Wrestling

List of WrestleMania 5 Pre-Event Build and Key Storyline Moments

A complete list of every key pre-WM5 media moment, television special, and promotional event that built toward WrestleMania 5.

8 itemsUpdated Mar 18, 2026

The road to WrestleMania 5 was built through some of the most dramatically effective television in WWF history — from the Royal Rumble's accidental elimination to The Main Event II's full Mega Powers Explosion on live NBC television, each step of the build was carefully constructed to make WM5's main event the most anticipated match of the Golden Era.

#	Name	Event	Moment	Significance
1	WM4 Alliance Formation — March 27, 1988 The Beginning — Mega Powers Born at WM4 The entire WM5 main event storyline began at WM4 when Hogan threw a chair at ringside and celebrated with Savage after his title win — the alliance that would eventually explode at WM5.	WM4 — March 27, 1988	Mega Powers alliance formed — Hogan celebrates with Savag...	Beginning of the year-long road to WM5
2	SummerSlam 1988 — Mega Powers Peak August 29, 1988 — Alliance at Its Best SummerSlam 1988 represented the peak of the Mega Powers — their victory over The Mega Bucks with Miss Elizabeth as enforcer was the high point before the seeds of dissolution were planted.	SummerSlam 1988 — August 29, 1988	—	Peak of Mega Powers partnership before decline began
3	Rude-Warrior Posedown — Royal Rumble 1989 January 15, 1989 — IC Title Feud Origin Rick Rude and The Ultimate Warrior had a Super Posedown at Royal Rumble 1989 — Warrior won the fan vote, Rude attacked him, creating the IC title feud that would culminate at WM5.	Royal Rumble 1989 — January 15, 1989	—	—
4	Hogan Accidentally Eliminates Savage — Royal Rumble 1989 January 15, 1989 — Tensions Escalate at Rumble At the same Royal Rumble 1989 event, Hulk Hogan accidentally eliminated Randy Savage while trying to eliminate Bad News Brown — Savage was furious, publicly escalating the Mega Powers tensions.	Royal Rumble 1989 — January 15, 1989	—	—
5	The Main Event II — February 3, 1989 Mega Powers Officially Explode — 33 Million Viewers The Main Event II on NBC on February 3, 1989 — the Mega Powers officially exploded when Savage turned heel on Hogan after Elizabeth was accidentally hurt and Hogan carried her backstage. Drew approximately 33 million viewers.	The Main Event II — NBC, February 3, 1989	—	—
6	Demolition vs. Powers of Pain — TV Feud Fuji's Betrayal Built WM5 Handicap Match Mr. Fuji's betrayal of Demolition — switching allegiances to The Powers of Pain — was built over months of TV confrontations, setting up WM5's unique 3-on-2 Handicap WWF Tag Team Championship match.	—	—	—
7	Roberts Throws Damien on Andre — TV Incident Andre's Snake Fear Exploited — Kayfabe Heart Attack Jake Roberts throwing Damien on Andre the Giant on WWF Superstars — causing a scripted kayfabe heart attack — was the most dramatic moment in the Roberts-Andre feud build and made WM5's match one of the most psychologically anticipated bouts.	WWF Superstars TV — Fall 1988	—	—
8	Hart Foundation vs. Rhythm & Blues — TV Build Bret-Honky History Used to Build WM5 Grudge The Hart Foundation's TV confrontations with Rhythm & Blues (Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine) in early 1989 revisited Honky's 1987 guitar attack on Bret Hart — building the WM5 grudge match.	—	—	—

This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 18, 2026.

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