Sage Cortez
More WWF, right now! Coming off of Survivor Series and building towards the Royal Rumble, I’d say that the WWF is in a good state. I am covering the time between those two events, although there’s a Saturday Night’s Main Event in the middle of them. I’ll simply go back to it. On with the wrestling!
– Taped to air November 28th, 1987, on Superstars, from Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa
Greg Valentine vs. Brutus Beefcake
Before the match, Valentine is interviewed by Jesse Ventura. Valentine is making a managerial change, and his new one is…JIMMY HART!
Now, the match is joined in progress, with Valentine in the middle of attempting to put a figure-four on Beefcake. Beefcake breaks free, and gets distracted by Hart, which allows Valentine to keep things going. Then, Valentine and Beefcake throws the referee out of the way, and the match clips once again, this time to Beefcake having Valentine in a sleeper. Hart runs in with Beefcake’s shears, attempting to hit him, but of course the Barber is onto that trick. Beefcake throws Jimmy out of the ring, and Valentine finally locks the figure-four on. Beefcake is able to grab the shears, but he can’t do anything, and the bell rings for a double disqualification. That kinda sucked.
PILEDRIVER MUSIC VIDEOS
Two of these, this time.
I can’t believe this actually happened.
HTM’s is, in my opinion anyway, actually pretty good. It fit his gimmick perfectly too!
– December 9th, 1987, from the Civic Center, in Fort Myers, Florida
Jake Roberts vs. Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart) for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Here I was wondering why Roberts never got more shots at this championship. I’m not wondering anymore! Judging from the roster at this taping, this was the dark main event.
Match Review: Roberts starts the match off with punches in bunches, then has a charge to the corner blocked with a high knee. HTM goes to work, landing some punches of his own, but Roberts hits him with his own high knee. He goes for the DDT, but HTM bails to the outside, at which point HTM and Jimmy Hart have their heads smashed together. Roberts throws HTM back into the ring, then when Roberts tries to run the ropes, Hart tries to trip him. Eventually the two wrestlers get back into the ring after Roberts chases Hart around it, and Hart chokes Roberts during some distraction of the official. HTM drops a fist on Roberts, and misses an attempted elbow drop. He goes for his own DDT, but Roberts backdrops him out of it. HTM misses a charge to the corner, and Roberts also hits him with a clothesline. Out of nowhere, HTM gets handed the megaphone, and he clobbers Roberts with it for the disqualification at 5:25. With the match over, Roberts ties HTM in the ropes, and out comes the snake. He winds up throwing the snake on Jimmy Hart instead, and the two heels bail to the back.
My Thoughts: Terrible way to end a match. This certainly wasn’t anything spectacular, so I’m not going to get wound up over it. For whatever reason, these two guys together doesn’t make for such a good match. *1/4 for the drab affair.
– Taped to air December 13th, 1987, from the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska
Dangerous Danny Davis (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Sam Houston
Pre-Match Thoughts: There aren’t a ton of matches to review in this column, so why not throw something like this in? I don’t expect a lot, and I usually like Houston’s work, despite the awful opponent he has here.
Match Review: To start things off, they both attack each other! They brawl down to the floor, then in the ring, they continue the same stuff. I guess that’s one way to cover up Davis’ lack of wrestling ability. They go outside, and Davis has to drag Houston back into the ring, and they keep going with the same stuff. They tumble out of the ring once again, as Mr. Fuji has an insert promo. He doesn’t like that Ted DiBiase can buy his way to the top. Houston eventually hits the referee with an inadvertent elbow, and now that he’s taken care of Davis, he goes to beat up Jimmy Hart. Davis has the megaphone, and he hits Houston with it, knocking him out. He rolls back into the ring, the referee gets up and starts his count, and Danny Davis wins via count-out at 4:03.
After the match, the fight goes on, with Houston hip tossing Davis out of the ring. That’s the first wrestling move of the match!
My Thoughts: This wasn’t wrestling, but I’ve rated many matches that weren’t of that standard, so it’s no big deal. I thought this was pretty funny, but it wasn’t good. In fact, I was able to not watch the match and write down what happened. *.
– Taped to air December 26th, 1987, from the Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida
The Islanders (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. The British Bulldogs
So, these guys were supposed to have a match. Everyone gets in the ring and is ready to get things going, but Heenan and the Islanders get chased out of it by Matilda, the Bulldogs, uh…dog. Heenan decides to leave, or not. He comes back, and sees Matilda standing on her platform, so he has the Islanders attack the Bulldogs from behind. With the Bulldogs disposed of, the Islanders take the dog! The Bulldogs give chase, but the Islanders are long gone. Hilarious angle. And with that, we’re out of 1987!
