Retro

In this Saturday Night’s Main Event 1/7/89 review, Hulk Hogan goes one-on-one with Akeem as the tension builds with The Mega Powers.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: Saturday Night’s Main Event
• Date: January 7, 1989
  
• Location: USF Sun Dome in Tampa, FL

Ron Bass vs. Brutus Beefcake – Hair vs. Hair Match

Well this should be special. It feels like this feud has been going on for centuries at this point. Bass jumps on Beefcake immediately and chokes him with Betsy the lasso. Beefcake steals it away and Bass retreats. He keeps trying to get back in the ring but Beefcake keeps pummeling him before he can make it back.

Lots of punches from Beefcake but Bass lands the atomic drop to take over. Bass in full control and Beefcake’s hair could be in control. Just kidding. Bass continues the destruction in the corner and then hits a piledriver. But like any good moron he stops he the ref’s count and keeps working on Beefcake. He stops the pin yet again and I’m not sure if Bass has ever seen a wrestling match, but this strategy will not end well.

So he finally goes for an actual pin and Beefcake kicks out at two. Then Beefcake ducks the clothesline and locks on the sleeper to win it at 7:40. Bass gets the choppy choppy of his hair after the commercial break.

BACKSTAGE: Gene Okerlund with Boss Man and Akeem. Slick hypes his two awesome dudes while Okerlund rambles. Then we get the Hulk Hogan interview. Okerlund says he’s outmanned and here comes Randy Savage.

Akeem (w/Slick and Big Boss Man) vs. Hulk Hogan (w/Elizabeth)

We get the cut-in backstage during Hogan’s entrance, with Savage and Okerlund watching on a TV. Savage seems to be a little concerned when Hogan holds the ropes for Elizabeth. I SMELL JEALOUSLY. Hogan makes Akeem look like an idiot early and then decides to make Boss Man and Slick look like idiots as well.

Back in the ring, Hogan tries to go for the slam but Akeem turns the tide. Now we’ve got Hogan back on top and he knocks Boss Man off the apron. Akeem takes hold of the arm but Hogan comes back and knocks Akeem down with the elbow to the dome. And then Boss Man looks stupid again after Hogan throws Akeem into him on the apron.

Hogan throws Akeem to the corner and Akeem pulls the ref in front of him. REF BUMP. Naturally Akeem and Boss Man go to work. Then we get another backstage cut-in with Okerlund essentially asking Savage if he’s gonna help him. Savage says he’ll be fine. SAVAGE MOVE. Noe Liz goes running around backstage trying to find Savage. Hogan is down and out in the ring.

Another cut-in of Savage and Liz yells at him to come out and help. Okerlund’s acting here is must-see because of how truly awful it is. This is also where Jesse starts leaning Savage’s direction, saying if he came in he could get Hogan DQ’d. Hogan starts hulking up and making his comeback, with Savage happy backstage and saying he told everyone he’d make the comeback. Big boot time and then he slams Akeem. Boss Man trips Hogan before he can get the leg drop for the DQ at 8:06.

Elizabeth is in here watching Hogan getting beat with the nightstick. Then they go after Elizabeth and here comes Savage with a chair. After all this, Savage gets more jealous that Elizabeth is all over Hogan trying to help him. Jesse smells a rift. JESSE IS NEVER WRONG.

Beautiful storytelling. He wouldn’t come down for Hogan, but he would for Elizabeth. The match was nothing, but the storyline advancement was outstanding.

Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. (c) The Ultimate Warrior – IC Title

Brawling on the outside early, which results in Warrior pressing Honky and throwing him in the ring. Back and forth and then Jimmy throws Honky the megaphone while the ref’s back is turned. Honky hammers Warrior with it several times.

Even more shenanigans with Jimmy choking Warrior while Honky distracts the ref. Warrior back in control and he bounces Honky’s head off the turnbuckle about 95 times. Then it’s clothesline and running splash time, but Honky gets the knees up. But the flying tackle scores the win for Warrior at 5:07. This was what it was.

BACKSTAGE: Slick is ecstatic that the Twin Towers destroyed Hogan. He also plants more seeds about how close the Mega Powers actually are.

MORE BACKSTAGE: Jesse interviews Bobby Heenan and Red Rooster. They make fun of Rooster for a few minutes.

Red Rooster (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Tito Santana

Heenan is mic’d for the match. He pretty much gives Rooster hell from the very beginning. Then Heenan goes over and yells back and forth with George Steinbrenner. Rooster and Tito are working hard but the big focus is Heenan yelling at Rooster.

After several minutes, we get the shoving match on the outside between Heenan and Rooster. This continues on for a while until Tito gets the roll-up on Rooster for the victory at 7:27.

After the match, Heenan slaps Rooster and then Rooster clocks him in the corner several times before throwing him off the turnbuckle.

BACKSTAGE: Mr. Perfect talks about the birth of the PERFECT PLEX. It’s here.

Mr. Perfect vs. Koko B. Ware

Koko tries to make the fans think he has a chance. He doesn’t. He does get a lot of momentum early, and Jesse even points out that he’s out-wrestling Perfect. That won’t last long.

But Koko destroys himself in the corner and then Perfect Plex happens to give Perfect the squash win at 3:10. Perfect was out there SQUASHING JOBBERS.

BACKSTAGE: The Mega Powers seem to be just fine. Hogan has no problem with Savage’s delay in helping him. They breathe the same air, drink the same water, and sleep the same sleep. That’s what Hogan says. Then Savage says his body hurt when Hogan was getting attacked. Hogan then says he felt like he was getting choked when Elizabeth was getting choked by Boss Man. SUPER HANDSHAKE TIME. Everyone seems happy and weird at the same time. I’m sure this will work out well for them.

OVERALL

The Mega Powers tension was good stuff. They had good foils in Boss Man and Akeem, and obviously we all know where this is headed. Enjoyable show here, and you also have the debut of the Perfect Plex. Fine all the way around.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Reviews section!

With Ric Flair and Terry Funk in the main event in this Clash of the Champions IX review, you know you’re gonna get something special.

The company was on the road to Starrcade, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way in terms of both the tag team and main event feuds.

Let’s get to Blake’s Clash of the Champions IX Review.

• Date: November 15, 1989
• Location: RPI Fieldhouse in Troy, NY

VIDEO: Terry Funk and Ric Flair hype their title match.

RINGSIDE: Jim Ross and Gordon Solie talk about the card and discuss the “I Quit” stipulation in the Flair/Funk match.

The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)

Unlike at Halloween Havoc, the crowd is not having the Freebirds’ shit as they chant “Freebirds suck” at the top of their lungs. Hawk and Animal in control early until Animal misses in the corner and allows the Freebirds to start the double team strategy.

More double teaming from the bad guys until Hawk realizes that this match is actually quite boring, so he decides to pick up Tommy Young and slings him into the corner for the instant DQ at 5:18. This was a nothing match.

• Rating: 1/2*

RINGSIDE: Ross with Terry Funk and Gary Hart. Funk says he and Flair both love wrestling, and Hart tells Funk not to embarrass Texas. Funk responds by saying he doesn’t need anyone’s help because he’s the fucking best.

ON THE RAMP: Ross with Bill Apter, who says the fans voted Sting as the most popular wrestler in the world. Sting comes out in a sweet leather jacket and gets a big trophy. Sting yells and thanks the fans. Apter then gives another award for wrestler of the decade, and it’s Flair. He gets a trophy as well. They walk off with their trophies.

VIDEO: Woman says she has a large surprise for Rick Steiner.

Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert vs. Doom (w/Woman)

Ross with the not safe for work comment about Butch Reed and Ron Simmons being thick and big everywhere. You learn something new every day. Gilbert with some quick offense before tagging in Rich, who is clearly still recovering from his Halloween Havoc classic against the Cuban Assassin.

Good guys in control until a side slam takes Gilbert down. Big suplex and Doom takes control. Near fall on Gilbert before Rich tags in and goes bananas. Eventually we get a brouhaha with all four men in the ring, and the referee gets distracted with Gilbert which allows a double team from Doom for the win at 5:15. Better than the opener, but that’s not saying much.

• Rating: *

ON THE RAMP: Jim Cornette with a special edition of the Louisville Slugger. His guests are the Steiners, and Cornette asks Scott about his special move. Rick interrupts and calls it the Frankensteiner. Rick says Sid looks like Herman Munster. Scott says he can suplex anyone before Cornette mentions Woman’s surprise. Scott says his mom said not to hit a lady, but that she isn’t a lady. Rick rambles and that’s that.

The Dynamic Dudes vs. The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette)

Johnny Ace riding a skateboard down the ramp is worth the price of admission alone. Back and forth holds to kick things off until Cornette complains to Nick Patrick that Stan Lane had Shane Douglas by the hair. This continues the theme of everyone wondering if Cornette would remain in a neutral corner.

Ace gets in some offense, and then Douglas hits an impressive cross body over the top on Eaton on the outside. Back inside and Eaton eventually gets Douglas up top for a superplex attempt but it’s countered into a near fall. Pretty good back and forth action before Lane hits a karate kick to the SOLAR PLEXUS of Ace. Crowd is loving the Midnight Express as Lane just keeps kicking ass.

Rocket launcher attempt but Ace counters and tags in Douglas. He cleans house and we’ve got another tag team brouhaha in the ring. Cornette hops in and tells Douglas to go after Eaton but IT’S A SWERVE, BRO! Cornette nails Douglas with the tennis racket and Eaton gets the pin at 9:22. Fun stuff.

• Rating: ***

The Super Destroyer vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams

Norman comes down the ramp dressed as Santa Claus as the match starts. Destroyer is running wild until Williams decides he’s had enough. Military press slam before sending Destroyer onto a table outside. Oklahoma Stampede and that will do it at 1:41. Norman gets in after the match and gives Williams a teddy bear before they hug.

• Rating: DUD

The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) vs. The Steiner Brothers

Rick comes out of the crowd with a box of popcorn for some reason. Big suplex from Rick on Spivey to start the match and then he sends him over the top with a clothesline. Back inside and Spivey hits the tombstone piledriver which only gets a two court. Rick might not have a future in this business if he keeps no-selling The Undertaker’s finisher.

Scott eventually gets in the mix and he goes nuts while the crowd is eating this up with a 1989-sized spoon. Sid goes for a splash in the corner but Scott moves. That doesn’t last long as Sid delivers a, well, VICIOUS clothesline. More back and forth, with Scott making the tag to Rick. Powerslam to Spivey and now the Steiners are double teaming.

Here comes Doom to give us our third tag team brouhaha of the night, but Scott hits the Frankensteiner. Chaos ensues as Tommy Young calls for the bell to give the Steiners the DQ victory at 6:08. Woman hits Rick with her shoe, but before Rick can get his revenge, a big unknown behemoth enters the ring to save her. Skyscrapers and Doom go to to work on the Steiners but here come the Road Warriors. DOUBLE TAG TEAM BROUHAHA as the crowd loses their fucking minds. This was fun all the way around.

• Rating: **1/2

RINGSIDE: Ross with the Steiners and Road Warriors. He hypes up the Starrcade matchups. Scott and Animal yell uncontrollably. Hawk basically says they’re gonna ruin lives, and Ellering hypes all four men.

Brian Pillman vs. (c) Lex Luger – NWA United States Heavyweight Title

Heel Luger is a national treasure. Luger stalls on the outside after Pillman gets in some offense, and some fan in a blue shirt visibly gives him the middle finger as he gets back in. Luger goes back to the outside to regroup before eventually making his way back in. Pillman skins the cat and Luger retreats to the corner, with Pillman going up top for a huge dropkick for a near fall.

Pillman decides to go chopping and he’s kicking Luger’s ass. But Pillman wants more, as he removes the padding around the post and throws Luger’s arm into it. Now he’s throwing the arm off the steel railing. Now he’s chopping the shit out of Luger. Pillman is not playing around. Back inside with Lugers regaining control with a back body drop. Military press from Luger and he throws Pillman down while the majority of the crowd is cheering him uncontrollably. Pillman tries to get some offense in but Luger slings him to the outside.

Luger goes to work on the outside and then goes back in the ring, where a fan has decided to throw some trash. WHAT A TRASHY MOVE. Luger suplexes Pillman but only gets a two count. Pillman then gets the school boy for a two. Luger with the power slam but another school boy from Pillman for the near fall. Back and forth until Pillman hits the cross body off the top and manages to hit the ref in the process. Pillman naturally gets several pitfalls while Patrick is down for the count.

Luger then goes outside and hits Pillman with one of the loudest chair shots you will ever hear, and you won’t believe this, but the REF DIDN’T HEAR IT. He crawls over and Luger gets the pin at 12:38 to retain. Luger beats the shit out of Pillman with a chair after the match before locking on the Torture Rack.

STING IS HERE. Luger grabs the mic and says it’s about time Sting had the guts to confront him. Sting slaps him silly and the crowd wants these two to go at it. Naturally, Luger gets the hell outta there. Sting chases him down the aisle and pops him. Luger still isn’t having it and heads to the back. Good stuff here.

• Rating: ***1/2

VIDEO: Flair hypes the match with Funk.

Terry Funk (w/Gary Hart) vs. Ric Flair – I Quit Match

Flair is ready to go to CHOP TOWN as soon as the match starts. Funk goes reeling over the rail outside and takes his trademark swing and miss at a fan. You just can’t beat Terry Funk, folks. Back inside and more chops. Then the action moves outside where Funk hits a cameraman before Flair chops him. Flair goes for the choke in the ring and Funk gains control as Ross and Solie get the hell out of the way when the fight goes to the apron.

Back in the ring and Flair gives a ridiculous chop. That doesn’t stop Funk as he throws Flair outside and goes to work. Funk grabs the mic and the two exchange chops before Funk rolls back in and regains the advantage. Funk beats on Flair in the corner and puts the mic in his face. Flair will have none of that as he hits the atomic drop.

More back and forth as Flair hits three straight chops to send Funk outside the ring. These chops are just insane. Funk’s mannerisms are just pure gold. Flair tells Funk to quit but that’s not happening. Flair gets distracted by Hart and Funk is back on offense. Now Tommy Young is playing the role of interviewer as he shoves the mic in Funk’s face as he yells. Young now asking Flair if he quits. NO SIR.

Funk hits the piledriver and another no from Flair. The fans are seriously concerned about Flair, but Funk does not give a damn as he tosses Flair outside again. Funk then delivers the piledriver on the floor and the Flair dynasty is over according to Solie. Back in the ring as Funk continues to go to work while Ross reminds us that this is where Mike Tyson got his last two parking tickets. JR is a gem.

Funk positions the table outside as Flair starts mounting his comeback. Flair throws him into the table and Ross lets us know that Funk is on SPAGHETTI LEGS. Flair is pissed as he sends Funk flying into the table again. Folks, Flair isn’t playing around. He decides to hit the elbow to the head of Hart and Funk eventually stumbles his way back inside the ring.

Flair drops Funk’s little funkers on the steel rail and goes back to the chops. We then get Flair dropping the knee on Funk in the ring. Flair starts working on the leg as Funk hobbles around. Funk escapes outside and Flair tracks him down so he can go after the leg again.

Flair suplexes Funk back in the ring and goes for the Figure Four but it’s blocked. And then Flair manages to suplex Funk on the apron before chopping like a madman. Flair locks in the Figure Four as Funk refuses to quit for a while before having no choice to say it at 18:33 to give Flair the win. Funk and Flair shake hands afterward but Hart is angry and goes after Funk. Flair then beats the hell out of Hart as The Great Muta and The Dragonmaster hit the ring to beat down Flair.

That brings out Sting who cleans house with Flair. Luger makes his way out and hilariously struggles to get a chair away from a fan. He then nails Sting with the chair and there is chaos everywhere with the bad guys standing tall. Luger then takes it a step further by breaking Sting and Flair’s trophies. THAT BASTARD. Great match and the angle certainly made you want to see Starrcade.

• Rating: ****1/2

SHOW SUMMARY

There was a lot of really good stuff on this show, with the main event scene tremendous at this point. Flair/Funk and Luger/Pillman are both fun, and most of the tag team matches offer quality entertainment ahead of Starrcade.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this Mid-South Wrestling 2/20/82 review, Dusty Rhodes makes his return to take on Ed Wiskowski, The Junkyard Dog and Mr. Olympia team up, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: Mid-South Wrestling
• Date: February 20, 1982

RINGSIDE: Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts run down the card and recap the recent storyline developments with Skandar Akbar and Ernie Ladd.

Bill Ash vs. Coco Samoa

Our first look at Coco here (at least in the ones we’ve reviewed going back to late 1981) as Watts details his recent venture to Mardi Gras. Coco’s look and style resemble Jimmy Snuka, and my research tells me there was a strong friendship between the two so that makes sense.

Watts also reveals Ash has not yet lost on Mid-South television. I think he’s been in several standby matches that didn’t have a finish. These two go back and forth for a bit, but it’s Coco hitting the splash off the top to score the win. (*)

BACKSTAGE: Reeser Bowden with Akbar. He taunts all the top babyfaces, including using “The American Nightmare” to describe Dusty Rhodes.

The Samoans (w/Skandor Akbar) vs. Brian Blair and Frank Monte

This is a non-title match, so Blair and Monte fans shouldn’t get too excited about their tag title hopes. The babyfaces did their best in this spot, but you know how this was gonna unfold. Eventually, it’s the Samoans using their savage nature to notch the victory. (SQUASH)

Larry Higgens vs. Ted DiBiase

Another non-title match here. Watts announces that DiBiase will defend the North American title against The Grappler next week. Higgens is a big dude, and DiBiase works his usual style by taking things to the mat. Then DiBiase locks on the Figure Four for the win. (SQUASH)

Bob Roop vs. Rick Ferrara

Ferrara gets in more offense than you would expect in this kind of match, with Roop playing the frustrated heel. But our friend Rick wasn’t gonna come out victorious, as it’s Roop who hits the shoulder breaker for the victory. (*)

The Grappler and Bob Sweetan vs. The Junkyard Dog and Mr. Olympia

This is the first we’ve seen of Sweetan since we started this review series, and well, to say that he had an interesting career would be an understatement. You can do the research on the one. Watts hypes the jealousy between Grappler and Olympia since they both wear masks, which is both ridiculous and awesome at the same time.

As always in these tag matches, the action breaks down, and Sweetan uses an illegal move to get the better of Olympia. But miscommunication from the heels leads to JYD hitting the slam on Sweetan to earn the win. (*1/2)

Ed Wiskowski vs. Dusty Rhodes

THE AMERICAN DREAM IS BACK. It’s his first appearance in a month since the six-man tag team match (REVIEW). The crowd loves Dusty, and his charisma keeps them hooked throughout the match. I’m gonna continue to refer to Wiskowski’s strikes as “clubbing” his opponent since that’s basically what he does.

Wiskowski decides to come off the top with a splash, and that wasn’t a great idea as Dusty gets the knees up. Then it’s Dusty hitting the elbow to pin Wiskowski for the victory. Short and sweet. (*1/2)

Paul Orndorff vs. Tony Torres

Once again, I love Orndorff’s run in this era. Regular readers know I’ve also been reviewing WWF Wrestling Challenge, and Orndorff’s ’86 work against Hulk Hogan is terrific stuff. Orndorff controls the match and puts on the Figure Four to mock DiBiase for the victory. (SQUASH)

RINGSIDE: Boyd and Watts reveal Dusty will be the guest commentator next week. That should be a treat.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON MID-SOUTH WRESTLING 2/20/82

Overall Rating: 5.5/10

Thoughts: Not much from a storyline standpoint in this one as it was mostly about the matches. But the crowd enjoyed Dusty’s return, and there was at least an interview from Akbar to continue to push his agenda of destroying everyone. And there was also mask jealous between Grappler and Olympia!

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/13/86 review, Ricky Steamboat takes on Roger Kirby, everyone is coming for The British Bulldogs, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: WWF Wrestling Challenge
• Date: September 13, 1986

RINGSIDE: Gorilla Monsoon, Ernie Ladd, and Johnny V are back once again.

Jimmy Jack and Hoss Funk (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. The Junkyard Dog and George “The Animal” Steele (w/Captain Lou Albano)

What an interesting team JYD and Steele are. JYD starts bodyslamming dudes before the match even begins, which was unintentionally hilarious. Albano does an inset promo where he rants about pairing JYD and Steele together. The heels try some shenanigans, but Steele chases Hoss with a chair and JYD finishes off Jimmy Jack for the win. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Wrestler’s Rebuttal with The Hart Foundation. Jim Neidhart is pissed they’re being called nasty boys. Bret sends a message (or a rebuttal, I suppose) to their critics.

Mario Mancini vs. Kamala (w/The Wizard and Kim Chee)

Johnny V thinks Kamala looks like a go-go dancer from Harlem. That’s certainly a comparison. I give Mancini a 0.1 percent chance of winning this match, so let’s see if he can defy the odds. Narrator: He did not. Kamala squashes poor Mario in quick fashion for the easy win. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Ken Resnick with Albano. He hypes up Steele and tells a story about Steele being made fun of as a kid. Not gonna lie, this was a hell of a promo by Albano. Steele comes in and taunts Randy Savage.

Joe Mirto and Jack Kruger vs. Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke

Mirto and Kruger sounds like a law firm. Jimmy Hart taunts Hillbilly in an inset promo, and as always, I enjoy these. Hillybilly and Luke use a double team to take control, then it’s Hillbilly using the bearhug to notch the victory. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Resnick with The Rougeaus. They’re All-American boys….well, not yet. Raymond reels off the list of teams in the WWF, and Jacques pushes their bond as brothers.

BACKSTAGE: The Honky Tonk Man went out with Betty Sue, and he danced all night long. Good for Honky. He’s coming to the WWF, and he wants to get his hands on Paul Orndorff.

Roger Kirby vs. Ricky Steamboat

Had to do some research on Kirby, who defeated Danny Hodge for the NWA Junior Heavyweight title back in 1971. That’s quite an accomplishment. Kirby also won numerous titles in the NWA, GCW, WWA, and more during his career. He gets more offense in than most do in these squash matches, as he controls the majority of the match.

Kirby even gets a near fall after a backbreaker, but the tide swings in favor of Steamboat. That leads to him heading up top for the flying cross body to score the win. This was good stuff. (**1/2) 

RINGSIDE: The Snake Pit with Jake Roberts, and this week’s guest is Hillbilly Jim. Jake makes fun of Hillbilly’s grandmother’s recipes. What a heel. They do some verbal sparring and that’s that.

