May 9, 1987
From the Centrum in Worcester, MA
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and Vince McMahon
This week's featured match is Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith. Also in action this week will be Ricky Steamboat, Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik & Butch Reed, and Jake Roberts. Plus, an update on Bobby Heenan's health and much more.
Tiger Chung Lee vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Lee attacks Steamboat from behind to start the match. Steamboat comes back with a chop and a slam then they trade strikes until Lee knocks him onto the apron. Steamboat comes back with a another slam but Lee gets his knees up on a splash attempt before hammering away. Lee heads up top but Steamboat slams him off before climbing up himself and hitting the flying chop for the win (3:25).
Thoughts: On commentary, Jesse was strongly pushing that everyone was gunning for Steamboat and his IC Title. The Steamer sure wasn't booked to look that strong with the belt but that's what you get after asking for time off in the 80's WWF.
WWF Update with Craig DeGeorge. This week's focus is on Bobby Heenan and his condition after Ken Patera injured his neck. We are shown a clip of Heenan wearing a neckbrace telling us his neck is sprained. Heenan then promises that Patera will pay as he challenges him to take on Hercules next week. DeGeorge tells us we will find out tonight whether or not Patera accepts the challenge. They were pushing Hercules as the strongest man in the WWF here to build him for Patera.
Jim Powers & Paul Roma & Joe Mirto vs.Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik & "The Natural" Butch Reed w Slick
Before the match, Slick flips out on Duggan before Volkoff sings the Russian National Anthem without any interruption. Match starts but not before an insert promo from Outback Jack, saying that if Duggan was here this week he'd have put a stop to Nikolai's singing. Powers works over the Sheik's arm then tags Roma, who has his sunset flip attempt blocked. Roma gets caught in the wrong corner then eventually escapes to tag Mirto, who gets destroyed until Reed gets the win with a Gorilla Press slam (2:38). After the match, Volkoff yells as Slick tells the crowd to stand on their feet so he can sing the Russian National Anthem. Holy shit did this sound terrible and Jesse couldnt even hide his laughter here.
Thoughts: The story here is that without Duggan, the evil foreign heel will do whatever they please, including the domestic terror act Slick committed when he sang.
Gene Okerlund shows us comments from Hulk Hogan, who will be facing King Harley Race in a "Texas Death Match" at the Boston Garden. Hogan says he will quit wrestling and hand the World Title over to Heenan if he loses the match. Hogan did that "quit wrestling if losing" stipulation for several house show feuds in the 80's.
Clips of the Honky Tonk Man cheating to beat Jake Roberts at WrestleMania III.
Rick Gantner vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Roberts beats on Gantner then tosses him outside, where he beats the shit out of him. Jake is ultra aggressive tonight. Back inside, he continues the assault as Honky and Jimmy Hart are shown in an insert promo talking about Honky's newest single about Snakeskin boots then Roberts gets the win with a DDT (1:23). After the match, Roberts dumps Damien on top of Gantner.
Thoughts: They put Jake over as more vicious than ever since Honky cheated to beat him at WrestleMania III.
Okerlund is with Billy Jack Haynes, who cuts another screaming and psychotic promo on Hercules, telling him that one of them will end up in an ambulance. These promos made Haynes look like the most frightening man on the planet. And is yellow vest over a collared shirt was a sight to behold.
A vignette of Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake in a salon telling his enemies that he will give them a haircut. Some salon as this featured a black-and-white palm tree. Overall, a fairly lame segment.
Mike Richards vs. Killer Khan w/ Mr. Fuji
Khan destroys Richards as we get an insert promo from Mr. Fuji, who says that Khan will wipe out everyone and how he was even afraid of Khan himself. The match goes on with Khan beating on Richard some more until putting him away with two knee drops to the head from the middle rope (2:52).
Thoughts: Dull as Khan works best in squash matches that last about a minute. The crowd did not seem to care about him.
DeGeorge is with Ron Bass, who yells at Blackjack Mulligan its not his fault Sara Jo is over 300lbs and that he is yellow for not bringing out Sara Jo to the crowd. Sadly, we never got that angle paid off.
George "The Animal" Steele shills the WWF ice cream bars, telling us that they are good.
Killer Bees & Koko B. Ware vs. Steve Lombardi & Pete Doherty & Terry Gibbs
Koko is sporting the Bees mask for this match too. The Bees work over Gibbs as we get an insert poem from Lanny Poffo about the Bees & Ware team. Back to the match as Jesse tells us that Koko's mask makes him look like an "Oreo" then Brunzell is getting beat down in the opposing corner. He does get his knees up on a charging Lombardi and makes the tag to Blair, who cleans house. Doherty tags in and gets hit with a double backdrop before Koko puts him away with the Ghostbuster (2:53).
Thoughts: Just filler here as the winning team did not have much going on at this point.
