WWF WrestleMania IV

WrestleMania IV arrived in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 27, 1988, with the WWF World Heavyweight Championship vacant. Fourteen wrestlers entered a one-night tournament to decide who would hold the title, with some facing the possibility of wrestling four times to become champion. The World Wrestling Federation promoted the event under the Trump Plaza name, although the matches took place at Atlantic City Convention Hall.

The championship dispute began when “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase tried to buy the title from Hulk Hogan. When Hogan refused, DiBiase turned to André the Giant. At The Main Event on February 5, André was awarded a victory over Hogan after a referee paid by DiBiase counted the pin despite Hogan’s shoulder being off the mat.

André then handed the championship to DiBiase. WWF President Jack Tunney ruled that the title couldn’t be transferred that way and declared it vacant, setting up the WrestleMania tournament.

Before the tournament begins, a 20-man battle royal brings together singles wrestlers and tag team partners competing for a trophy. The field includes Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Bad News Brown, Junkyard Dog, Harley Race, and Hillbilly Jim. Wrestlers are eliminated when they go over the top rope and both feet touch the floor, leaving one winner.

DiBiase opens the championship tournament against “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, with André and his bodyguard, Virgil, at ringside. André’s interference helps DiBiase advance. Don Muraco, supported by former world champion “Superstar” Billy Graham, follows with a disqualification victory over Dino Bravo. Greg Valentine then defeats Ricky Steamboat in a meeting of former Intercontinental champions.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage begins his tournament by defeating Butch Reed, with manager Miss Elizabeth in his corner. Savage enters as a fan favorite and an ally of Hogan, who’d helped him fight off an attack months earlier. Their friendship adds another connection between the tournament’s contenders, even though both are pursuing the same championship.

One Man Gang advances with a count-out victory over Bam Bam Bigelow. The last opening-round match ends without a winner when Jake “The Snake” Roberts and “Ravishing” Rick Rude reach the time limit. Both are eliminated, allowing Gang to skip the quarterfinal round and move directly into the semifinals.

The tournament pauses as The Ultimate Warrior makes his WrestleMania debut against Hercules in a rivalry over strength. Their earlier confrontation included a tug-of-war that snapped Hercules’s steel chain, followed by an attack with the broken chain. The face-painted newcomer now meets Hercules with his manager, Bobby Heenan, at ringside.

Hogan and André open the quarterfinal round with a rematch of their WrestleMania III main event. As the two most recent recognized world champions, they received passes through the first round.

Their rematch ends in a double disqualification, removing both men from the tournament. DiBiase then defeats Muraco, while Savage advances past Valentine. With neither Hogan nor André available to face him in the semifinals, DiBiase moves straight into the final. Savage still has to get through One Man Gang.

After the quarterfinals, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake challenges The Honky Tonk Man for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Honky’s Elvis-inspired appearance makes his carefully styled hair a target for Beefcake, who’s promised to give him a haircut. With manager Jimmy Hart backing the champion, Beefcake enters looking to take both the title and some of Honky’s hair.

A stolen mascot is behind the next match. The Islanders, Haku and Tama, had taken Matilda, the bulldog who accompanied The British Bulldogs to ringside. With Matilda back, Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid team with Koko B. Ware against The Islanders and Heenan in a six-man tag team match. Heenan’s place on the team gives the Bulldogs a chance to face the manager as well as his wrestlers.

Savage then meets One Man Gang in the tournament’s remaining semifinal. A disqualification victory sends Savage into the final against DiBiase, setting up a fourth match for Savage and a third for his opponent.

Before that final, Strike Force defend the WWF Tag Team Championship. Rick Martel and Tito Santana face Demolition, the face-painted team of Ax and Smash, managed by Mr. Fuji. The champions’ speed and teamwork meet the challengers’ strength and heavy strikes in the last match before the world title is decided.

Savage and DiBiase close the event with the vacant championship at stake. Savage has already wrestled three times, while DiBiase has had a break since the quarterfinals and brings André into his corner. With Elizabeth supporting Savage, the final gives him a chance to claim his first WWF world title against the man whose attempt to buy it caused the tournament in the first place.