King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Paul Roma and Billy Jack Haynes

A nice mix of talent for the main event. Inset promo from “King” Harley Race, who is gonna rule wrestling. I WILL RULE YOU. Wait, wrong King (the 2000 WCW fans will get that reference). Bundy and Studd are a hell of a hoss team, I bet you can guess who is taking the fall in this one. Double team power moves from the heels, and Bundy destroys Roma for the win. (*)

The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, and Hercules vs. Corporal Kirchner, Jim Powers, and Salvatore Bellomo

It took me a second to figure out who was in the match, as Kirchner’s team ran down and interrupted Nikolai singing the anthem. What’s funny is there is trash all over the ring during the match, once again showing you what Americans thought of the Russians. This was all bad guys, with Hercules racking Powers to notch the victory. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Resnick continues hyping the challengers for the British Bulldogs. Bret and Neidhart make their way in with Jimmy Hart. Back to the nasty boys theme, but I don’t see Brian Knobs or Jerry Sags. Neidhart is still pissed, and Resnick tries to call them out. Bret shuts him down and says they’re winners.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF WRESTLING CHALLENGE 9/13/86

Overall Rating: 6.0/10

Thoughts: Another easy watch, but Steamboat vs. Kirby was really the only thing of note. Still, the action is quick and inoffensive, and that’s what worked for an era that was more about character and storyline development.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

The red-hot feud between Ric Flair and Terry Funk officially boils over in this Clash of the Champions VIII review, as we get another memorable post-match moment featuring the two legends.

How does the rest of the card stack up?

Let’s take a look at Blake’s Clash of the Champions VII review.

• Date: September 12, 1989
• Location: Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, SC

VIDEO: We look at the events leading up to the Ric Flair/Sting vs. Terry Funk/Great Muta match. And my goodness were they highly entertaining.

RING AREA: Jim Ross and Jim Cornette hype the main event.

BACKSTAGE: Gordon Solie with Gary Hart. He says there’s no problems in the Hart camp and that it’s probably coming from Flair and Sting.

Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) vs. The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)

This is a true HOSS BATTLE. Holy cow were Hawk and Animal jacked here. Also, this is clearly a NWA show since it’s dark as can be. Animal goes wild early, and Hawk gets in for a big boot on Samu. Hawk and Animal dominate things for a bit until Hawk misses in the corner and goes flying outside. A few cheap shots from Samu, including racking Hawk’s balls on the railing. Fatu kicks some ass and Hawk makes a tag but NICK PATRICK IS INCOMPETENT. He forces Animal out, so Hawk stays in and gets beaten like a drum for a while.

Fatu tries to keep the momentum going by flying off the top but Hawk raises the boot and nails him on the chin. We get the hot tag to Animal, and he goes nuts. Fatu grabs Paul E’s telephone and goes to hit Animal but Hawk knocks it away. Then Ellering throws the phone back in and Hawk hammers Fatu with it. Apparently this is a No DQ match all of a sudden. Doomsday Device from the good guys and that’ll do it at 6:46. The Samoans are pissed with Paul E afterwards. The crowd made this fun.

• Rating: **

The Cuban Assassin vs. The Z-Man

Here’s the debut for Tom Zenk, and let us hope that this company has learned how to book a proper squash match instead of repeating BUTCH REED AND STEVEN CASEY’s 17 MINUTE MATCH AT CLASH V. That was a disaster. Cuban with a little offense before Zenk locks in an arm bar. They go back and forth for a few minutes until Zenk locks on the sleeper hold for the win at 3:36. This was not the debut they were hoping for from Zenk.

• Rating: DUD

VIDEO: The South Carolina governor has declared it RIC FLAIR DAY. Did you know that Ric Flair day happens to be on the same day as Rusev Day?

Ranger Ross vs. Sid Vicious (w/Theodore Long and Dan Spivey)

Sid attacks Ranger before the match even starts and beats the hell out of him on the outside. Back in the ring and Ross hits a kick and a few punches. That leads to Sid hitting the DDT and an insane helicopter slam. Best move ever. Sid then hits the power bomb to complete the squash at 1:08. THIS IS HOW YOU SQUASH JOBBERS.

• Rating: 1/2*

VIDEO: Missy Hyatt and Robin Green (the future Woman) go shopping. Green was playing the role of a fan that was in love with Rick Steiner.

BACKSTAGE: Solie with the Fabulous Freebirds. They promise to retain their titles against the Steiners.

The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatt and Robin Green) vs. (c) The Fabulous Freebirds – NWA World Tag Team Titles

We get the lovely WWE Network generic music for the Freebirds, which is always disappointing. What’s not disappointing is Missy Hyatt in 1989. Scott and Hayes go back and forth in the early going, with the crowd still hot. Garvin works in and eventually gets a belly to back suplex from Scott. JR keeps talking about this being the night for the Steiners, which clearly means the Freebirds are winning.

Rick in now and he’s in full-on gremlin form. Cornette reels off Rick’s hobbies and interests, which is pretty hilarious. Rick slams both Hayes and Garvin before delivering the corner punches to Hayes. Cheap shot from Hayes but Rick regains control with a belly to belly suplex. Hayes gets out of the way of a Rick clothesline, which allows the tag to Garvin. Scott gets knocked outside as Garvin punches Rick repeatedly.

We go outside with Hayes throwing Rick into the rail. Back in and Hayes hits a vicious clothesline for a two count. Tag to Garvin and another two count for the champs. Garvin with the sleeper hold on Rick but the latter gets out and hits a suplex. Rick makes the hot tag, and since this is the NWA, the camera misses it. Scott comes in on a roll and gets a near fall. Scott then goes off the ropes and trips, which allows Hayes to hit a DDT and cover for the pin at 10:27.

The replay intentionally doesn’t show the angle to see how Scott tripped, and that leads to fans pointing at Green. Scott is unhappy and they go back and forth trying to figure out if it was Green or Hyatt. Good tag match, which isn’t surprising for the NWA in this era.

• Rating: ***

Norman the Lunatic (w/Theodore Long) vs. Brian Pillman

Pillman is electric to start the match, and he flies onto Norman on the outside. The tide turns as Norman hits a splash off the top rope but Pillman kicks out at two. They go back outside and Norman splashes Pillman on the ring post. He goes for a second splash and Pillman moves out of the way. And back in the ring again, where Pillman delivers a dropkick off the top. Pillman then hits a slam and a backdrop before Norman catches him off the top rope for a near fall.

Big clothesline from Norman for another two. Pillman then hits the crucifix and locks in the pin at 3:38. Teddy yells at Norman afterwards, and poor Norman is upset. Folks, this was only three minutes, but it’s one of the best three-minute matches you’ll ever see. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

• Rating: **1/2

BACKSTAGE: Solie with Hart again. Solie says he’s hearing Funk isn’t here. Hart says he’s here and leaves.

Mike Rotunda vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams

More generic theme music here, which could’ve easily been used in every 80s porn out there on the shelves. Williams military presses Rotunda five times to get things started. Rotunda gains control and takes it outside while Bill Apter lingers in the background. Crowd now chanting “Syracuse sucks.” Nice rest hold action from Rotunda until Williams reverses and gets a near fall. Rotunda goes back to the headlock AND MY GOODNESS DO THESE FANS HATE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

Tommy Young reinforces the belief that he’s blind as a bat as Rotunda uses the ropes for leverage for what feels like an hour. They work to the corner and I’m fairly certain that both men nearly get nailed in the head by one of the cameras. This company, man. Rotunda goes up top but that was a bad idea, with Williams slinging him off. Corner punches from Williams, and then he misses in the corner.

Rotunda comes running but Williams drops to the mat and Rotunda flies outside. Back inside where Rotunda counters the slam but Williams rolls on top for the pin at 7:04. Another hard-worked match with plenty of heat.

• Rating: **

BACKSTAGE: Solie with Lex Luger. He calls himself the show piece and that he is on a platform by himself.

Tommy Rich vs. (c) Lex Luger – NWA United States Title

It should be obvious at this point how great heel Luger was in 1989. His mannerisms are just perfect. He complains early about Rich grabbing his hair. Rich with all the offense as Luger retreats into the corner. Eventually Luger hits the shoulder block and WE’VE GOT FLEXING BOOB MUSCLES. Fun sequence follows as Rich works to the arm bar. Power moves from Luger but Rich hits a flying cross body for a two count.

Back to the arm bar but Luger gets offense momentarily. Rich then goes to the school boy for two before a small package for two. Arm bar locked back on, with JR telling us that Mike Tyson and Don King are watching this show. I highly doubt it. Luger back in control and hits a power slam for a near fall. The champ goes at the lower back and gets another two count.

Rich gets thrown to the apron and he monkey flips over for a two. Luger then goes for the clothesline but goes flying over the top to the outside. Rich then tries to suplex Luger back into the ring, which leads to him DROPPING LUGER ON HIS HEAD. Holy shit that nearly decapitated the man. Luger falls on him for a near fall, and I’d be willing to bet that Luger is concussed. Another slam from Luger but Rich gets the shoulder up again. Luger calls for the rack and Rich goes for the reversal, except that Luger pushes him away.

Luger sits Rich on the top rope and luckily doesn’t drop him on his head as he delivers the superplex. And Rich kicks out of that too. Luger flies off the top and Rich moves out of the way at the last second. Rich with more offense and then drops the right hand off the top for two and a half. Thesz press from Rich but Luger gets his foot on the ropes at two.

Action goes outside and Rich hits his hand on the rail, which Cornette plays up. Rich then locks the sleeper on Luger on the apron but the champ turns it into a hangman and gets the pin at 10:36. I did not expect this match to be this good. Aside from Luger nearly getting a concussion, this was a ton of fun.

• Rating: ***3/4

BACKSTAGE: Solie is with Hart for a third time. Hart reveals a doctor’s letter and says that Funk is here. We go to a video of Funk in the hospital with his right arm in the cast. This was done to play up Flair beating the holy hell out of Funk with his own branding iron. Funk promises to beat the shit out of Flair.

BACKSTAGE: Solie with Flair and Sting. Flair says he isn’t surprised that Funk is here but that he’s a hurt man. Flair and Sting give each other a super duper high five.

The Great Muta and Dick Slater (w/Gary Hart) vs. Ric Flair and Sting

Crowd is super hot as Sting and Muta start. Sting sends both Muta and Slater reeling early on. Muta back in and Sting goes to work on the arm while JR and Cornette talk about Slater’s arm cast being a weapon. More back and forth, and Sting works back to the arm drag/arm bar combo. Flair gets the tag AND IT’S TIME TO CHOP. Muta takes some brutal chops before he’s able to tag in Slater.

Flair takes things to the corner and chops all over the place to Slater. Flair in control until he goes knocked outside. Muta then with the flying cross body over the top onto Flair, which immediately leads to Sting hitting his own flying cross body over the top on Muta. Here comes Slater and LOOK THE HELL OUT WE’VE GOT A BROUHAHA ON OUR HANDS. Flair and Sting gain the advantage and get back inside while Hart gives instructions to Muta and Slater. JR and Cornette then point out that Hart has Funk’s branding iron in the corner but didn’t have it a few minutes ago.

Good teamwork from Flair and Sting on Slater. Muta eventually gets in and more double-team action from the good guys. Muta manages to go back on offense after an eye rake to Flair. Slater back in and he works on Flair for a while. Tag back to Muta and damn does this dude have some awesome kicks. Flair sent outside where Slater slams his head on the rail. And Flair gets back to try to take advantage with a chop, but Muta does not appreciate that.

