WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XVI Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XVI Review
March 28, 2014 (edited September 16, 2026)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XVI
Tagline: None
Date: April 30, 1988
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
Live or Tape: Tape (April 22, 1988)
Arena: Springfield Civic Center
Attendance: 9,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

We start with the usual opening promos though the music used isn't that cool intense music but Jake Roberts' theme “Snake Bit” which is fine with me. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan says it's spring time in the World Wrestling Federation. He has the broom and it's going to be a clean sweep.

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan with Hercules and Andre the Giant calls Duggan a cross eyed sicko and says when you wrestle one family member, you wrestle all of them. He says when they are done, he'll be “Jigsaw Jim” because some pieces will be missing when they are done, tough guy.

Slick with the One Man Gang says they were robbed at Wrestlemania IV. Slick says he doesn't get mad, he gets bad.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage with Miss Elizabeth says everyone can feel the madness and Elizabeth says she can. One Man Gang will feel Macho Madness as we go to intro.

Vince and Ventura open the show and preview the matches and show clips of Duggan knocking Andre down with a 2x4 from the April 2^nd Superstars of Wrestling.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews Bobby Heenan, Hercules, and Andre the Giant. Heenan says the Family is one for all and all for one. Hercules says the Family never forgets. Heenan again calls him “Jigsaw Jim” since some pieces will be missing. Andre does Duggan's HOOOOOOOOOO while he gives the gesture of choking someone. Fine interview from Heenan though he did repeat himself a bit from the opening promo. Hercules and Andre were short and to the point.

Okerlund interviews Jim Duggan. Duggan calls Hercules a yo-yo around Bobby Heenan's chain and he'll give Andre some more of his high fiber diet plan if he's still hungry. Okerlund says Duggan sounds like he wants more of Andre and Duggan says he does. He calls Andre a cheater for costing him the WWF Title at Wrestlemania IV so now it'll cost him. He'll keep one eye on Hercules and another on the other two. Enjoyable, especially the beginning and middle.

Jim Duggan vs. Hercules (w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan & Andre the Giant)- Andre is now back in the Heenan Family as Heenan bought his contract back from Dibiase. I don't get why they bothered with that story since it only lasted two months. Why not have the story be that Dibiase and Heenan in a business deal where Dibiase pays Heenan for Andre's services and have Heenan in the story?

They circle and tie up to start but goes no where. Tie up is teased but Hercules kicks the stomach and works over Duggan with forearms. Herc tries to ram Duggan to the turnbuckle but Duggan blocks and rams Herc. Herc reverses an irish whip to the corner but Duggan rebounds with a clothesline. Herc goes to the corner for advice. Herc swings & misses the punch and Duggan hits the atomic drop. Hercules goes to the corner and gets elbowed trying to come out. Duggan stares at Andre while Herc bails for advice from Heenan but Duggan quickly grabs him by the hair and slingshots him back in. Duggan whips Herc to the ropes and hits a back body drop. Duggan comes off the ropes and misses the running knee drop. Hercules starts attacking the knee in the corner as the fans chant “Weasel” at Heenan. Duggan tries to make the come back but gets raked in the eye by Hercules. Despite this, Duggan starts to make the comeback and works over Herc.

Duggan whips Hercules to the corner but misses the charge and crashes. Herc chokes Duggan on the ropes and works him over. Duggan starts to come back but Herc grabs his trunks and pulls Duggan to the outside. Duggan gets back in with Heenan and Andre not interfering. Back in, Herc whips Duggan to the ropes, misses the clothesline but connects with an elbow. Herc works over Duggan and distracts the ref which allows Heenan to cheap shot Duggan. Duggan snaps by grabbing his 2x4 and chasing Herc and Heenan out of the ring with Heenan doing his awesome jump over the top rope bit to escape as we go to commercial. We're back with Herc jumping Duggan in the ring. Hercules works Duggan over and forearms Duggan in the back. Herc follows with an eye rake and applies a bearhug. Duggan fights out and runs the ropes but get hit coming off the ropes with a knee to the stomach. Herc then drives his knee to Duggan to the throat. Hercules whips Duggan to the ropes but lowers his head too early and Duggan comes off the ropes with a kick. Duggan riles the fans. Duggan rams Hercules to the turnbuckle and hits the mounted corner punches. Duggan whips Hercules to the corner and catches him coming out with a hip toss. Duggan signals and nails the three point stance clothesline but Heenan runs in for the disqualification at 8:47. After the match, Andre comes in and the Heenan Family attack Duggan until the Ultimate Warrior comes out and chases them off by handing Duggan the 2x4.

