WWF Championship Wrestling: 3/3/84 & 3/10/84

I did two weeks worth of Championship Wrestling as I don't have all of the episodes for All-Star Wrestling. This trend will carry over into next week as well.

March 3, 1984

Your announcers are Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund.

The hosts run down the card and once again mention how Tito Santana has recently defeated Don Muraco for the IC Title in the Boston Garden. Also, Tito will be guest on this weeks “Piper’s Pit.”

Rocco Verona vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff

Orndorff starts by backing Verona into the corner. He gets a double underhook suplex and pulls up Verona at one. He then gives a few elbow smashes and then proceeds to have a conversation with Piper. Great stuff as the overly cocky Orndorff completely dismisses his opponent as any sort of threat by having a conversation with his manager from across the ring. He shoves him outside as Piper yells at Verona to get back into the ring. A gordbuster is followed by a kneedrop then a clothesline. Piper signals for the piledriver and Orndorff hits the move, pinning Verona with just one knee (2:27).

Thoughts: Another entertaining Orndorff squash. There are very few men in the history of wrestling that can excel in the cocky heel role like Orndorff is at this point.

Israel Matia vs. Tito Santana

The crowd pops loudly for Tito as he enters the ring. Tito gets an armdrag then works on the arm for a while as the announcers continue to put over his recent title win. Matia lands a few shots but gets booted off a charge in the corner and Tito hits the flying forearm off the top rope for the win (1:58). After the match, a girl hands Tito a rose.

Thoughts: This segment was all about pushing Tito as the IC Champion. They have been playing up his recent win over the past few weeks and making the title change seem important, which is something that the WWE neglects nowadays.

Jose Luis Rivera vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/Capt. Lou Albano

The announcers continue to play up Rivera’s undefeated streak on Championship Wrestling. Valentine gets a drop toehold then grounds Rivera. Gutbuster by Valentine then he tosses Rivera through the ropes. Albano rolls Rivera back inside as Valentine gets a Russian leg sweep. The two men trade punches and Rivera gets a few dropkicks but misses a jumping attack in the corner and starts selling the leg. Valentine goes to work on the injured leg and shortly afterwards, locks on the figure-four leglock and the win (2:38). After the match, Valentine puts on the figure-four again as Albano starts yelling at the ref. He breaks the hold, only to drop some elbows before going back to the leg. He eventually stops as Rivera is convulsing on the mat and his eventually taken out on a stretcher as he is screaming in pain.

Thoughts: Excellent job at establishing Valentine and his finisher as a major threat. He was one of the best workers in the company in 1984. As far as Rivera’s streak, it was just mentioned to make Valentine look better by beating someone who was “undefeated.”

Tiger Jackson & Haiti Kid vs. Pancho Boy & Dana Carpenter

Haiti Kid and Pancho start off. Haiti with a headlock then a shoulderblockbefore they going into a repetitive chop down/immediately kick out spot. Pancho slingshots Haiti, who then tags Tiger. Dana tags and dropkicks Tiger before tagging back out. Tiger gets a dropkick and then they completely botch a flying headscissor spot. Tiger goes up top and gets a splash for the win (1:47)

Thoughts: The worst match between these four since I started recapping the shows. Usually they have fairly decent matches but this was too short to mean anything and a lot of moves were either mistimed or botched completely.

Piper’s Pit with Tito Santana as the guest. Piper starts by saying how most “Latins” aren’t very good wrestlers and that they are flat-footed. Tito states how he will make the most out of his opportunities as Piper minimizes him accomplishments. Tito then states that he will not duck any challengers and tells Piper he will fight him, Schultz, or Orndorff and then walks off the set. Piper closes the segment by calling Tito a “coward” because he walked off the set. Decent segment as Piper agitating the faces is usually entertaining. It also put over Tito as a fighting champion.

