WWF Main Event IV

Let’s finish Thanksgiving week of 1990 with a rather infamous show. In case you’ve been on vacation, this is the third wrestling supershow in the same week. I’ve even included a BONUS match for reasons that will materialize. Read on!

From the pink locker room, “Mean” Gene Okerlund runs down some of the nefarious tactics DiBiase performed during this WWF career then interviews him. Is it me or do you find it fascinating that DiBiase doesn’t put Warrior over in his promo?

In the blue locker room, Sean Mooney interviews Warrior who cuts a promo on DiBiase.

Match 1 for the WWF title: Ultimate Warrior (champion) versus the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (w/ Virgil)

As DiBiase missed a clothesline, Warrior didn’t.
He then clotheslined DiBiase over the top rope to the floor.
When DiBiase consulted with Virgil, Warrior gave them a double noggin knocker.
He then joined and rammed them both face-first into the apron.
Back in the ring, Warrior mounted the top turnbuckle and delivered an axe handle.
He then gave DiBiase a cross corner whip but ate knee on his follow-through.
After a clothesline, DiBiase mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle for 2.
He then delivered a piledriver for another 2.
While he attempted a second piledriver, Warrior countered with a back drop.
Warrior then came off the ropes, but Virgil hooked his leg.
With Warrior distracted, DiBiase clotheslined him from behind sending him over the top rope to the floor.
After a commercial break, DiBiase delivered a fist drop for 2.
As Warrior missed a clothesline, DiBiase didn’t.

Warrior then countered a back drop with a backslide for 2.
Upon giving Warrior a vertical suplex, DiBiase got 2.
He then attempted a second suplex, but Warrior countered with a sunset flip for 2.
As DiBiase tossed Warrior outside the ring, he joined and rammed him face-first into the steps.
He then attempted another suplex, but Warrior blocked and hit one of his own.
Next, a double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat.
DiBiase then mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
As Warrior made his comeback, he hit a series of clotheslines followed by a shoulder block.
When Virgil ran in to prevent Warrior from pinning his boss, referee Earl Hebner called for the bell to disqualify DiBiase.
Warrior retained.

Summary: Consider DiBiase a miracle worker as he got everything possible out of Warrior in this match.

After the match, Warrior reverses an Irish whip and clotheslines Virgil. As he military-presses Virgil, “Macho King” Randy Savage runs in and nails Warrior with his scepter. Savage then mounts the top turnbuckle and WALLOPS Warrior with it. When officials try to pull him off Warrior, Savage shoos them away. Queen Sherri then retrieves the WWF title belt and gives it to Savage who holds it overhead. While officials separate Savage from him, Queen Sherri continues to punish Warrior. Savage then mounts the top turnbuckle again and hits a double axe handle. Finally, Savage leaves claiming “(he’s) the champion” as Warrior struggles to his feet for the Fort Wayne faithful.

Back in the pink locker room, Okerlund interviews Savage with Queen Sherri. Savage awaits his title shot.

With Volkoff already in the ring, Okerlund interviews Slaughter with General Adnan from the pink locker room.

As Volkoff and Adnan waved their respective flags, Slaughter ambushed Volkoff from behind.
He then whipped Volkoff with a riding crop as Adnan distracted referee Danny Davis.
Next, he hooked the camel clutch with the riding crop on Volkoff’s throat. How dastardly!
He continued the attack until “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan came to Volkoff’s rescue.
No match.

Back in the blue locker room, Okerlund interviews Bossman who’s infuriated that Heenan insulted his mother.

Match 3: Mr. Perfect (w/o Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) versus the Big Bossman

When Bossman and Perfect played cat-and-mouse around the ring, Bossman caught and nailed Perfect.
To avoid a back drop, Perfect performed a cartwheel.

Since Bossman didn’t appreciate Perfect’s nod toward his former manager, he clotheslined Perfect.

Bossman then delivered a pair of HARD cross corner whips injuring Perfect’s back.
After Perfect crotched himself on the ring post, Bossman delivered a backbreaker.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle but missed a splash.
When Perfect gave Bossman a neck snap, he only got a 1-count.
He then hooked an inside cradle for another 1-count.
As Perfect removed the pad from the top turnbuckle, Bossman blocked a shot to it and rammed Perfect instead.

