Welcome to the latest edition of our WrestleMania Rewind series, written by yours truly, exclusively for everyone here at SLTD Wrestling. The aim of WrestleMania Rewind is to review every WrestleMania in roughly 2,000 words. Click here to read the series so far.
WrestleMania 4 was the first of two ‘Manias to come from Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. It took place on March 27, 1988 in front of over 18,000 people. This ‘Mania was centred on a tournament to crown a brand-new WWF Champion, with 14 of the company’s “top” stars competing to become the man.
Once again, the announce team comprised of Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura, probably my favourite announce team of all-time. The Fink took care of in-ring duties, while Mean Gene took care of most segues and backstage interviews.
Let’s get to it!
Match 1: 20-Man Battle Royal
All the participants were guys who didn’t have a match on the card. It comes down to a final 4 of Paul Roma, Junkyard Dog, Bad News Brown and Bret Hart. Bad News eliminates Roma, then teams with Bret to eliminate the Dog. Bad News then turns on Bret and gets rid of him to get the win.
Opinion: It was fine. Standard battle royal fare really. There was no real prize to speak of, because there were less championships back in the late 80s. Bret destroyed Bad News’ trophy. That’s it.
Match 2: Round 1 – Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Ted DiBiase
They exchange punches until Duggan Atomic Drops DiBiase to the outside. Duggan’s in control until DiBiase gets a boot up to get the advantage. Duggan gets back into it with a series of power moves. As he sets up for the win, Andre distracts him and DiBiase gets the win thanks to a knee.
Opinion: Quick, but good. A vehicle to get DiBiase through to the next round. Realistically, Duggan never had a chance of winning.
Match 3: Round 1 – Dino Bravo (w/Frenchy Martin) vs Don Muraco (w/Superstar Billy Graham)
Both assert their power early. Muraco works Dino’s leg until Dino kicks him off, hanging Muraco in the ropes. Dino gets a 2-count off a piledriver and Muraco avoids a second one. He makes a comeback, landing a clothesline and a slam before there’s a ref bump. The ref DQ’s Bravo.
Opinion: Bravo got DQ’ed for pulling the ref in front of him to take a clothesline. It was OK, but it didn’t really showcase either guy. They’re too evenly matched.
Match 4: Round 1 – Greg Valentine vs Ricky Steamboat
It’s a quick start with Steamboat getting the best of it and he gets a couple of quick 2-counts. Valentine gets back in it with right hands, and works Steamboat’s head/neck. They exchange pins. Steamboat goes up top and connects with a crossbody, but Valentine rolls through to get the win.
Opinion: These guys have good chemistry together. Perfect mix of Valentine’s slow, methodical style and Steamboat’s athleticism. If they’d had more time, this would’ve been even better.
Match 5: Round 1 – Butch Reed (w/Slick) vs Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth)
Big pop for Savage. Reed uses his power early. Savage tries to pick up the pace, but Reed cuts him off. Reed gets distracted by Elizabeth – who wouldn’t? Savage hits a slam and connects with an elbow from the top rope to advance.
Opinion: Much like the DiBiase match earlier, it was a vehicle to get Savage through to the next round. Quick, but effective.
Match 6: Round 1 – One Man Gang vs Bam Bam Bigelow
One Man Gang’s all over Bam Bam early. Bam Bam gets a couple of quick 2-counts. Slick pulls down the top rope as Bam Bam’s going for a clothesline, and he falls outside. Bam Bam doesn’t beat the 10-count, so One Man Gang advances.
Opinion: The finish protected both men. You didn’t want to make Bam Bam or One Man Gang look weak, so they did the count-out finish. They could’ve done it with a more effective move though. Effectively, Bam Bam counted himself out.
Match 7: Round 1 – Jake Roberts vs Rick Rude
They each land slams early. Roberts works the arm. Rude forces Roberts to the top. Roberts connects with a knee. Rude avoids the DDT and gets the advantage, slowing the pace with a chinlock. He gets a 2-count off a clothesline. Rude goes back to the chinlock. Jake makes a comeback with a jawbreaker. Both men are down after a double clothesline and the ref declares the match a draw.
Opinion: Much like the match before it, the finish was done to protect 2 of their upper mid-card talents. Roberts was on his way to becoming one of the top babyfaces, and Rude a top heel. Neither man lost any traction because of the way the match ended. The draw was a fair result.
Match 8: Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules
Not a technical masterpiece my friends. Herc locks in a Full Nelson. Warrior kicks up off the ropes and just gets his shoulder up before the 3 to pick up the win.
Opinion: It was fine, but the less said about it, the better.
Match 9: Quarter Final – Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant
Andre’s all over Hogan during a frenzied start. Andre gets tied up in the ropes, but he gets free and controls Hogan with a choke. Hogan fights out, but Ted DiBiase appears with a chair. Both men use the chair and the match ends in a double DQ.