Steve Lombardi vs. “Dr. D” David Schultz w/Roddy Piper

Lombardi grabs a side headlock to start but Schultz quickly escapes. He pounds on Lombardi then chokes him out on the ropes. Backbreaker by Schultz. Lombardi tries a comeback but Schultz slams him. Swinging neckbreaker and another slam. Schlutz then hits the elbow drop from the second rope then does it again. He asks Piper if he should do it again but he is told to cover Lombardi and he gets the win (2:09). Schultz yells “bring him out” which is a reference to Hogan.

Thoughts: Impressive squash by Schultz. He is also being booked as a threat and the stable of him, Piper, and Orndorff is quite impressive.

Gene Okerlund is with Schultz. Okerlund questions the tactics of Schultz, who replies that he is looking for a “big boy” named Hulk Hogan. He rambles for a bit before challenging Hulk to a match. The interview, which had Schutlz go off on a tangent, was fitting towards his crazy persona so it worked out okay.

Goldie Rogers & Ron Butler & Charlie Fulton vs. S.D. Jones & Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas

Rocky with a shoulderblock to Butler and tags S.D who gets a headlock and tags Atlas. The faces do multiple quick tags while beating on Butler until Fulton tags then beats on S.D. Goldie tags but S.D. gets a snapmare and tags Rocky. The faces work on Goldie for a while until he tags Butler. Atlas headbutts him and gets a press slam, setting up the splash for the pin (4:37).

Thoughts: Match was dull and this lasted longer than it should have. Having the tag champs wrestle in six-man matches isn’t doing them any favors. Crowd was silent throughout the match.

Frankie Williams & Bill Dixon vs. Tony Garea & B. Brian Blair

Williams lands a few shots on Garea but gets armdragged. Blair tags in and gets a snapmare before going to work on the arm. Garea tags and works the arm briefly before tagging out. Blair gets a drop toehold then drops an elbow before tagging out. Dixon also tags and punches Garea few times before tagging out. Blair tags then dropkicks Williams then tags Garea as he whips Williams and Garea catches him in the abdominal stretch as Williams submits (2:38).

Thoughts: The team of Garea & Blair have no personality or chemistry. Just two singles wrestlers tagging in and out, hitting their own stuff.

Next week’s main event is Rene Goulet vs. Sgt Slaughter

Final Thoughts: Good show as they continue to build their upper-midcard wrestlers and establish some newer talents. Most of the segments all had a significant purpose and just minimal filler.

March 10, 1984

Your announcers are Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund

Vince & Gene run down the card and plug the main event, Rene Goulet vs. Sgt. Slaughter

Charlie Fulton vs. Tito Santana

Tito backs Fulton against the ropes and gets an armdrag. They trade hammerlocks until Tito gets a fireman’s carry. Fulton manages a quick rollup but Tito goes to work on the arm. After a leapfrog, Tito takes him down with a headlock. Fulton gets the advantage and lands a few punches before whipping him into the corner. Forearm shots by Fulton. Tito ducks Fulton and comes back with a flying headscissor takedown. Dropkick by Tito and that sets up the Flying Forearm for the win (3:47).

Thoughts: Solid squash match as Fulton wasn’t a bad worker at all. Tito looked fine.

Angelo Gomez vs. Iron Sheik w/Freddie Blassie

Gomez looks to be in his mid 30’s with a handlebar mustache. Crowd is chanting “we want Slaughter” quite loudly. Sheik with a throat thrust then a gutbuster as the crowd is going bananas in chanting for Slaughter. Backdrop by Sheik and he yells back a the crowd. Sheik then hits a belly-to-belly suplex, which sets up the Camel Clutch for the win (2:07). After the match, Sheik grabs the mic, says “Iran number one,” then stomps on Gomez as the crowd is screaming “U-S-A” as loud as they can.

Thoughts: Good segment as it got the crowd crazy and that it shows just how over the program is between the two. The match itself wasn’t much at all but a fun segment.

Butcher Vachon vs. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka

Vachon attacks Snuka from behind and uses clubbing forearms. He beats on him ni the corner and uses eye rakes. Snuka fights back and gets a pair of bodyslams as Capt. Lou Albano comes out and stand on the apron. Snuka climbs up top and gets a flying headbutt for the pin (1:34). After the match, Albano leaves then tries to comeback but Snuka chases him away.

