SirEdger Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 March 27th, 1988 Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, NJ Hosted by: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse "The Body" Ventura After the usual introductions by Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura, Mean Gene Okerlund is standing in the middle of the ring to present WWF President Jack Tunney. As expected, Tunney is greeted to a chorus of boos. Mean Gene asks Jack Tunney about the status of both Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake for the tournament. Tunney announces that both Hogan and Beefcake are out of the tournament due to the recent attacks on them. Tunney then announces that he accepted Wahoo McDaniel's request to take Brutus Beefcake's spot in the tournament. Tunney doesn't have time to say anything else that he's interrupted by Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Savage heard some rumors that Tunney was to replace Hogan by Andre the Giant in the tournament and he asks him not to do that. Savage says he's seeing through Bobby Heenan's plan to stack the deck in favor of Nick Bockwinkel to win the whole tournament and weaseling in Andre would only help accomplish that. Savage is asking Tunney to be Hogan's replacement in the tournament, which brings out Bobby Heenan, telling Tunney to not listen to him and to give Andre a shot in the tournament. Heenan says that only Andre has enough star power to replace Hogan and make Tunney's decision worthwhile as Savage isn't even in Andre's league. Savage is about to lose it on Heenan when Tunney announces that he accepts Savage's request and he will take Hogan's spot in the tournament. The Brain is irate as Savage has been able to at least, partially thwart his plan for now! Match #1 The Islanders (King Tonga & Tonga Kid) vs Karma ("Crippler" Rip Oliver & "Hangman" Bobby Jaggers) Official tag team debut for Rip Oliver and Bobby Jaggers as Karma. Jesse Ventura went at length to explain that their team name represents the beating that their opponents will truly deserve. Despite their best efforts, The Islanders fall prey to a spike piledriver from Karma to Tonga Kid to secure the victory Winners: Karma Match #2 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Randy "Macho Man" Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs Jerry Lynn Pretty much a warmup match for the Macho Man as the young rookie proved to be no match with Savage finishing things up with the Macho Elbow to advance to the quarter finals. Winner: Randy Savage Match #2 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Bobby Heenan) vs "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin (w/Precious) The Brain seemed a bit still distraught from the earlier announcement and it seemed to take Valentine off his game. However, Valentine recovers and is able to make Garvin submit with the figure four leglock to advance. Winner: Greg Valentine Match #3 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Tito Santana The King comes in with a game plan early and it's to frustrate and stall Tito Santana from the start, which he does but Tito is able to take control in the match. However, The King uses a foreign object hidden in his tights to knockout Tito and advance to the quarterfinals. Winner: Jerry "The King" Lawler Match #4 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs The Ultimate Warrior The Warrior came surprisingly ready for this match, despite the experience edge going to Orndorff in this one. And while the Warrior was close to the win, a run-in from The Crusher hitting him with a steel chair while Bobby Heenan was distracting the referee allowed Orndorff to score the countout victory. Orndorff didn't seem too thrilled about it but The Brain didn't seem to care. Winner: Paul Orndorff by countout Match #5 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Sgt. Slaughter vs Baron Von Raschke (w/Gary Hart) Probably the most physical match in the tournament so far as Slaughter and Von Raschke slugged it out throughout the entire match. Slaughter was able to get out of Baron Von Raschke's Claw and eventually apply the Cobra Clutch on Von Raschke to secure the submission win! Winner: Sgt. Slaughter Match #6 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Don "The Rock" Muraco vs Larry Zbyszko A bit similar to the tactic Lawler used earlier vs Tito Santana, Larry Zbyszko tries to stall early but Muraco wants none of it and his brute strength proves to pay off. However, Muraco's temper proves to be his downfall after he loses his cool after being slapped in the face by Zbyszko. Muraco backs Zbyszko in a corner and as referee Jimmy Korderas tries to interject himself between the two, Zbyszko sticks a thumb in Muraco's eyes and trips him, using the ropes for leverage to score the win and move on. Winner: Larry Zbyszko Match #7 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 The Crusher vs Nick Bockwinkel (w/Bobby Heenan) This match really isn't one as immediately, Heenan orders The Crusher to lay down for Bockwinkel. The Crusher doesn't seem happy about it and they argue back and forth. Heenan then slaps The Crusher as he refuses to cooperate and The Crusher grabs Heenan by the throat. Bockwinkel doesn't waste any time and clips The Crusher behind the knee, proceeding