Wrestlemania IV:

[Guest nWoScorpion]

- The Opening is some shots of the WWF getting ready for the big event that will take place in mere minutes. I recognize Strike Force, Jimmy Hart, Brutus Beefcake, Ted Dibiase, Virgil, Smash, Bam Bam Bigelow, Hercules, Jim Duggan, Hulk Hogan, Slick, Honky Tonk Man, Koko B. Ware, and Ultimate Warrior.

 

- LIVE! From Atlantic City, NJ in Trump Plaza Hotel!

 

- Your Hosts tonight are Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura.

 

- Craig DeGeorge (who looks a lot like Sean Mooney) is in the audience, but has a very soar throat. 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 by the way of the 1999 release, so the previous stuff was all edited out.

 

- Mean Gene opens up the show with Gladys 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, Jesse & gorilla give us a run down of some of the matches that will take place tonight.

 

- 20 Man Battle Royal:

Participants: Bret "Hitman" Hart & Jim Niedhart, Paul Roma & Jim Powers, Sika, Dangerous Danny Davis, Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell, Bad News Brown, Sam Houston, Jacques & Raymond Rogeau, Ken Patera, Ron Bass, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, 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 really didn't get pushed. Sika soon follows by a gang of superstars. JYD & Hillbilly Jim are noticeable. Blair teases elimination by Volkoff but hangs on. Blair teases ANOTHER elimination. Steele is standing on the outside like a schmuck. Steele pulls out Niedhart by the hair of his chin. Blair is on the apron more then in the ring. Jacque knocks him out as Raymond 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 immediately after by Bad News Brown. Patera goes nuts eliminating both the Bolsheviks, 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, Junkyard Dog, Paul Roma.

Guess who's next to go? Bad News dumps out Roma in an obvious work elimination. JYD goes nuts on Bret & Brown with some rolling headbutts, but soon they take advantage and eliminate the Dog. Bret & Brown seem to have made a pact, but Bad News nails an enziguri (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 drop-kicks Brown out of the ring and tears apart the 7 foot plus trophy he won. Signaling his face turn.

 

- DeGeorge is with Ted Dibiase in his luxury sweet. Ted Dibiase makes fun of the superstars locker room and Jim Duggan.

 

- Robin Leach comes out to announce the start of the special Wrestlemania IV tournament.

 

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase:

Duggan yells like an idiot a lot. Dibiase with a clean break in the corner. HOOOOOOO! I bet Duggan couldn't get women with that chant. Dibiase with cheap shot blocked and some right hands by Duggan. Stalling Atomic Drop sends Dibiase over the top rope. HOOOOOOO! Dibiase with an eye rake and some chops and rights to the jaw. Duggan with a clothesline followed by the 10 PUNCHES OF DOOM!! HOOOOOOOOOO! Dibiase with a boot to Duggan's face and some shots to the gut. Dibiase with his own clothesline and a stomp to the face. Dibiase nails a second rope elbow for 2. Duggan with a series of roundhouse rights, Duggan 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 goes after him and gets hit right in the mouth at the same time Dibiase nails a knee to the back and the fist drop for the win at 5:02. 1/4*. God Dibiase was so good, but Duggan was ZERO help for this one.

 

- Mean Gene is with Brutus The Barber for an interview.

 

- "The Rock" Don Muraco vs. Dino Bravo:

One Guess who wins this. 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 FORWARD! Muraco gets hung in the ropes by his HUGH neck and Bravo nails 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 shoulder thinking he won. ref declares Muraco winner via Disqualification at 4:54. * wasn't as bad as I thought but a garbage match nonetheless.

 

- Ricky Steamboat 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 returning 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.

