The Night Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage Shared the Ring Before WrestleMania V
Thirty-six years and two days ago, on February 23, 1990, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) aired its third episode of “The Main Event,” a spin-off of “Saturday Night’s Main Event.” This episode featured a pivotal matchup: Hulk Hogan defending his world title against “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who was portraying a “Macho King” gimmick Mega Powers. Adding an unexpected twist, James “Buster” Douglas, fresh off his stunning upset victory over Mike Tyson, served as the special guest referee.
From Tyson to Douglas: A Last-Minute Referee Change
Originally, Mike Tyson was slated to be the special guest referee. However, following Douglas’s historic win in Tokyo, Tyson withdrew, paving the way for Douglas to take his place. This change added another layer of intrigue to the already highly anticipated match.
A $100 Million Dream Match That Never Was
Around this time, discussions were underway between Tyson’s promoter, Don King, and WWF owner Vince McMahon regarding a potential pay-per-view “superhero” showdown between Tyson and Hogan. The proposed price tag for this event was a staggering $100 million, contingent on Tyson successfully defending his title against Evander Holyfield. However, with Tyson’s loss to Douglas, these negotiations fell apart.
Building to WrestleMania V
Despite a successful run of tag team matches and house shows throughout much of 1989, including appearances at SummerSlam 1989 and a steel cage tag team match in December, Hogan and Savage hadn’t faced each other in a one-on-one match on television or pay-per-view until February 23, 1990. This match similarly marked the last time the two would compete in a singles match against each other on WWF television or pay-per-view.
Savage’s Road to WrestleMania VIII
This match proved to be Savage’s final world title match on TV or PPV until he wrestled “Nature Boy” Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII, where he ultimately won the match and began his second reign as champion.
Ratings and Viewership
“The Main Event” broadcast featuring Hogan and Savage drew a 12.8 rating and 20.9 million viewers, making it the second-most watched episode in the show’s history. Only the first “Main Event,” which featured a rematch between Hogan and Andre the Giant from WrestleMania III, garnered larger numbers.
The Mega Powers Explode
The tensions between Hogan and Savage, simmering beneath the surface, would ultimately explode, culminating in their match at WrestleMania V Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan – WWE Title Match. This event is considered one of the greatest WrestleMania matches ever.