He then rang Perfect’s bell, but Perfect reversed a cross corner whip sending Bossman back-first into the exposed turnbuckle.
Suddenly, Heenan came to the ring as Perfect attempted a Perfectplex.
Bossman then countered with an inside cradle for 2.
When Perfect hit the Perfectplex, he only got 2.
Bossman then reversed an Irish whip, but Heenan accidentally low-bridged him instead of Bossman. Oops.
After Heenan slapped him, Bossman chased him backstage.
Heenan then slipped on the concrete backstage before hightailing it as far away as possible.
In the meantime, referee Joey Marella counted Bossman out.
Perfect won.

Summary: Despite the awful finish, this was more angle than match as Bossman’s rampage against the Heenan Family progresses. As you would expect, Perfect’s selling made the match entertaining.

After the match, Perfect escapes the ring before Bossman could hammer him with his nightstick.

Back in the pink locker room, Okerlund interviews an apprehensive Heenan who begs Okerlund for assistance.

Next, a video promoting the “Blow-Away Diet” airs starring “Mr. 217 lbs.” Buddy Rose.

Martel ambushed Santana at the onset and tossed him outside the ring.
With Santana leaned against the ring post, Martel attempted a clothesline but hit it instead of Santana. OUCH!
Santana then mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a double axe handle.
After a leap frog by Martel, Santana countered a back drop with an inside cradle for 2.
Shortly after, Martel used momentum to send Santana face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Meanwhile, Martel delivered a pair of backbreakers, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got crotched. YEE-OUCH!
Santana then gave Martel a cross corner whip followed by a forearm smash.
Next, he delivered a dropkick and a backbreaker.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle, hit a clothesline, and got 2.
When Martel tried an atomic drop, Santana blocked it and attempted the figure-four leg lock.
However, Martel countered with an inside cradle for 2.
He then hooked the Boston crab, and Santana submitted.
Martel won.

Summary: In spite of Santana’s great day at Survivor Series, he had a job to do here.

Back in the blue locker room, Okerlund reviews the incident on the Brother Love show involving Martel’s “accidentally” spraying Jake “The Snake” Roberts in the eyes with Arrogance (aired 10/6, taped 9/18). Next, we revisit Superstars when a blind Roberts gave Love the DDT thinking he was Martel (aired 10/21, taped 10/9). He then interviews Roberts who cuts a promo on Martel, removes his sunglasses, and reveals his white left eye. Creepy!

After a commercial break, in the blue locker room, Mooney interviews Warrior who’s PISSED OFF at Savage.

Conclusion: The Warrior-DiBiase match represented the centerpiece of the show, and the WWF successfully achieved two goals with it. First, it was one of Warrior’s best matches. Second, it provided more detail to the upcoming Warrior-Savage feud.

In addition, the Roberts-Martel feud gained some momentum. That story should contain more drama come the next PPV.

For those unaware, this was supposed to be an SNME taping to air the following night; however, due to the Hart Foundation-Rockers match, this was remanufactured into a Main Event on Black Friday. So why wasn’t this match shown? Check it out!

BONUS MATCH: for the WWF tag team titles (2 out of 3 falls): Hart Foundation (champions) versus the Rockers

As Michaels tagged in, the Rockers gave Bret a double backbreaker.
Neidhart came in but received a double superkick.
After Bret gave the Rockers a double noggin knocker, Neidhart double-clotheslined them.
Neidhart then tagged in but received a flying headscissors from Michaels.
When Jannetty tagged in, he received a shoulder block.
Neidhart then clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.
Off camera, Neidhart also sent Michaels spilling to the floor.
Upon Jannetty’s return, Neidhart missed a clothesline, so Jannetty gave him an atomic drop.
While Michaels tagged in, the Rockers hit a double dropkick to Neidhart for 2.
Jannetty tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Neidhart.
As Jannetty hooked a Michaels-assisted sunset flip, he got 2.
While Bret distracted referee Freddie Sparta, the Rockers gave Neidhart a double back elbow.
After a double slam, the Rockers mounted adjacent top turnbuckles, but Bret shoved Michaels down to the floor.
Jannetty then landed a fist drop from the top turnbuckle but only got 2 thanks to a save by Bret.
When Michaels tagged in, Neidhart reversed a cross corner whip, caught Michaels during his float-over, and powerslammed him for 2.
Bret tagged in and gave Michaels a cross corner whip that resulted in a Michaels flip.
Upon giving Michaels a backbreaker, Bret got 2.
He then gave Michaels a side Russian leg sweep for another 2.
As Bret slammed Michaels, he delivered a leg drop but couldn’t get 3.
He then hit a piledriver, but Michaels kicked out at 2.
While Jannetty tagged in, he countered a sunset flip with a cradle.
1-2-3.
The Rockers led 1-0.