Thoughts: *1/2 Alright punch/kick type match with some stuff sprinkled in. The strikes looked good and I liked Herc briefly working on the knee after Duggan missed the knee drop. The crowd was also into it which isn't surprising since they love Ol' Hacksaw. Nothing special but fine as both Duggan and Hercules are reliable hands. Warrior coming to help made sense given his history with Herc.
We go to clips of Brutus Beefcake cutting Jimmy Hart's hair at Wrestlemania IV.

Okerlund interviews “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart and “Dangerous” Danny Davis. Okerlund gets a few jokes at Hart's expense. Hart says Beefcake is a butcher (not yet, that's 1994) and they're ready to even the score. Hart and Davis show a bag which has hedge clippers, scissors, and a giant razor. Entertaining promo.

Okerlund interviews Brutus Beefcake who says it takes more than tools but technique. It takes cutting, strutting, and a barber. Beefcake says it's a two for one as Hart needs a trim and Davis gets the full treatment. Beefcake pulls out some hair that's supposed to be Hart's which Okerlund doesn't like. Beefcake offers to get both Hart and Davis' hair for Okerlund to try. Another entertaining promo.

Brutus Beefcake vs. Danny Davis (w/Jimmy Hart)- Beefcake was still feuding with Honky but the feud kind of deviated when Beefcake cut Hart's hair. I'm all for Hart wanting revenge but I wouldn't send Davis out to get it because he won't avenge me. I guess Honky, the Hart Foundation, Valentine, and the Glamour Girls were busy. Hart is wearing a beret.

Tie up to start with Davis muscling Beefcake to the ropes and hitting a forearm which Beefcake doesn't sell. Davis covers in the corner and Beefcake rubs his hair and rams him in the turnbuckle. Beefcake rams Davis into another corner and hits a biel out of the corner. They tie up in the corner and Davis punches Beefcake while the ref separates them. Davis works Beefcake over and chokes Beefcake under the ropes. Hart comes after him with the clippers but Beefcake gets out of the way. Davis jumps Beefcake with a double ax handle and more punching. Beefcake reverses an irish whip and catches him with a knee. Beefcake hits a bodyslam and struts while Davis rolls out for advice. Davis gets back on the apron but Beefcake snapmares him back in the ring. Beefcake whips Davis to the ropes, catches him with a sleeper hold, and Davis is out at 3:10 to a good pop. Well, that's what happens when you rely on a referee turned jobber to avenge you. After the match, Beefcake cuts Davis' hair and sprays it. Beefcake then wakes Davis up and shows him the mirror to a pop before kicking his ass a bit more.

Thoughts: * This was another alright match. Nothing offensive but this wasn't anything different than what was going on at this time on Superstars of Wrestling or Wrestling Challenge. Still, it served it's purpose as Beefcake get a win and cuts the hair of a Hart guy to send a message to The Honky Tonk Man. The only issue I have is the match probably doesn't age the best as it feels like a nice way to continue Beefcake/Honky but the feud would of course be dropped when plans changed in the summer but we'll get there when we look at Summerslam. One thing I will say is the whole match is kind of laughable that Jimmy Hart would send Danny Davis to avenge him.

We now get clips from the Randy Savage/One Man Gang match at Wrestlemania IV.
Okerlund interviews “The Doctor of Style” Slick and the One Man Gang. Slick pleads innocent and said Gang was using the cane to defend Slick from Savage. Slick says it's fine because referees don't make champions, greatness does. Okerlund asks who will have the last laugh? Slick says they beat him once and they'll beat him again. Fine promo.

Okerlund interviews “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Okerlund congratulates Miss Elizabeth for being the first woman to manage the champion. Elizabeth thanks Okerlund but says it was Randy. Savage disagrees and says she's modest as she was the inspiration that took the Macho Man to the top of the mountain and that's where he's at. Okerlund says Savage is entering the One Man Gang's dangerzone. Savage says he's going past the dangerzone and into Macho Madness. He says Elizabeth will inspire him and tells her to inspire him to victory. Good promo.

WWF Championship: Randy Savage (c) (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs. The One Man Gang (w/Slick)- This was billed as Savage's first TV title defense. This match came up because despite Savage defeating Gang at Wrestlemania IV, The Gang lost by disqualification and was the only one of Savage's four opponents in the tournament that wasn't pinned. Before the match, Slick starts approaching Elizabeth which results in Savage chasing him to the back as we go back to commercial.

