Wrestlemania IV

[Guest nWoScorpion]

Since i couldnt find my Re-released version, i had to pull out the old Coliseum Video One. So here we go.

 

WWF Wrestlemania IV

Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, NJ

March 27, 1988

 

We open the show with a  promo for Hulkamania III. Gotta love Hogan.

 

The Opening is some shots of the WWF getting ready for the big event that will take palce in mere minutes. I recgonzie Strike Force,  Jimmy Hart, Brutus, Ted, Virgil, Smash, Bigelow, Hercules, Duggan, Hogan, Slick, Honky, Koko,and Warrior

 

Craig Degoerge (who looks alot like Sean Mooney) is in the audience, but has a very sour throat. Pat PAtterson & Craig Degeorge gay Wedding? Tune into WWF Primetime Wrestling for details. This was yet clipped from the released tape in 1999. We get some highlights from the Fan Festival.

 

Cool Wrestlemania IV opening to A Slot Machine shooting out Coins with WWF logo imprinted on them. This was the opening btw of the 1999 release, so the previous stuff was all edited out.

 

-Mene Gene opens up the show with Gladis (sp?) Knight to sing our countries National Anthem. I remember the Wrestlemania History magazine from 1994, and I was like, "hey, its a skinny Sapphire!" That is until i actually read the whole Wrestlemania IV Section.

 

-Bob Ueker joins Jesse & Gorilla for commentary before the start of the Invitational Battle Royal. while the entrants come to the ring, Jes & gorilla give us a run down of some of the matches that will take place tonight.

 

-20 Man Battle Royal:

The competitors are announced as followed. Bret "Hitman" Hart & Jim Niedhart, Paul Roma & Jim Powers, Sika, Dangerous Danny Davis, Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell, Bad News Brown, Sam Houston, Jauque & Raymon Rogeau, Ken Patera, Ron Bass, Junkard Dog, Nikolai Vokoff, Boris Zhukov, Hillbilly Jim, Harley Race, George Steele. All mayhem spills. Cant really keep track of a battle royal that much. Sam Houston is first out via Danny Davis. God, Jake's brother rally didnt get pushed. Sika soon follows by a gang of superstars. JYD & Hillbilly Jim are noticable. Blair teases elimanation by Volkoff but hangs on. Blair teases ANOTHER elimaantion. Steele is standing on the outside like a schmuck. Steele pulls out Niedhart by the hair of his chiny-chin chin. Blair is on the apron more then in the ring. Jacque knocks him out as Raymon tosses Brunzell and Jacque.  Bass is out thanks to the junkyard dog. steele is finally sent to the back. Hillbilly is Jim by Boris Zhukov. Oh Brother. Danny Davis is out thanks to Paul Roma. Jim Powers is tossed emidately after by Bad News Brown. Patera gos nuts elimanating both the Bolshiviks, but Bad News tosses him out. Race takes out Jacque and Race is gone courtesy of the JYD.

 

Final Four: Bret "Hitman" Hart, Bad News Brown, Junkard Dog, Jim Powers.

Guess whos enxt to go? Bad News dumps out Roma in a obvious work elimanation. JYD gos nuts on Bret & Brown with some rolling headbutts, but soon they take advantage and elimanate the Dog. Bret & Brown seem to have made a pact, but Bad News nails an inziguri (ghetto blaster), irish whips bret doing his famous corner bump, and is tossed to end the match at 9:47. Cant rate a battle royal, but decent. Bret is runner up yet again at a wrestlemania battle royal.

 

-Post Match: Bret dropkicks Brown out of the ring and tears apart the 7 foot plus trophy he won. Signalling his face turn.

 

-Degeorge is with Ted Dibiase in his luxery sweet. Ted Dibiase makes fun of the superstars lockerroom and Jim duggan.

 

-Robin Leach comes out to announce the start of the special Wrestlemania IV tournament. God he is so gay.

