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What the HECK?/Intro- WWF Rarities 4
This is a custom compilation tape of hand-picked matches that I received from longtime site contributor "OrangeGoblinFan". I went for some truly bizarre-- yet watchable- crap. So yes, if I was booking a super-duper pay-per-view card, this is the kinda' crap I'd put on. This tape features random WWF stuff from 1983 up to 1991. Mostly weird tag matches, but here we is....
WWF Championship: Texas Death Match
Bob Backlund (c) (w/Arnold Skaaland) vs. Magnificent Muraco
3/20/83
From Madison Square Garden and Gorilla Monsoon is flying solo in the booth.
Champion vs. champion, as Muraco's the current Intercontinental champ, but his belt's
not on the line. In this case, Texas Death Match means:
no countout, time limits or disqualifications-- pinfall or submission only. Skaaland
has his own chair at ringside over by the timekeeper's table and is about as animated as
Ted Williams.
Return match from the previous month, where Backlund apparently lost his cool
and got himself disqualified. Backlund's pumped for the return, lays his belt on the mat
and motions for Muraco to attack. Backlund goes right into a.... headlock. This theme will continue.
Oh yes, it will continue. But the crowd's into it as they count aloud each time Backlund cinches the hold.
Crowd counting along to a headlock?! Wow, the Barbarian would make 'em pass out with his
bearhug! Muraco elbows out for a bit and whips Backlund to the ropes for a dropkick. Muraco
tries coming off the top, but Backlund reaches up and hooks the headlock again. After
about five minutes of white-knuckle headlockin', Muraco gets a lowblow and they tumble outside.
Backlund is dropped onto the railing and Muraco is shoved into the post for a blade job.
back inside, Muraco gets a powerslam for 2. Backlund reverses Muraco's ensuing efforts into
a crossface chickenwing attempt, but Muraco blocks. Backlund manages a German suplex and bridge
to get the pin at 19:51. Realllly boring for the first 10 minutes, but the last
5 minutes picked up.
Rocky Johnson, "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas & Ivan Putski vs.
Mr. Fuji, Tiger Chung Lee & Sgt. Slaughter
2/20/84
More MSG as Monsoon is joined by Pat Patterson on the call. Slaughter had just turned
babyface by confronting the Iron Sheik a few weeks prior, and gets a good ovation from
the crowd. Putski starts the match with some haymakers and a back bodydrop on Fuji. The rest of
the match is literally Punch-a-mania. Johnson makes a quick appearance, then brings in
Atlas. Atlas and Slaughter blow an irish-whip attempt into the corner. They prance around for a bit,
then repeat it into the other corner. This time, Slaughter dodges and Atlas eats turnbuckle.
Slaughter thumps on Putski for a bit and Fuji begins barking orders. Slaughter and Fuji
have a face-off, with Fuji slapping the Sarge! Slaughter gets ticked and shoves Fuji right into
a Polish Hammer from Putski. Putski makes the pin while the crowd cheers Slaughter. After the match,
Putski offers a handsahke and Slaughter accepts. Atlas brings in an American flag and they all
celebrate. Match was a dud, as it was just a way to solidify that Slaughter was now
with the "good guys".
Andre the Giant & Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper & "Dr. D" David Schultz
3/20/84
But first, a Piper's Pit segment with Andre. Piper insults Andre's intelligence and makes fun of
his "slam-less" streak. Piper crows that, if given five minutes, HE could slam Andre. Andre gets pissed,
chokes Piper, throws him aside and walks off the set. Piper yells; "don't throws rocks at a guy with
a machine gun".
Now to the match, from MSG. Piper said he would get into the ring with Andre, but he never said he would
do it alone. So his thug, Dr. D gets to do most of the work. Piper looks at Andre, then
immediately tags out. Dr. D enters and goes a few rounds with Andre. Andre is looking quite wobbly and
immobile here,
even moreso than his Colossal Connection days. Andre's also
wearing Hector Garza's speedo trunks... damn, cover up! Give the guy a poncho or
something. Piper finally makes it in and charges into Andre. Andre shoves him
aside and Piper keeps returning. Piper eventually gets a cheapshot with some brass knuckles and Andre blades.
The heels stomp away on Andre's forehead gash and the big guy is soon out. "Medical attention" soon arrives...
in the form of POLICE (Logic in Wrestling!). The match is stopped as Andre is led to the back. Snuka
finally gets in the ring and calls for a handicap match. Crowd goes nuts as Snuka leapfrogs twice and dropkicks
Piper. Chops away on Dr. D, but the heels soon overtake him and begin double-teaming. Andre suddenly
returns, with his head in gauze, looking like something out of Frank Miller's Sin City. The big guy whips
Dr. D into the ropes and connects with a boot. Andre loses his balance as he does, so Dr. D grabs the boot
and helps him fall down, gracefully. Match is awarded to Piper and Dr. D on a disqualification.
