Sage Cortez
Saturday Night’s Main Event #22 was designed to be the SummerSlam sell show. Many of the things on this show are geared towards selling the PPV. That’s a drastic change from how they had approached previous NBC specials, which were not always geared towards selling shows, but rather towards maintaining self-contained storylines or merely promoting their product. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just strange to see things change course. There are also some really important matches on this show. The one between Demolition and the Brain Busters probably carries the greatest importance of them all, as it’s easy to both buy a title change taking place, and it’s the most even of the matches. Brutus Beefcake also gets a big chance against the Macho Man!
– Taped to air July 29th, 1989, from the Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts
This show goes back to the traditional opening, with the Macho Man calling Brutus Beefcake a hot dog that’s going to be cooked. Haha. The Barber responds by calling Sherri, Scary Sherri. Sounds great. The Brain Busters have every intention of winning the tag belts tonight, but Demolition has every intention of keeping them! The Honky Tonk Man is going to play a tune on Hulk Hogan! Hogan disagrees! His promo was the best of the bunch by some distance.
Jesse Ventura and Vince McMahon are our hosts, at this unusual time of the year for a Saturday Night’s Main Event. Maybe NBC thought they really needed programming. They state that Jimmy Snuka will face Greg Valentine, in addition to what’s already been said. First up, we have Honky Tonk Man’s GREATEST HITS.
The Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: All of the guitar shots they showed in the pre-match promo looked extremely dangerous. Why not gimmick that thing? In HTM’s promo, he says that he’s going to do something like that to Hulk Hogan. He’s been de-pushed for so long that seeing him here makes him seem like a legitimate challenger, almost. Hogan’s promo wasn’t as good as the one in the opening video, but he went from 0 to 100 in about a tenth of a second.
Match Review: Hogan pulls HTM to the outside early on, and HTM still has hold of his guitar. Wonder what for. Hart jumps on Hogan’s back, and Hogan carries him into the ring. Hogan drives him into the corner, HTM misses a guitar shot, and it’s time for regular business to take place. Hogan throws HTM into the buckles a few times, and clotheslines him as well. Hogan atomic drops HTM, and sends him into the corner for a back elbow. Hogan finally tears his shirt off to a big pop, and drags Jimmy Hart back into the ring for a noggin knocker. HTM and Hogan go back to the floor, and Hart has the guitar. He hits Hogan in the back of the head with it, and the referee didn’t see it. About time Jimmy Hart gets some revenge on this guy. Hogan’s selling of the attack was great, but it wasn’t all selling. More on that at the end. HTM brings Hogan back in for some double axehandles to the body of the big man, and puts a chinlock on him shortly after. Hogan powers out of the chinlock, and drives HTM face-first into the buckle. HTM comes back with a clothesline, and signals for the SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL. He plants Hogan with that swinging neckbreaker, and takes far too long to cover, of course. Hogan kicks out at 2, does his usual comeback with the big boot, and sends HTM out to the floor. Wonder what for. He stops another guitar attack from Hart, cracks him with the guitar, and hits HTM with it as well. Hogan drops the leg, and that gets the pinfall win at 6:14.
While Hogan does his pose routine, Ron Garvin walks out to ringside and shakes hands with Hulk Hogan. Funny. A lot of people left after that match, so you know it was the actual main event, not the opener.
My Thoughts: This was a fine match, until the end of it where it all fell apart. The lack of rule enforcement was intolerable and killed the match for me. Can’t have one guy hitting the other with a guitar right in front of the referee. That’s just stupid. * for that, and that was so dumb I never want to see it again. I do have a personal anecdote though. This was on the Hulkamania 4 video tape, which was the second wrestling tape I had ever rented and thus this was one of the first matches I had watched. Apparently it did not deter me from continuing. On top of that, the guitar shot from Hart really did hurt Hogan and he was forced to take a little time off due to a pinched nerve. They should have gimmicked the guitar or stopped using it given that a guitar shot also gave Jake Roberts recurring neck problems.
