Hulkster's Loss, Andre's Goof Paves Way for WrestleMania IV Tournament
On March 27, at WrestleMania IV in Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, top contenders for the vacant World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title will clash in a tournament to decide the new champion. This type of round-robin competition for the most prestigious title in sports has never happened before. But then, neither have the incredible events that led up to it.
The world is still reeling from the February 5 shocker, televised over NBC, when Andre the Giant achieved his life's greatest goal and seconds later made his biggest blunder. The Giant wrenched the title from Hulk Hogan, under circumstances most bizarre, then handed it to his owner, the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase. Unknowingly, Andre's action left the title vacant. As things turned out, WWF rules state that a title can be gained only in the ring--but that a champion can surrender the belt at any time. And Andre did. He gave the belt away and unwittingly deprived DiBiase of his expensive prize.
The ruling came after an investigation by WWF President Jack tunney. He then declared that, due to the unusual nature of what had happened, the only fair manner of filling the title was through a tournament. He set the tourney for WrestleMania IV because it would give him time to contact all the top contenders.
As of this writing, the grapplers slated to compete in this historic event include Hogan, Andre, The Rock Don Muraco, Hacksa Jim Duggan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Rick Rude, Dino Bravo, Ricky Steamboat, Greg Valentine, Butch Reed, One Man Gnag, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Ted DiBiase. Ironically, either or both of the two men who last held the title could be elminated before the final round--or Andre could end up going against the man who holds his contract, DiBiase. Hogan fully intends to be standing ring center when the final round is over. The following recap explains why Hogan ay not believe the Title should be up for grabs.
Andre, accompanied by DiBiase and his bodyguard, Virgil, arrived on the ring apron first. Like a brooding thunderstorm, Andre loomed over the crowd that was charged with expectation over the impending arrival of the Hulkster.
When Hogan erupted from the dressing room and roared down the aisle, the fans burst into deafening cheers. As soon as Hogan spied Andre, the champion rushed toward the ring, shot under the bottom rope, and, with one fluid motion, rose to his feet. Hogan seemed possessed with rage and a desire to destroy the Giant who had perpetrated a litany of treacheries upon him and Hulkamania. Hogan was wild-eyed. Pumped. Charged up to a fever pitch. He could not stop moving. His muscles were knotted with tension.
Hogan's eyes pierced the kinetic air and fastened on Andre, DiBiase, and Virgil. Andre stared back, his face impassive, his demeanor cool and calm in contrast to Hogan's frenzy. Hogan lifted the heavy title strap over hishead and advanced on his trio of tormentors. the referee--in turned out later he was a paid-off imposter of the assigned official, Dave Hebner--stood in Hogan's way and ordered him to stop.
At the bell, Andre conferred with DiBiase and Virgil, who were standing on the ring apron. Hogan rocketed foward and blasted Andre with a booming right to the head. With Andre staggered, the Hulkster effortlessly yanked DiBiase and Virgil over the top rope into the ring, then booted them out of the squared circle.
Then Hogan focused the full force of his raging energy on Andre. Hogan was like a whirlwind. He swarmed all over the Giant, attacking with such rapid fire that Andre had to gater his wits and defend himslef. Hogan obviously was going for the kill immediately.
The champion rocked Andre with a barrage of haymakers and chops, then grabbed him by the hair and twice rammed his face into the turnbuckle, following up with an elbow to the head. Andre reeled, holding his skull. Still at full steam, Hogan bounced off the ropes and cracked the Giant with a shuddering clothesline.
The crwd was shocked that Andre did not go down under the thunderous impact of Hogan's oaken arm. The Giant seemed incredibly helpless. He shook his head to erase the cobwebs. He was staggered, but, like a mountain of granite, would not fall.
Snorting fire, Hogan raked his fingers across Andre's face. the Giant lurched backward into a corner. Hogan jarred him with a clothesline against the buckles.
Andre's head dropped. Hogan ascended to the top rope, preparing to bomb his adversary with 302 pounds of muscle. It was a mistake. Hogan underestimated the Giant, who reached up and grabbed the champion by the crotch and neck and pitched him to the mat..
