SPORTS-(RASSLIN)
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What the HECK?/Intro- Rasslin Tape 5 (March 1989)
This tape features all the hype and build-up to Wrestlemania V. Tape was started in
March 1989, includes a mid-March Saturday Night's Main Event, Wrestlemania V, and
the random matches afterwards. As you've probably heard,
1989 was a pretty good year for wrestling. In the NWA, especially, but
I was mainly into the WWF, still. I'll try to do QUICK run-downs of
WMV... because you've probably read that, somewhere else. Again, these are in chronological
order, and contain NON-jobber matches from Prime Time Wrestling (PTW), Superstars of Wrestling and
Wrestling Challenge
Random Match 1- Rick Martel vs. King Haku (w/ Bobby Heenan)
No intros are shown, and the match starts with both guys in the ring. The announcers
are Rob Traumgard (SP? who?) and Lord Alfred Hayes. Rob calls Martel "Ricky" alot
and mentions "I've been watching him for a long time", so I'm guessing he's an
AWA convert. This is another of those MSG matches, with the dark crowd and everything.
The announcers go into the fact that this is Martel's big return match... okay, so
I guess we should forget that he was in the Royal Rumble about five weeks ago. In case you missed it,
Martel was with Tito Santana in Stike Force. He was
hit with the Demolition Decapitation, on the floor, back in May 1988 during a
Tag Title rematch. He did the
stretcher job and wasn't seen until the Royal Rumble. WWF Magazine even ran an article in
the Fall of 1988, titled "Martel retires". Concussions weren't exactly en vogue, yet
(yeah, despite the fact that I had FOUR in one month, that Fall), so I think
the storyline was "they broke his neck". Mild comeback story followed. I assume Martel
had a legitimate injury, and just needed the time off. Im fact, he was never seen or mentioned on
TV in the final six months of 1988. Suddenly, they announced him as a participant in the Rumble in
January.
Martel starts with a few leapfrogs, irishwhips Haku and hits a dropkick. Haku bails while
Martel does his little jumping/aerobics thing to a decent pop. Haku makes his way back in, and
after a few hiptosses, Martel cinches in Hold #235-ARMBAR! Haku occasionally reverses, and
his hold of the night is the headlock. Every four minutes or so, one guy powers out
and gets whipped to the ropes for either a clothesline/shoulderblock (Haku), or
dropkick (Martel). Haku throws Martel to the
turnbuckle. Martel quickly climbs to the second rope, spins around and hits
Haku with a crossbody for two. Back to HeadlockMania. Followed immediately by
ArmBarMania. The crowd shows their approval by starting chants of "boorrrrr-ing!"
At one point, Martel misses a blind charge, and Haku
tosses him to the floor.
Martel holds his head, and Traumgard and Hayes get all giddy, wondering if this is a
side effect of Martel's concussion. Martel hops back in and is met with the Haku headlock, again.
In a cool spot, Martel reverses the headlock into a suplex, but Haku holds onto the hold, even after
the impact. Vaguley foreshadowing the popular Chris Benoit multiple suplexes of today. Only,
it was just ONE suplex...still, this was 1989, and the crowd went "oooo"! Eventually,
Martel breaks out of the headlock, and hits succesive dropkicks and a powerslam. Haku hits a powerslam, then
shoots off the ropes for his flip-legdrop thing. Martel rolls out. He starts to turn
Haku over for the Boston Crab, when the time keeper hits the bell. Yup, a time limit draw.
15 minute draw, but it was really about 13 minutes... close enough. I imagine the booking was:
"Okay, whenever Martels starts the crab, HIT THE BELL!". The rest holds just screamed "this is
going to be a draw!"
Actually a fun little match, and when it didn't involve the phrase "headlock" or "armbar", the
crowd was into it. Martel chases Haku with two dropkicks to make the crowd HAPPY. The cheesy
"Girls in Cars" plays in the background as we cut back to the PTW studio, with Gorilla mocking
Heenan.
Saturday Night's Main Event- Taped around March 11th or so. Bunch of
buildup to WMV. Great intro segment, as Jesse Ventura steals ALL of Vince McMahon's
lines, by running down the entire card. More Jesse, less Vince...always a good thing.