(Both these two segments were also clipped)

 

First Round:

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Million dollar Man" Ted Dibiase (w/ Virgil & Andre The Giant)

Who thought that either Jim Duggan, Dino Bravo, Butch Reed or Bam Bam bigelow were really good enough to fight for the world title? Niether man has thier cool/decent theme music for another 3 years, so fast foward....us of a! We know Dibiase wins cause thier shilling a Dibiase/MuracoorBravo and Dibiase/Andre match already. Duggan yells like an idiot. Dibiase with a clean break in the corner. HOOOOOOO! I bet Duggan couldnt get women with that chant. Dibiase with  cheap chot blocked and some right hands by Duggan. Stalling Atomic Drop sends Dibiase over the top rope. HOOOOOOOOO! Dibiase with an eye rake and some chops and rights to the jaw. Duggan with a clothesline followed bythe 10 PUNCHES OF DOOM!! HOOOOOOOOOO! Dibiase with a boot to duggans face and some shots to the gut. Dibiase with his own clothesline and a stomp to the face. Dibiase nails a 2nd rope elbow for 2. Duggan with a series of roundhouse rights, uggan pulls out a  sunset flip. (echoing Voice) Now you believe in. Dibiase with a knee to the midsection. Duggan with a reversed suplex and a hard right to the breadbasket. Powerslam sets up the 3 point stance. andre trips up Duggan. Duggan gos after him and gets hit right in the mouth at the same time Dibiase nails a knee to the backand the fist drop for the win at 5:02. 1/4*. God Dibiase was so good, but Duggan was ZERO help for this one.

 

-Mene Gene is with Brutus The Barber for an interview. Ramble ramble ramble. He does a dr. Suess like rhym.

 

"Magnificent" Don Muraco (w/ Superstar Billy Graham) vs. Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin)

Don Muracos theme SOOOOOO RULES at this point. This is nearing the end of his WWF run or any run in the big 3 ever again. 1 Guess who wins this. Graham is dressed like my grandmother. Jesse reports Graham said earlier "ill be back" calling him the terminator. ROIDED FREAK vs. COOL ROIDED FREAK here. Slow match./ Muraco with a high backdrop but Bravo nails a series of elbow drops. Gut wrench suplex and some boots put down the Magnificent one. Bravo with more kicks and punches but misses the corner charge. Muraco works on the knee like Owen Hart. Cutting it from beneath him. Spinning toe hold makes Bravo tap, so we are 9 years from the new rules. PREPARE TO FAST FOWARD! Muraco gets hung in the ropes by his HUGH neck and Bravo nals a piledriver. Nearing the end, Bravo pulls Morella in front of him when muraco goes for a flying forearm. Ref counts 3 on Bravo's shoulde,r thinking he won. ref declares Muraco winner via Disqualification at 4:54. * wasnt as bad as i thoguht but a blah match none the less. Cool, i get to hear Muracos theme atleast 2 more times. now, and his match vs. Dibiase on Tape 2.

 

-Ricky Steambaot tells us this is the year of the Dragon. Steamboat dedicates this match to his son. This was about a month before Steamboat will go to NWA and returnin 1991 as the stupid DRAGON gimmick for real.

 

-Ueker is with Honky Tonk Man & Jimmy hart. HTM talks about back stroking down the mississippi river. More ueker baseball jokes.

 

Ueker: You guys aint never commin over to my house!!

 

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (w/ the Little Dragon) vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w Jimmy hart)

Steamboats theme so rules. How did Hart get to the ring so fast?! They claim the baby's a few months old. In reality it was born around wrestlemania III time. This takes the good longitivity match of the night i think. Steamboat with a hip toss series after some leap frogs. Armbar makes a small pace but Steamer is nailing some chops on the hammer for 2 2 counts. Another chop for 2. Steamboat holds onto the ropes and powers back in ala Owen hart and school boys him for another 2 count ala wrestlemania III. Steamboat locks on a wristlock but Valentine blocks it. jesse mentions Barry Blaustein, director of Beyond the mat, probably the shittiest movie i have ever witnessed watching. Hammer works on steamers neck for a little bit and nails his own kind of karate chop for 2. Steamer rams valentine into the buckle who does a flair fall to mat. Armbar stalls a little time. Hammer reverses into a inverted atmoic drop followed up by a clothesline. elbows to the face do nothing of importance. Steamer fights back a sucsession of chops. Stomach breaker stuns the dragon and valentine gets a headbutt around the midesction. Figutre four ois blocked and Hammers rammed into the buckle again. The trade some chosp (no woooooo). Steamer nails a hugh chop then throws him to the mat. Eye rake and shoulderbreaker by Hammer gets 2. Hammer gos up top and nails a elbow to the face. Figure 4 is blocked agaun and steamer starts ramming his face into the canvas. Dragon nails a top rope chop to the head for a 2 count. 11 TUTNBUCKLE SHOTS OF DOOM. Steamer thros Hebner. Valentine reverses the Dragon Leap for the win at a long 9:10. *** Great match, even though i despise Valentine. Winner of Savage.Reed faces the Hammer.

