Revisiting the Main Event of WrestleMania V
At WrestleMania IV on March 27th, 1988, Randy ‘Macho Man” Savage won the WWE World Championship by defeating ”Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase in the finals of a one-night tournament. With help from Hulk Hogan using a steel chair to hit DiBiase over the back, Savage finished DiBiase off with an elbow drop off the top rope. Hogan helping Savage confirmed their partnership, and the duo known as the Mega Powers was in full force.
THE BACKGROUND
For the remainder of 1988, Savage successfully defended the championship against many top wrestlers in the WWE, such as DiBiase, Andre the Giant, Bad News Brown, and others. Savage also teamed with Hogan at SummerSlam 1988 to defeat Ted DiBiase and Andre The Giant in the main event. The Mega Powers worked well together for nearly a year. But all good things must come to an end.
At the start of 1989, Hogan started to have Savage’s valet accompany him to the ring. However, Elizabeth often found herself in harm’sharm’s way, which only infuriated the Macho Man. On the January 7th Saturday Night’s Main Event, Savage saved Hogan from a post-match attack by Akeem and Big Bossman with a steel chair but was not interested in checking on Hogan. At the 1989 Royal Rumble, Hogan added fuel to the issues with Savage by accidentally eliminating Savage from the Royal Rumble match.
The Mega Powers put their differences aside to team up against Akeem and Big Bossman on the February 3rd, 1989 edition of The Main Event. During the match, Savage was thrown to the floor and landed on Elizabeth, prompting Hogan to check on her, and he was an emotional wreck. Savage didn’t like Hogan all over his woman. After the bout, Hogan finds Savage backstage, and Savage proclaims that Hogan has been jealous of him concerning his title and relationship and proceeds to hit Hogan several times with the World Championship. After that, the Mega Powers were no more.
With the Mega Powers imploding, Hogan challenged Savage for the World Championship at WrestleMania V on April 2nd, 1989. Savage accepted. Elizabeth would be at ringside but was in a neutral corner supporting Hogan and Savage.
THE ACTION
Hogan shows off his power advantage by shoving the champion to the mat, causing Savage to regroup on the apron. The Atlantic City crowd is heavily behind Hogan. Savage prevents Hogan from getting a lasting offensive sequence by continually going to the outside. Hogan follows to the floor, but Savage puts Elizabeth in front of him, which disgusts the live audience. Hogan drop-toe holds Savage and keeps control with a headlock, but Savage delivers his first impactful move by connecting with a back suplex. However, Hogan responds with several right-hand punches. Savage drops Hogan with a double axe handle off the top rope for a near fall. Macho Man keeps Hogan on the mat with an arm bar, but Hogan refuses to submit with the grandest prize in pro wrestling on the line.
Hogan breaks free by sending Savage to the floor in front of Elizabeth, but the action quickly returns to the ring. Hulk delivers a devastating clothesline and elbow drop. Savage battles back with a clothesline of his own, but Hogan kicks out at two. At this point, Hogan has started to bleed above his left eye. Savage keeps a sleeper on Hogan as blood pours into Hogan’s eyes. Hogan fights out of the hold and blocks a kick attempt by Savage. Hogan atomic drops Savage but misses an elbow drop. Savage almost wins the match with a rollup out of the corner after a high knee strike to the back of Hogan.
Macho attacks Hogan’s bloodied eye, sending Hogan into the corner. Hogan sends Macho face-first into the corner several times, followed by a clothesline in the corner. Hogan continues by tossing Savage over the top to the floor with a slam. Savage almost strikes Elizabeth on the floor but switches to brawling with Hogan. Elizabeth stands in front of the post to prevent Hogan from sending Savage into the ring post. However, Savage shoves Hogan into the post chest first as Elizabeth avoids a collision.
THE CONCLUSION
Savage gets in Elizabeth’s face against the guard railing and shoves her away from the ringside area. The referee demands Elizabeth leave the ringside area. Savage leaps off the top rope to axe handle Hogan throat first into the guard railing. Hogan is grabbing his throat in agony as Savage drops the challenger over the top rope throat first. Savage splashes onto Hogan’s back over the middle rope.
Savage slams Hogan and gets a two-count after a knee drop. Macho uses his wrist tape to choke Hogan while the referee is out of position. Savage takes Hogan down to the mat and chokes the challenger out. Macho heads to the top rope and hits the iconic elbow drop, but Hogan manages to ”Hulk Up” and kicks out at two. Hogan doesn’t feel anything that Savage is dishing out and pummels Savage with punches. The Hulkster big boots Savage and hits the leg drop to win the title.
THE AFTERMATH
As 1989 continued, Savage and Hogan’sHogan’s feud would continue to be the focus of the WWE. They would square off again in a tag team match at the 1989 SummerSlam event. Hogan teamed with Brutus Beefcake to defeat the team of Randy Savage and Zeus. There would be a steel cage rematch between the two teams following SummerSlam. Hogan and Beefcake won that encounter, as well.
Hogan and Savage would have one last nationally televised bout for the WWE at The Main Event III on February 23rd, 1990. The match featured Buster Douglas as the special referee. Douglas replaced Mike Tyson in the role because Douglas pulled off an enormous upset two weeks earlier. Hogan prevailed against Savage in their final WWE televised bout.
Hulk Hogan held the World Championship until WrestleMania VI, losing to the Ultimate Warrior.
WrestleMania 39 takes place on April 1st and 2nd, starting at 8 PM ET live on Peacock.