SNME Match 1- Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan)
Not alot going on, here. Rude debuts his "Warrior on the Rump" trunks. Punchamania, and
the two exchange atomic drops. About five minutes
in, Andre the Giant waddles down to ringside. Brutus gets tossed out and Andre drops
ass on him. Seriously, he drops his ass on Brutus, three times, then chokes
the Barber. This brings out Jake Roberts and a pier six breaks out. Andre and Rude beat/chase
the faces, and Heenan shits a brick as Big John Studd emerges from the locker room.
He stares down Andre in the ring, and the heels retreat. Brutus won by DQ, by the way.
SNME Match 2- Hulk Hogan (w/Elizabeth) vs. Bad News Brown
A bit of a storyline here. First off, Bad News
Brown is STILL one of my all-time favorites! According to the man (Allan Coage) himself,
Vince supposedly promised him the World Title at one time.
Bad News had been making allegations that Elizabeth had been
giving "favors" to WWF President Jack Tunney. Bad News was undefeated and even won the
Wrestlemania IV Battle Royal, so it really was a mystery why he never received title shots
at WWF Champ, Randy Savage. So, in December, Brown confronted Tunney and choked him out.
Brown went into about a six week feud with Macho Man, and he finally received
his title shot, at house shows across the country. I'm not sure, but I suspect Brown
finally lost by pinfall during those shows. Here, on this show, Vince and Jesse don't
mention Bad News' undefeated streak... regardless, Brown had yet to lose on TV at this point.
When the Megapowers EXPLODED, the issue between Brown and Savage was pushed aside. As the
storyline goes, Elizabeth is still undecided upon which Megapower she'll back. Here, Hulk is
trying to defend her good name by taking out Bad News. See, it's actually quite a bit of
storyline.
Bad News attacks while the ref is checking Hogan's knee pads, and proceeds to
beat the tar out of him. More punching, but Hogan's selling it like he's just been
powerbombed. Bad News knocks the big dude down and comes off the ropes for a
big legdrop!! Irony! Brown is the man! They end up outside and Brown actually
punches the ringpost as Hogan ducks. Brown gets a chair, but Hogan blocks it and brains him.
Brown picks it up and bangs his head against it, showing that the chairshot has no effect.
Then, he starts to lift up the apron and look for something else (if this were
2001, the crowd would be chanting "we want tables!"). He heads back to the dressing room, and
comes back with....a snow shovel??!! Yup, he holds it up for the crowd to see, like it's
the freaking Stanley Cup. Regretfully, it never makes it into the ring, but Brown
still proceeds to beat the crap out of Hulk. He has Hogan on the ground, when he
goes to the house mic! "Look at him! Look at your hero! I'm beating him like a dog!
I won't show you mercy!! It's ghetto blaster time, FOOL!". For some reason,
Brown then comes off the ropes for his finisher... something he's NEVER done
before. Oh crap.. Hogan ducks it, hulks up, hits a few punches, a high knee (NO
big boot), the legdrop and the pinfall. Hulk celebrates with someone else's wife in the ring.
Well, it was fun while it lasted. Bad News got over just by being a basic, mean-ass heel. The legdrop and the mic thing were classic! Even the snow shovel! Sadly, this was the highest he got on the card, as
he went back to the upper-midcard for Wrestlemania V.
A Very Special Interview- Mean Gene with Elizabeth
Elizabeth thought enough to have two dresses available for tonight.
Mean Gene asks her who's corner she'll be in for WMV. She rambles,
stutters...and tails off. Gene asks if she'll be in Hogan's corner. "No".
Macho Man runs out immediately to celebrate. Then Liz answers that she will not
be in Macho's corner either. Hogan runs out to confront Macho, and
build heat for their title match. Historic, because with fourteen words, this
may have been the longest Liz promo, ever.
SNME Match 3- Blue Blazer vs. Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
A rather quick match, with no backstory. This is the SNME debut of DiBiase's
Million Dollar Belt (the same one he gave to "the Ringmaster" about seven years later).
