Sage Cortez
Sadly, on the night of beginning to write this, the Ultimate Warrior passed away. It’s hard to express what my feelings are on the matter, but I am extremely saddened. For whatever the guy was outside of the business, he was very entertaining as a part of it. I remember that when I was a kid, I would go to the local video store to rent classic wrestling videos. Usually when I got there and got to the section, I started grabbing cassettes and looking at the backs of them. Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior were always the two names that I looked for. If their names were anywhere on those tapes, I would rent them. I didn’t rent them all in one day, but eventually, I watched every Coliseum Video in that store which featured one of those two wrestlers. And now they’re both gone. Unfortunately, in the cases of both men, they were so estranged from the business, and specifically from WWE for so long, that their legacy had been trampled upon or ignored to a certain extent. While Warrior did get to have his moment to engage with WWE fans, that is surely no consolation to the wife and two children who lost their patriarch. I can only hope that wrestlers everywhere will take heed, and be reminded not to pump themselves full of chemicals in order to entertain people who don’t need them to do that in order to be entertained. This sort of abuse has contributed to many deaths, and in all likelihood, this one too. Whether good or bad, this is not the time or place for my thoughts on Warrior as a performer or person, but his impact on the business and what he brought to it are not going to be forgotten by this fan.
As hard as it is to do, we must move on, and with that I am going to review Saturday Night’s Main Event #7. It looks like a stacked card, and should be great entertainment. I’m hoping that Hogan’s match with Orndorff is set up differently than the one from The Big Event in Toronto. This is also taking place in a different market than the usual to this point, the Cleveland market! I’ve never seen anything from this show, and am going in blind. Usually that leads to good things. Will it this time?
– Taped to air October 4th, 1986, from Richfield Coliseum, in Richfield, Ohio
The show starts with Jake Roberts holding Damien in the shower and talking to the camera. The Dream Team (what an unfitting name this is, by the way) has comments of their own, and The Wizard has some things to talk about on behalf of Kamala. Lastly, Orndorff has something to say before his match against Hogan, and Hogan does as well. Let’s go! The introduction is interesting as ever, and I’m really hoping that some of the tracking issues on my copy of this show can iron themselves out. Jesse Ventura is back for this episode, he and Vince McMahon will be on commentary.
As we know, Roddy Piper is injured from that attack by Adrian Adonis in September. He was supposed to face Iron Sheik in a match, and he’s extremely upset while cutting this promo, because apparently he won’t be allowed to be in that match.
Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Before the match, Hogan has some things to say about Mr. Wonderful. He’s really upset about Orndorff turning on him and selling him out. This is very whiny. Orndorff and Heenan tell their side of the story, which is to call Hogan a liar. Orndorff is going to rip Hogan’s tongue out of his mouth. Haha. I’m hoping this match is different than the one from The Big Event. No repeats please!
Match Review: Things start with Orndorff punching Hogan and the champion no-selling, then knocking Orndorff down with some punches of his own. Hogan then runs over to hit Heenan, and gets clotheslined over the top by Orndorff, so the distraction worked. Hogan mashes Orndorff’s face on the apron and tosses him back into the ring, where he chops away to some pretty big cheers. Into the buckle Orndorff is sent, then Orndorff whips him into another one and follows with a clothesline. Hogan then goes over to hit Heenan again, succeeds this time, and gets nailed from behind again by Orndorff and clotheslined to the canvas. Orndorff is in control now, and drops a couple knees on Hogan’s head. Orndorff knocks him out of the ring now, and grabs a cord to choke Hogan with. Haha. Hogan’s selling here is hilarious. Back in the ring and Orndorff covers for 2, but it will take more to beat the Hulkster, brother. Orndorff tries to do so with a suplex, but that also gets 2. Hogan comes back with a high knee though, and a bodyslam. He tries to go into the ropes, but Heenan grabs his leg to keep him from making the leg drop. YES. Orndorff tries to charge into Hogan now, but Hogan ducks out of the way and Orndorff tumbles over the top rope. Because of Heenan’s involvement, the police have come down to the ring to arrest him! Orndorff tries to stop the cops, but that does nothing, and the crowd goes crazy as Heenan is arrested and carried to the back.