Greg Valentine vs. Jimmy Snuka with Ron Garvin as special referee
Pre-Match Thoughts: Obviously, the previous match was taped last, so of course Jimmy Hart wouldn’t be subjected to taking bumps twice in a row. However, for continuity’s sake, he was not out there for this match. Garvin doing this referee thing is sad, but at the same time it’s hilarious. The best parts are when he dishes out beatdowns to guys who try to take him out. Because of that, Jack Tunney decided to put Garvin on notice, and tell him he better remain professional or he’ll be suspended.
Match Review: Snuka gets attacked from behind to begin the match, and the Hammer lands many elbows while doing so. He chokes away at the Superfly, but Snuka comes back with a big chop. He lands a flying headbutt, and decides to head up to the second rope only for his head to be hit by Valentine’s shin guard. Ouch. The Hammer drops some elbows for 2, Garvin remaining professional the whole way. Valentine knocks Snuka to the outside, and Garvin counts in hilarious fashion. The Hammer continues to keep Snuka out of the ring, and Garvin shoves the Hammer. What the hell dude, you can’t put your hands on the wrestlers. Snuka heads up top as Garvin and the Hammer argue, and Garvin hits the Hammer. WHAT THE FUCK. Snuka flies off the top with a cross body, and gets the pin at 3:14.
Garvin then backdrops Valentine over the top rope, and the Hammer’s been thoroughly embarrassed at this point.
My Thoughts: I’m incensed because I feel like I should be. THERE ARE RULES FOR A REASON, AND YOU CAN’T FUCKING DO THAT. Nothing happened in the match, but I feel obligated to award stars for the leap off the top. 1/4*. The ref fuckery on this show is just completely out of control, I can’t tolerate it much longer. It’s really messing with me. At least Garvin finally got something back on Valentine after being screwed out of his job.
Randy Savage (w/Sensational Sherri) vs. Brutus Beefcake
Pre-Match Thoughts: It appears this has been put in the premier spot. Before the match, they showed the history of this program, during which Beefcake was attacked from behind by Savage and had his hair cut. I thought that was a fantastic angle. The robe Savage has on is strange looking. During his promo, he says he cut Beefcake’s hair for Sensational Sherri, seeing as Beefcake insulted his manager. He said nobody will insult his manager again! Much like Terry Funk at the Great American Bash, it appears that Savage has a surprise. Sounds great! While this match has been hyped up, it’s impossible to expect something great even though Savage could have carried just about anyone at this point. These guys also had months to work out a good match for TV. They were programmed nearly everywhere. Beefcake’s promo was really terrible, and he was obviously reading off cards. He looks funny with his hair having been cut off.
Match Review: Beefcake drove Savage out of the ring during his entrance, but Savage will soon be ready to go. Beefcake heads to the outside, but even with the disadvantage gets back in and throws Savage over the top. Now Sherri’s trapped in there, but she rolls to the outside and runs from the chasing Barber. Beefcake catches up, so Savage attacks him from behind. Back in they go, and Beefcake chokes Savage with his jacket. That’s cheating! Savage tries a boot to the head, but gets hit with a double axehandle for 2. Savage comes back with a turnbuckle shot, but misses a rush to the corner. Beefcake hits Savage with a cross body for 2, and Sherri uses a distraction to try to help her guy…only for that to not work. Savage gets hit with a high knee for 2, but he comes back with a punch to send Beefcake near the ropes. Savage misses a leapfrog body guillotine, and takes another high knee to hit the floor. These guys are going all out here. Savage uses Sherri as a shield, but gets rammed into the mat anyway and thrown back in. Sherri’s distraction finally helps Savage, who capitalizes by dumping Beefcake to the outside. he then follows with BOMBS AWAY, and Sherri punts the Barber a few times. Excellent. She hits Beefcake with her high heel, and Savage sends Beefcake back into the ring. Sherri distracts the referee so that a Beefcake small package only gets 2, and Savage fires off a back elbow for 2. Beefcake uses a backslide for 2, and Savage goes to a choke after the count is made. Sherri then takes off her panty hose, and chokes Beefcake with it. The quality of work she’s putting in here is amazing. Savage heads up top, and down he comes for the Barber to hit him in the gut. Beefcake clotheslines Savage now, and signals for the SLEEPER. Savage blocks a backdrop, and here comes Sherri again. She holds Beefcake in place, and takes a high knee from Savage on accident. Beefcake misses a charge to the corner, then Savage takes a HUGE backdrop bump to the outside after Beefcake dishes that move out. This is far beyond my expectations. Savage sends Sherri to the back, and here comes the surprise!
