| 1 | Mega Powers Explode — Year-Long Build Greatest Golden Era WM Storyline The year-long Mega Powers Explode build from WM4 through The Main Event II to WM5 is considered the greatest Golden Era WWF storyline — a complex, emotionally layered narrative of jealousy, friendship betrayal, and championship ambition. | Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage — Mega Powers Explode | Greatest Golden Era WM storyline build | ~13 months (WM4 to WM5) |
| 2 | Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior — Super Posedown Royal Rumble 1989 — IC Title Feud Birth The Rude vs. Warrior feud was born at Royal Rumble 1989 in a 'Super Posedown' — Warrior won the posing contest by fan reaction, Rude attacked him afterward, leading to their WM5 IC title match. | Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior — IC Championship | — | — |
| 3 | Demolition vs. Powers of Pain — Manager Betrayal Mr. Fuji Switches Sides — Demolition Alone Demolition's former manager Mr. Fuji had switched allegiances to The Powers of Pain — setting up the WM5 3-on-2 Handicap Match where Demolition faced their former manager and new charges. | Demolition vs. Powers of Pain & Mr. Fuji | — | — |
| 4 | Jake Roberts vs. Andre the Giant — Snake Fear Feud Damien the Snake Creates Andre's Greatest Fear Jake Roberts discovered Andre the Giant had a paralyzing fear of snakes — Roberts repeatedly used Damien to psychologically torment Andre, eventually leading to the WM5 match with Big John Studd as special referee. | Jake Roberts vs. Andre the Giant | — | — |
| 5 | Strike Force — Internal Tension Before WM5 Miscommunications Foreshadowed WM5 Breakup Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) had been showing internal tension in the months before WM5 — small miscommunications and communication issues on TV hinting at the eventual WM5 breakup. | Strike Force internal tension — eventual WM5 breakup | — | — |
| 6 | Hart Foundation vs. Rhythm & Blues — Post-Honky Feud WM5 Grudge — Hart Foundation Payback The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) had a grudge with Honky Tonk Man dating back to The Honky Tonk Man attacking Bret Hart in 1987 — Bret was meant to challenge for the IC title but Honky blindsided him with the guitar. WM5 was the payback. | Hart Foundation vs. Rhythm & Blues (Honky Tonk Man & Greg... | — | — |
| 7 | Beefcake vs. DiBiase — Ongoing Rivalry Continuing Feud From WM4 Area Brutus Beefcake and Ted DiBiase had an ongoing rivalry — their WM5 double count-out at 10:01 (Beefcake applied the sleeper on the floor) left the feud unsettled. | Brutus Beefcake vs. Ted DiBiase | — | — |
| 8 | Duggan vs. Bad News Brown — Trophy Aftermath WM4 Battle Royal Betrayal Continued to WM5 The Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown double DQ at WM5 was a direct continuation of the WM4 Battle Royal trophy-smashing incident — the feud between Brown's betrayal of the battle royal agreement continuing into the following year. | Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown | — | — |
| 9 | Twin Towers vs. Rockers — Power vs. Speed Dominant Heel Tag Team vs. Rising Babyfaces The Twin Towers (Akeem and Big Boss Man) were the dominant heel tag team of early 1989 — their WM5 victory over The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) demonstrated the power-over-speed narrative. | Twin Towers vs. Rockers | — | — |
| 10 | Big John Studd Returns as Babyface — Andre Opposition WM5's Special Referee Had WM1 History with Andre Big John Studd returned to WWF in late 1988 as a babyface — rejecting Bobby Heenan and aligning against Andre. His history with Andre (bodyslam challenge at WM1) made him the perfect special referee for the Roberts vs. Andre match at WM5. | Big John Studd vs. Andre the Giant (Special Referee Context) | — | — |