 

- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine:

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 lengthy 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 like Owen hart and school boys him for another 2 count like wrestlemania III. Steamboat locks on a wristlock but Valentine blocks it. 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 an inverted atomic drop followed up by a clothesline. elbows to the face do nothing of importance. Steamer fights back a succession of chops. Stomach breaker stuns the dragon and valentine gets a headbutt around the midsection. Figure four is blocked and Hammers rammed into the buckle again. The trade some chops (no woooooo). Steamer nails a huge chop then throws him to the mat. Eye rake and shoulder breaker by Hammer gets 2. Hammer goes up top and nails an elbow to the face. Figure 4 is blocked again and steamer starts ramming his face into the canvas. Dragon nails a top rope chop to the head for a 2 count. 11 TURNBUCKLE SHOTS! Steamer throws 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 Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware. Ware kisses Matilda on the lips.

 

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

 

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

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 doable meter. Reed poses, and gets boo'd. Reed takes Savage to the corner and starts kicking him and drops a fist. Savage eats turnbuckle savage reverses the second 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 draped across the top rope sending him to the floor. reed sends Savage to the mat with an elbow and a second rope fist between the eyes. Savage jabs do nothing and reed nails a huge 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 eliminated so far. I wonder if a pattern is forming.

 

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

 

- Bam Bam Bigelow vs. One Man Gang:

Bam Bam 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. Cross body gets 2. Elbow to the face of Gang. Bigelow come off the ropes, but Slick pulls them down, causing Bigelow to be counted out at 2:59. 1/4* for Bigelow efforts alone. So all 4 prospects that suck are all gone. I believe Bigelow was injured prior to this and wasn't capable of competing more then this match.

 

- Gene is with Hulk Hogan. Hogan does some backstroking to end a weird promo.

 

- Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude:

Rude has a picture (kinda) of Cheryl Roberts on his trunks. Jake Roberts has Daemon with him. This match is all filler holds. So in short, its a Time Limit Draw at an official 15:13. 1/2*. Suck city baby!!! I didn't even have the sanity to do this match.

 

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

 

- Ultimate Warrior Vs. Hercules:

Warrior has basically no heat until Summerslam 1988. Warrior is not like the Warrior of 1990 or 1991. Hercules and Warrior trade some shoulderblock. Takes 3 clotheslines to put the Warrior down. Warrior drops Hercules with 1. Roundhouse clothesline. Powerslam by Warrior is fucked up so he nails some kind of clothesline but is dumped over the top. Hercules lays some lefts & rights on the Warrior and nails an Inverted Atomic Drop after a 10 PUNCHES OF DOOM by Warrior. Full Nelson is locked on, but the fingers aren't 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 swinging 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.

 

Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant:

Real American so rules. Andre goes after Hogan to start but Hogan soon sends the Giant to the mat and rips off the hulkamania shirt. Hogan pounds away on the Giant and knocks him to the ground after a running forearm. Hogan drops 2 elbows, andre catches him in the third and starts choking him out. Andre just sits on Hogan. Andre uses his choke hold for 4 seconds a piece. Andre still has the chokehold on Hogan. Hogan powers out and nails some punches and a knee to the midsection followed by a giant clothesline. Hogan goes for a slam but Dibiase nails Hogan with a 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 their 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.

 

- Mean Gene is now with Randy Savage, who is mad at Hogan's elimination, and with Elizabeth.

 

- "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase vs. "The Rock" Don Muraco:

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 goes up for a second rope fist to the esophagus. Muraco with a suplex and Curt Hennig like snapmare on Dibiase. Standing drop-kick gets 2. Graham threatens to nail Dibiase with a Cain. In 10 years this is how bad Graham 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 punches in the corner and a clothesline. Ted begs then sucker punches Muraco but Muraco takes him down. Muraco off the ropes but is dropped 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 head with a bat and the team of Strike Force going down.

 

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

 

- Greg "The Hammer" Valentine vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage:

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 goes up top, nailing an elbow onto savages neck. Valentine with an elbow for 2. shoulder breaker by Hammer gets another 2 count. Valentine follows up by hurling Savage over the top rope and dropping an ax handle off the apron. Reverse Knife-edges 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 goes up and nails the double ax handle for 2. Valentine nails a few more elbows and a suplex is reversed by Savage. Savage goes for another ax handle but is caught this time. Savage misses the rope leg drop and Valentine goes for the figure 4, but Savage turns into a small package for the 3 count at 6:07. **1/2 Great match, for this event at least. I don't believe the show is being carried by Greg Valentine.