Blazer pulls out a backslide for two, early on. Blazer dropkicks Ted out and
hits him with a plancha, through the ropes. Quick sequence back inside, where both guys criss-
cross. Blazer tries a crossbody, but Ted twists it into a powerslam for the pin.
SNME Match 4- Rockers vs. Brainbusters (w/ Bobby Heenan)
(Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty vs. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)
Blow-off match for their feud that started at Survivor Series 1988. No meaty angle or anything,
the teams just kept duking it out and didn't like each other. SNME debut for both teams, by the way.
Busters jump Rockers immediately. Arn and Shawn go outside, while Tully tries for the slingshot
suplex on Marty. Mary flips out and into a rollup. Match moves really fast, especially for 1988.
Lots of double-teaming, with Vince praising the Rockers and slamming the Busters. Jesse mentions
that all of the Busters' moves are legal...and he's right! Arn and Shawn go at it for awhile, and
Heenan pulls the top rope down, sending Shawn to the floor. Pier-six errupts outside, with
the ref eventually TOSSING Heenan??! What the hell is this? MLB? Kinda strange, because by tossing
Heenan, the ref is acknowledging that illegal outside interference happened...so why not just rule it
a DQ? Looking for logic in a wrestling match...I know.
With Heenan sent back to the locker, the match resumes. Marty takes all the punishment for
a good five minutes. Marty tries to twist out of a sunset flip from Tully,
but Arn comes in and clotheslines the HELL out of him.
Arn hits his spinebuster, but it doesn't have the impact or execution, just
yet. About three years later, Arn really perfected the move's effect. OUCH..hot tag to Shawn!
Place errupts and both teams brawl to a double countout. Pretty typical of the house match
series these teams did over the winter. After the decision, both teams are eager to get back in the ring.
Double dropkicks from the Rockers send the heels packing, and it makes the fans HAPPY. Crowd was into
this one, and why not? Probably the match of the night.
SNME Match 5- Red Rooster vs. Brooklyn Brawler (w/Bobby Heenan)
Heenan's third match on the card. Vintage Heenan interview before the match: he
sez that Rooster's a nobody.. but now he's found a bigger and better NOBODY- The Brawler!
Video clips of Rooster's turn against Heenan, and a Prime Time Wrestling
segment, where Heenan offers to "make up" with Rooster. He shakes Rooster's hand, then
slaps him, and the Brawler storms onto the set to nail him with a padded bar stool!
He even hits Gorilla Monsoon!! Boooo! Brawler then kicks Rooster's ass all over the
PTW set. Brawler was actually one of my favorite gimmicks at this time. But I guess it was tough to
find old "Brooklyn Dodgers" gear, so they just stuck him in a "Yankees" t-shirt.
Sometimes, he'd come out in an old Dodgers shirt... but I figure those got to be expensive.
It's arguable, but this may have been Brawler's pinnacle. I know they toss him out there about
once a year on RAW, nowadays, but here it seemed like Brawler might actually become a legitimate
heel threat. Keyword: "MIGHT".
Lock-up, whip to ropes, and hiptoss by Rooster. Brawler then whips Rooster to the ropes, but
puts his head down to attempt a backdrop. Rooster puts on the brakes and small packages
him for the 3 count. Afterwards, Rooster invites Heenan into the ring. Brawler sneaks up from
behind and they put the boots to him. Rooster umm..."cocks up"(??) and fights off the heels.
Fans are mildy...VERY mildly, HAPPY.
Promo from an irate Macho Man ends the SNME broadcast.
Wrestlemania V- Okay, you've probably seen or read about this show. For time purposes,
I'll do a QUICK rundown. It was becoming a Stragand tradition, as this
was the second year in a row that my birthday party was highlighted by
getting the WrestleMania PPV and Little Caesar's pizza. (Wrestlemania
day would remain my b-day party up until 1992). Really, for adolescents,
a WrestleMania party is pretty cool for a b-day party.
Again, this was taken from the ORIGINAL PPV telecast, so
some things may have been edited out on the home video version.
For instance, WWF Women's Champ Rockin' Robin (Jake Roberts' sister) is introduced
to sing the national anthem. She justs...sits there and misses her cue to start singing, while
the music plays.
