Sage Cortez
It’s time for another edition of Through the Years! This time, we’ll be taking a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event #8. In a very smart move, they held this in Los Angeles. A Hogan vs. Orndorff main event had drawn pretty well there, so I suppose it was time to come back. They had this in the can for two weeks, by the way. It seems that the card will introduce a few new faces to Saturday Night’s Main Event. In addition to that, there are a few who I haven’t seen do very much in the WWF. The card also has a heel vs. heel match in the showcase spot!
– Taped to air November 29th, 1986, from the Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California
Jesse Ventura introduces the show, which of course has a line of interviews at the start. Jake Roberts! Randy Savage! Koko B. Ware? Roddy Piper! The Hart Foundation! Neidhart is GREAT on the microphone. Hulk Hogan! After the introduction, Jesse Ventura seems to have hair. That cannot be real.
Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Man, this is right up my alley. First things first, Jake Roberts has an interview with Gene Mean. It’s a great promo about life. I’d never heard that one before, it was very tweener-ish. I’m not sure who the fans are supposed to cheer. Maybe that’s the point. Savage is interviewed as well, and his isn’t as good. That sounds like a dismissal of what he said, trust me, it isn’t. Jake’s was so good.
Match Review: The crowd is chanting for Jake, but it sounds a bit canned. Regardless, he chases Elizabeth down with the snake, then whips it towards Savage…and he’s scared as hell. So is Dave Hebner. Savage cheats by pulling hair to knock Jake down, so Jake does the exact same thing to Savage. Savage gets scared when he notices he’s in the same corner as the snake, then Roberts takes him down with a headlock. They exchange hair pulls, and it’s awesome. Jake gets up and goes for the DDT, but Savage ducks out to the outside. Jake follows him around the ring, gets back in, and boots him in the gut. Then he goes for the DDT again, but Savage drives him back into the corner. Jake misses a charge into the opposite corner after a whip, and the cover by Savage gets 2. Savage also drops a knee for 2, and continues his control over Jake. He chokes Jake near the ropes, and Jake takes a hard bump leading to a cover of 2. Savage then ties Jake in the ropes, and it appears that he has a plan. He grabs Damien, and puts him under the ring. HAHA.
After the commercial, Jake gets out of the ropes, and hits Savage with a knee to nice applause. He fetches Damien from under the ring, puts him back in his corner, and climbs back into the ring. Jake gives Savage a short-arm clothesline for 2, and goes for a front suplex, which he lands to huge cheers. Somebody is getting over. Cover gets 2. Jake lands punches as well, and blows snot all over the referee. Now that’s cool. Savage blocks a backdrop, and summarily gets punches in the mouth. Jake goes for another DDT, but Savage grabs the ropes and gets out of the ring. So Jake follows him, and Savage uses Elizabeth as a human shield yet again. As such, Jake goes to un-tie his bag…and gets kneed in the back by Savage. Savage comes down with the double axehandle to the outside, then tosses Jake back in. Up top Savage goes again, and he gets 2 off a double axehandle. He tries for another one and gets punched by the challenger. The face reaction Jake is getting here is awesome. This is turning into a brawl, and as such, Savage throws down the referee. Jake also throws down the referee, who takes a HEAD DROP BUMP, THIS AIN’T JAPAN. Both men get disqualified at 9:30, but the fun is just starting.
Savage grabs a chair, and gets draped with the snake to some big applause. I think the crowd liked that, but unfortunately the fun didn’t last long.
My Thoughts: This was a nice match. The most important aspect was the heel vs. heel. That’s highly unusual and not something I’ve seen happen a lot since. It gave the WWF a chance to gauge the reactions of both men, and I believe that they got an answer to that. The bout was hard hitting and took place at a good pace. That’s always nice to see. I’d give it a *** rating and recommend it for the novelty of the occasion. Savage’s heeling was interesting to see against another heel, and Jake was working as a babyface while not going too far overboard. It’s certainly a weird look for him, but he was great at playing both sides in any case. I loved the cheating as well. Moving on…
Hercules Hernandez (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Vince McMahon seamlessly transitions us to Hercules being sold from Slick to Bobby Heenan. This is funny. Heenan then has a promo on Herc’s behalf, and Herc gets to say a few things. He’s not good at it. Hogan cuts a crazed promo, almost all of it makes no sense. Added below.