After the commercial, Beefcake has control of Savage and covers for 2 after punches. Savage takes Beefcake down, misses a knee drop, but drops Beefcake throat-first on the top rope for 2. Now the surprise is out there, and it is ZEUS! Perfectly timed! The crowd is so heated, it’s unreal. Beefcake sunset flips Savage for 2, and he puts Savage in the SLEEPER! Of course, Zeus heads into the ring and attacks the Barber from behind for the DQ at 11:30. Zeus, by the way, has gigantic lifts on his boots. He puts Beefcake in a bear hug, and here comes Hogan out from the back! He hits Zeus from behind, hits him with his best shots, and Zeus keeps no-selling it. He puts Hogan in a bear hug, and Savage jumps off the top with a double axehandle. Savage then goes for the scissors, trying to cut Hogan’s hair. YES! Hogan kicks Savage, Beefcake rakes Zeus’ eyes from behind, and it’s a 2 on 1 against Zeus. He cracks Zeus with a chair from behind, and Hogan’s facial expressions completely make this whole thing. Beefcake gets a chair too, and Savage has to try to get Zeus out of there. Eventually, that’s exactly what happens.
My Thoughts: This was a lot of fun, and was probably the best match that Brutus Beefcake ever had. Savage and Sherri completely carried the thing, and Beefcake played the role of a guy along for the ride very well. He had to be in great shape to put in that kind of effort. I very much enjoyed that match, and thought the booking was completely on point as well. Speaking for myself of course, I very much enjoy the involvement of Zeus. It’s funny as hell to me, and it’s crazy that it came off so well. I would say that as far as build for SummerSlam goes, they couldn’t have done better. They made an bad wrestler into somebody who was a believable hero and looked like a good performer. ***1/2 and recommended, can’t believe I’m saying that about this match as I expected absolutely nothing. The Scary Sherri thing is a little annoying, but you take what you can get.
Before the next match starts, Savage has a promo to give on behalf of Zeus. Exactly what we need to see. This guy is so yoked up and has the mannerisms down pat, although he can’t wrestle at all. I take this as just one of Tiny Lister’s many entertaining roles. Great character actor. He got the chance to say a few things, and did well enough that any mark would buy into Hogan of Beefcake losing at SummerSlam.
The Brain Busters (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Demolition in a best 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWF Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: If the last episode’s match was any indication, this could be great stuff. The Busters got a better match out of Demolition than any other team I’ve seen yet. It’s also a gimmick match! Demolition has things to say to Mean Gene, where they say that Heenan can’t interfere in all three falls. Well, they’re right. They’re starting to look a bit aged, to be honest. Smash’s hair is thinning, and the already old looking Ax is looking, uh…old. Crowd popped big for Demolition, they’re invested in seeing these guys keep their belts.
Fall #1: Ax and Tully will get things going, with Tully rushing over to hit Smash nearly immediately. Tully then ducks out of the ring to avoid a clothesline, and Smash quickly throws him back in for a hip toss from Ax. Arn grabs hold of Ax and the Busters double team him, then they head to the outside and Demolition clotheslines both of them. Inside they go, and the Busters get out of there very quickly to take a break. Arn heads back in to get the match moving again, and Smash grabs hold of his neck for a choke. Arn gets out of it, but Smash trips him and takes him to his corner for a tag. Ax and Smash both clobber on Arn Anderson, but he gets out of there too. Smash picks Tully up for a bear hug, but Tully pokes the eye to get out of there. Arn tries a cross body, and Tully dropkicks him to make sure he winds up on top for 1. This match is really hectic. Arn gives Smash the SPINEBUSTER, sadly that only gets a 2 count. Tully tags in, gets his hair pulled by Ax, and Smash gives Arn a hotshot for the pinfall at 5:00. Wasn’t expecting that!
