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{{Infobox Wrestling event
|name = WrestleMania IV
|image = WrestleManiaIV.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Promotional poster featuring [[André the Giant]] and [[Hulk Hogan]]
|tagline = What the World is Watching!
|promotion = [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]
|date = March 27, 1988
|venue = [[Boardwalk Hall|Atlantic City Convention Hall]]<br />(Promoted as [[Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino|Trump Plaza]]){{efn|name=___location}}
|city = [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]
|attendance = 19,199<!--<ref name="attendance" /> covers this. Not needed for infobox - see [[WP:INFOBOXCITE]] -->
|lastevent = [[Survivor Series (1987)|Survivor Series]]
|nextevent = [[SummerSlam (1988)|SummerSlam]]
|event = [[WrestleMania]]
|lastevent2 = [[WrestleMania III|III]]
|nextevent2 = [[WrestleMania V|V]]
}}
'''WrestleMania IV''' was
The [[Card (sports)#Main event|main event]] featured
The [[Card (sports)#Undercard|undercard]] featured a 20-man [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] won by [[Allen Coage|Bad News Brown]], [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] ([[Bill Eadie|Ax]] and [[Barry Darsow|Smash]]) versus [[Strike Force (professional wrestling)|Strike Force]] ([[Tito Santana]] and [[Rick Martel]]) for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]], and [[Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake]] versus [[The Honky Tonk Man]] for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship]].
Contemporary critics gave the event a lukewarm reception, noting its extended length. Retrospective analysis, some by sociologists, noted the presentation of wrestlers' interpersonal relationships, and how the event's sponsor, [[Donald Trump]], used the event to craft his public persona.
==Production==
===Background===
[[WrestleMania]] is considered the [[World Wrestling Federation]]'s (WWF, now WWE) flagship [[professional wrestling]] [[pay-per-view]] (PPV) event, having first been held in [[WrestleMania I|1985]]. It is held annually between mid-March to mid-April.<ref>{{cite web|title=WrestleMania 29 press conference brings WWE to Radio City Music Hall|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/wrestlemania-press-conference-radio-city-music-hall-26103938|publisher=WWE|access-date=March 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407015228/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/wrestlemania-press-conference-radio-city-music-hall-26103938|archive-date=April 7, 2013|quote=... WWE's flagship event lights up MetLife Stadium ... WrestleMania}}</ref> WrestleMania IV was scheduled to be held on March 27, 1988, at the [[Boardwalk Hall|Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall]] in [[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]].<ref name="Cv7hN" /><ref name="inde_WWEW" /> This event was advertised as being held at the [[Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino]],<ref name="GoueW" /> but actually took place across the road at Convention Hall. [[Donald Trump]] used the event to promote his properties and was highlighted in the broadcast.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Margolin |first=Lavie |title=TrumpMania: Vince McMahon, WWE and the making of America's 45th President |publisher=H. Delilah Business & Career Press |year=2017 |isbn=9780692989463}}</ref>
Much of the promotion of the event featured the continued rivalry of [[André the Giant]] and [[Hulk Hogan]], who had faced off in the [[WrestleMania III|previous edition's main event]].<ref name="twmwrestling" /> This took place inside of a [[single elimination]] fourteen-man tournament for the vacant [[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name="twmwrestling" /><ref name="Andreheel" /> The event was broadcast on [[closed-circuit television]] to various venues with a combined audience of 175,000 attendees, and also on PPV.<ref name="broadcast" />
===Storylines===
====André vs Hogan====
[[File:André the Giant in the late '80s.jpg|thumb|right|[[André the Giant]] (pictured) and [[Hulk Hogan]] met in the quarter-finals of the championship tournament, having headlined the event the year prior.]]
The most heavily promoted [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] heading into the event was between [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[André the Giant]], similar to the year before when the two met at [[WrestleMania III]]. In January 1987, Hogan was awarded a trophy for his third year as [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Champion]], while Hogan's on-screen friend André was awarded a smaller trophy than Hogan's for being undefeated in the WWF for the previous fifteen years.<ref name="slam_Andr" /><ref name="Andreheel" /> Hogan congratulated André over winning the award, but André exited the arena before Hogan's speech was finished. In February, on an episode of [[Piper's Pit]], André announced his new [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], [[Bobby Heenan]], Hogan's longtime on-screen rival.<ref name="Andreheel" /> Hogan asked André to leave Heenan, which André refused.<ref name="Andreheel" /> André then challenged Hogan to a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at [[WrestleMania III]], before ripping off Hogan's Hulkamania shirt and golden cross necklace, [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Turn|turning]] from an on-screen hero to villain ([[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]]).<ref name="Andreheel" /> At WrestleMania III, Hogan defeated André to retain the title.<ref name="5WLXC" />
At [[Survivor Series (1987)|the first Survivor Series]] in November 1987, André along with team members [[One Man Gang]], [[King Kong Bundy]], [[Butch Reed]], and [[Rick Rude]] defeated Hogan, [[Paul Orndorff]], [[Don Muraco]], [[Ken Patera]], and [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] in a traditional [[Survivor Series#Survivor Series match|Survivor Series match]].<ref name="c6oJf" /> Shortly after Survivor Series, during Hogan's WWF World Heavyweight Championship defense against Bundy, André sneak-attacked Hogan, applying a chokehold. Heel character [[Ted DiBiase]], who was [[gimmick|portrayed]] as "The Million Dollar Man", an evil millionaire, offered Hogan a large sum of money to sell DiBiase the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, which Hogan refused. At [[Royal Rumble (1988)|the first Royal Rumble]] in January 1988, Hogan and André had an official contract signing for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship rematch.<ref name="rIsNh" /> Their rematch took place on ''[[The Main Event I]]'' in February, where André defeated Hogan with a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Screwjob|dusty finish]].<ref name="THOW" /> André won the match when referee [[Dave Hebner]]'s identical twin [[Earl Hebner]] made the decision.<ref name="SNME - Hogan vs André" /><ref name="andré1" />
Shortly after being awarded the championship, André [[kayfabe]] sold the title to DiBiase.<ref name="andré1" /> Whilst André's championship reign is recognized by the WWF, DiBiase was stripped of the title. Plotwise, due to the circumstances, WWF President [[Jack Tunney]] vacated the title and ordered it to be decided in a [[single elimination]] 14-man tournament at WrestleMania IV.<ref name="SNME - Hogan vs André" /> As the previous champions, André and Hogan received [[bye (sports)|bye]]s to the second round of the tournament, meaning they would face each other in their second-round matchup.<ref name="andré1" />
Hogan formed an unlikely alliance with a former enemy and top challenger to his WWF World Heavyweight Championship, [[Randy Savage|Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] (which was later known as the [[Mega Powers]]). Savage had been portrayed as an [[egomaniacal]] heel during most of his first two years in the WWF, but in the late summer of 1987, began to slowly turn face.<ref name="lastword" /> Their on-screen friendship was formed when Hogan (at the persuasion of Savage's valet, [[Miss Elizabeth]]) intervened while Savage was being attacked by [[The Honky Tonk Man]] and [[the Hart Foundation]] in an [[Angle (professional wrestling)|angle]]. Although Hogan and Savage teamed together at un-televised house shows, nothing more was made of it on national television until shortly before WrestleMania IV, when Hogan rescued Savage in a similar angle featuring Andre, DiBiase and [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]].<ref name="lastword" /><ref name="bleachersummary" />
