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WWF Wrestling Challenge November 30th, 1986

November 30, 1986

From the Metro Centre in Rockford, IL

Your hosts are Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

Tonight, George Steele & Junkyard Dog are in action. Plus, the Dream Team & Dino Bravo will take on the Islanders & Sivi Afi. Plus, we get to see the Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage match from the 11/22 edition of "Superstars of Wrestling."




We are first shown a clip of Slick with a cast on his arm blaming the British Bulldogs' mascot Matilda for causing his injury.


George Steele & Junkyard Dog vs. Dave Wagner & The Raider

The Raider was wrestler Randy Barber under a mask. Barber wrestled a lot in the South, mainly in Georgia, and did several TV jobs for the WWF and NWA in the late 80's. Sadly, he passed away in 2008 of a heart attack at age 49. The match starts with both JYD & Steele taking turns beating on the Raider. Wagner tags and JYD clotheslines him down. Steele tags and bites open a turnbuckle then throws the stuffing in Wagner's face before tagging JYD, who hits the powerslam for the win (1:40). After the match, JYD and Steele teach a kid to dance in the ring, prompting Heenan to say how no one in the ring had more than a 3rd grade education.

Thoughts: Same old act with JYD & Steele but the fans ate it up so why not go with it as a midcard act.


We get another clip of Jesse Ventura telling the Honkytonk Man that he lost the "Vote of Confidence" as Honky goes off on an angry tirade on the fans.


They show a replay of the Savage vs. Steamboat match from the 11/22 edition of "Superstars of Wrestling." This was the match in which Savage crushed Steamboat's throat with the timekeeper's bell, starting off their feud.


Ken Resnick is with Koko B. Ware and his bird, Frankie, who is flapping his wings out of control the entire time. Not much of an interview as it was just Koko doing his schtick.


Another promo from the desert by Superstar Billy Graham. He calls out King Kong Bundy and promises that he will be back. That didnt exaclty happen.


The Dream Team & Dino Bravo w/ Johnny V. vs. The Islanders & Sivi Afi

Gorilla quickly alerts us that Danny Davis is the referee as we get an insert promo from Davis who tells the fans that he has a valid referee's license until April and he will call it like he sees it. Haku and Valentine exchange blows to start. Valentine wins that and takes him over with a snapmare before tagging out. Beefcake gets two with an inverted atomic drop. Valentine tags back in but Haku blocks a suplex and hits one of his own. Afi tags and covers but Bravo runs in and breaks things up then the match breaks down. Valentine knees Afi in the back from the apron then Bravo hits Afi with a back suplex for the win (3:37).

Thoughts: Decent action. The Dream Team has start to run its course though despite being a really good team. It seemed obvious that Afi would eat the pin here.


Resnick is with the Wizard, asking him about Sika and Kamala. We get another awful screaming promo from the Wizard, who says that his men are in search of Hulk Hogan, Hillbilly Jim, and the Junkyard Dog then declares that he will put his men in a team to face the British Bulldogs so they can feast on dog every Sunday.


Now, we get a promo from Blackjack Mulligan at his ranch while he sits on a horse. His comeback lasted for about four months.


Moondog Spot vs. Kamala w/ The Wizard & Kimchee

Spot hammers away to start but can't get him out of the corner and gets caught with a crescent kick. Spot fights back and charges but Kamala leapfrogs him then boots him down before getting the win with a top rope splash (1:40).

Thoughts: The Kamala push stays strong. Spot was playing the face here which actually made sense as the Moondogs were arguing with each other on TV as Rex was the aggressor.


The Snake Pit with guest Hillbilly Jim. Roberts is wearing a black fur coat for this interview. This goes nowhere as it turns into a discussion about animals. The Snake Pit was a pretty lousy talk show segment.


Gino Carabello & Jimmy Jack Funk vs. The Rougeau Brothers

Raymond fights off Funk, who tags Carabello. We get an insert promo from the Rougeau's in both English and French that seemed generic as the Rougeau's show off their athletic ability in beating on Carabello. Funk tries to break things up but the Rougeau's fight him off then hit the Rougeau Bomb on Carabello for the win (2:27).

