SPORTS-(RASSLIN)
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What the HECK?/Intro- Rasslin Tape 12 (Fall 1990/Winter 1991)
Starting off with the 1990 Survivor Series, this tape will carry us right up to
the 1991 Royal Rumble. But with so much happening in the WWF, let's get down to the arena
with Gorilla Monsoon and Roddy Piper.
1990 Survivor Series
A few minutes of "countdown to the Survivor Series" is shown....which allows
Love Theme From Survivor Series to burrow into our skulls. As usual, you've probably
seen or read about this event, so I'll skip the blow-by-blows. The event starts
and we're at the home of the old Hartford Whalers- the Hartford Civic Center in Connecticut.
Roddy Piper has some senseless words and tries to imply that George Bush and
Saddam Hussein are watching the show. This was the second year
the Survivor Series used the four-man teams, and also the ONLY year
that the "Grand Finale of Survival" was used. As a result of the extra match,
all the regular matches are shorter and quite lame.
Survivor Series Match 1: Warriors vs. the Perfect Team
(Ultimate Warrior, Kerry Von Erich, Hawk and Animal vs. Ax, Smash, Crush and
Mr. Perfect w/ Mr. Fuji & Bobby Heenan)
As a wee lad, THIS match was the reason I wanted to see the show. Eight of my favorite
wrestlers and my favorite manager were all involved. I think one of my buddies
even had a promo picture of the "Warriors" team hanging in his locker. Warrior- cool!
Kerry Von Erich- cool! LOD- cool! Demolition- cool! Mr. Perfect- not cool, but
entertaining to watch! Bobby Heenan- funny as hell! Mr. Fuji- ...... anyways,
Ax takes the quick fall about four minutes in, ending the long WWF career of
Bill Eadie. Piper babbles "I'm writing 'em down!!" I was then (and still am) quickly pissed off as the LOD and Demolition are
double DQ'd for fighting. Crowd
gives a BIG pop to Animal on the way out. Interesting to note that the Demos
appeared in the pre-show promo in their masks, but wrestled in their traditional
face paint. Also fun to note that Von Erich dropped the
IC title about a week earlier to Perect...but the match wasn't shown on TV yet,
so Von Erich still has the belt. Which probably explains why the cameras didn't
catch a clear shot of Kerry wearing the belt. Ending has Ultimate Warrior
kick out of the Perfect-plex, hit the big splash and score the 3 count to
become the sole survivor.
Survivor Series Match 2: Dream Team vs. The Million Dollar Team
(Dusty Rhodes, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart & Koko B. Ware vs.
Ted DiBiase, Honkytonk Man, Greg Valentine & a Mystery Partner, w/Jimmy Hart)
At this point, Dusty is the closest he would be to his old NWA self. He comes out
without the yellow polka dots and has "DR" embroidered on his trunks. Always
a way to spot the NWA guys- they seemed to dig having their initials
stitched on their drawers. Dusty has three tiny
red polka dots in a stripe, but that's it. Koko comes out WITHOUT Frankie.
Regretfully, the Harts come out with their Sgt. Peppers jackets and Anvil
has his gay-ass pink beret. After the arrivals, DiBiase gets on the house mike to
introduce his Mystery Partner. For weeks, everyone had assumed
that it would be Dustin Rhodes, in another example of "everybody's got a price for
the Million Dollar Man. Mooowahahahahahaa!".
BIG shocker as Brother Love follows....the Undertaker to the ring! Whoa... Freshly
relocated from his "Mean" Mark Callous stint in NWA/WCW. Considering that this
is the fist time he's using the gimmick, you have to give him credit because he
is totally INTO the character. Blank stare, slow movements...the crowd is freaked out.
Undetaker starts and the good guys take turns trying to knock him down.
Koko misses a splash, clotheslines himself on the ropes and
becomes the first victim of the Tombstone Piledriver. Gorilla casually calls it,
as if we should all know the move. Taker shoves off Hart, Neidhart and Dusty.