Fans crack up, and the production team is emabrassed. Back to Gorilla and Jesse, who hype the
card for a bit. Howard Finkel then apologizes for the "audio difficulties" and introduces
Robin AGAIN...now to sing "America the Beautiful". What? No national anthem?? An absolutely
WRETCHED version is warbled through. (in fact, she kinda sounds like a toned down female version of...
William Shatner) Jesse mentions "she'd better stick to her day job".
As always, the Body "tells it like it is". Intros for the first match, as Finkel
screws up the intro, introducing King Haku as King TONGA. Things did NOT start out smooth for
WMV!
WMV Match 1- Hercules vs. King Haku (w/Bobby Heenan)
Another arguable point, but this was probably the pinnacle of Herc's WWF career.
Crowd pops for all Herc's moves... but mostly because he's the babyface in
the curtain jerker. Bearhug gets the "borrrrrring" chant, early. Gorilla mentions that
Haku's arms are too low for an effective bearhug. Jesse cracks: "what do Gorillas know
about bearhugs??" "Gorillas know alot, Jess". (I love these two!). Haku misses his
headbutt from the second rope, then misses a clothesline. Herc with a belly-to-back suplex for
the three count. Herc was supposed to bridge (Gorilla sez : "oh, he's bridging"),
but simply rolled one shoulder.
WMV Match 2- Rockers vs. Twin Towers (w/Slick)
(Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty vs. Akeen and Big Bossman)
Bossman's actually starting to thin at this juncture. Appears about
60 lbs. lighter than he was at Summerslam88.
Standard "davey v. goliath" stuff. Rocks try a double dropkick from
two different turnbuckles on Akeem. Marty hits, but Shawn misses, and
kinda hits the big dude with a leg drop thingie. Tough to time that move.
Bossman catches Shawn off the top rope for a slam/powerbomb thingie. Then tags
Akeem for the big splash and 3 count.
WMV Match 3- Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake vs. Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
Typical match from Ted. He shakes hands with Donald Trump before the match. Trump's
a HEEL fan! Ends in a double countout. Virgil gets pummeled afterwards.
In a pre-recorded segment, Lord Alfred Hayes interviews the Bushwhackers at the WMV brunch.
Both guys babble with their mouths full. Not surprisingly, the Bushwhackers mumblings are
more coherent than Hayes' ramblings. Oh, the humor....
WMV Match 4- The Bushwhackers vs. The Rougeau Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart)
(Butch Miller and Luke Williams vs. Jacques and Raymond Rougeau)
Rougeaus celebrate after an abdominal stretch/kick doubleteam.
Whackers hit Ray with the battering ram and double knee/stomach breaker for the pin.
WMV Match 5- Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig
Just "Mr. Perfect", no Hennig in the intro. Debut of Hennig's surfer/singlet
apparel, for those keeping score. Blazer controls most of the match, and Hennig seems
lethargic. After scoring a near fall with a crucifix, Blazer agrues with the ref, allowing
Hennig to hit him with "the Ax" and the perfectplex for the pin.
Jesse mentions that he has a "big surprise" for Gorilla. Jesse gets up on the
announce podium and adresses the fans. Pretty decent "Jess-ee" chant.
Another pre-recorded segment, as Alred Hayes interviews Mr. Fuji, who has entered
the Wrestlemania weekend 5K race. Fuji mumbles that he's in shape and his "Powuz
uh Payme" will win the titles.
A Special Interlude- RUN-DMC performs the "WrestleMania Rap"
Holy crap...I forgot this was on here! Funny just to hear Howard Finkel say
"Live, From Hollis, Queens- RUN-DMC!!" The song never seems to start, and
it's tough to hear any melody in this. Bunch of shouting. "Who's gonna lose...
and who's gonna win... who's gonna be the champ-i-on?"
WMV Match 6- WWF World Tag Team Title Match: Demoition(c) vs. Powers of Pain & Mr. Fuji
(Ax and Smash vs. Warlord, Barbarian and Mr. Fuji)
Everyone at my high school believed that this was the last hurrah for the Demos, and
that the Powers would destroy them.
