Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage
Wrestlemania V
April 1989
This is the review of their classic match at Wrestlemania V for the WWF title. The Macho Man was the champ at the time. This match took place in Atlantic City and the commentating was done by Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura. For you information, other names on the card included…Bobby Heenan, The Ultimate Warrior, Mr. Perfect, Ric Rude, Miss Elizabeth, Mean Gene, Terry Taylor, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Sean Mooney, Tony Schiavonne, and Bad News Brown, to name a few.
The match, billed as “The Mega Powers Explode”, began with the pomp and circumstance of the Macho Man as he entered the ring. Next was the entrance of Miss Elizabeth, who went to a neutral corner. After Elizabeth took her place, the red and yellow express hit the ring!
To begin the match, Hogan and Macho lock up with Hogan throwing Macho down. Macho steps outside the ring and hears it from the crowd. The two lock up again and Macho hits a side-headlock, but is thrown into the ropes by Hogan and receives a big-time shoulderblock that puts him on the mat. Again, Macho goes to the outside of the ring. While outside the ring, he badmouths Elizabeth. Macho enters the ring and hits the headlock again and hits Hogan in the face. Again, he hits the headlock and hits Hogan in the face before…he hits the headlock again! In the third headlock, Hogan goes down to a knee and launches Macho into the ropes. Savage, however, grabs the ropes and slides out. Hogan chases Macho outside the ring, but Macho grabs Elizabeth as a shield. The two get into the ring and Hogan hits a standing drop-toe hold from a side-headlock that sends Macho to the mat. Hogan then jumps to the front of Macho while applying a front headlock. Moving to a standing side-headlock, Macho picks up Hogan and hits a back bodydrop. Savage hits the ropes for a short elbow drop, but misses as Hogan springs to his feet. Hulk then deliver three big closed fist punches to Macho before springing off the ropes and hitting another closed fist punch that sends Randy down. Macho gets up and Hogan hits an arm bar, buts gets his eyes racked by the Madness. Savage continues to kick Hogan in the chest and deliver a double axe-handle from the top rope. Savage goes for the cover, but Hogan kicks out at two. Macho then hits a weak arm bar as Hogan stands up. Macho grabs his hair and throws him down, though. While Hogan is on the mat, Macho puts his knee in the side of his face and pressures down. The crowd starts to chant and Hogan works his way up to get a hair tug to the mat. The same happens, but this time, Macho can’t pull Hogan down. Hulk drops to the mat and swings Macho down to the floor.
Hogan throws Macho back in the ring and smashes him into two turnbuckles before delivering a clothesline and a pair of elbows to follow. Hogan looks for a third elbow, but kickstarts Macho’s head instead. Hulk puts Macho into the ropes and bends over for the back body drop, but gets a kick to the chest instead. Macho delivers a clothesline and drops for the cover. At two, Hogan kicks out and the two struggle to their feet as Macho hits a sitting headlock. While in the headlock, the camera shows that Hogan has a cut over his left eye. Hogan works up to his feet only to be brought back down. Hulk works up again and delivers three elbows to Macho before launching him into the ropes and delivering a big shoulder block. Again, Hogan hits the ropes, but Macho tries to kick him. Hogan grabs his foot and proceeds to turn him around and atomic drop him. After this, Hogan tries to deliver an elbow, but meets the mat instead. Macho gets up and sends Hogan into the ropes head first and gets a roll-up for a two count. Macho quickly delivers a double axe-handle to Hogan and puts his head into the turnbuckle before sending him across the ring to the other turnbuckle. Hogan hits the ground and grabs Macho’s foot. Hogan climbs up Macho and meets his fist as he hits the mat. Savage begins to work on the cut above Hogan’s eye. Picking Hogan up, Macho sends him back into the turnbuckle. Hogan crawls about the ring and gets his fingers stomped by Macho. Savage then delivers a solid smack to the face of Hogan as Hogan jumps up and starts to shake his head.
Hulk gets Macho from behind and throws his head into the turnbuckles six times before delivering three big punches to Macho’s forehead. Hogan then sends Macho across the ring and follows up with a clothesline. Hulk then picks up Macho and bodyslams him outside the ring! Elizabeth comes to the aid of the Macho Man as Hogan plays to the crowd. However, Savage throws Elizabeth’s hands off of him and scolds her. Randy then turns and grabs Hogan’s feet as he pulls him beneath the ropes and batters him in the left eye. While outside the ring, Savage rips into Hogan’s eye, but Hogan throws him head first into the ring apron. Hulk then picks up Macho to send him into the steel holding the ring together, but Elizabeth gets in the way allowing Macho to throw Hogan into the steel. Macho jumps outside the ring and throws Elizabeth off of Hogan. Macho then hits his patented double axe-handle off the top ropes on Hogan, while Hogan is on the railings. Macho throws Hogan in the ring and continues to batter Hogan’s neck area. Savage then picks up Hogan and slams him before going for the cover. Hulk kicks out at two. Macho takes the tape off of his wrist and wraps it around Hogan’s throat. Savage then chokes Hogan down to the mat and delivers his flying elbow drop.
Earl Hebner drops for the 1…2…and Hogan throws Macho off of him and starts shaking his head no! Macho punches Hogan in the head. Hogan says no. Macho, again, punches Hogan in the head. Hogan, again, says no as he starts to get to his feet. Savage delivers a third punch to Hogan and Hogan springs to his feet and starts “Hulk-ing” up! Macho tries again to punch out Hogan, but Hogan stops and says no. Savage tries one last time, but is blocked as Hogan delivers three solid punches and his devastating big boot to the face. Hogan hits the ropes, delivers the leg drop for the one-two-three! The crowd erupts and we have a new WWF Champion!
This match is a classic for the fact that it pitted two of the biggest names in the sport against each other with the biggest title in sports at hand. I suggest watching this match if you want to see what Hogan and Macho used to be like.