This face off between the two main "faces" was an interesting study of both the behind the scenes mechanics of Professional Wrestling, and why Hulk Hogan remained as popular as he did for so long.
Having two heel guys battle is always easy to set up, because they're just as likely to turn on one another as the good guys.
In 1990 the WWF had a problem. Hulk Hogan was going off to make movies, but their most popular figure held the Championship Belt. Before leaving, he was going to have to drop it in a way that put over his replacement.
The obvious successor, especially with Vince McMahon's push for "big, musclebound guys," was the also hugely popular Ultimate Warrior. Before his many personal issues started to get the best of him, Warrior was rising meteorically. He was (briefly) the first wrestling Slim Jim spokesman before the Macho Man cemented his perfection in that role.
(I wonder if Brian still has that carboard sign we asked the local grocer for?)
Aside- Not knowing details I'll get to in a bit, back in the day I was a fan. I saw him as the Dingo Warrior when he teamed with Sting before he joined the WWF, and I figured out there were different promotions, explaining the huge range of production quality in matches before WWF took over everywhere.
Ignoring skills for a moment, there's something to be said about a man so off the wall that both masters of being over the top at all times, Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan, looked at him frequently with an expression that said, "Dude...what the hell? Maybe dial it down a little?"
A) With the family oriented "good versus evil" storylines the WWF was using in those days, coming up with an angle to have them fight was difficult. Having the "say your prayers/ take your vitamins" idol of millions of little Hulkamaniacs turn heel (like Andre did to put Hulk over) wasn't going to fly.
Aside- In my opinion, though there was a later huge and successful storyline about it, turning Hogan Heel never flies. It takes me way too far out of the story. I feel the same way about the Sergeant Slaughter "Iraqi Sympathizer" angle they played. The guy was a member of G. I. Joe for Pete's sake!
B) Even if they could come up with a reason for the match, the quality for what would be a HUGE HEADLINER was in question.
Hulk Hogan had many famed matches under his belt. His ability to play to the crowd was unmatched. But, by the height of the Hulkster's popularity, most of his bouts could be summarized as:
Hogan gets pummeled,
Hogan almost gets pinned and / or put to sleep
Hogan breaks free and "hulks up"
Hogan responds to any attacks with a finger wag and "no no no" face
Hogan applies his finisher-
Three punches to the head
Whip into the ropes
with a big boot to the face on the rebound
Running leg drop
There was a bigger problem in the other corner. I have read MANY wrestler's autobiographies. Due to the nature of the business and the individuals in question, no story is told the same way by any two reporters.
There are only three things every single individual agreed on.
1) Andre the Giant's heart and generosity were as big as his frame...yet it was impossible to make him do anything in the ring he didn't want to. He did have a bad side which was terrifying to be on, and he thought issuing one of his giant sized farts on people was hilarious.
2) Never ever EVER, under any circumstances, mess with Meng (Real name Tonga 'Uli'uli Fifita, known as Haku in his WWF days.)...
EVER!
He was almost the universal answer to "who was the toughest legitimate fighter?"
The man STARTED the physical part of an altercation with "fans" in a bar doubting the realness of wrestling by BITING A MAN'S NOSE OFF!
3) Working in the ring with the Ultimate Warrior was rarely a fond memory.
Coming into wrestling via bodybuilding, he was very strong and worked very stiff, bringing pain to opponents when he didn't have to.
This was both via blows (known in the business for whatever reason as "potatoes") and not following the proper safe ways to execute maneuvers.
(Examples- His drop of Bobby the Brain Heenan left him with life long neck issues.
Andre had enough of his overly stiff clothes lines in one match and stopped him with a giant sized fist that removed all the paint off Warrior's face. See #1 above.)
He had a very limited move set.
He often blew himself out (used all his energy) running into the ring and shaking the ropes, requiring either very short matches, or his opponents to carry him with long, boring "rest" holds.
Aside- One of the few bright spots in the many dark "gone too soon" wrestler stories is how many reconciliations and mended fences the former James Hellwig (Yes, he legally changed his name to "Warrior." What a guy!) made with his co-workers over his hall of fame induction weekend right before his untimely death.
Fortunately both problems were solved.
A) Was addressed in story by the two titans running into each other at the Royal Rumble. After the clash, Hulk needed to know what was stronger, "Hulkamania" or the "Power of the Warrior."
Yes, wrestlers ran on mystical, fan fueled juju, and the only way to comparatively measure is was experimentally.
It was a fun time.
B) required behind the scenes finagling. Pat Patterson and the creative team worked with Hogan and Warrior to plan out a match that ran for well over twenty minutes, and mixed in stare downs, tests of strength, twists and turns, near victories for both men, 
and a double clothesline that made it look like neither would rise (providing some well needed rest above and beyond multiple holds) and the suspense that it might be a draw.
Both men came off looking extremely resilient, tough and powerful. It could have gone either way, but Warrior had the better day in this match and earned his championship.
Cranky old man aside- Finishers used to mean something, dang it! It took a great amount of negotiation and agreements for a wrestler to kick out of someone's finisher. When the Undertaker would magically sit up after getting hit with one, the whole arena was in shock. By the time 'Taker was feuding with Shawn Michaels at two WrestleManias, Last Ride's and Sweet Chin Musics were a dime a dozen and meant nothing. Their matches were excellent, but finishers had long since transitioned from guaranteed endings to be more like "signature moves." As I am a cranky old man, expect me to revisit this complaint again.
The match was impressive, and I got to see highlights replayed many times, before owning it on disc.
But, once again, the match isn't my listed memory. My memory came after the fact, in a moment that showed how savvy about the business Hulk Hogan has always been. This moment was replayed far more than the match on the regular weekly programs.
The Ultimate Warrior had just unified the WWF and Intercontinental titles on the premier stage of WrestleMania. By all rights, the Warrior should have been the center of attention, and his epic ring celebration should have been the main focus.
But, when it comes to knowing how to work a crowd, Hulk Hogan is a genius.
In moves planned by him, (possibly off script? one never knows with wrestling) Hogan stood outside the ring looking devastated, holding the championship belt he had just lost. After staring at his opponent for a bit, he entered the ring. The crowd clearly didn't know his intentions. A classic heel turn reaction of smashing the man who beat him over the head with the belt did not appear out of the question.
Meanwhile, the Hulkster walked sadly (and just slowly enough) to ride the ring cart out of the arena while saluting the man who got the first clean pinfall against him since he returned to the WWF...
With the focus of the cameras, the audience and the commentators ON HIM.
The answer to which was more powerful came, but not the way the match showed:
Jesse Ventura- "I do believe Hulkamania will live forever."
Gorilla Monsoon- "It absolutely will Jess. The Hulkster has just taken one giant step towards immortality."
Aside- Since I don't know where else to mention it, Gorilla Monsoon was fantastic. And that's not counting his wrestling career, or his amazing behind the scenes work. His interactions and exasperation with heel commentators (particularly Heenan), his pseudo-anatomical references to describe the events during a match, and his uncanny ability to come up with a covering explanation for anything that went wrong. The man was always a joy to listen to.
Hogan was back before WrestleMania VII, and regained the belt there.
It is a testament to Randy "Macho Man" Savage's over focus on planning and detail that not only did he and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat put on a match that many said eclipsed the famed Hogan and Andre showdown at WrestleMania III, but he also got a better match out of the Ultimate Warrior (working with Pat Patterson again) than this one the next year at WrestleMania VII.
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