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Wrestlemania IV was held on March, 24, 1988 from the Trump Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. This event is unique in that most of the event was in a tournament format. The competitor who won the tournament would also win the vacant WWF Championship, which was vacated. The backstory was that “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DeBiase wanted to buy the championship. Hulk Hogan, who was the champion at the time, refused. Instead, DiBiase went to Andre the Giant, who was more than willing to offer his services, especially considering he still had a feud giong on with Hogan. As it would play out, Andre would win the title, then hand it over to DiBiase, just as planned. This did not sit well with WWF President Jack Tunney, who declared the title vacant, setting up the tournament for WM IV.
The event begins with Gladys Knight performing “America the Beautiful”. Gorilla Monsoon and Jessie “The Body” Ventura are the hosts. Celebrity guests are Bob Uecker, Vanna White, Robin Leach, and Donald Trump (who was sitting at ringside during the event).
20-man Invitational Battle Royal
A couple referees come down to the ring carrying a super tall trophy which appeared to be 7 ft. tall. The winner of the battle royal would in the trophy. This was basically a showcase for the midcard performers at the time, and for wrestlers who weren't in any major storylines. Some of the participants include the Hart Foundation, Junkyard Dog, Hillbilly Jim, George “the Animal” Steele, Harley Race, the Bolsheviks, Bad News Brown, The Fabulous Rougeau among others.
This was a good battle royal. Steele is announced, but never gets in the ring. Monsoon and Ventura argue over that, with Monsoon claiming Steele was eliminated early in the event. Ventura says he never got in the ring, while the action continues on. The pace of this battle royal was good. The final three men in the ring are JYD, Bret Hart, and Bad News Brown. JYD makes a good showing here, but Hart and Brown were too much for him, and gets eliminated. We have two heels in the ring. What's going to happen? Well, Brown hits Hart with the ghetto blaster, and eliminates him. Hart, upset being eliminated, gets in the ring, sneak attacks Brown, and destroys the trophy. Hart gets a face turn, and Jim Neidhart, his tag team partner, by association.
Nice way to start the event. Gets and extra half-star for the aftermath. ***
Howard Finkel explains to the audience the rules of the tournament, and introduces Robin Leach. Leach reads off a proclamation from a scroll.
Opening Round Match: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil & Andre the Giant
I really enjoy how Ventura dislikes Duggan. He makes a few comments during this match that got me laughing. Duggan really doesn't do much besides throw punches, which isn't surprising. DiBiase whips out his arsenal, such as his fistdrop. He goes to the second rope, and falls back with an elbow. Duggan moves out of the way. Duggan gets set for his running clothesline, but Andre grabs his foot. Duggan turns around to go after Andre, when he gets nailed with a giant fist. DiBiase hits Duggan from behind with a knee, and fistdrop for the pin.
Nothing mind blowing with this match, and considering it had Duggan, it was a passable contest. ** ½
Mean Gene interviews Brutus “the Barber” Beefcake.
Opening Round Match: Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin vs. Don “The Rock” Muraco w/ “Superstar” Billy Graham
Raise your hand if you knew there was “The Rock” in the WWF before Dwayne Johnson. A side note about Graham. His influence was obvious in performers who'd follow his footsteps such as Jesse Ventura and Hulk Hogan. To an extent, he has become a forgotten icon in the industry.
Not much to this match. These were two big guys with little mobility. In fact, Muraco tries a move off the second rope on Bravo, but misses the spot. Monsoon does a good job of selling it, saying he slipped off the rope. I didn't see it, but oh well... Bravo throws the ref in front of Muraco while he's in a corner. Ref calls a DQ on Bravo for that action. Ok match. ** ½
Bob Uecker is in the backstage interview area with Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart.
Opening Round Match: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Steamboat carries his infant son to the ring, who's now a wrestler himself. I think to myself how I'm starting to get old...
This is an okay match due to the contrast of styles, which also made it interesting. Steamboat's faster pace style vs. Valentine's more methodical method of ring work. I've enjoyed how Valentine sells moves (falling down like a tree). He does plenty of it in this match. Valentine wins when he uses the momentum of Steamboat's flying body press from the top rope to roll over on top of him. He holds the trunks for the 1-2-3. Yet another lousy finish.
