WWF WrestleMania VI: The Ultimate Challenge
April 1, 1990
Toronto, ON, CA
The Skydome

The current WWF Champs were as follows:
World Champion: Hulk Hogan (4/2/1989)
Intercontinental Champion: Ultimate Warrior (8/28/1989)
World Tag Team Champions: Andre the Giant & Haku (12/13/1989)

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura! This would be Jesse’s last WWF PPV.

Since we’re in Canada, the Canadian national anthem is the appropriate song. The anthem is performed by none other than Robert Goulet, who you can now see entertaining people in hotels all over Las Vegas! That’s the best Vince could do? What was Bryan Adams doing that weekend?

• Koko B. Ware (w/Frankie the PARROT~!) vs. Rick “The Model” Martel
  

Our first filler match of the evening. Martel blindsides Koko to start, but then runs into a boot and gets nailed with a flying crossbody out of the corner for two. Koko follows up with a pair of dropkicks and clotheslines Martel out to the floor. Back in, Martel dumps Koko out near Frankie. Back in again, Martel stomps away and delivers a suplex for two. More pounding on the back sets up the QUEBEC CRAB. Koko fights it though and squirms over to the ropes. Martel tries some turnbuckle smashes, but Koko is black so that doesn’t work. Koko comes back with a couple jumping headbutts for another two. Koko attempts the crossbody out of the corner again, but Martel is wise to it and ducks out of the way. Koko’s easy pickings for the QUEBEC CRAB now, so Martel gets the submission win. (5:29) Koko seemed motivated enough, but Martel just wasn’t into it. *

In the back, Mean Gene hangs with the tag champs and calls them the “Colostomy Connection.” You see, because their nickname is the “Colossal Connection”. It’s a pun. It’s funny. Meanwhile, Demolition talks with Sean Mooney about axing and smashing the tag champs.

• WWF World Tag Team Champions Andre the Giant & Haku (w/Bobby Heenan)
  vs. Demolition
  

Wow, Demolition is still getting a huge face pop as they come down to the ring. At this point in Andre’s life, Haku has wrestle the majority of the match while Andre helps out on the corner. Haku attacks before the bell, but Demolition controls for the next few minutes. Andre does come in to break up a backslide. Haku takes over with kicks. Ax gets caught in the Colossal corner and takes a headbutt from Andre. Haku covers for 1-2-NO! Haku grabs a nerve hold while the crowd tries to pump up Ax. He starts to get to his feet, but Haku chops him back down. Ax gets stuck with Andre and choked in the corner for a bit. Haku continues the punishment until he charges into a boot in the corner to set up the HOT TAG TO SMASH! It turns into a pier-six brawl once Andre comes in to help. The ref tries to regain control by getting Ax out of the ring while Haku misses on a crescent kick to Smash and nails Andre which gets him tied up in the ropes. Now that Andre is out of the picture, Demolition give Haku a double-team hotshot and the DEMOLITION DECAPITATION to finish and win their 3^rd tag title reign. The only other team to have achieved this at the time was Fuji/Tanaka over ten years earlier. (9:20) Post-match, Heenan slaps Andre for causing them their loss. Of course, Andre’s not going to take that lying down and headbutts Heenan and Haku out of the ring. He even beats Heenan and Haku away from the motorized cart and leaves the ring all by himself to a huge face reaction. It’s one of Andre’s last matches though and that makes it memorable even if the match was super-lame. ½*

• Hercules vs. Earthquake (w/Jimmy Hart)
  

Ventura calls this Earthquake’s biggest challenge to date, as he’s totally undefeated here. Herc uses his speed advantage over Earthquake and dominates to start. Earthquake gets his nose busted in the first minute or so and bails. Back in, Earthquake wants a test of strength and for some reason, Hercules is down for it. Earthquake puts Herc on his knees, but once Hercules tries to fight out, he’s nailed hard on the back. Earthquake corners Hercules, but then ducks low off a whip. Earthquake NO-SELLS some shoulderblocks, but then finally drops to one knee. Herc calls for the TORTURE RACK and attempts it, which is the stupidest idea ever. Earthquake delivers an elbow drop and then the EARTHQUAKE SPLASH for the win. (4:53) Next stop for the Earthquake: Hulk Hogan’s chest! CRAP

Gossip columnist Rona Barrett interviews Elizabeth, who promises that when she returns to the ring, she’ll be more active than ever.

• Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr. Perfect (w/Mr. Genius)
  

Both men are red hot and extremely over at this point; making this one of the marquee matches of the show. They trade blows to start, which ends with Perfect being dumped in a crazy dangerous fashion. Back in, Beefcake stays one step ahead and hits an atomic drop that sends Perfect back out. Once he’s back in, Beefcake whips Perfect from corner to corner and calls for the SLEEPER. Genius gets up on the apron and slips Perfect the scroll to nail Beefcake RIGHT IN THE KISSER! Perfect hits the flipping neck snap and covers for two. Perfect really gets lazy here though, as he just stomps and talks trash to Beefcake while he’s in control. Beefcake finally has enough and catapults Perfect into the corner ringpost for the odd 1-2-3. (7:49) That finish was so left field, It almost seemed as though Beefcake was injured there. Genius tries to run off with the clippers after the match, but Beefcake grabs him and brings Genius into the ring. Genius got a haircut at the Rumble and gets another one here, as Perfect has already left. The match was kind of weird. *

In the back, Mean Gene is with Piper who just so happens to have half of his body painted black. I guess he’s just never feuded with a black man before.

• Bad News Brown vs. Roddy Piper
  

A condensed version of this feud is that these two eliminated each other at the Rumble and now they want to beat each other up all the time. Piper plays a bunch of mind games to start. Big pull-apart brawl ensues until Piper catches Bad News with a crossbody for two. Bad News tries to come back with turnbuckle smashes, but Piper must land on the black side of his face because he NO-SELLS all of them. Bad News punches him down anyway and grabs a nerve hold. Piper elbows out, but they both NO-SELL headbutts. Bad News wins another slugfest and chokes Piper into a pin for two. Elbow drop gets another near-fall. In classic Piper-fashion, he comes back with an eyepoke. He punches Bad News into the corner, but then Bad News goes to the eyes. He takes off the turnbuckle pad, but Piper reverses the whip and runs Bad News into the exposed corner. Piper whips out a loaded Michael Jackson glove and pounds away. They end up on the floor where Bad News misses a punch into the ringpost and then ducks a chairshot. Both men forget about the count though and we get a double-countout as the two fight to the back. (6:37) Somewhat intense, with a touch of silly. Bad News would be gone by SummerSlam with no real clear-cut winner in this feud, mainly because Roddy Piper would head over to the commentary booth until a certain champion would bring him out of retirement. *½

Steve Allen screws with the Bolsheviks in the bathroom. I like Steve.

• The Hart Foundation vs. The Bolsheviks
  

The Harts attack the Bolsheviks during their performance of the Russian national anthem and then Zhukov takes the HART ATTACK for the win in an attempt to solidify themselves as the #1 contenders to the tag gold. (0:18) It served it’s purpose, but this was hardly a match. CRAP

• The Barbarian (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Tito Santana
  

The Powers of Pain are now split and stuck with different managers. Warlord went with Slick, and obviously Barbarian went with Heenan. Tito fires away to start and causes Barbarian to talk with Heenan. Barbarian gets back in and takes a crossbody block for two. Tito grabs a headlock and then jumps on Barbarian’s shoulders to pound him down for two. Back to the headlock. Barbarian shoves out and nails the Kick of Fear. Oh, sorry, I’m getting six years ahead of myself. Barbarian tries for the Flying Headbutt, but Tito avoids it. Tito delivers a whole bunch of dropkicks in order to put him down and then he finally nails the FLYING JALAPENO! Tito covers for 1-2-NO! Heenan slips Barbarian’s foot on the bottom rope. Tito gets distracted and then takes the FLYING CLOTHESLINE for 1-2-3. (4:27) Nice little face pop for Barbarian there. Tito sold like a champ to put Barbarian over here. *

• Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage & Queen Sherri
  

In case you don’t know who Sapphire is, she looks like Flavor Flav’s overweight, middle-aged sister. Tonight, Dusty has the crown jewel with him, if you will. The crown jewel is Elizabeth, which of course infuriates Savage. The match is historic because it’s the first-ever mixed tag team match in the WWF. This might’ve been more of a surprise had they not just interviewed her twenty minutes ago. Dusty controls to start with elbows, but then takes a forearm to the back from Sherri. Sherri and Savage get thrown into each other several times as Sapphire tags. She uses her rather large posterior and knocks Sherri around with it and then gives her an airplane spin for two. Sherri can’t slam Sapphire and has the sister fall on top for two. Dusty tags and Sapphire gets in a slap on Savage. Sherri and Savage get run into each other again, but then Savage catches Dusty with a knee and sends him out to the floor. That leads to a pair of flying double ax-handles on the floor. Sapphire gets in the way of a third one, so Savage comes down and tosses her aside. Back in, Savage connects with the double-ax for two. Sherri distracts the ref as Savage brings in the scepter and clobbers Dusty with it. Sherri wants to splash Dusty, but it only gets two. Savage comes in off the top, but gets nailed on the way down. The heels are ran into each other again. Dusty follows up with elbows in the corner, but Sherri saves by jumping on Dusty’s back. Sapphire tags and snapmares Sherri off him for two. Sapphire tosses Sherri to the floor, but Liz throws her back in for a suplex (kind of) for two. Sherri grabs at Elizabeth, but then gets rolled up by Sapphire for the 1-2-3. (7:32) I really didn’t like Sapphire, but I think Savage and Sherri should be commended for this match. *

It seems Rona Barrett has discovered a Jesse Ventura sex tape. BUT WAIT! Sean Mooney is standing by with the extremely irate Randy Savage & Queen Sherri. Savage ~ “You should get on the phone and call somebody!” Looks like Ernest Miller owes Savage some money!

Next, Hogan and Warrior give their infamous WrestleMania VI pre-match interviews.

• The Orient Express (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The Rockers
  

FORMER AWA STARS EXPLODE! Jannetty starts off with Tanaka. It turns into a bunch of Rockers double-teams, including STEREO PESCADOS! Once the action settles, Fuji hooks the top rope with his cane and lets Jannetty fall out to the floor. Sato stops by Jannetty and rams into the ringpost. Back in, Jannetty gets caught in the heel corner for a bit until he flips completely out of a backdrop and tags in Michaels for a mistimed double-team crescent kick. Sato gets a tag, but then ducks low off a whip and pays for it with a swinging neckbreaker. Tanaka catches Shawn coming off the ropes and kicks him in the back of the head. Tanaka tags in and nails Shawn with a flying cross chop. Sato tags and applies a nerve hold and then tags Tanaka once Shawn starts to rise up. Tanaka flips out of a backdrop, but gets decked with a clothesline to set up the hot tag to Jannetty. The Rockers do a number on the Express and look to finish off Tanaka, but Jannetty gets distracted by Fuji and gives chase. Sato sneaks around ringside and then surprises Jannetty by tossing salt in his face! Jannetty’s so blinded, he trips over the railing and into the front row to get counted out. (7:32) It was okay, but you could tell they still needed some work. The chemistry really kicks in later in the year. **

Steve Allen interviews the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine, who are now known as Rhythm & Blues. Allen ~ “I haven’t been this excited since we found out that Pee Wee Herman was straight.”