We're back with Gang trying to grab Savage but missing. They tie up and reverse each other as they roll around the ring ropes. Finally, Gang gets Savage in the corner but misses a forearm and Savage comes back with an elbow, jabs, and a bionic elbow. Gang reverses an Irish whip and catches Savage but is able to use leverage to knock Gang down in a crossbody position to a big pop but it only gets 2 as Gang kicks Savage off with Savage falling to the outside. Savage quickly climbs to the top and comes off with a diving crossbody for 2. Savage grabs Gang's beard and hits a beard pull hangmen for another 2. Crowd's into this match. Slick is back at ringside as Savage gets a front facelock but Gang rams him into the corner and works him over. Gang hits a throat toss and chokes Savage with his boot. Gang distracts the ref which allows Slick to choke Savage with his cane to boos. Gang whips Savage to the ropes, misses the clothesline, and Savage slides out of the ring to chase Slick to a big pop.

Savage chases Slick into the ring and grabs him but that allows the Gang to drop an elbow. Gang works over Savage with chokes while the camera pans to Slick trash talking on the outside. Gang continues working Savage over and hits an elbow drop for 2. Gang whips Savage to the corner but misses the avalanche. Savage comes back with bionic elbows and clotheslines Gang out to a good pop. Savage climbs to the top and follows out with a diving double ax handle to the outside with Gang falling on a photographer. Savage comes back in to taunt as the Gang collects himself to the fans delight. Back in, Savage climbs the top and goes for another diving double ax handle but Gang nails him in the stomach on the way down. Gang hits a bodyslam but misses a second rope 747 splash. Slick starts yelling and pointing his finger to Elizabeth which distracts Savage long enough for Gang to come back. Gang hits a throat toss as the ref is talking with Elizabeth. Gang holds Savage for Slick but heel miscommunication see Slick hit the Gang with the cane. Savage climbs the top and finishes with the diving elbow drop for the win at 6:03.

Thoughts: *** Very good TV match. Savage was Savage so I don't have to go into detail about how great he is. I feel the Gang also did very good especially doing some good bumping for a dude his size. For the longest time, I found the Gang to be one of the most underrated talents of his era especially when it comes to big men and he showed it here hanging with someone like Savage. I like the stuff they did like Slick going after Elizabeth when Gang missed the 747 as he clearly tried to prevent Savage from getting the comeback by distracting him long enough for Gang to recover. I'm a little mixed on the finish as this was built as Savage's big first televised match and he kind of won it by botched interference rather than decisively slaying the big dragon. Sadly, this was the last big match for George Gray as the One Man Gang. The next time we saw him at a big event, he will have been repackaged under the lousy Akeem the African Dream gimmick.

Okerlund interviews the British Bulldogs. Okerlund says there's a rumor that Demolition want to dip Matilda in chrome and use her as a hood ornament. Dynamite says never and Smith says they would never let anything happen to her after the job she did to Bobby Heenan. Nothing special promo.

Ventura interviews Mr. Fuji and Demolition. Ventura congratulates Demolition on their title victory and says they're two of the best dressed wrestlers and an inspirations for children which Ax and Smash thank him for. Ventura asks Fuji if their face paint help them to the top and if so, how? Fuji says Ventura figured out the secret and it's his face of pain. Ax says it's also their opponent seeing their own face of pain they stare at in the ring and the face of pain that's laughing at them. Smash tells the Bulldogs to take a look at this face because they'll feel the pain of defeat. Ventura then asks what they will do after dipping Matilda in chrome with Ax saying they'll put on Fuji's winnebago and Smash says they'll take her to the Grand Canyon. Interesting comments from Vince afterwards claiming Ventura is no Ted Koppel but maybe Rona Barrett. Ironic given she would be at Wrestlemania VI two years later. Anyway, the interview was fine but I never cared for Ventura as the interviewer.

Demolition (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The British Bulldogs- Demolition is fresh off of winning the titles from Strike Force at Wrestlemania IV but this is a non-title.