Taker reluctantly tags Honkytonk Man, who gets pinned after a
doubleteam leapfrog/powerslam from the Harts. Undertaker returns,
climbs the top turnbuckle and pins Dusty. Dusty is tossed out and Brother Love
stats kicking him. Dusty starts to chase Love, which brings Undertaker
out of the ring...but not before he tags Greg Valentine. Despite the fact that
Valentine is the legal man, Taker is counted out for beating up Dusty. LOGIC
IN WRESTLING! Match has a good ending, with Bret Hart and DiBiase doing a few minutes of
one-on-one. DiBiase reverses a roll-up to take the pin and advance
to the "Grand Finale".
Quick promo for tomorrow night's "Main Event"
on NBC, featuring a DiBiase-Warrior WWF title match.
Survivor Series Match 3: Vipers vs. Visionairies
(Jake Roberts, Shawn Michaels, Marty Janetty & Jimmy Snuka vs.
Rick Martel, Warlord, Hercules & Paul Roma)
But first, the Vipers are all together in the shower, in a show of
team unity (or man-love). Martel wants nothing to do with Jake and turns tail
at every instance. Jake ends up outnumbered 4 to 1 and even
knocks out the Warlord with a DDT. Before he can cover, he chases Martel
to the dressing room and is counted out. Now if Martel was the Undertaker
he ALSO would have been counted-out...but in this case, the rules
of the legal man are enforced... oh well, Logic. All four members of the Knights of
the Magical Light survive.
SS Match 4: Hulkamaniacs vs. Natural Disasters
(Hulk Hogan, Tugboat, Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Big Bossman vs.
Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Barbarian & Haku w/ Jimmy Hart & Bobby Heenan)
I'm not sure, but memory wants to tell me that Haku is a replacement for
Rick Rude. Bobby Heenan had been mocking the Bossman's mom for months,
until Rude suddenly declared that HE was telling Heenan to say all that stuff.
WWF President Jack Tunney "suspended" Rude and he was never seen again. Anyways,
Haku gets a SWEET dropkick on Bossman's head, but then gets pinned by the
sidewalk slam about three minutes in. Hacksaw quickly gets DQ'd and Bravo is pinned.
Earthquake and Tugboat slap hands at each other and both get counted out. Hogan
pins Barbarian with the big legdrop to become the sole survivor.
And now, a quick intermission... but here's Mean Gene on his Very Special
Interview Platform. Macho King Randy Savage comes out to declare his ambitions
for the WWF Title and his disdain for the Warrior (now that sounds semi-professional).
Straight forward "I want the title" interview, and Sherri is nowhere to be found.
And now, that intermisson... for 30 seconds. Piper yells: "What a Series!!"
SS Match 5: The Alliance vs. The Mercenaries
(Nikolai Volkoff, Tito Santana, Butch, & Luke vs. Sgt. Slaughter, Boris Zhukov,
Sato & Tanaka w/General Adnan & Mr. Fuji)
Zhukov is a late replacement for Akeem.
But first, Sean Mooney catches Slaughter on the way to the ring for a
painful, very painful 4 minute interview. Slaughter talks.... real...
slow.... and says "puke" and "maggots" often. Crowd is on life support, now.
Slaughter's teammates have their faces painted up in camouflage. Slaughter even
thought to paint the back of his neck to get the total effect. Well, not
the total effect, as we can see he skipped his bald spot. Now THAT would
have been a nice touch!
Match finally begins and within three minutes the Orient Express
and Boris Zhukov are pinned. PunchaMania fills up most of the match as
Slaughter finds himself in a four-on-one. Slaughter hits some weak moves
to pin Luke, Butch and Nikolai. General Adnan sneaks in and hits Tito with the
Iraqi flag. Outside referee Shane McMahon sees this and a DQ results. Slaughter
gets Tito in the CAMEL clutch (yes, CAMEL, not COBRA) and thinks he's won.
Tito is annouced as the winner to a minor pop.
A Very Special Mean Gene Podium Interview
Gene is at the interview podium again and wonders what's
in the giant egg. "What's in it? Balloons, turkeys..or maybe it's the Playmate of the year?!"
