| Event: | Wrestlemania IV |
| Date: | 27/03/88 |
| Location: | Atlantic City, New Jersey
Trump Plaza |
| Opponent: | Hercules |
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While this was not the last time Warrior and Hercules met it was the high point of their 1988 feud.
The Fink announces Hercules to a chorus of boos from the capacity crowd at the trump plaza hotel. Warriors music hits and he makes his entrance to his first Wrestlemania. He appears at the top of the ramp wearing blue shorts and blue and white face paint, arm and leg ties and a blue head band which I had never seen him wear before. His white boots have a red Warrior shield printed on them. He pauses at the top of the ramp and beats his chest before beginning his run to the ring. Once at ringside he poses on the ring apron and shakes the ropes. Turning to acknowledge the crowd he pumps his fists up and down showing that he is ready for whatever challenge Hercules brings. He steps through the ropes and the bell sounds to get the match underway. The two circle each other a couple of times before Hercules runs off the ropes and shoulder charges Warrior. He is knocked back but shows he is un-phased by beating on his chest. They stand face to face and mouth off at each other. The both run off the ropes now and collide in the center of the ring. They stand toe to toe again and Hercules flexes his biceps and pushes Warrior. Warrior responds by pushing him back and flexing his own biceps. Both men lock up "like two wild bulls" to quote Gorilla Monsoon, and force each other around the ring. Hercules seems to have the upper hand when he forces Warrior back into the corner but Warrior turns it around forcing Hercules in there instead. The referee steps in between the two to break them up and as they part Hercules throws a cheap shot at Warrior. Warrior angrily pushes the ref aside and unloads with punches and chops on his opponent. Warrior Irish whips Hercules against the ropes and attempts a clothesline as he rebounds. Hercules ducks and turns and hits Warrior with a clothesline of his own. This has little effect on Warrior so Hercules repeats the offense. Warrior is knocked off balance this time. Hercules seizes the opportunity by winding up and hitting Warrior with a huge clothesline finally knocking him to the floor. Warrior groggily gets back to his feet and Hercules winds up for the clothesline again. Hercules telegraphs the move somewhat so Warrior is able to get off the clothesline first knocking Hercules flat on his ass! Warrior repeats before picking Hercules up and attempts dropping his throat on the ropes. Hercules is able to block though so Warrior resorts to Irish whipping Hercules across the ring and chopping him viciously on the rebound. Hercules is knocked back on to the ropes and Warrior moves in on him. Warrior throws a huge punch at Hercules but Hercules ducks and uses Warriors momentum to throw him out of the ring. Warrior lands on his feet though and turns and pulls Hercules out through the ropes to join him on the outside. Warrior throws some punches at Hercules who tries to walk away from Warrior. Warrior stays close to him though and rams Hercules' head into the steel steps at ringside. Hercules rolls back into the ring but Warrior who is sticking to him like glue is right behind. Warrior kicks Hercules in the stomach but at the same moment Hercules rakes Warriors eyes. Hercules recovers before Warrior and unloads with some big punches. Hercules turns his back to a groggy Warrior and throws an elbow whick knocks Warrior to the ropes. On the rebound Warrior hits Hercules with a forearm to the back of the head. Warrior forces Hercules back into the corner with some punches and climbs to the second turnbuckle. He begins throwing some huge punches at Hercules and the crowd count along with each one. Hercules still has enough of his senses left to grab Warrior around the midsection and carry him out of the corner before performing a reverse atomic drop. Both men are tiring but Hercules has the advantage now and he rams Warrior's head into the turnbuckle. Hercules attempts to Irish whip Warrior but Warrior reverses sending Hercules into the turnbuckle at the opposite corner of the ring. Warrior tries to follow up with a splash in the corner but Hercules moves out of the way just in time and Warrior slams into the turnbuckle himself. As Warrior stands in the corner recovering Hercules signals the full nelson. Approaching from behind he manouveres his arms underneath Warrior's and attempts to lock his fingers behind Warriors head. He just fails to lock his fingers so Warrior is able to keep his wits about him. Warrior moves back toward the corner and using Hercules as leverage throws his feet onto the top turnbuckle and pushes back powerfully. Both he and Hercules are knocked to the floor with Warrior on top of Hercules. The shoulders of both men are on the canvas so the referee drops and begins the count. At about two and a half, Warrior raises his shoulder. The referee completes the count and Hercules jumps up and raises his arm victoriously. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan enters the ring and joins his man in celebration. The referee walks over and interrupts their premature celebrations by emphatically explaining that Hercules' shoulders were on the canvas and he was the one who was pinned. The referee then makes his way over to Warrior, takes hold of his wrist and raises his arm. Hercules is angered by this and attacks Warrior from behind. While Warrior recovers on the ropes, Hercules gets his chain from ringside. He wraps it around Warriors throat and begins choking him but Warrior is able to power out and takes the chain from Hercules. Warrior is an awesome sight as he stands in the center of the ring swinging the chain around wildly while Hercules and Heenan retreat backstage. |