====Undercard====
[[Brutus Beefcake]] had become one of the most popular WWF superstars after turning face at WrestleMania III (after several years of playing a self-absorbed heel), and after feuding with former tag-team partner Greg Valentine, was receiving his first huge push toward the [[WWF Intercontinental Championship]], held by [[The Honky Tonk Man]]. Beefcake, now nicknamed "The Barber" after his gimmick of a barber, vowed "to cut his (Honky Tonk Man's) [[ducktail]] hair" before winning the championship.<ref name="bleachersummary" /> Honky, meanwhile, was portrayed as a cowardly champion, frequently relying on outside interference from manager [[Jimmy Hart]] or on-screen girlfriend [[Sherri Martel|Peggy Sue]] to win matches,<ref name="bleachersummary" /> or intentionally getting himself counted out or disqualified to retain his championship with the [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Championship advantage|champions advantage]].<ref name="bleachersummary" />
[[The Ultimate Warrior]] had debuted in the WWF in the fall of 1987, and his feud with [[Hercules (wrestler)|Hercules]] was his first major angle, the two feuding over who was the stronger, gladiatorial-style superstar in the WWF. To further the angle, the two met in a match on WWF television, wherein Hercules attacked Warrior with his steel chain and beat him down, but Warrior was able to fight back, gain control of the chain and began using it on Hercules until other wrestlers and officials were able to separate the two.<ref name="lastword" />
After being left off the WrestleMania III card, [[The Islanders (professional wrestling)|The Islanders]] were in the middle of their second major feud since turning heel in the spring of 1987, going up against [[The British Bulldogs]]. The storyline began shortly after the inaugural [[Survivor Series (1987)|Survivor Series]], when during a match on ''WWF Superstars Of Wrestling'', the Islanders took the Bulldogs' [[mascot]], Matilda the [[bulldog]], from ringside. Following a brief suspension in connection with the dog-napping incident, Islanders members Haku and Tama began bringing dog collars tied to a chain to ringside to taunt the Bulldogs. At the same time, the Islanders' manager Bobby Heenan began making remarks on the legality of having animals at ringside (in lieu of official managers), and also made derogatory remarks about [[Koko B. Ware]]'s [[macaw]], Frankie, who accompanied Ware to ringside. This led to a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Multiple man teamed matches|Six-man tag team match]] with manager Heenan tagging with the Islanders against the Bulldogs and Ware.<ref name="bleachersummary" /><ref name="lastword" />
[[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]], a leather-outfitted tag team who had their faces painted in a combination of black, white, red and silver colors, received their first major push in the fall of 1987, where they began aggressively dominating and overwhelming their opponents. After dominating most of the established face tag teams, Ax and Smash began targeting [[Strike Force (professional wrestling)|Strike Force]] ([[Tito Santana]] and [[Rick Martel]]), which had recently become the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Champions]] and had defeated several top heel tag teams, including [[The Hart Foundation]] (from whom Martel and Santana won the belts), [[The Bolsheviks]] and The Islanders before Demolition demanded a match at WrestleMania IV.
== Event ==
=== Opening match, 20-man battle-royal ===
{| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;"
|+ '''Other on-screen personnel'''
!|Role:
!|Name:
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Sports commentator|Commentator]]
|[[Gorilla Monsoon]]
|-
|[[Jesse Ventura]]
|-
|[[Bob Uecker]]<br>{{small|(Battle Royal)}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Interviewer
|[[Gene Okerlund]]
|-
|[[Craig DeGeorge]]
|-
|[[Ring announcer]]
|[[Howard Finkel]]
|-
|[[Timekeeper|Special Guest Timekeeper]]
|[[Vanna White]] (Main Event)
|-
|Supporting
|[[Robin Leach]]
|-
|Vocalist
|[[Gladys Knight]]
|}
WrestleMania IV's coverage began with [[Gladys Knight]] singing a rendition of ''"[[America the Beautiful]]"''. The first match of the pay-per-view event was a twenty-man over the top rope [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]]. The winner of the match would receive a trophy. After fourteen eliminations, the final six participants were [[Allen Coage|Bad News Brown]], [[Bret Hart]], [[Paul Roma]], [[Harley Race]], [[Jacques Rougeau]], and [[Junkyard Dog]].<ref name="powerdriver" />
Race hit a [[Professional wrestling throws#Back body drop|back body drop]] on Rougeau, sending him over the top rope before Junkyard Dog [[Punch (combat)|punch]]ed him over the top rope.<ref name="pwwew.net" /> Brown eliminated Roma as Junkyard Dog was left to battle Hart and Brown. The duo [[double team]]ed Dog before Brown attempted a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Clothesline|clothesline]] on Dog, but hit Hart instead. Junkyard Dog hit both men with several [[headbutt]]s before they both decided to cooperate and they eliminated Junkyard Dog. After eliminating Dog, Hart indicated that he and Brown would share the trophy; however, Brown caught Hart with his [[Professional wrestling attacks#Enzuigiri|Ghetto Blaster]] before eliminating him over the top rope to win the battle royal.<ref name="wweresults" /> Brown was presented with the trophy, but Hart interrupted and hit Brown with the trophy. Hart and partner Jim Neidhart later [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Turn|turn]]ed [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] over the next few months.<ref name="powerdriver" /><ref name="pwh" />
=== First round ===
Before the 14-man [[Professional wrestling tournament|tournament]] for the [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] began, [[Robin Leach]] from the TV show ''"[[Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous]]"'' outlined the background for the tournament, and how the championship was vacated. As former champions, [[André the Giant]] and [[Hulk Hogan]] were given a bye and had directly qualified for the next round. In the first round, [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase]] (with bodyguard [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] and André the Giant) defeated [[Jim Duggan|"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan]] by pinfall.<ref name="wweresults" /> [[Don Muraco|"The Rock" Don Muraco]] (with [[Superstar Billy Graham]]) defeated [[Dino Bravo]] (with [[Frenchy Martin]]) by disqualification after Bravo pulled the referee in front of him, causing the referee to be hit by a flying forearm from Muraco.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" />
[[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]] (with [[Miss Elizabeth]]) defeated [[Butch Reed|"The Natural" Butch Reed]] (with [[Slick (wrestling)|Slick]]), [[Greg Valentine|Greg "The Hammer" Valentine]] (with [[Jimmy Hart|"The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart]]) defeated [[Ricky Steamboat|Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat]], the [[One Man Gang]] (with Slick) defeated [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] (with [[Oliver Humperdink]]),<ref name="espn_Revi" /> and [[Rick Rude|"Ravishing" Rick Rude]] (with [[Bobby Heenan|Bobby "The Brain" Heenan]]) fought [[Jake Roberts|Jake "The Snake" Roberts]] to a time limit draw. The winners of these matches advanced to the quarterfinals. As Rude and Roberts tied, they were both eliminated from the tournament, thereby giving the One Man Gang a bye into the semifinals.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" />
=== Tournament intermission one, singles match ===
