shoe ugly. Interesting to see Bigelow so early in his career. Both guys were pretty good big man wrestlers to me, but they didn’t click together, at least in this match.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Hulk Hogan. Okerlund says it’s been difficult to not introduce him as the WWF Champion. Hogan says he’s been scarred for one long year. Everywhere he goes, the little Hulksters ask him if he got in over his head. At WrestleMania IV, we’ll wipe the controversy out. In the second round when André the Giant is fresh as a daisy, he’ll take him down. Hogan will break the fault line and slam André to the bottom of the ocean. Thank god Donald Trump is a Hulkamaniac. As he hangs on to the top of Trump Plaza as it sinks into the ocean with his family under his arm, he’ll let go of his material possessions, jump on Hogan’s back, and swim to safety.
WWF Championship Tournament – First Round Match
“Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Rick Rude says the little boys are taking the gamble of their lives by letting their ladies watch him take off his robe. Rude gyrates as he takes off his robe.
They lock up, and Rude shoves him to the corner and poses. They lock up again, and Roberts powers him down on his face. Rude gets up and scoop slams Roberts down before punching him. Rude scoop slams him a second time and punches. Roberts avoids a third scoop slam and hits a pair of scoop slams on Rude. Rude begs him off, so Roberts punches him down. Rude notices how close he is to Damian’s bag and scurries away. Roberts wrenches the arm and punches him. Roberts applies a wristlock, and Rude screams in agony. Rude punches Roberts down, but he doesn’t let go of the hold. Roberts pulls him down and has him grounded. A “Weasel” chant picks up. Rude soon fights up to his feet and pushes Roberts to the corner. Rude shoulders him before putting him on the top rope. Roberts comes off the ropes with a knee to the face and signals for the DDT. Rude immediately gets out of the ring and consults with Bobby Heenan.
Rude gets back in the ring, and Roberts applies an arm bar. Rude pushes him into the ropes, and they crisscross the ropes. Roberts catches Rude and hits a scoop slam. Roberts goes for a running knee lift, but Rude throws him off. Rude stomps away at Roberts before pushing him into the ropes for a clothesline. Rude gyrates, and Heenan warns him to not waste time. Rude covers Roberts for a two count. Heenan asks what Rude was waiting for. Rude applies a chin lock. Roberts tries to fight up, but Rude grounds him. Heenan distracts the referee as Rude chokes Roberts. Rude then goes back to the chin lock as the referee turns around. Roberts fights up and whips him off. Rude quickly goes to the second rope and hits a flying elbow to the neck. Rude gyrates again before punching Roberts. Rude hits a diving clothesline for a near fall. Rude goes back to the chin lock. Donald Trump is seen at ringside watching the action. Roberts fights out of the chin lock and hits the ropes, but Rude hits him with a flapjack. Rude goes to the top rope and hits a diving fist drop for a near fall. Rude covers again for another two count.
Rude once again goes back to the chin lock. Roberts fights out with a back suplex, but Rude holds onto the chin lock. Rude covers for a two count. Roberts stumbles into the ropes and falls onto the apron. Rude drops an elbow on the neck and picks up another two count. Rude once again goes to the chin lock, and there are some shouts of “boring” from the crowd. The referee checks Roberts’ arm, and Roberts pulls Rude’s hair. The referee checks Roberts’ arm again, but he shakes it off. Roberts fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Roberts fights back with jabs before sending him into the ropes for a back body drop. Roberts wrenches the arm and hits a short-arm clothesline. The crowd is cheering Roberts on. Roberts goes for the DDT, but Rude pushes him to the corner. Rude sends him to the corner, but Roberts boots him back. Roberts hits a gutbuster for a near fall. Roberts applies a headlock, but Rude hits him with a high angle back suplex for a near fall. Roberts gets to his feet, and they hit each other with a double clothesline. Rude covers Roberts for a two count. Rude sweeps the feet and rolls Roberts up with his feet on the ropes. The bell rings as the referee counts. This match is a draw, so both men are eliminated from the tournament.
Time Limit Draw
Jake Roberts angrily grabs Damian and chases Rude out of the ring. One Man Gang receives a bye to the semifinals of the tournament.