THAT gets a good pop from the crowd! Arguably the WORST segment in WWF history follows,
as The Gobble-de-gooker emerges to a HUGE chorus of boo's. Crowd commits
suicide as Gene and the Gooker dance in the ring. Piper sez: "look
at the kids! They love him!" and Gorilla mentions "well, Hot Rod I think he's
won the hearts of Hartford". A camera shows one kid in the front row,
and you can hear him shouting "no! get down!" as in "get down from the ring and
go away!" My dad said: "we're PAYING for this shit?" At the time, rumors
swirled about King Kong Bundy returning, but history shows that no decent
storyline has ever come from an egg gimmick. Believe it or not, but the Colorado
Rockies copied this segment about four years later when they introduced Dinger the Dinosaur.
But that was SUPPOSED to be a stupid mascot...and wasn't promoted for months
as something that was going to affect the team. Although it
might have been fun if the Rockies introduced Bret Saberhagen in an egg.
SS Match 6: Grand Finale of Survival: Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan & Tito
Santana vs. Visionaires & Ted DiBiase (w/Slick & Virgil)
Always liked how they just assumed the faces and heels wanted to team
together.
Before the match, DiBiase mentions the WM6 contest between Warrior and Hogan, breaking
the unofficial Sean Mooney rule by remembering something older than two weeks. Over in the face
lockerroom, Warrior mentions they will prevail becuase they have: "the power of
the Warriors, Hulkamania and Arriba-derci!" Now that's actually funny. Tito nails
Warlord and pins him, three seconds into the match. Tito gets rolled up by DiBiase
and then Warrior and Hogan take turn receiving punches. Hercules and Roma actually
hit the power-plex on Hogan, but in an surprising trun of events, Hogan
Kicks Out of the Finisher at Two! One clothesline pins Roma. Martel
splits and is counted out. In what would have been a March 1988 main event, it's
Hogan-Warrior vs. DiBiase-Hercules. Hogan pins DiBiase and Warrior pins Herc, all in
a span of about two minutes. Warrior and Hogan share a tender moment as the show ends.
Probably the WORST PPV of my little WWF timeframe (1988 to 1992). The Undertaker's
debut was a shocker, but all the matches were rushed. When I saw this event, firsthand,
I actually expected Warrior to clothesline Hogan at the end and do a heel turn, setting
up a WM7 re-match.
MAIN EVENT/SNME Special
I think this was broadcast in primetime on Friday night, the day after the Survivor Series.
Banners in the arena say "Saturday Night's Main Event", but opening graphics
have this as "The Main Event". Mean Gene Okerlund is standing by with Ted DiBiase and
runs down some of DiBiase's dastardly dedes of the past. We even see footage of
the famous little kid/basketball segment and the pool segment (Virgil paid off
everyone to leave a public pool so DiBiase could sunbathe). Gene caps it off by
showing clips of the February 1988 "Main Event"- where DiBiase swindled
Hogan out of the WWF title with twin referees. Good recaps and a nice way to build suspense
for...
Main Event Match 1: WWF Championship: Ultimate Warrior (c) vs. "Million Dollar Man"
Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
Warrior shoves DiBiase around to begin with, until a DiBiase boot
hits Warrior in the jaw. DiBiase takes over with a second rope
fist drop and a piledriver to get a two count. A second piledriver attempt
is reversed into a backdrop by Warrior. Warrior makes a comeback but
Virgil grabs his leg allowing DiBiase to attack from behind and knock Warrior to
ringside. Commercial time and when we come back DiBiase is still in control.
Overhead suplex attempt is block and reversed. DiBiase thumps Warrior, who
begins umm.. "Warrior-ing up"? Warrior clotheslines the living shit out of DiBiase several times,
hits a shoulderblock and the big splash. 1! 2! Waitaminut! Bodyguard Virgil interferes to
draw a DQ! Virgil gets tossed around until Macho King Randy Savage and
Sister Queen Sherri arrive. They do a run-in... and save Virgil in the process!