Smash and Smith start with Smash kneeing the stomach and drills away with double ax handles. Smash whips Smith to the ropes, drops down to the canvas, Smith jumps over, comes off, Smash misses the clothesline, Smith tags Dynamite as he comes off the ropes, Smash misses an elbow, Smith stops himself, and Smash gets clotheslined as he turns around by Dynamite. Dynamite gets an arm wringer but Smash breaks out of it and tries to pick up Dynamite but Dynamite frees himself. Dynamite runs Smash to the ropes but Smash holds on as Dynamite tries an O'Connor roll. Smash misses an elbow drop. Tag to Ax who hammers away on Dynamite but Dynamite gets an arm wringer. Tag to Smith who comes off the top turnbuckle with a diving forearm on the arm. Smith works the arm with arm wringers and tags Dynamite who sets up the snap suplex but Smash comes in to stop it which gets a lot of boos. Ax hammers Dynamite and tags Smash. Smash punches the stomach and hits a backbreaker for 2.

Smash applies a bearhug. Dynamite eventually escapes but Smash catches his ankle to prevent a tag and tags Ax. Ax hammers away at Dynamite and cheap shots Smith on the apron. Tag to Smash who hits a double ax handle to the back and rams Dynamite to the corner. Smash whips Dynamite to the corner but charges into Dynamite's boot. Hot tag to Smith to a good pop as he hits a bodyslam on Smash and one on Ax as Ax comes in. Smith dropkicks Ax and tags Dynamite. Smash reverses a whip and catches Dynamite with a shoulderblock. Smash throws Dynamite out of the ring which allows Fuji to run interference. Smith quickly stops that and sicks Matilda on Fuji and chase him to the back. Demolition try to follow but referees tell them to go back as we go to commercial. We're back as The Bulldogs eventually come back, each with a piece of Fuji's cane and work Demolition over with it as well as shove the ref for the disqualification at 5:05.

Thoughts: * Alright but nothing special although I did like The Demos working over Dynamite's back given his history with his back. I don't understand why the Bulldogs got disqualified and were allowed to beat up Demolition. Demolition just won the belts and could've used a nice win to look strong or at least a double disqualification. Also, I see no point in protecting the Bulldogs. I understand Vince didn't realize Demolition were going to be his top team since it was too early to know that but he had to have known he wasn't planning on pushing the Bulldogs or giving them the titles again.

Okerlund interviews “Superstar” Billy Graham and “The Rock” Don Muraco. Graham believes in fighting fire with fire. He says Dibiase may be the Million Dollar Man but Muraco has the million dollar body. He says Dibiase can take his money, his stocks, his bonds, his rare stamps, and rare coins because Graham's going with the Rock. Muraco follows up by saying to Ted Dibiase that he'll take a piece of him. Good promo and I like how Graham and Muraco bounced off each other.

Okerlund interviews “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase and Virgil. Okerlund assumes it's back to square one in his quest to gain the WWF Title. Dibiase says he's the rightful WWF Champion and was robbed twice. First by WWF President Jack Tunney and then by Randy Savage at Wrestlemania IV. He says he'll do whatever he can to get to Randy Savage and if he has to go through Don Muraco then consider it done. Really good promo. Dibiase always gives the goods but I like the fire since he should be angry he came so close only to fall short at Wrestlemania IV.

Ted Dibiase (w/Virgil) vs. Don Muraco (w/”Superstar” Billy Graham)- This is a rematch from Wrestlemania. Interestingly enough, the instrumental “Superstar” theme from Jesus Christ Superstar was still playing when Dibiase came out despite it being Muraco's theme but I'm not complaining cause it's awesome.

Dibiase jumps Muraco while Virgil distracted him. Dibiase attacks Muraco and chops him in the corner. Dibiase chokes Muraco on the ropes and continues to work him over. Muraco reverses a whip and catches Dibiase with a back body drop. A running punch knocks Dibiase down. Muraco hits a double chop and rams Dibiase to the corner with Dibiase doing that awesome backflip somersault sell job. Dibiase rolls out and takes his time to get back in. Back in, Muraco gets a side headlock, Dibiase whips him to the ropes, and Muraco come off with a shoulderblock. Muraco runs the ropes, Dibiase drops down, Muraco jumps over, and Dibiase catches Muraco with a hip toss. Dibiase misses the elbow drop. Muraco comes off with a running clothesline and Dibiase does a great job of selling. Muraco whips Dibiase to the ropes and catches him with a powerslam. Muraco covers but Virgil gets Dibiase's foot on the rope at 2. 

