WWF Rage in the Cage (alt-WWF)

WWF Rage in the Cage is a 1985 professional wrestling event put on by the World Wrestling Federation. It is the third event in the alternate WWF timeline. Taking place from the Spectrum in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the event had a stated attendance of over 16,500. The show was simulcast on MTV, the last such event to be done so. The main event of the evening was a steel cage match between WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and nemesis Rowdy Roddy Piper, in a rematch from their Wrestlemania encounter. The undercard featured another steel cage match for the WWF Women's Championship as Wendi Richter defended against The Fabulous Moolah. In other undercard bouts, Tito Santana defended the Intercontinental Championship against Brutus Beefcake, The Magnificent Muraco faced off against George "The Animal" Steele, and the WWF Television Championship was decided in a tournament final between Rocky Johnson and Ken Patera.

Prelude
At Wrestlemania, Hogan and Piper had continued their feud in the main event with a world title match, resulting in Hogan retaining the title. In a response, Piper demanded a rematch, attacking Hogan on an episode of Piper's Pit (after luring him there with a promise of a peace offering). WWF Commissioner Arnold Skaaland then agreed to make the match inside a steel cage, to ensure no outside interference.

Fed up with her "Angels" inability to do away with Wendi Richter, The Fabulous Moolah decided to take matters into her own hands, challenging Wendi to a first ever steel cage match for the Women's Championship. When Wendi declined the challenge, Moolah forced the issue by attacking Wendi on the set of Tuesday Night Titans and throwing her off the stage, destroying the set in the process. Moolah was eventually given the title shot, with the caveat that it would be her last opportunity at the title.

Shortly after Wrestlemania, a new title was announced in the WWF Television Championship. Matches for the title would have a strict 15:00 time limit and would occur more regularly than matches involving other championships. A tournament was held to crown the first ever champion, and in the finals "Soulman" Rocky Johnson was slated to face former WWF IC Champion Ken Patera.

At the special 15-Man Battle Royale at Wrestlemania, The Magnificent Muraco had eliminated George "The Animal" Steele from the match, resulting in Steele turning on him and manager Mr. Fuji and costing him the battle royal. Steele turned face and the two began a short-lived feud.

Event
The event began with a dark match, as Gerald Brisco defeated Matt Borne. In the opening contest, Bobby Heenan's twin giants, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy teamed up to form the team The Gargantuans, easily dispatching the veteran duo of Ivan Putski and Tony Garea. In the next match, highly touted rookie "Macho Man" Randy Savage continued his undefeated streak by defeating George Wells.

The Magnificent Muraco and George Steele battled next, with Muraco using his power moves to keep the unpredictable Animal at bay. When Steele appeared to have an opening to pull off a victory, Mr. Fuji tossed salt into the Animal's eyes, allowing Muraco to finish him off with a power slam. Next up was the final for the TV Title, as Rocky Johnson battled Ken Patera with Bobby Heenan. Despite Heenan's constant interference (which was only ended by a surprise appearance by Andre the Giant), the Soulman was able to hit three straight dropkicks followed by a back suplex for the win and becoming the first ever Television Champion.

In a six-man tag match, the Superfly Jimmy Snuka teamed with World Tag Team Champions the US Express to face Paul Orndorff and The Moondogs. At one point Orndorff had Snuka set up for Bob Orton to interfere with his trusty cast, only for Orton to miss and hit Orndorff instead, allowing Snuka to eventually hit the Superfly Splash for the win. Tito Santana then defended the IC Title against Brutus Beefcake, and in a surprise upset Santana was defeated by the upstart Beefcake courtesy of a high knee and a second rope splash.

Moolah and Wendi were the first to go in the cage, and the brutality was far beyond what you would expect from a normal Women's match, as Moolah relentlessly ground Wendi's face into the steel bars of the cage. However Wendi was the younger of the two and used her athleticism to keep Moolah from trying to escape on more than one occasion. Eventually the two ladies did battle halfway up the cage, and Wendi caused Moolah to come crashing back to the mat, before climbing out over the top and retaining her title.

In the main event, Hogan and Piper battled pillar to post, each leaving everything on the line for the other. Controversy reigned the first time when it appeared that Piper had Hogan beaten and was attempting to escape through the door of the cage, only for the door to malfunction. Hogan came back and evened the match again, and the two men, exhausted, eventually engaged in a race over the top. Hogan eventually dropped down to the floor a split second before Piper did, earning the hard fought victory.

Results
(c)=Denotes Defending Champion In Match

D=Denotes Dark Match

Aftermath
Paul Orndorff would turn face following this event, beginning a long term feud with Roddy Piper as a result. Brutus Beefcake would go on to defend the IC Title against several opponents in the coming months, including Santana and David Sammartino. Former IC Champion Greg Valentine would have his contract "sold" to Johnny V, and would begin teaming with Beefcake as The Dream Team.