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WWF Superstars of Wrestling November 15th, 1986

November 15, 1986

Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and Vince McMahon

This week's featured match will have the Machines vs. Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy in Capt. Lou Albano's final appearance as a manager. Also in action are the Hart Foundation, Don Muraco & Bob Orton, and the Islanders. Plus, "Piper's Pit" with guest Hulk Hogan.




The Gladiator & Barry O. vs. The Islanders

Haku catches Barry with a dropkick after a reversal sequence. Tama tags and they use a double headbutt. The Gladiator tags and Tama clotheslines him down. The Islanders hit a double chop then Haku beats on the Gladiator, even hitting a somersault senton. He hits a backbreaker then tags Tama, who gets the win with a top rope splash (2:07).

Thoughts: The Islanders were not getting over all that much. A very solid team and Tama really could have been a huge star if his head was right but the crowd was not buying this team as a threat.


WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. This week's subject are the Rougeau Brothers and there love for outdoor sports. We are then treated to a video of them water skiing set to the song "Bad Boys" by the Miami Sound Machine. This was pretty lame, even for 80's standards in trying to get over a face.


Another clip promoting the "Vote of Confidence" for the Honkytonk Man.


Mario Mancini vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed w/ Slick

Reed knocks down Mancini then stomps away. He hits a swinging neckbreaker then inflicts more punishment until he finally puts him away with the flying clothesline (1:45).

Thoughts: Total domination by Reed. Bruno and Vince kept calling Reed a "cheater" throughout the match as Jesse stood up for his fellow heel.


Ken Resnick is with Hulk Hogan. The Hulkster is pumping up as he cuts a promo on Kamala to hype their upcoming match in Boston. Hulk also referenced Orndorff here so we know that feud is not yet finished.


We have George Steele in the back of a car trying to order food at the drive-up window. Steele kept repeating the word "eat." Finally, the driver, who is also is psychiatrist, ended up ordering one of each item on the menu. Steele was great in this role.


Don Muraco & Bob Orton w/ Mr. Fuji & Jimmy Hart vs. Jerry Allen & Don Driggers

Muraco & Orton continue to come out to Piper's music and wear kilts. Muraco powerslams Bruno then tags Orton, who also slams around Allen. Driggers tags and Muraco suplexes him into the ring. Orton hits Driggers with a backbreaker then puts him a Boston Crab as Muraco leg drops him. Vince screams about referee Danny Davis for letting the heels both stay in the ring then they each hit the jobbers with their finishers simultaneously for the win (2:21).

Thoughts: The fans were less responsive to the heels this week as the gimmick of mocking Piper is starting to get a bit old. This match also gave more time to the Danny Davis angle, which has completely dominated the TV shows for the past few months.


Resnick is with Bobby Heenan, who is upset that Paul Orndorff has to face the Junkyard Dog in Boston instead of Hogan. Heenan rags on the Red Sox for blowing the World Series then Orndorff comes out and runs down JYD, telling him that he is going to go down.


An old clip of Jake "The Snake" Roberts on TNT showing his pet snakes to Lord Alfred and Mean Gene. Not much to this one.


Steve Lombardi & Moondog Spot vs. The Can-Am Connection

This is the WWF debut of the Can-Am connection. The girls were going nuts for these two. Zenk's name is spelled "Zinc" on the graphic. Lombardi attacks Martel from behind to start. Martel then catches Lombardi with a hiptoss then takes him down with a hurricarana. Spot tags and grabs a hold of Martel but Zenk was able to make the tag. He dropkicks Spot but gets caught with a kneelift. Lombardi tags and whips Zenk in the corner but Martel acts as a shield then Zenk hammers away on Lombardi. The Can-Am Connection use some nice double-team moves then Martel puts Lombardi away with a slingshot splash (2:26).

Thoughts: Really good debut for the Can-Am Connection. They were sort of like a flashier version of the Rougeau Brothers although Martel was easily the best worker out of any of them. The WWF has not had a tag team that got the girls going crazy since Barry Windham was teaming with Rotundo over a year prior.


