| 1 | DiBiase's Million Dollar Scheme — January 1988 The Failed Purchase of the WWF Championship Ted DiBiase attempted to purchase the WWF Championship directly from Hulk Hogan — offering a large sum of money which Hogan publicly refused. DiBiase then pivoted to a conspiracy using Andre the Giant and a twin referee to steal the title. | DiBiase vs. Hogan — Million Dollar Title Scheme | Hogan refused sale — DiBiase pursued conspiracy route | January 1988 |
| 2 | The Twin Referee Controversy — February 5, 1988 The Main Event — Most Watched Wrestling Show Ever On February 5, 1988, The Main Event drew a 15.2 TV rating (approximately 33 million viewers — the most-watched wrestling show in TV history), when DiBiase had Dave Hebner replaced by his identical twin brother Earl Hebner to fast-count Hogan and give Andre the WWF title. | — | Title declared vacant — WM4 tournament announced | — |
| 3 | Hogan vs. Andre Rivalry — From Friends to Enemies Two-Year Rivalry Culminates at WM4 The Hogan vs. Andre rivalry that began with Andre's heel turn in January 1987 continued through WM3 and into WM4 — their WM4 quarter-final double DQ was the second chapter of wrestling's most famous rivalry. | Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant | — | — |
| 4 | Randy Savage as Babyface — Miss Elizabeth's Role Savage's 1987–88 Face Turn Trajectory Randy Savage's gradual face turn throughout 1987–88, aided by Miss Elizabeth's sympathetic presence, made him the perfect underdog hero for WM4's tournament — a character arc that culminated in one of the most emotionally satisfying title victories in WM history. | Savage's Babyface Rise — Tournament Narrative | — | — |
| 5 | DiBiase vs. Roberts — Rick Rude Feud Background IC Title Tournament Rivals Background Feuds Rick Rude had been involved in a heated feud with Jake Roberts (ignited when Rude had his face printed on his tights — featuring a caricature of Elizabeth) — the tournament first round draw between Rude and Roberts left their feud unresolved. | Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts | — | — |
| 6 | Battle Royal — Bad News Brown Betrays Bret Hart Trophy Betrayal Seeds Major Feud Bad News Brown and Bret Hart agreed to share the Battle Royal trophy after working together to eliminate the final other participants — Brown then smashed the trophy when Hart objected to his betrayal, igniting one of 1988's hottest WWF feuds. | Bad News Brown vs. Bret Hart — Born at WM4 Battle Royal | — | — |
| 7 | Demolition vs. Strike Force — Tag Title Build Power vs. Speed — Golden Era Tag Rivalry Demolition's brutal power-based style built a compelling contrasting feud with Strike Force's athletic tag team work in the months before WM4 — Demolition's eventual WM4 title win launching one of the most dominant tag reigns in company history. | Demolition vs. Strike Force — WWF Tag Team Championship | Demolition won — began 478-day title reign | — |
| 8 | Honky Tonk Man's Record IC Title Reign Build 454 Days and Counting — Longest IC Reign Ever Honky Tonk Man entered WM4 having held the Intercontinental Championship for 329 days — already one of the longest reigns in title history. His WM4 DQ survival over Beefcake extended what became the longest single IC title reign in history at 454 days. | Honky Tonk Man vs. Brutus Beefcake — IC Title | — | — |
| 9 | The Islanders Dog-Napping — British Bulldogs Feud Matilda Stolen — Six-Man Tag Payback The Islanders (Haku and Tama) had stolen the British Bulldogs' dog Matilda — leading to the WM4 six-man tag match with Bobby Heenan as the Islanders' partner against the Bulldogs and Koko B. Ware. Heenan was attacked by Matilda backstage post-match. | British Bulldogs vs. The Islanders — Dog-Napping Feud | — | — |
| 10 | Hogan-Savage Alliance Seeds — Mega Powers Born at WM4 Birth of the Mega Powers — WM4 Final Hulk Hogan's decision to come to Savage's aid in the WM4 tournament final — throwing a chair at ringside and helping clear Andre — planted the seeds for the Mega Powers alliance that dominated WWF storylines through SummerSlam 1988 and culminated in WM5. | Mega Powers Formation — Born at WM4 | — | — |