WWF: 1988 and Beyond

[Guest JMA]

First off, this isn't an EWR diary. This is old-school fantasy booking. Second, although I am posting this thread, the majority of the credit goes to Hitman2003. He started this whole thing and I just signed up to help. Which is not to say this doesn't have my mark on it, because it does. We consult each other on various ideas and matches and see what we want and what we don't. Naturally, there are compromises made by both of us if we happen to disagree about something. We have weeded out a lot of the bad gimmicks and tried to create matches everyone could enjoy.

 

We hope we succeed. Please note that many wrestlers have different names and some wrestlers may not be used at all.

[Guest JMA]

1988 ROYAL RUMBLE

20-man Royal Rumble match (Randy Savage, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Andre the Giant, One Man Gang, Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine, Danny Davis, Ron Bass, Hercules, Bam Bam Bigelow, The Honky Tonk Man, Harley Race, Don Muraco, Dino Bravo, Bad News Brown, Butch Reed, Demolition & The British Bulldogs) 45:49 ***

 

Match Background: The winner of the Royal Rumble receives a World title match in the future.

 

Description: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan eliminated Danny Davis. Andre the Giant eliminated Brutus Beefcake. Andre the Giant eliminated Bam Bam Bigelow. Randy Savage eliminated Dino Bravo. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan eliminated The Honky Tonk Man. Harley Race eliminated Ron Bass. One Man Gang eliminated Don Muraco. Dynamite Kid eliminated Ax. Hercules eliminated Greg Valentine. Randy Savage eliminated Butch Reed. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan eliminated One Man Gang. Andre the Giant eliminated "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Davey Boy Smith eliminated Smash. Randy Savage eliminated Harley Race. Bad News Brown eliminated Dynamite Kid. Randy Savage eliminated Hercules. Bad News Brown, Randy Savage, and Davey Boy Smith eliminated Andre the Giant. Bad News Brown eliminated Davey Boy Smith. Randy Savage eliminated Bad News Brown to win the Royal Rumble.

 

Hulk Hogan © v. Ted DiBiase: WWF World title match (by count out) 12:05 **

 

Match Background: Hogan and Dibiase have been feuding. Neither one has managed to get an in-ring victory against the other since the feud started.

 

Description: Hogan dominates the beginning of this match, taking Dibiase down with clotheslines, body slams, and punches. Dibiase later gains control of the match by slowly wearing Hogan down. Dibiase eventually locks on the Sleeper, but Hogan powers out thanks to the cheers of his Hulkamaniacs. Hogan "Hulks Up" and dominates Dibiase. Hogan soon sends Dibiase out of the ring with an Atomic Drop and follows him. Mr. Jones (who had been hiding under the ring) grabs Hogan's legs. Hogan goes under the ring to find Jones and soon comes out with him. But he's too late. The referee has counted Hogan out, Dibiase has won. Hogan floors Jones with a punch and Dibiase makes a hasty retreat.

 

Ricky Steamboat v. Rick Rude 14:50 *** ¼

 

Match Background: Steamboat and Rude are as different as day and night. One is a family man who never breaks the rules and the other is a womanizer who thinks nothing of cheating to win. Their feud was intensified when Rude came on to Steamboat's wife.

 

Description: Rude and his manager, Bobby Heenan, cheat all through this match. Heenan himself interferes several times (getting on the apron, putting Rude's foot on the ropes, ect). Rude eventually gains the win by using Steamboat's tights for leverage. Rude makes a hasty retreat after the victory, wanting no part of The Dragon.

 

Tito Santana & Rick Martel © v. The Hart Foundation: WWF World tag team title match 8:25 *** ¾

 

Match Background: Santana and Martel are top contenders for the World tag team titles. The Hart Foundation are the World tag team champions.