Thoughts: The Rougeau's were a fine team but were about to get leapfrogged in the pecking order by the younger, flashier, and more popular Can-Am Connection.


We are shown the replay of Okerlund interviewing Steamboat's doctor from the past episode of "Superstars of Wrestling" as the doctor is unsure if Steamboat will ever wrestle again.


Jack Foley vs. Hercules w/ Bobby Heenan

Jack Foley is in fact Mick Foley, who was billed from Bloomington, Indiana for this match. Johnny V has replaced Heenan on commentary. Hercules destroys Foley as the crowd starts up a "weasel" chant. Hercules slams Foley a few times then sends him down with a clothesline. Hercules then picks up Foley and puts him in the backbreaker for the win (1:28).

Thoughts: Hercules was getting a renewed push when he became managed by Heenan and they needed new blood in the upper midcard so he was far from the worst person to give that spot to on the roster.


Next week's featured match will be a six-man tag with Billy Jack Haynes & British Bulldogs vs. Butch Reed & Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik.



Final Thoughts: If you missed the last few weeks of "Superstars of Wrestling," this was a useful show but besides that it was completely forgettable. We had two reintroductory vignettes of guys way past their primes and unexciting matches to go along with bad promos. You can easily pass on this show.


Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Saturday: RoH Retribution: Round Robin Challenge 4/26/03
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 12/6/86
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 12/7/86
Thursday: Shoot Interview TBD
Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 12/13/86


Comments

  1. Look around 3:40 of this video. He was capable, even if the outcome was more comical in the Hogan match.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6wtTpTlS-c

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  2. He had some surprisingly agility back then.

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  3. Brian Bayless - Master of the typo

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  4. Sadly, yes. Too lazy to proofread most of the times.

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  5. Wait. Hollywood keeps tops...on?

    What fucking madness is this?

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  6. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 2:41 PM

    Whenever you're nervous about doing something, I think there's some strategy involving being naked.

    Oh yeah, you're supposed to go in there naked.

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  7. You're not getting what I'm saying are you? Same opening they already do. Then 1 or 2 clips totaling maybe 7 minutes. Then the match they already do. Then another 7 minutes or so of clips. Then the hour 2 angle begins. It's like 75% of what they already do. I'm only suggesting changing 15 minutes or so of the 1st hour. And how does the live crowd get restless seeing 3 or 4 matches in the 1st hour?

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  8. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 2:42 PM

    I used to have a friend who always called her "bee stings."

    Was a female, too, which makes it more amusing for some reason.

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  9. The Real Mans Man character should make a comeback.

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  10. Shocking Big Show was needlessly inserted into a D-Bry feud.

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  11. Why on earth are classic superstars not already on the Network, weren't they shown on WWE.com in the first place.

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  12. I highly doubt that.

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  13. Random question, people are constantly asking for the Network to upload loads of classic WCW, WCCW, AWA, and other old school shows. If they bought out newer federations such as XPW XWF & WWA, so it was wrestling that most of us have never watched or followed but contained recognisable names, would you watch it?

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  14. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:02 PM

    Not shooting down your idea, but XPW is the antithesis of PG

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  15. Maybe try eating meat like a human being is supposed to then your body will heal like it's supposed to.

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  16. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:02 PM

    What about El Dandy?

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  17. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:04 PM

    You know what will save the Network?

    Re-runs of GLOW.

    They could even get Ivory to intro each ep

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  18. There's no good reason why more risqué shows can't be on the Network archives as long as they're not on the live stream.

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  19. i would watch shows like GLOW, WOW & WEW and they'll probably get a better audience than classic Memphis wrestling or similar old school shows

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  20. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:06 PM

    Yeah, but XPW was financed by a pornographer who:

    - used real porn stars
    - threatened to feed a live puppy to a snake on webcast (later determined to be a hoax... we hope)
    - is currently serving time (or recently did serve time) for violating laws involving shipping porn across state lines or something
    - allegedly was behind the hit on one of their main stars who actually had his thumb cut off and almost lost his wang, too

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  21. Women hate women, man. I have female friends who HATE Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, etc. And when you ask them why, they don't really give a straight answer. They just hate.