Bret Hart w/ Jimmy Hart & Jim Neidhart vs. Davey Boy Smith w/ Dynamite Kid
Davey sends Bret to the floor with a shoulderblock after an Irish whip sequence. Back inside, Bret takes control of the match as Jesse asks what happened to Danny Davis. Vince promises we will hear from Patera before the show ends as Bret stays in control of the match. Bret counters a crucifix with a Samoan Drop but gets caught with a pair of shouderblocks. Davey picks up Bret by the hair then clotheslines him down as Neidhart attempts to interfere. Dynamite yanks Neidhart down as they brawl on the floor. Bret dropkicks Davey, who then slips out of a backbreaker attempt and hits Bret with a running powerslam for the win (3:44). After the match,Davey goes after Jimmy but Danny Dauvis runs down and hits him from behind as its 3-1 against Davey with Neidhart taking care of Dynamite outside of the ring.
Thoughts: The action was fine as this feud continues. Speaking of this feud, its about time to end it at this point.
Okerlund is with Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man, who will be facing Koko B. Ware at the next Boston Garden show. Honky talks about not giving the fans what they want because if you do in fact give them what they want, they will never come back. Honky then says he does nothing for free and if he isnt making a dollar then he will not do it as he accuses Okerlund of badgering him to sing for free. Honky then promises to hit Koko in the head with his guitar. Jimmy Hart and Honky was just a tremendous pairing. They were perfect for each other.
Patera tells us that he has accepted the challenge of Heenan to face Hercules in a terrible promo that saw him stumble all over his lines.
Also next week we will see the Islanders vs. Demolition, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and the Honky Tonk Man.
Final Thoughts: Not a bad show but my problem is that they were pushing a bunch of washed up guys (Patera, Mulligan, Khan) in storylines that could have gone to others. Luckily, the WWF signed a lot of new talent around this time that would be debuting in the coming months.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Thursday: RF Video Face Off Volume 11 with Honky Tonk Man & Missy Hyatt
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/10/87
Saturday: RoH Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies 8/16/03 *
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 5/16/87
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/17/87
*Time permitting
From the Centrum in Worcester, MA
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and Vince McMahon
This week's featured match is Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith. Also in action this week will be Ricky Steamboat, Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik & Butch Reed, and Jake Roberts. Plus, an update on Bobby Heenan's health and much more.
Tiger Chung Lee vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Lee attacks Steamboat from behind to start the match. Steamboat comes back with a chop and a slam then they trade strikes until Lee knocks him onto the apron. Steamboat comes back with a another slam but Lee gets his knees up on a splash attempt before hammering away. Lee heads up top but Steamboat slams him off before climbing up himself and hitting the flying chop for the win (3:25).
Thoughts: On commentary, Jesse was strongly pushing that everyone was gunning for Steamboat and his IC Title. The Steamer sure wasn't booked to look that strong with the belt but that's what you get after asking for time off in the 80's WWF.
WWF Update with Craig DeGeorge. This week's focus is on Bobby Heenan and his condition after Ken Patera injured his neck. We are shown a clip of Heenan wearing a neckbrace telling us his neck is sprained. Heenan then promises that Patera will pay as he challenges him to take on Hercules next week. DeGeorge tells us we will find out tonight whether or not Patera accepts the challenge. They were pushing Hercules as the strongest man in the WWF here to build him for Patera.
Jim Powers & Paul Roma & Joe Mirto vs.Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik & "The Natural" Butch Reed w Slick
Before the match, Slick flips out on Duggan before Volkoff sings the Russian National Anthem without any interruption. Match starts but not before an insert promo from Outback Jack, saying that if Duggan was here this week he'd have put a stop to Nikolai's singing. Powers works over the Sheik's arm then tags Roma, who has his sunset flip attempt blocked. Roma gets caught in the wrong corner then eventually escapes to tag Mirto, who gets destroyed until Reed gets the win with a Gorilla Press slam (2:38). After the match, Volkoff yells as Slick tells the crowd to stand on their feet so he can sing the Russian National Anthem. Holy shit did this sound terrible and Jesse couldnt even hide his laughter here.
Thoughts: The story here is that without Duggan, the evil foreign heel will do whatever they please, including the domestic terror act Slick committed when he sang.
Gene Okerlund shows us comments from Hulk Hogan, who will be facing King Harley Race in a "Texas Death Match" at the Boston Garden. Hogan says he will quit wrestling and hand the World Title over to Heenan if he loses the match. Hogan did that "quit wrestling if losing" stipulation for several house show feuds in the 80's.
Clips of the Honky Tonk Man cheating to beat Jake Roberts at WrestleMania III.
Rick Gantner vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Roberts beats on Gantner then tosses him outside, where he beats the shit out of him. Jake is ultra aggressive tonight. Back inside, he continues the assault as Honky and Jimmy Hart are shown in an insert promo talking about Honky's newest single about Snakeskin boots then Roberts gets the win with a DDT (1:23). After the match, Roberts dumps Damien on top of Gantner.
Thoughts: They put Jake over as more vicious than ever since Honky cheated to beat him at WrestleMania III.
Okerlund is with Billy Jack Haynes, who cuts another screaming and psychotic promo on Hercules, telling him that one of them will end up in an ambulance. These promos made Haynes look like the most frightening man on the planet. And is yellow vest over a collared shirt was a sight to behold.
