Wrestlemania V: Mega Powers Mania

Savage and Hogan square off to settle an emotional feud.

Just one year before, at Wrestlemania IV, the Mega Powers team of Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage was born. The Mega Powers were really a dream team back then, as you had two of the most over performers in the company working together. However, cracks would surface in the Mega Powers, which would surround Savage's jealousy of Hogan. Their manager, Miss Elizabeth, would prove the be the lightening rod. The Mega Powers came to an end on an episode of The Main Event. The Mega Powers had a tag match, and during the early portion of the match, Savage was tossed into Elizabeth. She was carried to the back by Hogan, who leaves Savage at the mercy of the Twin Towers. Of course, this doesn't sit well with Savage. When Hogan returned to the ring, Savage slapped him across the face, and walked off. Wrestlemania V would be the event where the two would square off to settle this feud, which was extremely well done. Of course, there's other stuff on this card too.

Wrestlemania V was held at the Trump Plaza for the second year in a row. To this day, the Trump Plaza is the only venue to host back-to-back Wrestlemanias. The WWF apparently used the same banners for this one (as it looks like they took out the I from the IV). As a result, the appearance of V is identical to IV. Celebrities for this Wrestlemania are Run DMC, Morton Downey Jr., and Donald Trump, who sat at ringside during the event in the same spot he did at the previous year's event. Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura.

Rockin' Robin sings “America the Beautiful”. Her rendition of it was terrible. Ventura summed it up the best. “She better keep her day job”.

“King” Haku w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. Hercules

Haku comes down to the ring being carried on a throne. Heenan grabs the microphone and tells the audience to show proper respect by bowing to the king.

As for the match itself, Haku attacks Hercules from behind. Hercules would regain the advantage with a hip toss and bodyslam. He clotheslines Haku to the outside of the ring, and brings him back in with a suplex, and gives and elbow drop. Hercules decides to chase after Heenan. Taking advantage of the distraction, Haku clotheslines Hercules.

Back in the ring, we get some back and forth action between the two. Nothing stands out this during this point of the match. Hercules irishwhips Haku into a corner. Haku does a nice spot where he jumps up to the second turnbuckle, and turns around to attempt a flying cross body. Haku misses however. Hercules hits some clotheslines and a powerslam. We get some more action here until Hercules executes a back suplex to Haku, and gets the pin.

Not too bad a match. I've always felt Haku is a capable worker, but Hercules ain't too shabby himself. ** ½

Mean Gene interviews The Rockers, who are wearing hot pink tops and bright green-yellow tights. I'd like to see a team try that today!

The Rockers (Marty Janetty and Shawn Michaels) vs. The Twin Towers (Big Boss Man and Akeem) w/ Slick

If you read my review for WM 4, you may recall the name The One Man Gang. Well, Akeem was OMG with a repackaged gimmick. Also remember the name Shawn Michaels kids. He's going to be star in this business one day... In all seriousness, this is the debut for the performer who'd become known as “Mr. Wrestlemania”. This was a tag match where the Rockers were the obvious underdogs going against two men with a big size advantage.

The Rockers show why they'd be one of the most popular tag teams. They move in the ring with fluidity, and hit some nice double team moves on the Twin Towers. The Towers would regain the advantage, and perform a usual large guy double move. Bossman has Janetty in a bearhug. Akeem runs off the ropes and avalanches into Jennetty's back. They make a mistake though shortly after, when Akeem collides into Bossman. The Rockers perform a double flying shoulder block, but Akeem would perform a hard clothesline which Michaels sells by flipping over. Nice spot there.

Towards the end of the match, the rockers perform a double drop kick from the top rope to Bossman. It looks like the Rockers may have this match in hand, but the tide turns. Janetty gets tossed from the ring, and we get a nice finishing spot here. Michaels comes off the top rope, but Bossman catches him, and powerbombs him to the mat. Akeem is tagged in, and hits with the Air Africa splash.

This was a fun tag match. ***

Tony Schiavone backstage with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase

Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil

This match starts out slow, with some back and forth action. Both men pound on each other. Virgil trips up Beefcake, allowing for DiBiase to hit a fistdrop, then clothesline. He hits Beefcake with a double axe handle from the top rope, and goes for a pin.

The momentum changes in Beefcake's favor when he small packages DiBiase, and follows up with a suplex. Both men hit each other with a running clothesline. DiBiase is the first to get up. He executes a suplex on Beefcake, and goes for The Million Dollar Dream (sleeper hold), but Beefcake breaks the hold by going to the ropes.