– January 5th, 1987, from Von Braun Civic Center, in Huntsville, Alabama
Ted DiBiase & Virgil vs. Jake Roberts & Jim Duggan
Pre-Match Thoughts: That’s a strange babyface tag team. One thing that’s clear for all to see, is that three of these guys were pilfered from Mid-South Wrestling. I don’t know what to expect from this match, because Virgil was pretty bad, and this was 3 years before he became an active wrestler in the WWF. This is the first time I can remember Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes on commentary together. That’s not so good.
Match Review: Roberts and DiBiase will start the match, and exchange wristlocks and hair pulling. That was a neat bit. Roberts blocks a bodyslam attempt, which sends DiBiase pinballing back and forth between Roberts and his partner. Duggan tags in, and gives DiBiase 10 punches in the corner. He misses a charge to the opposite corner, and DiBiase also hits him with a shot from the second rope. Hacksaw comes back with a clothesline, and tags in Roberts. Roberts goes for the DDT, but DiBiase drives him back into the corner and drops an elbow on him. Virgil tags in for the first time, and gives Roberts a few stomps, then tags back out. DiBiase continues the punishment, and tags in Virgil to do the same. This goes on for a bit, until Roberts gives DiBiase a suplex on one of the Million Dollar Man’s ventures into the ring. DiBiase cuts off the tag, and draws Duggan into the ring as well. That gives him the chance to throw Roberts into Virgil for a big boot. DiBiase follows with a back suplex, and that gets 2. DiBiase tries a huge charge into the corner, and misses. That looked like a try at hitting him KAM CHANCELLOR style. Virgil steps in, drops a fist on Roberts, switches out, and DiBiase resorts to a chinlock. Roberts gets up and drops down to force him to break it, and still can’t make a tag! The match dies a bit when Virgil tags in, but he hasn’t been in very long. Right now, he has his opponent in a chinlock. After an exchange of tags, Roberts hits Virgil with a knee lift, and Roberts makes the hot tag to Duggan! Duggan takes the fight to DiBiase, hitting him with another clothesline. He lands a forearm on Virgil, and gives DiBiase a backdrop. Duggan heads over to run the ropes, and Virgil cracks him with a chair. That’s DiBiase and Virgil disqualified at 10:03.
Duggan and Roberts clear Virgil out of the ring, then both backdrop DiBiase. Roberts goes for the snake, and DiBiase vacates ASAP.
My Thoughts: I was surprised to see DiBiase take that kind of beating after the match, it was Virgil who I expected to be in that role. Anyway, I suppose this was an okay match. It wasn’t anything special, but the crowd was really into it, and Virgil wasn’t much of a drag on the thing. **. In some respects, it felt like the first 10 minutes of a 15 minute match.
– January 9th, 1988, from the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Randy Savage (w/Elizabeth) vs. Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart) for the WWF Intercontinental championship in a STEEL CAGE MATCH
Pre-Match Thoughts: My interest in this match is to see how they manage to have HTM retain his title. I’m sure they’ll have a good finish to the match, and it needs to be a way that keeps Savage strong. House shows in this era were very important, and taking a loss on one wouldn’t have been good for him if not done the right way.
Match Review: HTM runs for the door immediately, but Savage is there to block, just as he does when Honky tries to climb the cage. Savage rams HTM’s head into the buckle quite a few times, then hits him with a running elbow. After another set of turnbuckle shots, Savage follows that by choking HTM with the top rope. HTM comes back with a rake of the eyes, and goes for the door, only to be pulled back into the ring. HTM then launches Savage into the fence, and subsequently the turnbuckle. Savage comes back with punches, and has a backdrop attempt blocked. I have noticed a near complete lack of bumping, here. HTM drops an elbow, and follows that with a bodyslam. HTM tries to go for the door again, and Savage clutches to his boot. HTM responds to that with a clothesline, another elbow drop, and another attempt to exit the cage. Savage blocks it again, and makes his own attempt, but HTM grabs his feet and drags him back in. Savage rams HTM into the cage, and tries to climb out. Up to the top he goes, and HTM follows him to stop it. Savage causes HTM to crotch himself, then positions himself for something big. He comes down with a flying clothesline from the top of the cage! Savage crawls towards the door once again, and this time, Jimmy Hart slams the door on him. Haha. That always looks extremely dangerous. Hart pulls Honky out of the cage, and that’s a win for Honky Tonk Man at 9:13.
After the match, Savage is extremely mad, and throws both Hart and HTM back into the cage. He’s not having this bullshit. He throws HTM onto Hart, then slams him again in the middle of the ring. Then, Savage heads up to the top rope, and DROPS THE ELBOW!