Flair finally manages to make the tag to Sting and he quickly gets caught in the wrong corner. He gets out and hits the gorilla press slam on Muta while Flair and Slater destroy each other outside. Tommy Young gets occupied with them as Sting locks Muta in the Scorpion Death Lock in the middle of the ring. Hart then gets in and hits Sting with the LETHAL ROLL OF COINS. Apparently Young can’t see the numerous coins now scattered throughout the ring. Muta goes for the pin but Sting kicks out at two and a half.

Powerbomb from Muta gets another two before Slater hits the boomerang under the bottom rope. Sting falls outside and gets a bodyslam from Slater. Muta drops down and the camera misses him throwing Sting into the steel railing. FLAIR IS PISSED THE FUCK OFF as he sprints around and chops the daylights out of Muta. Slater locks the sleeper on Sting back inside but Sting drops and breaks the hold. Slater goes for a piledriver but Sting flips him and makes the hot tag to Flair.

All four men in the ring where eventually Muta sprays Sting with the yellow mist. That leaves Flair to try to lock in the Figure Four on Muta, which leads to Slater nailing Flair in the head with the cast. Flair now bleeding profusely as Young apparently also got hit by Slater and is now woozy on the outside. Sting regroups but Muta nails him. HERE COMES TERRENCE FUNK. He hits the ring and he puts a PLASTIC BAG over Flair’s head to draw the DQ at 19:16. Holy shit he’s trying to kill the guy. JR’s commentary is fantastic here as Funk ties the bag on Flair’s head.

Meanwhile Muta and Slater hold Sting’s foot and nail it with the branding iron. This was simply awesome from start to finish, and once again, the post-match angle was just incredible.

• Rating: ****1/4

RINGSIDE: We come back from break where Sting and Brian Pillman are hovering over Flair. Apparently Pillman gave Flair mouth-to-mouth to try to help him breathe and now paramedics are working on the champ.

SHOW SUMMARY

This is one of those sneaky good shows that has something for everyone. While the main event and post match angle deserves plenty of attention, Luger/Rich was surprisingly great, and the tag title match was also a lot of fun. Not a bad show at all.

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In this WWF Raw 1/27/97 review, Shawn Michaels addresses all his challengers for the WWF title, Vader and Mankind square off with The Godwinns, and much more.

Let’s jump in!

• Show: Monday Night Raw
• Date: January 27, 1997
• Location: Beaumont, TX
• Raw Rating: 2.2
• Nitro Rating: 3.6

VIDEO: Highlight package looking at the chaos from the previous episode of Raw, which was simply an awesome show built around the main event angle involving Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Vader.

Ahmed Johnson vs. Crush

Before the match, we see a recap of Savio Vega turning on Ahmed during a tag team match against the Nation at Madison Square Garden. Ahmed goes after PG13 before the match, which allows Crush to attack him from behind. Vince McMahon loves him some Ahmed. This is pretty much a power match with both men trying to showcase their strength. Crush takes aim at Ahmed’s kidney, and Farooq peeks out from behind the curtain. After commercial, Crush continues to dominate until Ahmed hits a standing dropkick as Crush flies off the top. Farooq runs down and throws Ahmed into the steel steps with Crush distracting the referee. Then Crush hits the heart punch for the win.

• Blake’s Rating: This was far from thrilling, and Ahmed loses yet again. *1/2

IN THE RING: Shawn Michaels struts out, and Vince asks him about THURSDAY RAW THURSDAY, where Michaels will have a rematch with Sycho Sid. Michaels is confident, so Vince starts asking about the four-way match. Michaels brings up that he’s a dude with attitude, then notes the attitudes of all four men towards him. He’s going to keep the WWF title and that’s that. Well, Vince decides to stir shit up by bringing out Bret. Spoiler: These two don’t like each other. Bret says he’s going to win and face Michaels again, which leads to Vince interrupting and saying Sid may be champion. Then Taker comes out and says he respects Bret, but he’s tired of his whining. Taker also wants the title. And now it’s Austin’s turn, with Jim Ross chasing him with a mic in the aisle. Austin isn’t getting in the ring for an ambush. Genius heel move. Austin runs his mouth and goes to get in the ring but thinks better of it. Then he taunts Vader near the entrance. Another solid segment, and Austin was the biggest star of the group.

British Bulldog (w/Owen Hart and Clarence Mason) vs. Doug Furnas (w/Phil Lafon)

These two teams had an excellent tag match on the previous Raw. The action spills outside in a hurry, and Bulldog decides to pick up the steel steps and throw them on top of Furnas. Once again, that does not equal a DQ in this era of the WWF. However, countouts are still a thing. Back from commercial, and Ahmed is destroying the Nation’s locker room trying to find them. Bulldog controls the majority of the match, and the most entertaining part is Owen calling LaFon a loser on the outside. Furnas reverses the momentum, and Owen decides to get involved. Furnas throws Bulldog into Owen, who has the Slammy. However, Bulldog regroups and reverses a Furnas pin attempt into his own pin for the victory.

• Blake’s Rating: Obviously, not as good as the tag match, but it did a fine job furthering the tension between Owen and Bulldog. **

IN THE RING: After the match, Bulldog is pissed and tries to take the Slammy from Owen. They bicker back and forth with Bulldog angry at Clarence. Owen tries to calm him down, but it’s not happening. Owen’s character work was so good. They eventually shake hands.

VIDEO: Another replay of Vega turning on Ahmed at MSG, and then it’s Shotgun Saturday Night highlights with Todd Pettengill questioning Vega. Then Vega beats down Rocky Maivia, and he’s officially a member of the Nation.

Vader and Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. The Godwinns (w/Hillbilly Jim)

Vince hypes LA FEMME NIKITA coming up after Raw. He also announces that next week, USA Network has allowed the WWF to air the entire Rumble match on Raw. As for the match, they tease dissension between Vader and Mankind, with Bearer serving as the middleman trying to keep them on the same page. Lawler’s jokes are outta control at this point, as he’s got one for everything single thing that Vince says. I suppose that is impressive. We’ve got a BROUHAHA with all four men going at it on the outside. After commercial, order is restored as Vince reveals Ahmed is destroying the backstage area looking for the Nation. Vader on the outside with Henry, and that leads to Mankind “accidentally” hitting Vader with the chair after Henry moves. The referee counts out Vader to give the Godwinns the win.

• Blake’s Rating: Again, more about the angle with Vader and Mankind than the match. *1/2

IN THE PARKING LOT: Ahmed has the 2×4 and he chases after them as the Nation drives off in a limo.

Blake’s Take on WWF Monday Night Raw 1/27/97

• Best Match: British Bulldog vs. Doug Furnas
• Show MVP: Owen Hart
• Overall Rating: 5.0/10
• Thoughts: This certainly didn’t match the awesomeness of the previous Raw, but it still managed to further a lot of the top storylines throughout the show. It’s fun to watch Austin continue his rise to stardom, and there is intrigue with the WWF title situation heading into the Final Four match. Also, Owen was pretty great with his mannerisms towards Bulldog’s frustrations, so he earns the MVP award.

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In this WWF Prime Time Wrestling 1/5/87 review, Bobby Heenan reveals his New Year’s resolutions, Jake Roberts goes one-on-one with Tito Santana, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: WWF Prime Time Wrestling
• Date: January 5, 1987

IN THE STUDIO: Gorilla Monson taunts Bobby Heenan and discusses the featured match, which is Don Muraco vs. Hillbilly Jim. Heenan says 1987 is gonna be a better year for him and groans about Gorilla being too loud.

The Dream Team (w/Johnny Valiant) vs. The Islanders

Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine make up the Dream Team, while Haku and Tama are the Islanders. Gorilla and Lord Alfred Hayes are on commentary for this one at Madison Square Garden, and Johnny V joins them shortly into the match. Gorilla thinks the winner should challenge The British Bulldogs for the Tag Team titles, then Johnny V rants about something. Gorilla calls him a FOUNTAIN OF MISINFORMATION.

Haku and Tama control the early part of the match and we head back to the studio, where Gorilla taunts Heenan again about not having a team in championship contention. Gorilla wants Heenan to write down a new year’s resolution, and that’s our hook for the rest of the show. This thing is all Islanders, and Johnny V is back on commentary pushing a conspiracy. Valentine gains some momentum and that puts the heels in control for a bit.

They work to a hot tag for Haku, and he runs wild on Valentine and Beefcake. Johnnyu V hops on the apron and Tama headbutts him. However, Valentine stradles Tama on the top rope with the referee’s back turned, and that allows Beefcake to score the pin for the win. The fans are throwing trash in the ring because this was the 80s.

IN THE STUDIO: Gorilla says President Jack Tunney is gonna take a hard look at manager interference in 1987. He wants to know what’s on Heenan’s list, but he’s not done yet.

VIDEO: Gorilla throws it to a video hyping Hulk Hogan, which irks Heenan since he thought it was for one of his clients. It’s a 1986 year in review, which features Paul Orndorff’s memorable turn on Hogan in July, then Hogan getting his revenge in August. There’s also highlights from a February match with Randy Savage, and a July match with Beefcake. The crowd pop is INSANE when Beefcake hits Johnny V and Hogan rolls Beefcake up for the win. Just a different level.

IN THE STUDIO: Heenan isn’t impressed with Hogan’s accomplishments last year and thinks the footage doesn’t show enough of Hogan’s flaws.

Tito Santana vs. Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts

This match was taped at The Summit in Houston, and Ken Resnick joins Gorilla commentary. Jake’s heel antics are great as always. He’s incredible working the crowd, while Tito plays the ultimate babyface. Tito hits a Flying Cross Body but Jake manages to get his foot on the ropes. Tito takes the match to the mat, where he locks on the sleeper until a desperation counter from Jake nearly breaks Tito’s jaw. Gorilla and Resnick push how Savage is delaying a potential Intercontinental title defense against Tito.

Back from commercial and a great response from Heenan when asked if he’s into snakes: “I’m not into snakes, but I’ll tell you what I am into. There’s this dancer….” and we head back to the match before he can finish his sentence. This is why Prime Time Wrestling was so great. Jake has Tito in a headlock when we return to the match, and eventually we get a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER with both men hitting the mat.

Jake hits the short-arm clothesline but only gets two after a cocky pinfall attempt. More aggression from Jake and he calls for the DDT, but Tito avoids it. Jake takes it back to the ground with the headlock and uses the ropes for leverage. Tito eventually fights back, so Jake kicks him in the head. Jake goes for the DDT again but Tito back drops him. Tito locks in the Figure Four but Jake reaches for the snake bag as the bell rings for the time limit draw.

After the match, Jake brings out Damian and threatens to go after Tito and referee Dave Hebner.

IN THE STUDIO: Heenan is still working on his list. Gorilla taunts him some more and Heenan wants to know if they’re gonna get along this year. Gorilla taunts him again. Classic! Heenan wants to know why Gorilla didn’t come to his New Year’s party. Back from commercial and Heenan says King Harley Race wants recognition from the fans this year.

King Harley Race (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Sivi Afi

Afi was trained by Peter Maivia, so that’s your trivia note for the episode. We get an inset promo from Junkyard Dog, who makes it clear that he has no king. Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, Bruno Sammartino are on commentary, and they don’t have to say much since Race hits his finisher for the quick win.

IN THE STUDIO: Heenan is pissed that Gorilla left the room for Race’s match. Heenan calls it one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. Gorilla mocks Race’s crown being too small, and that once again leads to Heenan trying to defend him.

BACKSTAGE: Resnick with The Hart Foundation. Resnick questions referee Danny Davis’s actions, and Jim Neidhart says he won’t drink wine until they have the Tag Team titles. Bret Hart says they’re on the heels of the British Bulldogs, who are drinking shanties and listening to WHAM! records in England. Incredible.