We get some more brawling. Beefcake puts his sleeper hold on DiBiase, but Virgil distracts him. Beefcake goes outside the ring to go after him, and DiBiase follows. Both competitors brawl outside the ring, and the match ends in a draw as a result of a double count-out. Beefcake goes after Virgil and beats up on him inside the ring. **

Lord Alfred Hayes is at the Wrestlemania brunch with the Bushwhackers. He tries to interview them, but they try to talk with food stuffed in their mouths. This, and a 5k segment later on, would be the first time we'd see events that tie in with Wrestlemania.

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Bushwhackers

Ventura and Monsoon have a funny exchange between them.

As for the match itself, nothing much to write home about. The crowd is dead for this match. It's so quiet you probably could hear a pin drop. Bushwhackers win with a double gutbuster to Raymond. *

Sean Mooney is with some fans. Bushwhackers walk up to Mooney and start licking him. Mooney paid his dues this event!

Mr. Perfect vs. The Blue Blazer

I try not to think of Owen Hart's fate in 1999 in St. Louis wearing the Blue Blazer costume, as it makes me sad. Instead I did my best to focus on the match. Perfect gets in a nice hip toss. Blazer would get in a drop toehold. We get some face slapping action here. Blazer counters Perfect's hiptoss, and proceeds to bodyslam and dropkick Perfect, which takes Perfect out of the ring.

The match quickly gets back in the ring. Blazer goes for a splash off the top rope, which Perfect counters by lifting his knees. Ventura gives a shoutout to his family during this match.

Back to the match, Blazer executes a belly-to-belly on Perfect. Blazer executes a crucifix, but Perfect breaks the count. Perfect quickly regains the advantage, and executes a perfect-plex on Blazer. Good match, and one of the best on this card. There was excellent flow in this match, and the workers involved were two outstanding athletes. I miss both of them. *** ½

Howard Finkel introduces Jesse Ventura, who acknowledges the crowd.

Lord Alfred Hayes shows us the Wrestlemania 5k run. This is a funny segment, as Mr. Fuji supposedly participates in the run, and finishes it wearing his tuxedo. This segment closes with Fuji cutting a promo saying how the Powers of Pain were going to defeat Demolition.

Run DMC is in the ring, and they perform the “Wrestlemania Rap”. This segment ran a bit too long. It could have been cut down by a few minutes and still have the same effect. Run DMC was the the first musical act to put on a performance at a Wrestlemania.

Recap of the Demolition and Powers of Pain feud.

Mean Gene interviews Demolition.

Tag Team Championship: Demolition (champions) vs. The Powers of Pain and Mr. Fuji in a 3 v 2 handicap match

This is the match for which team is a better copy of the Road Warriors! The really isn't much to say about this match. Demolition appeared to be more crisp and fluid regarding tags. Fuji gets in the ring and actually does some things, including a splash from off the top rope that he missed.

Towards the end of the match, Warlord holds Smash. Fuji grabs salt and attempts to toss it into his eyes, by Smash ducks, and the Warlord is hit by the salt. Fuji gets clotheslined, and Demolition hit with the demolition device for the pin.

Blah match. **

Tony Schiavone is outside Randy Savage's dressing room attempting to get an interview.

Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin vs. “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin

Both participants are in the ring, when Howard Finkel announces Jimmy Snuka. Poorly done. If they were to announce him, it should NOT have been done when a match was about to start.

Another lousy filler match here. The best part of the match was the commentary. Monsoon and Ventura argue over Bravo's “unlimited power potential” comment Ventura had made. Fans are dead during this match too, which lead to Monsoon to comment, “the crowd kind of in awe”. That was funny.

There's really nothing to this match. All you need to know is Dino wins after executing his sidewalk slam finisher on Garvin. After the match, Garvin attacks Frenchy, and proceeds to Garvin Stomp (one of the worst finishers ever), him. This match gets no rating because it was so bad.

We're about half-way, perhaps a little more into this event. Outside of a couple matches, this card is dull so far. There's still a chance this event can be redeemed...

Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel)

Strike Force starts the match by executing a double dropkick on the Busters, who then proceed to put double figure-four leglocks on them. A couple of nice spots to start this match. Strike Force looks good here, until Santana goes for the flying forearm on one of the Busters, who ducks. Martel gets hit instead.

