JHawk
June 1987, Monday, Week 2
Tension is beginning to build between UWF owner Jared Hawkins and road agent Ken Mantell. Mantell got into a shoving match backstage last night with Savannah Jack, which by all accounts Jack was just trying to stay out of everybody’s way. Mantell said he would try not to let it happen again but nobody thinks he was sincere.
“The Enforcer” from last night’s taping was Doug Gilbert under a mask.
The paid attendance last night was 3,145.
A couple of injuries to report from last night. Tommy Rogers suffered a bloody nose in his match last night. He is not expected to miss anytime. Shane Douglas was not as lucky, as he suffered a swollen elbow and has been advised to miss about three weeks of action, keeping him off of this coming Saturday’s show.
Angel of Death has apparently failed a drug test and was fined his entire purse from last night. Supposedly he stormed out of UWF owner Jared Hawkins’ office looking agitated.
June 1987, Tuesday, Week 2
The rematch between new UWF Tag Team Champions The Lightning Express and former champions Rick Steiner and Sting will take place this coming Saturday in New Orleans at Untouchable.
June 1987, Wednesday, Week 2
Add Gary Young vs. Steve Cox to Untouchable. No, I don’t know what happened to Chavo Guerrero vs. Gary Young. No, I don’t really care either.
June 1987, Thursday, Week 2
Added to Untouchable on Saturday night is The Fabulous Freebirds vs. Fury and The Enforcer. At this rate I hope they’re not going to enforce the no refund policy.
June 1987, Friday, Week 2
Robert Gibson’s contract started effective today and as a result The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. Angel of Death & Vladimir Petrov match that was teased on Power Pro Wrestling is official for Untouchable.
June 1987, Saturday, Week 2
Here is a preview for the Untouchable show in New Orleans tonight.
Barry Windham vs. Big Bubba Rogers for the UWF Heavyweight Title: I have to assume Rogers is only holding the title to transition it to Windham and I expect a title change.
Sting & Rick Steiner vs. The Lightning Express for the UWF Tag Team Title: It seems too early to do yet another switch but it seemed strange for the titles to change so fast to begin with. This could go either way but I’d expect a title change here too.
Black Bart vs. Chris Adams: I have heard rumors that Adams might be on the way out but I can’t see him losing to Bart without Terry Taylor getting involved.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. Angel of Death & Vladimir Petrov: It’s the Express’ debut and their opponents aren’t exactly world beaters so I’d have to assume the Express goes over.
Steve Cox vs. Gary Young: They’ve been really careful to keep Cox protected so I’d expect him to get the win.
Fury and The Enforcer vs. Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin: Hayes and Garvin will win as the merchandise stand does its best business of the night.
I’m hearing rumors that Ivan Koloff will compete tonight but I haven’t been able to confirm it.
UWF Untouchable live coverage (June 1987, Saturday, Week 2)
In an extremely poor match, Shaska Whatley drew with Mike George in 20:00 when the time limit expired. This was just way too long for Whatley but could have been good if George had a different opponent.
In a match that had an average crowd reaction and some decent in-ring action, Buddy Roberts defeated Terry Taylor in 6:03 by pinfall. Not sure why Taylor doesn’t win here.
Steve Cox defeated Gary Young in 8:05 by pinfall with a Russian Leg Sweep. The match was fine but I can’t see this push of Cox lasting much longer.
Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin defeated Fury and The Enforcer in 11:37 when Michael Hayes defeated Fury by pinfall with a DDT. On paper I would have figured this to be a squash but this was the best match of the night so far.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express defeated Angel of Death and Vladimir Petrov in 9:41 when Robert Gibson defeated Petrov by pinfall with a Rocker Dropper. Angel and Petrov have no chemistry as a team but this became the best match of the night so far.
Jim Ross interviewed The Lightning Express as they made their way to the ring. They said their goal was to prove their title victory wasn’t a fluke and they would retain the UWF Tag Team Titles.
In almost a carbon copy of the title victory, the Lightning Express successfully defended the UWF Tag Team Title with a win over Sting and Rick Steiner when Brad Armstrong pinned Sting when Steiner missed a clothesline and hit his partner instead. After the match, the partners began arguing with each other as Eddie Gilbert attempted to play peace maker.
UWF Heavyweight Champion Big Bubba Rogers (w/Gen. Skandor Akbar) pinned Barry Windham in 11:17 when, after Akbar tripped Windham as he hit the ropes, Bubba hit the Bubba Slam for the pin. The crowd hated the finish as most expected a Windham victory to be nearly guaranteed but this was much better than anything else on this show up until that point.
Black Bart defeated Chris Adams in 4:15 by pinfall with a Texas Trash Compactor following interference from Terry Taylor. After the match, Jim Ross interviewed Taylor who said Adams would never win another match unless Taylor allowed it.
In an extremely short match, The Missing Link (w/Dark Journey) defeated Manny Fernandez in 1:40 by submission with a Figure Four Leg-Lock. Wait, what?
And that’s the show. Wait, what?!?!?
June 1987, Sunday, Week 2
Rick Rude had to be physically restrained from attacking a fan outside the arena last night. I have no idea what the fan said to anger Rude. Owner Jared Hawkins told Rude that no matter what fans might say to him outside the arena that he needs to remain calm at all times, and Rude told him he got the message. Rude was originally scheduled to team with Manny Fernandez against Chavo Guerrero Jr. and The Missing Link but was pulled from last night’s show as a result.
A sparse crowd of 3,359 at the Prather Colisuem in New Orleans last night.
Lou Thesz has officially retired and has vowed never to work for another wrestling promotion again. He’s expected to challenge for the NWA World Title next week.
Power Pro Wrestling live coverage (June 1987, Sunday, Week 2)
Still in Tulsa this week but at the smaller Expo Square Pavilion.
Terry Taylor defeated Todd Champion in 0:46 by pinfall with a Five Arm. I’d say it’s pretty obvious Champion isn’t getting pushed.
Jim Ross interviewed Bill Watts, who announced that the UWF will have a new title called the Western States Heritage Title and the tournament for that title will take place in Houston this coming Saturday night.
In a non-title match, Lightning Express defeated Gary Young and Sid Steele in 4:53 when Brad Armstrong defeated Steele by pinfall with a Russian Leg Sweep.
Fury and The Enforcer defeated Action Jackson and Derrick Dukes in 3:29 when The Enforcer pinned Jackson with what Jim Ross called an Enforcer Driver Mark II. I’ve never seen the Enforcer Driver Mark I. Dukes was the most over person in the match which tells you all you need to know about this match.
Black Bart defeated Savannah Jack in 3:18 by pinfall with a Texas Trash Compactor.
In a match that had an average crowd reaction and some decent in-ring action, Ivan Koloff defeated The Missing Link (w/Dark Journey) in 14:23 by pinfall with a Russian Sickle.
Jim Ross interviewed Sting and Rick Steiner, who argued with each other over who was at fault for their recent losses to The Lightning Express. Eddie Gilbert walked away from both of them in disgust.
The Rock ‘N Roll Express defeated Sting & Rick Steiner in 4:22 when Ricky Morton defeated Sting by pinfall with a Double dropkick. Steiner left Sting in the ring by himself as soon as the final bell rang.
The Fantastics defeated The Sheepherders in 3:20 when Bobby Fulton defeated Luke Williams by pinfall with a Rocket Launcher.
Tully Blanchard pinned Michael Hayes in 3:26 by pinfall with a Slingshot Suplex. This clearly ran short because TV time was running low, but that makes it an impressive UWF debut for Blanchard.
They probably should have done some promos to hype the tournament for Saturday, but otherwise a solid show.