Beatdown ensues until StrikeForce:Referee escorts Savage away.
Warrior pushes off all the refs and staggerdly gets to his feet. Very Rocky-esque
as an exhausted Warrior slowly raises the belt over his head. "Yo, Adrienne... I did it!"
Actually, this may have been Warrior's best title defense.
Main Event Match 2: Nikolai Volkoff vs. Sgt. Slaughter (w/ Gen. Adnan)
Nikolai is already in the ring waving the American flag. Slaughter
enters and proceeds to wail on Nikolai with his riding crop (Sarge, you
kinky bastard). Neither guy gets to take off their jacket or hat and I guess
the match is thrown out. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan runs in to make the save and
ward off Slaughter. Slaughter hollers Fightin' Words at Hacksaw as
he leaves.
Main Event Match 3: Big Bossman vs. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig
No Heenan at ringside for Perfect, as part of the Brain/Bossman/Bossman's
Momma story. Bossman beats the tar out of Hennig to begin, tossing him
from post to post. Hennig tries to escape and gives himself a ringpost wedgie.
Hennig comes back and snaps Bossman's neck in an inverted way. Hennig
does nothing but punch and kick at Bossman for the rest of the match. Finally,
he hits the Perfect-plex, but only gets a two count. Heenan runs down to ringside
and signals for Hennig to toss Bossman over the rope. Heenan holds
down the top rope, but Bossman reverses Hennig's irish whip to send him
flying out. DQ bell sounds and Heenan SPRINTS back to the locker to
avoid Bossman. Funny bit, as we see Heenan sliding around in the back.
Mean Gene is set to give an interview when Heenan suddenly runs by, pleading for
Gene to help him and reason with the Bossman.
A Very Special Promo: "The Playboy" Buddy Rose Blow-a-Way Diet Plan
VERY famous segment. If you've never seen this, a recap or even screen captures
will NOT do it justice. Complete comedy segment
that promises to show us how to "eat whatever you want and
still lose weight!" Rose is shown in his undies downing tons of food.
He then dumps the special "Blow-a-Way" powder over his girth and sits in front
of a household fan which suposedly will "blow...blow...blow away all
the excess pounds!" Rose is shown again, looking exactly as he did before- big overhang
and all. The concept is kinda funny, but Rose's facial expressions are hysterical!
Main Event Match 4: Tito Santana vs. Rick "The Model" Martel
Round 349 of the Strike Force Wars. Martel attacks Tito from bhind and stomps him to the mat.
He tosses Tito out to ringside and gloats a bit. Martel hops out to follow up with
a clithesline, but misses Tito and nails the ringpost. Tito works on the arm and throws
Martel back in. Armbar, etc. Martel reverses an irish whip, leapfrogs Tito and tries for
the monkey flip. Tito stomps his eyes and goes back to the armbar. Martel reverses another
irish whip, but Santana counters with a small package for a two count. Time for the armbar.
Martel finally breaks the tender moment with an eyepoke and chinlock. Tito counters
and locks in the armbar again. Martel grabs the front of Tito's trunks and pulls him into
the turnbuckle to take over. He stomps and chokes, but smiles as he does it. Stnding side headlock
and Martel sneaks in a few thumbs to Tito's windpipe. Martel with two side backbreakers and
then goes to the top turnbuckle, letting us know that he's #1. Tito knocks him down
"lil' Rick" gets a painful straddle shot. Tito punches, kicks and
tosses Martel to the other turnbuckle. Tito hits a dropkick and his own side backbreaker.
Air Tito then hits a flying clothesline from the second rope. 1...2... no!. Santana swings at
Martel, who ducks and tries for an atomic drop. Tito blocks, reaches under to grab Martel's
leg, rolls forward and tries for a figure four! Martel reverses with a small package for two!
Martel drops to his knees, punches Tito in the tummy, then rolls him over the Boston Crab.
Vince calls it a "lucky manuever" as Martel gets the submission victory. Pretty cool sequence at the end.
