Wrestlemania IV: Tournaments Are Awesome!
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IV
Date: March 27, 1988
Location: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Attendance: 18,165
Commentators: Jesse Ventura, Gorilla Monsoon
Before I forget, it should be noted that as this aired, the NWA (WCW) was airing the first live Clash of the Champions for free on TBS. That show would have one of the best matches the company ever produced with Sting challenging Flair for the world title for the first time.
Here are the tournament brackets.
Hogan
BYE
Andre
BYE
Jim Duggan
Ted DiBiase
Don Muraco
Dino Bravo
Ricky Steamboat
Greg Valentine
Randy Savage
Butch Reed
Bam Bam Bigelow
One Man Gang
Rick Rude
Jake Roberts
Gene welcomes us to the show and presents Gladys Knight to sing America the Beautiful.
Battle Royal
Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Jim Powers, Paul Roma, Sika, Danny Davis, B. Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Bad News Brown, Sam Houston, Jacques Rougeau, Ray Rougeau, Ken Patera, Ron Bass, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, Boris Zhukov, Hillbilly Jim, Harley Race, George Steele
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan
DiBiase is one of the favorites here as he tried to buy the title which started the whole mess. Andre and Virgil are with him here. Ted immediately hides in the corner as the Battle of Mid-South begins. Duggan wins a slugout and an atomic drop puts DiBiase on the floor. I could watch DiBiase fall over the top all day. He was always great at falling over and made it look like a science.
Back in and Jim clotheslines him down before pounding away a bit more. DiBiase charges into a boot in the corner and hits a middle rope ax handle for two. Duggan comes back with a sunset flip of all things for two and to give Jesse a shock. A suplex puts DiBiase down and he jumps into a punch in the ribs to slow him down even more. Duggan slams him down but Andre trips him before the three point clothesline can be launched. Jim looks at Andre but gets caught in the back by a knee, sending DiBiase to the quarterfinals.
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Dino Bravo vs. Don Muraco
Bravo shoves him back into the corner to start to win the first power battle of the match. Muraco hammers him down and tries something like a Vader Bomb but basically just lands next to Bravo instead. Dino comes back with an elbow to the face and a gutwrench suplex for no cover. A knee in the corner misses Muraco so he starts hammering on the knee.
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Greg Valentine vs. Ricky Steamboat
Steamboat waves goodbye to the crowd so yeah this was it for him.
The British Bulldogs with their recently returned dog Matilda declare her a weasel dog for their six man against the Islanders and Heenan. Oh and Koko is here too.
Bobby Heenan gets a package and actually tips the delivery guy. Ok then.
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Randy Savage vs. Butch Reed
Rating: C-. This was basically a squash until the very end. Savage was great at building up sympathy from the crowd which is why the pops were so huge when he won here. Reed would also head to the NWA soon after this to do nothing for a year before joining Doom. Not much to see here but again, the time crunch hurts things a lot.
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. One Man Gang
“So Hogan has just declared himself Jesus. You knew it was coming eventually.
WWF World Title Tournament First Round: Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts
Now the boring chants begin so Jake FINALLY hits a jawbreaker to get out of the hold and get the crowd going a bit. The short clothesline looks to set up the DDT but Rude rams him into the corner. Jake is suplexed out of a headlock for two and both guys are down. Rude tries a pin with his feet on the ropes and the time runs out. The fans are NOT happy with that one.
Hogan
Andre
DiBiase
Muraco
Savage
Valentine
One Man Gang
BYE
Vanna has no idea who Bob Uecker is but she wants Hogan to win.
Hercules vs. Ultimate Warrior
WWF World Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan
WWF World Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Don Muraco vs. Ted DiBiase
WWF World Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Randy Savage vs. Greg Valentine
Vanna White has no idea who Bob Uecker is. We look at the updated brackets:
Ted DiBiase
BYE
Randy Savage
One Man Gang
Intercontinental Title: Honky Tonk Man vs. Brutus Beefcake
In a semi-famous bit, Andre talks about DiBiase paying him to eliminate Hogan (not really a surprise) and then chokes Bob Uecker.
Islanders/Bobby Heenan vs. British Bulldogs/Koko B. Ware
Jesse Ventura is introduced to the crowd for some posing.
WWF World Title Tournament Semifinals: One Man Gang vs. Randy Savage
Savage gets hit with the cane anyway but he still comes back and sends Gang into Slick.
The finals are DiBiase vs. Savage.
Tag Titles: Demolition vs. Strike Force
Robin Leech brings out the WWF Title belt.
Bob Uecker is guest ring announcer. Vanna White is guest timekeeper and she gives Bob a kiss.
WWF World Title: Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
A gutwrench suplex gets two for Ted but he goes up top for reasons of general stupidity, earning that slam off the top by Savage. Randy tries a quick elbow but only hits the mat. DiBiase puts on the Million Dollar Dream but Hogan, ever the hero, comes in and whacks DiBiase in the bak with a chair. Savage runs to the top and the big elbow gives him his first world title.
Hogan insists on being in the ring for the celebration which really takes something away from it. The three celebrate to end the show.
Ratings Comparison
Battle Royal
Original: C
Redo: D+
Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan
Original: C-
Redo: C-
Don Muraco vs. Dino Bravo
Original: D+
Redo: D+
Greg Valentine vs. Ricky Steamboat
Original: C
Redo: C+
Randy Savage vs. Butch Reed
Original: D
Redo: C-
One Man Gang vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
Original: N/A
Redo: N/A
Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts
Original: D
Redo: D-
Ultimate Warrior vs. Hercules
Original: D
Redo: D+
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant
Original: C
Redo: C-
Ted DiBiase vs. Don Muraco
Original: C+
Redo: C
Randy Savage vs. Greg Valentine
Original: C+
Redo: B-
Brutus Beefcake vs. Honky Tonk Man
Original: D+
Redo: D+
Islanders/Bobby Heenan vs. British Bulldogs/Koko B. Ware
Original: D+
Redo: C
Randy Savage vs. One Man Gang
Original: D
Redo: D
Demolition vs. Strike Force
Original: C-
Redo: C+
Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
Original: B
Redo: B-
Overall Rating
Original: D+
Redo: D
About the same more or less.
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