WWE
Classic Graded: WrestleMania IV Final Results and Grades
Just when you thought WWF was running out of ideas, they decide a fourteen man tournament to crown the new WWF World Heavyweight championship to run during WrestleMania IV. Vince McMahon needed an idea to go above and beyond the spectacle that is WrestleMania III. Did it work? Let’s find out.
History Lesson
Though broadcasting from the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the arena the commentators announce it as the Trump Plaza throughout the show. As someone can expect, Donald Trump is a special guest for this event; He is seen in the audience a few times during the broadcast.
At the time of writing this article, WrestleMania IV is the WrestleMania with the most matches on one card (not counting pre-shows or Sunday Night Heat) with sixteen in total. At a four hour run time, this is the longest WrestleMania event until four hours shows became the norm in the 2000s.
This is also the only WrestleMania to consist of mostly tournament matches. Eleven of the sixteen matches have something to do with the WWF Championship tournament.
20-Man Battle Royal: Bad News Brown wins
Final Grade: C
Slow pacing did this match some good. Lots of teaming up by the multiple stables in the match. Bret Hart breaks BNB’s trophy after the match.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase def. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
Final Grade: C
Not every match on this card is a “barn burner”, most likely because the wrestlers moving on needed to conserve their energy for later on.
DiBiase pins Duggan after a fist drop. Decent all around, average grade.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: “The Rock” Don Muraco def. Dino Bravo via disqualification
Final Grade: C
Bravo attempts to pull the referee in front of Muraco to get him disqualified. The move backfires and Bravo is dq’d instead.
Good pacing, good action; Nothing to complain about.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine def. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Final Grade: C+
This match picks up a little speed after the last few woke the crowd up a little. Steamboat walks to the ring with his son in his arms. That extra boost in confidence doesn’t help and Valentine walks away with the win.
Lots of moves off the top rope, which surprises me because I didn’t know Valentine usually did that.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. Butch Reed
Final Grade: C+
Not a lot of people needed to show a lot in the first round, but Savage still shows off a little here. Elbow drop for the win.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: One Man Gang def. Bam Bam Bigelow via count-out
Final Grade: D+
Two big men beating each other down here. Very good in terms of style wrestling, but the ending count-out seemed to be ten seconds too fast because it seemed faster than normal.
First Round of WWF Championship Tournament: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs Rick Rude ends in a time limit draw; Neither man moves on
Final Grade: B
I didn’t expect a time limit draw during the tournament. With the feud going on between these two, it makes sense that they couldn’t outwrestle each other quick enough to move on.
Ultimate Warrior def. Hercules
Final Grade: C
Warrior hulks up after taking some damage and defeats Hercules. Good match that didn’t go too long.
Quarterfinals of WWF Championship Tournament: Andre the Giant vs Hulk Hogan ends in a double disqualification; Neither man moves on
Final Grade: C-
Big step down from their WrestleMania III match, but it’s still somewhat good to watch. Hogan and Andre trade chair shots which ended in both men being eliminated from the tournament.
Quarterfinals of WWF Championship Tournament: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase def. “The Rock” Don Muraco
Final Grade: B-
I was actually surprised to see DiBiase win with a Stun Gun here. The match itself is pretty good. Nothing earthshaking happens, but it’s not bad to watch.
Quarterfinals of WWF Championship Tournament: “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
Final Grade: B-
Solid work from both men. Savage bests Valentine with a roll-up.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake def. Honkytonk Man via disqualification; HTM remains the champion
Final Grade: C+
I wasn’t really sure what to grade this match, because it starts off really well before the ending threw it off. Really good match, but the DQ finish is really disappointing.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and The Islanders def. The British Bulldogs and Koko B. Ware
Final Grade: C+
A lot of people tend to forget Bobby Heenan was a wrestler before he was a manager/commentator. Solid work all around. Matilda does what she’s trained to do and attacks Heenan after the match.
Semifinals of WWF Championship Tournament: “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. One Man Gang
Final Grade: C
Better than the Bam Bam match only because it didn’t end in a weird count out victory.
WWF Tag Team Championships: Demolition def. Strike Force to become the new champions
Final Grade: C+
The Road Warriors… I mean, Legion of Doom… Wait, no, Demolition takes the win here after a good match. Mr. Fuji aids in the distraction finish ending, earning his team the win and WWF Tag Titles.
WWF Championship Tournament Finals: “Macho Man” Randy Savage def. “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase to become the new champion
Match of the Night winner
Moment of the Night: Macho Man winning his first WWF Championship after hitting his signature Elbow Drop
Final Grade: A-
Fantastic match to conclude the long championship tournament. After an assist by Hulk Hogan and Hulkamania’s steel chair, Randy Savage hits a picture perfect Elbow Drop to earn his first WWF Championship.
Awesome match with the only downside being the questionable interference of both Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.
Overall WrestleMania IV Final Grade: C+
Macho Man’s crowning moment takes an “A-” home, but the average under-card matches sadly lower the overall grade. Not a bad way to end the “show of shows”. Parts of this show definitely do stand the tests of time, Randy Savage’s big win being an obvious one.
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