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WWF Wrestling Challenge November 23rd, 1986

November 23, 1986

From the Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY

Your hosts are Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

Tonight, the Moondogs will take on the Hart Foundation. Also, Hulk Hogan will appear on the "Snake Pit" and the featured match will be the Killer Bees vs. Don Muraco & Bob Orton.




Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Moondogs

The Hart Foundation attack the Moondogs before the bell. Rex then whacks Brett with his bone as the Moondogs take control of the match as we get an insert promo of the Moondogs that did not feature any sound. Neidhart trips up Rex as he had Brett up for a slam then the Hart Foundation beat on Rex in the corner. They continue to work over Rex until he elbows a charging Neidhart then tags Spot who is running wild. The Moondogs take down Neidhart with a double elbow smash then Brett breaks up the pin as the match breaks down. The ref orders Spot to the corner then the Hart Foundation hit Rex with the Hart Attack behind the referee's back and Neidhart covers for the win (3:51).

Thoughts: They briefly built up the Moondogs here by mentioning how they were former champs and giving them in an insert promo in order to put over the Hart Foundation, who they were building up as potential champions. Thought this worked well for a rare heel vs. heel match.


The Gladiator & Barry O. vs. Can-Am Connection

Zenk takes down Barry with a flying headscissors before tagging out. We get an insert promo from the Can-Am as they proclaim that they are ready for action as Martel was speaking French with Heenan asking Monsoon to make sure he speaks English the next time he is on his program. The Can-Am's hit their opponents with dropkicks. They then hit The Gladiator with an atomic drop/crossbody combo then after Zenk hits a powerslam, Martel gets the win with a slingshot splash (3:23).

Thoughts: The fans took a quick liking to the Can-Am's. Their fast-paced offense won over the crowds.


Ken Resnick is with the Junkyard Dog as they plug the "WWF Superstars" magazine before JYD talks about all of the opponents he will have in the new year.


Bobby Heenan introduces us to his "tribute" to Capt. Lou Albano as he shows us his men, Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy, defeat The Machines from last week's edition of "Superstars" in Albano's last match as a manager.


Paul Roma vs. Sika w/ The Wizard

Roma briefly works the arm then takes Sika through the ropes with a dropkick. Sika regroups then heads back inside and takes Roma down with a headbutt. Sika then slams Roma and puts him away after catching him with a Samoan Drop (1:45).

Thoughts: Roma looked good in his brief flurry of offense against the washed up Sika. The fans really did not care enough about Sika to even boo him.


Resnick is with the British Bulldogs. Davey tells us that they got Matilda as a mascot to fen doff all of the cheating managers. Dynamite then cuts a promo in which he pretending to be listening to the dog as they both state that they plan on keeping the Tag Team Titles for a long time.


Dino Bravo w/ Johnny V vs. Mario Mancini

Bravo roughs up Mancini then takes him down with a dropkick. He hits a sideslam then follows that with a leg drop as we see an insert promo of Bravo teaching Johnny V to speak French. Bravo takes Mancini down with a knee lift then hits an atomic drop. He beats down Mancini some more then tosses him outside. Mancini crawls back inside and Bravo boots him down then finishes off Mancini with a back suplex (2:35).

Thoughts: Bravo could actually move around here and his offense looked fine but he was not getting over here in his first heel singles run with the company.


The Snake Pit with guest Hulk Hogan. Roberts says that he is the man that your kids can look up too then Hogan comes out and says that Roberts runs with the devil but that he runs with the Hulkamaniacs then tells Roberts when will he get enough courage to strike back then leaves. They were teasing a Roberts/Hogan feud big time here.


Iron Mike Sharpe vs. "The Rebel" Dick Slater

Slater takes down Sharpe with a hiptoss then drops a knee. Sharpe takes a breather outside then Slater chases him back into the ring. Slater headbutts Sharpe after he pleads for mercy then they take it to the mat. Sharpe beats on Slater in the corner but misses a charge then Slater hammers away. He works on the leg for a bit until Sharpe catches him with a right hand. Sharpe chokes out Slater then is able to hold up on a dropkick attempt. Sharpe pulls something out of his tights and into his protective gear but Slater blocks the attack and rams it into Sharpe's own forehead before getting the win with a top rope elbow smash (3:47).

Thoughts: A heatless match but the in-ring portion was fine. Slater got booed as he won, something that happened often,  as this gimmick continues to be proven as a failure.


Killer Bees vs. Don Muraco & Bob Orton w/ Mr. Fuji & Jimmy Hart

Orton & Muraco continue to mock Piper by wearing kilts and using the bagpipes as their entrance music. The Bees start the match by working on the arm of Orton. Muraco tags as Monsoon points out how Danny Davis is the referee for this match. Blair takes down Muraco with an armdrag then the Bees hit take him down with a double elbow. Davis orders Blair out of the ring as Brunzell works the arm of Muraco. Orton knees Brunzell from the apron then Davis yells at Blair as the heels beat down Brunzell in the corner. Brunzell eventually fights back and tags Blair. He beats down Muraco then hits the Bee Sting. Brunzell tags back inside and hits a dropkick but Orton breaks up the pin. Davis yells at Blair as that allows Orton to run in and attack Blair, who had Muraco in a sleeper. The heels continue to cheat as Blair has enough then pushes Davis out of the way then Davis signals for the bell as he disqualifies the Bees (5:00). After the match, Muraco & Orton attack the Bees from behind.

Thoughts: More of a match designed to further along the Davis angle than anything else. The in-rign part was solid.


Resnick is with Slick, who has convinced the Championship Committee to get the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff a shot at the Tag Team Titles due to his "geniustry." Resnick asks Slick about selling Hercules as Slick is not worried about that as he brings out "The Natural" Butch Reed, who cuts a promo about how natural he is then challenges Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan.


Next week's we will see the Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage match from the 11/22 edition of Superstars and Hillbilly Jim as the guest in the "Snake Pit."



Final Thoughts: Not much of a show this week. The tease of a Hogan/Roberts feud on the Snake Pit was good and they showcased the Tag Division but the rest of the matches were just filler and besides the Danny Davis stuff, no other feuds were continued.

Comments

  1. Man was Dick Slater miscast as a face. Even your description of his match makes him sound like a heel. I think Slater would have gotten over well as a midcard heel but as a face, particularly with "The Rebel" Confederate gimmick, not so much.

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  2. A heel would have probably worked well. I have his shoot interview and should watch it and see why he was a face in the WWF because it was a terrible idea and he left after less than a year.

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  3. Did he go back to the uwf prior to cricket buying them

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  4. I think he toured Japan then went to WCW in 89

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  5. WWF did love heel vs. heel matches in 1985-86. And some face vs. face. Wonder why they shied away from Steamboat/Savage II at WM4 then?

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  6. Yes, he let his conscience be his guide.

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  7. That was the plan but it changed to Steamboat jobbing to Valentine in the first round then Steamboat saw the writing on the wall and quit.

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