Before the match, “Mean” Gene Okerlund is backstage with Hulk Hogan, he says there was controversy last year at Wrestlemania, there was controversy leading to this tournament and tonight that all gets put to bed. He faces Andre the Giant in the quarterfinals. He calls Donald Trump a Hulkamaniac, which takes a whole new meaning in 2021. He backstrokes off-screen and Donald Trump is shown in the crowd before we see a replay of the end of the Bam Bam Bigelow vs. One Man Gang match (here)
Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura are on commentary for this match. Rick Rude enters with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and takes the mic apologising to any guy that brought his girlfriend tonight before saying the odds are in his favourite. Jake Roberts makes his way out, Damien in the bag as usual, as Ventura reminds us this is the final match of this round.
RICK RUDE VS. JAKE ROBERTS
WWF Wrestlemania 4 (27th March 1988)
They lock up and Rude shoves Roberts into the corner before posing, Jake Roberts goes in for another lock up and sends Rude face-first into the mat. Rick Rude gets a right hand in, then slams Roberts, more right hands and another slam. Jake Roberts sneaks out of the back of the third slam attempt, landing a couple on Rude. Roberts knocks him down with another right hand, Rude realises he's in the corner with Damien and bails. Jake Roberts puts him in an arm wringer, Rude tries to get out with a right hand but Jake ducks it and gets a shot in on Rude before going back to it. Rick Rude tries another right hand to get out but again eats a shot before Roberts takes him around the ring in a top wristlock. Rude connects with some shots, dropping Jake to the mat but Jake Roberts keeps hold of the wrist. He brings Rude down, turning it into an armbar on the mat. Rick Rude makes it to his feet and backs Roberts into the corner, he connects with his shoulder to Roberts' midsection and sets him on the top turnbuckle. The referee backs Rude away, which always annoys me and Jake comes off the middle rope with a kneelift. He signals for the DDT but Rick Rude bails to the floor so Heenan can either coach him or comfort him, I'm not sure which.
Jake Roberts goes back to a standing armbar as Rude is back in the ring. Rude backs Roberts into the ropes, Roberts is sent across the ring and Rude decides it's criss-cross time. Roberts ducks first allowing Rude to jump over him and catches him with a scoop slam on the return. Rick Rude trips Jake Roberts on the kneelift attempt and starts stomping him. Roberts is sent off the ropes into a clothesline and Rude poses again as Heenan tells him he's wasting time, he hits Roberts with an elbow drop and covers but only gets 2. Rick Rude goes to the chinlock as Jesse says it's fine wearing an opponent down but these matches only have 15-minute time limits. Heenan shouts for the referee to ring the bell as Jake starts to fade, but he gets to his feet, trying to work out of it with a top wristlock until Rude sends him down to the mat by his hair. He puts Roberts in a chinlock, keeping above Roberts for leverage. The Brain has a discussion with the referee as Rude starts choking Roberts then goes back to the chinlock as the referee turns around. Jake Roberts gets to his feet and sends Rude over his shoulder towards the corner. Rick Rude climbs to the top rope and hits Roberts with a chop. Heenan tells Rude to put this match to bed as he hits Jake with a couple of rights and a running clothesline for a 2 count.
Rick Rude goes back to the chinlock, because why have a manager if you don't ignore them completely? Jake Roberts grabs his hair to try and get out but breaks before 5, he gets to his feet and fights out of it with elbows but runs into a terrible looking flapjack. He climbs to the top rope again and overshoots, almost landing on Jake's head when he hits the fist drop. He gets a 2 count for a cocky cover and holds Roberts down for the second pin, which still only gets 2. Rick Rude goes back to the chinlock as Heenan loses his mind at ringside, there isn't long left of the time limit. Roberts gets to his feet and hits a back suplex but Rude keeps the chinlock on before moving into a cover, Jake Roberts kicks out at 2 again and falls through the ropes to the apron. Rick Rude stomps him and now the referee doesn't care about the time limit either, backing Rude away. Rude hits an elbow drop to the back of Roberts' head and back to the chinlock as the crowd turn on the match.
The referee checks Jake's arm and it stays in the air on the third drop, keeping him in the match. Rick Rude moves the chinlock, applying more pressure and bringing Roberts with him. The referee checks the arms again and Roberts is still in it. He escapes the chinlock with a jawbreaker and hits Rude with jabs, Rick Rude is sent off the ropes into a backdrop and hits the short-arm clothesline. He sets up for another DDT but Rude sends him into the corner. Jake Roberts is sent across the ring but gets his boot up in the corner. He hits a gutbuster on Rude for a 2 count. Jake Roberts puts Rude in a headlock but it's countered with a back suplex. Rude covers and only gets 2, they get to their feet, Rude hits the ropes and ducks under a clothesline, then they both hit one at the same time. Rude reaches his arm out over Roberts, but Jake Roberts kicks out at 1. Rick Rude trips Roberts in the corner and pins him, getting his feet on the ropes. The referee didn't know where to look as the time limit expired.
WINNER: TIME LIMIT DRAW
This was like a match in reverse. It started well and pretty quick, but the final third of the match consisted of Rude's chinlock a lot. The draw as a result didn't bother me but they were working to a draw, the finish was kind of confusing, but not in a mysterious “what's going to happen” way, more “what the hell was that?” way. It was an enjoyable match at the beginning but dragged off completely at the end..– As a match, it's * ¾ but personally, I'd rate it 3/10
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