Fijian Strap Match: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
7/20/84
Not sure where it was taped, but it's a pretty weird commentary with Jesse Ventura going it alone.
Fijian Strap Match is not to be confused with a Caribbean Strap Match, or an Alabama Strap Match.
So if I ever need to beat the brains out of someone, I'm challenging him to a
Mile High Strap Match! The strap knows no borders. Piper's reluctant to hook the strap to his wrist, and
when he does Snuka goes to town. Both guys try to choke, with Snuka
getting the advantage. Snuka gets a single-leg takedown and Piper crawls out of the ring.
Snuka pulls him back, whips him to the ropes, delivers a chop and some strap shots. Piper tries to escape
again, but Snuka lands more chops, chokes and gets a 2 count. Piper gets the ol' thumb to the eye and, of
course, Jesse creams his pants and calls it a "tremendous move!" Piper punches, headbutts
and smacks Snuka with the strap. They roll outside again for a tug of war with the strap. Piper loses
and eats ringpost. Back in for more brawling and a jumping headbutt from Snuka. Snuka goes upstairs
to land a high-cross body press and score the 3 count! Hmm..so much for Piper's claim of never being pinned.
Well, I guess he meant in "normal, one-on-one, no-gimmick matches".
Afterwards, Piper attacks with the strap and chokes out Snuka.
Brett Hart & George Wells vs. Nikolai Volkov & the Iron Sheik (w/"Classy" Freddie Blassie)
3/17/85
Back to MSG, with "Mean" Gene Okerlund and Gorilla Monsoon. Yes, it's spelled "Brett", so I'm
being THOROUGH and detail-oriented! Hart's still a vanilla, bottom-of-the-card good guy, and Gorilla
still manages to work in his usual compliments.
This is about a month before
the first Wrestlemania. For once, Comrade Volkov actually gets the full Russian
National Anthem. Well, full first verse at least, with no interruption. Sheik starts by cinching
a standing side headlock on Hart. Sheik shoves him off for a shoulderblock, then Hart leapfrogs,
hiptosses, drop-kicks and slams him. Snapmare takedown into a headlock as Hart takes Sheik
to the mat. Tag to Wells, who continues with the headlock. WIth two bald guys in
the ring, Gene says: "There's something lacking in this
match. Hair!" Coming from "Mean Comb-over Gene", that's kinda' cruel. Sheik fights out, hiptosses Wells,
then misses a somersault splash off the ropes. Hart returns to land a legdrop, but Sheik goes to
the eyes. Nikolai comes in to pound away and drop Hart over the top rope. Hart is sent to the ropes
and gets a sunset flip for 2. Nikolai tosses him into Sheik's EVIL boot. Sheik comes in
to deliver a backdrop and a loogie! Nikolai whip Hart to the corner for the trademark "Hitman THUNK".
Hart hits the corner so hard that the ringbell actually sounds! Hart fights back with a foreamr
shot and dropkick, but is still ont he wrong side of the ring. Sheik with a gutwrench suplex
and abdominal stretch. Hart reverses a suplex attempt and makes the hot tag to Wells. Wells pounds away,
the headbutts both guys, knocking Nikolai out of the ring. Iron Sheik loads up his
EVIL boot, then blast Wells in the head. Sheik delivers a cosmetic elbowdrop to
score the 3 count. Not too bad when Sheik and Hart were doing their thing.
Andre the Giant, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka & the Junkyard Dog (w/Capt. Lou Albano) vs.
Big John Studd, Ken Patera &
Jesse "The Body" Ventura (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan)
3/17/85
Not sure why Albano's out there... he seems to show up in the corner of every WWF mid-80's face at least once. I'm not sure, but I think he might have been Snuka's manager for about a month.
Andre chases Studd out of the ring before the bell, JYD and Patera brawl, with
JYD getting a backdrop and working an armbar. Andre waddles in and takes over.
Studd tries interferring, so Andre applies the Double Noggin-Knocker on
Studd and Patera. JYD hops back in to nail some rolling headbutts on Patera and
clear the ring. Patera works JYD into the opposite corner for some 3-way action.
