WWF The Main Event II (2.3.89) review 

 

February 3, 1989 

 

Tensions had been rising in the WWF’s main event scene. Randy Savage was starting to crack after 10 months as the WWF Champion and kept seeing little issues with the Megapowers. At the Royal Rumble, Hogan exacerbated things by throwing Savage out of the Rumble match. Randy was not best pleased and although they shook hands and made up, all was not right in paradise.  

 

We’re in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and live on NBC. 20,000 in the Bradley Center with the rapist V*nce McM*h*n and Jesse Ventura on commentary. This popped an 11.6 rating for NBC and a year on from the Hogan title loss to Andre, was a key cog for building to Wrestlemania.  

 

We kick things off with the promos as Mean Gene interviews the Twin Towers and Okerlund literally asks them about their “terrorist attacks”. That’s a big yikes from me. Wouldn’t surprise me if Vince bankrolled 9/11 though.  

Okerlund tells us the Megapowers are about to demolish the Twin Towers. Yikes. Hogan goes on to say they’ll tear the Twin Towers down. Oh, man. Just, give it a break lads. We get it. You’re a gang of international terrorists masquerading as colourful children’s entertainers. Savage promises the Twin Towers will come “crumbling down”.  

 

Megapowers vs. Twin Towers 

A couple of notes; the Megapowers enter to Hogan’s music, even though Savage is the current world champion, and Randy has “MEGAPOWERS” written on his butt. Hogan’s butt is merely yellow. Yes, colour coordinating by wearing Hulk Hogan’s colours. I see how it is.  

 

As an act the Megapowers were certainly mega-over. The crowd erupt at everything they do. It’s a shame that Akeem, one of the worst workers in the company, is a part of the whole thing. Bossman has to carry his team. The story of the match is Slick being used as a distraction and a tide-turner. Sneaking in shots to allow his team to take control. Whereas Miss Elizabeth is nowhere to be seen.  

Speaking of Liz, Savage is thrown out of the ring and wipes her out. It’s a vicious bump and the crowd gets freaked by it. Miss Elizabeth had never taken a bump before and they do a wonderful job of making it feel like a serious deal. Hogan goes out to check on them.  

Randy, who didn’t see what he did, immediately freaks out. What are you doing brother? Savage proceeds to get pounded 2 on 1 and Hogan carries Liz to the back.  

They do a good job of taking Liz through the backstage area and we see the Hart Foundation chilling out.  

The Hulkster demonstrates his range by screaming about “God, please, save her”. She’s fine you big goof. “Randy didn’t mean it, I swear he didn’t” is such a killer line though. If Liz was watching the match she wouldn’t have got cleaned out.  

 

Hogan finally heads back out to the ring and Savage, who’s been beaten up for five minutes, is fuming. He slaps Hogan in the face and bails. Hogan makes his own comeback and beats Akeem for the win. The match is like ** max but the storyline completely overwhelms it, in a good way.  

Video Control takes us backstage where Savage looks less sympathetic to Miss Elizabeth than Hogan was. He’s ranting about how he’s “number one, the champion”. Savage blames Hogan for the whole situation and blows up in his face.  

“You got jealous eyes. You’re a former champion”. “I’m not #3 in the Megapowers, I’m #1”. Randy suggests Hogan never wanted a shot at him because he can’t beat him. This rambling, angry promo is perfect. As Hogan goes to appeal to Liz, because he has “lust in his eyes”, Savage smacks him with the belt. Savage literally throws Liz across the room and Brutus Beefcake makes the save. “I’ll get out of here because I want to get out of here”. I love Randy Savage and he killed this. The WWF only had one money match for WrestleMania, and this was it. Let’s fuckin’ gooooo! 

 

Hercules vs. Ted DiBiase 

Sorry lads, nobody cares about this. Herc is supposed to be getting revenge on DiBiase for the whole slavery business but doesn’t. Ted bumps around a lot for him but ultimately gets the dub. Hercules would go on to face Haku at Wrestlemania. DiBiase wrestled Beefcake. Yeah, I don’t get that either. Although no one remembers that undercard anyway.  

 

The match is around *¾ with Hercules not exactly killing it out there. Ted did a great job of bumping around and they give Herc an out by having Virgil assist on the win.  

 

Video Control takes us to Hulk Hogan for comments as we end the show. It’s the ramblings of a man with a clear concussion. “Randy, Randy, RANDYYYY”. Hogan yells at Marty Jannetty for no reason as go off the air.  

 

The 411: 

While this show is only remembered for the Megapowers angle what an angle it is! The Megapowers exploding caused major interest in Wrestlemania V. It ended up being one of the WWF’s most successful PPV’s, ever. Registering the kind of buyrate that the Attitude Era is associated with. Huge numbers and their biggest PPV event to date. This free TV show building that storyline was a big part in those sales numbers. Seriously, the next time the WWF sold this many PPV buys was in 1999.