VIDEO: Highlights of the biggest title changes in 1986, including Savage winning the Intercontinental title from Tito via shenanigans, and the Bulldogs winning the Tag titles from Valentine and Beefcake at WrestleMania II.

IN THE STUDIO: Heenan points out the illegal way that the Bulldogs won the Tag titles, though he conveniently didn’t see anything illegal about Savage’s win.

VIDEO: Highlights from Captain Lou Albano pinning Johnny V in his WWF retirement match and getting a champagne bath and a cake to the face in the locker room.

IN THE STUDIO: Gorilla asks Heenan what he has accomplished that’s anywhere close to Albano’s achievements. Heenan says Albano is out of professional wrestling and that’s good for him.

Adrian Adonis and The Hart Foundation (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. SD Jones & The US Express

Can always appreciate a Mike Rotunda and Danny Spivey appearance. The babyfaces control things in the early going, and we get an inset promo with Jimmy Hart calling his team the ultimate trifecta. Adonis hits a huge powerslam on Rotunda but misses an elbow drop. Bret and Neidhart use a double team on Rotunda, and we’ve got a BROUHAHA with all six men in the ring. The referee gets distracted, and Adonis locks on the sleeper on Jones for the victory.

IN THE STUDIO: Heenan takes a shot at Ricky Steamboat after the attack from Savage. Heenan then reveals number on his list, and it’s to manage the tag team champs. He’s not sure which combination of his clients though. Back from commercial and he reads number two, and he wants to manage the IC champ, whether it’s King Kong Bundy, Hercules, or someone else.

Hillbilly Jim vs. Don Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji)

Back to MSG, and Muraco is absolutely jacked at this point. Hillbilly humiliates Muraco before the match, and the New York crowd is eating it up. Gorilla and Alfred note that Muraco came to the ring with Roddy Piper’s entrance music, so that feud is in full swing here. They stall for a good several minutes before the match gets started, which includes Fuju losing his and Hillbilly wearing the kilt on his head.

They return to the studio, and Gorilla wants to know what took so long for the match to start. Heenan expresses his love of Fuji’s hat. It’s all Hillbilly until Muraco reverses momentum, and Fuji grabs Hillbilly’s leg. However, Hillbilly picks Muraco up for the bearhug, and that’s when Fuji hits him with the cane for the DQ.

Fuji continues the attack after the match as Muraco holds Hillbilly to the mat.

IN THE STUDIO: Gorilla once again brings up why managers are under the microscope from the WWF rules committee, and Heenan tells Hillbilly that he should dress like a wrestler and not a hick. Heenan’s next resolution is to become the WWF manager of the year again, and Gorilla says he’s never won it. Heenan also wants to make more money than ever, and he wants to manage the world champ. Heenan wants to become commentator of the year as well. Heenan’s phone rings and it’s Miss Betty, and Gorilla makes a joke about him being a married man and not doing those kinds of things.

SHOW SUMMARY

A fun start to 1987, with Gorilla and Heenan showcasing their legendary chemistry. The matches are what they are on this show, but the highlight packages for Hogan and the title picture were a nice setup for the year.

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In this WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 7/28/90 review, The Ultimate Warrior defends the WWF title against Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect and Tito Santana square off for the Intercontinental title, and much more.

Let’s jump in!

• Show: Saturday Night’s Main Event
• Date: July 28, 1990
• Location: Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska

IN THE JUNGLE: Lord Alfred Hayes is in the jungle. Actually, it’s an office with a huge lion’s head staring at him. We head to the arena where Vince McMahon dubs this WWF Wild Kingdom, and we’ve got an 80s graphic to prove it. Vince calls the WWF the wildest kingdom of all, with Jesse Ventura joining him for the rumble in the jungle. Wild, indeed. The Ultimate Warrior -aka the King of the Jungle – will defend the WWF title against Rick Rude, while Demolition defend the Tag Team titles against The Rockers, and Mr. Perfect defends the Intercontinental title against Tito Santana. What a tremendous lineup there. Vince also pushes the return of Hulk Hogan.

BACKSTAGE: Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan play up the jungle theme, with Heenan calling it survival of the fittest. Rude is gonna devour Warrior. Rude calls himself the deadliest predator of all. WILD KINGDOM. Warrior also makes jungle puns and says he’s the ultimate animal.

Blake’s Take: That’s it, I’m officially all in on this themed edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Jokes aside, themed episodes of television have always been a great idea in professional wrestling. I hate themed PPVs (for example, WWE Hell in a Cell, where matches that should’n’t be in a cell are….in a cell), but coming up with stuff like this to make a recurring television show feel different is a smart move. Also, bring back the wrestler green screen graphics!

Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. (c) The Ultimate Warrior – WWF Title

Rude attacks Warrior (or is it Animal?) from behind before the bell rings. That doesn’t last as Warrior repeatedly rams his head into the turnbuckle. Warrior takes it to Rude and hits an atomic drop and clothesline to send him to the outside. DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER to Rude and Heenan. It’s all Warrior as he hits a clothesline in the ring. Warrior goes up top and wallops Rude in the face. Rude changes the tide by moving out of the way of the Warrior splash, with Warrior rolling to the outside.

Meanwhile, Rude grabs the belt, and Heenan distracts referee Joey Marella. Rude clocks Warrior in the face with the title, then goes back out to break the count. Rude back up top, but Warrior hits him in the midsection on the way down. Atomic drop from Warrior, but Rude reverses again with a knee to the face and clothesline. Rude goes to work on Warrior’s back before trying to go for the bodyslam. However, Warrior blocks it and hits a slam of his own. But Rude reverses a second slam attempt into a sleeper. Just when you think Warrior is done for, he keeps his leg up on the third drop and fights back.

Rude quickly gets back in control and goes for the Rude Awakening, but Warrior gets out. Rude hits his signature move and Warrior kicks out. Vince loses his mind at this development. Triple clothesline from Warrior, who is running wild on Rude. Warrior hits the splash, but Heenan grabs him by the head to break up the count. Vince and Jesse argue about whether Marella saw it as Warrior goes after Heenan in the aisle. Warrior tries to press Rude back in the ring, but Heenan hits him from behind. Warrior corners Heenan in the ring, and Marella counts out Rude. Or it may have been a DQ on Heenan. Either way, Warrior celebrates since he’s still the champ.

Blake’s Take: It was obvious there wouldn’t be a clean finish in this match since the two are set to clash at Summerslam for the title, which begs the question: Why did they do this match? Perhaps it was to give them more ring time together, though I’d argue that Rude was Warrior’s greatest opponent in terms of chemistry. Still, this was solid enough to further the storyline ahead of their showdown at Summerslam.

IN THE JUNGLE: Hayes is back in the jungle lodge, and Gene Okerlund is with him. They’re dressed for a safari as Gene makes a Pete Rose joke.

VIDEO: A video package looking at Earthquake SQUASHING Hogan on the Brother Love Show. Yes, this had the dark “Real American” theme and all to push the potential demise of Hulkamania. The camera panning to a crying kid in the crowd holding a Hogan doll was top-notch presentation work. There’s also the locker door shutting with Hogan’s gear in it! He’s done, brother.

IN THE RING: Vince welcomes Hogan, and Vince playing with his ear to signify the loudness of the crowd is always hilarious. Hogan thanks the Hulkamaniacs for writing letters to him, and he says he’s gonna personally answer each one of those letters. DID HE? DID HE REALLY? Hogan talks about being “Pearl Harbored” by Earthquake, but thanks to the prayers and vitamins, he’s back. Vince asks about Dino Bravo being in Earthquake’s corner, but Hogan reveals he’ll have Tugboat in his corner. There are some audible boos at this point, though they’d pick up the following year. Here comes Earthquake and Bravo with Jimmy Hart telling into the megaphone. TUGBOAT MAKES THE SAVE. Jesse is great on commentary here with his hatred of Hogan.

VIDEO: Alfred and Gene are actually in the jungle this time around, with Gene being scolded for taking a piss. Koko B. Ware flies in out of nowhere, then leaves. Gene trips and he’s face to face with a snake. Luckily, Jake Roberts is shirtless and wearing his trunks in the middle of said jungle, so he wrangles the snake. Then it’s onto Alfred and Gene crossing the train tracks, and here come the Bushwhackers bushwhacking their way down the track. A stellar performance by all parties involved.

The Rockers vs. (c) Demolition – Tag Team Titles

Demolition is using Freebird rules at this point, so it’s gonna be Smash and Crush doing the work in this one. Vince and Jesse argue about whether Ax should be ringside. Smash goes at Marty Jannetty right off the bat, but a flurry of offense from Jannetty sends Demolition retreating. A pair of head scissors and dropkicks from Jannetty and Shawn Michaels sends Demolition reeling again. The good guys continue to showcase their athletic offense, but Crush puts a stop to that. But the Rockers do their thing again to get back on offense.

Jannetty flips over Crush for a near fall, and now Ax gets involved with a huge clothesline on Jannetty on the outside with the referee’s back turned. Demolition takes control on Jannetty, with Crush coming off the top with a shot to Jannetty’s back. Then it’s a backbreaker to Jannetty. More double team offense from Smash and Crush, and Smash locks on the bearhug. Jannetty tries to fight out of it, but Smash tags in Crush to continue the beatdown.

Jannetty finally makes the hot tag to Michaels, and he’s dropkicking everyone in sight. The crowd is losing it as the Rockers both go up top to try to finish off Smash, but Crush breaks up the count. Michaels has Smash rolled up, but Ax wallops him with the referee occupied with Jannetty and Crush. Ax proceeds to cover Michaels with his head tucked, and Demolition scores the victory via shenanigans to retain the titles.

IN THE RING: Here come The Hart Foundation and The Legion of Doom. They’re protesting the finish, but Marella still awards the match to Demolition.

Blake’s Take: While I wouldn’t put this in the SNME classic territory of the Rockers and Brain Busters from 1989, it’s still a good showcase for two of the top tag teams of the era. The Rockers really did stand out with their unique offense, and Demolition was Demolition. (Recommended)

IN THE JUNGLE: Mean Gene is getting bitten by mosquitos, including a bite right to the ass cheek. Gene starts acting like he’s contracted a disease, so Alfred uses his knowledge to save him. Tremendous.

BACKSTAGE: Sean Mooney with Mr. Perfect and Bobby Heenan. They take aim at Tito Santana, with Mr. Perfect calling himself the perfect animal.

Tito Santana vs. (c) Mr. Perfect (w/Bobby Heenan) – Intercontinental Title

Jesse calling Tito matches is always a treat. Tito comes out with a series of offense to get the crowd on their feet, but Perfect reverses the momentum. Heenan yells that he doesn’t have to beat Tito, but Tito has to beat him. It’s a solid point. Perfect with some cheap tactics with Heenan distracting the referee, but Tito reverses the tide. Somehow the referee gets in the middle of the action and goes down with a broken ankle or something.

Tito locks in the Figure Four and he thinks he has it won. He tries to get the referee on his feet, then hits the flying forearm to go for the pin. The referee hobbles over, but Perfect kicks out at two and three quarters. That was close. Tito off the top with another flying forearm, and Perfect kicks out again in dramatic fashion after a slight delay from the referee. The crowd is EATING THIS UP. Tito calls for another referee and we head to commercial with Vince hyping that this thing will continue.