(Ummm.....). Ventura tags in and tries pounding on JYD, who suddenly does
the "hardhead no-sell". Snuka comes in for a jumping headbutt and his usual
chops. Snuka with a slam, then off the second rope with a fist-drop. But Jesse
does his patented Thumb to the Eyes! Studd slams JYD and applies....the bearhug!
Patera comes in and applies...the bearhug! Ventura then comes in and applies....
the bearhug! JYD's just a big teddy bear! JYD ear-claps to break, then tags Andre.
Andre and Studd try slamming each other, but Patera interferes and
gets Studd a 2 count. Ventura is in and is immediately irishwhipped by Andre
for a big boot to the bazooka. Andre tags Snuka and cuts off the ring. Snuka
comes off the top with the Superfly Splash on Ventura to score the 3 count.
Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo & Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (w/ Captain Lou Albano) vs. Nikolai Volkov,
Iron Sheik & George "The Animal" Steele (w/"Classy Freddie Blassie)
5/11/85
From what I think was the first-ever "Saturday Night's Main Event", from
about May 1985. Windham and Rotundo, the U.S Express enter
with Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" playing. Funny, since that's
a fairly UN-patriotic song.
Windham starts with Sheik, getting a shoulderblock, hiptoss and
a slam. Good guys work Sheik's arm, with Steamboat flying off the top with a chop.
Rotundo with a slam and elbowdrop for 2. Sheik coems back with an abdominal stretch, of
which Rotundo powers out of. 6-way brawl errupts, with the faces clearing
the ring. Order is restored, with steamboat slamming Sheik then delivering a flying dropkick
from the top turnbuckle. Upstairs again for a flying high cross-body, but Comrade
Volkov makes the save. Windham comes in to team with Steamboat for a double drop-kick
on Volkov. Rotundo lands two legdrops,
but Steele finally makes it in for a save. Rotundo with a roll-up off the ropes for 2.
Backslide gets another 2. Steels is tagged in for a brawl with Windham.
Steele goes to make a tag, but Sheik and Volkov suddenly drop off the ring apron
and walk away! Windham rolls-up Steele from behind to score the 3 count pin. A confused
(well, more than usual) Steele wanders around the ring and eats a tunbuckle. Captain
Lou comes in to calm him down and make a new friend. Official face turn for
Steele, as this led to the hypnosis and therapy angle.
WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Magnificent Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji)
5/20/85
MSG again. Muraco attacks before the bell
and chokes Hogan with his own shirt. Hogan fires back with a headbutt, sending Muraco
outside. Brawl at ringside and Hogan gets an atomic drop. Hogan rolls him back
in for a whip into the corner and a follow-up charging clothesline. Hogan pounds away
and returns the shirt-choking favor. Another headbutt, slam and an elbow off the ropes.
Outside again, where Muraco gets a quick chair shot to Hulkster's tummy.
Hogan gets the chair, smacks Muraco and quickly rolls in and out to break the count.
Muraco is tossed around and blades for effect. Back in where it's the Hulkster Belly-to-Back
suplex. Out again where Muraco is darted into the ringpost. Hogan BITES Muraco's
bloody forehead... no doubt inspiring a young Boogeyman.
Hogan suplexes him back from the apron, slams and drop the big legdrop. Ref counts 3, but
Fuji manages to pull Muraco's leg on the rope. Hogan thinks he's won, but the ref
realizes the error and waves off the bell. Fuji passes a dimebag of salt to
Muraco, who pops up and tosses it in Hogan's eyes. Muraco and Fuji leave and
the bell sounds for the disqualification. Cloudy strategy, but I suppose
in some cases a DQ loss is better than a pinfall loss.
Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo & George "The Animal" Steele (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) vs.
Adrian Adonis, Big John Studd & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
6/21/85
The US Express has apparently dumped Ricky Steamboat and gone with George Steele as
their Partner of Choice for 6-man bouts! More MSG, and Gorilla mentions that is
the first time we've seen Adonis in awhile. Windham armdrags and slams Adonis, then
Steele comes in for the Greco-Roman Bite. Studd whips and shoulderblocks Windham, but
then Windham ducks under and tries slamming the big guy. Windham comes off the rope with
a high cross-body for a 1 count. Quick clip job and we cut to Windham irish-whipping
Heenan into the corners. Heenan does his usual oversell and flips out of the ring.
Steele meets him on the outside and tosses the Brain into the railing. Back in the ring, Rotundo
applies a hammerlock to Studd, then Adonis saves. Adonis suplexes Rotundo and drapes him on the top rope. Adonis follows up with a.. DDT! Gorilla calls it a
"reverse, under-arm piledriver", which was accurate for the time. 6-way brawl breaks out
and in the confusion Steele grabs a chair and accidentally smacks the referee. DQ win
for Heenan's troops.