to destroy it. Referee Earl Hebner then immediately stops the match, claiming that The Crusher can't continue. Gorilla Monsoon questions if Heenan also doesn't have Hebner in his back pocket! Winner: Nick Bockwinkel by referee stoppage Match #8 WWF Championship Tournament Round 1 Wahoo McDaniel vs Bad News Brown Another hard-hitting affair to close the first round of the tournament as both men don't hesitate to throw their best shots to their opponents. Bad News Brown's bad attitude gets the best of it as he refuses to listen to referee Joey Marella's instructions and shoves him down on the mat, forcing Marella to disqualify him. However, Bad News isn't done as he hits not one but 2 Ghetto Blasters on Wahoo, leaving him a bit shaken up but still moving on. Winner: Wahoo McDaniel Match #9 The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers vs Bunkhouse Buck & Nord the Barbarian (w/Gary Hart) In a pre-match interview, the Rougeaus say that this one is to avenge Gary Hart's men's attack on Brutus Beefcake in the past week. Despite the physical advantage from Buck & Nord, the Rougeaus are able to put them away when they hit La Bombe Rougeau on Bunkhouse Buck to score the win. Winners: The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers Match #10 WWF Championship Tournament Quarter-Finals Randy "Macho Man" Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs Greg Valentine (w/Bobby Heenan) A match that could've easily been the finals of the tournament but certainly lived up to the hype with multiple near falls. Savage escaped certain defeat as he gets the victory with an inside cradle on Valentine while Valentine was trying to lock him into the Figure Four! Winner: Randy Savage Match #11 WWF Championship Tournament Quarter-Finals Jerry "The King" Lawler vs "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff Jerry Lawler had to once again dig deep in his bag of tricks but Orndorff seemingly saw him coming at every turn. The end came though as Lawler capitalized on a mistake from Orndorff; setting Lawler up for a piledriver, Lawler tripped Orndorff and slingshot him on the top rope. Lawler then hit the 2nd rope fist drop to score the victory. Winner: Jerry "the King" Lawler Match #12 WWF Championship Tournament Quarter-Finals Sgt. Slaughter vs Nick Bockwinkel (w/Bobby Heenan) No chance this time for The Brain to ask Sarge to lay down for Bockwinkel. Sarge is dominating most of the match when The Brain finally pulls off his trump (no pun intended) card; Andre the Giant slowly makes his way to the ring, stopping Sarge dead in his tracks. Everyone is momentarily distracted enough so that Bockwinkel can deliver a low blow to Sarge, followed by a cover to score the pinfall. Bockwinkel moves on to the semis! Winner: Nick Bockwinkel Match #13 WWF Championship Tournament Quarter-Finals Larry Zbyszko vs Wahoo McDaniel Still reeling from the first round attack from Bad News Brown, Wahoo McDaniel has a hard time getting out of the starting block, giving Larry all the time in the world to make the damage. Eventually, Zbyzsko's ego gets the best of him as he releases the Sleeper Hold too early, thinking that Wahoo went to sleep. A few minutes later, Wahoo finishes up Zbyszko with the top rope tomahawk chop and scores the victory! Winner: Wahoo McDaniel Match #14 WWF Tag Team Championship Demolition (c) vs The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Jack Roberts) Another physical match between both teams and the crowd is solidly behind the Freebirds. Demolition is able to isolate Buddy for the most part and they even thought they got the victory after hitting the Demolition Decapitation on Buddy but Terry Gordy made the save. Eventually, Gordy gets the hot tag and all hell breaks loose. Smash makes a capital mistake by sneaking in the tag team title belt and accidentally hitting Ax with it. Buddy puts Smash out of commission and Gordy hits the Backdrop on Ax to score the victory! The Freebirds celebrate as they're the new champs! Winners and new champions: The Fabulous Freebirds Match #15 WWF Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Randy "Macho Man" Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs Jerry "the King" Lawler To no one's surprise, Jerry Lawler is once again trying to use every dirty trick he can to get away with the victory. However, Lawler gets caught red-handed as he's trying to use the same brass knuckles he used against Tito Santana in the first round. Lawler and referee Joey Marella argue a bit as Marella try to wrest the knuckles away from Lawler, allowing Savage to hit Lawler in the back with a high knee. Lawler crashes face first in the corner, allowing Savage to hit the Macho Elbow and score the win. Savage is going to the finals! Winner: Randy Savage Match #16 WWF Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Nick Bockwinkel (w/Bobby Heenan) vs Wahoo McDaniel Wahoo is definitely feeling the effects of the two previous matches but he's still able to dish out the big hits on Bockwinkel. Heenan is worrying so much that once again, he resorts to bring in Andre the Giant in the pictures. After Wahoo hits a Tomahawk Chop on Bockwinkel. Heenan once again grabs the referee's attention, allowing Andre to interfere. This time, Andre literally chokes the life out of Wahoo, rendering him unconscious. Bockwinkel