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WWF Championship Wrestling: May 4th, 1985

May 4th, 1985

Your hosts are Jesse Ventura (Filling in tonight for Bruno Sammartino) and Vince McMahon.

In action tonight are the British Bulldogs, Don Muraco, and Paul Orndorff, who will be without Bobby Heenan. Also, Ricky Steamboat and King Kong Bundy are in action and Piper's Pit with Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo.


Dave Barbie vs. Ricky Steamboat

The crowd is loud for Steamboat. He dodges a few attacks before taking down Barbie with an armdrag. He continues to work the arm until he gets caught with a slam. Barbie misses an elbow drop then Steamboat goes back to the arm. Barbie lands a few knee smashes in the corner but eats boot on a charge. Steamboat knocks him down with a double chop then puts him away with a forearm drop after a flying body press (4:12).

Thoughts: A bit on the dull side as most of this was Steamboat working on the arm. Looks Like Barbie screwed up the finish as he didn't catch Steamboat on the flying body press. Steamboat just rolled off of him.


WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week's subject is Greg Valentine and we see a clip of him making a jobber submit to the figure four. Hayes says that the Junkyard Dog is looking for a rematch.


Mario Mancini vs. King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart

Ventura makes a joke at the expense of Bundy, stating they can use his back as the screen at a drive-in movie theater. Bundy knocks down Mancini with a back elbow smash. He slams him with one arm then hits a clothesline. The fans start a "Ding Dong" chant aimed at Bundy, who roughs up Mancini in the corner. Bundy hits the Avalanche then drops the elbow for the win, making the referee use the five count (2:33).

Thoughts: Vince was putting over Bundy strong on commentary. The fans hated Bundy too, which is a good sign for the new monster heel the WWF is trying to push.


Freddie Miller is with Roddy Piper and Bob Orton. They are cutting a promo on Jimmy Snuka, who is teaming with Hulk Hogan against Piper & Orton at the Boston Garden. Piper brings up American History and laughs at the idea of the Boston Tea Party and says that Hogan is afraid of him and brought Snuka in the match as someone who is "tough and dumb" that can face him.


Charlie Fulton vs. Paul Orndorff

Heenan comes out after Orndorff, who then grabs the mic and says that Heenan is fired. The fans go nuts as does Heenan. Ventura thinks Orndorff is stupid as a "Weasel" chant breaks out. Fulton grabs a side headlock but Orndorff escapes and hits a knee smash. He tosses Fulton to the floor then stares at Heenan. Orndorff suplexes Fulton back into the ring then destroys him with a clothesline before hitting the piledriver for the win (2:12). After the match, Heenan continues to rant and rave.

Thoughts: Although not a full-fledged babyface yet, Orndorff received about 75% cheers after the match. It seems that Heenan will be finding a guy to feud with Orndorff going forward. The slow-turn for Orndorff has worked out well so far.


Freddie Miller is now with Greg Valentine, who will be facing the Junkyard Dog at the Boston Garden. Valentine is pissed that JYD slapped Jimmy Hart at WrestleMania. Valentine calls JYD a "nasty black person" then says that he find out real soon that he is the master of the figure-four leglock.


Jim Neidhart & Brett Hart w/Jimmy Hart vs. Jim Londos & Jim Powers

Ventura puts over the team of Neidhart & Hart. Brett beats on Powers for a bit. Powers comes back with a ugly-looking crossbody that gets two. Londos tags but Hart hits a backbreaker and tags Neidhart. Londos is getting destroyed then they hit him with the Hart Attack for the win (2:35).

Thoughts: The Hart Foundation looked impressive and Ventura was putting them over strong on commentary.


Piper's Pit with Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo. Piper says that he is with a couple of losers then is handed a roll of toilet paper from Orton, which Piper says represents their talent and that they can use that to wipe away their tears. Rotundo makes a skirt joke and Windham calls him as "has-been nothing" as Piper unwinds the roll of toilet paper. Windham and Rotundo get up and wrap it around Piper then throw it at him as they leave. Fun stuff.


Joe Mirto vs. Don Muraco w/ Mr. Fuji

Muraco attacks Mirto from behind to start. He hits a few snapmares then hits a kneelift. The crowd angers Muraco with a "beach bum" chant as he continues to destroy Mirto. Muraco catches Mirto off an Irish whip then puts him away with the tombstone (3:00).

Thoughts: Dull as Muraco is starting to decline as a worker.


Rusty Brooks & A.J. Petruzzi vs. British Bulldogs

Ventura puts over the Bulldogs for their innovative offense. Davey hits a crossbody and a sunset flip before tagging Dynamite. He hits a snap suplex and a leg drop. Dynamite is going full speed here. He hits a few more suplexes before tagging Davey. Petruzzi gets hit with a running powerslam then is able to fight back. Tag to Dynamite who kills Petruzzi with a dropkick. Brooks tags and the Bulldogs hit him with a double shoulderblock. After a bit, Petruzzi tags and hits a slam before tagging right back out. Petruzzi breaks up a sleeper hold then the match breaks down. The heels collide and Davey launches Dynamite at Brooks as he hits a headbutt. His head completely misses Brooks and hits off the mat but he covers Brooks anyway for the win (5:14).

Thoughts: The Bulldogs looked awesome and again, Ventura was putting over another new tag team strong on commentary


Freddie Miller is with Tito Santana, who will be facing Brutus Beefcake at the Boston Garden. He mentions that Beefcake and Valentine are becoming friends and says that he will come out fighting. Santana leaves then Hulk Hogan comes out. He says that first, he wanted Piper and Orton by himself. But now that he has a partner, he promises that it will be bigger than WrestleMania and that Snuka has taught him how to fly.


Next Week, Bruno Sammartino will be back. Ventura makes fun of him then puts over the British Bulldogs. In action next week are Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo. Also the team of Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake, Ken Patera, Jesse Ventura, and the debut of Mad Maxine.


Final Thoughts: Good show. Ventura was a breath of fresh air on commentary and brought life to the show. Bruno is incredibly dull in his role. Unfortunately, it was a one-shot deal for Jesse. Still, he was shining on commentary  during the "All-Star Wrestling/Maple Leaf Wrestling" shows with Jack Reynolds and on "Prime Time Wrestling" as well. The push of the tag team division continues and the Orndorff angle is going along great.

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