In his PPV debut, [[The Ultimate Warrior]] faced [[Hercules (wrestler)|Hercules]]. The pair locked up with Warrior [[Professional wrestling attacks#Knife edge chop|chopping]] Hercules in the corner. Hercules fought back as he hit two [[Professional wrestling attacks#Clothesline|clothesline]]s on Warrior, who [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#No-sell|no-sold]] them before a third from Hercules took Warrior off his feet. Warrior then countered a Hercules clothesline and hit a clothesline of his own. In the corner, Warrior hit him with ten [[Punch (combat)|punch]]es, but while Warrior was looking at the referee, Hercules hit an [[Professional wrestling throws#Inverted atomic drop|inverted atomic drop]]. He then tried to apply his [[finishing move]], a full-nelson, but could not lock his fingers behind Warrior's head. Warrior then pushed his feet off the top turnbuckle and both men fell to the mat with both men being pinned. Warrior lifted a shoulder before the end of the count, awarding Warrior the win.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" /><ref name="pwh" /><ref name="pwwew.net" />
=== Quarter-finals ===
[[Image:Greg Valentine.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Greg Valentine]] faced [[Randy Savage]] in the quarterfinals of the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] tournament]]
The first of three quarterfinals saw Hulk Hogan take on André the Giant. During the match, Hogan hit André with a chair in front of [[Referee (professional wrestling)|referee]] [[Joey Marella]]. André retaliated, grabbing the chair and hitting Hogan. After both men hit each other with the chair, they both were disqualified by Marella and, as a result, were eliminated from the tournament.<ref name="pwto_PWTo" />
The second quarterfinal saw Ted DiBiase (without either André or Virgil after Virgil had been [[Suplex]]ed in the aisle by Hulk Hogan) defeat Don Muraco by pinfall.<ref name="cage_Over" /> With both André and Hogan disqualified, DiBiase got a bye to the final.<ref name="xngJF" /> The third quarterfinal saw Randy Savage defeat Greg Valentine also by pinfall. As One Man Gang had received a bye in the quarter-finals due to Rick Rude and Jake Roberts having wrestled to a time limit draw in the first round, Gang faced Savage in the semi-finals.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" />
=== Tournament intermission two, Intercontinental title match and six-man tag team match ===
[[Brutus Beefcake|Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake]] fought [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Champion]] [[The Honky Tonk Man]] for the Intercontinental championship.<ref name="powerdriver" /> Early in the match, Beefcake connected with an [[Professional wrestling throws#Atomic drop|atomic drop]] at the outset of the matchup. Beefcake then hit Honky with a [[Professional wrestling attacks#High knee|high knee]], before missing an [[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|elbow drop]] on Honky, who took control with a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving fist drop|second turnbuckle fist drop]]. Honky went for his [[Neckbreaker#Swinging neckbreaker|Swinging neckbreaker]] called Shake, Rattle & Roll on Beefcake, but instead Beefcake kneed him in the face.<ref name="pwh" /> Beefcake put Honky in a sleeper hold. With Beefcake in charge of the match, Honky's manager Jimmy Hart hit the referee with his [[megaphone]]. The bell didn't ring, but it was announced that Beefcake won by [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualification]], which meant that Honky was still the champion.{{efn|Like other professional wrestling championships, they can only be won or loss by pinfall, submission or knockout unless stated in the stipulations placed before the match.<ref name="pwwew.net" />}}<ref name="pwwew.net" /> Post-match, with Honky Tonk apparently knocked out in the ring, Beefcake cut the hair of Hart with his barber [[Hair-cutting shears|shears]].<ref name="wweresults" />
[[The Islanders (professional wrestling)|The Islanders]] ([[Tonga Fifita|Haku]] and [[Sam Fatu|Tama]]) and manager [[Bobby Heenan]] took on [[The British Bulldogs]] ([[Davey Boy Smith]] and [[Dynamite Kid]]) and [[Koko B. Ware]] in a six-man tag team match. Dynamite and Tama started the match with Dynamite [[Professional wrestling throws#Catapult|catapult]]ing Tama over the top rope. Smith tagged in, but missed an [[Professional wrestling attacks|elbow drop]] on Tama, allowing Tama to tag Haku.<ref name="pwh" /> Smith hit a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving crossbody|flying crossbody]] on Haku for a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Near-fall|near-fall]]. Haku hit an arm wrench and tagged Tama. Tama grabbed Smith's arm and came out of it with a [[Professional wrestling throws#Gorilla press drop|military press slam]]. Tama tagged in Haku who put Davey in a [[backbreaker]], but Smith flipped out of it and tagged in Koko.<ref name="powerdriver" /> He hit Haku with a [[Dropkick#Missile dropkick|missile dropkick]] and a [[Professional wrestling throws#Frankensteiner|Frankensteiner]]. Dynamite tagged in and clotheslined Haku before he ran into Haku's boot. As a cowardly manager, Heenan tagged and stomped Dynamite before quickly tagging out to Tama. Tama hit a [[Professional wrestling throws#Back body drop|back body drop]] on Dynamite, but missed a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Big splash|big splash]] to allow Dynamite to tag Koko whilst Tama tagged Haku.<ref name="pwwew.net" /> Both members of the Islanders squared up to Koko prompting the Bulldogs to enter the ring. All six men brawled in the ring before being separated by the referee, who ordered the Bulldogs into their corner. The Islanders used this distraction to pick up Heenan and throw him onto Koko, leading to a pinfall victory.<ref name="wweresults" />
=== Semi-finals ===
Next, Randy Savage faced One Man Gang for a place in the final of the tournament. Ted DiBiase had already received a bye in the semi-finals due to the double disqualification of Hulk Hogan and André the Giant and met the victor. Savage hit a [[Professional wrestling throws#Flapjack|hotshot]] on the One Man Gang, but Gang quickly took control of the match. Gang attempted a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Big splash|747 splash]], but missed after Savage dodged and later fell to the outside as Savage connected with a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving double axe handle|diving double axe handle]]. Savage then went for a [[Professional wrestling throws#Scoop slam|scoop slam]] which failed.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" /> One Man Gang's manager Slick jumped on the apron and handed One Man Gang a [[Cane (walking stick)|cane]]; which he hit Savage with and attempted to jab him as he lay on the mat, but Savage kept rolling away. The [[Referee (professional wrestling)|referee]] caught Gang using his cane and disqualified him, awarding the match to Savage.<ref name="pwh" />
=== Tournament intermission three, Tag-team title match ===
Before the final round, [[Strike Force (professional wrestling)|Strike Force]] ([[Tito Santana]] and [[Rick Martel]]) defended the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] against [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] ([[Bill Eadie|Ax]] and [[Barry Darsow|Smash]]), with their manager [[Harry Fujiwara|Mr. Fuji]] in their corner.<ref name="slam_Rick" /> The match started with Strike Force hitting Smash with a [[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers|double]] [[Professional wrestling attacks#Back elbow|back elbow]] for a near-fall. Santana applied an [[armlock|armbar]] on Ax before Martel tagged in and applied an armbar, but Ax [[headbutt]]ed him and tagged out to Smash. Santana tagged in, but was caught in a [[bear hug]] and was [[Professional wrestling attacks#Clothesline|clothesline]]d by Ax, before a [[Professional wrestling throws#Scoop slam|scoop slam]] and [[suplex]] on Santana.<ref name="fBzKy" /><ref name="pwwew.net" /> Santana hit a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Flying forearm smash|flying forearm smash]] on an interfering Smash and tagged in Martel, who [[dropkick]]ed both Ax and Smash a number of times and applied a [[Boston crab]] on Smash. Santana grabbed Mr. Fuji up onto the apron, allowing Ax to get his manager's cane. He nailed Martel with it as Smash covered Martel with a [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pin]]. As a result, Demolition won the match, and the WWF Tag Team Championships.<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" />