Mean Gene is backstage with Jake "The Snake" Roberts as they recount (yet again)
the Martel/Roberts feud. Jake gives a cool interview where he mentions Martel
gambled, and lost... cuz it came up snake-eyes! End of the Special Main Event.
Random Match 1 : Bushwhackers vs. Orient Express (w/Mr. Fuji)
(Butch & Luke vs. Sato & Tanaka)
From "Wrestling Challenge" with Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan.
Gorilla: "here's two guys always having a good time". Heenan: "you'd
have a good time, too, if you didn't have any brains". Whackers attack while
the Express is consulting with Fuji. Whackers whip their oppoents into each other,
then follow up with stero kicks to the groin. Whackers with stereo eyepokes
and the always disturbing stereo butt bite! Double clotheslines for both Express-ies
and Luke finally settles in against Tanaka. Sato flies in behind the ref's back with
flying chop to allow his partner to take over. Tanaka chops away, stops to
pull his drawers up, then lands a flying headbutt. tag to Sato who delivers a kick
to Luke's jaw. Chop, armbar and a reverse thrust kick scores a two count. Tag to Tanaka
who chops again. Tag to Sato as they hit Luke with the Veg-a-matic! Tanaka tries to
flow-up with a splash, but Luke gets the knees up. Hot tag to Butch! He's a Whacker afire
with clotheslines and powerslams for both Express members. Double noggin-knocker! Luke comes back
in and they hit the battering ram on Tanaka. Fuji gets up and tosses salt into
Butch's eyes, drawing the DQ. Express and Fuji attack Butch as the match fades out.
Random Match 2: Dustin Rhodes (w/Dusty Rhodes) vs. The Genius
More from "Wrestling Challenge". Heenan: "this shows ya the creativtity of
the Rhodes family. They had nine months to think of a name for their kid
and they came up with 'Dustin'. Surprised they didn't call him
'Mr. Rhodes'.. or 'old Blue'!" Genius prances, stretches and offers Dustin a handshake.
Dustin shakes, then armdrags him. Genius gets in a few kicks and tries an irish whip.
Dustin reverses and hits a hiptoss, powerslam and three more hiptosses
into an armbar. He whip Genius to the ropes,
then kncoks him out of the ring with a dropkick. Fans seem to approve. In-Set
interview has Ted DiBiase comparing Dustin and Dusty to Fred and Lamont Sanford. So if
Dusty's Fred and Dustin's Lamont...does that mean Sapphire was Aunt Esther?
And who would be Rollo? Back down
at ringside, Dustin suplexes Genius back into the ring. Genius gets in two punches,
slams Dustin and flips off the second turnbuckle for his Honor Roll moonsault. Dustin gets the
knees up to block, whips Genius to the corner and hits a bulldog to score
the 3 count.
Random Match 3: WWF Intercontinental Championship: "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich (c)
vs. Mr. Perfect (w/ Bobby Heenan)
From "Superstars of Wreslting" with Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper and the Honky Tonk
Man on the call. The week before this match, Ted DiBiase went on the Brother Love show to
berate Dustin Rhodes. DiBiase insulted Texas and began beating down
Dustin. Kerry Von Erich then ran in to chase off DiBiase, grabbed the mike
and shouted "I'm from Texas, too"... which explains why DiBiase
appears a the onset of this match. He's introduced by Howard Finkel, who's
apparently taken a bribe to allow DiBiase to be the "Special Guest Ring Announcer".
DiBiase takes a seat at ringside as the match begins. Lock-up and Kerry
threatens with the claw. Second lockup sees Perfect hit a quick hiptoss. Thid lockup
results in a Perfect powerslam. Kerry does the alwasy famous
irish whip reversal, hits his own powerslam and clotheslines Perfect through the ropes.