Opinion: Obviously the WWF’s plan was for someone other than Hogan to win it, so they paired him with Andre to do the double-DQ finish. It also set things in place for later in the evening. Again, it was quick but fine.
Match 10: Quarter Final – Don Muraco (w/Superstar Billy Graham) vs Ted DiBiase
Muraco dominates the early going and gets a couple of nearfalls. DiBiase gets back into it by slingshotting Muraco into the ring-post. Muraco tries to turn the tide, but can’t get any momentum. DiBiase flapjacks Muraco onto the top rope and picks up the win.
Opinion: The way it ended made DiBiase look resourceful and Muraco look strong, because DiBiase didn’t use his finisher to beat him. Simple, but effective.
Match 11: Quarter Final – Greg Valentine vs Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth)
Valentine’s on top early with elbows both in and out of the ring, and gets a couple of nearfalls. Valentine goes for the figure-four, but Savage rolls him up to get the win.
Opinion: Again, most of the matches in the tournament weren’t that long, but Savage arguably had the toughest run. Good stuff from these two. I’d have liked to see this as a semi-final though.
Match 12: WWF Intercontinental Championship Match – Honky Tonk Man vs Brutus Beefcake
Brutus has the best of the match. With Honky Tonk in a sleeper, Jimmy Hart blasts the ref with his megaphone to earn a DQ win for Beefcake.
Opinion: Filler really. Just there to keep the crowd ticking along. I didn’t mind it, but it would’ve been nice if it had actually meant something.
Match 13: The Islanders & Bobby Heenan vs The British Bulldogs & Koko B Ware
The heels just can’t get anywhere. It’s all babyfaces early doors until the heels slow things down and control the match. It breaks down to a brawl and ends up with the Islanders slamming Heenan on to Davey Boy to get the win.
Opinion: It’s always a pleasure to watch the Bulldogs plying their craft. Two of the best ever, from any country in any promotion. Just good old fashioned, harmless fun.
Match 14: Semi-Final – One Man Gang (w/Slick) vs Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth)
The Gang uses his height and weight advantage to dominate Savage. Slick tries to intimidate Liz. When the ref’s back is turned, Slick throws his cane to the Gang. The ref turns round to see him swinging it at Savage, and DQ’s the Gang.
Opinion: Again, a way to tell the story of Savage battling through all kinds of opponents to earn a title shot. Given the Gang’s limitations, it was good that this was over and done with quickly.
Match 15: WWF Tag-Team Championship Match – Strike Force (c) vs Demolition (w/Fuji)
The babyfaces have a lot of the early going, using their quickness and frequent tags. Demolition hit a clothesline to get things back in their favour. Hot tag to Martel and there’s a dropkick frenzy! He puts Smash in a Boston Crab. Chaos ensues. Ax nails Martel with Fuji’s cane when the ref’s back is turned and Smash covers for the win.
Opinion: The latest in a long line of matches on the show where outside interference, or a weapon, played a big part in the finish. Strike Force had run their course (hey, that rhymes!) as champs, so no problem with Demolition getting “the dub”.
Match 16: Tournament Final – Ted DiBiase (w/Andre) vs Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth)
Lots of chain-wrestling and counters to start, with neither man on top. DiBiase eventually asserts himself. Liz runs off to get Hogan as DiBiase works over Savage. DiBiase manages to cut off Savage’s comebacks on every occasion until Savage slams him off the top rope. Savage misses the top-rope elbow. DiBiase locks in the Million Dollar Dream. The ref gets distracted by Andre, Hogan nails DiBiase with a chair and Savage hits the top-rope elbow for the win.
Opinion: This all tied in nicely with the finish to the Hogan/Andre match earlier. Savage and DiBiase were good enough, but that story, along with the Hogan/Andre dynamic made it a great main-event.
Summary: This is widely regarded as one of the most under-rated WrestleManias of all-time. The card was stacked with 16 matches and the main selling point of it was, of course, the championship tournament. Because of how many matches there were, we were never likely to get matches lasting more than 10 minutes.
The show flowed really well and it showcased guys like DiBiase, Valentine and the man who, in my opinion, is the greatest worker of all-time, Macho Man Randy Savage. Or in this case, Iron Man Randy Savage. It was also great to see Savage finally recognised as the WWF Champion ahead of Hogan. Terrific stuff from all involved. It was a really fun show that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
If you’ve not seen it for a while, I’d recommend spending 3-4 hours of your time watching WrestleMania 4 again. You won’t be disappointed.
Hopefully, you enjoyed that quick look back at WrestleMania 4. Leave your comments/feedback via the usual channels, and join me again tomorrow to revisit WrestleMania 5!
SLTD Wrestling's resident Scottish Nightmare. Some of my content may not be suitable for younger readers or those who are easily offended!
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