A vignette of Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake in a salon telling his enemies that he will give them a haircut. Some salon as this featured a black-and-white palm tree. Overall, a fairly lame segment.
Mike Richards vs. Killer Khan w/ Mr. Fuji
Khan destroys Richards as we get an insert promo from Mr. Fuji, who says that Khan will wipe out everyone and how he was even afraid of Khan himself. The match goes on with Khan beating on Richard some more until putting him away with two knee drops to the head from the middle rope (2:52).
Thoughts: Dull as Khan works best in squash matches that last about a minute. The crowd did not seem to care about him.
DeGeorge is with Ron Bass, who yells at Blackjack Mulligan its not his fault Sara Jo is over 300lbs and that he is yellow for not bringing out Sara Jo to the crowd. Sadly, we never got that angle paid off.
George "The Animal" Steele shills the WWF ice cream bars, telling us that they are good.
Killer Bees & Koko B. Ware vs. Steve Lombardi & Pete Doherty & Terry Gibbs
Koko is sporting the Bees mask for this match too. The Bees work over Gibbs as we get an insert poem from Lanny Poffo about the Bees & Ware team. Back to the match as Jesse tells us that Koko's mask makes him look like an "Oreo" then Brunzell is getting beat down in the opposing corner. He does get his knees up on a charging Lombardi and makes the tag to Blair, who cleans house. Doherty tags in and gets hit with a double backdrop before Koko puts him away with the Ghostbuster (2:53).
Thoughts: Just filler here as the winning team did not have much going on at this point.
Bret Hart w/ Jimmy Hart & Jim Neidhart vs. Davey Boy Smith w/ Dynamite Kid
Davey sends Bret to the floor with a shoulderblock after an Irish whip sequence. Back inside, Bret takes control of the match as Jesse asks what happened to Danny Davis. Vince promises we will hear from Patera before the show ends as Bret stays in control of the match. Bret counters a crucifix with a Samoan Drop but gets caught with a pair of shouderblocks. Davey picks up Bret by the hair then clotheslines him down as Neidhart attempts to interfere. Dynamite yanks Neidhart down as they brawl on the floor. Bret dropkicks Davey, who then slips out of a backbreaker attempt and hits Bret with a running powerslam for the win (3:44). After the match,Davey goes after Jimmy but Danny Dauvis runs down and hits him from behind as its 3-1 against Davey with Neidhart taking care of Dynamite outside of the ring.
Thoughts: The action was fine as this feud continues. Speaking of this feud, its about time to end it at this point.
Okerlund is with Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man, who will be facing Koko B. Ware at the next Boston Garden show. Honky talks about not giving the fans what they want because if you do in fact give them what they want, they will never come back. Honky then says he does nothing for free and if he isnt making a dollar then he will not do it as he accuses Okerlund of badgering him to sing for free. Honky then promises to hit Koko in the head with his guitar. Jimmy Hart and Honky was just a tremendous pairing. They were perfect for each other.
Patera tells us that he has accepted the challenge of Heenan to face Hercules in a terrible promo that saw him stumble all over his lines.
Also next week we will see the Islanders vs. Demolition, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and the Honky Tonk Man.
Final Thoughts: Not a bad show but my problem is that they were pushing a bunch of washed up guys (Patera, Mulligan, Khan) in storylines that could have gone to others. Luckily, the WWF signed a lot of new talent around this time that would be debuting in the coming months.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Thursday: RF Video Face Off Volume 11 with Honky Tonk Man & Missy Hyatt
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/10/87
Saturday: RoH Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies 8/16/03 *
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 5/16/87
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/17/87
*Time permitting
I'm pretty sure that my first ep was the one after HTM won the title so we are coming up...
ReplyDeleteEven though there is a ton of crap on these shows, I miss these days. Just basic storytelling and feuds.
ReplyDeleteJust a little over a month away from that show
ReplyDeleteWhen does Ted Dibiase come in? September?
ReplyDeleteAnd Mulligan was already gone. The guy comes in 1985 and does nothing but jaw at Piper. Then he becomes a machine in 1986, and then wears the red outfit before being gone. Made as much sense as Dick Slater as a confederate rebel babyface from Richmond, Virginia. Listening to some of Vince's promos from the late 1990's in Richmond and taking pride it is the home of Jefferson Davis - I think Vince thinks the South won the war or something.
ReplyDeleteThe first vignette was in Late June and he was wrestling on TV by mid August.
ReplyDeleteHe was done by February of 1988 but after the Hercules feud ended he did next to nothing.
ReplyDeleteHaynes is #3 babyface in 1987 in early summer, factoring in injuries (Jake), people leaving (Piper, Steamboat, JYD temporarily), and suspensions (Duggan). Scary. What's scarier is that Ken Patera is #2.
ReplyDeleteI liked Khan. His finisher was cool.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Jesse the Body: That's Spam Spam the last of the Ham
ReplyDeleteI thought the WM III roster was supposed to be the best in WWF history? I am surprised they would need new wrestlers to keep things fresh in their boom period.
ReplyDeleteI have always been partial to the 1988 WM IV roster.