The Busters execute fluid tags, and look beating up on Santana. Martel is on the ring apron for several minutes selling the hit he took. Anderson goes to top rope, but Santana goes over to him and slams him. Santana goes for the tag, but Martel doesn't reach out for the tag. Instead, he jumps off the ring apron, and walks to the back to a chorus of boos.

Back in the ring, Santana gets beat down again. Anderson gives Santana his well-known spinebuster. Santana shows a light of hope, but the numbers are against him. Brain Busters defeat Strike Force after hitting Santana with a spike piledriver. Decent tag match that told a story as it went along. Not a classic, but one of the better matches of the evening. ***

Mean Gene interviews Rick Martel regarding his actions leaving Santana in the ring to fend for himself.

We get a Piper's Pit segment. His theme plays, but he doesn't come out. Instead, it's Brother Love! He introduces Morton Downey Jr. who comes down to the ring. They jabber it up in the ring, and then Roddy Piper comes down. We get a boring segment here that runs too long. As one fan made it audibly known, “this is stupid”. Most fans may recognize the end of this segment when Piper takes a fire extinguisher to put out Downey's cigarette. This segment could have been cut by at least five minutes.

Mean Gene plugs Hulk Hogan's movie, “No Holds Barred”, followed by a preview of the movie.

Sean Mooney is with Donald Trump for quick interview. The only dignified task he had that night...

We go back to broadcasting booth, and Ventura is fuming that Hogan is taking over his “territory”. If it's any consolation to him, he was in “Predator”. Hogan never did a B grade movie, let alone a blockbuster like “Predator”.

Now it is time for a Hogan/Savage feud recap. In my opinion, this was one of the best feuds during the 80s for WWF. The recap is followed up by Mean Gene interviewing Hulk Hogan.

Gosh this Wrestlemania seems long...

...and it continues on.

Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Andre the Giant w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Big John Studd is the guest referee for this event. The theme he comes out to would be used by Jim Duggan not too long after...

Andre by this point was really suffering physically. Even getting in the ring looked like it was a task for him. However, once in the ring, he was dominant, Roberts had very little offense against him. However, Roberts gets a couple of running moves in, and Andre goes into the ropes and gets tied up. He gets out, and chops Roberts who falls outside the ring.

Studd and Andre mouth off to each other. Ted DiBiase comes down the ring, and attacks Roberts from behind, taking Damien. In the ring, Andre starts attacking Studd. Roberts gets Damien back, and Andre flees the ring. Roberts wins by DQ. I hate to do this because I respect Andre as a performer, but this match gets no rating.

Sean Mooney is with fans in the nosebleed section. One of them yells, “Jake is number one”. Sorry pal, your yell is fruitless. Jake won't hear you from where you're at.

Tony Schiavone interviews “Sensational” Sherri, who takes a jab at Rockin' Robin's performance of “America the Beautiful”. Sherri was the top contender for the women's title, at the time. Well done!

Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Hart Foundation

Bret Hart and Honky start the match, and gains the advantage. He atomic drops Honky. Valentine gets in the ring and he gets an atomic drop as well. Bret tags Neidhart, who gets slungshot over the top rope and hits with a flying shoulder block. Bret is tagged back in, and misses with an elbow drop. Valentine takes advantage and his with and elbow drop of his own. The referee gets distracted by Neidhart.

Honky is back in the ring, and his the shake, rattle and roll neckbreaker. Honky doesn't go for the pin, and tags in Valentine instead, who goes for the figure-four leg lock. Bret counters. The match finishes when Neidhart chases Jimmy outside the ring. Jimmy leaves his megaphone on the ring apron. Neidhard grabs it, and tosses it to Bret, who hits Honky with it while the referee was distracted. Bret pins Honky and gets the win for his team.

Another good tag match! *** ½

A recap of the Rick Rude and Ultimate Warrior feud is shown.

Intercontinental Title Match: “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior

Warrior manhandles Rude to start the match, and puts in a bear hug. Rude breaks it with a rake to the eyes, and goes to the top turnbuckle where he hits with a real nice looking drop kick. Warrior no sells it by kicking out before the one count. Rude's advantage doesn't last long as Warrior gives him another bear hug. Warrior proceeds to bite Rude, and backdrops him. He goes for his splash, but Rude lifts his knees to counter it. Ventura has another good line here, this time regarding the Warrior. “He's got a million dollar body & a ten cent brain”.