=== Main event, WWF title tournament final ===
The [[Card (sports)|main event]] of WrestleMania IV was the tournament final for the vacant [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] between "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.<ref name="f4wo_Dail" /> DiBiase was accompanied to the ring by Andre The Giant, whilst Savage had his regular valet Miss Elizabeth. Savage had wrestled three prior matches, whilst DiBiase had wrestled one fewer, having received a bye from the quarterfinals. DiBiase controlled much of the match, before a fightback from Savage, who attempted a top rope [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving elbow drop|elbow drop]] on DiBiase, but DiBiase moved out of the way. DiBiase applied a [[Professional wrestling holds#Cobra clutch|Million Dollar Dream]] submission on Savage.<ref name="pwh" /> To aid Savage, Elizabeth went backstage to bring Hulk Hogan to ringside to neutralize André being at ringside.<ref name="pwwew.net" /><ref name="f4w savage" />
André the Giant interfered in the match on behalf of DiBiase, and whilst the referee was distracted, Hogan attacked DiBiase with a [[Foreign object (professional wrestling)|steel chair]].<ref name="QxQI4" /> Freed from the submission, Savage climbed up the top rope for a second elbow drop attempt and hit the Diving Elbow. He followed it up with a [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pinfall]] victory.<ref name="Fox" /> He won the tournament and the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Championship, making Randy Savage the first person to ever win the world championship at WrestleMania (as the championship was not defended at the inaugural event and Hulk Hogan successfully retained at the following two installments). After the match, Hogan, Elizabeth and Savage celebrated Savage's WWF Championship win.<ref name="WrestleMania - Savage vs DiBiase" /><ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="powerdriver" />
==Reception==
The attendance for the event was announced as 19,199, with a total of $1,400,000 in admission fees.<ref name="broadcast" /><ref name="THOW" /> This total was significantly reduced from that of the [[WrestleMania III|previous year's event]], which sat at 93,173, and was similar to the following year's 20,369.<ref name="attendance" /> It drew a 6.5 PPV buyrate, which was reduced from 8.0 the previous year.<ref name="broadcast" />
WrestleMania IV received mixed to poor reviews from critics. Most reviews criticized the show's length as well as the number of matches.
<!-- Too Many Matches -->
Rob McNew from ''411Mania.com'' gave the show a 3.5/10 rating when reviewing the show, claiming the show was "bad".<ref name="411mania" /> McNew was frustrated by the number of matches on the show, and the size of the tournament, saying "This show could have been so much better had they trimmed the tournament down to eight guys from fourteen. Instead, we got a bunch of short matches, none of which ended up being memorable. The show had its moments and isn't all terrible. Just way too long. Savage-Dibiase provides a great moment, but the rest of the show is a pass."<ref name="411mania" /> ''Retoprowrestling.com'' was also highly critical of the show's length, calling it "a chore to watch",<ref name="retroPW" /> and that "there's probably nothing wrong with a wrestling pay per view running nigh on four hours, but when about three and a half of those hours don't actually feature much in the way of entertainment, it often feels like you've spent your entire weekend just watching this one show."<ref name="retroPW" />
John Canton of ''TJR wrestling'' called the event "a below-average show", citing the event being "a 16 match card. That’s too many matches."<ref name="TJR" /> Canton also commented on the length of these matches, and primary usage of "rest holds", and bad finishes.<ref name="TJR" /> Bryan Rose from ''Voices of Wrestling'' called the show a "dud", before stating there was a "lot of nothing for 3 1/2 hours." Rose also suggested similarities that the event's length had to watch two [[The Godfather (film series)|Godfather]] films.<ref name="uhSzA" /> Mike Powell of ''prowrestling.net'' called the event "really bad", and commented that had the show been less than three hours in length, rather than 4, it would have been an allround better show.<ref name="fBzKy" />
<!-- Positive Reviews -->
However, John Powell, from ''SLAM! Wrestling'' called the event "excellent", saying that the show's greatness comes from its unpredictability.<ref name="slam_SLAM" /> Powell, says that the show was "another tricky venture for Vince McMahon and he hits the jackpot again."<ref name="slam_SLAM" /> Powell was very positive about the show's tournament, stating that it and Savage's title win was the highlights of the night.<ref name="slam_SLAM" /> Bret Mix from ''Wrestling DVD Network'' commented on the structure of the event, before calling the event "average", but "underrated" for its high quality of matches throughout the show, despite the number of matches.<ref name="dURcL" />
<!-- Mania 5 -->
As an event in the annual [[WrestleMania]] series of events, WrestleMania IV is considered to be one of the weaker events; with reviews commenting that the event was most notable for starting a year-long Hogan / Savage storyline, culminating in the two facing off a year later at [[WrestleMania V]]. Scott Keith of ''SmarK rant'' gave the event a "recommendation to avoid", and commented it was "long, boring (and) dull", and that the event was simply to "serve as a prelude to WrestleMania V"<ref name="BPF0B" />
==Aftermath==
In the months that followed the event, Savage defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship on multiple occasions, primarily against DiBiase, but also granted title shots to others such as the One Man Gang and Bad News Brown. Hogan, meanwhile, took a leave of absence from the WWF during the late spring and part of the summer to film the movie ''[[No Holds Barred (1989 film)|No Holds Barred]]''.<ref name="f4w savage" /> André the Giant was shortly placed in a feud with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, however, the DiBiase-André alliance was renewed when the two attacked Savage during a television taping for the WWF's syndicated show ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling|Superstars of Wrestling]]''. DiBiase and Andre offered a tag team match to Savage at the [[SummerSlam (1988)|inaugural SummerSlam]], where Savage chose to partner with Hogan and create "[[The Mega Powers]]".<ref name="B7wZj" /><ref name="f4w savage" /> The team of Hogan and Savage won the match before Savage turned heel against Hogan at ''[[The Main Event II]]''.<ref name="QmVSe" /> Hogan challenged Savage for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at [[WrestleMania V]], with Hogan winning the title.<ref name="G3WIK" />
In Hogan's absence, André the Giant's main focus for much of the summer of 1988 would be on Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The feud began when Duggan confronted André during a squash match involving the latter, before André suddenly grabbed Duggan and began attacking him violently, only for Duggan to knock him out with his [[Dimensional lumber|2x4 board]]. André would win a majority of these matches, although Duggan did have offensive moments in almost all of their matches.<ref name="G3WIK" />
Having wrestled to a time limit draw in the championship tournament, Jake Roberts and Rick Rude were placed into a feud regarding Rude making kayfabe advances over Robert's real-life wife, Cheryl.<ref name="twmwrestling" /> For Rude, this was his second high-profile feud after several months of being primarily a mid-card wrestler.