 

Description: Jimmy Hart is sent to the back by his clients before the match starts. The Foundation needs to prove to themselves (and the fans) that they can win without help. This doesn't, however, mean that they're going to become fan favorites. The Foundation gains the advantage early on with quick tags. Neidhart weakens them with his punches, while Bret works on their bodies with various holds. Santana and Martel soon come back, though, and take it to the Hart Foundation. The climax of the match is when Martel gets Hart in his Boston Crab. Luckily for Hart, Neidhart breaks it up. Martel soon falls victim to the Hart Attack, and that's all she wrote. The Hart Foundation wins the World tag team titles.

[Guest JMA]

WRESTLEMANIA IV

Hulk Hogan v. Ted DiBiase: WWF World title match 10:40 ***

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title. Hogan and DiBiase have been feuding for a while.

 

Match Description: DiBiase comes out smirking, knowing that his opponent has been hurt. DiBiase's servant, Mr. Jones, and his hired muscle, Andre the Giant, follow closely behind. Hogan comes out next and the arena explodes in chairs. Hogan has a limp in his right leg. Hogan starts off strong against DiBiase, but DiBiase soon stops that by attacking Hogan's leg. He grounds Hogan and continues to work on the injured bodypart. DiBiase does everything he can to keep Hogan grounded, knowing he'll have to out-wrestle the Hulkster if he wants to win. Several come-backs are teased, but are shot down once DiBiase attacks the leg. DiBiase soon gets Hogan in his patented Sleeper. Hogan can't get to the ropes because of his hurt leg. The fans start to rally behind Hogan, and their cheers seem to give him new life. He powers out of the Sleeper and "Hulks Up" once again. DiBiase is soon attacked with a series of punches, bodyslams, and clotheslines. Hogan whips DiBiase to the ropesand hits the Big Boot. Just when he's about to go for the Leg Drop, Mr. Jones climbs on the apron. The referee falls for the distraction and Andre knocks Hogan's leg out from under him with his huge arm. Hogan screams in pain. DiBiase once again tries the Sleeper in the middle of the ring--Hogan loses consciousness from the pain. The fans are in total shock. Ted DiBiase has just beaten Hulk Hogan to become the new, undisputed World champion!

 

The Hart Foundation © v. The Rougeau Brothers: WWF World tag team title match 10:36 ** ¾

 

Match Background: The Hart Foundation were dumped by Jimmy Hart in the months leading up to WM. The Foundation had started to respect the rules and their opponents. Hart recruited the Rougeau Brothers to defeat the Foundation and take their World tag team titles.

 

Match Description: Jimmy Hart is still in the ring after the last match. He takes a mic and introduces the soon-to-be NEW World tag team champions, the Rougeau Brothers. The newest clients of Jimmy Hart come out to a chorus of boos. The Hart Foundation come out next to loud cheers, their tag belts around their waists. The Foundation starts off strong, sending the Rougeau Brothers fleeing from the ring. Once they return they isolate Bret Hart, making quick tags. Soon, Bret makes the hot tag to Jim Neidhart and he cleans house. The French Canadian team is in serious trouble. Sensing defeat, Jimmy Hart hands Jacques his megaphone. The Mouth of the South then distracts the referee by climbing onto the apron. While the referee's back is turned, Jacques hits Neidhart in the head with the megaphone. He pins Neidhart and the Rougeua Brothers win the tag team titles.

 

The Honky Tonk Man © v. Randy Savage: WWF Intercontinental title match 11:59 *** ¼

 

Match Background: The Honky Tonk Man has been the Intercontinental champion for a while. He'll do anything to remain champion, including getting himself DQed or counted out. He is not considered a fighting champion by any means. Randy Savage is a former Intercontinental champion himself.