British Bulldogs vs. Hart Foundation (w/Jimmy Hart)
(Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid vs. Bret "Hitman" Hart & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart
9/23/85
MSG again and I believe this is the follow-up match to the Bulldogs/Harts match from
the Bret Hart DVD. Joined slightly in progress with Dynamite and Hart exchanging moves.
Hart gets a hammerlock and Dynamite drops down under the botom rope to break. Davey Boy
comes in to mess around with Hart and they blow a whip to the corner.
Smith hops up on Hart's shoulders and performs a victory roll for 2. Neidhart comes
in to swap powerslams with Smith. Harts take over and work on Smith for the rest of
the match. Classic heel double-teaming, as they repeatedly attack behind the ref's back.
Hart holds a backbreaker, while Neidhart comes off the second rope
with an elbowsmash-- Demolition's Decapitation move! They hit a version of
their Hart Breaker finisher, with Bret coming off the top corner with a clothesline. Ref goes to shoo Anvil
out of the ring, allowing Dynamite Kid to fly off the top turnbuckle and nail Bret
with a double-axehandle. Dynamite rolls Smith out of the ring, makes the cover and steals
the pin! Fun how the Harts' own tactics backfired.
British Bulldogs vs. King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd (w/Bobby Heenan)
5/17/86
Bulldogs are the reigning tag champions, but this is a non-title
bout. Vince McMahon, Ernie Ladd and Bruno Sammartino have the audio. Studd shoves Smith around
and hits a shoulderblock. Smith tries a sunset flip but Studd halts the move, until
Dynamite runs in a blasts him with a clohtesline. Double dropkick on Studd! Bundy comes to slam
Smith and misses a follow-up elbow. Bulldogs team up again for another double dropkick
and a double shoulderblock. Smith blows a high cross-body attempt... or rather Bundy
doesn't catch him corectly. Bundy works away with a kneedrop, then whips Smith into
a Studd clothesline for 2. Announcers mention something about
Andre the Giant no-showing a recent bout against the Studd/Bundy team...
so yes, the MACHINES are coming! Bundy with a backbreaker, but Dynamite saves. Smith gets
the fish n' chips kicked out of him for a good four minutes. Dynamite tries to save, but
running in and applying a sleeper to Studd. QUick 4-way brawl errupts and Studd shoves the referee
aside, drawing the DQ. They set up Smith in the corner for a double-team avalanche attempt.
Dynamite manages to pull Smith out of the way and Bundy eats turnbuckle. Bundy and Studd
argue and begin shoving each other!
Piper's Pit with Bobby Heenan
October 1986
From Madison Square Garden and it's apparently one of the first Pits since Piper
officially became a good guy. He sez: "I'm not used to getting cheers...but I'm still the same
sonuvabitch I always was!" No 1986 censor job! Clipped a bit, and the gist is
that Bobby Heenan and Paul Orndorff are challenging Piper to a tag team match.
Heenan throws out "King of Wrestling, Handsome Harley Race" as Orndorff's partner.
Piper's goes to confer with his "manager" in the corner and pantomimes talking to himself.
He hops outside the ring and brings in super-fan VLADIMIR from the crowd. He gives the mic
to Vladimir and asks him to name a partner. The answer; "HULK HOGAN!" Piper nails Heenan with
the mic and runs off. A few weeks later we have...
Hulk Hogan & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. "King" Harley Race & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan)
11/24/86
MSG of course and the faces clear the ring as they enter. The recurring theme is that
Piper and Hogan are reluctant partners and stil don't trust each other. Announcers even bring
up their long-runing feud... whoa, continuity! Somebody call Sean Mooney!!
Piper and Hogan each rip their shirts off and toss them at each other. They go to work
on Race's arm, tagging in and out with hesitation. Race reverses Piper armbar, slams him
but misses an elbowdrop. Piper goes back to armbar and tags in Hogan who leaps
off the second turnbuckle with a doubel axehandle. AIR HOGAN! Hogan then drags Race's arm over
the top rope. Piper returns and Race hits him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Tag to Orndorff,
who enters via the top turnbuckle with an elbow. He kicks Piper to the apron, then whips
and clotheslines him. Race does the same and adds a vertical slam: almost a reverse
piledriver. Orndorff clamps on a chinlock. A mild Piper comeback is stopped by
a suplex from Race. Piper dives away from Race and makes thew HOT TAG to Hogan. Hogan cleans
house and hits the Double Noggin Knocker. Atomic drop on Race, with a clothesline and the big legdrop.
