Savage reportedly threatened to shoot on Honky that night if he didn’t get the belt, so Vince McMahon promised Savage the World title at WrestlMania 4 instead.

However, the IC title was still around the waist of Honky.  He met another challenger in Brutus Beefcake, who by this time was known as “the Barber,” and wanted to not only defeat Honky for the belt, but also to cut his greasy locks.  Beefcake received the shot at WrestleMania 4, but Honky kept the belt on yet another disqualification.  He was scheduled to challenge for the belt at SummerSlam 88, but was injured on television when “Outlaw” Ron Bass cut open Beefcake’s head with his spurs after a confrontation.  On the night of SupperSlam 88, Honky was without an opponent, so he challenged anyone to come to the ring and wrestle him for the belt.  Out came The Ultimate Warrior, and destroyed Honky in just 30 seconds for belt, ending a near 15-month reign.

The Warrior rather soundly beat Honky in their many rematches around the horn, although most of the matches lasted about 8 minutes, rather than 30 seconds.  Finally, at the 1989 Royal Rumble, Warrior was in a pose-down with “Ravishing” Rick Rude, when the obvious happened.  The fans cheered Warrior so he’d win, incensing Rude, who attacked Warrior from behind setting up their feud.  At WrestlMania 5, Rude had what was then considered the biggest upset of the year when he defeated Warrior for the title.  He tried suplexing Rude into the ring, when manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan tripped him and held his foot for 3.

Rude held the belt for the summer, but once SummerSlam 89 came around, the belt went back to Warrior when Roddy Piper distracted Rude causing Warrior to get the pin.  Since the WWF at this point was setting up the Warrior to win the World Heavyweight title, they put him into a feud with Heenan’s other men including the big man, Andre the Giant.  Andre choked out Warrior on television to set up their feud.  Unfortunately, Andre’s health was so bad at this point he could barely move in the ring.  Therefore, they had Warrior’s matches with Andre last only 30 seconds each with Warrior getting quick pins.  Finally, at WrestleMania 6 in Toronto, Canada, Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight title, and sent the IC title vacant. 

NEXT  MONTH: