SPORTS-(RASSLIN)
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What the HECK?/Intro- Rasslin Tape 8 (Winter 1989/1990)
This tape features the gap between the 1989 Survivor Series and
the 1990 Royal Rumble. This was probably my favorite era of the WWF, from 1989-1990.
So if I get a little windbagg-ish for the next few tapes, don't be too harsh.
This tape features my biggest mark-out
moment as a WWF fan- The Hogan-Warrior confrontation. I'd been big on Warrior since I saw
him as "Dingo Warrior" on ESPN in the Fall of 1986. He'd been gaining momentum
for the past two years, but it always seemed like he would play second banana to
Hogan. When they had their unexpected face-off in the Royal Rumble, and then
actually followed upon that angle, I went into orbit! But anyways... "previously
on WWF Flashback": we were right in the middle of the Thanksgiving Weekend 1989 SNME...
so let's finish it off
SNME Match 4- Red Rooster vs. Mr. Perfect (w/the Genius)
Dammit, this is the THIRD time I've had to recap a Perfect-Rooster match!
Pardon me if I slack a bit.
Perfect starts by slapping Rooster's chops. Lock up and things quickly speed up.
Rooster tries for a chickenwing, but Perfect makes the ropes.
Criss cross wrestling work for most of the match.
Rooster catches Perfect off the ropes and tries for a hiptoss. Perfect
blocks, and connects with "The Ax". Perfect-plex scores the pin. Mr. P
turns to the camera and barks at Hogan....while Genius skips around for added
effect.
SNME Match 5- 2/3 Falls: Rockers vs. BrainBusters (w/Bobby Heenan)
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty vs. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
In the pre-match interview, Heenan and the Busters argue about losing the titles.
In storylines, this was the Busters last match...although it was taped before the
Survivor Series, where Arn worked with the Heenan Family.
Marty and Tully start with decent stuff. Almost immediately,
Marty slingshots over the top rope, into a sunset flip. On the outside, Arn tries to
hold Tully's hands to the rope.. but the ref kicks Arn's assist, allowing
Jannetty to roll Tully down for the pin. Heenan is irate, enters the ring and shoves
Tully. Tully barks back at him, and a frustrated Heenan then leaves the ring area!
Both sides are yelling at each other as Heenan walks off.
Meanwhile, both Rockers sneak behind the heels for synchronized, stereo roll ups.
Busters both kick out at 2, and receive stereo superkicks from the Rocks. Fans go nuts
as the Busters go to the floor. Somewhere in here, Marty gets
a Hurracanrana on Tully. Arn takes control and hits the spinebuster on Marty.
Crisp execution on every move in this match...good stuff! Heenan is shown, peaking
in from behind the entrance curtain.
Tag to Michaels, who comes in to clean house. Michaels charges for a flying headscissors
take-down on Tully. Arn grabs Micahels' head and drops to the floor, clotheslining
Michaels on the top rope. Tully covers for the 3 count to score the second fall.
Commercial break, and Jesse Ventura has tracked down Bobby Heenan, backstage. "They're gonna
be in a soup kitchen! They're the worst tag team I've ever been associated
with! They're fired!"
Third fall starts with a four-way melee. Double dropkicks send the Busters outside.
They pair up and brawl all over the ring. Arn tries to lock-in Marty for the spike piledriver,
while Blanchard climbs the top turnbuckle. Michaels knocks Tully to the floor, then
launches himself from the top with a flying body press onto Arn. Michaels
gets the 3 count on Arn and the fans go HAPPY! That was it for the Busters in the WWF.
Sadly, I don't think Arn and Tully ever teamed, again. Tully went to the AWA for a bit,
then disappeared. Arn went right back to the NWA and re-started the Four Horsemen with
Ric Flair...about one week after this match aired! Great run for Tully and Arn, though.
Definitely one of the best heel tag teams, ever. Another side note, relating to WWF storylines:
Heenan's frustration, here, would lead him to pair up Andre and Haku to go after the
Tag Team belts.
Commercial time, and when we come back, Mean Gene Okerlund is with Mr. Perfect and the Genius.
Gene slips a bit and calls him "Curt Hennig". Okay with me, but the WWF was billing him as
simply "Mr. Perfect" at this time. Perfect has a hammer and is smashing Hogan's
title belt to bits! "I'll chase you to every arena, and destory every belt you have, Hogan!
Until you give me a title shot!" Animosity over a title belt... gasp!
Another break, and this time Mean Gene is with Hulk Hogan. Hogan starts out somber, then
cuts a decent tirade against Hennig. The final shot is a still of the shattered belt....
this is debateable, but if you look closely, the fragments of the belt resemble the
WWF's Hardcore Title belt, which surfaced in 1998. Common assumption is that Vince
picked up the busted gold shards, put the pieces in his office and forgot about them...
until he decided to grab some duct tape and make the Hardcore belt, eight years later.
Random Match 1- Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs. Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart)
Taken from "Superstars of Wrestling", Thanksgiving weekend, with
Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura on the call. This was sort of the
final blow-off for the Honky-Superfly issue. Basically, Honky took issue
with a Superfly interview cutting into his time. Superfly splashed him, and
they had a little feud, mainly showcased in house shows. (I saw one in
September 89, and Superfly cleanly pinned Honky with the big splash)
Anyways, Honky charges before
the bell. Snuka fends him off with chops and a headbutt. Sends him to the ropes
and chops him in the midsection. Jimmy Hart tries to trip Snuka, but Snuka
flips over the ropes to go after him. Honky hits him from behind with
a double axehandle, then slams his head into the apron. Snuka shrugs it off
and leads Honky back into the ring with more headbutts. Honky gets a Shemp
Stooge eyepoke to take over, while Jimmy tosses the guitar into the ring.
Snuka with a flying headbutt and powerslam to set up his finsher.
Jimmy argues with the ref, while
Honky grabs the guitar and brains Snuka with it. He actually connects
closer to the neck of the guitar...not the hollow part of the instrument, and we can
see Snuka has a nice little bloody gash on his forehead. Bell
sounds as Honky is DQ'd. Snuka is unfazed, so Honky cracks him again. Still no effect.
Snuka grabs the guitar and starts EATING it, while Honky bolts. Jesse cracks:
"Snuka should be disqualified for what he did to Honky's guitar!"
Random Match 2- Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
PTW, with Tony Schiavone and Lord Alfred Hayes, for your auditory pleasure. Hammer
tries to elbowsmash Snuka in the head... which Snuka shrugs off with the "hew! hew!"
funky head bobbing dance. Snuka sends Hammer to the ropes and chops him. Hammer gets in
a knee to the stomach to take over. Elbowsmashes and a headlock. Snuka is tossed to the outside, as we go to commerical.
Studio break has Roddy Piper: "Snuka movin' like greased lightning, Valentine movin' like
greased turtle!" Before they throw back to the arena, Piper and Heenan get into some
verbal fisticuffs. Bobby Heenan mentions that he would go over to Studio B and knock out Piper, but
his contract prevents him from getting involved, physically. Heenan rules, by the way. Back to the ring, where
Valentine suplexes Snuka back in. Snuka comes back with a headbutt, powerslam,
and connects off the second rope with a flying forearm/chop. He signals for the big splash,
but Jimmy Hart enters and drags Hammer out. Referee Danny Davis gets bumped, and the heels
beat on Snuka with Jimmy's megaphone. Rugged Ronnie Garvin runs in to fight them off.
Ref comes to, and sounds the double DQ. Garvin tries to get Hammer into his "reverse
figure four" (nowadays, folks call 'dat a "sharpshooter"), but Valentine wiggles free and escapes.
Random Match 3- Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs. Mr. Perfect
Belive me, it's not intentional, but this is looking like the Snuka Appreciation Tape, huh?
From MSG, with Gorilla Monsoon and Hillbilly Jim on the commentary.
Perfect stalls like crazy, and keeps bolting the ring for the first five minutes or so.
Snuka gets in his chops and obligatory headbutts.
Perfect sends him to the turnbuckle, but Snuka climbs, twists
and hits Perfect with a flying bodypress. Perfect rolls through,
pulls the speedo and gets a two count.
Snuka sends Mr. P to the ropes, puts his head down for the instant Perfect-plex and
gets pinned.
