Andrew Lutzke
Tito Santana vs. Earthquake
Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes are on the call. The arenas these matches are being taped from are getting smaller with each VHS release I cover over time. Quake bullies Santana with his mass. Tito wisely counters by using his speed and technical skills to give himself a bit of offense. Santana tosses caution to the wind and tries a flying crossbody. Quake plays catch and slams him to the mat. Tito uses his speed to once again garner some offense, but Earthquake is just too massive to keep command of.
Quake wears at Santana for a few minutes before Tito teases a comeback. Our hero scores with a flying forearm that wipes the big man out. The monster preserves and eventually Quake prepares to deliver the butt splash, but Tugboat rushes in to prevent a massacre. Dino Bravo joins the fray as everyone brawls. Suddenly the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine rush in to help their fellow henchmen. Santana is disposed of on the floor and Tugboat is set up for the butt splash. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan charges in and saves the day by scaring off the heels with his 2×4. I was surprised to see a full angle for what was billed as a Coliseum Home Video exclusive match.
Big Bossman vs. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Heenan tries to “weasel” his way out of the match by claiming he called the Bossman’s mother and made peace. Heenan begs off and blubbers apologies over the house mic. Bossman finally has enough and attacks Heenan. The Brain takes one bump and the Bossman pins him in seconds. Bossman dumps a ball and chain on Heenan’s guts to further the punishment. Mr. Perfect rushes in to save his manager and is quickly dispatched. The crowd goes wild as Bossman celebrates. Simple enough of a “match” to serve it’s purposes and protect Heenan’s bum neck.
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Sgt. Slaughter
When I was 9 I thought Hacksaw, the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan should challenge Slaughter, General Adnan and Col. Mustafa to a match in one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces. Slaughter attacks before the bell, but quickly finds himself on the wrong side of Duggan’s fists. Adnan whacks Duggan in the kidneys with his flag pole to swing the favor back to the side of the Sarge. Duggan cuts off Slaughter’s offensive quickly and preps for the 3 point stance clothesline. Adnan trips him up, causing Duggan to chase him off and be counted out. Duggan uses the Iraq flag as a snot rag, and wipes his butt with it as Slaughter freaks out on the floor. Another segment that was more of an angle than a match.
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. The Barbarian
The Barbarian uses his size and might to maul the Hitman for the first several minutes before he misses a move off the ropes. Hart starts hitting his big moves in an effort to rattle the Barbarian with side Russian leg sweeps, a flying clothesline, an attempted piledriver and such. Hitman fails with a roll-up, but follows through and scores the win out of nowhere. Yet another match that was in FFWD, but if it means skipping endless headlocks and bearhugs, I’m all for it.
The Bushwackers vs. The Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine
The heels jump the Wackers to start, but Luke and Butch out brawl them and take control. Honky’s sells his ass being chewed on in a hilarious manner. The heels get the best of Luke once things get set formally.. Rhythm and Blues use a series of double team moves to get their heat. Luke decides he’s seen enough and runs in with Honky’s guitar for the quick DQ. The Wackers smash the guitars to delight the fans post-match. Another match that was over before it started.
Hulk Hogan vs. Dino Bravo
Howard Finkel announces this is the final match of the evening, meaning these poor fans just sat through four or five hours of squashes to see the Hulkster. Hogan reveals the Big Bossman is going to be in his corner, leading to an awesome camera shot of a little girl losing her mind. Hogan controlling the audience with just a glance and some facials makes me happy.
Hogan out muscles Bravo and flexes, with Earthquake and Jimmy Hart also taking blows to rile up the fans. Hogan shines over Bravo until Quake trips him up and allows Bravo to get the jump on the Immortal One. Quake then chokes him as the Bossman slowly makes his way around the ring to aid him.
Bravo knocks Hogan to the floor, allowing Quake to get his licks in. Bravo ensnares Hogan in a bear hug back in the ring as Bossman and Quake circle around the ring. Hogan turns into a jellyfish in Bravo’s grip before powering out. Hulk up time. Big Boot. Leg drop. 1-2-3 just as Hart attacks him. Hogan launches Hart into Bravo. Quake tries to jump our hero, but the Bossman cuts him off before he can do damage. Hogan and Bossman double up on Quake.
Mooney and Hayes scream about how the fans would stay all night to watch Hogan pose, meanwhile the camera clearly shows hundreds of people pouring out towards the exits at the end of a long night. This was a paint by numbers Hogan match, but it was a easy pop and the fans left in good spirits.
WWE Hall of Famer Hillbilly Jim takes us to his shack in Mudlick, Kentucky. We then rewind to the winter of 1984 as Jim introduces us to his Granny. Granny’s sucking down moonshine and watching WWF TV. One may not necessarily have to do with the other. Jim sings, trains with a tire and a stained mattress, plus wrestles with his dog. No idea why they aired this on a VHS long after Jim was written off of TV.