Match Review: Of course, the crowd is going crazy. That’s no surprise. Hogan and Hercules do a test of strength, which Hogan wins in the end until being given a headbutt. Hercules drives Hogan into the corner, but gets whipped into the opposite corner and given a clothesline. Hogan gives Hercules a high knee as well, then chases Heenan around the ring. that was cool. Hogan gives Hercules a big boot, and a bodyslam. Time to drop an elbow, and Hogan misses. Hercules throws Hogan hard into the turnbuckles, then when Hogan falls down, gives him multiple knee drops to the back. He puts Hogan in a bear hug too, squeezing and squeezing. This is not one of my favorite wrestling holds. Fortunately, Hercules progresses onto giving Hogan a backbreaker, then goes for…THE TORTURE RACK. WHAT THE HELL. THE HERCULES EXPRESS IS TRAVELING THE COUNTRY. Hogan doesn’t submit and Hercules very stupidly thinks he did. Well, gee. Once he’s told, Hercules goes for a cover which gets 2. It’s time to HULK UP, BROTHER. Jesse Ventura is quite angry on commentary, but there’s nothing he can do about this. Punches, running elbow, and Hercules goes into the turnbuckles. That’s a weird variation. Hogan gives Hercules the big boot, and the LEG DROP. 1-2-3, it’s over at around 6:30. After the victory, Hogan poses.
My Thoughts: This was nothing special. I don’t know of any Hogan vs. Hercules house show series, and I suppose this would be why. Hercules wasn’t good enough to keep people interested in matches with Hogan. That being said, the added bits bump this up a bit from the usual formula fare. I liked the addition of turnbuckle shots, and Hercules doing a torture rack. *1/4.
Roddy Piper vs. “Cowboy” Bob Orton (w/Jimmy Hart & Don Muraco)
Pre-Match Thoughts: Before the match starts, there are a few clips shown. Jimmy Hart, Bob Orton, and Jesse Ventura are eating lunch. Orton says that he and Piper weren’t friends. Sure. Awesomely, a video clip of Orton and Piper’s friendship is shown. It’s very good. Gene Mean is with Roddy Piper, who has a response to Orton’s comments.
Match Review: Muraco tried tripping Piper at the beginning of the match, which got the referee’s attention. As such…he threw Muraco to the back! Piper and Orton brawl now, and Piper gives Orton a BULLDOG. Orton begs off, but Piper corners him anyway, and bites him. Piper then launches Orton upside down into the corner, and pokes him in the eye. Ha. He gives Orton a knee lift as well, and covers for a 2 count. Orton comes back with an uppercut and elbow, then stomps Piper in the gut. Orton also gives Piper a stomach breaker, and covers for 2. Then, when Piper gets up, Jimmy Hart sets him up for a punch from Orton. What an ass. Piper then knocks Orton into Jimmy Hart, and rolls Orton up for 3 at 3:47. Very well done!
After the commercial, Roddy Piper is interviewed by Mean Gene. It’s more serious than his usual bit.
My Thoughts: Nobody considered this to be a major match, just part of Roddy’s feud with Orton, Muraco, and Adonis. Seemed like it was too short of a match, because it deserved more. However, that meant the awesome Hart Foundation vs. Killer Bees pairing would get more time. I cannot complain about that. *.
The Hart Foundation (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. The Killer Bees
Pre-Match Thoughts: I love all variations of this matchup. TV or house show, it doesn’t make a difference to me. Four good workers makes for good matches. The Hart Foundation says a few things before this match, and that their goal is to win the WWF Tag Team Championships. Could anyone have seen Bret becoming a big star at this time? I couldn’t have. It is stated by Jesse Ventura that the winner gets a title shot.
Match Review: Bret and Brunzell start the match, and Brunzell gives him a running high knee. He tags in Blair after an arm drag, and Blair elbows Bret’s arm. There’s an insert promo with the Killer Bees in their masks, which is such a stupid gimmick. I hate it. Bret gives Blair a rolling cradle, and it gets reversed for a 2 count. That was a nice bit. Neidhart tags in, and the Bees summarily give him a double back elbow. Bret catches Brunzell with a knee to the back from the ring apron, and tags in, with the Hart Foundation doing a backbreaker-elbow combo. Bret covers, and gets 2. Neidhart is back in, and gives Brunzell a dropkick. I don’t recall him doing that very often! Bret tags in and works over Brunzell with punching and choking, then distracts the referee so that Neidhart can choke Brunzell with the tag rope. Neidhart drops Brunzell throat-first across the top rope, then tags in his partner, who gives Jumpin’ Jim a backbreaker. He misses an elbow, but throws Brunzell out of the ring anyway.