Perfect recovers and hits a cheap shot, but Tito hits a cross body for yet another near fall. Perfect back on the attack and they trade punches until Perfect hits a thrust kick to Tito’s face. Chops and punches from Perfect, then Tito does the same with Perfect doing the trademark flip over the top in the corner. Tito throws Perfect across the ring, and he racks himself on the post trying to get out of the ring. A great spot there. Tito with a big clothesline and the crowd thinks it’s over, but Perfect kicks out again. Small package from Tito, but Perfect reverses it at two into his own pin to retain the title.

Blake’s Take: What an excellent match. These two worked this thing to perfection (pun intended) with Tito putting on a babyface masterclass and Perfect playing off of him with the right heel moves. I’d have to think this is one of the best matches in Saturday Night’s Main Event history (maybe THE best match), and it’s easily one of the matches of the year in the WWF. (Must-See)

BACKSTAGE: Jesse with Earthquake, Bravo, and Jimmy Hart. Earthquake is gonna send Hogan to the hospital, and Bravo is gonna keep Tugboat in line.

IN THE JUNGLE: Now it’s Jimmy Snuka running through the jungle. Alfred and Gene search for food before running into Akeem and Slick. My goodness would I have loved to be there for the outtakes for these segments. Gene falls into the piranha-infested waters and apparently is being eaten. But Alfred saves him yet again.

Kerry Von Erich vs. Buddy Rose

This is the WWF debut for The Texas Tornado. He slams Rose a few times in the early going and gives him a ride into the corner. Dropkick from Von Erich for a two count, then Rose finds himself locked in the ropes. Rose falls to the outside, but gets back inside and goes up top. That wasn’t a good idea, as Von Erich throws him off the top and hits his finisher for the victory.

Blake’s Take: A simple squash match to highlight Von Erich’s skills.

BACKSTAGE: Jesse with Rude and Heenan. They reveal the cage match challenge for Summerslam, with Rude saying he’ll be the new WWF Champion.

BACKSTAGE: Mooney with Warrior. He says he’ll leave Summerslam as the champion and the ultimate animal.

IN THE JUNGLE: Alfred and Gene are back in the lodge with a monkey. Because of course they are.

BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT

Recommended Matches: Demolition vs. The Rockers, Tito Santana vs. Mr. Perfect

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Thoughts: These Saturday Night Main Event shows usually hit the right nostalgia notes, and this edition was no different. However, what was different about this episode was the silly Wild Kingdom theme and a match of the year candidate in Tito vs. Perfect. Combine those two with a solid tag match, a perfectly acceptable WWF title match, and the Hogan/Earthquake stuff, and it’s an easy watch for 80s wrestling fans.

For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

This has to be one of the hottest shows in the history of wrestling, and the Clash of the Champions VII review will showcase exactly what I mean by that.

There’s plenty of excitement about the main event, but will the rest of the card deliver?

Let’s take a look at Blake’s Clash of the Champions VII review.

Date: June 14, 1989

Location: Fitz-Epps Fitness Center in Fort Bragg, NC

RINGSIDE: Jim Ross and Bob Caudle welcome us to the military base at Fort Bragg as the crowd goes insane. We get the Star-Spangled Banner to kick things off.

VIDEO: We see the Steiner Brothers, Missy Hyatt, Ranger Ross, and others going through military training earlier in the day.

The Dynamic Dudes vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (w/Terry Gordy) – NWA World Tag Title Tournament Semifinals

The fans pelt the ring with trash before the match even starts. If you look at everyone’s shirts, it appears that it’s approximately 437 degrees in the building. It’s all Johnny and Shane early until Garvin takes control and tags in Hayes. JR reminds us that there’s plenty of exciting action to come, including the DEBUT OF THE DING DONGS. If you want to scroll ahead to that masterpiece, I completely understand.

Johnny gets a near fall on Hayes but then misses a flying cross body. Garvin back in and he gets some offense but Hayes throws Johnny into the railing outside. Trash still flying at the bad guys. We work to the hot take to Shane who delivers the DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Near fall on Garvin and we’ve got a brouhaha in the ring.

The Dudes dropkick Hayes outside and then work on Garvin. Shane with a school boy but Hayes sneaks in and hits the DDT, which allows Garvin to score the pain at 7:14. Lots of heat for this one.

• Rating: **

Ranger Ross vs. The Terrorist

This is as 1989 as it gets. Something tells me things are not in the Terrorist’s favor here. Ranger completely decimates the Terrorist and hits the Combat Kick for the win at 1:25.

• Rating: U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!

VIDEO: We get a Road Warriors hype video with “Iron Man” as the song of choice.

IN THE RING: JR is drenched in sweat as he welcomes Great Muta and Gary Hart. There are also two jobbers in the ring, and my goodness is everyone sweating profusely. Hart makes a few jabs and then Eddie Gilbert hits the ring to try to get revenge on Muta, but the GREAT BALL OF FIRE hits one of the jobbers in the face. This segment is worth watching solely for the sweat.

The Ding Dongs vs. Cougar Jay and George South

Holy shit do the people hate these ding dongs. The fans are booing these guys out of the building. The gimmick is that one of the ding dongs has a bell in the corner while the other is wrestling. The bell is ringing like crazy, and I’ve never been a bigger Cougar Jay and George South fan than I am at this moment. AND THEN THE BELL BREAKS IN HALF. Biggest pop of the decade for that.

Ding or Dong nearly falls off the top rope before they hit their finisher for the win at 3:39. It’s usually not a good sign when JR says this when the match is over: “Oh that was horrible.”

• Rating: DUD

The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) vs. The Samoan Sweat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) – NWA World Tag Title Tournament Semifinals

Before the match a fan hits the ring and the military members remove him before he can get his ass kicked. Eaton did give him a nice little shove on the head on the way out. Cornette charges at Paul E to start the match and it may legitimately be hot enough to cook a steak on the ring mat. Eaton and Lane kicking ass in the early going until Lane catches a kick to the face.

Samoans dominating, and Fatu gives Eaton a suplex on the outside. Paul E smiling while on his phone, which hopefully means that he’s located an air conditioner. Back inside and Fatu missed a spear in the corner. That allows the hot tag to Lane. He hits the side Russian leg sweep for a two count. All four men going at it and Nick Patrick goes down. AND HERE COME THE ROAD WARRIORS. They destroy the Samoans, and Lane gets the pin at 6:00. Holy hell did the crowd love them some Road Warriors.

• Rating: **1/2

RINGSIDE: JR shows us the video of Terry Funk obliterating Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions VI. Someone please get JR some water. We go to another video previewing the TRIPLE CROWN KING OF THE HILL DOUBLE RING BATTLE ROYALE. Say that five times fast, folks.

Terry Gordy vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams

My goodness is this a hoss fight or what? Williams hits the ring immediately and we’ve got a brawl on our hands. Hard punches from each man as Williams takes control and knocks Gordy to the mat. The majority of the audience has lost their shirts at this point, and I can’t blame them.

We work to Gordy locking in the headlock as ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta looks on in what can only be described as a dehydrated state. Williams back on offense as a slam to Gordy sends the latter retreating to the outside. Back inside and Williams hits the high cross body for a two count. Dropkick to Gordy and then things escalate to the aisle where they keep fighting. Gordy keeps walking to the back and Williams goes after him to gives us the double countout at 6:26.

The crowd chants “bullshit.” OR WERE THEY CHANTING “DING DONGS!” Perhaps we’ll never know.

• Rating: *

Norman the Lunatic (w/Teddy Long) vs. Mike Justice

Fun fact: Justice is the jobber that didn’t get the great ball of fire in his eye from Gilbert’s earlier mishap. Unfortunately his jobber friend wasn’t so lucky. This match is over as soon as it starts as Norman hits a running splash in the corner for the victory at :47. The mental ward employees come out with the gurney afterwards to take Norman back home. They wheel him out of the place.

• Rating: 1/2*

VIDEO: Another look at the upcoming battle royal at Great American Bash.

RINGSIDE: Freebirds out here talking to JR. Garvin says no one can beat them. Gordy talks about Williams before JR sends it to a video hyping Brian Pillman.

The Varsity Club vs. The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatt)

Scott with a hot start until Rotunda comes in and that leads to all four men going at it. Scott hits a nice slam to Sullivan and the latter makes the tag to Rotunda. The crowd wants Rick, so Scott tags him in. All Steiners at this point. We get some technical action from Rick and Rotunda, but Rotunda gets the momentum by hitting a back suplex.

Sullivan in and he gets a little offense before we switch to Scott and Rotunda. Double team from Rotunda and Sullivan with Patrick having his back turned. Sullivan absolutely destroys Scott on the outside, and he even tosses the stairs as Scott’s knee. Holy hell. Patrick with his back turned again as Rotunda tags in.

Big dropkick from Rotunda and the Club is back to dissecting Scott. Double arm suplex from Rotunda gets a two as JR puts Scott over like pure gold. HOLY SHIT THEY SHOW SCOTT’S BACK AND THE BRUISE IS MASSIVE. That happened during Sullivan’s attack on the outside. Hot tag to Rick, but it doesn’t do much as Patrick goes to the outside with Rick and Sullivan. Rotunda then suplexes Scott on a chair and Patrick rolls into the ring to count the pin at 8:36. This was entertaining.

• Rating: ***

RINGSIDE: JR with Cornette. He runs down the Freebirds and hypes the upcoming match.

Bill Irwin vs. (c) Sting – NWA TV Title

Irwin goes to work to start things off but my guess is that won’t last long. It doesn’t, as Sting decides he’d like to start whipping some ass. Suplex gets a one count, and WILD BILL IRWIN is back on offense. Sting misses the Stinger Splash, and Irwin catches Sting off the top rope in a fun spot.

Irwin goes to the corner to brag with the bull whip but Sting splashes and rolls him up to retain the title at 3:14.

• Rating: 1/2*

VIDEO: Scott Hall is a man on a mission, and that mission apparently includes taunting alligators. This may be the greatest video package ever created.

VIDEO: A non-sweaty JR is at Flair’s house in Charlotte. JR talks about whether Flair will wrestle again. JR goes inside and shakes Flair’s hand, with the latter wearing a cool combo of a neck brace and a Los Angeles Lakers jacket.

Flair is concerned about not wrestling again and is really selling the Funk attack. JR asks how he feels mentally, and Flair says it’s been the hardest part. JR talks about the NWA waiving the 30-day clause on the champion defending his title. Flair says he’ll announce his decision on July 1 whether he will come back or relinquish the title.

JR asks what Flair would say if Funk was watching. Flair says if his neck could carry his heart, Fun wouldn’t make it out of Fort Bragg. Then he tells Funk not to sleep at night. This was very, very good.

The Fabulous Freebirds (w/Terry Gordy) vs. The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) – NWA World Tag Title Tournament Finals

Before the match, Paul E comes outta nowhere and nails Cornette with a loaded racket. THE DYNAMIC DUDES ARE HERE TO SAVE THE DAY. Actually, they don’t save the day and do nothing but check on Cornette while wearing their neon green hats. They carry Cornette out as the Midnights look flustered in the ring as the match starts.

Lane with arm drags all over the place and a double team leads to a two count. More double team action from the Midnights and another near fall. Garvin and Hayes taunt the crowd which is pretty much shirtless men at this point. Freebirds gain control and Eaton gets sent outside. Hayes on the offensive back inside and Eaton gets throw outside yet again. Eaton then gets sent off the apron face-first into the steel rail.