Mike’s Thoughts: That was a pretty boring match. The chin locks went way too long, even making the enthusiastic Atlantic City crowd turn on the match. Roberts did what he could to keep them into the match with his legendary psychology and brought them back at the end, but it couldn’t save this match. I actually thought the commentary was pretty good here as they critiqued the performances and talked about the importance of the tournament.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Vanna White from “Wheel of Fortune.” They are by the tournament brackets. She doesn’t know who Bob Uecker is. Vanna says she like Hulk Hogan in his match and thinks he’s a nice man. She’s not a fan of Ted DiBiase and likes Randy Savage.
Hercules w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior
They quickly get into a shoving match before Warrior powers him to the corner. Hercules pushes him, so Warrior punches and chops him. Warrior sends him into the ropes, but Hercules ducks and hits two clotheslines that don’t take Warrior off his feet. The third attempt does. Warrior soon is up and clotheslines Hercules down. Warrior hits another clothesline before messing up a hotshot on the top rope. Warrior chops him before Hercules dumps him over the top rope. Warrior pulls Hercules out of the ring and punches away at him. Warrior bounces Hercules off the ring steps and gets him in the ring. Hercules punches him as he gets back in the ring. Hercules elbows him, but Warrior soon punches back. Warrior does the 10 punches in the corner, but Hercules immediately comes back with an inverted atomic drop. Warrior reverses a whip to the corner and charges, but Hercules sidesteps him. Hercules goes for a full nelson, but he can’t get the fingers locked. Warrior pushes back and lands on top of him. The referee counts them both down, but Warrior gets a shoulder up at the last moment.
Winner by Pinfall: The Ultimate Warrior
Hercules quickly attacks Warrior from behind and starts choking him with his chair. Warrior breaks out of it and swings the chain around, but Hercules escapes.
Mike’s Thoughts: Not a good match at all. Typical Warrior match. This is early on for him in WWF and you can tell how they’re trying to protect him. Still, that finish didn’t do him any favors. For his first WrestleMania match, you’d think they’d want him to get a strong win over Hercules, but that’s not at all what we got.
“Sugar” Ray Leonard is shown at ringside.
Video Package: The history of Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant
WWF Championship Tournament – Quarterfinal Match
André the Giant w/ Ted DiBiase and Virgil vs. Hulk Hogan
André attacks Hogan as he get sin the ring and head-butts him down. André chops the chest and clubs him down. André chops him, but Hogan comes back with some running forearms that send André into the ropes. Hogan grabs Ted DiBiase on the apron and rams him into André’s head. Hogan chops André’s chest and gets him tied in the ropes. Hogan rips off his shirt and gets the crowd fired up. Donald Trump gives Hogan a thumbs up. Hogan hits the ropes and catches André with a running fist. André falls down to the mat. Hogan drops three elbows, but André catches him and begins to choke him out. André stomps Hogan in the head and walks off the damage caused by Hogan. André begins to choke him out again. André chops the chest and applies a nerve hold to the shoulders. Hogan begins to fade away. The referee checks on him, but Hogan’s arm stays up. Hogan fights up and knees André in the midsection before punching him back. Hogan clotheslines him into the corner and signals for a slam. Virgil gets on the apron to distract the referee, and Ted DiBiase brings a chair into the ring. Hogan knocks DiBiase out of the ring. Hogan angrily takes the chair and hits André with it. André soon blocks another chair shot and hits Hogan in the head with it. The referee finally calls for the bell.
Double Disqualification
Hogan chases DiBiase and Virgil up the ramp. DiBiase shoves Virgil into Hogan. Hogan gives Virgil a suplex on the ramp, but Hogan doesn’t fall. Hogan runs into the ring and scoop slams André the Giant! Hogan then happily poses. Donald Trump is shown watching at ringside looking pleased.
Mike’s Thoughts: This was hideous. As good as the commentary was in Roberts vs. Rude, it stunk here. Hogan blows his opportunity and poses in the ring like nothing happened, and Gorilla Monsoon just says, “Well there’s always another day.” This was so lame that you almost wish it never happened at all. How could they think this was a good finish? So bad. Everything that was so great about the WrestleMania III match was completely missing in this. Even the slam of André at the end meant absolutely nothing.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage says Hogan is a cheated man, not a defeated man. Hogan has never been defeated. “Mean” Gene Okerlund asks about facing Greg Valentine. Savage says the Madness will not be stopped from getting the WWF Championship. Miss Elizabeth says she believes he’s going all the way.
WWF Championship Tournament – Quarterfinal Match
“The Rock” Don Muraco w/ “Superstar” Billy Graham vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
The winner of this match will get a bye to the WWF Championship Tournament Final Match.
