Sage Cortez
Time for Saturday Night’s Main Event #24, and after a poor Survivor Series, one has to hope for a much better outing. Given the way the booking turned out at Survivor Series, you would assume that there’s a match between the Ultimate Warrior and Andre the Giant. You’d also assume that Dusty Rhodes and the Big Boss Man will have a match due to how that ended. I don’t have any WON issues covering this show, so the news notes will certainly be lacking. To the show!
– Taped to air November 25th, 1989, from the ExpoCentre in Topeka, Kansas
The Ultimate Warrior takes aim at Andre the Giant! Andre the Giant doesn’t give a shit! He doesn’t look very good in this promo, though. The American Dream is ready for Boss Man! Boss Man is ready too! Slick says he’s the best crimefighter since Batman! The Genius appears to be facing Hulk Hogan, who says YOU CAN’T STOP HULKAMANIA, BROTHER.
Jesse Ventura and Vince McMahon are our hosts, and they say Hogan has never faced anyone like the Genius. No innuendo yet, it would seem. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of excitement about the goings on here, I don’t understand why either.
Andre the Giant (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Before I can put anything down, a video package is shown in which Andre attacked Warrior back in August. Good pretext for the match, but that was months beforehand. I don’t think they’re running the 30 seconds gimmick here, so this could be long and very bad. Andre looks to be in really rough shape and not quite like himself. Heenan cut a good promo about the match, then on their way to the ring, Vince proclaims this is one of the greatest championship matches ever. Sure. The Ultimate Warrior was in typical form, his promo was great!
Match Review: Warrior runs out to the ring at full speed, but doesn’t attack. Instead, Andre does so from behind, and puts a choke on him. Warrior comes back with his own by using Andre’s singlet, then he goes for a clothesline that Andre dodges out of the way of. Of course, Warrior tumbled out to the top, but he made the count and Andre started kicking him. He locks Warrior up so he can’t move, but Warrior powers out and hits Andre with some clotheslines to knock him out of the ring. Warrior follows him out there, hits him a few times, and waits for Andre to get back in after the commercial.
We’re back from that commercial, and Andre punches Warrior and chokes him with the bottom rope. He finally climbs back into the ring, and Warrior puts him in a bear hug. Looks like Andre has a busted lip, too. Andre breaks the bear hug with a nerve hold, then headbutts the champion. This match is…interesting. Warrior hits Andre with a splash in the corner, and now Andre puts the bear hug on him. He breaks it with a headbutt to the gut of Warrior, then Warrior clocks him in the stomach and destroys his chest with some chops. I can see Andre being very upset about this. He headbutts Warrior, then Warrior comes back with a clothesline that ties Andre up in the ropes. Warrior runs into a big boot, and Heenan grabs the title belt for some reason. He brings it into the ring to hit Warrior, but misses and now Warrior has it. Warrior hits Heenan with it, then picks him up for a gorilla press and throws him onto Andre. Then, for some reason, the bell rings at 7:46, because Andre was disqualified. Okay!
My Thoughts: This match was beyond bad. It was so bad that I’m actually sad to have watched it. I don’t know who to blame the match on, it simply shouldn’t have happened at all. Warrior was not capable of being in the ring with somebody like Andre and Andre was no longer capable of being in the ring at all. Just really sad all around. Despite that, Warrior’s push wasn’t derailed at all and in fact it was accelerated given that the match was taped well in advance of Survivor Series, which was where his match went on last. Quite strange. -***, very bad match, and not in the usual sense of being funny either. I did not find this funny nor did I enjoy it. Match should not have happened.
The Genius vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: I’m very much looking forward to this match, the Genius can get a great match out of Hogan. He’s also very entertaining as we know. His promo before the match was perfect heel heat stuff. This was a hell of a gimmick, so easy to hate. Poffo said in a shoot that he was supposed to go out there and really “camp it up” for this match. Everyone knows what that means. Hogan has words for his opponent, and asks an unbelievably stupid question regarding how Genius can be so smart and not know he can’t win. What a dick. Hilarious, though. Good start in terms of the promo work done, all of them have been great for selling the match.