• Dino Bravo (w/Jimmy Hart & Earthquake) vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
  

Ventura calls Duggan stupid for still carrying the American flag with him to the ring. I tend to agree. Duggan starts out hot against Bravo and clotheslines him out to the floor. Back in, Duggan delivers the ten-count corner punch, but then misses a corner charge and takes a clothesline. Bravo chokes Duggan and then Earthquake chokes Duggan. Big elbow drop from Bravo gets two. Bravo tries some turnbuckle smashes, but Duggan NO-SELLS. Duggan fires back, but then ducks low and pays for it. Bravo charges in the corner, but runs into a knee and then a bunch of clotheslines to set up the THREE-POINT STANCE. Earthquake grabs his foot to distract Duggan and the ref while Jimmy tosses in the 2×4. Duggan turns away and grabs the 2×4 and nails Bravo with it, throws it out of the ring, and covers Bravo for the 1-2-3. (4:12) Just another match to bring Earthquake in and deliver more EARTHQUAKE SPLASHES! ½*

• Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil) vs. Jake Roberts (w/Damien the SNAKE~!) – Million Dollar Belt
  

Roberts stole the belt from DiBiase right before the Royal Rumble and here he’s trying to get it back. People talk about how great Foley is on the mic, well I’d say Roberts is right behind him. He cuts an intense promo about DiBiase and how his money is the very money he’s groveling for tonight. This just makes me wish I had some Mid-South tapes. Roberts tries for the DDT several times early on before working the arm. DiBiase reverses the hammerlock to send himself flying out to the floor. Back in, Roberts ducks low and takes an elbow. Roberts tries to come back with a running knee-lift, but DiBiase fires him off into the corner. Meanwhile, the crowd starts to do the wave as DiBiase hooks on a front-facelock on the mat. The crowd gets really loud here, so Ventura uses it to say that all the noise is for DiBiase. DiBiase hits a piledriver and gets his cocky cover reversed into a rollup for two. DiBiase stays on top with stomps and then applies the MILLION DOLLAR DREAM, but Roberts makes the ropes. DiBiase covers, but Roberts is in the ropes, so he drags Roberts to the middle for another near-fall. DiBiase comes off the top, but gets caught on the way down. The crowd wants the DDT, and so does Jake. Short-Arm Clothesline sets it up, but Virgil yanks Roberts out to the floor. That just pisses him off, but it’s all a setup for the MILLION DOLLAR DREAM. Roberts breaks it up by running him into the ringpost. Virgil is right there though to help DiBiase back in at the last second to give him the countout win. (11:53) Roberts hits the DDT on DiBiase, but it’s too late now. **¼

• Big Bossman vs. Akeem (w/Slick)
  

Bossman dumped Akeem and Slick after DiBiase offered him money to take out Roberts, but he wouldn’t take money from SCUM! DiBiase is hiding around ringside to jump Bossman from behind to set up their next feud. Akeem hits a corner splash and covers for two. Bossman comes back with an inverted atomic drop out of the corner and then whips Akeem from corner to corner. BOSSMAN SLAM wins it. (1:49) CRAP

Out comes Rhythm & Blues to perform “Hunka-Hunka-Hunka Honky Love” complete with a pink Cadillac, some Honkettes, Jimmy Hart, a fake gold album, and a chauffer named Diamond Dallas Page. I think any of Greg Valentine’s fans would say this the worst thing he ever agreed to do. Valentine is the kind of guy who will HURT you, not make you laugh. The Bushwhackers disguise themselves as vendors and clear them of the ring for getting their skulls smashed with guitars a week or two prior to the show. The ‘Whackers proceed to destroy the guitars and do their thing.

Fink announces the Skydome attendance record of 67,678.

• Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Jimmy Snuka
  

Steve Allen joins the commentary team for this match. Rude attacks from behind to start, but Snuka takes over with his usual stuff until Rude hits a snap suplex. Rude ducks low off a whip and takes the jumping headbutt to set up the SUPERFLY SPLASH. Rude gets to his feet so Snuka leaps over him and delivers a slam. He tries for it again, but Rude moves out of the way. RUDE AWAKENING! It’s over. (3:39) Just a squash to put Rude over as he heads to the main event scene. ½*

• WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs. WWF Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior – Title vs. Title
  

Basically no matter who won this, I’m assuming the IC title would have become vacant. Why would Hogan care about the IC title when he’s the champ? Same as with Warrior. Anyways, this match needs no introduction. HUGE staredown/shove-off to start. Warrior challenges Hogan in a test of strength and Hogan’s up for it. Hogan goes to his knees first, but then the Hulkamaniacs cheer him until he gets to his feet. Now Warrior falls to his knees. As Warrior begins to rise, Hogan takes him down with an wristlock takedown and gives Warrior an elbow drop for only a one-count. They criss-cross the ropes in a flashback to the Royal Rumble, but this time Hogan catches Warrior with a slam. Warrior completely NO-SELLS it. Another criss-cross and this time, Warrior gets the slam. Hogan actually sells it and takes a clothesline out to the floor and injures his knee during the fall. Hogan wobbles around ringside and eventually collapses. Warrior goes out and stomps Hogan’s knee as Earl Hebner jumps down to check on the Hulkster. Warrior brings Hulk back in and kicks away at the knee. They trade eyerakes and then Warrior chokes Hogan back against the ropes. Hebner backs Warrior away and allows Hulk to come back and punch Warrior into the corner. The ten-count corner punches follows. Hogan brings Warrior out and gives him a pair of elbow drops for 1-2-NO! Hogan grabs a front facelock and comes down into an inside cradle for two. Hogan pounds away and then nails Warrior with a running clothesline for 1-2-NO! Backbreaker by Hogan gets another two. Hogan grabs a rear-chinlock and then lifts Warrior up for a back suplex for two before returning to the chinlock. Warrior elbows out, but then they clothesline each other. You know, just to add more drama. Warrior sits up first! He starts shaking the ropes to regain his energy as Hogan pounds on his back. How ironic! Nothing Hogan is doing has any effect. Warrior fires back with clotheslines and then whips Hogan from corner to corner. Hogan’s at Warrior’s feet now. Warrior hits a suplex and gets 1-2-NO! Warrior applies the bearhug for a few minutes. Hogan’s drops once, twice, but not three times! He punches out and then avoids a charge, causing Warrior to collide with Hebner. Warrior heads up top and delivers not one, but two flying double-ax handles. Warrior goes for the Jumping Shoulderblock, but Hogan avoids it and sends Warrior crashing to the mat. Hogan says its over and covers, but the ref is still down. Hogan goes over to wake up the ref, but Warrior sneaks up behind with a back suplex. Hebner finally crawls over for the slow-count, but only gets two! Hogan pokes Warrior in the eyes and rolls up Warrior for 1-2-NO! Hogan hits a running back elbow that sends Warrior out to the floor. Hogan follows and tries to ram Warrior into the ringpost, but Warrior blocks and sends Hogan instead. Back in, Warrior looks to finish with the GORILLA PRESS SLAM! He delivers and delivers the GORILLA SPLASH for 1-2-NO!! Hogan starts to HULK UP, hits the Big Boot, but Warrior avoids the LEG DROP and hits the GORILLA SPLASH one more time for 1-2-3 to win the WWF title! (23:40) I am definitely not the biggest Hogan fan. I am definitely not the biggest Warrior fan. Personal bias aside, there’s no denying this is a great match. It used all the dramatics that Hogan had been utilizing for the better part of six years and in an ironic fashion, used them all against him for his first big loss since Hulkamania began. This match, in every sense of the word, is a classic. ****

Final Thoughts: It’s a one-match show. In hindsight, they probably should’ve cut out the filler and gave more time to missed opportunities like Beefcake/Hennig, Rockers/Express, and DiBiase/Roberts. At least some better finishes for those matches would’ve been nice. All the same, Hogan/Warrior is what gives this show a good name, but you can pick up that match on four different DVD sets nowadays which makes this card completely unnecessary for viewing. I bet this will get me a lot of flack from people, but I’m still going with thumbs down for WrestleMania VI. Be sure to email me your thoughts on my stuff or anything else that’s on your mind.