Random Match 4- Hart Foundation vs. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (w/Jimmy Hart)
(Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau)
Another PTW exclusive, with Lord Alfred and Tony on the call. Tough to tell,
but although this match was shown in December 89, it may have been
from the Summer, since the Harts were competing solo around December.
Neidhart and Raymond start with a lock-up/shoving match. Raymond complains about the hair pull,
and the teams switch off. Bret and Jacques stalk each other for a bit.
Jacques offers the handshake to Bret, and then pantomines to the crowd that he is
a decent guy. He then punches his chest and declares "I'm da Roug..", umm, that was
still about a year away. In a shocking swerve, Jacques cheapshots Bret. Sends him to
the ropes and drops down for an attempted monkeyflip. Hart stops and drops an elbow on
Jacques' throat. More complaining from the Canadian boys. Cheapshot allows
the Rougeaus to work over Bret for the next five minutes. Ending sees Raymond apply
a Boston Crab on the Hitman, while Jacques comes off the ropes with a knee to
the back of the head. Raymond covers, but Neidhart saves at the two count.
Four way brawl errupts, and Jimmy Hart tosses the megaphone to Raymond. Before
he can use it, Neidhart underhooks Ray for the 3 count and the pin. Decent stuff, and got
the crowd HAPPY.
Random Match 5- Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs. Macho King Randy Savage (w/ Queen Sherri)
A PTW match from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, with Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes.
Maple Leaf Gardens was the one with that nifty ramp leading right up to the ring.
Same formual as the Perfect/Snuka match above, only it's Savage and Sherri. Sherri looks like
a slut-tastic Whitesnake groupie, with black leather boots and top. Kind of a shame here, as
Savage constantly hops out of the ring, doing next to nothing. Commercial break returns,
and the match seems clipped. Snuka is chopping on Savage, and Sherri keeps trying to distract
referee Joe Sanilla (SP?). Ref comes between Snuka and Sherri, and gets bumped when
Savage nails Snuka with a flying knee in the back. Snuka headbutts and goes up top
for a flying chop, but the ref is still out. Snuka chops on Savage some more until
Macho does the Andre the Giant Special, and gets his arms caught in the ropes. Sherri
enters the ring and brains Snuka with the loaded purse. She drags the ref over and
Savage lays a shoulder on Snuka for the 3 count and the pin. Afterwards, Sherri sets up
Snuka for the flying elbow from Savage. Hacksaw Jim Duggan runs in to end the merriment.
Random Match 6- WWF Tag Team Championship: Demolition (c) vs. The Collossal Connection (w/Bobby Heenan)
(Ax & Smash vs. Andre the Giant and Haku)
Taken from "SuperStars of Wrestling", with Vince and Jesse.
By virtue of their huge wins over four jobber teams, the Connection is
given a title shot! Demos try to attack before the bell, but Andre
headbutts Ax while referee "good" Dave Hebner forces Smash to the apron.
Haku comes over and beats Ax like ...well, like a leather and spike wearing gimp.
Haku cuts off the ring and Smash never tags in. Andre lands a haymaker to Ax, and Smash finally
runs over to break things up. Ref forces Smash out again, while the Connection hits their
finisher: Andre holds up Ax for Haku's superkick. Andre waddles off the ropes to drop an elbow.
3 count, pin and NEW WWF Tag Team Champions. Andre looks
rather jubilant and is beaming from ear to ear. Smash checks his partner while Heenan and his
buddies celebrate with the belts. Smash then brings in a padded steel chair as the heels leave.
He connects once on Andre's back... but Andre seems unaware. Famous match, for nothing else
than the fact that this was Andre's only WWF championship. Nice touch to let Andre make the cover, too.
Royal Rumble- As usual, since this event can be found, recapped, on about 15 other
websites, I'll spare you the play-by-play and just do "Funny Shit and Neat Stuff".
From the Orlando Arena in... well, I'd guess that'd be Orlando, Florida.
Jesse is decked out in Mickey Mouse gear and
presents his broadcasting partner, Tony Schiavone, with a Goofy hat.
RR Match 1- Bushwhackers vs. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (w/Jimmy Hart)
(Luke & Butch vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau)
Rather positive that this was the Rougeaus' last WWF match. I'm not sure if they
ever tagged together, after this. Maybe up in Canada, but for all
intents, this is their WWF farewell. Jacques would return as "Da Mountie" in about
12 months, and Raymond disappeared until returning as a interview host in
late 1992. For this match, Jacques has a full beard and
Raymond has stopped shaving his back. He looks pretty fricking hairy here, almost
reaching George Steele or Miguel Perez levels. Whackers hit the bettering ram for the
pin. Rougeaus carried the match and looked sharp in their send-off.
Backstage, Mean Gene is with an irate Ted Dibiase (and bodyguard Virgil).
DiBiase is ticked because he wasn't allowed to draw his own number. Gene mentions
that DiBiase had Virgil draw it... the gist is that Ted's drawn number ONE, after swindelling
his way into number 30, last year.
RR Match 2- Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake vs. The Genius
But first, crappy homosexual poetry corner.
Jesse mentions that "Brutus can't take Genius lightly...even though Genius IS
a little light in the loafers at times, but what the heck?" Crowd gets on
Genius as he's prancing around by chanting "fag-got, fag-got!"... to which
Jesse replies: "And you can hear the crowd, strongly behind Brutus the Barber
from San Francisco". Dang, Jes... considering that YOU used to wear feather
boas and rhinestones. Brutus gives Genius a good scalping with his scissors, until
Mr. Perfect runs in for a double DQ. Perfect and Genius smash Beefcake's midsection with a
chair.
Sean Mooney is backstage with the Heenan Family. Slight tension develops as
Rick Rude, Andre and Haku all want to win the Rumble.
A Very Special Edition of the Brother Love Show
With Sapphire and "Queen" Sensational Sherri. Funny to hear Bro Love call
her "Sister Queen", continually. Love mentions that Sapphire's picture is in the
dictionary under the word "peasant". I checked...couldn't find it. I must have
a Shitty Dictionary. Segment does nothing but start heat between Macho/Sherri and
Dusty/Sapphire.
Backstage, Mean Gene talks with Mr. Perfect, who has harsh words for the Barber.
Mr.P reveals that he's drawn the "perfect number" for the Rumble, #30.
RR Match 3- Submission Match: Rugged Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
As far as I know, this was Ronnie's only WWF PPV win. Also, the pinnacle of
his WWF run, as he's getting a decent pop. Valentine catches Garvin in the
over-the-shoulder bearhug at one point (Jesse's old finisher! What is that move
called?). Garvin sells a leg injury, but is able
to cinch in the "Reverse Figure Four" to make Valentine submit. Great ending to their
9 month feud.
RR Match 4- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Big Bossman (w/Slick)
Verrrry similar to Hacksaw's Wrestlemania V match with Bad News Brown...
sans the Duggan snot-bubble.
DQ win for Hacksaw, as Bossman connects with the nightstick, then
starts tossing chairs in. One almost hits
Hacksaw in the head... which, as Bobby Heenan would say, would've
knocked Duggan's eyes straight.
Quick interview segements of Rumble participants.
Here's the rule: if someone was feuding with someone, they're sure to mention
their rival's name. Bravo and the "Canadian" Earthquake threaten Warrior. Snuka says something
about "back in the islands, fighting sharks. Woo-woo-woo!" Don't ask.
Ultimate Warrior talks about the "28 other, normal beings", and has a few lines
about Hulk Hogan. Hmmm... foreshadowing?? Then it's intermission time, so everybody can feel
free to go the lobby and get themselves a snack.
After the intermission, Jesse and Tony talk abit, then throw it for more interviews.
Among them: Macho yaks at Dusty, Honky uses the same promo from last year, and Hogan
finishes things out. The regrouped Hart Foundation makes an appearance and do their little
comedy bit: Jim Neidhart starts talking, gets worked up and starts screaming. Bret Hart smacks him and
shouts: "easy, Jim, easy! Settle down! Don't get worked up!" For some reason, this reminds me
of Butthead smacking Beavis when he got worked up...and about three years before B & B got their
break...hmmmm....
RR match 5- 30 man Royal Rumble
Outside refs are Danny Davis, Joey Marrella and Shane McMahon.