 

- Vanna White & Gene have the updated board.

 

- WWF-Intercontinental championship Match:

Honky Tonk Man © 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. Tie-up is won by Honky with a knee to the gut and some punches. Beefcake catches Honky and nails atomic drop. Then messes up his hair for fun. Stall Central. Honky's tights say Don't Be Cruel, maybe that will be a trivia Q someday 10 FACE FIRST BUCKLE SHOTS OF DOOM By Beefcake. Leap Frog by Beefcake(!) and a high knee sends Honky to the outside. Snap suplex from the outside by Brutus and a hip toss. Honky dodges an elbow and takes control with some kicks to the head. snapmare by honky and an elbow between the eyes. BORING BORING. Jimmy chokes Brutus while Honky distracts the referee. Shake Rattle N' Roll Beefcake blocks by holding onto the ropes. back body drop by Beefcake and Brutus kicks Honky in the sternum. Sleeper Hold is applied, but Jimmy Clocks the Ref with his megaphone for the DQ win. *. Bell never officially rings, so I'm guessing its in the area of 8:50 or so. Afterwards Brutus cuts Jimmy's hair for good measure. Honky retains title.

 

- Bob Ueker is now with Andre The Giant. Classic Bit. Ueker asks Andre will you get your foot of my shoulder. Andre then proceeds 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 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 attacking him.

 

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

 

- DeGeorge is now with an irate Bobby Heenan. Enough already.

 

"Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. One Man Gang:

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 ax handle 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:

Demolition have their COOL theme at Wrestlemania IV. Strike Force get a decent pop, but surprisingly 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 body presses Smash in the process. Double clothesline on Smash send shim down. Santana with an arm ringer but Ax tags in and walks into a hip toss. Martel tags in and works on the arm as well. Smash tags in and walks into a hip toss. Santana tags in and works on the arm. AGAIN. Santana gets caught in the corner after Ax nails a hard clothesline and Demolition just pound his ass. Demolition pound away for a few minutes until Martel gets the hot tag in and unloads a series of drop-kicks and ax handle 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 Good match, although it had too many arm-bars and arm ringers. Time for the main event.

 

- DeGeorge is with the new tag team champions Demolition & their manager Mr. Fuji.

 

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

 

WWF Championship Match for the Vacant Title:

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

It's too late. Bob Ueker is guest ring announcer again. Vanna White gives him a 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 arm-bars and again andre grabs Savage's leg. Both men work arm ringers again. Savage takes some shots to the sternum. Dibiase nails clothesline for 2. Savage with an Irish whip but Dibiase nails a shoulder-block and goes for an unsuccessful sunset flip. Savage back in control with a running elbow and slinging Ted across the top rope. Followed by a high knee sending him to the floor. Savage goes for an Ax-handle off the tope, but andre stands in his way. Liz leaves and retrieves The Hulkster to be in his corner. Dibiase with the fallen fist drop for 2. Sleeper Hold stalls until Hogan comes out to a huge 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 goes up and nails the elbow drop for the win and the world title at 9:18. **. Not bad, but definitely not one of the best main events in Wrestlemania history.

 

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

 

Final Analysis: To this day, it marked the longest Wrestlemania From first match to last, at over 4 hours, and it shows, since I skipped two matches that were both long and dull. There was Several good matches in between some filler stuff but it's not enough.

 

Mild Recommendation to avoid.

[Guest TheGame2705]

Avoid?!

[Guest Bruiser Chong]

Wrestlemania IV was the first one I ever saw, so I have a soft spot in my heart for it, as I've seen it at least 75 times, which seems impossible, but it's true. People are too hard on the show because it's not even that bad, just dull in several areas. People who haven't seen it should at least check it out to see such important things as Bret Hart's first steps towards becoming a face, Demolition winning their first tag team titles, and Randy Savage winning the WWF championship for the first time.