slaps in a figure four on Wahoo and not knowing what happened, referee Earl Hebner counts the pinfall. Bockwinkel is moving to the finals! Winner: Nick Bockwinkel Match #17 WWF Intercontinental Championship Michael P.S. Hayes (c) vs Honky Tonk Man (w/Johnny V) Having invoked his rematch clause after losing the title a few weeks ago, it's a more serious side that the Honky Tonk Man shows in this match. Just like for his brothers earlier in the night, the crowd is solidly behind Michael Hayes for this match. Honky Tonk uses a few questionable tactics but Michael Hayes always seems to find a way to resist. Honky Tonk hits Shake Rattle and Roll on Hayes but only gets a two! Honky decides to go for it one more time but this time, Hayes counters with a back slide and scores the pinfall to retain. The Freebirds come to celebrate as all 3 members of the group are currently holding gold! Winner and still champion: Michael P.S. Hayes MAIN EVENT Match #18 WWF Championship Tournament Finals Randy "Macho Man" Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs Nick Bockwinkel (w/Bobby Heenan) It wasn't necessarily what the fans first expected to see prior to Wrestlemania but here we are; Savage vs Bockwinkel for the WWF Championship in the finals. Exuding confidence, Bobby Heenan decides for a 3rd time to bring in Andre the Giant as an intimidation factor to start the match. It doesn't take really long for Andre to get involved early as he trips Savage in the ropes. Savage gets up and shrugs it off but only a few minutes later, Andre retaliates one more time. Miss Elizabeth can't hide her concern and is on the verge of panic when Savage motions for her to go to the back. Liz obliges and rushes to the back, with Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura wondering if Savage isn't concerned for Elizabeth's safety with Andre the Giant around. In the meantime, Bockwinkel & Andre are taking liberties on Savage throughout the match as Bobby Heenan distracts referee Earl Hebner. Bockwinkel is seemingly ready to put Savage out of his misery when...when.. MISS ELIZABETH RETURNS WITH HULK HOGAN! The crowd explodes as Hogan, with taped ribs, walks to the ring with a purpose. Hogan makes a beeline straight towards Andre the Giant and pummels him with right hands. And while Hogan and Andre are going it.... BRUTUS BEEFCAKE IS BACK AS WELL, SNEAKING FROM THE CROWD! As the referee is busy trying to separate Hogan and Andre, Beefcake comes in and puts the Sleeperhold on Bockwinkel! The crowd goes nuts as then Beefcake nails Heenan with a right hand! With Bockwinkel gone to sleep, Savage climbs on the top rope: Macho Elbow! Referee Earl Hebner slides back in the ring and makes the count...1...2....THREE! IT'S OVER! Randy Savage has done the impossible; going from an outsider to WWF Champion in one night! The show ends with fireworks and pyros as Savage, Elizabeth, Hogan & Beefcake all celebrate together while Heenan and Bockwinkel curse Hogan and friends! Winner and new WWF Champion: "Macho Man" Randy Savage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowBlowPodcast Posted April 28, 2020 Report Share Posted April 28, 2020 Pretty BOLD move to have Hogan out of the tourney. Plain and simple. I think you've got a lot of matches that were meaningful in terms of a tournament but wonder if you could have rolled it down to 8 and had just solid matches for it to be more of a workrate event. I LOVE that the Freebirds are rolling here with the IC and Tag Titles. Hayes is really one of my big faves right now in this game and he's proving to be a popular commodity. I like the final eight in the tournament and really would like to see more of Savage and Lawler. I think there's a lot of juice there. Beefcake is the one who plays the foil here to help Savage win the match and the tournament. I The Main event...the moments from the real 4 and this 4 line up the right way. Bock isn't Dibiase at this point in his career but is definitely a commodity. I have always wanted Savage to be more away from Hogan and this REALLY sets him up to do that if he wants to. He could either embrace all that is Hogan and Beefcake or line up with an Orndorff, Andre, or others to oppose him and be a champion on his own dime. This makes the WWF must see for the next couple of months. Good stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirEdger Posted April 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2020 I wanted to remain as close as possible to the original format of Wrestlemania IV so that's why I went with the 16-men format. I felt like this could help me establish the aftermath of Wrestlemania than if I went with the 8-men format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icemandave Posted May 3, 2020 Report Share Posted May 3, 2020 Really enjoyed a lot of your WrestleMania. Savage being a late entry and winning the tournament was great, and the alliance of Savage, Hogan and Brutus should be a good foil for the Heenan Family and Bockwinkle. Loved that Hayes retained the IC title, but I personally was disappointed that the Freebirds won the tag titles, as I am such a big fan of Demolition. I am interested to see who is going to be the next challengers for the birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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