 

-Gene is now with the Bullodgs & Koko B. Ware. are kisses MAtilda on the lips. Yuk. Me Ge acording to Davey Boy.

 

Koko: Matilda, i want you to eat his lunch baby, ok?!

 

-Degeorge is with Bobby Heenan who has gotten a late delivery. we will find out later for his match what it was.

(also clipped)

 

"Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed

JIVE SOUL BRO SO KICKS ASS!!!!!!! SO DOS POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE. Like i said for the Muraco/Bravo match, 1 guess who wins here?. Jesse says Monsoon is drooling so much he looks like Matilda. Jesse bashes Vince again tonight, o brother. Liz is a 8 on duable meter. reed poses, and gets boo'd. Reed takes Savage to thecorner and starts kickin him and drops a fist. Savage eats turnbuckle savage reverse=s the 2nd and reed eats now. Savage cant nail a suplex and reed nails his own. Elbow drop gets 2. Fists galore by the natural. Savage is slinged across the top rope sending him to the floor. reed sends Savage to the mat with a elbow and a 2nd rope fist between the eyes. Savage jabs do nothing and reed nails a hugh clothesline. Liz distracts Reed while he climbs the ropes, but savage stops and slams him, followed by the academic elbow drop for the win at 4:09. 1/2*. So we saw 3 of the 4 no chance in hell guys elimanated so far. I wonder if a patern is forming.

 

-Bob Ueker is now with Bobby Heenan & The Islanders.

 

Heenan: You got over 700,00votes to get in the hall of fame. you woulda had more but you ran out of stamps.

 

Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Oliver Humperdink) vs. One Man Gang (w/ sSlick)

Bigelows theme here is better theneither of his early 1990's ones. Oliver "Big Daddy Dink" Humperdink is in Bigelows corner.

Brings back memories of Wrestlemania for NES. Gang attacks with some punches and elbows. Avalanche in the corner. Bigelow comes back with a shoulderblock, cartwheel and a weak splash. Crossbody gets 2. Elbow to the face of Gang. Bigelow come soff the ropes, but Skick puls them down, causing bigelow to be counted out at 2:59. 1/4* for Bigelows efforts alone. So all 4 prospects that suck are all gone. I believe Bigelow was injured prior to this and wasnt capable of competing more then this match.

 

-Gene is with Hulk Hogan. Brother count is 3. hogan does some backstroking to end a wierd promo.

 

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/ Bobby heenan)

Rude has a picture (kinda) of Cheryl Roberts on his trunks. Jake Roberts has Damion with him. This match is all filler holds. So in short, its a Time Limit Draw at an oifficial 15:13. 1/2*. Suckcityu baby!!! I didnt even have the sanity to do this match. so heres were we are left...

 

-Mene Gene & Vanna White are with the WM board.

2nd Round:

HULK HOGAN

ANDRE THE GIANT

 

TED DIBIASE

DON MURACO

 

GREG VALENTINE

RANDY SAVAGE

 

ONE MAN GANG        ONE MAN GANG      

BYE                  

 

Ultimate Warrior Vs. Hercules (w/ Bobby heenan)

Warrior has basically no heat until Summerslam 1988. Warrior is not like the Warrior of 1990 or 1991. Hercules and Warrior trade some shoulderblocks. Takes 3 clothslines to put the Warrior down. Warrior drops Hercules with 1. Roundhouse clothesline. Powerslam by Warrior is fucked up so he nails sp,e kind of clothesline but is dumped over the top. Hercules lays some elfts & rights on the Warrior and nails a Inverted Atomic Drop after a 10 PUNCHES OF DOOM by Warrior. Full Nelson is locked on, but the figners arent connected. Warrior walks the ropes and gets the pin after getting the shoulder up at 2 at 4:36. DUD. Warrior gets choked with the Chain, but Warrior starts swining it around like the mad man he was.

 

-Recap of Hogan/Andre. See Wrestlemania III. the rest is The Main Event controversy on 2/5/88.

 

-2nd Round:

Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant (w/ Ted Dibiase & Virgil)

Real American so rules. Andre gos after Hogan to start but Hogan soon sends the Giant to the mat and rips off the hulkamania shirt. Hogan poundas away on the Giant and knocks him to the ground after a running forearm. Hogan drops 2 elbows, andre catches him in the 3rd and starts choking him out. Andre just sits on Hogan. Andre usues his choke hold for 4 seconds apeice. 3:29 ending tape 1.