1..2.. Orndorff saves! 4-way brawl, with Race and Orndorff double-teaming Piper.
Orndorff accidentally nails Race, allowing Piper to capitalize
and make the 3 pcount pin. Piper gives Hogan the under-arm salute and immediately leaves.
The Heenan Famly doubleteam Hogan, but in a shocking turn of events, he
fights them off and clears the ring. Heenan does his trademark whip/flip into the
corner for added effect. Pretty funny how Hogan was actually second banana to the
wildly popular Piper.
Can-Am Connection vs. Kamala & Sika (w/Mr. Fuji & Kim Chee)
5/3/87
Can-Ams are Tom Zenk and Rick Martel, of course. From a weekly syndicated
show with Gorilla Monsoon and... George "the Animal" Steele on commentary!
Kamala & Sika double-team Zenk and for once the Evil
Heel "You Hold 'im and I'll Clothesline 'im" actually works! Thus, Kamala & Sika
are the Greatest Tag Team Ever. Nobody else has ever hit that move! But Kamala
accidentally avalanches Sika about 30 seconds later. Martel tags in, drop-kicks Kamala
out of the ring and drops a leg on Sika. Martel armdrags him and cranks away.
Zenk connects off the top rope and Sika counters with a shot to the throat. Kamala
whips Zenk around for 2 freverse thurst kicks. Kamala choke-presses Zenk and
whips him to Sika for a headbutt. Zenk rolls out and tags Martel (George: "...tag...")
and it's time for
the Traditional Tag Team Four Way Brawl. The Can-Ams' double team irish whip
out of opposite corners backfires, as Kamala shoulderblocks Martel. Sika slams
Zenk and holds him down for a big Kamala splash. Martel saves his partner by tripping
up Kamala from the outside. Martel climbs up top and lands a high cross-body
on Sika for the pin. As we cut away, we see the newest, most exciting product around--
the WWF Ice Cream Bars! George approves.
Hulk Hogan & KoKo B. Ware (w/Jake "The Snake" Roberts) vs. Kamala & Honkytonk Man (w/Mr. Fuji, Kim Chee & Jimmy Hart
6/2/87
Looks like an old Coliseum Video exclusive, with Craig DeGeorge and Bruno Sammartino on the call. No idea where it was taped, but the crowd is into this big time. Jake's the corner man, since this was in the midst of his feud against Honky. Honky had masqueraded as Kim Chee during a recent SNME, so there's a heel connection, but
talk about a weird face combo. Good guys doubleteam Kamala to start and Koko hits a dropkick. Koko and Kamala blow a cross-body press off the ropes. Koko hits Honky with an atomic drop, then Honky bounces back and forth in the wrong corner, getting thumped. Tag to Hogan who does the Birdman dance and leaps off the second turnbuckle with a shot. Honky gets taken on a turnbuckle tour, until he sees Jake and Damien and bails. Koko rolls away form Kamala and hits a leaping headbutt. Hogan motions for an Ultimate Knucklelock Challenge, but Kamala is hesitant and hops out of the ring. Kim Chee argues with Kamala and sends him back in. Hogan fakes him out and hits a drop toehold, right into Damien's corner. Kamala freaks out again, while Jake pets Damien's bag. Funny... I'll bet he also takes Damien for walks in the park. Crowd starts a "Jake the Snake" chant as the most over guy in the match is doing nothing but standing outside the ring. Hogan clotheslines and elbows Kamala, then beings in Koko to cover for 1. Honkytonk backdrops Koko, then Kamala returns to choke. Fuji throws Kamala his cane for gthe dreaded Cane Choke (not to be confused with a Kane Chokeslam). Koko fights out and bounces off the ropes. Kamala leapfrogs him and connects with a kick to the chin. Heels work over Koko until he fights up again. This time, Koko stops short of Kamala's leap and instead dropkicks the Uganada Giant. Honky hits Koko with a slam, but misses and elbowdrop off the second rope. The Obligatory Four Way Brawl occurs as Hogan pairs off with Kamala. Hogan nails all four bad guys (Fuji was too lazy to get up on the ring apron), then slams Kamala and delivers the big legdrop to get the pin.
Quick Sportschannel promo clip for the 1987 Mets and Keith Hernandez. Wow, does it look dated.