The Honky Tonk Man continued to feud with Brutus Beefcake over the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship during the spring and summer of 1988, with Honky retaining the championship by being intentionally counted out or disqualified on multiple occasions. Beefcake was granted a "final" match at SummerSlam, but was sneak attacked by [[Ron Bass (wrestler)|Ron Bass]] one week before the event. Honky then lost his championship at Summerslam to [[The Ultimate Warrior]].<ref name="twmwrestling" />
Demolition defended the tag team championships against former champions Strike Force, The Young Stallions, and occasionally the [[Rougeau Brothers]]. In June 1988, Rick Martel took a leave of absence from the WWF to tend to real-life family issues, so a storyline was devised to end the Demolition-Strike Force feud, whereby Martel would be (in kayfabe) seriously injured by Ax and Smash by using their finishing move, the "Demolition Decapitation", on him outside of the ring. Following this, Santana introduced another power team, [[The Powers of Pain]] ([[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]] and [[The Warlord (wrestler)|The Warlord]]) to avenge both the injury and title loss. The Powers substituted for Strike Force in their remaining scheduled return title matches, after which The British Bulldogs and [[The Rockers]] became Demolition's primary challengers.<ref name="came_WWEW" /> The Powers became top challengers again in late 1988 after an incident at the [[Survivor Series (1988)|1988 Survivor Series]] where Mr. Fuji lured Barbarian and Warlord to his side, thus turning the Powers into villains and champions Ax and Smash – which had been getting more fan support during the summer and fall – into good guys. Martel, meanwhile, would return in early 1989 and reform Strike Force with Santana, but during their WrestleMania V match against Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, Martel turned on Santana after a (kayfabe) botched move and became a heel.
Following Bret Hart's elimination from the battle royal, he returned to the ring to challenge Bad News Brown.<ref name="xJxtZ" /><ref name="13V3n" /> Bret saw a face turn, alongside partner [[Jim Neidhart]]. The pair also engaged in a new feud with [[The Fabulous Rougeaus]] (who turned heel and allied themselves with the Harts' former manager [[Jimmy Hart]]) and also challenged Demolition for the tag team title at SummerSlam.<ref name="pwh" /> Two years later, they would finally regain the belts from Demolition (by then once more villains) but for Bret Hart, this was merely the prelude to a run of singles championship success spanning the 1990s and including five [[WWE Championships|WWF World championships]], two [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW World championships]], two [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championships]] and, at the time, four [[WWE United States Championship|WCW US championships]] until his sudden retirement early in 2000, from which he briefly returned in 2010 to win a fifth US title. Aside from guest appearances in the [[United States Wrestling Association|USWA]] in 1993 as a heel WWF invader, the babyface run Bret began at this show would last until his double turn with [[Steve Austin]] at [[WrestleMania XIII]] in 1997.
Bam Bam Bigelow continued with the WWF through the summer of 1988, wrestling mainly One Man Gang and André the Giant. Bigelow, along with manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, left the WWF for Jim Crockett Promotions in September 1988, just before Ted Turner's purchase of JCP to form WCW.
[[Harley Race]] had competed in the battle royal at WrestleMania IV, despite suffering a legitimate injury during a match against Hulk Hogan taped for a ''Saturday Night's Main Event'' program aired earlier in March 1988. Following WrestleMania IV, he took several months off, and his robe and crown were given to Haku. Haku thus went on to a major singles push during the rest of 1988 and into 1989 as "King Haku," the push coming after the Islanders were disbanded with the departure of [[Sam Fatu|Tama]] (of The Islanders) and a short-lived teaming with [[Siva Afi]], still as The Islanders. Race returned for a short run at the end of 1988, including the 1988 Survivor Series and 1989 Royal Rumble, his final major in-ring wrestling matches for the WWF in his lifetime.
Several other wrestlers finished their WWF runs at or shortly after WrestleMania IV, including Butch Reed, Sika and Ricky Steamboat, although Steamboat would return to the WWF briefly in 1991.
WrestleMania IV was later released on [[VHS]], and became the only WrestleMania event to be released over two VHS tapes.<ref name="pwpo_WRIT" /><ref name="wres_WWET" /> The event was later released in 2014 on the [[WWE Network]].<ref name="dead_WWES" />
==Results==
{{Pro Wrestling results table
|results =<ref name="wweresults" /><ref name="Jvysn" /><ref name="pwin_THIS" />
|times =<ref name="pwh" />
|match1 = [[Bad News Brown]] won by last eliminating [[Bret Hart]]{{efn|Order of elimination: [[Michael Smith (wrestler)|Sam Houston]], [[Sika Anoa'i|Sika]], [[Jim Neidhart]], [[Jim Brunzell]], [[Raymond Rougeau]], [[B. Brian Blair]], [[Ronald Herd|Ron Bass]], [[Hillbilly Jim]], [[Dan Marsh|"Dangerous" Danny Davis]], [[Jim Powers]], [[Nikolai Volkoff]], [[Ken Patera]], [[Boris Zhukov]], [[Jacques Rougeau]], [[Harley Race]], [[Paul Roma]], [[Junkyard Dog]], and [[Bret Hart]]. [[George "The Animal" Steele]] was also supposed to participate in the match however, he spent the whole time ringside and left shortly after Hillbilly Jim was eliminated.<ref name="wweresults" />}}
|stip1 = [[Battle Royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]]
|time1 = 9:44
|match2 = [[Ted DiBiase]] (with [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] and [[André the Giant]]) defeated [[Jim Duggan]]
|stip2 = First round tournament match
|time2 = 5:02
|match3 = [[Don Muraco]] (with [["Superstar" Billy Graham]]) defeated [[Dino Bravo]] (with [[Frenchy Martin]]) by [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualification]]
|stip3 = First round tournament match
|time3 = 4:53
|match4 = [[Greg Valentine]] (with [[Jimmy Hart]]) defeated [[Ricky Steamboat]]
|stip4 = First round tournament match
|time4 = 9:12
|match5 = [[Randy Savage]] (with [[Miss Elizabeth]]) defeated [[Butch Reed]] (with [[Slick (wrestling)|Slick]])
|stip5 = First round tournament match
|time5 = 5:07
|match6 = [[One Man Gang]] (with Slick) defeated [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] (with [[Oliver Humperdink]]) by [[Professional wrestling#Countout|countout]]
|stip6 = First round tournament match
|time6 = 2:56
|match7 = [[Jake Roberts]] vs. [[Rick Rude]] (with [[Bobby Heenan]]) ended in a time-limit draw
|stip7 = First round tournament match
|time7 = 15:00
|match8 = [[The Ultimate Warrior]] defeated [[Hercules (wrestler)|Hercules]] (with Bobby Heenan)
|stip8 = [[Singles match (professional wrestling)|Singles match]]
|time8 = 4:29
|match9 = [[Hulk Hogan]] vs. André the Giant (with Ted DiBiase and Virgil) ended in a double disqualification
|stip9 = Quarter-final tournament match
|time9 = 5:52
|match10 = Ted DiBiase defeated Don Muraco (with "Superstar" Billy Graham)
|stip10 = Quarter-final tournament match
|time10 = 5:44
|match11 = Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated Greg Valentine (with Jimmy Hart)
|stip11 = Quarter-final tournament match
|time11 = 6:06
|match12 = [[Brutus Beefcake]] defeated [[The Honky Tonk Man]] (c) (with Jimmy Hart and [[Sherri Martel|Peggy Sue]]) by disqualification
|stip12 = Singles match for the [[WWF Intercontinental Championship]]
|time12 = 6:30
|match13 = [[The Islanders (professional wrestling)|The Islanders]] ([[Tonga Fifita|Haku]] and [[Sam Fatu|Tama]]) and Bobby Heenan defeated [[The British Bulldogs]] ([[Davey Boy Smith]] and [[Dynamite Kid]]) and [[Koko B. Ware]]
|stip13 = [[Six-man tag team match]]
|time13 = 7:30
|match14 = Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated One Man Gang (with Slick) by disqualification
|stip14 = Semi-final tournament match
|time14 = 4:05