Continued: Andre still has the chokehold on Hogan. Hogan powers out and nails some punchs and a knee to the misection followed by a giant clothesline. Hogan gos for a slam but Dibias enails Hogan witha  chair. Hogan takes the chair and nails Andre. Andre then nails Hogan. Both men are Dq'd at 5:26. 1/2* Nothing match, seems like all thier is on this card is these kind of ratings. Hogan takes the chair and sends Andre to the mat. Then slams him. Hogan chases down Dibiase then suplex's Virgil on in the aisle way. Hogan poses for about 5 minutes following the bell.

 

-Mene Gene is now with Randy Savage, who is mad at Hogans elimanation, and with Elizabeth.

 

"Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase vs. "The Rock" Don Muraco (w/ Billy Graham)

Winner of this automatically is in the finals. Muraco starts by ramming Ted into the post. Elbow drop and a powerslam gets 2. Punch to the midsection and elbow put down Ted. Muraco gos up for a 2nd rope fist to the asophagus. Muraco with anapmatr suplex and Curt Henning like snapmare on Dibiase. Standing dropkick gets 2. Graham threatens to nail Dibiase with a cain. In 10 years this is how bad Grasham got. Dibiase pulls Muraco right into the ring post, turning the tide. Dibiase is choking out Muraco This referee is so annoying. Like the American League umpire who screams everything. Clothesline gets 2 by Dibiase. More chokes to Muraco. Muraco fights back with some punche sin the corner and a clothesline. Ted begs then sucke rpunches Muraco but Muraco takes him down., Muraco off the ropes but is clotheslined across the ropes for the win at 5:36. ** Not that bad a match, but still nothing that great either.

 

-Bob Ueker is now with Mr. Fuji & Demolition Ax & Smash. Smash talks about smashing someone in the ehad with a bat and the team of Strike Force going down.

 

Ueker: Must be Ocotber 31st already.

 

-One Man Gang is announced to have a bye to the Semi-finals.

 

Greg" The Hammer" Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/ Liz)

Savage & Liz come out in color coordinated pink. Its so cool living in Savages hometown of Sarasota, Florida. This match is mainly Valentine to my memory. Savage gets a snapmare and knee to the neck for a 2. Hammer nails Savage and gos up top, nailing an elbow onto savages neck.  Valentine with an elbow for 2. Shoulderbreaker by Hammer gets another 2 count. Valentine follows up by hurling Savage over the top rope and dropping an axhandle off the apron. Reverse Kinfeedges by Valentine then rams Savage into the steel barricade. Valentine with more Elbows and stomps. Savage fights off the figure 4. Hammer nails a nice suplex for 2. Savage with an elbow and a scoop slam. Savage gos up and nails the double axhandle for 2. Valenitne nails a few more elbows and a suplex is reversed by Savage. Savage gos for another axhanle but hius caught this time. Savage misses the rope legdrop and Valentine gos for the figure 4, but Savage turns into intoa  small package for the 3 count at 6:07. **1/2 Great match, for this event atleast. I dont beleive the show is bein carried by Friggin Greg Valentine.

 

-Vanna White & Geno have the updated board as of followed..

 

BYE

TED DIBIASE       TED DIBIASE

 

RANDY SAVAGE

ONE MAN GANG

 

-WWF-Intercontinental championship Match:

Honky Tonk Man © (w/ Col. Jimmy Hart & Peggy Sue) Vs. Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake

Brutus comes out to zero music, but his future theme also is cool. Peggy Sue is a younger and a little prettier (BARELY) Sensational sherri. Jesse says hi to terry, Tyrell & Jane. Tieup is won by HTM with a knee to the gut and some punches. Beefcake catches HTM and nails atomic drop. Then messes up his hair for fun. Stall Central. Honky's tights say Dont Be Cruel, maybe that will be a trivia Q someay. 10 FACE FIRST BUCKLE SHOTS OF DOOM By Beefer. Leap Frog by Beefcake(!) and a high knee sends Honky to the outside. snapsuplex from the outside by Bruti and a hiptoss. Honky dodges an elbow and takes control with some kicks to the head. snapmare by honky and an elbow between the eyes. BOOOORING BOOOORING. Jimmy chokes Brutus while HTM distracts the referee. Shake Rattle N' Roll beefer blocks by holding onto the ropes. back body drp by Beefer and Brutud kicks Honky in the sternum. Sleeper Hold is applied, but JKimmy Clocks the Ref with his megaphone for the DQ win. *. Bell never officially rings, so im guessing its in the area of 8:50 or so. Afterwards Brutus cuts Jimmys hair for good messure. Honky retains title.