Junkyard Dog vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan)
6/14/87
Back to MSG with Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes. Gorilla mentions "this would be a main event in any arena in the world". Don't laugh... about 5 years earlier it would've done ridiculous bid-ness. Well, maybe only in Louisiana. JYD gets a standing side headlock, shoulderblock, hiptoss and steps up for his crawling headbutts. Orndorff bails and takes a breather. JYD works an armbar until Orndorff pounds him into the corner. Orndorff whips him to the opposite corner and misses a follow-up charge. JYD goes back to the armbar and twists it into a hammerlock. Tough to tell, but it sounds like the audience is chanting "borrrrr-ing", which Gorilla dismisses as "Weasel" chants. More bailing and more armbar-ing.Orndorff tires to flip out of the armbar, but JYD hooks a leg scissors. Orndorff works his way out, whips JYD for a clothesline and stomps away. JYD brawls back and gets a small package for 2. Heenan hops up to distract and in the confusion, Orndorff drops JYD on the top rope for a stun-gun. Ordnorff picks up the pin.
WWF Championship: Texas Death Match
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. "King" Harley Race (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan)
6/14/87
Ring announcer Howard Finkel anounces a warning to all personnel at the ringside: remain at your own peril.
Oooo...scary! Actually, he should've given that warning to the entire audience before the previous JYD-Orndorff mat classic. Race looks hilarious with his Imperial Margarine crown, tied with a little bow under his chin. Race attacks as Hogan enters, but Hogan flips him over to the floor. They brawl outside, down the aisle and hit the barriers. Hogan tosses Race in for a clothesline and chokes him with his shirt. By the way, Hogan is decked out in all white, not his usual red/yellow. Hogan chops away and Race does his little teeter-totter trick on the ropes. Hogan follows him outside and smacks him with a chair. The chair seat breaks and Race stumbles around with a chair collar. Up on the apron, Race gets a low-blow to take over. Kicky, Elbow-y and Stompy time. Race must really love Hogan, cuz' he gives him a PILEDRIVER!! Yeahhhh--hhh! Headbutt, snapmare and a diving headbutt from Race. Gut-wrench suplex gets 2. Hogan reverses an irish-whip as Race hits the turnbuckle and tumbles outside. Race shoves Hogan into the ringpost and smacks him with a chair. Race misses a diving headbutt and brains himself on the concrete. Back in, Hogan gets a big boot, atomic drop and a charging clothesline. They go outside and down the aisle again.. This time Race hits Hogan with a piledriver on the concrete. Race throws him back in the ring as Bobby Heenan hands Race the title belt. Race blasts Hogan with the belt, then sets it on Hogan's head and goes up top to launch a diving headbutt. Hogan avoids and Race nails the belt, knocking a small piece off. Hogan jumps up and charges with the belt, off the ropes. Race is out as Hogan covers for 3, holding up the belt the whole time.
Junkyard Dog & George "The Animal" Steele vs. Demolition (Ax & Smash)
8/22/87
MSG again, but Fuji is not at ringside. The Demos have their old "alternate Sunday Home Face Paint" on, as it's mostly black and yellow and not their trademark looks. Ax pounds and slams JYD. JYD fights backs and shoves Ax into Steele, who bites! Steele has a good greasepaint smudge on his face and toys around with that for awhile.
Steele comes in for an Ultimate Tongue Face-off: Green vs. Red. Smash pounds Steele and tries whipping him for a clothesline. Steele stops the move and bites Smash's arm. JYD comes in for an armbar, then the Demos cut off the ring and doubleteam him. Ax with a snapmare and a reverse chinlock. Ax whips JYD to the ropes slowwwwwwly
and a double clothesline knocks both guys down. Obligatory Four Way Brawl and Steele is tossed out. Steele returns with a chair and pokes Smash in the ribs. JYD falls on top to cover, but the ref signals for the bell, as Demolition wins by disqualification.
Steel Cage Match:
"Superstar" Billy Graham vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed
10/16/87:
Form MSG with Gorilla Monsoon and NICK BOCKWINKEL on the call. This was set-up
from the short-lived Superstar return/injury angle. Pre-match promos from each wrestler are included.
Reed is pretty straight forward, but Graham begins rambling: "in a steel cage, nobody can come in....
not Slickster, not Gorilla Monsoon..not even YOU, Craig DeGeorge!". Cuz' you always need a run-in
from Gorilla and Craig DeGeorge! Right before the introductions, the camera cuts to the back hallway, where
Reed is talking with Terry Garvin. Gorilla: "he's offering some encouragement or last minute words of
advice". Oh boy. The Gorilla Dirty Joke Kit: make your OWN joke with the lines provded! Reed comes
out with no music, but Graham has "Theme from Jeepers Creepers Semi-star". I'm expecting
David Cross to pop-out from the audience and say "check this shiiiit ouuut!" (and yes, all NONE
of you got that). Reed attacks Graham as soon as he enters. He rips off Graham's shirt and
ties one end around his neck and the other to the cage. Whoa, if Graham had done that to
the African-American Reed, Jesse Jackson would've been at Titan HQ the next morning. Basic brawl with
each guy trading punches and escape attempts. A double shoulderblock sends both guys to the canvas.