Piper's Pit with guest Hulk Hogan. But before Hogan comes out he is surrounded by Jack Tunney, Billy Red Lyons, Arnold Skaaland, and some other guy. There is also a table on the set as well. Hogan comes out and he and Piper stare each other down as the crowd goes wild. Hogan congratulates Piper for getting rid of the Flower Shop then tells Piper they are alike but the opposite. Hogan tells him that they both want to be the best at what they do as Piper says that he will be there. Pretty damn cool to see these two face off and the crowd really wanted them to be on the same page.


We get a video of Outback Jack driving his jeep. That was all that happened.


The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Sivi Afi & Johnny Mann

Afi takes down Brett with a drop toehold. He gets two with a reverse rollup but Brett catches him with a clothesline. Neidhart tags and beats on Afi then the Hart's use quick tags to isolate Afi. He finally makes the tag as Mann runs wild. Brett trips up Mann from outside the ring then the Hart's get the win with the Hart Attack (3:16).

Thoughts: The Hart's were being built up well on commentary here as they continued to climb up the Tag Team Division ranks.


We get a promo from the Honkytonk Man who is pleading for the fans to give him their vote of confidence and that he will shake hands and kiss babies, as long as they are clean. It was a given that Honky was turning heel after watching this.


Capt. Lou Albano lets us know that tonight's match will be his last as a manager as he is going to dedicate himself to outside activities, namely to work to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.


Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy vs. The Machines w/ Capt. Lou Albano

Studd backs Super Machine into the corner. Super fights back and hits a flying headbutt. Bundy tags and eats boot courtesy of Big Machine. Studd tags but Big Machine ducks underneath him then hits a body slam as the fans go nuts. Bundy breaks up a pin attempt then the match breaks down. Bundy holds up Super Machine as Studd hits him off the top with a double axe handle as the ref was distracted then Bundy covers as Studd prevents Big from breaking it up and that gets the win (3:01).

Thoughts: This was also notable for the last times the Machines gimmick was seen. Also, this was Studd's last WWF apperance until his brief comeback in 1989. Oddly enough, the voiceover hyping a house show mentioned how Blackjack Mulligan would be appearing. Mulligan was the wrestler who played Big Machine. As for the match itself, it sucked, but the fans loved it when Studd got slammed. Not much of a send-off for Albano at all but he would wrestle his last match on the next episode of WWF Challenge.


Resnick is with The Wizard as we are a treated to another awful screaming promo. He speaks on behalf of Kamala to hype up his match in Boston against Hulk Hogan.


Next week's featured match will be Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Title. Also, the results of Honkytonk Man's "vote of confidence" and Hillbilly Jim & Tito Santana & Pedro Morales vs. The Dream Team & Johnny V.


Final Thoughts: Good show this week. The Piper/Hogan confrontation was good and we got to see the Can-Am Connection make their debut as well and get over very quickly too. The Machines vs. Studd & Bundy was a big main event, even if the angle was a flop. They are continuing the transformation of Honky from a face to a heel and showcasing the depth of their Tag Team Division.


Here is my schedule

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Ted DiBiase Volume 1, Disc One
Friday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Ted DiBiase Volume 1, Disc Two
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 11/16/86
Saturday: RoH Night of Champions 3/22/03
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/22/86
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 11/23/86

Comments

  1. Stranger in the AlpsOctober 7, 2014 at 7:40 PM

    Yeah? Bobby Heenan rags on the Sox for blowing the Series? Fuck Heenan, and fuck Buckner!


    *ahem* Sorry. I've just been handed a copy of the 2004 World Series DVD.

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  2. That Rougeau vignette was hilarious.

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  3. If the Can-Am connection stay they her they redefine tag team wrestling in the 80's. Hart Foundation, who? Bring on the Jim Neidhart singles push.

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  4. I still dig this era. It just felt surreal in this era - where Steamboat had a blood feud with Roberts and Savage and they were all buddies against Honky that Piper and Hogan still showed their old feud banner.

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  5. What did Tom Zenk bring to the table that Tito Santana didn't?

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  6. The baby face good looks of a white man.

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