 

Match Description: The Honky Tonk Man comes to the ring with Jimmy Hart. It's clear the fans don't like either of these men. Randy Savage enters next, with his valet Miss Elizabeth. They are both cheered wildly. The crowd really wants to see HTM lose his IC title tonight. Savage gains control early on, dominating HTM. Savage uses punches, kneelifts and bodyslams to put the hurt on HTM. A cheapshot by HTM soon reverses the flow of the match, though. HTM tries to slow the match down with various holds on Savage. HTM works on Savage's neck, softening it up for the eventual Shake, Rattle, and Roll neckbreaker. Savage soon comes back, however, and once again puts the hurt on HTM with clotheslines, dropkicks, and a Flying Double Ax-Handle. He prepares for the Flying Elbow Drop, but Jimmy Hart jumps on the apron to distract the ref. Savage delievers a Flying Double Ax-Handle to the Mouth of the South. Savage enters the ring again and is rolled up by the HTM (who also has a handfull of Savage's tights). Luckily, Savage kicks out. HTM is frustrated, he can't seem to put Savage away. He attacks Savage with a series of chokes and eye-gouges. The referee is soon bumped and HTM goes outside to get his trusty guitar. He tries to crack Savage over the head with it but Savage blocks it and takes the guitar away. He then cracks the guitar over the head of the HTM, to the cheers of the crowd. He goes up top and delievers the Flying Elbow Drop successfully to HTM. He wakes up the referee and pins... but wait, the referee sees the broken guitar on HTM's head. He DQs Savage to the annoyance of the crowd. Savage, very annoyed, goes back up to the top rope and delievers another elbow drop to HTM... followed by one more.

 

Hulk Hogan v. Andre the Giant: WWF World title tournament Semi-Finals 7:02 ¾ *

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title. Hogan lost the World title to Andre (who in turn was stripped of the title). That match caused the title to become vacant and resulted in this tournament to determine who the undisputed World champion is.

 

Match Description: Andre gains the advantage early on by using his brute strength. Hogan is still showing fatigue from his match with Harley Race. Andre takes great advantage of this. Andre mostly wears Hogan down with chops, headbutts, chokes, and bodyslams. Hogan soon "Hulks Up" and comes back. He rocks Andre with punches, clotheslines, and double ax-handles. When he is preparing to slam Andre he is hit in the back with a chair-shot delievered by Ted DiBiase. The referee calls for the bell, Hogan has won via DQ. Andre and DiBiase aren't finished, though. Andre headbutts Hogan several times, sending the Hulkster to the ground. DiBiase then rams the chair into Hogan's hurt leg three times. Andre and DiBiase leave, the damage done.

 

Ricky Steamboat v. Ted DiBiase: WWF World title tournament Semi-Finals 10:22 ***

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title.

 

Match Description: Steamboat is clearly still recovering from his hard fought match with Rude. DiBiase dominates Steamboat in the early goings of the match. DiBiase works on Steamboat's previously hurt neck. Steamboat soon gets his second wind and turns DiBiase chest red with vicious chops. Steamboat gives DiBiase everything in his arsenal (chops, kicks, suplexes). DiBiase almost gains the win with a quick roll-up (while grabbing the tights), but somehow Steamboat kicks out. DiBiase soon gains control again, and hits a fistdrop on Steamboat. He pins him (with his feet on the ropes) and gets the win.

 

The British Bulldogs v. The Islanders 7:37 **

 

Match Background: Both teams are top contenders for the WWF World tag team titles.

 

Match Description: Bobby Heenan is still shaken up from his encounter with Steamboat and his pet dragon. But he's here to support his team, the Islanders. Luck is not on Heenan's side, however, as the British Bulldogs bring their pet and mascot, Matilda the bulldog, down to the ring. Heenan once again heads for the heels, ensuring that this match will be a fair one. The Bulldogs dominate the early goins of this match. Davey Boy Smith uses his power and Dynamite Kid uses his speed. The Islanders, however, soon isolate Dynamite and throttle him. Haku and Samu make quick tags to wear down the quicker member of the Bulldogs. Dynamite soon gets his second wind, however, and tags in Davey Boy. They clean house. Haku is powerslamed and pinned by Davey, while Samu is locked in a crossface hold by Dynamite. The Bulldogs get the win.