 

Okay rant, minor spelling errors aside. I still don't see why everyone who does rants of PPV's or tapes feels the need to do any of the Wrestlemania's, as they've been done by EVERYONE and rarely vary content-wise. I've only done a handful of tape reviews in my time and I've never even touched a PPV, simply because in most cases, it's commonly done by Internet writers. Why not go for something a little different? It gets old seeing dozens of rants on shows like Wrestlemania I, IX, or X (those seem to be the most frequently done ones) and then seeing that there's little difference between them. Just my two cents.

[Guest bob_barron]

Wrestlemania IV was the first one I ever saw, so I have a soft spot in my heart for it, as I've seen it at least 75 times, which seems impossible, but it's true. People are too hard on the show because it's not even that bad, just dull in several areas. People who haven't seen it should at least check it out to see such important things as Bret Hart's first steps towards becoming a face, Demolition winning their first tag team titles, and Randy Savage winning the WWF championship for the first time.

 

Okay rant, minor spelling errors aside. I still don't see why everyone who does rants of PPV's or tapes feels the need to do any of the Wrestlemania's, as they've been done by EVERYONE and rarely vary content-wise. I've only done a handful of tape reviews in my time and I've never even touched a PPV, simply because in most cases, it's commonly done by Internet writers. Why not go for something a little different? It gets old seeing dozens of rants on shows like Wrestlemania I, IX, or X (those seem to be the most frequently done ones) and then seeing that there's little difference between them. Just my two cents.

You've seen Wrestlemania IV 75 times??

 

I fear for you.

 

I understand the show has a bit of history but it's just so dull and boring to sit through. Every match is either way too short or is 15 minutes of Jake and Rude resting.

 

I'm only doing the Road to WM reviews because I reviewed them last year (17 in 17 days!) and I just want them up at 411 just so they can be in my collection

[Guest nWoScorpion]

I'm basically doing my tape collection, starting with PPVs. Every month I'll cover all of the ones in the past (that I have). I've done several non-PPVs, but I also still have plenty of Comp tapes to do.

 

And although I like WM IV because I loved it when I was younger, doesn't mean I'd recommend it for others. It's just one of those things, like Potatoe Skin Chips. (Yes, I spelled Potato incorrectly intentionally.)

[Guest Retro Rob]

I still don't see why everyone who does rants of PPV's or tapes feels the need to do any of the Wrestlemania's, as they've been done by EVERYONE and rarely vary content-wise. I've only done a handful of tape reviews in my time and I've never even touched a PPV, simply because in most cases, it's commonly done by Internet writers. Why not go for something a little different? It gets old seeing dozens of rants on shows like Wrestlemania I, IX, or X (those seem to be the most frequently done ones) and then seeing that there's little difference between them. Just my two cents.

I agree with you for the most part. Except when I review a PPV, I consider it a challenge. Sure it has been done many times before, but I try my damndest to make MY review stand out. It doesn't necessarily have to be better, but at least different. I also don't review THAT many shows that have been done to death, but depending on my mood and the time of year I sometimes do those shows. For example, March IS WrestleMania as far as I'm concerned, so I've been working on a WrestleMania 2 review. Just my two cents.

[Guest Bruiser Chong]

I understand the show has a bit of history but it's just so dull and boring to sit through. Every match is either way too short or is 15 minutes of Jake and Rude resting.

 

And although I like WM IV because I loved it when I was younger, doesn't mean I'd recommend it for others.

 

I'm not challenging the dullness factor of the show, as I'm only able to sit through most of it cause I've seen it so many times. It's just that I wouldn't say to straight up avoid it. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it (speaking as an average Joe), but I'd try to see it eventually just for the historical stuff.

 

 

I also don't review THAT many shows that have been done to death, but depending on my mood and the time of year I sometimes do those shows. For example, March IS WrestleMania as far as I'm concerned, so I've been working on a WrestleMania 2 review. Just my two cents.

 

It's understandable as to why you see so many Mania reviews around the 'net this time of year, not like we're seeing so many in October; I was just stating certain Mania's have been reviewed to death. Perhaps reviewing a less frequently reviewed Mania would work.

[Guest snuffbox]

Im a mark for this show. WrestleMania IV was also my first WWF payperview.