DiBiase enters at #1 and ends up setting what was an early Rumble record: he lasts until
#24. The maximum number of guys in the ring, at any time, is 8. Hogan and Warrior have their
famous face-off, in what's probably the only memorable moment from this Rumble. Bad News Brown
and Roddy Piper also get into it and start their little program. Of note to younger fans:
Shawn Michaels enters at #26 and is tossed by Hogan about nine seconds later. And for that brief
instance, Hogan was My Favorite Wrestler Ever. Hogan wins it by
tossing Mr. Perfect over the turnbuckle post.
SNME Match 1- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Macho King" Randy Savage (w/Queen Sherri)
This show was aired the weekend after the Rumble, in January 1990. So I believe
that puts it at January 26, 1990. Vince McMahon and Jesse
Ventura run down the card, while Vince makes a senseless comparison between
Jesse and Slash of Guns N' Rose fame....huh? This is billed as a "crown match" and was
the finish of the Duggan-Savage feud. Savage had just started his program with Dusty, and
Hacksaw....well, I don't think he had another noteworthy feud after this.
Macho and Sister Queen enter on the magic jobber throne.
At one point, Sherri runs into the ring and Hacksaw almost de-pants Sister Queen.
Hacksaw kicks out from the loaded purse shot, hits his charging clothesline and knocks
Savage to the floor. He tries to suplex him back in, but Sherri grabs his leg, allowing
Savage to get the 3 count pin.
SNME Match 2- Ultimate Warrior & Hulk Hogan vs. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & The Genius
Pre-match interview is hilarious. Warrior makes Hogan seem downright scholarly in comparison
to his own rambling tirade. Jesse digs up an old wound of mine: he mentions that
this match-up is comparable to the Super Bowl, with Hogan/Warrior
representing the 49ers and Genius/Perfect representing the underdog Broncos.
Like I need ANY reminders of that game. (I think this was shown the night before
SuperBowl 24)
Perfect does the wrestling, while Hogan and Warrior punch away.
Perfect gets Hogan in the Perfect-plex, but stops the ref's count at 2, deciding to
let Genius make the pin. Genius tags in and hits his "Honor Roll" moonsault, but
in a shocking turn of events, Hogan kicks out of the finsher at 2!! Warrior hits him with
the gorilla-press drop and Hogan comes off the ropes with the legdrop for the 3 count pin.
Afterwards, you know something's up because nobody's music starts. Warrior and Hogan celebrate,
until Genius and Perfect attack. Warrior clotheslines everybody and blindly nails Hogan.
Funny bit as Warrior paws at Hogan like a puppy. Hogan comes to, and they start arguing...
they start shoving...gasp, they start the nose-to-nose staredown!
SNME Match 3- Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
Video recap of Jake stealing Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Belt from "Superstars of Wrestling".
Jake enters first and lets Damian out of the bag, where we can see he's coiled around
the Million Dollar strap. Horrible match, with both guys performing a slooooow version of
PunchaMania VI. Jake finally DDT's Hammer, but DBiase and Virgil run in for the DQ. Virgil is
reluctant to reach in the bag. Jake fights off DiBiase, then clears the ring with
Damien.
SNME Match 4- Dusty Rhodes (w/Sapphire) vs. Ravishing Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan)
Pre-match interview is strange: Rude mentions that he'll seduce Sapphire with only a glance.
Dang, must have been tough in the WWF back then... they only had three broads around, and
the only shtoink-able one (Liz) was rarely seen in this period. Lame match, with
punches, elbowsmashes and headlocks. Heenan starts arguing with Sapphire at ringside.
Both wrestlers roll out to join in on the fun, and suddenly referee "Evil" Earl
Hebner walks out to send both managers back to the locker room. Huh?
I guess it is, after all, just Logic in Wrestling. Sapphire returns
about two minutes later with a front row "ticket" in the audience. Rude hops out to
argue, and he brawls with Dusty down the aisle for the double-countout. Bell never sounds
and no decision is announced...so we're assuming the double countout. But Jesse called it
a double countout, so that's good enough for me :)
SNME Match 5- Rugged Ronnie Garvin vs. Dino Bravo (w/Jimmy Hart and the Canadian Earthquake)
Well, I guess this really WAS recorded after the Royal Rumble, cuz'
Garvin no longer has his "Hammer Jammer" shinguard on. Plodding offense, until
Garvin off the top turnbuckle with a flying high-crossbody. Bravo rolls through, hooks the
tights, and scores the 3 count. Afterwards, Earthquake comes in and drops ass
on Garvin, twice, with the sit-down splash. Garvin is stretchered out. Vince and Jesse
were talking about Mike Tyson the whole time, which leads to...
