1990: Every WWF Championship Match, Ranked According To Cagematch

When one thinks about the WWF Championship picture in 1990, the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ showdown between Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior in the main event of WrestleMania 6 comes to mind immediately. Hogan, who had been champion since the previous year’s WrestleMania, dropped the strap in Toronto and The Warrior held it until the next January.

RELATED: 1989: Every WWF Championship Match, Ranked According To Cagematch

However, there was more to the title scene in 1990 than just that legendary main event. The title was defended five times across pay-per-views and TV specials, with both Hogan and Warrior defending against some of the company's top heels. Here are all the televised WWF Title defenses throughout 1990, ranked from worst to best according to Cagematch ratings.

WWF Champions In 1990	Televised Defenses In 1990	Number Of Successful Defenses
Hulk Hogan	3	2
The Ultimate Warrior	6	6

Note: The following Cagematch ratings are updated as of October 22, 2025.

5. The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Rick Rude (WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #27 - July 28)

Cagematch Rating: 5.37

IMG credit: WWE

IDefending Champion	Challenger	Stipulation	Time	Winner	Cagematch Rating
The Ultimate Warrior	Rick Rude	Singles Match	9:43	The Ultimate Warrior (DQ)	5.37

Rick Rude and The Ultimate Warrior had a tremendous feud over the Intercontinental Championship in 1989, and if there was anyone who could always bring out the best in Warrior, it was The Ravishing One. Their chemistry was undeniable and Rude made Warrior look like a million dollars every single time they met inside the ropes. So, after Warrior became the WWF Champion at WrestleMania 6, management decided to resume their program, this time over the company's top prize.

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They famously battled inside a steel cage in the main event of that year's SummerSlam - more on that later - but one month earlier, the two actually met in a championship bout at Saturday Night's Main Event in July. Warrior dominated most of the match and ultimately won via count-out, which was somehow supposed to set up their PPV encounter less than a month later. The action itself was solid from bell to bell, but this was honestly more of a teaser for SummerSlam than a major WWF Title defense.

4. Hulk Hogan Vs. Randy Savage (WWF The Main Event III - February 23)

Cagematch Rating: 5.68

IMG credit: WWE

Defending Champion	Challenger	Stipulation	Time	Winner	Cagematch Rating
Hulk Hogan	Randy Savage	Singles Match (Special Referee: Buster Douglas)	11:52	Hulk Hogan	5.68

The long rivalry between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage carried into early 1990, nearly a year after the Mega Powers exploded leading up to the unforgettable main event of WrestleMania 5. Hulk Hogan was about to "pass the torch" to The Ultimate Warrior at that year's 'Mania, while Randy Savage had fully embraced his over-the-top Macho King persona, now being managed by Sensational Queen Sherri. The match itself was standard, and what made it memorable was the presence of the special guest referee.

The referee was newly-crowned boxing heavyweight champion Buster Douglas, fresh off a huge knockout win over the legendary Mike Tyson. Speaking of Tyson, he was going to be the referee for Hogan vs Savage, but The Baddest Man on the Planet was replaced by Douglas following the shocking result of their fight. The match itself was standard yet quite energetic, with Sherri's outside interference adding a lot of heat. Hulk Hogan retained the championship in the end, and Savage was knocked out by Douglas.

3. The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Rick Rude (WWF SummerSlam)

Cagematch Rating: 5.74

IMG credit: WWE

Defending Champion	Challenger	Stipulation	Time	Winner	Cagematch Rating
The Ultimate Warrior	Rick Rude	Steel Cage Match	10:05	The Ultimate Warrior	5.74

After their count-out finish at Saturday Night's Main Event the previous month, The Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude settled the score inside a steel cage in the main event of SummerSlam. This was Warrior's first WWF Title defense on pay-per-view since beating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6, so it felt like a big deal. Ravishing Rick Rude, backed by Bobby Heenan, played his role to perfection as always, constantly trying to find crafty ways to escape the cage and become the new World Wrestling Federation Champion.

From a technical standpoint this match wasn't as impressive as their battles for the Intercontinental Championship in 1989, but that doesn't mean it wasn't effective. The Philadelphia crowd stayed hot from start to finish, always reacting to Warrior's bursts of energy. The highlight came when Rude dropped a fist off the top of the cage. Rude eventually missed a second one, and Warrior put Rude (as well as Heenan) down for good to retain the championship. While not an all-time classic by any means, it'd be extremely unfair to say it didn't deliver.

Fans and reviewers on Cagematch gave Warrior vs Rude a higher ranking than Hulk Hogan vs Earthquake, the co-main event of SummerSlam '90.

2. The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Ted DiBiase (WWF The Main Event IV - November 23)

Cagematch Rating: 6.13

IMG credit: WWE

Defending Champion	Challenger	Stipulation	Time	Winner	Cagematch Rating
The Ultimate Warrior	Ted DiBiase	Singles Match	9:47	The Ultimate Warrior (DQ)	6.13

There are not many Ultimate Warrior hidden gems out there, since The Warrior was never known for his excellent in-ring work. However, this WWF Title defense against Ted DiBiase can actually be considered a genuine hidden gem. The two told a good story throughout the championship bout, which was highlighted by a couple of surprising spots, such as Ultimate Warrior doing a sunset flip, of all things!

The match ended via disqualification after Virgil interfered. Randy Savage attacked Ultimate Warrior after the bell too, setting up their Retirement Match at WrestleMania 7. Warrior sold the beating perfectly, slowly getting back to his feet and raising the championship belt to a huge ovation from the crowd. This was easily one of The Ultimate Warrior's best title defenses during his WWF Championship reign, if not his best.

1. Hulk Hogan Vs. The Ultimate Warrior (WWF WrestleMania 6)

Cagematch Rating: 7.38

Defending Champion	Challenger	Stipulation	Time	Winner	Cagematch Rating
Hulk Hogan	The Ultimate Warrior	'Title For Title' Singles Match	22:51	The Ultimate Warrior	7.38

Every fan who bought a ticket (or the pay-per-view) for WrestleMania 6, did so for one reason and one reason only: the Ultimate Challenge. To most fans, especially kids at the time, this was more than just another wrestling match - this was an unstoppable hero facing another unstoppable hero. Fans were genuinely torn heading into this main event, which made for a great atmosphere. The crowd was hot before Hogan and Warrior had even locked up, and they only got louder as the bout grew more dramatic and intense.

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Hogan and Warrior delivered exactly what fans wanted out of this main event. The Hulkster was at his absolute best here, guiding Warrior through a simple yet perfectly structured match full of emotion and larger-than-life moments. Ultimate Warrior might've been exhausted halfway through, but to his credit, he held up his end and nailed all the big moments when they mattered. There were some breath-taking nearfalls towards the end, before Warrior splashed Hogan to win the WWF Championship. This is not for everyone because it's far from a technical wrestling masterpiece, but it remains one of the most iconic main events in pro wrestling history.

Do you agree with these Cagematch ratings? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading!