Before the match, Miss Elizabeth is backstage with Gene
Okerlund. Mean Gene calls it the most difficult night of her life as the Mega
Powers will explode in tonight’s main event. Elizabeth says she will be stood
showing support in a neutral corner and just hope no one is hurt tonight. We’re
thrown to someone else backstage who says there’s been some tense moments
tonight. Gorilla barely gets a word in before we go to Sean Mooney in the
crowd. There’s support for both champion and challenger as Randy Savage’s music
hits. As Savage gets to the ring Monsoon reminds us Hogan was the first person
there when Savage won the title the previous year to steal the spotlight
congratulate Macho Man. Miss Elizabeth is the next one out, and the security teams
guiding people to the ring is a pretty cool visual. I'm glad that Gorilla Monsoon
clarified that Hogan’s music was playing because the audio was terrible. The Hulkster
makes his way out as Ventura calls him “Husk Hogan.”
Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura are on
commentary for this match. Howard Finkel is our ring announcer.
RANDY SAVAGE © VS.
HULK HOGAN
(WWF Championship)
WrestleMania 5 (2nd April 1989)
Earl Hebner shows off the prize and they circle each other. Randy Savage isn’t ready to lock up yet so he bails to the floor to waste time.
Randy Savage tries to get support from the fans as he climbs the turnbuckles but he’s a heel, so that’s not happening. They tie-up and Hulk Hogan shoves Savage to the mat. Savage goes out to the apron and the fans chant for Hogan, they lock up again as Savage returns to the ring, Randy Savage gets a headlock but is sent off the ropes into a shoulder tackle. Randy Savage takes some more time on the floor, having some words with Elizabeth whilst he’s there. Back in the ring, he works a headlock, raking Hogan’s face and connecting with a shot behind Hebner’s back. Hogan sends Savage off the ropes and the champion goes to the floor again. Hulk Hogan gives chase around ringside and Savage places Elizabeth between them. Michael Cole would be asking if that was SYMBOLIC!? Anyway, Savage holds the ropes for Hulk to allow him in the ring and gets caught in a chain-wrestling sequence. Hogan keeps his weight above Savage in a front facelock, but Savage makes it to his feet and hits a back suplex.
Randy Savage misses an elbow drop and Hogan is back on top with a series of right hands. Ventura calls Hogan out for closed fists as Hogan hits the ropes and drops Savage with another one. Randy Savage breaks the arm wringer with a thumb to Hogan’s eye and kicks him in the chest. Savage goes to the top rope and hits the ax handle for a nearfall. Hogan gets to his feet in the armbar, so Savage brings him down to the mat by the hair. The fans start chanting for Hogan which obviously means he can roll back to his feet, but Savage uses Hogan’s hair to bring him down to the mat again. Jesse Ventura considers it skilled, but Monsoon calls it cheating, as the YouTubers say, let me know what you think in the comments. Hulk Hogan gets back to his feet, this time not going back to the mat as Savage tries to use a handful of hair again. What’s different? I have no idea.
Anyway, Hogan counters the arm wrench and sends Savage through the ropes in a rough-looking bump for the champion. Hulk Hogan brings Savage back in the ring and introduces him to the top turnbuckle, Savage is sent off the ropes into a clothesline and Hogan hits a pair of elbow drops. He thinks about a third, but decides to rake Savage’s eyes with his boot. Hogan sends Savage off the ropes again, but ducks too early and gets kicked. Randy Savage knocks Hogan down with a clothesline, he’s slow to cover and Hogan kics out at 2. Savage goes to the chinlock so we can clearly see the cut above Hogan’s eye. Hulk Hogan gets to his feet momentarily, but Savage forces him down to the mat in a headlock. Hulk Hogan starts to feel the adrenaline, getting back to his feet and elbowing his way free. He tests his lungs, hitting the ropes after being worn down and knocking Savage down with a shoulder tackle. Randy Savage throws a kick but it’s caught by Hogan, who hits an atomic drop. Savage rolls away from the elbow drop attempt and gets to his feet.
Hulk Hogan is sent into the turnbuckles with a running knee and rolls him up! Savage has a handful of tights but still only gets 2. Savage drops onto Hogan with an ax handle and introduces him to the corner. Hogan is sent across the ring and he drops at Savage’s feet as Ventura mocks him on commentary. Randy Savage targets Hogan’s cut before sending him into the turnbuckle. Monsoon mentions how much Savage has been wasting time as he slaps Hogan around and taunts him. Hulk Hogan wakes up and sends Savage’s head into the top turnbuckle repeatedly as the fans count along and hits him with right hands. Savage is sent across the ring and Hogan follows him with a clothesline and slams Savage over the top rope! Miss Elizabeth runs over to Savage, but he’s not after any assistance. Hogan is dragged to the floor but fights off being sent into the ring post. Savage rakes Hogan’s eye and brings him over to the guard rail, Hogan fights that off too so it’s another face rake. Over to the side of the ring and again Hogan’s able to fight it off, but Randy Savage isn’t.
Hulk Hogan picks Savage up on one shoulder but Miss Elizabeth stops Savage from being sent into the ring post. Savage slips out the back and shoves Hogan into the post, if Elizabeth doesn’t want to get hit, she can move out of the way. That’s exactly what she does as Hogan hits the steel, but she’s there to check on the former champion. Randy Savage brings Elizabeth away from Hogan and tries to force her away from ringside, decking Hogan in the meantime. Earl Hebner ejects Liz and we can focus on the match as Randy Savage hits an ax handle from the top rope to Hogan on the floor, into the guard rail. Savage brings it back in the ring and hangs Hogan’s throat over the top rope. Savage hits the middle rope squasher and an elbow to Hogan’s throat as Ventura is calling this the end. Randy Savage slams Hogan and hits a knee drop, but only gets a 2 count. He removes some of his athletic tape and starts choking Hogan before throwing away the evidence. He puts his hands around Hogan’s throat and forces him down to the mat in a choke, utilising the 5-count. Randy Savage hits the Elbow Drop and covers, but Hogan kicks out at 2! Not even a late 2, because he’s Hulking up.
Hulk Hogan eats the shots as he gets to his feet and connects with right hands of his own. Savage is sent off the ropes into the Big Boot which sets up Hogan’s Leg Drop for the win.
WINNER: HULK HOGAN (NEW WWF
Champion)
This was a good match, Randy Savage was able to keep Hogan’s
energy down for most of the match and keep control, Liz was able to be a factor
in the match whilst being neutral and not becoming a distraction. It was a
great culmination of a year-long story in the company’s main event. [***½] 7.25/10
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