Thoughts: This presumably will set up something between Snuka and Valentine, playing off of their confrontation from a few weeks ago when Valentine blew off Snuka’s offer of a handshake. Match wasn’t much.

Frankie Williams & Iron Mike Sharpe vs. Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas

Rocky starts with a hiptoss on Williams then follows that with an armdrag. Williams ducks out and the voiceover (Howard Finkel) plugs an upcoming house show with Tito Santana’s first IC title defense being against Sharpe. That’s underwhelming to say the least. Back in the ring, Rocky gets a headlock and tags Atlas, who gets a backdrop. Williams throws a few punches and tags Sharpe. Atlas headbutts Sharpe and then slams him. He whips him into his partner and they call that a tag as Atlas no-sells clubbing forearms from Sharpe as he drags Williams into the ring. Tag to Rocky who gets a headbutt and a slam for the pin (3:03).

Thoughts: Not much to see here. The team of Atlas & Johnson really isn’t clicking. Also, having Sharpe as Tito’s first challenger seems really week, and it is, but during this time, he would team with Hulk Hogan in Japan.

Piper’s Pit with Tony Garea & B. Brian Blair. Roddy blows off Garea and then questions Blair as to why he chose Garea as a partner, bringing up how he lost the tag-belts five different times with different partners. He asks Blair if Garea is a jinx as Garea tells Blair to not lower himself to Piper’s level and they storm off as Piper mentions how Blair lowered himself by storming off upset with Garea. More harassing of Garea by Piper and it wasn’t bad, seeing how Garea is a bore.

S.D. Jones vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/Capt. Lou Albano

Jones gets some armdrags then works the arm. Valentine clotheslines Jones off of an Irish whip. Backbreaker by Valentine and he works the arm. The two trade shots until Jones knocks him out of the ring with a pair of headbutts. Valentine trips up Jones from the floor and goes back into the ring and softens up the leg before making Jones submit to the figure-four (3:05).

Thoughts: Not bad for a three minute match. Jones got in a bit of offense and Valentine still looked strong.

Vince reads some fanmail for Gene to answer. The writer asks why don’t they have two referees and Gene’s answer to the question was that he agreed with him “Somewhat.” The fact that Gene blatantly refuses to answer the questions is hilarious but he is one of the worst announcers ever. Thank god he found his calling in doing interviews because he really sucks on this show.

Rene Goulet vs. Sgt. Slaughter

Crowd is apeshit for Slaughter, who has red, white, and blue colors instead of camouflage. Sarge no sells a few slaps from Goulet before the bell. When the bell rings, Sarge backs Rene in the corner and gets a lifting chokehold. Sarge with a back elbow smash then a backdrop. Goulet punches back and bites Slaughter on the forehead. He chops Sarge before whipping him into the corner as Sarge does the oversell. Goulet stomps away as the crowd starts a loud “U-S-A” chant. Sarge fights back and tosses Goulet over the top rope. He suplexes him back in from the apron and gets the Cobra Clutch for the win (3:02)

Thoughts: Fine match and the crowd has transformed Slaughter into possibly the biggest face in the company at this point.

Tony Colon vs. Ivan Putski

Test of strength is won by Putski. Colon gets a headlock and some punches but plays to the crowd, allowing Putski to take advantage. Putski gets a chinlock and the crowd is completely silent. Colon breaks that up with an eye poke then comes backs with clubbing forearms. Putski fights back and tosses Colon outside. Back in, Colon ducks the Polish Hammer and plays to the crowd but gets caught and Putski connects on the second attempt for the pin (2:46).

Thoughts: Putski is struggling to get over with the crowds right now and should be phased out shortly. His offense sucks and he is too old and slow to make it look effective.

Next week’s main event is Tony Garea vs. Greg Valentine

Final Thoughts: Not bad, although a lot more filler than the previous week. We got a few fairly competitive squash matches though.