Match Review: The Genius wants to shake hands, but Hogan won’t quite do that. Then Genius stretches, and Hogan starts pointing at him like he’s an idiot. He prances around the ring, which gets the crowd angry really fast. Hogan pushes him out of the ring, and Genius gets back in there with aplomb. These two lock up, Hogan shoves him again, and Genius kips up. Haha. Hogan takes him down with a hip toss and bodyslam, then Genius ducks out to avoid a big boot. He now decides to write something on his scroll, it’s a MATHEMATICAL EQUATION TO LEAD TO VICTORY. AMAZING. Genius gets in and takes Hogan down with an arm drag, getting even more heat for his celebration. He slaps Hogan, then prances away thanks to the official getting in the way. Hogan eventually knocks this clown down with some clotheslines, and a back elbow in the corner. Hogan prances around the ring to the delight of the crowd, and he gives Genius an atomic drop that he sells in hilarious fashion. A back suplex follows that, and Hogan drops a few elbows for good measure. Mr. Perfect walks down to the ring now, as Hogan clobbers Genius in the corner. Perfect says that Hogan is not a perfect champion, and he sticks gum on that belt. WOW, WHAT A HEEL. Hogan goes out there and tells Perfect to stay out of his business, then Genius dropkicks Hogan into the post. Genius rolls back into the ring, and this shows what happens when you don’t give him any respect. Hogan rolls back in too, and Genius goes up top to give Hogan a MOONSAULT for 2. Sadly, it’s time for Hogan to HULK UP. Genius reacted hilariously to all of that. He runs into a big boot, but comes back by raking the eyes and scratching Hogan’s back. Hogan returns the favor, and he cracked up while doing so. That was so funny, how could he not? He tosses Genius over the top like a sack of potatoes, but Perfect is out there to help him out. Hogan tells him again to stay out of his business, so Perfect grabs Hogan’s title belt and hits him in the head with it. Referee never saw it. He counted as Genius rolled back into the ring, and THE GENIUS WINS BY COUNT OUT at 7:34! He and Perfect also stole Hogan’s title belt.
My Thoughts: The Genius should have been used more in this role than what he was relegated to after this feud was over. This wasn’t a great match, but it was good and it was very funny. The ending was great in that the Genius won, but I think there should have been a point at which he had Hogan pinned for 3. Just to, you know, make matters even more complicated. Looking forward to what’s next in the feud with these three, I’ve never actually watched any of it. **1/2. Hogan’s reaction to losing was amazing, too.
The Big Boss Man (w/Slick) vs. Dusty Rhodes
Pre-Match Thoughts: I believe this feud will be ending here, and I’m glad as both guys moved on to better things. Obviously, with the nature of WWF booking being what it was, I expect that Dusty will win the match. Before it starts, a video package where Dusty appeared and made clear he didn’t like Boss Man much was shown. I believe that began the feud. Boss Man has some things to say about it, and Dusty is about to be subject to his law. HELL YEAH, SERVE THAT HARD TIMES BOY. As for the match itself, Dusty made Boss Man a star, so I wonder if Boss Man will show him a bit too much respect and not be able to get anything in. Dusty is a hilarious caricature of himself, don’t even know what to say about it.
Match Review: The bout begins with Dusty suggesting Slick should be thrown out from ringside. However, he has a MANAGER’S LICENSE. When showing that to Dusty, Boss Man tries to attack, only to be hit by Dusty. Boss Man gets him back from behind, and Slick chokes Dusty when the referee can’t see it. Looks like Dusty’s biggest fan is at ringside here, too. Dusty gives chase to Slick, and Boss Man attacks again. This is really messed up. Boss Man throws him into the post, and back in they go. They trade punches for a bit, with Boss Man doing better and deciding to kick Dusty’s left arm. Dusty comes back with punches, but Boss Man picks up his knee and catches Dusty with it. He puts a wristlock on the American Dream, then sends him into the ropes for a back elbow. Dusty comes back with his own elbows, and he dodges a charge to the corner. Dusty then drops Boss Man with a double shot to the eyes, then signals for an elbow drop that he misses. Boss Man goes for a leapfrog body guillotine, and crushes Dusty with it. He wants the nightstick now, and while Slick gets it, he has his back turned to Dusty. Slick gets distracted by Sapphire, Dusty sneaks up from behind on his opponent, and rolls Boss Man up for the victory at 4:47.
Boss Man and Slick then start arguing with each other, and Slick points out the woman having distracted him. Not that Boss Man even cared. Then, in something totally absurd, Dusty brings Sapphire into the ring and dances with her. Vince’s commentary was hilarious.
My Thoughts: This match really sucked, nothing of value happened. Characters get over though, and the crowd really reacted to the finish. Obviously, it was the right thing to do to have Dusty win the match, but I’m really tired of watching him wrestle. Can’t stand it much longer. 1/2*, again, there was really nothing notable that happened to merit a higher rating. Hardly any bumps, even.
Mr. Perfect (w/the Genius) vs. The Red Rooster
Pre-Match Thoughts: This is a rematch from SummerSlam. Remember that Rooster hurt his knee? Maybe they’ll have the same match they had planned for SummerSlam. Rooster also had a promo where he did that terrible crowing. I feel bad for him. I hope Perfect still has the WWF Championship and brings it with him to the ring. His comments before the match indicate that he had greater plans for dealing with Hulk Hogan, and that Hogan was now a target for the man with the perfect record. Hell yeah, I’m ready to see that. The Genius read a poem before Perfect’s entrance, that was worth seeing too! You’d think Hogan has to appear here, but his title belt is not at ringside.
Match Review: Perfect and Rooster lock up, with Perfect slapping Rooster quickly. Rooster comes back with a knee lift, then arm drags him down and struts around the ring. Perfect takes him down with a drop toe-hold, and it’s reversed into a hammerlock, causing Perfect to make the ropes. He fires off a back suplex on Rooster, and gives him the PERFECT NECK SNAP. PERFECTLY DONE. Rooster takes Perfect over with a sunset flip out of nowhere that gets 2, but Perfect maintains control and throws Rooster to the canvas. Rooster tries a headbutt to get back at Perfect, then they trade punches until Perfect runs into a boot. Rooster takes him down with a bulldog, and smashes his face into the mat a few more times for good measure. He backdrops Perfect as well, and covers for 2. Perfect comes back with a clothesline, then wraps Rooster up for the PERFECT-PLEX and victory at 4:13.
My Thoughts: This was better than the SummerSlam match, but still not that much better than an extended squash. It’s easy to see that these guys could have wrestled a much longer, better match. However, for obvious reasons, namely that Rooster was a jobber, they didn’t. Too bad, really. ** for the match, at least there were good wrestlers in it showing what they could do.
The Brain Busters (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. The Rockers in a BEST 2 OF 3 FALLS MATCH
Pre-Match Thoughts: This should be very good, but the magic of TV is funny sometimes. Tully and Arn had both left the company by the time this match had aired, Tully obviously leaving in a much worse fashion. I expect them to be completely buried here. The Rockers had things to say about the match, where they said they weren’t there to wrestle Bobby Heenan. The Busters looked quite panicked before the match took place, and Heenan was really upset about it.
Fall #1: Tully and Marty will get the match going, and Marty flips through a hip toss attempt to give Tully a bodyslam. After a dropkick and arm drag, Marty bars the arm up. Tully makes it to his feet, pulls Marty down, and Marty keeps kipping up on him. A flying back elbow from Marty follows that, then Tully takes him down and misses some elbow drops. Marty beats up both Busters, then tries a sunset flip on Tully that gets blocked. Michaels runs in to hit Tully to stop that block, and Marty gets a cover for his team after 1:50! Heenan is extremely pissed about the loss of that fall, and shoves Tully for some reason.
Fall #2: The Busters were distracted by Heenan, so the Rockers ran up to them and cradled them both up for 2. Interesting spot if nothing else. They follow with stereo superkicks, and I guess Bobby Heenan is going to leave the Busters in the lurch. WHAT A DICK. Michaels and Arn continue the match, and Michaels dodges a charge and hip tosses the Enforcer. He takes Tully out with a frankensteiner, then the Busters get hit with double dropkicks that send them over the top and out to the floor. Arn gets back in and taken down with a double hip toss, then they hit him with a double elbow drop. He finally makes a tag out after a headbutt down low, then Tully tries a back suplex only for Marty to flip out of it. The pace in this match is great. Michaels tags in with a knee lift for 2, then goes for a flying head-scissors only for Arn to drop him on the top rope throat-first. Tully covers, and the Busters win the second fall at 3:59. After that victory, we have Bobby Heenan in the back, and he says that the Brain Busters are the worst team he’s ever worked with. WHAT A DICK. His comments were great, though. I loved hearing it.
Fall #3: Tully and Arn start the fall by beating up Shawn Michaels, throwing him into the corner for a knee as well. Arn gives Michaels the SPINEBUSTER, Marty has to run in to break the cover. Arn and Michaels do the bit where Michaels traps Arn in a body-scissors, only for Arn to catapult him into his corner to a waiting Tully, who punches him. Tully tags in and draws in Marty as well, then he throws Michaels over the top. Michaels gets up to the apron and rams Tully into the buckle, then climbs up top for a cross body that only gets 2. Arn cuts him off from tagging out, and puts him in a front face-lock. Of course, Shawn drives Arn back to the corner, then Arn goes to hit Marty, and Shawn collides with Arn. Michaels makes the tag out, and Marty comes in like a house of fire! Slams and dropkicks for everyone, then he ducks under a double clothesline. Shawn trips Tully and they fight on the floor, and Shawn gets thrown into the post. Tully heads up top, but Michaels reaches the apron and knocks him down. So, as Arn goes for a piledriver, Michaels flies off the top with a cross body onto Arn for the victory at 7:32!
My Thoughts: Nice to have seen this match as something productive happened. Also really liked the pace and chemistry these teams had with each other. All four guys were comfortable bumping around, giving each other offense, and allowing each wrestler to hit their big spots. I was glad to see it as the last two WWF shows provided like…barely any decent wrestling. This was a big change of pace that led into a year that had plenty of good wrestling, although again not as much as there could have been. *** for this one, and the Heenan angle added to the match rather than detracting from it. Ordinarily I complain about him being the center of attention, but better him than two people who wouldn’t be there. I am sad that I won’t be watching many Tully matches going forward. He brought a lot to the business despite a lack of size and look. His look was perfect for his character, he represented the idea of being scum and made people believe it.
In the back we now have Mr. Perfect DESTROYING THE WWF TITLE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BRO? He and the Genius are SCUM, THUGS, VANDALS, AND CRIMINALS. However, they say this is their first amendment right. Sounds quite dickheaded.
Gene Mean seems very sad about what’s happened, and he’s with Hulk Hogan who has something to say about it. He’s so pissed off, brother. MR. PERFECT, YOU CUT HIM TO THE BONE BROTHER. SPIT IN THE FACE, TRYING TO RUIN HULKAMANIA, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU BROTHER. That promo was real as it gets, and it closed the show!
All in all, this was a lot better than Survivor Series, and a pretty good episode. The stuff with Mr. Perfect was great because they were elevating a new guy up to that level rather than bringing somebody in from the outside. It had been a VERY long time since that was the case. It was also good that the Boss Man/Dusty stuff wrapped up, and that Zeus wasn’t on the show. The novelty is gone now and I don’t want to see that act anymore. The Warrior/Andre match was quite embarrassing and seemed like they did that so as not to give away any potentially good matches that Warrior may have had as champion in the future. Other than that, I enjoyed the show. Next up, it’ll be NWA matches leading up to Starrcade 1989.
Wrestling Time: 31:52. Not a lot, but that’s quite alright. There was good stuff besides that anyway.
Best: Mr. Perfect/Genius/Hogan stuff. I thought it was all highly entertaining and made what would have been an otherwise drab episode into a fun one.
Worst: Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant. Simply should not have happened.
Card Rating: 6.5/10. Was bordering on higher, but the opener was so bad that I can’t in good conscience rate the show higher.