After Heenan is shown banging on a door in the back, we come back to the ring, and see Orndorff laying in shots on Hogan. He gives Hogan a backbreaker, and drops an elbow for a 2 count. Mr. Wonderful gives Hogan a big clothesline now, and signals for the PILEDRIVER. Unfortunately, Hogan backdrops him nearly immediately. He’s ready for combat now brother, he gives Orndorff a running elbow to the head, and now what’s going to happen? Hogan drops Orndorff with some punches, and gives Orndorff a hard clothesline reminiscent of the one Hogan was given with Orndorff turned on him. Hogan then signals for the piledriver, and some person dressed as a woman comes in to attack him. Of course, that’s Adrian Adonis, and Orndorff gets disqualified after something around 10 minutes. Orndorff and Adonis beat up Hogan, and now HERE COMES PIPER. Piper comes into the ring with his crutch, nobody really knows what to expect, and he WHACKS Adonis with the crutch. He swings hard at Orndorff, but misses, then swings at Hogan as well. Hogan and Piper both stare at each other now, and…Piper throws down his crutch to very big cheers. He then leaves the ring, and…I suppose that is that.
My Thoughts: The crowd was a bit confused about Piper, because the TV tapings with Piper having turned completely had not happened yet. So, they may not have expected him to attack Adonis. However, his introduction at the end went very well. This was a variation on a similar match in Toronto, but with a different finish and some little bits for TV added in. I didn’t like it more, but the finish was really nice. So, **1/2. Looking forward to the upcoming cage match a few months from this time.
Ricky Steamboat vs. Jake Roberts in a SNAKE PIT MATCH
Pre-Match Thoughts: Of course, as already addressed, the snake pit match is not a match that takes place in a pit of snakes. That’s too bad. Jake is interviewed by Gene Mean, and has some interesting comments as per usual. I love this guy. When Gene brings up The Big Event, Jake scares him with his snake. Nice! During Steamboat’s entrance, it is made clear that he has brought his KOMODO DRAGON to the ring! Steamboat also has a promo, and says that he is there to teach Jake a lesson.
Match Review: The two men exchange wristlocks, and it turns out that Steamboat gains control and flips Roberts over his shoulder for a 2 count. He gives Roberts an arm drag, and pulls him over towards the dragon, but Jake looks quite scared. Steamboat follows with a flapjack, for a 2 count, so Jake crawls to the outside. Back in, and Steamboat takes him down with an arm drag yet again. Jake notices that Steamboat’s bad is moving, and he seems terrified. Jake then misses a charge towards Steamboat in the corner, and Steamboat gives him a slingshot into the turnbuckle. Up top Steamboat goes, down he comes with a big splash attempt, but Jake gets his knees up. Ouch. Wouldn’t that hurt? Both men crawl over to their respective animals (a sentence I thought I’d never write), but Roberts notices first, and gives Steamboat a stomach breaker for a 2 count. After a shoulder to the stomach, Jake follows with a short arm clothesline. That gets a 2 count, as the referee counts pretty slowly, in my opinion. Jake also gives Steamboat a bodyslam, and starts pulling at Steamboat’s head and hair. After following that up with a choke, Steamboat begins to attempt a comeback. Oddly, he pops back up after a knee lift by Jake, but Jake takes him down to cover for 2 again. Steamboat replies by ramming Jake’s head into the canvas, but it doesn’t hurt Jake, he just gives Steamboat an inverted atomic drop. He shoots Steamboat into the ropes, and Steamboat counters with a crucifix, which gets him the win at 6:19. FEUD OVER.
After the match, Roberts throws a tantrum, and knees Steamboat in the back. He follows him to the outside again, presumably to DDT him on the concrete, but instead Jake rams his back into the ring post. Jake goes for the snake now, and DAMIEN IS OUT. The camera pans over and…STEAMBOAT HAS HIS DRAGON. BAH GAWD THE CROWD GOES WILD. The snake pretty much shits its proverbial pants, Jake has to leave, and Steamboat celebrates in the ring with his dragon.
My Thoughts: Another really solid match. Hey, no complaining here. It was quick and to the point, with good action. One thing I’m not a huge fan of is Steamboat always getting his victories via flash pin, but I guess that suits his character as a guy who takes a lot of punishment and comes back no matter what. And yes, I realize that the dragon was a crocodile. **1/2 for the match. What a repetitive rating. I’m glad the feud is over so that both men can move on to other things. Steamboat’s other things are most certainly great things.
After the celebration and presumably a commercial as well, here’s Hulk Hogan to cut a crazy eyed promo. IT’S FANTASTIC. Wow, he talks shit about Piper. What a dick. Maybe that’s just to get Piper’s crazy attitude over but I don’t care. Piper saved the fucker. Lots of strange talk about justice, jury, guilty, etc.
The Iron Sheik (w/Slick) vs. Roddy Piper
Pre-Match Thoughts: Before anything happens, we have a vignette/promo with Slick and the Sheik. WHAT A DUO THIS IS. What the fuck is this? It’s supposed to be Sheik vs. Pedro Morales? Apparently not, as Piper walks to the ring with his crutch. He orders Morales out of the ring, which he does, and now we’re underway.
Match Review: Piper breaks his crutch over Sheik’s back, scares Slick out of the ring, and then Sheik starts choking Piper with his own shirt. Sheik goes for the injured leg of Piper’s, and gets ready to suplex him, but Piper gives him a small package for the victory at :43!
Back in the locker room, after a promo from the Dream Team, Roddy Piper has one of his own. It’s one of his better babyface promos, that I’ve seen anyway.
My Thoughts: Well, this is quite obviously the “Get Piper Over” titled episode. This babyface thing is working pretty well for him I reckon. It’s sad to see Sheik jobbed out like this though, even if it is for a great cause. I am bummed. *.
The Dream Team (w/Johnny V) vs. The British Bulldogs in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWF Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: This just has to be great. Doesn’t it? I mean, I’d think so. Johnny V has a terrible promo before the match (the one already mentioned), claiming that the tag title match at WrestleMania 2 was a conspiracy. Yeah, it was conspired for Valentine to run into Dynamite’s head. Oh wait. This isn’t real?
Fall #1: We start the match quickly, with Valentine and Dynamite. Dynamite gives Valentine an atomic drop, and the Bulldogs beat him up in the corner. Valentine comes back with some chops and beats Dynamite up in the corner, then tags in Beefcake, who gives Dynamite Kid a suplex. Dynamite makes a tag anyway, and Davey seems to have some big lifts in his boots on this night. He’s not much shorter than Beefcake. Beefcake tags in Valentine, who comes in with an elbow off the top onto Davey. Cover gets 2. Brutus tags back in, and gives Davey a knee lift for 2. He seems more involved in this match than the WM 2 one. Unfortunately, he tags in Valentine, who misses an elbow drop, so here comes Dynamite. Crowd seems a bit muted for now. Perhaps burned out? Valentine gives Dynamite an inverted atomic drop, which Vinnie Mac doesn’t know the name of. Okay. Valentine gives DK a shoulderbreaker and a clothesline before tagging his partner. They exchange tags for a bit, until Dynamite hits Valentine with a hard running blow. Valentine then goes for the leg, puts on the figure-four, and the already injured leg of Dynamite’s leads him to submit at 4:41. I believe that injury came from a clip early in the match.
Between falls, Gene Mean tells us that Adrian Adonis has a shoulder injury after getting cracked by Piper’s crutch. Alright!
Fall #2: Dynamite must start the fall of course, and Valentine puts the boots to the young chap. He goes for the figure-four yet again, but Dynamite kicks him off. So Beefcake tags in, and clobbers both of the Bulldogs. Some ol’ referee distraction ensues, allowing the Dream Team to work over Dynamite’s leg in tandem. Beefcake wastes time and distracts the referee again, allowing another double team shot from Valentine. Beefcake drives Dynamite down with a backbreaker, getting a 2 count. In comes Valentine, who gives Dynamite a slam before heading to the second rope. From up there, he tries an elbow drop, it misses, and the hot tag is made. Davey cleans Valentine’s clock, deals with Beefcake the same way, and gives Valentine a huge delayed vertical suplex. I like how that gives the appearance of a greater impact on the canvas, but I’d think not. Davey gives Valentine the BIG RUNNING POWERSLAM, Beefcake runs in to break up the cover, and anarchy ensues. Davey picks Beefcake up on his shoulders, Dynamite tags in and heads up top, where he uses Beefcake’s back as a stepping stone to land a hard diving headbutt on Valentine to huge cheers. 1-2-3, and the Bulldogs win the second fall at 3:29. Dynamite is injured after that.
