WrestleMania Rewind: WrestleMania IV - Randy Savage vs Ted DiBiase

The granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania, is just about a month away. The anticipation for the extravaganza is sky high in the WWE Universe. And since the pay-per-view is richer than Richie Rich when it comes to history, we have decided to take a look back at some of the best WrestleMania matches in this latest series.Let’s go back to the historic Atlantic City Convention Hall in New Jersey. The match that took place on March 27, 1988 at WrestleMania IV – a fourteen-men match for the WWF Championship.The match was held in the format of a tournament, with group stage, quarters, semis and finals. The main event of the show was between Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase, the two finalists with the winner becoming the WWF Champion.

#1 The Build-Up

Hogan was awarded a trophy to commemorate his third year as the Champion. His best friend Andre was also given a trophy, a smaller one. Hogan praised Andre and said he was the true champ but Andre was upset about the difference shown and walked out of the arena while Hogan was delivering his speech.

On an episode of Piper's Pit, Andre announced his new manager, Bobby Heenan, Hogan's long time enemy. Hogan asked Andre to drop Heenan but Andre was stubborn and Andre turned heel.

Andre had challenged Hogan for the WWF Championship match at WrestleMania 3 the previous year but had lost the match. The rematch took place at ‘The Main Event’ PPV in February 1988 and Andre won the match controversially by involving a fake referee in the match.

Andre, after a reign of 47 seconds as champion, gave away the title to Ted DiBiase for a lucrative sum of money. The WWF president Jack Tuney was unhappy with these transactions and stripped him off the title and announced a 14-men match for the vacated WWF Championship.

#2 The Match

Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage were the finalists. Savage was tired due to his hard fought semi-final match with One Man Gang but DiBiase had an easy go, as Bye was his opponent in the semi-final.

DiBiase was dominant throughout the match but Savage countered in the end and made a failed attempt of a ‘Savage Elbow’. DiBiase applied a ‘Million Dollar Dream’ on DiBiase and covered him for the victory before the referee was distracted by the ringside presence of Andre and Hogan.

Hogan, meanwhile attacked DiBiase with a steel chair and Savage capitalized with a ‘Savage Elbow’ from top rope and covered DiBiase for the victory and won the WWF Championship.

#3 The Fallout

Savage was now on the defensive mode. He started his title defence and gave title shots to DiBiase, One Man Gang, Hogan and some others. Later he left the company for a few days to act in the movie ‘No Holds Barred’.

DiBiase on the other hand built an alliance with Andre and challenged Savage to look for a partner. Savage teamed up with Hogan to be called ‘The Mega-Powers’. Tag team action ensued for a few days.

These two legends were honoured with ‘Hall of Fame’ inductions. DiBiase was inducted into WWE ‘Hall of Fame’ Class of 2010 and Savage was inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ Class of 2015 by Hulk Hogan.