Had to believe Steamboat had the legendary match with Randy Savage just a year previous. However, he was about to depart from the WWF, so I guess it makes sense. Just kind of sad to see that kind of finish for him. Otherwise, a decent match. ***
Mene Gene interviews the British Bulldogs w/ Koko B. Ware.
Opening Round Match: “The Natural” Butch Reed w/ Slick vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth
“You're drooling so much you look like Matilda” - Jesse Ventura to Gorilla Monsoon when he complimented on how Elizabeth looked.
Man, I was watching WWF back then, and I don't really remember Butch Reed, only very vaguely. If you read my review on WM 3, you'll know I remember him mostly from late 80s – early 90s WCW.
This match short, with not much to really detail. In summary, Reed dominated most of this match. He actually looked strong here. He goes to climb the top rope in the corner by where Elizabeth was standing, starts jawing off to her. Savage comes over, knocks him off the top rope. Savage then climbs to the top rope to give Reed his finishing flying elbow. **
Bob Uecker interviews Bobby Heenan and The Islanders.
Opening Round Match: One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Oliver Humperdink
Bigelow, billed from Asbury Park, NJ, gets some pop coming down to the ring. Not much to describe regarding this match. Basically two large guys going at it. Bigelow kinda looks small compared to OMG. Bigelow does a couple cartwheels, punches are thrown. He's not being used to his capabilities here. Either due to how the match was booked, or to how OMG was as a worker. Anyway, Bigelow runs to the ropes. Slick pulls down the top rope, giving OMG a win via count-out. This finish is terrible. *
Mean Gene interviews the egomaniac, um Hulk Hogan I meant.
Opening Round Match: “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts w/ pet snake Damien
This is the final opening round match. I'm surprised people didn't head out to the casino for a bit during this one. This match was extremely boring, and it felt like Rude had Roberts in a chinlock for most of the match. The crowd, relatively quiet up to this point, starts a “boring” chant. Not much offense here. Roberts gets in his short clothesline, but that's really about it.
The match went to a draw due to the time running out. Nobody advances, and One Man Gang gets a bye to the semi-finals.
Disappointing match. *
Mean Gene is backstage with Vanna White going over the bracket. Hogan and Andre both get first round byes, and will face each other in the first match of the second round.
Hercules w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior
This is the Wrestlemania debut for the Ultimate Warrior. Both men collide, then have a face off. Hercules clotheslines Warrior, who no sells the first two, but the third one takes him down. Hercules puts Warrior in the full nelson. Warrior kicks off the top turnbuckle, falling on Hercules. The shoulders of both men were on the mat, but Warrior gets his up right before the ref counts to three. Warrior wins via pinfall.
After the match, Hercules attacks Warrior with his chain. He goes to choke him, but Warrior escapes, and swings the chain around. Nothing must see with this match. *
We get a recap of the feud between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, and the events DiBiase put into motion in his effort to get the WWF title.
Second Round Match: Andre the Giant w/ Ted DiBiase and Virgil vs. Hulk Hogan
If anyone was expecting an epic rematch of Hogan and Andre's famous match the previous WM, you'd be very disappointed. Andre gets and early edge by attacking Hogan as soon as he enters the ring. Hogan would regain the advantage, and give DiBiase and Andre a double noggin knocker. Andre would do his spot where he gets caught up in the ring ropes. DiBiase and Virgil get him out. Hogan clotheslines Andre, knocking him down. Hogan goes for pin, but Andre breaks it, grabs Hogan, and chokes him.
Hogan would break out of the choke, and starts punching Andre. Virgil would distract the referee. DiBiase grabs a chair and hits Hogan with it. Hogan takes the chair, and nails Andre with it. Hogan bodyslams Andre, but too little too late. Hogan also grabs Virgil and gives him a suplex on the entrance ramp. Both competitors are eliminated from the tournament, giving DiBiase a bye to the final match if he wins his second round contest. Hogan poses after the match like he won. Lame.