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  22. Because the WWE has no idea how to run a network.

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  23. O yea, Messiah was the guy that got his thumb cut off by Rob's goons for banging Rob's skank wife. Was even featured on Americas Most Wanted

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  24. So terrible. Dude wrestled his ass off for almost a decade to become the best indy wrestler in the world, finally made it to the E, did better than anybody thought (really, who actually thought he stood a chance in 2008-09 that he would someday main event a WM), got over and main evented WM30 and won the title to close out the show and officially become the top guy in the world.

    Then just a month later it's all taken away. Just nuts

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  25. No one's ever given a straight answer I can understand when it comes to Anne Hathaway. I've heard valid stuff on Megan Fox and Gwenyth Paltrow, but I haven't heard anything tangible on Anne

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  26. Two and a half hours until five days off including a trip to Disneyland. I need that hang in there cat.

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  27. So weird. I got zero problem with, how do I put this, "Hollywood hunks". A ton of them are great actors and I think they rock

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  28. I know! I like her. She's a good actress and was a good Catwoman when everyone thought she'd suck.

    Maybe it's jealousy. She's just TOO talented and good at everything?

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  29. Her on that motorcycle in that catwoman outfit cemented it for me...

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  30. I remember my friends used to be so jealous when girls swooned over Brad Pitt. But then Fight Club came out and the dudes were the ones swooning.

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  31. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:31 PM

    Your CEMENT was CAULKed

    ...ewwwwww

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  32. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:32 PM

    DUDE

    SHHHHHHHH

    Don't talk about that

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  33. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:32 PM

    MAN MOTHAFUCKING MAN IS LOOSE

    IN DISNEYLAND

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  34. I love that x1000

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  35. That was a Russo idea....hope everyone's brain doesn't explode

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  36. I hope that's the Kevin Steen gimmick

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  37. "They should utilize more "make a tag team match, playa" type of booking to put the PPV guys in the ring together in a long match"

    They do that, it's called every RAW main event

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  38. Gunther the Nasty LoserNovember 7, 2014 at 3:36 PM

    You'll be living BoD'ing the entire time, I assume

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  39. i have no problem with longer matches on RAW. The real issue is the show is way too long. HULU Raw is easy to get through and is a breath of fresh air.


    I've been watching Nitros and ECW HC TV and they just fly by. A couple of different kinds of matches. A big angle that only takes a few minutes and you string it through several shows and not just blow a whole angle in one night...

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  40. Ha, I was just watching Fury, amazing movie btw, and thinking "Damn, that's still a good lookin dude". I can see why chicks get wet panties over him

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  41. XPW's tapes could be burned in one huge bonfire, and I'd consider it no loss to the wrestling world.

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  42. Totally 100% untrue.

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  43. For dp'd by some Mexican dudes in that one movie.

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  44. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkJGwLBtp8

    There ya go. It's tremendously silly.

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  45. Such a good match. I would have loved for it to go 5 more minutes, but they told a great story in the time that they had, doing a few unexpected things along the way. And of course, Regal taps just as soon as Bryan locks on his submission at the end, putting the Lebell lock over as a devastating move.

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  46. At some point yes. And even if it not I'd enjoy the option of having it available.

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  47. Disagree completely...i HATE short matches unless they're squashes, because if a guy gets beat in less than 5 minutes i can't buy them going fifteen on PPV.

    One of the many reasons i hated CrashTV.

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  48. I'll just take an hour of Shelly Martinez beating up Rob Black.

    Wait.

    I'll take an hour of Shelly Martinez beating up me.

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  49. Nobody denies Russo had many good ideas during his first WWF run. It was in WCW and TNA where everything went south.

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  50. Off topic:
    A Youtube user named Billy Gunn has uploaded a bunch of old WWF PPV pre-shows. I believe the oldest one is WrestleMania III and the most recent was Survivor Series '97.