My Thoughts: Another disappointing match. Not much bumping, no bleeding, and little action. Savage was a great worker, but at times he and his opponents went through the motions, and this was one of those times. Should have been better, but it being a house show and both guys having a solid position on the card, there was no need to impress. *3/4, the flying clothesline was nice.
– January 9th, 1988, from Boston Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts
Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: To my knowledge, this is the only match between these two guys that was televised. I don’t know the exact reason for that, but you’d think they would be programmed together or placed in a prominent match considering their alignments and positioning on the card. Heenan takes the house mic to cut a promo on Hogan before the match, and says that Rude is an international arm wrestling champion. For some reason, I doubt that, but it turns out that was closer to the truth than I thought.
Match Review: The match begins, with both guys sizing each other up from afar. It’s funny to hear Jimmy Hart on commentary. Rude shows his power by pushing Hogan around, then gets on the canvas for some arm wrestling. I hope Hogan crosses him. Hogan hears chants in his favor, and follows Rude down there. They lock hands, and this is so hilarious to watch. Rude and Hogan struggle over this arm wrestling duel, and HOGAN WINS IT! They get up, and Hogan takes his turn to push Rude into the turnbuckle. Then he lands a series of right hands, and rams Rude into a few of the turnbuckles. He gives Rude an atomic drop as well, which sends him over the top rope. Hogan hits Bobby Heenan to knock him off the apron, and we’re pretty much back where things started. When Rude gets back in the ring, Hogan goes back to work, and gets his hair pulled by Rude, as Rude transitions to an armbar. They sit in that hold for a little while, until Hogan is ready to get up and take control by pulling Rude’s hair a few times. Hogan gives Rude a suplex, and tries an elbow drop, which he misses. Rude works him over with punches, and Hogan gets pissed off enough to chase Heenan around the ring. He chases Hogan into the ring, and Rude attacks him. Now Rude and Hogan wind up on the floor, and Rude comes back into the ring with a chair. And now, I understand why this story about Rude hitting Hogan too hard with a chair has evolved into being the story that equates to Hogan not working with Rude. Rude clocked him HARD, right on the forehead. Rude goes to the chinlock now, until Hogan can break it a minute or so later. He takes Rude down with a shoulderblock, but Rude comes back with a savate kick, and lifts Hogan up for the BACKBREAKER. Hogan will not submit, and Rude stupidly lets him go, thinking he has won the title. Eventually, Rude realizes, and heads up top for a fist drop, which he lands on the way down. Rude covers for 2, and now it’s time for Hogan to HULK UP. He hits Rude with a clothesline in the corner, and bodyslams him. Hogan also lands the big leg, and that’s it at 11:40.
My Thoughts: Apparently Ted DiBiase attacked Hogan after the match, but I don’t have that clip. That’s too bad, because I wanted to see it. As for the match, I thought it was okay. Nothing special, but these two wrestlers were great opponents for each other, so it’s too bad Rude and Hogan never had the chance to be programmed together. **1/4, I really liked the arm wrestling bit at the beginning, that was a neat touch.
– Taped to air January 1988, from multiple places
Ted DiBiase buying the WWF Championship…
Just like the sentence above says. DiBiase tried to buy the WWF Championship from Hulk Hogan. And frankly, I don’t care that there’s a recap on the Royal Rumble broadcast, I wanted to talk about it now! I thought this was a fantastic idea. The video shows what happened after Hogan declined his offer. Enjoy!
So, as everyone can see, DiBiase had a plan B. His plan was that he would back Andre to win the title, and that Andre would sell the championship to him! After all, what Andre really wants is to beat Hogan, the title is secondary. I thought this was a great storyline, and a nice way to head into WrestleMania. All of this turned out very well in the end, too.
So, that’s 1987 in the books, and almost the whole first month of 1988 as well. There wasn’t a lot there, but I enjoyed most of the things I saw. Despite my talk about the Royal Rumble, that’s secondary in terms of what this built to. There’s the first edition of The Main Event! There’s a Saturday Night’s Main Event that I’m cutting back to! So much wrestling! The Royal Rumble was an idea that had flopped the first time they tried it, but they decided to go with it again. Fortunately, they did. Counter-programming it against the Bunkhouse Stampede was a really dirty move. Speaking of that, the next article will be about the NWA’s build to Bunkhouse Stampede. Then, back to the WWF for Saturday Night’s Main Event #14 and the Royal Rumble!
Best: Ted Dibiase & Hulk Hogan stuff. This is getting really good, really quickly.
Worst: A lack of lengthy, quality matches. I’m not outraged, but that sucked.
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