When Jannetty attempted a leap frog, Bret countered with an inverted atomic drop.
Shortly after, Bret gave Jannetty a HARD cross corner whip injuring Jannetty’s back.
That only got 2 because Jannetty put his foot on the second rope.
After a double block of a vertical suplex, Michaels tagged in and kept Jannetty from taking the suplex.
The Rockers then double-clotheslined Bret, and the top rope BROKE!

As Bret rolled up Michaels, he got 2.
Bret could be overheard yelling “Fix it” to Sparta as he gave Michaels a vertical suplex for another 2.
Supposedly, he held Michaels in a front face lock so that he could instruct Sparta on fixing the top rope.
Sparta’s ears must have been clogged because he didn’t fix it.
As Michaels escaped with a back drop, Bret delivered an elbow smash.
Michaels then reversed a cross corner whip causing Bret to take an awkward sternum-first bump due to the loose top rope.
When Jannetty tagged in, he gave Bret a superkick for 2.
Bret then responded with a swinging neckbreaker and tagged in Neidhart.
After a slam by Neidhart, Bret tagged in and slammed Neidhart atop Jannetty for 2.
Neidhart then held Jannetty so that Bret could mount the second turnbuckle and hit an elbow smash for another 2.
While Michaels distracted Sparta, the Hart Foundation attempted a Rocket Launcher.
However, Michaels dropkicked Bret over the top rope to the floor.
From the apron, Bret escaped a vertical suplex from Michaels and delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
Neidhart tagged in, and the Hart Foundation gave Michaels the SLOWEST Hart Attack ever clocked. Bret must have been PISSED.
1-2-3.
The match was tied one fall apiece.

Between falls, Bret said something to Sparta causing him to look at the fallen top rope. The rope was then repaired by ring technicians.

When Neidhart gave Michaels an Irish whip, Bret put a knee into Michaels’ back. SNEAKY!
Upon slamming Michaels, Bret delivered an elbow smash.
Neidhart tagged in and gave Michaels a back drop.
As Bret tagged in, he tied Michaels into the ropes but came up empty on his follow-through.
Jannetty tagged in and gave Bret a flying back elbow.
While Jannetty delivered a powerslam, he got 2.
Bret then reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Jannetty mounted the second turnbuckle, he gave Bret a Blockbuster for 2.
All four wrestlers were in the ring as the Rockers whipped the Hart Foundation together.
Upon dispatching Neidhart, Jannetty and Bret completely botched a criss-cross.

Bret then gave Jannetty a vertical suplex as Neidhart tagged in.
As Michaels distracted Sparta, the Hart Foundation gave Jannetty a Bret-assisted shoulder block.
That only got 2 thanks to a save by Michaels.
When the Hart Foundation tried a Neidhart-assisted slam of Bret atop Jannetty, Bret ate knees.
Neidhart then backdropped an incoming Michaels over the top rope to the floor.
As the Hart Foundation attempted Hart Attack #2, Michaels leaped over the top rope and dropkicked Jannetty atop Neidhart.
Michaels then tackled Bret as Jannetty pinned Neidhart.
WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Summary: The top rope breaking truly disrupted the flow of the match. If Bret had been smart, his actual frustration could have been the plot device leading to his team’s loss of the titles. I realize that Neidhart had to eat the pin in the deciding fall due to Bret’s impending singles push, but Bret’s frustration could have caused some confusion with Neidhart that led to the pin.

After the match, the Rockers offer to shake hands with the Hart Foundation who ultimately do so with some reluctance. I’m sure that was due to the quality of the match rather than the relationship between the teams. The Rockers then rejoice with the Fort Wayne faithful over their victory. Ultimately, their title reign would not be recognized going forward since this match was originally scrubbed from history.