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  51. I am actually waiting for Lawler and Cole to start calling us complete retards because we are watching this at home instead of live in the arena. "People watching here don't have to see commercials you idiots!!"

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  52. where they hired goons?

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  53. I remember this happening and it was during the last time where I truly felt like I was a fan of the product. From April 2011 through WrestleMania 28 I watched damn near everything WWE did.

    I watched RAW weekly, I enjoyed the hell out of SmackDown and thought it was great in 2011, I even watched NXT and Superstars. I remember a strange phase where I was actually excited to watch Superstars on a weekly basis. Strange times.

    But then Cody lost the IC title to Big Show(Cody was one of my favorite parts of SD) they combined brands and it fell apart. But for a glorious year, I loved it.

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  54. "Savage crushed Steamboat's belt with the timekeeper's bell"



    That's a new approach to the old angle.

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  55. 3 hour nitros never dragged like this. I guess cause they had 4563 people on the roster and used all of them. My suggestion would be to stop having everyone work the same style, cut the same type of promos, and have the same look. Then it wouldn't feel like Groundhog Day every single segment.

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  56. Upvote for the "howboutit". Rose is forgiven all his sins just for that line alone.

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  57. In honor of #MattIndeed, I give you my new avatar featuring my favorite mug.

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  58. Overpriced merchandise and long lines are just hours away!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

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  59. Maybe. I'm actually pretty fussy about the wrestling I watch. I tried TNA, didn't get it. I'll watch old PPVs from just about anybody on the network, but like some of the "old school" house shows? Haven't watched them. Heck, I couldn't really get into the old Raws, and I thought I would.

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  60. and now that I'm home, for those of you that are curious, I found the clip in question. Pretty damn funny.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=500deEeCOcA

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  61. "Don't die a virgin, terrorists are up there waiting for you."


    Nice.

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  62. http://cheezburger.com/8370802688

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  63. Nice.


    I used to spend a lot of time that site; it's been dropped because of time. I even had number of my own stuff put up there.

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  64. She was an AWESOME Catwoman.

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  65. Don't remind me about the merch, I promised three of my friends Id get them something lol

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  66. I hit it about once every 4-6 weeks, just binge through 20-50 pages of stuff and laugh.

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  67. Are you kidding? No way.

    I never doubt El Dandy, much the same way I never doubt Dave Coulier.

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  68. The LOL pics mobile app is pretty good.

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  69. I guess Nitro was a clusterfuck in a "good" way. They had the show half written and were literally throwing whatever out there, so you had stuff like Chris Jericho cutting promos about Lenny Lane stealing his Loverboy CD and quoting Cheap Trick. Whereas today's Raw is meticulously scripted so everyone knows exactly what they are doing when they come out. I wish Raw had a Tracy Jordan type...imagine Randy Orton cutting one of his same old shit promos, stopping-looking off camera, screams LINE!

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  70. WCW had a lot of problems but boring was never one of them. Even those trainwreck Thunders were entertaining.

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  71. Yea from what was the talk back then. He was working for Rob at XPW, started sleeping with Lizzy Borden, Rob's pornstar wife. Rob found out and had some guys teach him a lesson

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  72. I dunno...there were a couple of regional ones w/hogan (a killer khan one that set up some northeast matches and the urban legend one w/Roberts DDT on hogan) that were likely pretty good...

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  73. Were there a bunch of guys doing the Kamala gimmick? Wasn't there a Uganda in ECW that was known as Kamala 2? Not to be confused with Uncle Elmer playing Kamala 2 in Memphis. And there is old Kamala, the original Kamala. And why was there a guy named Friday in 1984, but then the keeper's name was Kim Chee. And who doesn't love the performing chicken episode of TNT.

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  74. It's kinda sad how the promotion with the dogshittest wrestling product won out. I'd love some Old School JCP/AWA.

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  75. The Ghost of Faffner HallNovember 7, 2014 at 8:46 PM

    Not to mention: "After the match, JYD and Heenan teach a kid to dance in the ring..."
    I actually pictured that for a moment or two. :)

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  76. Agreed. Too many outages

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  77. The WWF Kamala was always Jim Harris, the original.

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