On this date in WWF history: Andre the Giant goes berserk and the road to Wrestlemania IV begins

On the January 2, 1988, edition of World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) Saturday Night's Main Event (SNME), WWF Champion Hulk Hogan went to war against one of his usual dance partners, King Kong Bundy.

With Andre the Giant at ringside.

Hogan and Andre, of course, had their epic Wrestlemania III bout the year before and would once again face off at the promotion's biggest pay-per-view of the year after the Earl Hebner screwjob resulted in a vacated title.

You didn't expect the Hulkster to go over clean, did you?

Anyway, the road to Wrestlemania IV would begin after Hogan pinned Bundy on SNME, then mocked and dangled the belt in front of the Giant. When Hulk turned his back, he got snuck by the lumbering Frenchman and choked unconscious.

Locker room clears and broadcast "Body" Jesse Ventura gives what I consider one of the best heel commentary performances of his career. The way it unfolded gave the program a turbo boost and completely re-energized a rivalry we had already seen play out the year before.

Great stuff.

See how it all goes down:

If any of the other old timers out there remember, the next issue of WWF the Magazine had a spread with Andre, all sweaty in his sport coat, standing in the ring with the belt held hostage.

Terrific build-up.