What If Wednesday? Ted DiBiase Wins the Wrestlemania IV Tournament

DiBiase vs. Savage
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

Flashback to 1988, the final round of the WWF World Championship Tournament. "Macho Man" Randy Savage, with some help from Hulk Hogan, pinned "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase to win the 16 man competition.  Hogan effectively passed the torch to Savage that night, further solidifying his spot in wrestling history.

I've read reports before that DiBiase was originally slated to win the match and the championship.  It would have been an interesting dynamic had it actually happened, because with the exception of The Iron Sheik's one month reign, there hadn't been a heel heavyweight champion in a decade.

I have no doubt that DiBiase could have done it. He had the skills both in the ring and on the mic. But from a marketing standpoint, and let's face it, that's the bottom line in any business, I don't think kids would have clamored for MDM dolls, tshirts, or foam fingers.  Savage and DiBiase would have likely feuded through the summer though, as Hogan was off making No Holds Barred.  

DiBiase & Andre vs. Hogan
Photo courtesy: WWE

Instead of the SummerSlam main event being a tag team match, I think DiBiase would have dropped the title to Savage, because what would have been the point of turning the Macho Man into a face?  This would have lead to the eventual separation of Hogan and Savage and the Hulkster regaining the gold.  That match at Wrestlemania was the money match and I think one of Hogan's best Mania showings.  I don't know that they could have carried out a Hogan-DiBiase storyline that would last for so long.

DiBiase wouldn't have been the champion long, but it would have been a nice way to shake things up within a company that relied so heavily on the good guys to carry the torch.  But just think, we would have never had the Million Dollar championship either.