Muraco attacks DiBiase while making his entrance and slams him into the ring. Muraco slams him down for a two count. Muraco gives DiBiase a back elbow before going to the second rope for a falling fist drop to pick up a two count. Muraco hits a rolling neck snapper and soon whips him hard into the corner. Muraco pulls him out of the corner, but DiBiase pulls him headfirst into the ring post. DiBiase stomps away at Muraco before choking him. DiBiase clotheslines him down for a two count. DiBiase sends him into the ropes and knees him in the midsection. DiBiase hits a falling fist drop before covering, but Muraco has a foot on the ropes. DiBiase chokes him before chopping the chest. DiBiase sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. DiBiase scoop slams him before going to the second rope for an elbow drop, but Muraco moves.
Muraco punches away at DiBiase in the corner. Muraco sends him hard into the opposite corner and clotheslines him down. DiBiase begs Muraco off. DiBiase whips him off, but Muraco shoulder blocks him down. DiBiase then hits him with a hotshot into the top rope for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase receives a bye to the WWF Championship Final Match.
Mike’s Thoughts: Interesting that they had Ted DiBiase go over clean in this match. No interference or weapons. I’m not complaining, I’m just surprised.
We go backstage to see Bob Uecker looking concerned over never finding Vanna White. Demolition and Mr. Fuji walk up. They’re going to take the WWF Tag Team Championships. Uecker looks uneasy.
One Man Gang is in the ring and is announced as advancing to the Semifinals due to his potential opponents not advancing. He celebrates in the ring.
WWF Championship Tournament – Quarterfinal Match
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth
The bell rings, and Valentine punches Savage a few times before slamming him into the corner. Valentine clubs away at Savage before Savage fights back. Savage sends him hard into the corner before hitting a snapmare and a knee drop for a two count. Valentine soon takes Savage down and drops an elbow. Valentine connects with a shoulder-breaker for a two count. Valentine gets Savage out of the ring and chops the chest before bouncing him off the barricade. Valentine elbows Savage in the neck a few times and stomps him as he gets in the ring. Valentine gets on the apron and drops a forearm on Savage. Valentine attacks the leg of Savage and goes for a Figure Four Leglock, but Savage gets to the bottom rope. Valentine hits a backbreaker for a two count. Savage fights back and elbows Valentine down. Savage hits a scoop slam and goes to the top rope for a double axe handle. Savage gets a near fall. Jimmy Hart gets on the apron, so Savage scares him away.
Valentine elbows Savage in the neck before trying for a suplex, but Savage reverses it on him. Savage goes to the top rope for another double axe handle, but Valentine punches him out of mid-air. Both men are down. Savage goes to splash him against the ropes, but Valentine moves. Valentine goes for a Figure Four Leglock, but Savage counters into a small package for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Randy Savage will face the One Man Gang in the Semifinals. The winner of that match will face Ted DiBiase for the WWF Championship.
Mike’s Thoughts: Another one of those “just a match” matches. I really thought this match could have been so much better, but with the tournament constraints they couldn’t do all they probably could have. Oh well.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Vanna White. She’s asked about hiding from Bob Uecker, but she’s not sure who she should be hiding from. They break down the WWF Championship Tournament brackets.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
The Honky Tonk Man (c) w/ “Colonel” Jimmy Hart and Peggy Sue vs. Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake
They lock up and tussle in the ropes for position. HTM knees Beefcake in the midsection and clubs him. HTM sends him into the ropes. Beefcake ducks a clothesline and blocks a big boot. Beefcake hits a big atomic drop and messes up the hair before punching him down. HTM goes to ringside to recover with Jimmy Hart and Peggy Sue. HTM gets in the ring and puts himself through the ropes to avoid Beefcake. HTM knocks him back and tries to bounce him off the turnbuckle, but Beefcake blocks it. Beefcake bounces him off the turnbuckle until he collapses. HTM gets out of the ring again. Beefcake pulls him up to the apron and punches him. Beefcake pulls him into the ring the hard way and sends him into the ropes. Beefcake avoids a knee lift and goes for an elbow drop, but HTM moves.