Flat on his back, Hogan grimaced in pain. As Andre attempted to finish him off with a falling headbutt, however, Hogan rolled aside. The Giant's head hit the mat with a mighty thud. The Giant lay on his back, clutching his head, while Hogan got to his feet, holding his back. Hogan went for the cover. As Hogan pounced, Andre reached up and drove his fingers into the champion's throat. It was a tactic Andre would use several times--choking Hogan savagely, stopping only in time to avoid disqualification.
The tide had turned mercilessly until the champion was felled by a shattering headbutt. Hogan sagged to his knees. Andre wrapped his powerful hands around Hogan's neck and squeezed with vicelike pressure. Releasing to avoid disqualification, Andre whipped Hogan into the ropes and thrust a foot into his chest, blasting him out of the ring.
Sprawled on his face, Hogan was lifted by the burly Virgil and flung back into the ring for more punishment. Once again, Andre imbedded his fingers in Hulk's neck. On his knees, Hogan looked helpless in the relentless grasp of the Giant. This time, strangely, the referee did not start a disqualification count.
Then Hogan put on a demonstration of his incredible strength and fortitude. Fans gasped as his muscles bunched and he grasped Andre by the arms. Hogan trembled and his legs strained as, unbelievably, his knees slowly began to straighten. Inch by inch, Hogan rose to his feet, at the same time prying Andre's hands away and parting his arms.
Finally erect, his feet planted securely on the canvas, Hogan launched a new assault. Kicking, chopping, and punching, he beat Andre into a corner. With Andre dazed, Hogan moved like a cat to the second rope and flew at Andre, landing a clothesline on the Giant's neck with such force it finally toppled him.
Andre lay motionless, and Hogan went for it all. Against the ropes, he readied himself for his patented finishing maneuver, the legdrop. As he backed against the ropes, Virgil, from the floor, grabbed his leg. Hogan kicked away, raced to the opposite ropes and lowered the boom. Andre seemed beaten. Hogan covered him for the pin.
Meanwhile, however, the referee had become involved in an exchange of words with Virgil and seemingly did not notice that Hogan had Andre down for at least a five-count. Frustrated, Hogan jumped to his feet, turned his back on Andre and began to argue with the official.
Andre seized the moment. He rose, grabbed Hogan by the hair from behind and bashed him with two headbutts, then executed a double underhook suplex. Landing on top of Hogan, Andre tried to flatten his shoulders to the mat. The referee began to count, but as he slapped the mat a second time, Hogan raised his left shoulder. the official, however, kept his eyes on the right shoulder, which was pinned. He completed the count and signaled for the bell.
As the crowd sat astonished, DiBiase and Virgil jumped into the ring to celebrate the victory with Andre. Hogan, on his feet, looked at the celebrating trio in despair. His mouth hung open; his eyes bulged. He held his hands up in dismay. "No, no," he said. Momentarily numbed, Hogan shook his head as the referee presented the belt to Andre. The Giant slung the belt over his shoulder and, as an incredulous Hogan watched, made the shocking announcement that he would surrender teh title to DiBiase. The Million Dollar Man grinned with evil satisfaction, and, mocking Hogan, left the ring with Andre and Virgil.
Standing in the ring, beltless, Hogan turned and was jolted by what he saw: two Dave Hebners, in referee's garb, face to face and arguing. Realizing he had been betrayed, Hogan grabbed the look-alikes by their shirts and, shaking them like rats, demanded an explanation. Totally frustrated, Hogan released them and held his head between his hands in confusion.
As if the scene were not strange enough, the two "Hebners" started shoving one another. Suddenly, one slugged the other and kicked him through the ropes. Hogan realized that the referee remaining in the ring was the fraud, paid off by the Million Dollar Man. Somehow, the real Hebner had been kept away from the action.
Hogan reached for the fraud, who tried to scuttle through the ropes. But the Hulkster caught him and pressed him overhead. As the imposter begged for mercy, DiBiase, Virgil and Andre came up hte runway to protect their operative. Hogan saved them a trip by tossing the faker four rows back onto the threesome, sending all but Andre crashing to the concrete.
Following the match, the WWF was thrown into chaos. President Tunney ordered the investigation, vacated the title and authorized the WrestleMania IV tournament that the world awaits.