Reed tris crawling out the door, but Graham stops him and cinches a sleeper hold. Reed ducks down and
sends Graham into the cage, then works on Graham's injured hip. Reed tries escaping and gets crotched on
the top rope. Graham hooks him in the BEARHUG and Reed breaks by shoving him into the cage. Reed makes
it up to the top of the cage. Graham catches up, grabs the legs and Reed gets crotched on the top
of the cage. Ouch... right in the lil' Jive Soul Bros. Back to the mat, where Reed reaches into
his tights and pulls out brass kunckles. Redd swings with the knucks and misses. Graham gets an
atomic drop, grabs the knucks and knocks Reed silly. Graham crawls out the door as Reed is left
unconscious in the middle of the ring. Okay ending, but wayyyy too long for the immobile
Superstar. I hope this wasn't the "main event" of the card.
Rougeau Brothers vs. The New Dream Team
(Jacques Rougeau & Raymond Rougeau vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Dino Bravo)
10/23/87
From Paris and the commentary is in French. One voice sounds like Frenchy Martin and no clue
who the other guy is. Joined in progress with the heels double-(dream)teaming Raymond.
Valentine gets a shoulderbreaker for 2, then tries to power Raymond onto the mat for a
few more 2 counts. Bravo comes in, drops a knee then whips Raymond to the ropes for...
a bearhug! Raymond breaks out by punches and tries a monkeyflip from the corner.
Bravo blocks and brings Valentine back in. Valentine goes for the figure four, but Raymond
reverses into a small package and a quick 1 count. Valentine works a front facelock and attempts
a piledriver. Raymond stands up to block and Valentine rolls forward witha sunset flip.
The Dreamers keep working on Raymond for another 8 minutes or so, with the obligatory
desperation reversal pins from Raymond, including two sunset flips. Bravo hits his finisher, the
side-slam/suplex, but misses a follow-up bouncy elbowdrop off the ropes. Jacques is finally tagged in
and proceeds to clean house. Backdrop and a dropkick for Bravo. Flying reverse elbow on Valentine
gets 2. Obligatory 4-way occurs until Valentine gets a sleeperhold on Jacques.
Dreamers hit a double slam on Jacques and Valentine sets up for the figure four. Raymond runs
in and hits a sunset flip on Valentine to steal the pin. Oh great goodly-poop! The SAME
EXACT FINISH from the August 1986 "Big Event" match!! Only difference was Bravo was around
instead of Beefcake. Oh what the hell, it was the French...they don't deserve an original ending.
British Bulldogs vs. The Islanders (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan)
(Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid vs. Haku & Tama)
1/25/88:
From MSG, with Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes. Part of the infamous "Matilda kidnapping" angle, where
the Islanders "dog-napped" the Bulldogs' mascot. Islanders come out with an invisible dog leash-- the kind
you can buy at any novelty or magic shop. Matilda had been given back to the Bulldogs at this point, but
she's still "recovering at home, with help from all YOUR Get Well letters". Bulldogs charge the ring
and Dynamite explodes (get it...expodes?! Dynamite?! Top THAT, smarks!) with a jumping piledriver
on Tama for 2. Dynamite catapuls Tama right into the entering Haku. Davey Boy and Haku go
at it, trading writslocks and armbars. Davey comes off the rops with a flying bodypress for 2.
Dynamite hops in for a double team shoulderblock. Snap suplex from Dynamite gets 2. Haku nailes Davey Boy in
the eyes and works him over for a bit. Nice standing drop-kick from Haku gets 2. Dynamite takes over
briefly with a double noggin-knocker, flying cltohesline and a kneedrop from the second rope.
Haku chops Dynamite in the throat and the Islanders regain control. Haku tries headbutting Dynamite,
but that trick never works...Haku hurts himself and staggers around for a bit. Tama comes in for a headbutt
and a nerve pinch. Haku gets the invisible dog collar and taunts Dynamite with it. Islanders swap out
and Tama does the same thing. They go for a double team clothesline, but Dynamite ducks and hits both of
them with his own clothesline. Hot tga to Davey Boy who backdrops Haku and hits a suplex for 2.