Freebirds with all the momentum and Garvin works to a chin lock on Eaton in the ring. Finally the hot tag to Lane and he hits a big DDT on Hayes. And now Lane tags back to Eaton and they double team both Freebirds. Gordy steps on the apron but gets knocked down. Another double team on Garvin and only a one count. But then Tommy Young get distracted with corner action, and naturally, Gordy gets in and power bombs Eaton. Gordy hops out and Garvin scores the pin to win the titles at 10:03.

• Rating: **

Ricky Steamboat vs. Terry Funk

The story here is that Steamboat is the No. 1 contender for the title and Funk is the No. 10 contender, so the latter is far away from a title shot despite attacking Flair. IT’S CHOP TIME early as both men exchange some vicious slaps to the chest. Steamboat now slapping the hell out of Funk’s face. Steamboat rocking and rolling with a dropkick that sends Funk retreating.

Back inside and Funk turns things around by hurling Steamboat outside. Steamboat reverses and throws Funk into the rail before sending him back in the ring. Funk back on top as he punches Steamboat repeatedly. Neckbreaker from Funk and that looked painful. Two count for Funk and then Steamboat comes back chopping.

JR continues to put over Steamboat’s ranking being in jeopardy, and then Steamboat sends Funk to the corner and over the top. Steamboat on the top rope and Funk hops on the apron and then walks to the other corner before falling off. Steamboat flies off the top and delivers the chop to the head. And now Steamboat picks Funk up and walks around the entire outside of the ring before slamming him. Excellent spot.

Steamboat completely dominating as he sends Funk over the top rope yet again. Funk finally gets some offense in as he goes back to punches and chops. Funk then delivers the piledriver, but Steamboat kicks out at two. Then we get the loudest chop ever from Steamboat straight to the chest of Funk. This leads to a corner spot where Nick Patrick gets nailed and he’s out of commission.

We go to the outside and there’s another piledriver on Steamboat. Funk gets back in and wakes Patrick up. Somehow Steamboat gets back to the apron and Funk suplexes him into the ring. Funk pulls Patrick over for the count and Steamboat kicks out again at two. This pisses Funk the hell off as he nails Steamboat with punches.

Funk dives off the top but Steamboat counters with the knees. Irish whip and Steamboat punches Funk in the abdomen. Another Irish whip and a chop to the ab. Steamboat up top and chops Funk on top of the noggin. Funk falls on the announce table and picks up a mic and hammers Steamboat with it, which causes the DQ at 14:00.

Funk goes to continue the beatdown but HERE COMES LEX LUGER to send Funk reeling. He calls for a mic and says there’s been talk of him having too big of an ego. Luger then picks up Steamboat AND CLEANS HIS CLOCK. Luger then grabs a chair and nails Steamboat in the back before throwing him in the Torture Rack. Sting flies in to make the save as Luger leaves. This entire sequence was just fantastic, and it’s a situation where the match isn’t hurt by the DQ finish since it made the most sense.

• Rating: ****1/4

SHOW SUMMARY

The main event and the Flair interview were the best things on the show, but other reasons to watch include Ranger Ross obliterating a terrorist, Scott Steiner’s massive bruise, and of course, the DING FUCKING DONGS.

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In this Mid-South Wrestling 2/13/82 review, The Junkyard Dog defends the Louisiana Heavyweight title against Bob Roop, The Samoans are in action, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: Mid-South Wrestling
• Date: February 13, 1982

RINGSIDE: Boyd Pierce is joined by Skandor Akbar, who was the center of controversy on the previous week’s must-see episode (REVIEW). Boyd basically calls him a gangster, and Akbar responds with accusations of Ernie Ladd being responsible for The Iron Sheik being sent back to Iran.

VIDEO: Highlights of Akbar swooping in to take The Samoans from Ladd. As I said in the review, a terrific angle. Back ringside, and Boyd wants to know the identity of the mystery man who attacked Ladd, but Akbar won’t reveal who it is. Boyd tells him off and they throw to another video with The Samoans winning the tag titles via shenanigans. Akbar says he has his army in place, and Boyd goes off again.

The Samoans (w/Skandor Akbar) vs. Rick Ferrara and Bill Ash

This is a non-title match, but let me just say how fantastic that start was to the show. It was a hot angle, and they replayed it for anyone who may have missed it. Then, they transition to the Samoans in action. Great, old school storytelling. Boyd is still pissed about The Junkyard Dog and Mike George being injured by the Samoans. Dominant performance from the tag champs to secure another win. (SQUASH)

Paul Orndorff vs. Brian Blair

If you missed last week’s episode, Orndorff had a tremendous match with Mr. Olympia (***1/2). Blair goes the technical route early on, and he uses a roll-up for a two count. More back and forth a few near falls, as they both go to the mat for their offense. Blair nearly gets another roll-up pin but Orndorff kicks out.

Boyd is STUNNED that Orndorff is using legal maneuvers in this match. How can you not love Boyd? A clothesline sends both over the top, but it’s Orndorff who regroups and comes off the top with the knee to Blair to score the win. (**1/2)

Bob Roop vs. (c) The Junkyard Dog – Louisiana Heavyweight Title

Boyd points out the trend of two title changes in consecutive weeks (Mr. Olympia winning the Mississippi title and the Samoans winning the tag titles), which is a nice touch. JYD uses his power for some emphatic offense and that sends Roop retreating to the outside.

The momentum changes when Roop hits a running knee to JYD’s face, then they work to Roop’s leg getting tangled in the ropes. A rare mid-match commercial and we come back to Boyd revealing that the match ended during the break. But since he’s a generous man, he’s gonna show us what happened.

Orndorff comes down to help Roop, then he goes to hit JYD but he ducks and Orndorff clocks Roop. JYD throws Orndorff onto Roop and he’s not done yet because he throws Bob Orton Jr. onto Orndorff on the outside. JYD then pins Roop for the victory. I like the development of having a match end during commercial, as it adds the thought that you can’t turn the channel or you may miss something. (**)

Ed Wiskowski and Bob Orton Jr. vs. Ted DiBiase and Mr. Olympia

Love this group of talent. I’d be fine with a future Olympia vs. Wiskowski match, which I assume we’ll get at some point. Boyd pushes that the winner could get a tag title shot soon. They build up to Olympia getting a hot tag, but the referee doesn’t see it so he’s sent back out.

Orton uses underhanded tactics to regain the advantage, but Olympia turns the tide. We’ve got a BROUHAHA now with all four in, and Orton is tossed as DiBiase pins Wiskowski for the win. (**)

Ron Cheatham vs. Frank Monte

Another standby match, so I think you know what’s coming here, folks. Give Frank Monte a win! Monte works on Cheatham for a bit, then Cheatham takes it to the mat for a few technical exchanges. Monte gets several near falls but that’ll do it as the bell rings for the time limit draw.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON MID-SOUTH WRESTLING 2/13/82

Overall Rating: 7.0/10

Thoughts: Entertaining episode as usual with a variety of engaging storylines. I loved the opening sequence with Akbar pushing his alliance with the Samoans, and there several solid matches on the card with lots of star power on display.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/6/86 review, it’s the debut edition of the show with Cowboy Bob Orton explaining his split with Roddy Piper, Jake Roberts and Randy Savage forming an alliance, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: WWF Wrestling Challenge
• Date: September 6, 1986

RINGSIDE: Gorilla Monsoon welcomes us to the debut episode, with Ernie Ladd and Johnny Valiant joining him.

Mike Sharpe and Don Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. Mike Rotundo and Danny Spivey

Ladd on commentary is always my jam, so our first venture into Wrestling Challenge should be fun. We get an inset promo early in the match from Superstar Billy Graham, who hypes his big comeback. The action breaks down with all four men in the ring, and Spivey helps Rotundo reverse Sharpe’s pin attempt into his own pin for the win. (*)

VIDEO: It’s the Wrestlers’ Rebuttal segment of the week, and Randy Savage is PISSED about Elizabeth getting cheers. Macho wants the cheers! Old segments like this are so simple but effective at developing characters.

Adrian Adonis (w/Cowboy Bob Orton and Jimmy Hart) vs. Tommy Sharp

I don’t like ‘ol Tom Sharp’s chances in this one. As you would expect, the heels play the number game as Hart distracts the referee while Orton comes in for the double team on Sharp. That allows Adonis to come off the top and score the easy win. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Ken Resnick with Orton. He says Adonis and Hart offered him more than Roddy Piper. Again, such a simple way to push the reason why Orton decided to leave Piper and join Adonis and Hart.

Bob Bradley vs. Koko B. Ware

Valiant jokes that Koko’s name reminds him of a breakfast cereal. I mean, the connection makes sense. Koko’s inset promo is all energy, and one could even say it’s high energy. And since this was the mid-80s, Valiant proclaims the female referee should be home doing the dishes. Of course he said that. Koko does several high-flying moves and notches the victory. (SQUASH)

BACKSTAGE: Resnick with Hart. He gives his side of the story on bringing in Orton.

Troy Martin vs. Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan)

Orndorff comes out to Hulk Hogan’s music in a great heel move. For the wrestling trivia buffs out there, Martin is the future Shane Douglas. Inset promo from Honky Tonk Man, who isn’t happy with Orndorff. I’m sure there’s a backstory to Honky playing a babyface, but I have no idea what it is. Orndorff destroys Martin on the outside, then brings him back in and hits the piledriver for the win. (SQUASH)

VIDEO: The Snake Pit with Jake Roberts features Kamala. This was such an 80s presentation, but I absolutely love it. Short segment with the Wizard hyping Kamala’s uniqueness.

VIDEO: And now it’s the coronation of King Harley Race. All the heels are gathered around the throne, with Heenan reading off of a scroll. Vince McMahon is losing it on commentary at this whole display, especially when Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy carry Race away.

VIDEO: We get a random replay from Superstars of The Machines coming out for a match.

The Moondogs vs. The British Bulldogs (w/Captain Lou Albano)

Ladd pushes the importance of a win for The Moondogs in their quest for the tag titles. It’s the little things. Valiant is still pissed at the Bulldogs beating The Dream Team at WrestleMania 2 (review). DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER makes an appearance in this match. All four men get involved, and it’s Bulldog diving off the top with the flying cross body to earn the pin for the win. (*1/2)

BACKSTAGE: Resnick with Jake Roberts. His white jacket is full-on Don Johnson. Jake addresses the critics who want the DDT banned. In comes Savage, and these two on the same page is a dangerous thing. What a duo.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF WRESTLING CHALLENGE 9/6/86

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Thoughts: An entertaining trip down memory lane with this inaugural edition of Wrestling Challenge. The character development was just on another level in this era of wrestling, and that’s what I love most about these 80s WWF shows. A fun watch for old school wrestling fans.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat’s first two matches were five-star classics. Will we get a third in the WrestleWar 1989 review?

Hint: You probably already know the answer to that.

Let’s jump into Blake’s WrestleWar 1989 review.

• Date: May 7, 1989
• Location: Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN

IN THE RING: The Oak Ridge Boys sing the national anthem. It’s Nashville. You gotta have a popular music group in the house.

Doug Gilbert vs. The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart)

Well this was advertised as Muta vs. Junkyard Dog but that didn’t happen. Muta kicks him immediately and Gilbert is about to get the beating of a lifetime. But wait! Gilbert hits multiple clotheslines to get some momentum and this Tennessee native might just have a shot here. Never mind. Muta rakes the eyes and delivers the running elbow drop.

