WWF Championship Wrestling July 6th, 1985

July 6^th, 1985

Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon

Tonight’s main event will be Ricky Steamboat vs. Don Muraco. Plus, the television in-ring debut of Uncle Elmer. Also making his TV debut is the “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Plus “Piper’s Pit” with Terry Funk and matches involving King Kong Bundy and the British Bulldogs.

British Bulldogs vs. Barry O. & Dave Barbie

Dynamite takes down Barry a few times before hitting a snap suplex. Barry accidentally hits Barbie when Dynamite ducked a punch then tags Davey. Vince puts over the Bulldogs recent tour of Japan as Barbie is working over Davey. He misses an elbow drop then Davey hits a slam. Dynamite tags and takes his head off with a clothesline then hits a back suplex. Barbie gets hit with a double shoulder block then Dynamite locks on a sleeper. Barry breaks that with an elbow smash from the middle rope. The match breaks down and Barry gets knocked out of the ring. Barbie gets knocked down and Davey launches Dynamite halfway across the ring, who uses a diving headbutt for the win (4:27).

Thoughts: Dynamite looked incredible in the ring and was put over strong on commentary. His movement was on a whole other level from the rest of the company. Once the Bulldogs returned from Japan, they started to get a push.

WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week’s subject is Roddy Piper and how he runs his mouth. We are shown a clip of “Piper’s Pit” from the first “Saturday Night’s Main Event.”

Sal Gee vs. King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart

Bundy brushes off Gee with ease. He roughs him up in the corner as Hart agitates the fans. He drops a knee but pulls up Gee at two. Bundy chops Gee as Vince plugs the “Manager of the Year” award. Bundy then hits the Avalanche before putting Gee away with an elbow drop, insisting the referee for the five count (2:34).

Thoughts: About what you would expect to happen here. Bundy was in neutral at this point, as he was only squashing lower card talent and not involved in any feuds.

Freddie Miller runs down the card for the “King of the Ring” tournament. Greg Valentine and Jimmy Hart then come out, with Valentine doing all of the talking. He doesn’t care about winning a trophy. Valentine cut a decent enough heel promo.

A.J. Petruzzi vs. Uncle Elmer w/Hillbilly Jim

Elmer spends a few minutes with the fans before entering the ring. He is carrying a cowbell with him. The camera focuses on the injured leg of Jim. The match starts with Petruzzi bouncing off of Elmer a few times, much to the delight of Jim. He shoves Petruzzi in the corner before bouncing Petruzzi off of him a few times. He hits a few slams then hits a leg drop for the win (1:46). After the match, he and Jim dance in the ring as Vince is happy as can be.

Thoughts: Elmer was really bad in the ring. He did get over a bit here and Vince was strongly pushing him on commentary. It wouldn’t last though. The real reason for him was to keep the injured Hillbilly Jim on TV.

Freddie Miller is with the Iron Sheik. Not much of an interview and Sheik wasn’t as crazy as usual so that was disappointing.

Jose Luis Rivera & Paul Roma vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake w/Jimmy Hart & Johnny Valiant

Valentine suplexes Rivera then works the arm. Vince alerts us that Terry Funk was fined $5,000 after beating up Mel Phillips last week. Rivera fights back against Beefcake then tags Roma, who gets backed into the opposing corner. Valentine fights off both men  until Rivera gets the upper hand. He hits a dropkick but Valentine makes a blind tag and Beefcake nails Rivera with a jumping knee smash for the win (2:51).

Thoughts: Match was forgettable but the team of Valentine & Beefcake were starting to gel.

Piper’s Pit with guest Terry Funk. Piper asks Funk why he is looking at him with envy and he says that he is jealous of Hogan, JYD, and even Piper himself because they make more money than him. We see the replay of Funk assaulting Phillips as Funk says that you do not put on a cowboy’s hat then puts over his toughness. Funk is then on his knees and says that he wants to be remembered for taking out JYD and killing rock ‘n’ roll. Funk was great here and the crowd already hates him.

Aldo Marino vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

Savage hits an arm drag then taunts the crowd. Marino hits an arm drag of his own then we are shown all of the heel managers at ringside, scouting Savage. Marino gets a sunset flip but Savage comes back with a clothesline. The crowd starts a “weasel” chant as Savage tosses Marino to the floor. He follows him out with a double axe handle from the top rope. Back in the ring, he slams Marino then puts him away with two flying elbow drops (2:45). All of the managers come into the ring to congratulate Savage, who decides to inflict some more punishment onto Marino, which further impresses the managers.

Thoughts: Great TV debut for Savage. The angle of Savage being the hottest free agent was a great choice for his debut too. It made him feel that much more special.  

Ricky Steamboat gives us a PSA about quit smoking cigarettes so we can breathe “good, clean air.”

Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Don Muraco w/Mr. Fuji

This is the first time on TV in which Steamboat was referred to as “The Dragon.” Steamboat sends Muraco to the corner with his martial arts poses. He then catches Muraco with some chops then an enziguiri. Muraco gets his knees up on a splash attempt then headbutts Steamboat in the groin from the second rope. They fight over a bridge and that ends in a standoff. Steamboat works the arm as Vince announces that next week the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff will defend their Tag Team titles against Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham. Muraco hits Steamboat with a Samoan drop then beats on him in the corner. Steamboat fights back then ends up on the apron. Steamboat fights back and hits a top rope chop. Both men spill outside and Muraco rams Steamboat into the guardrail. Steamboat hits Muraco with an atomic drop, who ends up colliding with Fuji, then rolls inside just beating the ten count for the win (4:58).

Thoughts: Fun match, which certainly seems to be setting up for a feud between the two.

Freddie Miller is now with Nikolai Volkoff, who will be facing Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship at the King of the Ring. Volkoff says he hates Hogan for having the belt, which belongs to him. He then takes off his shirt and starts putting over his physique.

Next week, the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff will defend the Tag Team Titles against Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo. In action will be Paul Orndorff, Missing Link, George Steele, Pedro Morales, and Terry Funk. Plus, “Piper’s Pit” with “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Final Thoughts: Good show this week. The main event was good and we had the TV debut of Randy Savage and the manager angle. Plus, Terry Funk did well on “Piper’s Pit” and next week, the Tag Team Titles are on the line. The WWF feels a lot more exciting now, with the new talents and feuds.