WWF Championship Wrestling September 7th, 1985

September 7, 1985

Your hosts are Jesse Ventura (subbing for Bruno Sammartino) and Vince McMahon

Tonight, we will see footage of the Tag Team Title change from the Philadelphia Spectrum. In action are the Killer Bees, Don Muraco, Randy Savage, and Adrian Adonis.

Tiger Chung Lee & Jerry Adams vs. Killer Bees

Ventura puts down the trunks of the Bees before joking how they need antennas on their heads. He then puts over the bodies and wrestling ability. The Bees work over Lee as Freddie Blassie joins the booth and says that he will win the “Manager of the Year” award as he has votes pouring in from Russia and Iran. He then makes fun of Albano for being fat as Brunzell dropkicks Adams for the win (2:24). After the match, the announcers put over Brunzell’s dropkick.

Thoughts: Not much of a match as it was short and the focus on commentary was about the “Manager of the Year” award.

Vince asks Jesse who he is voting for the “Manager of the Year” award and he says Bobby Heenan, after being told that Elizabeth was ineligible.

WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week, the focus is on Paul Orndorff and how he is destroying all of his opponents.

Don Muraco w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Jimmy Jackson

Jackson has a great physique but doesn’t look more than 5’8. The crowd starts up a “beach bum” chant before the match. Muraco destroys Jackson to start. He grabs a front facelock then takes him to the mat. He then knocks Jackson down a few times before putting him away with the tombstone (2:04).

Thoughts: Dominate squash for Muraco. Surprisingly, no mention of his feud with Steamboat on commentary.

We are shown a commercial for “Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” cartoon.

Gene Okerlund brings out Hulk Hogan, who will be facing Big John Studd in Los Angeles on Spetember 18^th. Hogan says that he talked with his brothers in LA and how he won’t be able to come back home if he loses the match. He will also be “Wired on high-test” and the title will stay with him.

Ron Shaw vs. Cousin Junior w/ Hillbilly Jim & Uncle Elmer

This is the TV debut for Cousin Junior, the former TV jobber Lanny Kean. The Hillbillies slap hands with the fans for a few minutes before the match. Vince mentions that Elmer will be married soon, which has Jesse wondering if he is marrying a sow. The match finally starts and with Junior backing Shaw into the corner repeatedly. Junior hits a clothesline then hits a mule kick for the win (1:21). After the match, Junior danced in a wacky way that had to be seen to be believed.

Thoughts: The match itself was terrible and the crowd didn’t seem to give a shit about it but they were digging when the celebrated with them before and after the match.  

Freddie Miller is backstage with the Junkyard Dog. He says that he is not scared of Terry Funk and wishes luck to Hogan in his match against Studd.

Adrian Adonis w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Mike Saxon

Saxon was a jobber with a jheri curl that did a bad impersonation of Michael Jackson. Before the match, Howard Finkel introduced the Canadian Heavyweight Champion, Dino Bravo, to the crowd. Bravo was in a suit and had black hair, which was his normal color. He was more slender then too. Adonis, on the other hand, as gained a lot of weight since the last set of TV tapings. The crowd starts an “Orndorff” chant at Heenan. Saxon lands a headbutt but Adonis fights right back. He chops him down then works the leg before hitting a running powerslam for the win (1:31).

Thoughts: Adonis could still go in the ring but was really packing on the pounds at this point. He had bigger tits than Elizabeth.

Piper’s Pit with guests Bobby Heenan and Big John Studd. Piper puts over Studd as the true giant in wrestling. He then shows us a clip of the “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” cartoon before bringing out the action figure of Andre the Giant, wondering why Studd doesn’t have one of his own, when Heenan pulls out a Studd figure from his coat pocket. Piper and Studd then re-create what will happen when they meet, with Studd destroying Andre. Piper was pretty funny here.

Joe Mirto vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth

This is the first time that Elizabeth managed Savage on TV. It is also the debut of Savaage using “Pomp and Circumstance” as his theme song. Jesse is still upset that Elizabeth is not eligible for the “Manager of the Year” award as the crowd goes crazy for Elizabeth. Savage is wearing an American Flag robe with “Savage” written on the back. Savage starts by toying with Mirto. He dumps him outside and follows with a double axe handle before rolling him back inside and getting the win with the flying elbow smash (1:22). After the match, Savage goes back on top and hits another elbow.

Thoughts: Savage was fucking awesome as a heel. Adding Elizabeth added a whole new dynamic too. They were a great act the moment they started.

Gene Okerlund is with Cowboy Bob Orton. He questions Orton about his cast, who is tired of hearing about his cast and lets everyone know that his arm didn’t heal right and he will have to wear it until he quits wrestling. He assures us that Roddy Piper will be sitting on top of the world for a very long time.

We are shown the last few minutes of the Tag Team Title change in Philadelphia when Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake defeated Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo after using Johnny Valiant’s cigar on Windham’s eye.

Now, we are shown an interview from Maple Leaf Wrestling which Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura speak with Valentine & Beefcake and Johnny Valiant.

Final Thoughts: The matches were a lot shorter than usual tonight. It was good to see how the tag titles changed hands too. But other than that, you didn’t really miss much here. My copies of the next two shows are screwed up so I will post the September 28th show this weekend and the Spectrum September house show next week.