List of WrestleMania III Aftermaths and Post-Event Storylines

Hogan vs. André — The Twin Referee Screwjob

Rematch at The Main Event — February 5, 1988

The WrestleMania III main event's aftermath unfolded over nearly a full year. Hogan and André continued feuding through 1987 before their rematch was booked for The Main Event special on NBC on February 5, 1988 — the first WWF event on network television in years. The rematch was deliberately controversial: in a worked screwjob, André knocked out referee Dave Hebner and had his twin brother Earl Hebner — who had been bribed by Ted DiBiase — replace him. Earl counted a fast three-count on Hogan from a position where Hogan's shoulder was visibly raised, awarding André the WWF Championship in disputed fashion. André immediately sold the championship to DiBiase, who was stripped of it by WWF President Jack Tunney, leading to a championship tournament at WrestleMania IV.

Steamboat Loses IC Title to Honky Tonk Man — 65-Day Reign

June 2, 1987 — The Most Controversial IC Title Change

Ricky Steamboat's WWF Intercontinental Championship reign — won so triumphantly at WrestleMania III — lasted only 65 days. On June 2, 1987, Honky Tonk Man defeated Steamboat in Poughkeepsie, New York to win the IC Championship. The result was controversial and reportedly influenced by backstage politics — Steamboat had asked for time off to be present for the birth of his child, and the WWF stripped him of the title as a consequence. Honky Tonk Man's subsequent 454-day reign remains the longest IC Championship reign in history and one of the most notorious.

Savage and Steamboat Continue at House Shows — 22 Total Singles Matches

Feud Continued for Two Months on the House Show Circuit

Despite WrestleMania III representing the intended blow-off of their rivalry, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat continued wrestling each other extensively on the house show circuit. Their first post-WM3 meeting came just four days later, when Savage won a rematch by countout. Over the subsequent two months, the two men had 22 singles matches in total — including 14 steel cage matches and one lumberjack match. Their final singles encounter occurred in mid-June 1987, shortly after Steamboat had already lost the IC Championship to Honky Tonk Man.

Savage Turns Babyface — Sets Up WrestleMania IV Championship Win

From Heel IC Champion to WrestleMania IV Winner

Following the conclusion of his WM3 feud with Steamboat, Randy Savage found himself increasingly cheered by WWF crowds regardless of his heel tactics. WWE creative recognised this organic shift and formally turned Savage babyface in the second half of 1987. Savage then won the King of the Ring tournament on September 4, 1987, defeating King Kong Bundy. His babyface momentum built to WrestleMania IV, where he won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in a tournament final, defeating Ted DiBiase with Hulk Hogan's assistance — beginning the short-lived Mega Powers alliance.

Brutus Beefcake Becomes 'The Barber'

WM3 Smelling Salts Moment Launched New Character

Brutus Beefcake's WrestleMania III moment — reviving Roddy Piper with smelling salts — launched his formal babyface turn and set him on the path to his most successful WWF character: 'The Barber.' Beefcake began cutting the hair of defeated opponents with his hedge clippers, creating one of the most distinctively gimmicked and crowd-pleasing characters of the late 1980s. His partnership with Hulk Hogan became one of the WWF's most reliable fan-favourite pairings through 1988 and 1989.

The Hart Foundation — Dominant Heel Tag Champions Through 1987

WM3 Victory Cemented Their Status as Premier Tag Team

The Hart Foundation's WrestleMania III six-man tag win — with the crooked Danny Davis as their third man — cemented their position as the WWF's dominant heel tag team throughout 1987. Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart continued their championship reign and maintained their status as the most technically accomplished and physically intimidating tag team in the company. They remained WWF Tag Team Champions until losing the titles to Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) on October 27, 1987.