Huge mention of the fact that this is "under handicap rules". Clothesline, punches and
powerslams are the moves du jour. Fuji does get to
perform his crotch headbutt. HEEL MISCOUMMINCATION results in the errant salt toss.
Demos retain and get a decent pop.
Backstage, Tony Schiavone tries to get a word with Randy Savage. Savage spews "no interviews".
Tony and the cameraman get tossed to the floor.
WMV Match 7-Rugged Ronnie Garvin vs. Dino Bravo (w/Frenchy Martin)
After the intros, Superfly Jimmy Snuka makes a senseless return/special appearance.
My friends and I thought this was the funniest damn thing, ever. For years, we'd interrupt
presentations, and say "and now.. Jimmy Superfly Snuka!". Then walk in,
wave, and disappear. Hey, WE thought it was funny. Anyways, it's a Bravo squash here.
Afterwards, Frenchy Martin is the recipient of THE Most Electrifying Move in
Predetermined Sports Competition...the Garvin Stomp (or toe-tap).
WMV Match 8-Strike Force vs. The Brainbsuters (W/Bobby Heenan)
(Rick Martel and Tito Santana vs. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)
Chico accidentally hits Martel with the flying jalapeno. Martel gets pissed, and
walks.. leaving Chico to get hammered by Arn and Tully. Spike piledriver gets the
Busters the 3 count.
Backstage, Mean Gene has a "special announcement": Hulk Hogan is to star in
"No Holds Barred". A promo is shown. Hulk is Rip, Tiny Lister is Zeus and
Joan Severance wears a white bra. Oh god...I remember cringing in fear at
the mere mention of this movie, even at age 14. Cut back to Gorilla and an
IRATE Jesse! Jesse is pissed that Hogan's moving in on his turf.
Piper's Pit w/ Brother Love and Morton Downey, Jr.
Actually, Love and Piper did a series of house shows to warm up for
this act. Not a match or anything... just the Brother Love Show,
where Piper used the same jokes he uses here. Piper de-pantses
the Bro, and unleashes a fire extinguisher in Morton's face. (Hey,
I wonder if this is where Raven ripped the idea from?). This would have been
cool...if Piper's Pit had actually returned to WWF TV after WrestleMania V.
In fact, we all expected this to be Bro Love's LAST appearance. However, Love would
hang around for almost TWO years beyond this, and Piper's Pit NEVER came back.
Piper was pretty silent until he joined on with the PTW crew
in the Summer of 89. So, essentially, this segment is worthless.
WMV Match 9-Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan)
(special ref: Big John Studd)
Andre chokes, waddles and gets caught in the ropes. Ted Dibiase runs in to steal Damian, while
Studd and Andre get into it. DQ win for Jake. Hit "FF".
Backstage, Tony Schiavone interviews Sensational Sherri Martel. Martel runs down Rockin' Robin,
and, surprisingly, berates Elizabeth. First ripple of sequeing Sherri into Macho Man's
new managerial postion.
WMV Match 10-Hart Foundation vs. Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
Blow-off match for their feud. Decent old-school wrestling. Hitman wins by konking
Hammer with Jimmy's megaphone for the pin.
WMV Match 11- WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Ultimate Warrior (c) vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan)
Huge upset, as Heenan hooks Warrior's leg, giving Rude the win and the title.
WMV Match 12- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown
A special installment of PunchaMania V. The two duel with a chair and a 2x4, for the double
DQ. Afterwards, Duggan makes us all wonder where our kleenexes are.
WMV Match 13-Red Rooster vs. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (w/Brooklyn Brawler)
Before the match, Rooster promises Mean Gene that it will be "a good day in the
barnyard!". Rooster quickly pins an inured and exhausted Heenam, then fights off the Brawler.
WMV Match 14- WWF Title Match: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (c) vs. Hulk Hogan
Ellizabeth is introduced and stands in a "neutral corner". Liz is wearing a tight
gown, and when she turns around, she looks especially fuck-tacular... in
a virginal, innocent, prom queen sorta way. I'm tellin ya, if Liz had even half the attitude of
Tammy Sytch, Lita or even Stacey Keibler, she woulda been THE all time Rasslin Sex Symbol.