Rude gets in a piledriver. Warrior starts getting an adrenaline surge and starts shaking the ropes. He connects with a flying shoulder block to Rude. Rude would regain the advantage, and goes for the Rude Awakening. However, Warrior gets out of it, and hits with some clotheslines. Rude gets knocked outside the ring. Warrior attempts to suplex him back in, but Heenan grabs Warrior's leg. Rude falls on top of him, gets the pin, and is the new intercontinental champion.

Decent match for what it was. ** ¾

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown

A boring brawling match that doesn't tell much of a story. To skip to the end, Brown goes for the ghetto blaster, but misses. He grabs a chair, while Duggan gets his 2 x 4. The weapons collide, and the ref disqualifies both competitors. No score for this one.

Mean Gene interviews Red Rooster.

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Red Rooster

Heenan comes down to the ring with the Brooklyn Brawler. Hum... Anyway, a quick match here. Heenan runs into the corner where Red Rooster was. He moves out of the way, Heenan hits the ringpost. Rooster pins him for the win. Brawler gets in the ring to attack Rooster after the match. Another no score match.

Mean Gene with Miss Elizabeth, who says she'll be in a neutral corner.

Sean Mooney is with more fans. His grunt work better pay off...

WWF Championship: Randy “Macho Man” Savage (champion) vs. Hulk Hogan

Elizabeth is announced separately, and goes to a neutral corner. Ventura is funny all during this match bashing Hogan and his fans, calling the Hogan “The Luster”, “puke-a-mania” and his fans “the pukesters”.

We get a really good match here that was a fitting climax to the Savage-Hogan feud. Savage headlocks Hogan. Hogan chases Savage, and both me go outside the ring. Savage grabs Elizabeth and puts her in front of him to stop Hogan. Back in the ring, Hogan takes Savage down with a toehold, and follows up with a headlock. Momentum goes Savage's way when he breaks the headlock with a back suplex. He proceeds to hit Hogan with a double axe handle.

Hogan plays dirty by grabbing Savage's tights and sends him to the outside of the ring. Back into the ring, Hogan his Savage with a clothesline, followed by a couple elbow drops, and rakes Savage's eye with this boot. Hogan not looking like a good guy here. The camera shows Hogan busted open, and we get another funny Ventura comment, “those are champions kids can be proud of”, regarding Rick Rude and Savage. While Savage has Hogan in a headlock.

Hogan hits Savage with a shoulder block, and atomic drops, and sets up Savage for an elbow drop, but Hogan misses. Hogan would proceed to slam Savage's head into the top turnbuckle. Hogan lifts up Savage for a bodyslam. However, he goes to the ropes and tosses Savage outside the ring!

Outside the ring, Hogan, slams Macho into the ring apron. He attempts to put Savage into the post, but Liz gets in the way. Savage takes advantage of the distraction, and pushes Hogan into the post. Savage berates Liz. The referee sends her to the back.

Savage climbs to the top rope, and hits Hogan with a double axe handle outside the ring. Back in the ring, Savage drops Hogan's throat on the top rope. Savage proceeds to choke Hogan, who looks in trouble now. Savage climbs to the top turnbuckle to set Hogan up for his flying elbow, and hits. However, Hogan kicks out of Savage's pin attempt and we get Hogan's hulking up spot. It's clear now what's going to a happen. Hogan hits Savage with a couple punches, big boot, and leg drop. Hogan wins the match, and the WWF championship.

Excellent match! We get above average in-ring work, storytelling (Liz's role in the match and Hogan's heel tactics), and was a very fitting way to tie-up the feud between Hogan and Savage. While this lacks the historic importance of Hogan-Giant, from an overall standpoint, this was the best Wrestlemania event up to this point. **** ½

Unfortunately, while the main event match was outstanding, and we get a couple of decent matches on this card, there is way too much filler. This event would have been much better off if several of the matches were scrapped from the card. The commentary between Monsoon and Ventura peaked at this event, and made watching even some of the bad matches tolerable.

Due to the length of this event, and how long some of the segments dragged on, it may be difficult to watch this in one sitting. I'm not the biggest fan of this show, but there's more good than bad. It's also one fun nostalgic trip as well. This event may not be for everyone, but I recommend giving this a viewing. It can be found on either VHS, or on DVD in the Wrestlemania Anthology: Vol. 1 set.

Overall rating: 3/5