May 3, 1986
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon
This week in action are Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff, The Dream Team, The British Bulldogs, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, and the featured bout, Randy Savage & Bob Orton vs. Tito Santana & Paul Orndorff. Plus, the debut of the "Flower Shop" with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.
The Dream Team w/ Johnny Valiant vs. Don Driggers & Tony Garea
Garea looks so miserable here. Valentine pounds on him in the corner but Garea comes back with a hiptoss. Valentine catches Garea with an elbow and then tags Brutus, who does the same. Garea is able to get in a small package then tags Driggers, who immediately gets destroyed by Brutus. The Dream Team suplex Driggers around until Valentine makes him submit to the figure four (4:22).
Thoughts: They were pushing that the Dream Team were still angry over losing the tag belts. Garea's selling in this match was so fucking lazy. Usually in these matches, he gets to show off a bit while his partner gets abused but Garea did not get to do much and was not happy.
WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week, they show us how Terry Funk got injured by JYD at WrestleMania 2. Hayes lets us know that Funk's brother, Jimmy Jack Funk, will be temporarily taking his place. Jimmy Jack has yet to debut on TV by the way.
Al Navarro vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Steamboat easily escapes after being cornered by Navarro and fights back. He works a side headlock on the mat that Navarro escapes but Steamboat shows off his agility and speed in eluding him and regains control of the match. Navarro slams Steamboat, who fights right back and finishes him off with the flying body press (2:56).
Thoughts: The fans dug Steamboat, especially the kids. It was nice to see him in a singles match instead of teaming with King Tonga.
Mean Gene is with Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik who know that they can beat the British Bulldogs. This is the debut of the new interview background, which featured the WWF logo all over the blue backdrop.
Scott McGhee & John Centeno vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/ Freddie Blassie
The crowd starts a "USA" chant during the ring introductions. Sheik tosses Centeno around as Blassie joins on commentary and issues a challenge against the British Bulldogs for the belts. McGhee tags and hits a dropkick but ducks his head and Sheik boots him down. Both men tag out as Volkoff destroys Centeno as Blassie wants Kirchner to face the Sheik next week. Sheik tags then makes Centeno submit to the Camel Clutch (2:08).
Thoughts: They are building up the evil foreigners as a threat to the Bulldogs and continuing their feud with Kirchner.
Gene Okerlund is with Ricky Steamboat, who said he has had a rough year but took on all challengers. They all but tell us that his feud with Muraco and Fuji has ended then hints at a possible feud with Jake Roberts as Steamboat brings up the snake. This was done to hype their "Saturday Night's Main Event" match that took place the night this show aired.
Paul Christy & Cyclone Capone vs. British Bulldogs
No Albano this week. Davey gets a nearfall with a crossbody after an Irish whip sequence. Capone tags and Davey backdrops him and tags Dynamite, who kills him with a few suplexes. Davey tags and hits a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex as poor Capone is taking a shit-kicking. Davey grabs a chinlock then tags Dynamite who goes up top and Davey gives him Capone so Dynamite can hit a super powerslam for the win (3:04).
Thoughts: The Bulldogs were so damn impressive here and it looked even better because no one else in the company were wrestling the same style that they were and their moves were fresh and new to the WWF audience.
The Flower Shop makes it debut with host "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. The crowd immediately starts a "Faggot" chant then Adonis welcomes his first guest, Hillbilly Jim. Adonis questions Jim about his name then asks him the whereabouts of Uncle Elmer. Jim said that Elmer is hurt and that he will have to deal with him when he gets back. A rocky start to the "Flower Shop" segment as this just felt awkward and did nothing to advance his feud against the hillbillies.
Serge Jodoin vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Jake takes down Jodoin then they have a miscommunication spot that seems to have pissed off Jake. He beats on Jodoin, who is tied up in the ropes. Jake hits a press slam then targets the neck for a bit. He then drags Jodoin near the snake bag as Bobby Heenan joins the announcers table and tells us that Andre did not show up last week because he is "yellow" due to the abuse suffered from Bundy and Studd and wants the results of the investigation of Andre's whereabouts handed to him as Jake puts away Jodoin with the DDT (2:55). After the match, Jake dumps the snake on Jodoin.
Thoughts: Jake looked good but the big news here was on commentary when Heenan brought up how he wanted Andre to be investigated and called him out for not showing up last week
Tito Santana & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. "Cowboy" Bob Orton & Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Elizabeth
Orndorff catches Orton with a powerslam then Savage tags. Orndorff tags Tito and Savage jumps outside and stalls before tagging Orton. Orndorff comes back in and Orton takes him down. They fight over a headscissors on the mat then Orton gets two off of a backslide. Tito tags and works the arm of Orndorff but goes after Savage and Orton catches him with a backbreaker. Orton gets two off of a clothesline then Savage cheapshots Tito. Orton goes back on the attack but Tito escapes and tags Orndorff, who cleans house. Tito catches Orton with a powerslam but Savage knees Tito in the back. Savage then tags himself in and whips Tito but he comes back with the flying forearm and covers Savage for the win (4:08). The crowd popped big for that.
Thoughts: Fun match and a nice way to end the show. Tito was a fan favorite and the crowd loved him.
Okerlund is with Bobby Heenan, who cannot stop laughing at the hat Oklerund is wearing, calling him a "used boomerang salesman" referencing the WWF's recent trip to Australia. Studd & Bundy talk trash about Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and even Paul Orndorff and his $50,000 bounty, which has been a year-long storyline.
Next week, Corporal Kirchner vs. Iron Sheik will be the featured match as Kirchner accepted the challenge. Also, we will see highlights from the Ricky Steamboat vs. Jake Roberts match at SNME.
Final Thoughts: Fun show. The featured match was solid and they hinted at a feud between Jake and Steamboat. They also continue to build up teams for the Bulldogs to face and the new angle with Andre seems interesting. And for historical purposes, this had the debut of the "Flower Shop" segment.
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon
This week in action are Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff, The Dream Team, The British Bulldogs, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, and the featured bout, Randy Savage & Bob Orton vs. Tito Santana & Paul Orndorff. Plus, the debut of the "Flower Shop" with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.
The Dream Team w/ Johnny Valiant vs. Don Driggers & Tony Garea
Garea looks so miserable here. Valentine pounds on him in the corner but Garea comes back with a hiptoss. Valentine catches Garea with an elbow and then tags Brutus, who does the same. Garea is able to get in a small package then tags Driggers, who immediately gets destroyed by Brutus. The Dream Team suplex Driggers around until Valentine makes him submit to the figure four (4:22).
Thoughts: They were pushing that the Dream Team were still angry over losing the tag belts. Garea's selling in this match was so fucking lazy. Usually in these matches, he gets to show off a bit while his partner gets abused but Garea did not get to do much and was not happy.
WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week, they show us how Terry Funk got injured by JYD at WrestleMania 2. Hayes lets us know that Funk's brother, Jimmy Jack Funk, will be temporarily taking his place. Jimmy Jack has yet to debut on TV by the way.
Al Navarro vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Steamboat easily escapes after being cornered by Navarro and fights back. He works a side headlock on the mat that Navarro escapes but Steamboat shows off his agility and speed in eluding him and regains control of the match. Navarro slams Steamboat, who fights right back and finishes him off with the flying body press (2:56).
Thoughts: The fans dug Steamboat, especially the kids. It was nice to see him in a singles match instead of teaming with King Tonga.
Mean Gene is with Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik who know that they can beat the British Bulldogs. This is the debut of the new interview background, which featured the WWF logo all over the blue backdrop.
Scott McGhee & John Centeno vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/ Freddie Blassie
The crowd starts a "USA" chant during the ring introductions. Sheik tosses Centeno around as Blassie joins on commentary and issues a challenge against the British Bulldogs for the belts. McGhee tags and hits a dropkick but ducks his head and Sheik boots him down. Both men tag out as Volkoff destroys Centeno as Blassie wants Kirchner to face the Sheik next week. Sheik tags then makes Centeno submit to the Camel Clutch (2:08).
Thoughts: They are building up the evil foreigners as a threat to the Bulldogs and continuing their feud with Kirchner.
Gene Okerlund is with Ricky Steamboat, who said he has had a rough year but took on all challengers. They all but tell us that his feud with Muraco and Fuji has ended then hints at a possible feud with Jake Roberts as Steamboat brings up the snake. This was done to hype their "Saturday Night's Main Event" match that took place the night this show aired.
