WWF The Main Event III (Version II)

Original Airdate: February 23, 1990

From Detroit, Michigan; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

We start with multiple promos from both Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, as well as James 'Buster' Douglas in anticipation of the big headline (and ratings) grab

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v Randy Savage: Buster Douglas acts as the special guest enforcer for this one, replacing Mike Tyson after Big Mike got knocked the fuck out by Douglas a couple of weeks prior. Hulk knocks him around to start, giving Douglas a chance to shine by forcing Macho back in, and while keeping Hulk from going after him on the outside. Randy rakes the eyes to allow him a combination that ends with a high knee sending Hogan to the floor, but Douglas stops him from trying a flying axehandle after him. In, Hulk cracks him with a forearm, and a cross corner backelbow puts the challenger down. Ten-punch count leads to the axe bomber, and a bodyslam sets up a series of elbowdrops, followed by mounted punches. Man, Savage lost a lot of muscle mass between '88 and '90. A distraction from Sherri saves Savage from eating the Legdrop, and he jumps Hulk with a straddling ropechoke. Hangman's clothesline gets two, and a kneedrop sets up a choke on the mat. Sherri attacks again, but this time gets bounced by Douglas. Meanwhile, Savage holds Hogan in a sleeper to allow that to play out, with Hulk escaping once that shenanigans is wrapped up. Criss cross ends in another hangman's clothesline from Savage though, for two. He dumps Hulk to the floor for a flying axehandle, with Douglas staying out of the way this time. Back in with another flying axehandle for two, and another kneedrop gets two. Series of jabs and a right cross knock Hogan to the floor again, but this time Douglas won't allow the flying axehandle follow-up. Savage keeps focused with a bodyslam on the way back in to setup the Flying Elbowdrop, and you can guess what happens next. The referee gets bumped in the process, but Douglas slides in to count the pin off the Legdrop at 11:14 - Savage kicking out right at three. Hey, how's it feel, Hulk? Afterwards, Savage protests the count to Douglas, but then makes the mistake of trying to goad him into a fight - and getting knocked out for his troubles. Poor Randy. 1990 was not a good year for the beloved Macho Man. This was pretty much a paint-by-numbers Hogan/Savage match, with some built-in spots to get Douglas into the mix. ** (Original rating: ½*)

Backstage, Ultimate Warrior smells something in the air. Well, Dino Bravo IS in the building

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Ultimate Warrior v Dino Bravo: Warrior blitzes him with a powerslam, and adds a flying axehandle, but Earthquake pulls him down as he tries a second one. That allows Bravo to attack, but Warrior no-sells it, and hiptosses him. Undeterred, Earthquake interferes again, and this time Dino manages to knock Warrior out of the ring. However, he crawls underneath, and drags Jimmy Hart down with him - Jimmy emerging moments later sans pants. Warrior then press-slams pants less Jimmy into Earthquake, but gets jumped by Bravo on the outside, and Earthquake bodyslams him out there. You know, had they programmed Warrior with Earthquake following his title win at WrestleMania VI, he might not have been such a flop on top. All that is FINALLY enough to give Bravo control on the way back in, but the sidewalk slam only gets two, and Warrior promptly starts no-selling everything again. Jumping shoulderblock and a splash finish at 4:11. Afterwards, 'Quake helps Bravo get revenge with a beat down, but of course Hulk Hogan saves - though Warrior is less than appreciative of the effort, and the two titans go nose to nose to setup WrestleMania. The match was a total squash, but it was energetic. ½* (Original rating: DUD)

We take look at the various Hogan/Warrior run-ins this year, followed by dueling promos from the two men to properly hard sell WrestleMania VI

Buster Douglas shares his plans for the rest of the evening: going out drinking with the Hulkster. Drinking MILK, that is. Oh, fuck you

BUExperience: Unlike the previous two years, where the exposure of these prime time network TV specials were used to set up the upcoming WrestleMania main event, this time the Hogan/Warrior title match was already announced in advance, with this special used to promote it more than set it up. With the added intrigue of Buster Douglas, the WWF did strong ratings for this show, but aside as a companion piece to WrestleMania VI, it doesn’t offer much today – certainly ranking as the weakest of the Main Event specials up to that point