|match15 = [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] ([[Ax (wrestler)|Ax]] and [[Smash (wrestler)|Smash]]) (with [[Mr. Fuji]]) defeated [[Strike Force (professional wrestling)|Strike Force]] ([[Tito Santana]] and [[Rick Martel]]) (c)
|stip15 = [[Tag team match]] for the [[WWF Tag Team Championship]]
|time15 = 12:33
|match16 = Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth and Hulk Hogan) defeated Ted DiBiase (with André the Giant)
|stip16 = Tournament final for the vacant [[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]]<ref name="WrestleMania - Savage vs DiBiase" />
|time16 = 9:27
}}<references group=Note/>
===Tournament bracket===
<ref name="f4ojA" />
<onlyinclude>{{4RoundBracket-Byes |RD1=Round of 14 |RD2=Quarterfinals
|RD1-seed03= | RD1-seed04= | RD1-seed05= | RD1-seed06= | RD1-seed07= | RD1-seed08= | RD1-seed09= | RD1-seed10= | RD1-seed11= | RD1-seed12= | RD1-seed13= | RD1-seed14= | RD1-seed15= | RD1-seed16= | RD2-seed01= | RD2-seed02= | RD2-seed03= | RD2-seed04= | RD2-seed05= | RD2-seed06= | RD2-seed07= | RD2-seed08= | RD3-seed01= | RD3-seed02= | RD3-seed03= | RD3-seed04= | RD4-seed01= | RD4-seed02=
| RD1-team05=Jim Duggan
| RD1-team06='''Ted DiBiase'''
| RD1-score05=5:02
| RD1-score06=Pin
| RD1-team07='''Don Muraco'''
| RD1-team08=Dino Bravo
| RD1-score07=DQ
| RD1-score08=4:53
| RD1-team09=Ricky Steamboat
| RD1-team10='''Greg Valentine'''
| RD1-score09=9:12
| RD1-score10=Pin
| RD1-team11='''Randy Savage'''
| RD1-team12=Butch Reed
| RD1-score11=Pin
| RD1-score12=4:09
| RD1-team13=Bam Bam Bigelow
| RD1-team14='''One Man Gang'''
| RD1-score13=2:56
| RD1-score14=CO
| RD1-team15=Jake Roberts
| RD1-team16=Rick Rude
| RD1-score15=15:00
| RD1-score16=Draw
| RD2-team01=Hulk Hogan
| RD2-team02=André the Giant
| RD2-score01=5:52
| RD2-score02=DDQ
| RD2-team03='''Ted DiBiase'''
| RD2-team04=Don Muraco
| RD2-score03=Pin
| RD2-score04=5:35
| RD2-team05=Greg Valentine
| RD2-team06='''Randy Savage'''
| RD2-score05=6:07
| RD2-score06=Pin
| RD2-team07='''One Man Gang'''
| RD2-team08=[[Bye (sports)|BYE]]
| RD2-score07=
| RD2-score08=
| RD3-team01= [[Bye (sports)|BYE]]
| RD3-team02='''Ted DiBiase'''
| RD3-score01=
| RD3-score02=
| RD3-team03='''Randy Savage'''
| RD3-team04=One Man Gang
| RD3-score03=DQ
| RD3-score04=4:05
| RD4-team01=Ted DiBiase
| RD4-team02='''Randy Savage'''
| RD4-score01=9:27
| RD4-score02=Pin
}}<small>Pin-Pinfall; CO-Countout; DQ-Disqualification; DDQ-Double disqualification</small></onlyinclude>
==Notes==
{{notelist}}{{reflist|group=Note}}
{{noteslist}}
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="wwe._Wres">{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania IV |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=March 17, 2019 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317025814/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="attendance">{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania Attendance Figures |author=Cohen, Erin |work=[[ThoughtCo]] |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/wrestlemania-attendance-and-venues-2787292 |quote=93,173 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105105419/https://www.thoughtco.com/wrestlemania-attendance-and-venues-2787292 |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Andreheel">{{cite web |first=Mike |last=McAvennie |date=March 30, 2007 |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/ruggedroadstomania/roadstomania1 |title=The Big One |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=May 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015050323/http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/ruggedroadstomania/roadstomania1 |archive-date=October 15, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="SNME - Hogan vs André">{{Cite web |title=Saturday Night Main Event - Feb. 05, 1988 |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/feb051988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011027/http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/feb051988 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="andré1">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122 |title=André the Giant's first WWF World Heavyweight Championship reign |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050624001310/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122 |archive-date=June 24, 2005 }}</ref>
<ref name="lastword">{{Cite web |title=30 Years Ago Today: The Mega Powers EXPLODE - Last Word on Pro Wrestling |last=Greer |first=Jamie Greer |work=Last Word on Pro Wrestling |date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=https://lastwordonprowrestling.com/2019/02/03/30-years-ago-today-the-mega-powers-explode/ }}</ref>
<ref name="bleachersummary">{{Cite web |title=The Summer of Savage: Inside the Macho Man's explosive run to the top of WWE, 30 years later |author=Burkholder, Denny |work=[[CBS|CBSSports.com]] |date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/the-summer-of-savage-inside-the-macho-mans-explosive-run-to-the-top-of-wwe-30-years-later/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817112543/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/the-summer-of-savage-inside-the-macho-mans-explosive-run-to-the-top-of-wwe-30-years-later/ |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="pwwew.net">{{Cite web |title=VIP AUDIO 5/20 – You, Me, and Wrestling with Cameron Hawkins: Guest Colin Richard provides a detailed account of WrestleMania IV, outlining fandom as a kid growing up during late '80s WWF (81 min) - |work=pwtorch.com |date=May 20, 2018 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/05/20/vip-audio-5-20-you-me-and-wrestling-with-cameron-hawkins-guest-colin-richard-provides-a-detailed-account-of-wrestlemania-iv-outlining-fandom-as-a-kid-growing-up-during-late-80s-wwf-81/ }}</ref>
<ref name="wweresults">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/results |title=WrestleMania IV official results |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=August 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808203609/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/results |archive-date=August 8, 2017 }}</ref>
<ref name="powerdriver">{{Cite web |title=Full WrestleMania IV results |work=WWE |access-date=18 August 2019 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/results |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821224804/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/results |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="pwh">{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#IV |title=WrestleMania IV results |publisher=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments |access-date=May 31, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329040834/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#IV |archive-date=March 29, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="WrestleMania - Savage vs DiBiase">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/mainevent/ |title=Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase WWF Championship Tournament Finals |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=May 31, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329175934/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/mainevent/ |archive-date=March 29, 2008 }}</ref>