Kerry lets him back in and works an armbar. Perfect pulls the hair
and hits a knee to the tummy. Irish whip reversal and Kerry hits a dicus punch to Perfect's
tummy. Kerry kicks and punches but makes the age old mistake of trying to hit Perfect's
foot sole with his head. Perfect takes command and beats away. Sweet standing dropkick
conncts to Kerry's forehead. Kerry is knocked out to ringside, where DiBiase brains him with the
IC belt. Back in where Kerry reverses another irish whip, but this time referee
"Evil" Earl Hebner is bumped and goes down. Kerry sends Perfect to the turnbuckle
where Mr. P does his traditional oversell by flipping to the mat. Spinning tornado
punch and Kerry covers. Ref is still out, so DiBiase sneaks in and knocks out Kerry with the belt!
DiBaise revives Hebner while Perfect hooks Kerry into the Perfect-plex. Hebner crawls
over to make a slow 3 count and Perfect gets his belt back. DiBiase anounces
the decision and gloats over a comatose Kerry.
Random Match 4: Nikolai Volkoff vs. "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
From Prime Time with Sean Mooney and Alfred Hayes. DiBiase offers Nikolai a large lump of cash
before the match. Nikolai approves of capitalism and accepts about 1,000 bucks
and stuffs it in his shorts. DiBiase
cackles and walks away, but Nikolai attacks from behind and sends DiBiase into the ropes for
a kick to the tummy. DiBiase is HOT, as he rolls out and thumps the mat. DiBiase gets back in
and wins the next lockup to take command. Back bodydrop attempt is stopped by Nikolai who
then delivers two powerslams to send DiBiase packing again. Commercial time and
when we come back the match seems editted as Dibiase is stopping on Nikolai. Fistdrop gets
a two count for DiBiase. Atomic drop connects but DiBiase misses his blind
fall-away elbow from the second rope. Russian tummy-punches and a spinning kick. More kicks
and clothesline from Big Nik. More punching until Nikolai misses a charge into the turnbuckle.
DiBiase quickly slaps on the Million Dollar Dream and gets the submission win. Virgil is then
ordered to retrieve the money...and reaches into Nikolai's drawers! Ewww! Well, shit, that would
make me turn on my boss!
Random Match 5: Tugboat vs. The Warlord (w/Slick)
More Prime Time, with Sean and Alfred. Mooney: "get ready for a fantastic
matchup." Three intial lockups rsult in a stalemate and then both guys
stop each other with shoulderblocks. Warlod confers with Slick who apparently
told him "oh,just punch and kick". Tugboat then HIPTOSSES Warlord in the match's
highspot. Warlord comes out of the corner with a clothesline to knock Tugboat down.
It's Warlord turn to do a Rockettes number: kick, kick, rope choke and... KICK! Both guys plod
around throwing punches. Tugboat gets a wicked clothesline but misses an
elbowdrop off the ropes. Warlord picks him up and easily slams him. Irish whip
reversal and Tugboat sends Warlord into the corner for an avalanche. Tugboat
bounces off the ropes, but Slick jumps up and tries a headlock on Tugboat.
DQ bell sounds and Tugboat tosses Slick. Warlord picks up the Doctor of Style
and hauls him away over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes. Tugboat gives
us a good "dooooooo" as the match ends. Tugger must have really been a true Hulkamaniac,
cuz the guy's got arms the size of my waist!
 |
Random Match 6: Saba Simba vs. the Barbarian
More Prime Time. More Sean and Alfred. Yet no Heenan for the Barbarian. This match is from
London, Ontario. Even though I was 16 at the time, I thought
they meant London, England! Saba Simba is of course, Tony Atlas. Best known
to younger fans as "that BBQ rib guy from the MTV wrestling special". If you've never
seen Tony Atlas, drop by your local gas pump to get a good visual. Several gas pumps
have a sticker warning us to "Pay for your gas, or go to jail!" and the officer
depicted looks ALOT like Tony Atlas. Saba Simba is still seen as a controversial
gimmick, but I really feel that Vince kept the idea fresh in his mind
and recycled it about a year later- with Chris Chavis as "Tatanka".