This match served the purpose it was designed for, to set DiBiase up to where he has to compete to win the title. ** ¾
Mean Gene interviews Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth
Second Round Match: Don Muraco w/ Billy Graham vs. Ted DiBiase
DiBiase comes out by himself, after the mayhem from the previous match. Muraco starts the match out strong. He performs a nice neck snap. DiBiase gains the edge. He goes for a pin, but Muraco, puts a foot on the rope to break it.. DiBiase goes to the second rope, falls back to drop an elbow, but Muraco moves out of the way. Muraco gets some offense in until DiBiase gets back on track by catching Muraco, and dropping his throat on the top rope for nice looking clothesline spot. DiBiase wins. ** ¾
Bob Uecker is in the interview area with Demolition.
Second Round Match: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine with Jimmy Hart vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage with Miss Elizabeth
Valentine dominates the first half or so of this match. He gets some basic offense in, including a nice looking running shoulder breaker. While Valentine may have had a deliberate offense, his moves looked as if they'd hurt.
He goes for his figure-four leglock. Savage gets to the ropes to break the hold. Valentine drops a knee on Savage. Savage would eventually gain the upper hand, getting in a couple double axe handles. One of them looked as if Valentine may have caught Savage on the way down. Valentine is between the top and second ropes. Savage goes for a knee in the back, but Valentine gets out of the way. With Savage on the mat, Valentine goes for the figure-four again, but Savage rolls him up in a small package for the three count.
Solid match, even if the outcome of Savage winning was predictable. ***
Mean Gene is backstage with Vanna White going over the updated tournament bracket.
Intercontinental Title Match: Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart and Peggy Sue vs. Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake
Before the match starts, Ventura gives a shoutout to his family back in Minneapolis. Match starts with both men in a tie-up. Beefcake hits Honky with an atomic drop. Honky rolls outside of the ring, and gets back in. Another tie-up. Beefcake smashes Honky's face onto the turnbuckle, and hits a high knee. Honky rolls out of the ring again. Beefcake chases after him, and brings him back inside the ring. Beefcake misses with an elbow drop. Honky takes advantage by stomping Beefcake. Hits with a fist drop.
Jimmy Hart gets involved, distracting Beefcake. Honky takes advantage. He'd attempt the shake, rattle and roll, but was too close to the tops, as Beefcake grabbed the top rope. Gaining momentum, Beefcakes backdrops Honky, and puts him in a sleeper hold.
Jimmy Hart distracts the referee, and hits the ref with the megaphone. Beefcake wins by DQ. Post-match antics ensue when Beefcake chases down Jimmy Hart and starts cutting his hair. **
Bob Uecker is in the interview area with Andre the Giant.
The Islanders (Tama and Haku), and Bobby Heenan vs. The British Bulldogs and Koko B. Ware w/ Matilda and Frankie
Heenan is wearing a dog training suit for this match. We get some decent tag team action here, and even Heenan gets into the match a few times, and actually does decent. Though this is a 6-man match, it basically flows back and forth like a standard tag match. Koko has a nice spot where he takes down both islanders at the same time with a headlock and head scissors.
Islanders and Heenan win when the Islanders get in the ring, lift Heenan, and drop him on Koko for the pin. After the match, Matilda goes after Heenan.
A decent tag match, though nothing spectacular. Fun to see Heenan in the ring and holding his own. ** ½
Howard Finkel announces Jesse Ventura to the crowd. Ventura gets a decent pop here, and starts posing for the fans.
We have one semi-final match, as DiBiase gets a bye from the Hogan-Giant contest ending with the double DQ.
Semi-final Match: One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth
Savage had already been in two matches. Monsoon and Ventura paint him as an underdog going into the match with a OMG, who had only one match under his belt, and weighing in at 450 pounds, had the definite size advantage.
Very ho-hum match. To sum up the climax of it, OMG goes for his 747 splash finisher. Savage gets out of the way. OMG rolls out of the ring. While out there, Savage does his signature double axe handle from the top rope.
Back in the ring, Savage goes for a body slam. Doesn't work. Slick goes towards Elizabeth and starts bothering her. Slick's cane gets tossed into the ring, and OMG hits Savage with it. Savage wins via DQ *
Mean Gene is with Vanna White again in front of the bracket board. It will be Savage vs. DiBiase for the WWF Championship.