A PILEDRIVERRRR (Yeahhh-hhh) gets 2. Davey nails Haku with his charging powerslam, but Tama comes in
to make the save. Tama gets slammed, while Dynamite grabs the dog collar from Heenan. Bulldogs flip out and
begin beating the cocnuts out of the Islanders with the leash and collar. Islanders win by
disqualification, but some measure of revenge in the Matilda Dog-napping Case has been extracted!
WWF Championship:
Ultimate Warrior (c) vs. Mr. Perfect
5/15/90
A Coliseum Video exclusive with Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes. Perfect's recently gained
his Intercontinental belt, so ring announcer Howard Finkel makes sure to announce
that he's the "newwwwww" champion. Warrior comes out with the unflattering baby blue championship belt. Warrior attacks and Perfect does his Traditional Over-Sell by flipping out of the ring. Warrior brings him back in for 3 charging shoulderblocks, then clotheslines him back out. Perfect is pulled back in so Warrior can pounds him into the turnbuckles. Warrior blows a backdrop attempt and makes it into a half-assed faceplant move. Warrior misses a splash off the ropes, allowing Perfect to gain control. Perfect kicks him in the tummy, then follows Warrior out to floor to smash him into the timekeeper's table. Perfect grabs the World Title, which Mooney calls the "Intercontinental Championship", and blasts Warrior with it. Back into the ring where Perfect comes off the second rope with a fistdrop, then delivers a sweet standing dropkick. Warrior begins jogging as Perfect tries to knock him down. Perfect connects with ummm, something off the top. Again, Warrior blows the spot and begins falling before Perfect actually hits him. Perfect-plex is applied, but Warrior kicks out at 2. 3 charging clotheslines, a flying shoulderblock and the Big Splash help Warrior score the pinfall. It's academic, but the IC belt wasn't on the line.
3 commercials for the WWF Action Figures! Probably from 1992 or so, with Macho Man as the main narrator. Mr. Perfect, Sgt. Slaughter, the British Bulldog, Legion of Doom and even the Undertaker cut some sales pitches. Bugger...I almost got through an entire WWF flashback column without mentioning Undertaker. That always gets my website's search referrals up, though. Guess the Internet Savages like him.
"Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair
10/5/91
Yes, Our Pal OrangeGoblinFan reviewed this recently..but I think he missed one KEY ELEMENT. Fans, stay tuned for that!
A Coliseum Video exclusive from Barcelona, Spain, with Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes. This was taped well before Flair had the WWF title, but the video it was featured on wasn't realeased until well into 1992. Thus, Mooney and Hayes sell this like Flair's the champ and refer to Von Erich as the "#1 contender". This match actually has some nods to their 1984 David Von Erich Parade of Champions classic. For instance, that Key Element: Von Erich comes off the ropes and Flair tries a hip toss. Von Erich reverses into a backslide!!! Ohhh..only 2! The same sequence that won Von Erich the NWA Title in 1984. See, Flair learned something in the past 7 years! And here I am, three matches up, complaining about the recycled finish between the Dream Team and Rougeaus. Probably Von Erich's best WWF match, but Flair picks up the pin after a slingshot through the ropes and applying "illegal leverage". Great way to end this tape, since I seriously believe that Kerry is one of the most underrated and overlooked wrestlers of the 80's. Plus, I'm never ashamed to show my enthusiasm for old World Class stuff.
People talk about how certain wrestlers were used incorrectly...well, this match shows that Kerry's WWF use was a crime.
Why'd you Tape This?
I didn't realize until I got this tape that, yup, I usually prefer tags. Probably cuz' you get more bang for your buck. You get to see at least 4 guys in the span of 10 minutes, rather than just 2. Sorta' like when I go shopping for old comics--I usually pick up old team books (JLA, Defenders, etc) or team-up books (Marvel Team-up or Two-in-one), rather than old solo books. Guess I wanna' get as many characters as possible in one shot.
Now if I had a tape of tag team MIDGET matches....ooooooooo!!
Lots of weird match-ups and true "rarities" on this. It'll take awhile for this crap to appear on DVD. The only real "filler" match on here is JYD and Orndorff. The matches that did suck (like the 6-man bouts in the first half) had some angle advancement-- like the face turns for George Steele and Sgt. Slaughter. I didn't expect alot of flying planchas and space tiger suplexes, just colorful characters and forgotten match-ups. Some of my favorite characters pop-up on here: JYD, Steele, Warrior, Piper, the Bulldogs, Bundy and Kamala. Plus, as dumb as it sounds, I've always wanted to see that JYD/Steele vs. Demolition match.
You can
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