WrestleMania History

By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
WrestleMania. It is the most distinguished event in pro wrestling. Simply put, it is the show of shows. The brainchild of Vince McMahon Jr., the first WrestleMania, broadcast in 1985, expanded the pay-per-view market (along with closed circuit TV) and added a whole new dimension to the industry as a whole. So influential was McMahon's venture that the business of pro-wrestling now is almost entirely built around pay-per-view broadcasts.

If you're like us at SLAM! Wrestling, every year you like to refresh your memory and once again experience those WrestleMania moments that are an essential part of why you remain a devout wrestling fan. You dust off those tapes, DVDs or that Best Of WrestleMania tape you dubbed on your own and distributed to the other members of the office staff, slam them into the player and transport yourself back in time. To help guide you along your journey and celebrate the history of WrestleMania, SLAM! Wrestling will be publishing a WrestleMania review each and every day (Monday to Friday) leading up to the big show. We invite you to come along for the ride and share in your favourite moments too. The events are rated as Poor, Average, Good and Excellent.

---

Tournament spices up WrestleMania 4

History Of WrestleMania

Date: March 27, 1988.
Place: Trump Plaza And Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Another tricky venture for Vince McMahon and he hits the jackpot again. Ted Dibiase and Andre The Giant pulls a referee switcheroo on Hogan (He's still got the belt? Why?) screwing him out the WWF World Heavyweight Title on a Saturday Night's Main Event broadcast. Andre hands the belt over to Ted Dibiase and the Million Dollar Man declares himself champ. No way, says WWF President Jack Tunney, who summarily strips Dibiase of the belt and declares the championship vacant. A World Title tournament is scheduled for WrestleMania 4. The decision produces an unpredictable show that keeps wrestling fans guessing until the final match. Hogan's future successor, The Ultimate Warrior, makes his WrestleMania debut.

Favourite Moments: The tournament and Savage winning the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Hogan and Andre cancel themselves out. Strike Forces loses the belts.

Least Favourite Moments: Bobby Heenan wrestles. Steamboat doesn't go far in the tournament.

Rating: Excellent.

WrestleMania 4 Results

World Title Tournament: Round One

Match	Winner(s)
1. Ted Dibiase vs "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan	Ted Dibiase.
2. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs Greg "The Hammer" Valentine	Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
3. Randy Machoman Savage vs "The Natural" Butch Reed	Randy Machoman Savage.
4. One Man Gang vs Bam Bam Bigelow	One Man Gang.
5. Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs "Ravishing" Rick Rude	Draw (Both men eliminated.).

World Title Tournament: Round Two

Match	Winner(s)
6. Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant	Double DQ.
7. Don "The Rock" Muraco vs Ted Dibiase	Ted Dibiase.
8. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine vs Randy Machoman Savage	Randy Machoman Savage.
9. Randy Machoman Savage vs One Man Gang	Randy Machoman Savage (One Man Gang DQ'd.)

World Title Tournament: Round Three

Match	Winner(s)
10. Randy Machoman Savage vs Ted Dibiase (World Title)	Randy Machoman Savage.

Match	Winner(s)
11. Battle Royal	Bad News Brown.
12. The Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules	The Ultimate Warrior.
13. The Honky Tonk Man vs Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (Intercontinental Title)	Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (DQ).
13. The Islanders / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan vs The British Bulldogs / Koko B. Ware	The Islanders / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
14. Strike Force (Rick Martel / Tito Santana) vs Demolition (Tag Team Titles)	Demolition.