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Yearly Review: WWF July 1988

Hulk Hogan makes his return to television. Plus, Rick Rude continues to get under Jake Roberts skin.


WWF World Championship scene: (currently held by: Randy Savage)
At the July 13th taping of Superstars, Randy Savage revealed that Hulk Hogan would be his tag partner for the big tag match against Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant at Summer Slam. Hogan made his return to television and announced that Miss Elizabeth would be managing them for the bout.

Savage would seemingly end his singles feud with Ted DiBiase by defeating DiBiase at WrestleFest ’88 on July 31st. Savage had defeated DiBiase countless times on the house show market as well. Can Savage and Hogan coexist and defeat DiBiase and Andre? We will find out next month!

WWF Intercontinental Championship scene: (currently held by Honky Tonk Man)

At the July 13th taping of WWF Superstars, Honky Tonk Man announced that Brutus Beefcake would have his final chance to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship at Summer Slam.

Throughout the month, they continued to have matches with each man picking up wins or in Beefcake’s case disqualification wins.

Can Beefcake finally win the WWF Intercontinental Championship at Summer Slam?

WWF World Tag Team Championship scene: (currently held by Demolition)

At the July 13th taping of WWF Superstars, an alliance between Demolition and Jimmy Hart was announced. Hart revealed that he would be in Demolition’s corner as they compete against the Hart Foundation at Summer Slam.

Demolition wouldn’t wrestle the Hart Foundation on the house show market during the month. Instead, they competed against the Powers of Pain and the British Bulldogs. They lost several matches against the Powers Pain but luckily for them they were non-title bouts.

Other Happenings:
- Greg Valentine and Don Muraco continued to feud. At the July 14th taping of Wrestling Challenge, Muraco tried to use Valentine’s shin guard while putting on the figure four, but failed after Jimmy Hart made the save for Valentine. After wrestling to a time limit draw on the July 25th MSG show, Valentine attacked Superstar Billy Graham until Muraco made the save. Valentine would normally win their house show matches throughout the month.

- Rick Rude continued to get under Jake Roberts skin. Rude wore wrestling tights with Roberts’s wife Cheryl’s face painted on them. They would continue to have matches on the house show market, with each man picking up wins either by pin fall or by disqualification. Roberts would get some measure of revenge a few times by putting Damien on Rude.

- The Rockers lost their first match of their WWF careers to the Rougeau Brothers at the July 25th MSG show. Before the lost, the Rockers had a brief undefeated streak lasting around a month.

- Big Bossman continued his winning ways picking up several wins over Sam Houston. Bossman continued to handcuff his opponents after the matches and beat them senseless with his nightstick.

- The Ultimate Warrior continued his winning ways with victories over Bobby Heenan, Dino Bravo and Hercules throughout the month. Warrior has yet to lose during his WWF career.

- Jim Duggan and Andre the Giant continued to feud throughout the month. Andre would win most of their bouts. They also competed in several lumberjack matches with Andre still coming out on top.

Bob's Reaction: 
Considering Andre is on his last legs when it comes to in-ring performing, I'm rather surprised that Duggan wasn't able to have more success against Andre. Duggan was always a popular guy for the WWF, and winning a feud against Andre could have propelled him up the card further.

The feud between Rick Rude and Jake Roberts continues to be a bright spot as well for the WWF. Rude is an incredible heel and knows how to rile up a crowd.

It's understandable that DiBiase failed to win the championship, but I found his feud with Savage to be entertaining and didn't feel like it dragged along. The matches on the house shows were also nicely done.

Warrior and Bossman both appear to be rising up the card pretty quickly. Both men would have major roles in the WWF in just a few months.

What are your memories of the WWF at this time? Feel free to share them below.

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Comments

  1. Dibiase holding the title with Savage chasing and finally winning the title wouldve probably meant more money but it worked out the way they booked it.


    I disagree about having Duggan win the Andre feud, it would be like Santino beating Undertaker at Mania XXX.

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  2. I just want to say how much I'm really enjoying these trips down memory lane. They are like the story of the wwf as told if everything was real. I do love the backstage, "this is what really was going on," stories as well, but it's fun to read these tales in the way they were meant to be showcased. Summerslam can't get here fast enough, I can't stand Honky Tonk Man as the Intercontinental champion!

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