In this installment of Blake’s Best Of, the focus is on WrestleMania IV from Trump Plaza.
The three things this one is known for: the length of the show, the tournament for the WWF title, and a crowning moment for someone other than Hulk Hogan.
Let’s jump into the best of WrestleMania IV.
The tournament for the biggest prize in wrestling
Give me a tournament of any kind, and I’m in. So, while the WWF title tournament was poorly booked and had very few memorable matches, the concept was intriguing. I didn’t love this show, but it’s one that’s fine for background noise because it features a ton of matches in a tournament setting. Yes, I’m really reaching to find Best Of material for this particular show.
Greg Valentine vs. Ricky Steamboat
If you’ve read the Pro Wrestling 1988 Year in Review book, my highest-rated WrestleMania IV match was the first-round matchup between Valentine and Steamboat. All the other matches were simply there. But these two made the most of the nine minutes that they got, which isn’t surprising given the talents involved. Of course, Valentine winning scrapped the excitement for a potential Savage/Steamboat rematch in the second round, but the result would eventually make sense due to Steamboat leaving the company.
Randy Savage winning the WWF Title launches a historic storyline
Most probably assumed that Hogan was going to win the tournament if he could beat Andre the Giant in their much-anticipated rematch. However, after both men were eliminated due to the double DQ, it was obvious that it was gonna be Savage or ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase winning the belt. Savage captured the title in a great moment, but more importantly, it was the start of the year-long Savage vs. Hogan storyline that is one of my favorites in wrestling history.
For my thoughts and match ratings for the entire WrestleMania IV card, check out the Pro Wrestling 1988 Year In Review on Amazon.
Blake Knox is a pro wrestling writer and author. You can find his Pro Wrestling Year In Review series on Amazon.