Fall #3: My tracking issues are getting worse and worse the longer this show goes on, I’m hoping this copy holds up. Valentine attacks Dynamite’s knee at the beginning of this fall, but Dynamite gives him a snap suplex anyway. Unfortunately, he misses a falling headbutt, so he’s now trapped in the ring. Valentine drops an elbow, and yet another, for a 2 count. Ventura announces that Adrian Adonis has a shattered elbow, and so it goes. The Dream Team double teams Dynamite yet again, but Dynamite kicks out at 2. Double team without description = punching, for future reference. Valentine is ready for the figure-four, but gets kicked away and both men make a tag. Beefcake cuts Davey off before he can get any momentum, and gives him a backdrop for 2. Beefcake clotheslines Davey for 2, and headbutts him in the groin. Funny how these aren’t disqualification worthy moves back then. The next time Beefcake tries a backdrop, Davey gives him a sunset flip…and Beefcake never gets his shoulder up at 3. The match is not over though. What an idiot. He made the referee look so dumb. That should have been the finish, I believe. Valentine tags in again and goes for a suplex, which he lands. Cover gets 2. Beefcake lands a high knee for 2, and things break apart yet again. Anarchy ensues, and Beefcake misses a charge to the corner. Davey gives Beefcake a FISHERMAN’S SUPLEX, and wins the match to a huge pop at 4:59 of the 3rd fall.
My Thoughts: I have a lot of things to say about this one. First is that I feel bad for Valentine not having been given a good tag team partner. Certainly he could have had greater longevity in the tag title picture with one. Second, Beefcake was involved more in the match. That takes this a notch down from the WrestleMania 2 match, of course. Third, I don’t really like these angles that take Dynamite out of action on the big TV matches. It makes him look fragile, which is unfortunately something that became quite true. Fourth, Beefcake blew that last fall by being an idiot. It’s not very hard to get your shoulder up after being given a sunset flip. 13 minutes of wrestling is good, and it’s a ***1/4 match for me.
Kamala (w/The Wizard & Kimchee) vs. Lanny Poffo
Pre-Match Thoughts: Yes! This is the kind of throwaway closing SNME match that I want to see! The Wizard has some comments on Kamala’s behalf, and I’m getting a bit creeped out by them.
Match Review: Poffo does his backflip routine, only for Kamala to throw him around the ring. Ha. Kamala gives Poffo some SAVAGE OFFENSE, then lands a hard chop. Poffo is the perfect guy to bump around for a wrestler like Kamala. Kamala goes with the choke lift, then pats on his belly. Poffo takes that chance to come back and try something, but Kamala stops him and gives him a double chop to the throat. Bodyslam, big fat savage splash, victory via pin by Kamala at 1:44.
After the match, the big man decides to go up top, and his handlers tell him to come down from the top rope. EXCELLENT.
My Thoughts: This was a squash. During this time, before coming up with a gimmick for Poffo, it’s easy to wonder why they never came up with one for him before that. He’s treated above the jobbers, but he had more talent than that. I liked Kamala’s thing before the match, liked the thing after the match, but what was in between with him, as it often does, can become boring. The gimmick doesn’t translate to wrestling at times. No rating.
As our closing segment, Jesse and Vince have a few comments about the opening match (which is the SNME main event), and sign off for the night!
Well, this could be considered “Roddy Piper Hour”, I suppose. There’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, it made the show a whole lot better. The last SNME had been the best one to this point, and this one was as well. Three decent or good matches, and the two worst were squashes that had entertaining moments. I don’t have very much to complain about. I do find it odd that Adonis was taken off TV in the middle of this feud. In an edition of the Wrestling Observer from that time, it states that he was either fired or suspended, and the feud with Piper was off. Interesting. I’m going to assume he was suspended. In any case, we’re going to head on to the build for Starrcade 1986. Never seen anything from that card and am heavily looking forward to it when the time comes.
Best: The Dream Team vs. The British Bulldogs
Worst: Kamala vs. Lanny Poffo. It wasn’t bad though!
Card Rating: 7.5/10. Check it out!
