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WWF Boston Garden August 15th, 1987

August 15, 1987

From the Boston Garden in Boston, MA. 

Your hosts are Lord Alfred Hayes and Jimmy Hart




Barry Horowitz vs. Dingo Warrior

For those who are unaware, Dingo Warrior would later go on to become the Ultimate Warrior. He had the same appearance but came out to "The Warrior" by Scandal and was billed from New York. He would not make his TV debut until a few months later. Match starts with Warrior shoving Horowitz around. He sends Horowitz through the ropes with a shoulderblock but the fans are not impressed as they chant "boring." Horowtiz stalls for a bit then re-enters only to get knocked down again. Warrior hits a hiptoss then easily breaks out of a full nelson as he applies one of his own. Horowitz puts his feet on the top rope to break the hold so Warrior just drops him. Warrior then chops Horowitz in the corner but misses a corner splash as Horowitz beats on Warrior for a bit. Warrior fights right back and hits a slam but misses an elbow drop as Horowitz covers for a one count. My tape is fuzzy but I see that Horowitz misses a dropkick then gets clotheslined. Horowitz begs for mercy and hits Warrior low. However, Warrior catches Horowitz with a press slam then gets the win with a splash (4:41) 1/4*. 

Thoughts: Warrior looked impressive physically but was awful in the ring. He was even too bad to be featured on TV at this point. Horowitz was a true pro here and took some nice bumps to prevent it from being a disaster.



Nikolai Volkoff w/ Slick vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff

No Orndorff for Heenan here (Heenan was in Philadelphia for the show at the Spectrum) and he had not officially turned yet on television but was cheered loudly by the crowd in Boston. Volkoff attacks Orndorff with the flag then chokes him out against the ropes. Volkoff hammers away until Orndorff fights back and knocks him down. Orndorff takes Volkoff down with a kneelift then rakes the eyes as the referee backs him away. They go back and forth for a bit eventually fighting over a wristlock. Voloff grabs a side headlock and works the back until he misses a charge. Orndorff works the arm but whiffs on a clothesline and ends up in a bearhug that ends up looking like some sort of Kama Sutra position. Volkoff gets a nearfall with a rollup after using the ropes for leverage then puts Orndorff in a Boston Crab. Orndorff turns that into a rollup and lands a few strikes. Volkoff then wants a test of strength and they both fight over that for a minute as the fans start a "boring" chant. They brawl in the corner and Orndorff wins that. He then hits a dropkick and an elbow drop but misses a second attempt. Volkoff misses a charge as Orndorff hits an elbow smash from the top then gets the win with a clothesline (8:57) 1/2*. 

Thoughts: This match sucked. Orndorff still looked really hurt and Volkoff was just useless here. It was like he refused to bump or something as this match was all restholds and basic strikes. Both guys were really floundering in the WWF at this point but would get some use in the coming weeks.



Lord Alfred Hayes is backstage with Ted DiBiase and Virgil. DiBiase says he is the newest living legend in Boston and tells his opponent, Sivi Afi, that he looks like he "stepped out of a coconut tree" and that he is nothing more than a steppingstone. 



Sivi Afi vs. "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil

Slick has now replaced Hart on commentary. DiBiase is billed from Hyannisport here. Match starts with DiBiase cheapshotting Afi after a break. They then trade arm wringers until DiBiase retreats to the corner. DiBiase then comes back with a few armdrags and a hiptoss as some of the fans applaud (Boston had a small, vocal heel section at the shows) as some guy calls him an "asshole." DiBiase is in complete control here as he hits another flurry of offense. Afi comes back with a crossbody for two but runs into a clothesline. DiBiase puts the boots to Afi then beats him up in the corner. He hits an elbow smash from the second rope then slams Afi's head off of the mat. He now grabs a chinlock but misses an elbow drop as Afi fights back. Lord Alfred sells this comeback like the biggest moment in wrestling history. He tries a crossbody but DiBiase catches him with a powerslam then applies the Cobra Clutch and turns that into a legsweep to get the win (6:28) *1/4. After the match, DiBiase tells us that he seriously considered staying at his Summer home but being the gracious man that he is, he decided to come in order to not disappoint the fans. He then tells the fans that all the sports legends in Boston pale in comparison to himself. DiBiase then tells us he is rich and we are poor so he will be generous because everyone has a price as he offers $300 to a fan for kissing his foot. Virgil then takes off DiBiase's boot as a woman all dressed up comes in the ring and kisses his foot for the money. 

Thoughts: A really long squash match. DiBiase looked good and got some cheers. The main thing though was that they got over his post match antics as building up his character was the most important thing and it worked on this show.