Simba is without his extravagant headdress- he comes out in a simple headband. Three
lock-ups result in nothing but Strong Guy Shoving. Simba gets an
armbar until Barbie takes control with an eyepoke. Simba comes off the ropes
and knocks him out of the ring with a clothesline. Barbie gets back in and tries
two headlocks- Simba wiggles his shoulders and slides out of both attempts in
a semi-comedy spot that pops the crowd. Referee Joey Marella even comes
over to check the slickness on Simba's dome. Match slows down (umm, did it speed up)
as Barbie punches, chokes and stomps. Then it's the Barbaric Bearhug to about three people's
delight. With the help of the second rope, Simba punches out, hits a powerslam
and gets a two count. Barbarian kicks out, gets his own powerslam then
misses an elbow from the second rope. Simba whips him to the corner and charges.
Barbarian gets his foot up with what would later be known as the "Kick of Fear".
Simba is out like Clifford Etienne as Barbarian scores the pin. Good for variety
since Simba wasn't around too long.
Random Match 7: Shawn Michaels (w/Marty Jannety) vs. "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
More PTW with Sean and Alfred. No reasoning behind this one, it's just a weird
matchup for the time. Initial lock-up sees DiBiase hit two armdrags..followed up by a cackle!
Two more lock-ups and DiBiase gets a headlock. Michaels shoves him off the ropes,
ducks, leapfrogs over the rebound, hits two dropkicks, hiptoss and two armdrags to
chase DiBiase to the outside. DiBiase consults with Virgil for ahwile, then comes back
in to apply an armbar. Michaels shoves him to the ropes again, hits another armdrag
and a standing headlock into a takedown. DiBiase grabs the tunrks and rolls Michaels over
for a quick two count. DiBiase fights up, shoves Michaels to the ropes, but
Michaels hits him with shoulderblock. Flying headlock from Michaels and he's
back to the mat. Just call him the HeadLock Kid or "HLK". DiBiase works up, pushes Michaels into the
corner for some chops and delivers a powerslam. Michaels then tries to roll-up
DiBiase from behind, from off the ropes. DiBiase grabs the top rope, but Michaels
immediately hits him with another dropkick and ...headlock! Five minutes pass.
Well, long about this time, them boys decide to stand up. Michaels irish whips
DiBiase to the corner, and DiBiase gets his foot up to nail Michaels in the jaw.
Fistdrop, choke and a wicked clohtesline from DiBiase get a 2 count. Backbreaker
gets another two. Michaels kicks out, bounces off the ropes and DiBiase tries for a
kneee. Michaels grabs the knee, rolls forward, underhooks DiBiase and gets a quick
2. DiBiase knees him and tosses him out. Marty then begins to follow Virgil around, allowing
DiBiase to jump out and drop Michaels on the railing, neck-first. Marty tries to get in
the ring, while DiBiase suplexes Michaels back in. Michaels then reverses a DiBiase pildervier
attempt to take control. Reverse atomic drop, clothesline and backdrop get two for Michaels.
DiBiase tries for his own backdrop, but Michaels
counters with a neckbreaker. Michaels off the top turnbuckle with
a flying body press for another 2. Michaels tries bounces off the ropes, allowing
Virgil to do his obligatory Subtle Trip Move. Marty hops up on the apron
to argue and the match quickly breaks down. All four guys are in until the Rockers
clear the ring with a double dropkick on DiBiase and double thurst kick on
Virgil. Bell sounds for the double DQ. Rockers then setup Virgil for
their double top-rope fistdrop, but DiBiase knocks Michaels off the corner
and saves Virgil. Who says DiBiase was always rotten to Virgil?!? Ring announcer Mike
MGuirk announces a "double countout", then corrects herself by announcing
"double disqaulification". Sean Mooney even picked up on the miscue. I still hate Shawn Michaels,
but this was the best match on the tape, so far. Too bad it didn't have a pinfall decision.