The British Bulldog vs. Haku
This was joined in progress for reasons left unnoted. Smith works on Haku’s arm. This includes a nasty looking spot where he posted Haku hand to the mat with his elbow sticking up in the air, then stepped up on the limb. Smith shows off some good agility despite being already juiced to the extreme. Haku tires of Smith’s dominance, and drills him to the mat with a BEAUTY of a piledriver. I legit let out a “Holy Sh!t” over that one.
Haku hacks and stomps away at Smith. After a rest hold, he tosses Smith to the floor. Bulldog takes a high altitude backdrop before having his long locks yanked on by Haku while he sits on Smith’s back. A camera angle during a sleeper reveals many seats at MSG sitting bare.
Monsoon buries Haku’s technique while attempting a pin. Lord Al, to his credit, does his job and explains that Haku may have an injury that he was favoring that did not allow him to pin with proper form. The men collide and both go down. Smith makes it to his feet first and locks in a sharpshooter. Heenan aids Haku in escaping.
Haku downs Davey Boy with a shoulder breaker, but misses a dropkick. Smith delivers a delayed suplex and scoops him over his shoulder for a powerslam to earn the win. Haku’s offense is lacking when he’s not delivering vicious strikes and Smith tends to only be as good as the person he’s in the ring with.
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage
Hillbilly Jim and Gorilla Monsoon are in on the call. The crown is on the line. Duggan storms the ring and looks pissed! Duggan won’t give up his 2×4 to the ref and gets jumped by Savage because of it. Duggan unloads on Savage anyway. Sherri tries to save her charge, but loses a tug of war with Hacksaw over the Macho King’s body.
Duggan falls to the floor after Sherri yanks down the rope. The camera catches Hacksaw looking over his shoulder for Sherri to hit her spot as she knocks him into the ring post. Sherri gets in several more cheap shots, with Savage delivering his own blows once the Queen backs off. Duggan eats a double ax handle from the top rope to the floor.
Duggan teases making a comeback, but eats another double ax handle blow back in the ring. Hacksaw greets Savage with a fist the next time the King attempts a flying double ax handle.
Duggan sends him flying over the top rope and onto the floor. Duggan scoops up Savage and whips him into the audience which creates a nasty looking landing. Hacksaw smacks Savage with a chair for good measure. Duggan attempts a pin back in the ring, but Sherri has the ref distracted. The fans are eating up all this interference with the proper vitriolic response. Sherri places Savage’s foot on the rope seconds later during another pin attempt.
Duggan runs Savage over several times over before delivering the 3-point stance clothesline. Savage falls to the floor. Duggan seeks him out, but Sherri rakes his back. Hacksaw gives chase, tying the ref up with he and Sherri. Savage gets the jump on him, bumping the ref in the process. Duggan scores several visual pins in between screaming for another ref.
Savage is handed the purse and knocks Duggan out with it. It takes Savage a bit to get on him and the ref is still down. They get the ref to wake up just in time for Duggan to kick out. The fans are eating this all up. Savage props his feet on the ropes and cradles Duggan for the 3-count just as Duggan kicks out a second too late.
Duggan gets his 2×4 and inflicts some instant justice. This was good stuff as these guys had great chemistry from the few matches I’ve seen recently.
We see highlights of the Macho King on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” It only goes for about a minute and makes me want to see much more.
The Ultimate Warrior vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage
Brother Love and Sean Mooney are at the commentary booth. This is a cage match. Warrior is pissed that Savage recently cost him the WWF World title and is out for revenge. Savage is jumped in the aisle and beat around ringside with a chair and the Warrior’s fists before the match can even begin.
Inside of the cage the Warrior unloads punches, kicks and clotheslines onto the prone frame of the Macho King. Savage finally gets a reprieve by slamming Warrior into the steel. Savage sells his beating and can’t capitalize as both men are down.
Sherri distacts Warrior, which allows Savage to get the jump on him. After a bit of offensive, Savage delivers a flying elbow. Warriors kicks out and goes into his war dance. Savage is downed with a series of clotheslines but Warrior’s splash attempt ends with him landing on Savage’s knees.
Savage attempts to escape and makes it to the bottom of the cage before the Warrior drags him back in by his hair. Sherri gets in the ring and starts to lay into the Warrior with forearms. This fails to do much damage, so she takes off her shirt and chokes the Warrior with it. Sherri takes a bump from the top rope, as Savage falls from near the top of the cage and to the floor for the upset victory.
Warrior goes after Sherri, stripping her down to her bra and panties. Savage finally makes it in the cage to save her, so Warrior pounds on him. A slew of officials try and stop the Warrior and he tosses them all aside. The Nasty Boys come in and Warrior tosses them aside too. Pat Patterson and other officials try and calm the Warrior down.
Sherri comes back in (with her clothes back on) and cracks the Warrior with the scepter. Warrior gives her the gorilla press slam. The match itself was disappointing to some degree, as Savage didn’t get as much out of Warrior as usual. This match returned to the form of the earlier matches on this tape as it felt rushed.
Final thoughts: A lot of big names and some fun matches to see here. It’s an easy watch, but non essential.