Hayes is with Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man, who is part of the six-man elimination tag match tonight. Honky promises to defeat Bruno Sammartino in the match. 



Elimination Match
Hart Foundation & Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana & Jake "The Snake" Roberts & Bruno Sammartino

Johnny V. has now replaced Slick on commentary. Roberts clears the heels from the ring with Damien. The match finally gets underway with Bret and Santana as Honky refused to get into the ring with Bruno. Bret misses a charge in the corner then gets pummeled by the babyface side. Roberts tags and works the arm of Bret, who slips out of a DDT attempt and takes a breather outside. Neidhart tags in and grounds Roberts with a test of strength but Roberts kicks out. Roberts then gets trapped in the wrong corner as Neidhart holds up Roberts for Honky. The heels use quick tags in order to neutralize Roberts and that lasts for a few minutes until Honky gets hit with a kneelift then misses a charge. Roberts hammers away on Honky, who is begging for mercy. He flattens him with a clothesline then plays up to the crowd until Honky pulls the ropes on him. Jimmy Hart goes over to Roberts, who backs him up but Honky hits Roberts with the megaphone while the referee was distracted and he gets counted out for the first elimination (7:04). Bruno gets in as he gets trapped in the corner by all three heels until Santana makes the save. The ref orders him back to the apron as Bruno gets triple-teamed in the corner. Bruno dodges a charging Neidhart and makes the tag to Santana as the crowd erupts. He hits Bret with a crossbody that Neidhart breaks up then Bruno comes in as the match breaks down. The Hart Foundation try to double-team Tito, who ducks a double clothesline then hits Bret with a flying forearm as Bruno tripped up Neidhart and gets the pin (10:11) as the crowd goes nuts. Neidhart and Santana are in now as Neidhart takes control after a knee smash. Santana gets worked over in the corner and tries to escape. Neidhart tags back in and cuts him off to hit a slam but misses an elbow drop. Santana stomps away then hits a slam but Jimmy Hart trips him up then Neidhart covers for the pin (12:19). Neidhart and Honky try to ambush Bruno but he ends up destroying them both. However, Bruno gets outnumbered as Honky now takes control of the match. He tags in Neidhart and as Honky distracts the ref, Bruno ducks as Hart accidentally hits Neidhart with the megaphone then Bruno covers for the pin as it is down to Bruno and Honky (14:02). Honky immediately attacks Bruno and pounds away in the corner then stops to taunt the crowd. He hits a few kneedrops then they end up in a criss-cross as Bruno knees Honky in the face and gets the win (15:05) ***. After the match, Bruno chases Hart out of the ring as the crowd goes nuts for Bruno. 

Thoughts: Fun match that was all action and easily the best on the card. It did die down at the end and it would have been nice to see Honky and Bruno got a bit longer but still a good time. The Hart Foundation and Honky were really over as heels here.



Brady Boone vs. Iron Mike Sharpe

Slick is back on commentary to witness this classic. Sharpe works over the back of Boone to start. Boone comes back after dodging a charge then hitting a few armdrags. Sharpe ducks outside for a breather to rile up the fans. Back inside, Boone gets two off of a rollup as the announcers put over his agility. Boone bounces off of Sharpe but slides underneath him and hits a dropkick. Sharpe bails once again after getting hit with a few armdrags but comes back inside and knocks Boone down as Slick tells us the One Man Gang will beat Hulk Hogan as he puts over his offense. Boone manages a reverse rollup but Sharpe immediately attacks his back. He rams Boone into the corner a few times but gets caught with a monkey flip. Boone hits a pair of dropkicks but misses an elbow drop as Sharpe uses clubbing forearms on the back. Boone then takes Sharpe down and leg drops him in the nuts as Sharpe now begs for mercy. Sharpe hits another clubbing forearm after Boone ducked his head then tosses him to the floor. He knocks Boone off of the apron with another forearm smash then taunts the crowd. Boone comes in and hits a jumping back elbow smash and a few kicks that result in a nearfall. Dropkick gets two. The referee backed Boone out of the corner as he would not break and that allows Sharpe to load up his forearm sleeve and hit Boone for the win (9:43) *1/4. 

Thoughts: Man, this was dull. At least Boone did some athletic stuff but the crowd sat on their hands for this one. I'm pretty sure that 95% of Sharpe's offense consisted of forearm smashes. Poor Boone couldn't even beat Sharpe. The guy came along about 15 years too late as he was far too short to get a push but could work and very athletic.



Hayes is now with Little Beaver and Hillbilly Jim, who will be facing the One Man Gang tonight. Jim puts over Gang and says that if Slick tries to interfere, Little Beaver will prevent him. 