Tag Team Championship Match: Strike Force (champions) vs. Demolition w/ Mr. Fuji
There's nothing outstanding to this match. Basic tag format match where you get the spot where all four guys get in the ring, ref loses control, then things settle down. Towards the end of the match Rick Martel of Strike Force has Smash of Demolition in the boston crab. Tito Santana of Strike Force distracts the ref, allowing Mr. Fuji's cane to find its way into the ring. Ax hits Martel with the cane, and Smash rolls over for the pin. There's a small chant of bullshit that starts with the crowd. Can't blame them, as some of these fans are probably frustrated out of their minds by now with these finishes.
Demolition wins the titles in a match with yet ANOTHER cheap finish. * 1/5
Howard Finkel announces that we're not at the championship match. Robin Leach comes down to the ring displaying the title belt. Bob Uecker is the guest announcer, and Vanna White is introduced as the timekeeper.
WWF Title Match: Randy “Macho Man” Savage w/ Elizabeth vs. Ted DiBiase w/ Andre the Giant.
Andre gets involved in the match right off the bat, tripping up Savage a couple times. The tide of the match swings back, and is pretty even. Savage does one of his signature moves, dropping an opponent's neck on the top rope. He hits a knee to DiBiase, and goes outside the ring.
Savage sends Elizabeth back, and guess who'd be coming down to the ring with her...
DiBiase regains the upper hand in this match, with a bodyslam, and fistdrops to Savage. He attempts a pin after a nice suplex to Savage, who kicks out. The crowd starts to pop a little as Hulk Hogan comes down to the ring. While in the ring, DiBiase puts Savage in a gutwrench suplex that looked nice. DiBiase climbs to the top rope. Savage recovers, goes to DiBiase, and slams him to the mat. Savage climbs the top rope, and goes for his flying elbow drop, which he misses. DiBiase takes advantage of the mistake, and puts Savage in the million dollar dream (sleeper hold).
Guess who gets involved? If you said “Hogan”, you get a gold star. The ref gets distracted. Hogan grabs a chair, comes in the ring, and nails DiBiase from behind. Savage goes to the top rope, hits the flying elbow, and gets the 1-2-3 count. Your winner and new champion: “Macho Man” Randy Savage. The match itself was a decent match, but the ending... I guess it was predictable considering how the rest of this show went. Savage was also deserving of the title. I'd venture to say this was the best match on this card. *** ¼
Overall, Wrestlemania IV could be considered weak. Finishes to pretty much all the matches were terrible. I can understand with the tournament matches to push the story along, and to make sure faces took on heels, but in the tag team and IC title matches? If fans at this show live were frustrated, or those who ordered it on pay-per-view, that feeling would be very justified. There were manager interferences, disqualifications, count-outs, Hogan with chairshots... If there was some underhanded way to win a match, you'd see it on this card most likely. On a related note, there weren't any standout matches here. The main event match had potential considering who the performers were, but it was poorly booked (except for Savage winning, of course). Most matches were around average quality, give or take. This WM would have been better served if there weren't so many matches crammed onto the card.
On that note, this WM did a good job with telling a story. If there's one thing WWF did much better back then than they do now is tell stories, and they created characters you actually got behind. This whole WM told a story, and the pages seamlessly flowed over the course of the event, if not predictable. It was good to see Savage win the title. From an overall standpoint, he was the best worker the company had at that time (though it was unlikely he drew more than Hogan). We also see the continuation of the Hogan-Andre feud that was going on for over a year by this point. We also get a side story of Bob Uecker and his quest to find Vanna White. Uecker once again put on a good performance at this event.
As for recommending Wrestlemania IV? Despite my gripes with the finishes, the tournament format was interesting, and with the exception of a couple matches, the in-ring action was watchable. Another reason to consider watching this is of course the Monsoon and Ventura commentary. As a result, I'd recommend giving this at least a viewing.
You can find Wrestlemania IV on VHS, or as part of the Wrestlemania Anthology, Vol. 1 DVD set.
Final score: 3/5
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