HTM stomps away at Beefcake before punching him in the face. HTM hits a snapmare and drops an elbow. HTM dances around before pulling him up to his feet and punching him down. HTM stomps him before distracting the referee as Jimmy Hart chokes Beefcake. HTM sets up, but he simply knees him in the midsection. HTM punches him back and goes for Shake, Rattle, and Roll, but Beefcake holds the ropes. Beefcake punches away at him and hits a back body drop. HTM begs him off, so Beefcake kicks him. Beefcake sends him into the ropes for a sleeper hold. Jimmy Hart gets on the apron to distract the referee and save HTM’s title. HTM passes out, so Hart hits the referee with the megaphone before he can see it. The referee and HTM are unconscious. Beefcake signals for the clippers. Hart steals the bag with the clippers and runs, but Beefcake catches up to him. Hart tries to go under the ring, but Beefcake drags him out. Beefcake then cuts Hart’s hair!
In the ring, Peggy Sue pours water on HTM to wake him up before Beefcake gets to him. They escape the ring as referees hold Beefcake back.
Winner by Disqualification: Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake
The Honky Tonk Man retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Mike’s Thoughts: Bad match and bad finish. It was fun to see Jimmy Hart get his hair cut after the match, but that’s about it. Also pretty neat to see Sensational Sherri Martel doing her thing as Peggy Sue.
André the Giant walks up to Bob Uecker and says he’s still undefeated. André did what he was supposed to and kept Hulk Hogan out of the tournament. Hulkamania is over. Uecker tells André to get his foot off his shoulder. André chokes him and walks off.
The Islanders (Haku and Tama) and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) and Koko B. Ware
Bobby Heenan is dressed in a padded suit to keep Matilda the bulldog from biting him. Dynamite Kid brings the Islanders into the ring and slams them. Kid hits Tama with a hip toss and a back body drop. Tama kicks him, so Kid viciously knocks him down before sending him out of the ring. Davey Boy Smith tags in. Smith hits a scoop slam and goes for an elbow drop, but Tama moves. Haku tags in and punches Smith before being sent into the ropes. Haku hits a shoulder block, but he doesn’t go down. Smith hits a crucifix pin for a two count. Smith connects with a snapmare and applies a chin lock. Haku wrenches the arm and punches him. Smith gets out with a military press slam on Tama. Haku tags back in and clubs Smith. Haku sends him into the ropes for a back elbow. Haku forearms Smith, but Smith gets out of a slam and tags in Koko B. Ware. Ware hits a dropkick on Haku before knocking Tama down. Ware hits a head-scissor/headlock takeover combo on The Islanders.
Kid tags in and chops Haku before clotheslining him down. Haku quickly big boots Kid down. Bobby Heenan tags in and stomps Kid a few times. Heenan is still wearing the padded suit to avoid the bites from Matilda. Kid fights back, so Tama tags in. Tama hits a back body drop on Kid and taunts him. Tama scoop slams him and goes for a second rope splash, but Kid gets the knees up. Ware tags in and punches Tama. Ware hits a back body drop and punches Haku. Ware sends Haku into Tama. Haku quickly kicks Ware down. Haku is still in despite not tagging in. Haku rips at Ware’s face before tagging Tama in. Tama clubs Ware down before tagging Heenan in. Heenan punches Ware down before clubbing him. Heenan punches Ware, but Ware soon punches back at him. Ware gets out of a choke and punches Heenan back. Heenan is sent sternum-first into the corner before being dropkicked. Heenan then hits the ring post shoulder-first.
The Islanders brawl with the British Bulldogs. The Islanders slam Heenan onto Ware. The referee counts the pin!
Winners by Pinfall: The Islanders and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
The British Bulldogs chase Bobby Heenan off with Matilda. Matilda does bite Heenan, but he soon escapes.
Mike’s Thoughts: It was cool to see Bobby Heenan wrestle in a match at WrestleMania… but that’s about it. Not bad wrestling when it was the regular wrestlers in there, but it didn’t really feel like anything was on the line or there was a real true purpose to having this match. With a whole tournament on this show, did we need to squeeze this one in there?
Jesse “The Body” Ventura is introduced to the crowd, and he poses for them.
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase is in the ring, and Howard Finkel announces he has advanced to the finals of the WWF Championship Tournament due to the double elimination of Hulk Hogan and André the Giant.
WWF Championship Tournament – Semifinal Match
One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth
The bell rings, and they lock up. Gang shoves him to the corner, but Savage ducks a punch. Gang quickly grabs him, but Savage grabs him by the beard and snaps him off the top rope. Gang powers him to the corner and clubs the back. Gang elbows and clubs away at him, and Savage stumbles to the corner. Gang strikes him down and chokes him with the boot. Gang clubs him in the back and hits a scoop slam. Savage gets a foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. Gang drops an elbow for another two count. Gang hits a scoop slam and tries for a splash, but Savage moves. Savage avoids an avalanche in the corner and punches away at him. Savage knocks him out of the ring. Savage comes off the top rope with a double axe handle to the head. Gang gets back in the ring. Savage tries for a slam, but Gang is too heavy. Gang hits a choke bomb on Savage. Slick intimidates Miss Elizabeth at ringside. Slick hands Gang his cane. Gang hits Savage with the cane, but the referee is still checking on Miss Elizabeth. The referee turns around and sees Gang swinging the cane. He disqualifies the One Man Gang.