<ref name="411mania">{{cite web |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/wrestlemania-iv-review/ |title=WrestleMania IV Review |publisher=March 10, 2009 |date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |author=McNew, Rob |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413160300/https://411mania.com/wrestling/wrestlemania-iv-review/ |archive-date=April 13, 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name="retroPW">{{Cite web |title=PPV REVIEW: WWF Wrestlemania 4 |work=retroprowrestling.com |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |url=http://www.retroprowrestling.com/2013/02/ppv-review-wwf-wrestlemania-4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413160300/http://www.retroprowrestling.com/2013/02/ppv-review-wwf-wrestlemania-4.html |archive-date=April 13, 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name="TJR">{{Cite web |title=TJR Retro: WWE WrestleMania 4 Review |author=Canton, John |work=TJR Wrestling |date=March 1, 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |url=http://tjrwrestling.net/tjr-retro-wwe-wrestlemania-4-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010551/http://tjrwrestling.net/tjr-retro-wwe-wrestlemania-4-review/ |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="slam_SLAM">{{Cite web |title=SLAM! Sports - Wrestling |author=Powell, John |work=slam.canoe.com |access-date=April 13, 2018 |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania4.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413160300/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania4.html |archive-date=April 13, 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name="twmwrestling">{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania IV |author=Puckering, Dean |work=TWM Wrestling News |date=February 5, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=http://www.twm.news/wrestlemania-iv/ }}</ref>
<ref name="came_WWEW">{{Cite web |title=WWE WrestleMania IV: What Went Wrong? |author=Goeman, Robert |work=Camel Clutch Blog |date=March 11, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=https://camelclutchblog.com/wwe-wrestlemania-iv-what-went-wrong/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301001315/http://camelclutchblog.com/wwe-wrestlemania-iv-what-went-wrong/ |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>
<ref name="Cv7hN">{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania IV Review {{!}} 411MANIA |author=McNew, Rob |work=411MANIA |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/wrestlemania-iv-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413160300/https://411mania.com/wrestling/wrestlemania-iv-review/ |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoueW">{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania IV event venue: Trump Plaza |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=March 19, 2019 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/venue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210050343/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/venue |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="5WLXC">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm3/mainevent/ |title=André the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan – WWF Championship |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=May 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116004246/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm3/mainevent/ |archive-date=January 16, 2006 }}</ref>
<ref name="c6oJf">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1987/mainevent/ |title=André the Giant, One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, "The Natural" Butch Reed & "Ravishing" Rick Rude def. Hulk Hogan, Bam Bam Bigelow, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco & Ken Patera |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=June 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331125047/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1987/mainevent/ |archive-date=March 31, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="rIsNh">{{Cite news|title=2007 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s historical cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|pages=86}}</ref>
<ref name="xngJF">{{cite book |title=Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man |page=10 |author=[[Ted DiBiase|DiBiase, Ted]] and Caiazzo, Tom |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref>
<ref name="QxQI4">{{cite book |title=Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man |page=11 |author=Ted DiBiase with Caiazzo, Tom |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref>
<ref name="uhSzA">{{Cite web |title=Depths of Mania: WWE WrestleMania IV Review |author=Rose, Bryan |work=Voices of Wrestling |date=November 7, 2014 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |url=http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2014/11/07/depths-of-mania-wwe-wrestlemania-iv-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127155811/http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2014/11/07/depths-of-mania-wwe-wrestlemania-iv-review/ |archive-date=November 27, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="fBzKy">{{Cite web |title=Powell's WrestleMania 4 review: 14-man tournament for the vacant WWF Championship, Strike Force vs. Demolition for the WWF Tag Team Championship, 20-man battle royal |work=prowrestling.net |date=April 3, 2014 |access-date=April 12, 2018 |url=https://prowrestling.net/article.php?Powell-s-WrestleMania-4-review-14-man-tournament-for-the-vacant-WWF-Championship-Strike-Force-vs.-Demolition-for-the-WWF-Tag-Team-Championship-20-man-battle-royal-36408 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011349/https://prowrestling.net/article.php?Powell-s-WrestleMania-4-review-14-man-tournament-for-the-vacant-WWF-Championship-Strike-Force-vs.-Demolition-for-the-WWF-Tag-Team-Championship-20-man-battle-royal-36408 |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="dURcL">{{Cite web |title=Review: WWF/WWE Wrestlemania 4 DVD |work=Wrestling DVD Network |date=May 17, 2010 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |url=http://www.wrestlingdvdnetwork.com/review-wwfwwe-wrestlemania-4-dvd/1447/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414091437/http://www.wrestlingdvdnetwork.com/review-wwfwwe-wrestlemania-4-dvd/1447/ |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="BPF0B">{{Cite web |title=The SmarK Rant for WWE Wrestlemania 4 {{!}} Inside Pulse | author = Keith, Scott | work = insidepulse.com | date = March 10, 2017 | access-date = April 13, 2018 | url = http://insidepulse.com/2017/03/10/the-smark-rant-for-wwe-wrestlemania-4/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011807/http://insidepulse.com/2017/03/10/the-smark-rant-for-wwe-wrestlemania-4/ | archive-date = April 14, 2018 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all}}</ref>
<ref name="B7wZj">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/megapowers.html |title=Mega Powers Profile |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=February 8, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629232212/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/megapowers.html |archive-date=June 29, 2009 }}</ref>
<ref name="QmVSe">{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/tme.html#2 |title=The Main Event II results |publisher=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619164258/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/tme.html#2 |archive-date=June 19, 2008 }}</ref>
<ref name="G3WIK">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm5/mainevent/ |title=Hulk Hogan vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage – WWF Championship |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327023330/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm5/mainevent/ |archive-date=March 27, 2008 }}</ref>
<ref name="xJxtZ">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/results/ |title=WrestleMania IV official results |work=[[WWE]] |access-date=April 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525165317/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/results/ |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="13V3n">{{cite book |author=Hart, Bret |title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling |year=2007 |page=223 |publisher=Ebury Press |isbn=978-0091932862}}</ref>
<ref name="Jvysn">{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#world88 |title=WWF World Title Tournament 1988 |publisher=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616002423/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#world88 |archive-date=June 16, 2008 }}</ref>