Fairly decent fair for these two. Hogan wins the title back, to the delight of dozens.
End of WrestleMania V broadcast
Random Match 2- "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
Retirement Match
From "Superstars of Wrestling", two weeks after WMV. I missed the first match between these two.
In that, Garvin upset Valentine with a small package. Valentine was so irate, that he
offered to put his career on the line in a rematch. Garvin agreed, and here's the result.
Garvin plods around with his punching offense to start. Valentine misses an axehandle from the
top rope, and Garvin hits THE Most Electrifying Move in Predetermined Sports Competition- The
Garvin Stomp (or toe-tap)! Garvin then tries to small package Valentine. Hammer reverses it,
pulls the trunks and steals the pinfall. Tony Schiavone immediately interviews Valentine. He
blasts Garvin, who is being shown the door by security. A nothing match, but it set up
their year long feud, which led to Garvin's ref stint, The Hammer Jammer,
and the big blowoff at Royal Rumble 1990. Really, it made an pretty awful feud seem
exciting. In other words: a decent attempt to polish a turd, Beavis.
Random Match 3- Hercules vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan)
Non-title match
From "Wrestling Challenge", two weeks after WMV. Gorilla is solo in the booth, due to
Heenan's participation at ringside.
Rude comes out with his new belt, and runs down the Warrior in the inset interview.
Rude stalls and throws his sweat in Herc's face. Herc beats on him, then connects with
a top rope axehandle. Followed up by a nice powerslam and a suplex. Herc stops, and throws HIS
sweat into Rude's face! Herc then
motions for the backbreaker (torture rack). Heenan reaches in and trips Herc.
Herc chases Heenan outside the ring, until they make it back inside. Herc shoves the
ref and brings his chain into the ring. DQ win for Rude. Would it have hurt to have made this
a title match??
Random Match 4- Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Virgil
From Superstars of Wrestling. This was supposed to be Jake vs. Ted DiBiase, and Jake is somewhat pissed
that the Million Dollar Champ is not in the ring. Cameras cut back to
locker room, where DiBiase is huddled over a humidifier, telling Tony Schiavone that
he's too sick to wrestle, but assures us that he has not let Jake off the hook.
Back in the ring, Jake attacks Virgil before he can finish disrobing. Whips him
in for a clothesline, then a powerslam. He sends Virgil to the turnbuckle, but the followup
charge is met by Virgil's foot. Virgil then chokes Jake with his shirt and gets in a few
punches to knock down the Snake. Jake makes it back up with a few punches of his own.
Shortarm clothesline levels Virgil. Jake calls for the DDT and delivers it, knocking out
Virgil. He then reaches into Virgils' pants (errr...yeah, it's somewhat disturbing), and
pulls out a roll of money. Jake hops out to ringside and distributes c-notes to several fans.
And THAT gets a good pop. Closeup of a kid's face as he receives the $100 bill is
priceless ("oh shit!! Dad.. it's REAL money!!"). Jake hops back into the ring,
and saves a c-note for himself. DiBiase suddenly runs in to beatdown Jake and
slap on the Million Dollar Dream. Jake is out, and DiBiase stuffs his mouth with
cash. "Nobody messes with MY money!!". This would build off of the WMV run-in (above) and
get their year-long feud running. However, shortly after this, Jake went down with an injury, or
a conviction, and was out until the Fall. The Fed backtracked and used this footage to
say that DiBiase fractured a disc in Jake's neck.
Random Match 5- Big John Studd vs. King Haku (w/Bobby Heenan)
From Wrestling Challenge. Bobby Heenan is in the inset box, warning Studd that Andre the Giant is
watching him. Haku chops Studd to start and then tries to slam him,
unsuccesfully. About two fans in the crowd have a flashback to King Tonga slamming
Studd at MSG from three years earlier... irony trackers take note. Studd whips
Haku in for an elbow off the ropes. Headlock time. Big powerslam, and Studd slaps on the bearhug.
Andre makes his way down, and Studd breaks the hold to switch to the STAREDOWN. Haku
superkicks Studd in the back of the head, sending him into the ropes. The future
Colossal Connection proceeds to punk out Studd, drawing a DQ. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
arrives with 2x4 in tow, decks the heels and sends them packing. Studd and
Duggan shake hands and celebrate in the ring. A match which segues quite nicely into...
