WWF Debuts First Historic Pay-Per-View Event
The inaugural WWF pay-per-view featured two “Dream Matches” alongside highly anticipated cross-weight class bouts, contested under both UFC and BMF rules. Notably, this marked the first time in a decade that Hulk Hogan did not headline the main event, as promoters instead prioritized the “Legend vs. Legend” clash between Bruno Sammartino and André the Giant.
Opening Grudge Match: Brazil’s Finest
The event opened with a storied rivalry between two of Brazil’s greatest fighting dynasties. Rickson Gracie, head of the Gracie family, faced the heir to the Zulu throne, Casemiro “Rei Zulu” Nascimento, under UFC rules. Despite Zulu’s significant age and weight advantage, Gracie utilized his superior skill and experience to secure a submission victory in a grueling, closely contested bout.
Heavyweight Power and High-Stakes Ladders
Football star Bob Sapp extended his winning streak with a dominant knockout victory over Samoan Sumo champion Teila Tuli. The fight was held under BMF rules, stipulating that a win could only be achieved via knockout.
In a change of pace, the cruiserweight division took center stage as the Philippines’ Agatom and India’s Golimar competed in the first-ever ladder match. In this non-title bout, Golimar secured the win by becoming the first to scale the ladder and retrieve the briefcase suspended from the stadium ceiling.
Tournament Turmoil
Americans Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker battled for the final spot in the first round of the USA Belt #1 Contender Tournament. While Michaels successfully used his trademark “trash talk” to hype the crowd, the match failed to live up to expectations; The Undertaker’s massive size proved too much for the Light Heavyweight to overcome.
Meanwhile, the dream match between longtime champions Hulk Hogan and Yokozuna was a tighter affair. Though Yokozuna utilized his weight and youth to early advantage—briefly casting Hogan as the underdog—”The Hulk” rallied to win and advance to the finals of the Intercontinental Cup.
Main Event: The Mismatch of the Century
Despite massive hype, the Main Event ended in a lopsided result. Betting odds had favored Bruno Sammartino following his impressive comeback against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, suggesting the fighting community had underestimated André the Giant due to his limited agility.
However, André proved once again that size is the ultimate equalizer. The “Italian Legend” struggled to land a significant blow, making the bout feel more like the “Mismatch of the Century” than a competitive contest. André dominated from the opening bell, leaving no doubt about his status as the sport’s premier giant.
Bruno should have taken the rest and give the spot to Super Mario. There is no way he could have defeated ANdre with that short period of time.
I agrree. Bruno should have took more tune-up fights before joining the tournament. Or maybe he felt that this is his late time. being 45 year old already and way past his prime. He looked good on his first come back fight though
This was painful to watch. I’ve followed Bruno since the Madison Square Garden days, and I’ve never seen him look so helpless. It’s one thing to lose, but not even landing a single significant strike? I think the age gap finally caught up to the legend. It might be time to hang up the boots, Champ. 🇮🇹💔
Shawn Michaels talked a big game, but you can’t “trash talk” your way out of a Chokeslam. The Light Heavyweights are flashy, but they don’t belong in the ring with a force of nature. HBK is lucky he walked out of there at all. ⚱️💀
It was no chokeslam. It was the Piledriver who delivered the fatal blow.