<ref name="f4ojA">{{Cite web |title=WWE Title Tournaments |work=prowrestlinghistory.com |access-date=March 17, 2019 |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#world88 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616002423/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#world88 |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="inde_WWEW">{{Cite web |title=WWE WrestleMania 30: Catch up on the past 29 WrestleManias here |author=Salha, Ibrahim |work=[[The Independent]] |date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/wwe-wrestlemania-30-catch-up-on-all-29-previous-wrestlemanias-here-9232533.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101082350/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/wwe-wrestlemania-30-catch-up-on-all-29-previous-wrestlemanias-here-9232533.html |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Fox">{{Cite web |title=WRESTLEMANIA Part 1 |author=Ross, Jim |work=[[FOX Sports]] |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wrestlemania-part-1-030717 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621181046/http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wrestlemania-part-1-030717 |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- <ref name="espn_Howt">{{Cite web |title=How the L.A. Coliseum persuaded WWE to bring WrestleMania to Los Angeles |author=Markazi, Arash |work=ESPN.com |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/22956778/wwe-story-wwe-attempt-fill-la-coliseum-wrestlemania-vii |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206080824/http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/22956778/wwe-story-wwe-attempt-fill-la-coliseum-wrestlemania-vii |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> -->
<ref name="broadcast">{{Cite web |title=WWE WrestleMania |work=prowrestlinghistory.com |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#IX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815042630/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#IX |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="slam_Andr">{{Cite web |title=Andre the Giant loomed large over Wrestlemanias |work=[[canoe.com]] |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/21/8948741.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725113253/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/21/8948741.html |archive-date=July 25, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="THOW">{{Cite web |title=Wrestlemania IV |author=Criscuolo, Scott & Rozzero, Justin |work=thehistoryofwwe.com |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wrestlemania4review.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103002316/http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wrestlemania4review.htm |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="espn_Revi">{{Cite web |title=Revisiting the Thanksgiving tradition that started at Survivor Series 1987 |author=Willis, Matt & Coyle, Sean |work=[[ESPN]] |date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/21517443/wwe-revisiting-beginning-survivor-series-tradition-thanksgiving-day-1987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201165427/http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/21517443/wwe-revisiting-beginning-survivor-series-tradition-thanksgiving-day-1987 |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="pwto_PWTo">{{Cite web |title=PWTorch.com - Nostalgia Review: Wrestlemania 4; Savage vs. DiBiase, Savage vs. Steamboat, Hogan vs. Andre |work=pwtorch.com |access-date=24 March 2019 |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_24720.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202428/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_24720.shtml |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
<ref name="cage_Over">{{Cite web |title=Overview « Inside The Cage Classics #6: WrestleMania IV – Die Krönung des Macho Man « Columns « Articles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database |last=Kreikenbohm |first=Philip |work=cagematch.net |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=555&nr=2241 }}</ref>
<ref name="slam_Rick">{{Cite web |title=Rick Martel's Wrestlemania memories |work=[[canoe.com]] |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/18/8800461.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203050646/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/18/8800461.html |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="f4wo_Dail">{{Cite web |title=Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/27): WWF WrestleMania IV |work=WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results |date=March 27, 2017 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0327-wwf-wrestlemania-iv-232546 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328074806/http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0327-wwf-wrestlemania-iv-232546 |archive-date=March 28, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="f4w savage">{{Cite web |title=WWE WrestleMania Top 10 Performer Series: Randy "Macho Man" Savage |work=WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results |access-date=24 March 2019 |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wrestlemania-top-10-performer-series-randy-savage-208416 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620003652/http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wrestlemania-top-10-performer-series-randy-savage-208416 |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
<ref name="pwpo_WRIT">{{Cite web |title=WRITTEN PODCAST RECAP: Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard on WrestleMania IV - inside the NWA/WWF PPV battle, why the show ran in a casino, why Steamboat-Savage II didn't happen, Bruno's exit, Frenchy Martin's most important contribution to the business and more (Ep. 94) - PWPodcasts |work=PWPodcasts |date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=https://www.pwpodcasts.com/2018/04/04/written-podcast-recap-something-to-wrestle-with-bruce-prichard-on-wrestlemania-iv-inside-the-nwa-wwf-ppv-battle-why-the-show-ran-in-a-casino-why-steamboat-savage-ii-didnt-happen-brunos-exit/ |quote=VHS}}</ref>
<ref name="wres_WWET">{{Cite web |title=WWE To Release Limited Edition VHS Version of WrestleMania 31 – Full Details! |work=Wrestling DVD Network |date=April 2015 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=http://www.wrestlingdvdnetwork.com/wwe-limited-edition-wrestlemania-31-vhs/84970/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717201707/http://www.wrestlingdvdnetwork.com/wwe-limited-edition-wrestlemania-31-vhs/84970/ |archive-date=July 17, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="dead_WWES">{{Cite web |title=WWE Sets February 24 Launch Date For Online Network |last=Lieberman |first=David |work=Deadline |date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/wwe-sets-february-24-launch-date-for-online-network-660934/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521044211/http://deadline.com/2014/01/wwe-sets-february-24-launch-date-for-online-network-660934/ |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="pwin_THIS">{{Cite web |title=THIS DAY IN HISTORY: WRESTLEMANIA IV, THE FIRST CLASH, BRODY WINS HIS LAST MAJOR TITLE, HALL OF FAME AND MORE {{!}} PWInsider.com |work=pwinsider.com |access-date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/56352/this-day-in-history-wrestlemania-iv-the-first-clash-brody-wins-his-last-major-title-hall-of-fame-and-more.html?p=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908213516/http://www.pwinsider.com/article/56352/this-day-in-history-wrestlemania-iv-the-first-clash-brody-wins-his-last-major-title-hall-of-fame-and-more.html?p=1 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
{{Portal|New Jersey}}
* {{Official website|https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4}}
{{1988 WWF pay-per-view events}}
{{WWEPPV|WrestleMania}}
{{coord|39.35499|-74.43823|type:event_globe:earth_region:US-NJ|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrestlemania 04}}
[[Category:
[[Category:1988
[[Category:
[[Category:March 1988 in the United States]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling shows in New Jersey]]
[[Category:WrestleMania]]
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