The camera pans to Graham and Virgil arguing on the outside so I can't see what's going on in the ring. Good job Kevin Dunn. You run the production truck and you focus on arguing manager/bodyguard outside you bucktooth idiot. I don't care if Vince Sr. made Vince promise to take care of the Dunn Family, an exception should've been made. Anyway, Dibiase whips Muraco to the ropes and hits a clothesline for 2. Beautiful suplex from Dibiase gets 2. Dibiase always did great vertical suplexes. Dibiase rams Muraco into the canvas and stomps him. Gutwrench suplex gets 2. Dibiase whips Muraco to the ropes but lowers his head too early and Muraco gets a side Russian leg sweep which is a cool reversal to a pop. Muraco whips Dibiase to the ropes and hits an elbow. Powerslam gets 2. Muraco chops the throat and Dibiase begs but that allows Dibiase to hit Muraco in the stomach. Bodyslam and Dibiase gets the win at 4:12. Muraco had his foot on the rope but I think the finish was screwed up since Muraco kept pointing to his foot as if he was trying to signal to Virgil to knock it off.

Thoughts: **1/2 Nice solid match but didn't go long enough. I would've liked maybe another minute or two as these two had good chemistry. It's also silly for Vince and Ventura to say this was a big win that makes Dibiase the #1 contender since he already beat Muraco at Wrestlemania IV. It's more of getting back on track. I also liked Dibiase's aggression at the beginning since, once again, he's pissed off from WMIV. My only real complaint besides wanting more time was the finish came off botched as it looks like Virgil missed his cue. It's a shame they threw this match here and Muraco left at the end of the year because this could've been a great feud for late 1988/early 1989 after Dibiase's feud with the Megapowers wrapped up.

Okerlund interviews “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Savage says we saw Macho Madness and it's meaner than ever. He says he was inspired by Elizabeth. He encourages Dibiase to come after him because he has momentum and the fans feel the inspiration of Miss Elizabeth and the Macho Madness. He says if Dibiase comes after him, he'll be bankrupt. I like the idea of Savage doing an interview after the Dibiase match to further remind fans that this isn't over and it came off great.

Rick Rude (w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) vs. Koko B. Ware- We go back from commercial with Rude attacking Koko on the apron. Koko starts to fight back and gets in the ring. A slugfest takes place until Rude rakes the eyes. Rude whips Koko to the ropes and Koko leapfrogs. Rude poses but Koko is behind him and hits a dropkick as Rude turns around to a pop. Koko mocks Rude and showboats as the crowd is behind him. Tie up with Rude muscling Koko in the corner. Koko tries to fight out but Rude gets a cheap shot as the ref tries to separate them. Rude drops some elbows as Koko is trying to get up and forearms the back. Rude drops some forearms to the back and poses to a chorus of boos. Rude hits a suplex. Rude goes to the top and comes off with diving fist drop. Vince, for some reason, claims he's never seen Rude do that before even though Rude does it a lot. In fact, he did it weeks earlier at Wrestlemania IV. Rude poses some more and starts choking Koko on the ropes. Rude whips Koko to the ropes and hits a dropkick. Nice and funny camera angle as Heenan and Frankie the bird are watching the match on the same side of the ring. Rude poses some more. Rude whips Koko to the ropes and attempts the dropkick but Koko holds on and Rude crashes and burns. Koko whips Rude to the ropes and hits a huge back body drop. I don't think more people took the back back drop better and went higher in the air than “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Koko charges and jumps at Rude but Rude dodges, Koko crashes into the ropes, and hotshots himself. Rude Awakening finishes at 3:44.

Thoughts: DUD Too short to mean anything and it was just Rude attacks then poses then attacks then poses then attacks. I don't mind a heel showboating but not after almost every time he hits something. I don't know why this was on here since it's not like Rude desperately needed to be on SNME or get a win to build himself up.

Vince and Ventura sign off. We get a weird ending as Vince announces the next SNME will be in the fall with Ventura claiming he's happy because he doesn't have to deal with Vince till the fall. Uh, what about Superstars of Wrestling “every week”?

Final Thoughts and Verdict
SNME XVI is a nice follow up to Wrestlemania IV. The only problem is that six matches seemed too much for an hour long show and certain matches didn't get the time they needed. Rude/Koko wasn't bad but unnecessary and Duggan/Hercules was fine but you could've shaved two minutes and give it to Dibiase/Muraco. Nevertheless, for a free TV show, this was good as the WWF Championship, tag team, and Dibiase/Muraco matches were enjoyable. Meanwhile, we got Savage getting a title defense in and Dibiase being rebuilt for rematches with Savage in the months to come.

Recommended.

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XVI Facts-
Last Saturday Night's Main Event to have six matches.

First Saturday Night's Main Event to not feature Hulk Hogan in any capacity