Winner by Disqualification: “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Savage hits Gang with a double axe handle that sends him into Slick, squashing him. Randy Savage will face Ted DiBiase for the vacant WWF Championship.
Mike’s Thoughts: Now they’re just getting lazy. We already saw a weapon disqualification tonight. Not much of a match at all. Didn’t build to One Man Gang needing to use the weapon. He just did despite having the advantage.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Vanna White, but she has to go to ringside. Okerlund breaks down the tournament once again. Bob Uecker runs up, but White is already gone.
WWF Tag Team Championship
Demolition (Ax and Smash) w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana, c’s)
Smash will start against Rick Martel and clubs him down. Smash sends Martel into the ropes, but he misses a clothesline. Smash catches Martel, but Santana dropkicks him down. Ax runs in and assaults Santana. Martel hits Ax with a cross-body. Strike Force sends Smash into the ropes and punches him down. Martel applies an arm wrench and tags Santana in. Santana hits a flying elbow to the arm and wrenches the arm. Smash knees Santana and tags Ax in. Santana hits an arm drag and applies an arm bar. Martel tags in and clubs him. Martel wrenches the arm, but Ax punches him back. Smash tags in, and Martel hits him with a hip toss. Santana tags in and kicks the arm of Smash. Smash sends Martel into the ropes, but Martel leapfrogs him. Smash catches Martel, and Ax clotheslines Martel down. Ax tags in and clubs Martel down. Demolition tags in and out, attacking Santana. Martel runs in to help, but the referee holds him back. Smash chops Santana back before hitting a suplex for a near fall. Smash goes for an elbow drop, but Santana moves. Ax tags in, but Santana elbows him down. Smash keeps Santana back. Ax clubs Santana, but Santana quickly comes back with a flying forearm.
Smash and Martel are tagged in. Martel punches away at Smash before hitting a back body drop. Martel dropkicks Smash and dropkicks Ax getting in the ring. Martel dropkicks Smash again before taking Ax out. Martel applies a Boston Crab to Smash. Santana punches Ax down. Mr. Fuji gets on the apron. Santana knocks Ax down and punches Fuji. Ax hits Martel in the neck with Fuji’s cane. Smash covers Martel for the win!
Winners by Pinfall and new WWF Tag Team Champions: Demolition
Mike’s Thoughts: Not a bad match at all with Demolition defeating Strike Force. This began Demolition’s reigns as the longest Tag Team Champions, a record they held until The New Day broke it in 2016, though they won it with Tag Titles that carried a different lineage.
Howard Finkel states we are going to see the final match of the tournament to determine the undisputed WWF Champion. Robin Leach is introduced to the ring once again, as he will present the WWF Championship. Leach comes out to piano music carrying the WWF Championship on a red velvet pillow. Leach brings it to Donald Trump, who looks at it with approval.
The guest ring announcer will be Bob Uecker for the second year in a row. Uecker also shakes hands with Donald Trump. Uecker now introduces the guest timekeeper, Vanna White. Uecker is so happy as he poses with Vanna White in the ring. She kisses him on the cheek, and Uecker is convulsing. Uecker now starts the ring introductions and is really off due to the kiss.
WWF Championship Tournament – Final Match
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ André the Giant vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth
The winner of this match will become the undisputed WWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth are now dressed in white for their entrance gear. Savage has orange trunks on underneath.
The bell rings, and they lock up. DiBiase powers him to the corner, but Savage fights out. André quickly grabs at the leg, so the referee admonishes him. A “Hogan” chant picks up. Savage wrenches away at the arm before DiBiase whips him off. DiBiase whips him off, and Savage shoulder blocks him down. Savage hits the ropes, and André sweeps the feet. Another “Hogan” chant fires up. DiBiase wrenches Savage’s arm, but Savage reverses it on him. DiBiase puts him in the corner and punches away at the midsection. DiBiase chops away at the chest before elbowing him in the back of the neck. DiBiase sends him into the ropes for a clothesline to pick up a two count. Savage sends him into the ropes, but DiBiase shoulder blocks him down. DiBiase goes for a sunset flip, but Savage fights it and takes him down for a two count. DiBiase goes to his corner and talks with André the Giant.