Random Match 6- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. King Haku (w/Bobby Heenan)
The following weekend, from Superstars. Now here's another conundrum..
after months of pinfall losses for Haku (including one at WMV, above), suddenly
the crown is on the line, as if it were a title?? I know.. logic in wrestling and
all that. Double lockups to start. Duggan brawls, until Haku hits his chops and an armbar.
Duggan actually REVERSES the armbar, to the amazement of Jesse. Follows it up
with a hip-toss, tough guy! Haku chops Hacksaw to the ground,
then bounces off the ropes for a somersault backflip or legdrop. Duggan rolls out, and
immediately hits the 3 point stance clothesline for the win and the "title" of King.
Crowd goes absolutely HAPPY!! Seriously... you can tell the fans really hated the
annoying heel King gimmick. Heenan runs back to the locker with the crown and cape.
I think Hacksaw eventually gets the gear, either on PTW or during a run-in, later on.
Random Match 7- Demolition vs. Honky Tonk Man and Greg "the Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
(Ax & Smash) Non-title match
From Wrestling Challenge, again. Gorilla mentions that this is a non-title match-up. Heenan
vehemently protests mentioning "if the BrainBusters were the champs, we'd INSIST on
putting the titles on the line". (remember that for when we get to SummerSlam 89).
Smash punches..alot...to start. Hammer tries for the figure four but gets tossed out by
Smash. Tag to Honky, who gets demolished by the champs. Heels eventually reverse and
beat on Ax for a few minutes. Hot tag to Smash and all four guys go at it.
Smash clotheslines Valentine, who backs into Earl Hebner, drawing the REF BUMP and sending him
to the floor. Honky smashes Ax with Hart's megaphone, but... Referee Rugged Ronnie Garvin runs in,
to the delight of dozens. Garvin shoves off both teams and calls for the DQ, awarding
the match to Demolition.
Random Match 8- Rockers vs. The Fabulous Rogueau Brothers (w/Jimmy Hart)
(Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannety vs. Jacques and Raymond Rougeau)
More from Wrestlng Challenge. Into mid-May 1989, now.
Rougeaus make their way to the ring, but their music is suddenly cut off before they
reach the steps. "Love Theme from the Rockers" plays as the druggies hit the ring.
And yes, this is the one and only time their theme has...WORDS. "ooo-wee,
the Rockers" is the chorus. Yes, it's as bad as it sounds. Raymond gets on the mic
and does some Grade A Arrogant Heel work. "You guys are copycats.. we went to
Memphis to record our theme, but you guys are copycats!" He then adds that
the Rockers are a disgrace to good All-Americans, like the Rougeaus. Furthermore,
the Rougeaus have decided that they are NOT going to wrestle the Rockers, tonight.
Rocks quickly attack the Bros and they brawl around ringside. Ray rams Marty into a post.
Shawm gets doubleteamed and held down on the ring apron by Jacques. Ray then
comes off the apron with Jimmy's megaphone, nailing Michaels in the mouth.
They hold him up and smash him, once more. Michaels bites down on the blood
capsule and "bleeds" from the mouth. No contest and their feud starts.
Why'd you tape this??
Well, it had Wrestlemania V. I remember that event being ALOT more wacthable when I taped
this. Here, it really seemed to drag along. The Random and SNME matches were decent fare,
however.
All the post-WM stuff was put out there to advance angles, as the WWF finally seemed to
be getting away from their run of lousy, unimportant non-PPV matches. If you look closely, you'll
see that 6 of the last 7 matches actually advanced angles. The Hercules match wasn't a complete
throwaway, as it worked to establish Rude as a cowardly, despicable IC champ. You may
feel the need to FF through the Wrestlemania and parts of Martel-Haku, but the
rest is very watchable, old-school WWF. Up next is Rasslin tape 6, which features
a mini Bad News/Brawler feud, Hogan/Bossman in the cage, the hot Demolition/Brainbusters title
switch and Summerslam89. Until then, the pleasure has been....all ours.
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