Skydome
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Event: | Wrestlemania VI |
| Date: | 01/04/90 | |
| Location: | Toronto, Ontario
Skydome |
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| Opponent: | Hulk Hogan |
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WWF and Intercontinental Title: Hulk Hogan (WWF Champion) vs. Ultimate Warrior (Intercontinental Champion)
Both Titles are on the line, which in hindsight immediately gives away the outcome of the match. I mean the guy with the lesser Title will always win; just think about it. What would the point be if Hogan were to win the IC Title? Especially if, by yesterday's rules, he'd have to immediately surrender it anyway. That said...
Warrior makes his entrance first, followed by Hogan's. Both men get a huge pop, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura observes that the crowd reaction is about 50/50, a toss up, the same as the match. Warrior runs to the ring, and Jesse sites that's the stupidest thing he could have done and he should have been conserving his energy for the match. The epic match starts with a staredown. Then they work the crowd as each attempts to gain a concrete advantage.
Warrior wins a test of strength, but then Hogan comes back. A criss cross ends with a Hogan bodyslam. Warrior no-sells, they criss cross again, then Warrior slams the Hulkster. Warrior clotheslines Hogan to the floor, and Hulk complains to referee Earl Hebner of a knee injury. For awhile it looks bad, and the announcers speculate if he'll be able to continue, but Warrior goes out there and nails him before he can make a decision. They climb back in, and Hogan ignores the supposed serious knee injury for the rest of the match, which makes me wonder why they even decided to go with that spot at all in the first place. Hogan gets a small package for two, then gets another two after a clothesline and two more after a backbreaker. Hogan works a chinlock before a collision puts both men down. Warrior hulks up with three clotheslines and a shoulderblock, but instead of going for the press slam, he hits a suplex for two, then locks in a bearhug. Hogan escapes, runs the ropes, and the ref is bumped. Macho Warrior hits two double axehandles off the top rope, but Hogan is able to sidestep him on another shoulderblock attempt and drive his head into the mat. Hogan covers, but there's no ref. Warrior hits a back suplex and covers, but there's no ref. Hebner finally crawls over for a very slow two count. The crowd thought that one might be it. Hogan rolls up the Warrior for another slow two. They brawl outside for awhile, then take it back into the ring so they can go home. Warrior hits the gorilla press slam and the big splash, which he's used to put away all his opponents, but it only gets two. Hogan hulks up, hits the big boot and goes for the leg drop, but Warrior moves and Hogan misses. Warrior quickly gets to his feet, goes off the ropes for a splash, and gets the three on Hogan at 22:51. The Ultimate Warrior is the new WWF Champion, on top of being the Intercontinental Champion. Half of the crowd is going nuts and the other half is silent as Warrior celebrates. Hogan looks shocked and depressed, and starts to leave. He instead takes the WWF Title belt, hands it to the Warrior, and embraces him. Warrior and Hogan embrace in one of the true great moments in WWF history. Hogan leaves, saluting the Warrior, as he has seemingly passed the torch. Pat Patterson has stated that the Warrior was so happy and emotional that he was crying his eyes out in the locker room after this. An epic match and an epic moment in front of a huge crowd make for one of the best Wrestlemania memories of all time. These were the top two draws in the company, both were immensly popular, and after a war in the ring, they were able to become friends afterwards. It was a terrific story, largely in part because of the fact that the WWF had this match choreographed and practiced for weeks before the event. It's a good thing they did too, because the successful execution of it was unbelievable. |