One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. Hillbilly Jim w/ Little Beaver

Johnny V. is back on commentary. Jim takes his time slapping hands with the fans as Johnny makes fun of Little Beaver. He actually said he looked like a dropout from Harvard University and that made me laugh for some reason. Beaver then goes inside and bites Slick in the ass as the crowd goes nuts. Jim then has Slick's hat and teases tossing it into the crowd until he gives it back. Match starts with Gang shoving Jim around a few times. They collide a few times until Jim catches him with a boot. Gang then grabs a side headlock as Beaver heads into the ring but gets ordered back outside as he stands on the apron but he then comes back in and interferes as Gang is now pissed off. Back to the match as they battle over a test of strength for a long time as Beaver sneaks back in and whacks Gang in the ass with his moccasin. Jim then sends Gang into the corner as Beaver bites him in the ass. Jim hammers away but Gang fights back and knocks him down. Gang chokes him out against the ropes then distracts the ref as Slick interferes. Beaver comes back in after seeing this and that allows Gang and Slick to double-team Jim. Slick cheapshots Jim outside as Hayes is disgusted while Johnny brings up a perfectly valid point how he did not complain when Beaver did the same things. Gang misses a corner charge as Jim holds Gang's legs up while Beaver comes in and hits a splash. The ref chases Beaver around then Jim runs into a big boot. Gang beats on Jim then Beaver comes back in to whack him in the ass. Slick chases around Beaver then gets decked by Jim as Gang comes after him. Jim rolls into the ring just before the ten count to get the win via countout (12:47) 1/4*. After the match, Gang tosses Jim then beats down Beaver before hitting him with a splash. Christ, that looked more painful than when Bundy dropped the elbow on him at WrestleMania III. Jim then rolls inside as Gang leaves with slick to check on his friend, who is not moving on the canvas. Jim then picks him up and carries him to the back. 

Thoughts: This was a garbage comedy match, featuring a guy that was being groomed to face Hogan on the house show circuit. Having a midget whack him in the ass with a moccasin, and be the focal point of this, was ridiculous. The fans were into it at the beginning but that died down soon. Gang did get some heat back at the end but why bother protecting Jim, who was barely on TV at this point?



Rougeau Brothers vs. Dino Bravo & Johnny V. 

Valentine was also at the Spectrum show, facing Brutus Beefcake. Before the match, Jacques tells us that Brutus Beefcake wants us to know that he has given Johnny a new name, which is "skinhead." The crowd chants that at Johnny as the match is underway. Jacques dropkicks Johnny to the floor to start off the match. After some stalling, Bravo tags in as Raymond hits him with a crossbody for two after Johnny broke up the pin. Bravo yanks Raymond down by the hair and stomps away but is unaware a tag was made and eats a double dropkick. Jacques gets two with a splash but gets caught with an inverted atomic drop while attempting a monkey flip. Johnny tags and stomps away then distracts the ref as Bravo chokes Jacques out from behind. Jacques is getting double-teamed then Bravo grabs a bearhug as the fans rally behind him. Jacques eats a double elbow smash then the match breaks down after Raymond is sick of the cheating. The ref orders him back as Bravo hits Jacques with a side slam. Leg drop gets two. Jacques continues to get double-teamed as Bravo hits another side slam but misses an elbow drop as both men are down. He makes the tag to Raymond, who beats the crap out of Johnny V. Bravo breaks up a pin attempt then tries to break up another one but accidentally leg dropped Johnny. Jacques then dropkicks Bravo to the floor as Raymond covers Johnny for the win (8:47) *. 

Thoughts: Basic tag match that was even worse when Johnny V. was in the match. And having the crowd chant "skinhead" at Johnny seemed odd and for all I know an inside joke or sorts. Bobby Heenan said he was a despicable person so maybe he was racist too? Who knows that is just me throwing something out there. Anyway, the New Dream Team/Rougeaus feud has run its course.



Final Thoughts: Not a good show. The WWF had four shows this day, with Hogan vs. Savage the main event in both Fort Wayne, IN and Springfield, IL. So, as you saw here, the talent was spread on thin. Besides the elimination match and DiBiase, nothing was worth watching. I guess if you are curious to see the Ultimate Warrior before he made it to TV you can watch that but this card sucked as a whole. A lot of these matches were shown on the 8/31/87 edition of "Primetime Wrestling."



Here is my schedule for the next several days: 

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Rey Mysterio (2015)
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/16/87
Saturday: RoH Tradition Continues 10/16/03
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/22/87
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/23/87

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