 

Hulk Hogan v. Harley Race: WWF World title tournament QuarterFinals 9:54 ***

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title.

 

Match Description: Hogan starts off strong (as usual). Race soon comes back by working on Hogan's leg. Race works over the leg, keeping Hogan grounded. Race soon locks on the Figure Four, causing Hogan to scream in agony. Hogan manages to reverse the hold thanks to his Hulkamaniacs. Hogan then "Hulks Up" and throttles Race with punches, slams, and clothesline. He finally finishes him off with his Big Boot/Leg Drop combo.

 

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan v. Andre the Giant: WWF World title tournament QuarterFinals 3:21 ½ *

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title.

 

Match Description: A glorified squash. Andre no-sells most of Duggan's brawling and dominates this match. The match does, however, put over Duggan's tenacity. He manages to kick out twice after Andre headbutts him and pins. The third headbutt, however, does the trick and Duggan is beaten.

 

Don Muraco v. Ted DiBiase: WWF World title tournament QuarterFinals 5:08 * ¼

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title.

 

Match Description: DiBiase pretty much dominates this match. Muraco puts forth very little offense. A comeback by Muraco is teased, but Ted quickly regains control. Muraco is soon locked in the Sleeper and blacks out. DiBiase wins and proves he doesn't need to cheat or have help to win a match.

 

Ricky Steamboat v. Rick Rude: WWF World title tournament QuarterFinals 12:28 *** ½

 

Match Background: This is a tournament match for the vacant WWF World title. Steamboat and Rude have also been feuding. Rude won their last PPV match at the Royal Rumble by cheating.

 

Match Description: To counter Heenan's presense, Steamboat brings someone out to be in his corner as well--a Komodo dragon! Heenan runs to the back at the sight of the beast. It looks like this match will be one on one. Steamboat takes to Rude with a rage very similar to that of his nickname-- The Dragon. He unloads vicious chops, kicks, and suplexes on the womanizing Rude. Rude regains advantage through several cheap-shots. He punishes Steamboat throughout the match, often wasting valuable time by playing to the crowd. The match soon sees Steamboat kick out a Rude Awakening. Having tried everything else, Rude executes a piledriver on Steamboat. The Dragon, however, manages to get his foot on the ropes. Steamboat soon makes a huge comeback and finishes off Rude with a Flying Cross Body.

 

20-man Battle Royal (Bad News Brown, Danny Davis, Koko B. Ware, Junkyard Dog, Hillbilly Jim, Jim Powers, Paul Roma, Hercules, Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Dino Bravo, Nikolai Volkoff, Ron Bass, Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine, Sika, One Man Gang, Boris Zukhav, Ken Patera, Jake Roberts) 10:40 ** ¼

 

Match Background: This is a Battle Royal. The last Battle Royal was at the Royal Rumble and was won by Randy Savage. Bad News Brown was the runner-up and is the favorite tonight.

 

Match Description: Junkyard Dog eliminated Danny Davis. Jake Roberts eliminated Boris Zukhav. Dino Bravo eliminated Hillbilly Jim. One Man Gang eliminated Ron Bass. Hercules eliminated Sika. One Man Gang eliminated Brian Blair. Bad News Brown eliminated Koko B. Ware. Bad News Brown eliminated Jim Powers. Junkyard Dog eliminated Greg Valentine. Bad News Brown eliminated Jim Brunzell. Nikolai Volkoff eliminated Brutus Beefcake. One Man Gang eliminated Paul Roma. Ken Patera eliminated One Man Gang. Nikolai Volkoff eliminated Ken Patera. Junkyard Dog eliminated Nikolai Volkoff. Hercules eliminated Dino Bravo. Bad News Brown eliminated Hercules. Bad News Brown eliminated Jake Roberts. Bad News Brown eliminated Junkyard Dog.