Paul Christy & Cyclone Capone vs. British Bulldogs
No Albano this week. Davey gets a nearfall with a crossbody after an Irish whip sequence. Capone tags and Davey backdrops him and tags Dynamite, who kills him with a few suplexes. Davey tags and hits a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex as poor Capone is taking a shit-kicking. Davey grabs a chinlock then tags Dynamite who goes up top and Davey gives him Capone so Dynamite can hit a super powerslam for the win (3:04).
Thoughts: The Bulldogs were so damn impressive here and it looked even better because no one else in the company were wrestling the same style that they were and their moves were fresh and new to the WWF audience.
The Flower Shop makes it debut with host "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. The crowd immediately starts a "Faggot" chant then Adonis welcomes his first guest, Hillbilly Jim. Adonis questions Jim about his name then asks him the whereabouts of Uncle Elmer. Jim said that Elmer is hurt and that he will have to deal with him when he gets back. A rocky start to the "Flower Shop" segment as this just felt awkward and did nothing to advance his feud against the hillbillies.
Serge Jodoin vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Jake takes down Jodoin then they have a miscommunication spot that seems to have pissed off Jake. He beats on Jodoin, who is tied up in the ropes. Jake hits a press slam then targets the neck for a bit. He then drags Jodoin near the snake bag as Bobby Heenan joins the announcers table and tells us that Andre did not show up last week because he is "yellow" due to the abuse suffered from Bundy and Studd and wants the results of the investigation of Andre's whereabouts handed to him as Jake puts away Jodoin with the DDT (2:55). After the match, Jake dumps the snake on Jodoin.
Thoughts: Jake looked good but the big news here was on commentary when Heenan brought up how he wanted Andre to be investigated and called him out for not showing up last week
Tito Santana & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. "Cowboy" Bob Orton & Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Elizabeth
Orndorff catches Orton with a powerslam then Savage tags. Orndorff tags Tito and Savage jumps outside and stalls before tagging Orton. Orndorff comes back in and Orton takes him down. They fight over a headscissors on the mat then Orton gets two off of a backslide. Tito tags and works the arm of Orndorff but goes after Savage and Orton catches him with a backbreaker. Orton gets two off of a clothesline then Savage cheapshots Tito. Orton goes back on the attack but Tito escapes and tags Orndorff, who cleans house. Tito catches Orton with a powerslam but Savage knees Tito in the back. Savage then tags himself in and whips Tito but he comes back with the flying forearm and covers Savage for the win (4:08). The crowd popped big for that.
Thoughts: Fun match and a nice way to end the show. Tito was a fan favorite and the crowd loved him.
Okerlund is with Bobby Heenan, who cannot stop laughing at the hat Oklerund is wearing, calling him a "used boomerang salesman" referencing the WWF's recent trip to Australia. Studd & Bundy talk trash about Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and even Paul Orndorff and his $50,000 bounty, which has been a year-long storyline.
Next week, Corporal Kirchner vs. Iron Sheik will be the featured match as Kirchner accepted the challenge. Also, we will see highlights from the Ricky Steamboat vs. Jake Roberts match at SNME.
Final Thoughts: Fun show. The featured match was solid and they hinted at a feud between Jake and Steamboat. They also continue to build up teams for the Bulldogs to face and the new angle with Andre seems interesting. And for historical purposes, this had the debut of the "Flower Shop" segment.
I'm here for the Stranger in the Alps run in.
ReplyDeleteYou enjoy bad comebacks I take it.
ReplyDeleteNice review, Brian.
ReplyDeleteDid your mom stick it on the refrigerator when you showed it to her?
Wait, Paul Christy?
ReplyDeleteAs in the world's worst Tuesday Night Titans guest Paul Christy? Failed psychic Paul Christy? THAT GUY?
How did Cyclone Capone not become huge!
ReplyDeleteYou didn't know? IGNORANCE! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
ReplyDeleteIn Bret Hart's book he wrote that the plan was for Sheik and Volkoff to win the belts from the Bulldogs, but Dynamite killed it because he refused to drop them to anyone except the Hart Foundation. It looks like the seeds were being planted here for Sheik and Nikolai's win.
ReplyDeleteYou're half right. That conversation took place at the hospital after his surgery and Vince was forced to take the titles off them. It wasn't planneduntil he was hurt. This was jaJanuary 1987
ReplyDelete