DiBiase knees Savage down before chopping him. DiBiase stomps him before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. DiBiase elbows him in the neck before sending him into the ropes. Savage ducks and elbow and takes him down before snapping him off the top rope. Savage then hits him with a high knee that sends him over the top rope. Savage goes to the top rope, but André the Giant steps in front of DiBiase. Savage puts the brakes on and gets off the top rope. Savage whispers to Miss Elizabeth, and she runs to the back. DiBiase takes Savage down and hits some falling fists for a near fall. DiBiase hits a snapmare and applies a chin lock. A “Hogan” chant fires up.
All of a sudden, Miss Elizabeth returns from the back with Hulk Hogan by her side. Hogan brings a chair and sits at ringside. DiBiase does not look happy. André the Giant looks weary. DiBiase punches away at Savage in the corner. André pulls Savage out of the ring, so Hogan sends him to a knee with some right hands. In the ring, DiBiase clotheslines Savage down before dropping an elbow for a near fall. DiBiase connects with a suplex for a two count. DiBiase argues with the referee over the count. DiBiase catches Savage with a gutwrench suplex for a near fall. DiBiase smacks the mat in frustration. DiBiase hits a scoop slam and goes to the top rope. Savage grabs him and flips him off the top rope. Savage quickly goes to the top rope for a Flying Elbow Drop, but DiBiase moves! DiBiase now applies the Million Dollar Dream. The referee is admonishing André the Giant. Hogan gets in the ring and hits DiBiase in the back with a chair. Savage hits DiBiase with a Flying Elbow Drop for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and new WWF Champion: “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Savage and Miss Elizabeth celebrate in the ring with Hulk Hogan. Hogan stands in front of the camera constantly as he puts over Savage as the new WWF Champion. Savage puts Miss Elizabeth on his shoulder and has her hold up the WWF Championship. Savage and Hogan shake hands as the show comes to an end.
Mike’s Thoughts: So-so match to conclude what was a long and largely boring WWF Championship Tournament. Savage, who was being crowned the champion here, really was undermined by the booking of this match. Savage almost came off like an afterthought. All the crowd wanted was Hulk Hogan to come out and were chanting his name throughout to save Savage. The match was set-up just for Hogan to be the hero. Then Hogan hogged a good majority of the spotlight after the match was over and Savage was posing with the title. Not a strong way to put over your new champion.
There really weren’t many highlights here in terms of matches. The Demolition/Strike Force match might be it. It was interesting to see future President of the United States Donald Trump at ringside the entire time. Say what you will about Trump, but he stayed seated at ringside the entire time. He didn’t do what celebrities normally do at events and leave halfway through. He was there watching the entire time. Another highlight of the show was Bob Uecker’s chase of Vanna White. That guy had some great comedic timing and hung in there with Bobby Heenan at one point during an interview.
Overall this was not a good WrestleMania and a really poor follow-up to the prior year’s event. 16 matches on a three and a half hour card is way too many. They probably should have done the first round matches in the weeks leading up to the show or on a Saturday Night’s Main Event show and cut them out of here. The tournament also felt cheap with a number of poor finishes involving disqualifications, count-outs, and draws… just wasn’t good whatsoever.
Quick Match Results
— Bad News Brown won a Battle Royal
— Ted DiBiase def. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— Don Muraco def. Dino Bravo via DQ in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— Greg “The Hamer” Valentine def. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. “The Natural” Butch Reed in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— One Man Gang def. Bam Bam Bigelow via CO in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— “Ravishing” Rick Rude vs. Jake “The Snake” Robert goes to a Time Limit Draw in a WWF Championship Tournament First Round Match
— The Ultimate Warrior def. Hercules
— André the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan goes to a Double DQ in a WWF Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match
— Ted DiBiase def. Don Muraco in a WWF Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match
— “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine in a WWF Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match
— Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake def. The Honky Tonk Man via DQ in a WWF Intercontinental Championship Match
— The Islanders (Haku and Tama) and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan def. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) and Koko B. Ware
— “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. One Man Gang via DQ in a WWF Championship Semifinal Match
— Demolition (Ax and Smash) def. Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) to win the WWF Tag Team Championship
— “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. Ted DiBiase to win the WWF Championship
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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