 

-Bob Ueker is now with andre The Giant. Classic Bit.

Okerlund: will you get your foot of my shoulder. Andre then procedes to choke him out in comical fashion.

 

-DeGeorge is now with Honky Tonk Man, Peggy Sue and Jimmy Hart, who he says now looks like Little Lulu.

 

British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware (w/ Matilda & Frankie) vs. Islanders & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Fuck this match, pretty pathetic, Islanders work over Dynamite Kid (as usual) Koko comes in,beats on Heenan, but Islanders knock him out and slam Heenan on top of him for the 3 count. 9:30 is the time. Bell never rang. 1/2*. NEXT PLEASE. After the match Matilda chases down Heenan starts atatcking him.

 

-Jesse Ventura does some poses to the 2nd biggest pop of the night.

 

-Degeorge is now with an irate Bobby Heenan. enough already.

 

-Semi-Finals:

"Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/ Elizabeth) vs. One Man Gang (w/ Slick)

1 Guess how bad this match is gonna be. God, too many matches for 1 night. Gang looks like me on Drugs right here. One Man Gang punches and kick Savage all over the ring, Savage gets in some shots. Slick chases up Liz onto the apron as One Man Gang starts attempting to nail Savage with a Cain. The referee spots this and calls for the bell at 4:11. DUD. Savage vs. Ted Dibiase in the finals. Savage afterwards drops Gang with a double axhandle squashing Slick underneath him.

 

-Again with Vanna White & Gene. She leaves and then Bob Ueker enters. He still cant get to her. What a loser.

 

-WWF Tag Team Championship Match:

Strike Force © vs. Demolition (w/ Master Fuji)

Demolition have thier COOL theme at Wrestlemania IV. Strike Force get a decent pop, but surprsingly not as loud. All star Saturday Night is on so this is gonna be cut shorter. Smash starts out with Martel. Smash with some smashing club shots. Martel comes back with a cross body, Smash catches him so Santana drop kicks him over. Ax with an irish whip but Santana cross bodys Smash in the process. Double clothesline on Smash send shim down. Santana with ana rm ringer but Ax tags in and walks into a hiptoss. Martel tagfs in and works on the arm as well. Smash tags in and walsk into a hiptoss. Santana tags in and works on the arm. AGAIN. Santana gets caught in the corner afdter Ax nails a hard clothesline and Demolition just pound his ass. Demolition pound away for a few minutes til Martel gets the hot tag in and unloads a series of dropkicks and axhandle punches. Martel locks the Boston crab on smash, but ax comes in and clobbers Martel with the Cain, allowing Smash to get the pin for the tag titles at 8:03. **1/2 Goodmatch, althoguh it had too many armbars and arm ringers. Time for the main event.

 

-Degeorge is with the new tag team champions Demolition & thier manager Mr. Fuji.

 

-Robin Leech comes down like a fruit carrying the world title belt with him.

 

Finals:

WWF Championship Match for the Vacant Title:

"Macho Man" Randy savage vs. "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase

ITs too late. Bob Ueker is guest ring announcer again. Vanna White gives hima kiss after 4 hours of looking for her. Andre is again with dibiase and Savage has liz. Vanna is guest time keeper tonight. Andre trips up savage right away. Both men exchange a number of armbars and again andre grabs Savage's leg. Both men work arm ringers again. Savage takes some shots to the sternum. Dibiase nails aclothesline for 2. Savage with an irish whip byut Dibiase nails a shoulderblock and gos for a unsuccesful sunset flip. Savage back in control witha  running elbow and slinging Ted across the top rope. Follwed by a high knee sending him to the floor. Savage gos for a Axhandle off the tope, but andre stands in his way. Liz leaves an retrieves The Hulkster to be in his corner. Dibiase with the fallen fist drop for 2. Sleeper Hold stals til Hogan comes out to a hugh pop. Savage nails some left jabs then gets punished with slams and suplexes. gut Wrench suplex gets 2. Savage slams Ted off the top then misses his own elbow drop. Dibiase locks the million dollar dream on but Hogan clobbers him with a steel chair. Savage gos up and nails the elbow drop for the win and the world title at 9:18. **. Not bad, but definitly not one of the best main events in wrestlemania history.

 

-Hogan, Savage & Liz all celebrate in the ring until the show coems to an end.

 

To this day, it marked the oongest Wrestlemania From first match to last, at over 4 hours. Several good matches in between some filler stuff.

 

Midly Recomendation to avoid though.