Fall #2: Smash continues the match by beating up Arn in the corner, then beats Arn down to make sure he can’t get out of the ring. He puts Arn in a neck vice, then tags out for Ax to drop Arn throat-first on the top rope. Ax also puts Arn in a neck vice, but Arn hits Ax down low and gets the hell out of there. He hits Ax with an elbow while the referee isn’t paying attention, then Tully throws him into Arn’s knee and tags out again. Arn puts Ax in a chinlock, then Tully tags in and Ax finally hits him to be able to make a tag out. Smash beats up both of the Busters, slamming them along the way. Ax heads back into the ring and hits Arn with a back elbow, as Tully gets press slammed by Smash. Smash then rams Heenan into the post, and they continue to double team Tully. Andre the Giant then heads out to the ring as Demolition gives Tully DEMOLITION DECAPITATION, and the referee rings the bell for a DQ at 9:29. Demolition double teamed the Brain Busters for far too long.
Fall #3: This match has far more heat than I thought it would get. To start the fall off, we have Ax hitting Tully with a back elbow. Smash makes the tag in, and he throws Tully over the top for Ax to send him back in. Ax gets tagged back in, and lands another back elbow. Tully then rams Ax into Arn’s head, probably not the best idea for a double team move. Arn tags in, is summarily atomic dropped, and Ax accidentally hits the buckle as well. Some different spots going on here! Tully and Smash make tags in, and Smash launches Tully into the buckle. Ax and Arn tumble to the outside, as Smash clotheslines Tully. Arn gets thrown into the post, then Tully reverses a suplex to hold Smash in place. Arn comes off the second rope and gets clotheslined, then Andre throws a chair into the ring for Tully to hit Smash in the head with. Arn covers Smash, and we have a victory for the Brain Busters at 12:33! NEW CHAMPS!
My Thoughts: This match was really strange. They used a lot of different spots that I hadn’t seen before, and there was a hell of a lot of cheating going on. I was reminded of the match where the Bulldogs “won” the tag team belts against the Hart Foundation in similar fashion, with the DQ finish being part of it. That wasn’t very consistent on the WWF’s part. The Brain Busters were also the first time to hold the tag team belts in both the NWA and WWF. They broke new ground! *** for the match, it was weird, but it was good too. The finishes were good and the match had a good pace. Demolition weren’t a team that relied on using wrestling holds, so they weren’t the best fit for Tully and Arn. They worked around it anyway.
In the back, we have Jesse Ventura with members of the Heenan Family! Rick Rude and Haku are very excited about the Busters winning those titles. Heenan then crashes the part, and bigs up his stable for having two champions. Arn cuts a great promo, then Heenan starts talking about his stable winning the WWF Championship as well. We’ll see about that!
Mean Gene is with Brutus Beefcake and Hulk Hogan, who are talking about Zeus. Hogan’s comments about being good men who fought with heart cracked me up. TRAINING, THE PRAYERS, AND THE VITAMINS BROTHER. This was so dumb. Beefcake was talking about hog tying Savage and Zeus to make sure nothing happened to Elizabeth at SummerSlam. Alright, man. Show’s over!
This show was nowhere near as bad as expected. Heading in, I only expected the tag title match to be any good. Instead, there was an excellent match that Brutus Beefcake was in. Nobody could have expected that. The WWF was in their territory for this show, so the crowd helped to carry it as they were hot the whole time and reacted to everything. The officiating on this show was strange, but ultimately if I was on the fence about ordering SummerSlam ’89 going into this show, I would definitely be ordering it after the show. Mission accomplished on their part. Next up for me, I’ll be bridging the gap between GAB ’89 and Clash of the Champions 8. Then, it’s time for SummerSlam!
Wrestling Time: 33:31. This was timed basically identical to the last episode of this show. Weird.
Best: Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage. How could that be?
Worst: The officiating. TERRIBLE.
Card Rating: 7.5/10. It was good, I enjoyed the show a lot even though many of my favorite guys weren’t on there.