Mean Gene interviews Macho King Randy Savage about the upcoming Feb 23
title match with Hogan on NBC. Heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson is the special
referee. Gene interviews Hogan about the match as the show ends. Stay tuned, as the
Hogan-Macho-"Tyson" match leads off "Rasslin Tape 9", coming soon to eStragand.com
Random Match 7- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Akeem
Taken from USA's "All-American Wrestling" with Lord Alfred Hayes and Gorilla Monsoon
on commentary. "All-American" ran the exact same time as "Superstars of Wrestling",
so I rarely got to see it. It was usually the same stuff as "Superstars", but every now and
then they'd slip in an exclusive match not seen on any other show. This appears to
be from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. Akeem beats on Hacksaw, then applies a bearhug.
Gorilla goes off on a humorous tangent about
the proper application of the bearhug, including one of his patented anatomy lessons.
It's not as complex as his usual schtick, as he uses words like "lumbar" and
"rib cage". Alfred is amazed at hearing such complicated words and responds with
astonished laughter and "ooh! my word!" The next day, Alfred's brain blew out when
he heard the word "doorknob". A good broadcast partner would have picked up Gorilla's
comments and had some fun with it...but Alfred is lost. Akeem sends Hacksaw to the tunrbuckle,
but misses the follow-up charge. Hacksaw underhooks and rolls him up for the 3 count pin.
Brief clip of the "All American" studio, with Mean Gene and Hillbilly Jim (w/Lucky Horeshoe!),
until the tape cuts to the next match.
Random Match 8- Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil and Slick)
"Superstars of Wrestling" feature match, with Vince and Jesse.
Yeah, the Doctor of Style, Slick is with DiBiase...and in about two sentences you'll see why.
Jake still has the Million Dollar Belt inside Damien's bag. Slugfest to start with Jake
looking epsecially sloshed. Jake staggers back and gets his arms caught in the ropes (a
trick he learned from his 1989 program with Andre, no doubt). Both guys tumble out and brawl at ringside,
while Slick heads back to the locker room. A few seconds later, Slick returns with the Big Bossman,
who levels Jake with the nightstick. He pounds on Jake some more, tosses him into the ring
and cuffs him to the top rope. Apparently it's a DQ win for Jake. Bossman then grabs Damiem's bag and the heels
head over to.... the Brother Love Show, which starts up immediately. DiBiase mentions
"What do you do when someone steals your property...you go and get the police!" Slick thanks
DiBiase for the business, while Bossman starts making inquisitive faces. DiBiase brags that
he's paid Slick and the Bossman to retrieve the bag and the Million Dollar Belt, and he expects
Bossman to stick his hand into the snake bag to retrieve the belt. Bossman is furious about
the payment and refuses. Bossman:"What's this about a pay-off? I thought it was about
stolen property??!!" With this, Bossman solidifies himself as the Stupidest Man in the WWF,
as he's apparently the ONLY wrestler who's been ignorant to DiBiase's dealings the past two years.
Nevermind the fact that DiBiase supposedly paid off Bossman and Akeem for the rights to #30
in the 1989 Royal Rumble. Sigh...Logic in Wrestling. Anyways, Bossman tells off
DiBiase, then returns to the ring to uncuff Jake. He gives the bag and the belt back to Jake,
while DiBiase and Slick protest on the microphone. Bossman heads back to the Brother Love
Show and shoves Slick, cementing his face turn. A rather unexpected face turn.
Random Match 9- Dusty Rhodes (w/Sapphire) vs. "The Model" Rick Martel
From "Wrestling Challenge" with Gorilla Monsoon and Tony Schiavone on the call.
Clubbering/Dusty Dance Mania for most of the match. Martel gets in some token offense,
until Dusty pounds him into a corner. Martel drops down to grab his Arrogance
can, sprays Dusty, and draws the DQ. Egads, he also sprayed the cameraman!