After the break, Brunzell tries a sunset flip on Bret, which gets 2. The Hart Foundation exchanges tags, and Brunzell tries a backslide, for 1. Brunzell gives Bret an excellent looking dropkick, but Neidhart tags in. Brunzell makes the tag, but Bret was distracting the official. The Foundation dumps Brunzell to the outside and knocks Blair off the apron, so…they’re doing their ridiculous mask gimmick. Oh Lord. Blair switches places with Brunzell, and gives Neidhart a running ass to the face. The crowd is really excited by this, and Blair atomic drops Bret into his partner. He whips Neidhart into Bret, and puts a sleeper on the Anvil. Bret goes up top to break it up, which he does with an elbow to Blair’s head. The Bees switch places yet again, and Bret tags in. After he tags in, Brunzell cradles him up for the victory after about 9 minutes. What a gimmick. The crowd loves it.
My Thoughts: This was an excellent match, just about what I expected. The Bees went for the mask gimmick at just the right time too. Before Brunzell getting beat up turned into overload. That’s more proper than Blair making the hot tag and then doing it. Then the second switch was super well timed. This wasn’t the Hart Foundation getting a chance to tear the house down, but it was very good. Two very athletic teams are capable of having matches like these, more often than not. ***1/2 and recommended.
Nikolai Volkoff (w/Slick) vs. Koko B. Ware
Pre-Match Thoughts: Let’s see if Vince acts as crazy as he usually does during Koko’s entrances. Koko gets some promo time before the match, which I like a lot! The promo isn’t so good, but it’s nice to see guys in his position on the card getting time to talk. Volkoff and Slick are interviewed by Ventura, as well. Vince doesn’t act the same as he did for Koko’s entrance on Superstars. Much more toned down.
Match Review: Volkoff attacks Koko at the beginning of the match, dropping Soviet nukes on him. Volkoff misses a charge to the corner though, and Koko responds with some shots of his own. Koko then gives Nikolai a move that makes no sense (I don’t even know how to describe it), and two dropkicks for a 2 count. Volkoff drops Koko on the top rope, and slams him. He misses a knee drop, and Koko goes to the top rope. A huge missile dropkick follows, for 1. Damn. Volkoff gives Koko a backbreaker, and another bodyslam. For some reason he goes over to the ropes to get advice from Slick, and Koko rolls him up for 3 at 2:30.
My Thoughts: Hey, this wasn’t a squash! I’m so used to these closing matches being squashes that I’m a bit surprised. Better match than Orton/Piper, but not by much. It’s rare for me to see Koko have this much offense in any match, so that was nice. At least both guys took bumps and tried to make it entertaining. *1/4.
After that match, Hulk Hogan has some comments about Hulkamania.
Don Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. Dick Slater
Pre-Match Thoughts: Dick Slater sporting a Confederate flag and getting some cheers for it is too far for me. I’m glad he gets boos too. After his entrance, Muraco has some comments. So tired of this guy, to be honest.
Match Review: This starts coming out of a commercial, with Muraco ramming Slater into two turnbuckles. He throws Slater into another turnbuckle, and tries for an airplane spin, only to get rolled up for 2. Slater also gives Muraco a back elbow, then heads up top. He gives Muraco an elbow to the head on the way down, and Muraco puts his foot on the ropes during the cover. Fuji then trips Slater as he runs the ropes, but Muraco misses an elbow drop. Muraco then knocks Slater down with a clothesline, and pins him for a 3 count while placing his feet on the ropes to cheat, at 2:05.
My Thoughts: This was a nothing match, but it wasn’t a squash. DUD. There’s really nothing to derive from this, just glad it was short. No wonder Slater didn’t stick around long with that card position and Confederate flag thing.
Ventura and McMahon have some comments to close the show, and that’s it!
This was even better than the last SNME. It didn’t have any feud blowoffs, but the matches on it were pretty solid. Two ***+ matches on WWF TV was not common. I liked the tag team match a whole lot. It’s nice to see some athleticism creeping into these shows, as stated before. It was certainly needed after having to watch complete slugs go at it for a few months. It’s on to 1987 after this, with some things from the NWA. We also have SNME #9 with a huge feud blowoff, and the build to WrestleMania III. Hope you’ll check those articles out as well!
Best: The Killer Bees vs. The Hart Foundation. Mask gimmick aside, the Killer Bees were really good.
Worst: Don Muraco vs. Dick Slater. Can Muraco just please go away?
Card Rating: 8/10. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