Random Match 8: Bushwhackers vs. Rhythym n' Blues
(Butch & Lukve vs. Honkytonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine)
Short clip of the Gorilla and the Brain in the PTW studio, which is
all decked out for New Year's Eve. Sean Mooney and Alfred Hayes have the call on
this match from London, Ontario. Honky has the mic and invites the crowd to sing along
with him for a rendition of "Hunka Hunka Honky Love". Bushwhackers enter and
disrrupt the festivties. Whackers punch away and work over Honky's arm
for several minutes. Honky rakes Luke's eyes and then resorts to THE
most heinous heel tactic- the back scratch! I always wanted to see a wrestler
NOT sell the back scratch, turn to the heel and say "hey thanks... feels kinda
good. The itch was killing me." Luke's the Whacker in Peril for most of
the match. After delivering a powerslam, Valentine cuts some humorous dance moves and
his verision of the double hitchhike. Luke finally makes the tag to Butch
and the Whackers immediately tema up to deliver a double atomic drop
to Valentine and a double clothesline to Honky (guess Luke wasn't beaten THAT
bad). Mayhem breaks loose as the ref gets bumped. Honky and Butch brawl outside, but Valentine
reaches out from the ring and holds Butch's arm in a reverse spread-eagle
on the ringpost. Honky tries to brain Butch with the gee-tar, but Butch ducks.
Luke enters the ring with Valentine's guitar to chase off the dastardly villains.
Decision is a DQ win for somone...but the tape cuts to the next match before
the winner is mentioned.
I'm guessing Rhythym n' Blues got DQ'd...even though the ref was out.
Random Match 9: Koko B. Ware vs. Tito Santana
A rare face vs. face match. I guess this is the jobber equivalent of
"Hogan-Warrior".
Since late 1988, I had a rule when taping my rasslin' compilation tapes-
SKIP the KoKo matches! KoKo was just one booger's width above a true jobber,
so I didn't want to waste my tape (unless he was on a PPV or SNME). Same almost
applied for Tito. So when I saw this match I was floored: holy crap...
somebody's gonna WIN! This is the same match that is covered in broader detail in
the GUEST COLUMN. From MSG with Heenan
and Mooney at ringside. Heenan comments on Koko's mascot Frankie:
"Ya' like that bird, Mooney?" Mooney: "Why, yes I do". Heenan: "HOW do ya'
like it, original or extra-crispy?!". Match starts in a friendly manner, but
Koko complains about hair pulling and does a heel turn! Tito falls for
the oldest trick in the book: Koko offers his LEFT hand for a handshake.
Tito shakes it and then gets pummeled by Koko's right. Heenan comments:
"Yeah, I like this! We don't wanna see a coupla' pansies doing armlocks
and stuff.. we wanna see teeth flyin' outta' there!!" Tito connects with
the flying jalapeno to score the pin. I think Koko left the
WWF for about six months after this- doing a little fling in the USWA
where he competed for their World Title against Kamala.
Why'd you tape this??
The Slaughter-Iraqi gimmick received ALOT of coverage. WWF was trying
to be cartoony, but included a real-life issue in their gimmicks.
Sluaghter started out as a right wing extremists, supporting war
in Iraq around August. Suddenly in November he became an Iraqi supporter.
Were kids supposed to believe this? Especially when they could turn the channel
and see Slaughter promoting G.I. Joe toys and hosting the cartoon of the same name.
It wasn't unusual to watch Slaughter
wrestle a match as an "Iraqi" on WWF TV, immediately followed by a toy commercial
where Slaughter was standing in front of an American flag saying "Yo Joe!".
This HAS to be the largest example of LOGIC IN WRESTLING!
Ted DiBiase had a great showing on this tape. He
had a title shot, messed with Kerry Von Erich and Dusty Rhodes, and
even had an exceptional match against Shawn Michaels. His mini-match against
Bret Hart at the Survivor Series was pretty damn good, too. DiBiase single-handedly SAVED
this tape from becoming PURE CRAP. Well, the Koko-Tito match was decent, too.
Up next, we've got about five to six hours of rasslin' fun from the Royal Rumble
1991 period. Come back in about two months, kill ten minutes and read it! You can
still e-mail me your own
rasslin' reviews
or you if ya' wanna see these matches on YOUR TV you can
set up a trade for this tape!
BACK to Rasslin index
