Randy Savage beat Butch Reed in the first round (here), Greg Valentine in the quarter-final (here) and One Man Gang in the semi-final (here) to advance. Ted DiBiase had an easier route, beating Jim Duggan in the first round (here) and Don Muraco (here) in the quarter-final but he got a bye to the final thanks to Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant going to a double disqualification in their match.
The WWF Championship is shown before Howard Finkel
introduces Bob Uecker who makes his way out to the ring to “take me out to the ballgame”
Gorilla mentions that he hasn’t found Vanna White yet, and I have a feeling he
may be in luck. Vanna White is out to a hell of a reaction from the crowd. She
shakes hands with Donald Trump as Bob looks on. Vanna and Bob walk a lap around
the ring before we get the introductions for our main event. Ted DiBiase makes
his way out with Andre the Giant, who will be in his corner. Virgil is
still injured thanks to Hogan’s suplex earlier. There have been over 45 minutes,
just in-ring since DiBiase last wrestled and this may factor into the match.
Randy Savage makes his way out with Miss Elizabeth and a third costume change
for each of them.
Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura are on commentary for this
match, Bob Uecker is our special ring announcer, and Vanna White of Wheel of
Fortune fame is our guest timekeeper for this match.
TED DiBIASE VS. RANDY
SAVAGE
(WWF Championship
– Tournament Final)
WWF WrestleMania 4 (27th March 1988)
They lock up, Randy Savage is backed into the corner, but he blocks the right hands, connecting with an elbow to the top of DiBiase’s head. Andre the Giant trips Savage from the floor and Ted DiBiase kindly waits as Savage grasses Andre up, wasting some time and drawing a “Hogan” chant from the crowd.
They lock up again, Savage gets a headlock and moves into a hammerlock, but Ted DiBiase Sr. counters into a top wristlock, now reversing the sequence back to hammerlock and then headlock from Savage so DiBiase shoves him off the ropes. Randy Savage knocks DiBiase down with a shoulder block and gets tripped again. Savage avoids an elbow drop and lets Andre know he’s not happy with the interference. Earl Hebner agrees but since he keeps missing it, he can’t do a lot. They trade arm wringers until Savage is knocked back into the corner. Ted DiBiase connects with right hands and chops in the corner before dropping Savage with an elbow to the back of the neck. Ted DiBiase sends Savage off the ropes into a clothesline and covers but only gets 2.
Ted DiBiase goes back to the headlock, he’s sent into the ropes but knocks Savage down with a shoulder block. Ted DiBiase can’t get Savage over for a sunset flip, Savage stuns him with a right hand before running through DiBiase with a clothesline. Randy Savage covers and DiBiase kicks out at 2. Ted DiBiase goes to speak with Andre and stalls for time, he meets Savage with a knee to the midsection, followed with a club to the back and a chop to knock Savage down. DiBiase jumps in the air to stomp on Savage and sends him off the ropes into a back elbow. Ted DiBiase taunts for a minute before another elbow to the top of Savage’s head. Into the turnbuckle goes Savage’s cranium. Ted DiBiase sends Savage into the ropes, but Savage ducks the chop attempt and hits a running elbow. Randy Savage hangs DiBiase over the top rope as he (Savage) jumps over to the floor. Randy Savage runs at DiBiase with a knee, knocking him over to the floor across the ring.
Andre the Giant stands in front of DiBiase as Savage goes to the top rope. Randy Savage goes to speak to Elizabeth and she runs up the entranceway. Ted DiBiase takes advantage of his rest and Savage’s distraction, catching him with right hands in the corner. Ted DiBiase slams Savage in the background as we see Liz still running (it’s a long ramp). DiBiase connects with fist drops and covers but only gets a nearfall. DiBiase brings Savage over with a snapmare and puts him in the reverse chinlock. Elizabeth returns and has Hulk Hogan with her as Savage is fading in the hold. Hogan grabs a chair and in a rarity for wrestling, uses it to SIT DOWN! EXTREME HOGAN! (don’t Google that.) DiBiase sends Savage into the corner and connects with body shots. Savage fights back with an elbow but is cut off with multiple right hands.
The referee backs DiBiase away and Andre pulls Savage through the ropes, it looks awkward if I’m honest. Hulk Hogan runs around ringside and starts laying into Andre before telling Hebner to do his job.Randy Savage starts getting some momentum going, but it doesn’t last as DiBiase rakes the eyes. An irish whip sends Savage into a clothesline, Ted DiBiase hits the jumping elbow drop and covers for 2. A suplex gets another 2, as does a gutwrench suplex. Andre doesn’t thing the referee is counting right. DiBiase slams Randy Savage and goes to the top rope, but Randy Savage brings him back to the mat. Ted DiBiase moves out of the way of Savage’s Elbow Drop. DiBiase puts on the Million Dollar Dream, Randy Savage grabs the ropes but Andre the Giant is having none of that and knocks Savage’s grip loose. The referee notices and talks to Andre as Hogan is in the ring with the chair.
Hulk Hogan hits DiBiase
across the back with the chair, breaking the hold. Randy Savage doesn’t know how
it happened but he goes to the top rope and hits the Elbow Drop for the win,
deciding to worry about it later.
WINNER: RANDY SAVAGE
This was another match of Randy Savage fighting from
underneath, so if you’re a fan of his matches with that theme, this is the
event for you. It wasn’t a bad match but they could both have better. It was all
part of the bigger story and was a decent match, but not a great main event. [***]
5.5/10
After the match Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan pose with Miss
Elizabeth for the crowd. Randy Savage lifts Liz onto his shoulder as Hogan
decides he has to be right in the shot to show his true level of support.
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