Random Match 10- Demolition vs. Powers of Pain (w/Mr. Fuji)
(Ax and Smash vs. Warlord and Barbarian)
"Superstars of "Wrestling", the next week. Vince and Jesse argue about every little
thing, throughout the match. It's not the comedic arguing done by Gorilla
and Heenan...they seem legitimately pissed at each other!
Typcial brawling Demolition match. Warlord turns the tide on Smash and the
"Powuz uh Payme" do their doubleteam headlock/charging headbutt to the kidney area.
Barbarian gets set up for the Demolition Decapitation, but Fuji tosses his cane to
Warlord. Instead of connecting for the finisher, Ax flys out to hit Warlord, and the bell
sounds to DQ the Powers. They didn't HIT anybody with the cane... but still got DQ'd??
Logic in Wrestling. Demos grab the cane and clear the ring. This might have been the
last TV match for the Powers, as Fuji sold them off to Slick and Heenan shortly
after this.
Random Match 11- "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart)
The next week from "Superstars". Hacksaw clears the ring with his 2 x4 and chases
the heels around ringside. PunchaMania for most of the match, with the high point
being a hiptoss from Hacksaw. Hacksaw sets up for the three point stance, and Jimmy
Hart jumps up to interfere. Hacksaw bends through the rope to grab him, allowing
Honky to recover and hit a charging knee to the back. Both guys fight on the outside,
and a still blonde Greg Valentine runs down to attack. Vince acknowledges them as
"Rhythm n' Blues! Rhythm n' Blues!" Bell sounds for double countout. Hacksaw sends the heels
packing, but Honky leaves his guitar in the ring. Hacksaw then bashes the thing to pieces with
his lumber.
Random Match 12- Smash vs. Haku (w/Bobby Heenan)
Meanwhile, over on "Wrestling Challenge", Gorilla Monsoon and Tony Schiavone handle
this one. Haku manages a diving headbutt and chops away (Gorilla: "that's the martial
arts coming into play!"). Smash reverses an irish whip to the ropes, as Haku
returns with a flying bodypress. Smash rolls through, sloppily, and scores the
3-count pin.
Random Match 13- "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Boby Heenan)
PTW, with Tony and Lord Alfred. Rude has some words of flattery for all the "Arizona
Airheads" in attendance. A fan is shown signalling inadequacy and the thumbs down.
Alred: "umm, I really, uh..don't understand the deaf and dumb sign language". Real
smooth there, Al. Before the guys lock-up, Heenan and Garvin shake hands, cleanly.
Hmm...might have been an aborted angle, or just a weird occurence. Rude cinches
in the standing side headlck to start. Garvin reverses and twists it into a hammerlock.
He works Rude to the mat and gets a 2 count. Commercial break, and Heenan is back in
the studio, talking to someone
on the banana phone. "Listen, if you can get me 40 tickets, I can get ya
2 bottles of Sneaky Peeky". Back to the match, where Garvin is working the armbar.
He knocks Rude down and delivers a piledriver. Then it's time for THE Most
Electrifying Move in Pre-Determined Sports Competition- The Garvin Stomp (or toe-tap)!
Garvin then goes for the reverse-figure four, but Rude gets the Shemp Stooge
eye-boink. Hammers away on Garvin's back and delivers an atomic drop.
Ending sees both guys getting knocked down by a shoulderblocks. Both are winded at this point,
and Rude slaps an arm over for the cover. Garvin places his foot on the ropes,
but Heenan walks by and knocks it off. Referee Danny Davis counts the 3-count pin, giving
Rude the victory. Garvin is ticked and sends Rude to the floor with a Hands of Stone punch.
Unexpectedly, an entertaining match.
Why'd you tape this??
At the time, I was eating this stuff up faster than Abdullah the Butcher puts away ribs.
I didn't realize it, but dang, those "Superstars" matches were awful! The Warrior-Hogan
feud was pretty unprecedented at the time, but the downside was that it did push Curt Hennig
back to the
upper-midcard. I don't know if I believe those rumors about
"Hennig was set to win the belt at WrestleMania VI", but it's food for thought.
This period also saw the last big hurrah for Demolition. They win the
belts back on the next tape, but then things go downhill as they're slowly
phased out. Next tape also sees the big Hogan-Savage-"Tyson" show. But, something
happened over in Japan that would affect that match, and cause repercussions in the boxing
world that are felt to this day.
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