Gilbert tries to find more offense but Muta regains control. He goes up top for the moonsault but Gilbert moves out of the way and Muta still lands on his feet. Eddie Gilbert is now at ringside. Muta flies over the top onto Doug. Back inside and Muta hits the moonsault to win it at 3:16. STONE COLD, STONE COLD. Muta was awesome as usual.

• Rating: **

BACKSTAGE: Lance Russell with Ric Flair. He’s got the beautiful blue robe here. He calls Steamboat the greatest wrestler in the world but says to be the man, he’s gotta beat the man.

Butch Reed vs. Ranger Ross

Ross gains the advantage but Reed takes over with power moves. HERE COMES ROGUE TEDDY LONG. JR talks about how he was fired after he screwed over the Road Warriors at Clash of the Champions VI. Teddy stands around the ring surveying the talent.

My goodness this match is rough. Hard to believe Reed has fallen this far. Reed goes up top to hit the shoulder block for the win at 6:58. Dreadful.

• Rating: 1/2*

BACKSTAGE: Lance with Lex Luger. He doesn’t like how Michael Hayes has been running his mouth. That’s about it.

Dick Murdoch vs. Bob Orton (w/Gary Hart) – Bullrope Match

WHY, WHY, WHY? Who decided this was a good idea? The Bullrope match concept is generally terrible anyways. They fight for a bit and then there’s noticeable editing on the WWE Network. What I saw of it was terrible.

• Rating: DUD

The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) vs. The Dynamic Dudes

Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas carrying surfboards and sporting blonde mullets is truly a sight to see. Johnny with the momentum early as he’s slamming everyone in sight. Shane gets in and makes the Samoans look like idiots. Samu and Fatu do not like that and start beating the shit out of Johnny. PEOPLE POWER.

Double team from the Samoans keeps their momentum going. Samu delivers a hell of a chop to Johnny in the corner. Johnny pretty much getting destroyed at this point. That lasts for a good while and even includes Samu slobbering all over Johnny. Paul E grabs the mic and tells Johnny he’s as useless as a woman from Nashville.

Finally we get the hot tag and Shane gives the dudes some confidence. Johnny hits a dropkick off the top, which allows Shane to cover for the upset win at 11:02. Surprisingly decent.

Rating: **

BACKSTAGE: Lance talks with Lou Thesz, Pat O’Connor, and Terry Funk. They’re the judges for tonight’s title match.

Michael PS Hayes (w/Hiro Matsuda) vs. (c) Lex Luger – NWA US Title

These two were tag partners until Hayes turned on him for some reason. Cross body from Hayes early gets a one count. Hayes regroups on the outside after some offense from Luger. They exchange punches in the ring and Luger slams Hayes. Luger in control now and he locks on the armbar.

Hayes eventually fights out and goes for the sunset flip, but we’re back to the armbar. Out again but Luger hits the backbreaker and gets a two count. Hayes throws the chops in the corner and then hits a clothesline. No sell from Luger has he picks him up and throws him into the corner. Punches in the corner from Luger but then he misses a flying cross body and goes flying over the top.

Hayes goes to work on the outside and throws Luger into the post. Hayes gets a two count back in the ring and he locks on the chinlock. Bulldog from Hayes gets another two count. Matsuda gets involved by throwing Luger into the rail while referee Nick Patrick is distracted by Hayes. Back to the chinlock. Luger throws Hayes across the ring and has the momentum. Hip toss to Hayes and then Luger hits a big clothesline for a two.

Military press from Luger and then another military press. Nashville crowd eating this with a spoon. A THIRD MILITARY PRESS. He goes for the Torture Rack but Hayes counters into a DDT. Ref bump and you know where this is headed. Terry Gordy comes out and pushes Hayes on top of Luger and we’ve got a major upset at 16:06. Hayes wins the title. Good heat and back and forth action. Much better than I thought it would be.

• Rating: **1/2

The Iron Sheik (w/Rip Morgan) vs. (c) Sting – NWA TV Title

SHEIKY BABY IS HERE. Sheik nails Sting with the flag pole before the match even starts. Sting takes control and hits the Stinger Splash. Then he locks on the Scorpion Death Lock and damn it Sheik taps at 2:12.

• Rating: 1/2* for the match, ***** for the SHEIKY BABY

Ric Flair vs. (c) Ricky Steamboat – NWA World Heavyweight Title

Flair comes out with 40 women standing in the aisle. 40! Just another weekend for the Nature Boy. Meanwhile, Steamboat comes out with his son riding a fucking pony. Perhaps the greatest combination of entrances ever. So odd to have this match go on here, as we’ve still got the two tag title matches to come. BUT HERE WE GO.

Shoulder block from Flair to start the match but Steamboat counters with a hip toss. THE CHOPS ARE BACK. Like seriously, there’s never been a chopping show quite like this. Not even when Yamaguchi Son choppy choppied Val Venis’ pee pee. Steamboat gets pissed the hell off and he comes back with perhaps the hardest chops of this entire three-match series. He then sends Flair reeling to the outside.

Armbar from Steamboat as he drops a few knees into the shoulder. Arm drag from Steamboat and Flair isn’t liking this one bit. Flair reverses, but Steamboat reverses back to the hammerlock. Half-nelson time from the Dragon. Flair brings the chops but Steamboat once again gets back to the hammerlock. Forearms from Flair and then guess what? CHOPS. Flair throws them, then Steamboat throws them even harder. That leads to a Flair flop as we see Thesz taking notes at the judges’ table.

Flair picks up Steamboat and puts him on top. Steamboat flies off but misses. However, Steamboat hits the dropkick to knock Flair back outside. Flair regroups a bit and then hits a few knees. But Steamboat continues to work on the elbow and shoulder of Flair. Hip toss from Flair but he misses the elbow. Steamboat goes back to work on the arm. Flair delivers shoulders to Steamboat’s abdomen in the corner. JR reads the judges’ cards, and they all give the first 15 minutes to Steamboat.

These chops from Flair are hellacious. So are Steamboat’s chops. Flair throws Steamboat outside but Steamboat immediately gets back in the ring and chops and punches the shit out of Flair. But Flair manages to get back momentum by throwing Steamboat over the top. Some random fan approaches Steamboat to tell him to get up.

IT’S STILL REAL TO THAT FAN DAMNIT. Steamboat gets sent into the first row after a Flair chop. Now we have an exchange of chops as they chase each other outside.

Back inside and the pace has picked up with Steamboat dominating. Flair with the corner flip bump and Steamboat chops him on the apron. Steamboat then goes back to the armbar. Steamboat goes for the flying splash but Flair moves out of the way, which sends Steamboat over the top rope. Flair keeps chopping away and Steamboat is on SPAGHETTI LEGS. Multiple pin attempts from Flair get nothing. Another two count and Flair is frustrated. He drops the elbow but Steamboat kicks out again.

Flair misses a chop but he catches Steamboat and throws him off the ropes. No count as Steamboat’s hand is under the ropes. Back to the outside and Flair suplexes Steamboat on the floor. Counter from Steamboat inside gets a near fall. Back and forth we go as both men go flying over the top in an awesome spot. Flair throws Steamboat back inside, but Steamboat throws Flair off the top. More near falls as the crowd is on their feet. Steamboat sets Flair up on the turnbuckle and hits the superplex.

Steamboat goes for the double chicken wing but Flair uses the ropes to stop it. However, Steamboat hits the flying chop off the top and then goes up top again. But Flair stumbles into the ropes and knocks Steamboat onto the floor. Flair hits the vertical suplex to bring Flair back inside. Now Flair locks in the Figure Four. Steamboat tries to reach the ropes as we hit the 30-minute mark. He finally does to break the hold.

More chops in the corner from Flair but Steamboat fights back. Flair wooooooos but Steamboat hits the kick to the back of the head. Steamboat goes for the slam and Steamboat’s leg buckles as Flair falls on him to score the pin and win the title at 31:37. After the match, they shake hands as Steamboat sells the knee. This was unheard of at this point in time.

You already know what rating this match is getting. Many people have tried to rank the three Flair/Steamboat matches, and I’d argue you could put them in any order and I wouldn’t disagree. Personally, I’d probably go Clash at No. 1, this at No. 2, and Chi-Town Rumble at No. 3.

• Rating: *****

INSIDE THE RING: JR praises Flair and Steamboat. Flair says Steamboat is the greatest champion he’s ever faced. Funk comes into the ring and says he wants to be the first to congratulate Flair. He then says he would have voted for Flair had it gone 60 minutes. Funk says he’d like to be the first to challenge Flair for the title. Flair says he’s honored but Funk’s been in Hollywood while he’s been the world champ. Funk gets upset and asks Flair if he thinks he isn’t good enough. Flair says he’s not in the top 10 when it comes to challengers. Funk says he was just kidding and then clocks Flair right in the dome.

Funk throws him outside and beats the living hell out of him. He throws Flair off the table and then PILEDRIVES HIM ON THE TABLE. Keep in mind this was a 1989 table and that shit didn’t break in half. Funk starts beating Flair with a chair and even threatens to duke it out with a fan. Funk goes over to JR with the mic and basically calls Flair garbage. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. One of the best post-match angles in wrestling history.

The Road Warriors vs. (c) Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams (w/Kevin Sullivan) – NWA World Tag Titles with Nikita Koloff as Special Referee

Koloff immediately throws Sullivan out much to the crowd’s delight. Give the crowd credit for being hot after the awesomeness that came before this. Animal in control early as Hawk and Williams make their way in. Williams misses an elbow drop and Hawk drops the fist. Hawk with a clothesline off the apron.

While Koloff is occupied with Animal, Rotunda throws Hawk into the ringpost outside. Animal back in to gain the momentum and go for a pin, but Williams breaks it up. Hawk goes after him while Rotunda misses Animal and flies over the top. Hawk and Animal hit the Doomsday Device but Dan Spivey comes out and pulls Koloff out of the ring. All hell breaks loose and the Road Warriors are awarded the DQ win at 6:06. This started well but went nowhere thanks to the finish.

• Rating: *

Dan Spivey and Kevin Sullivan vs. (c) Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner (w/Missy Hyatt) – NWA US Tag Team Titles

Brouhaha to start the match but all I care about is Hyatt. Spivey rams Steiner into the ringpost multiple times and that’s not good for the champs. The challengers control the match and they are beating the hell out of both Gilbert and Steiner. JR says there will be a ruling on the world tag title situation before the end of the show.

Spivey throws Gilbert around like a rag doll and then hits a dropkick. Steiner in pain on the apron. Gilbert flips out of a Spivey move and nearly breaks his back on the backdrop. Sullivan gets in and does nothing before tagging back out. Spivey dominating until Gilbert makes the tag but Tommy Young doesn’t see it. Steiner hits the clothesline which allows Gilbert to score the pin at 6:41. After the match, Sullivan and Spivey destroy Gilbert and Steiner. Sullivan goes over and grabs Hyatt but Gilbert runs him off with a chair. A total nothing match.

• Rating: 1/2*

OUTSIDE THE RING: JR informs us that Rotunda and Williams have been stripped of the NWA World Tag Titles. Fantastic.

SHOW SUMMARY

Yet again, Flair and Steamboat put the show on their back and walk 500 miles with it. The Funk/Flair angle after the match was pure gold, and it would lead to yet another incredible sequence of events leading up to the Great American Bash. Everything else on the show was just kind of there.

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In this WWF Raw 1/20/97 review, Gorilla Monsoon addresses the controversial finish to the Royal Rumble match, Stone Cold Steve Austin squares off with The Undertaker in the main event, and much more.

Let’s jump in!

• Show: Monday Night Raw
• Date: January 20, 1997
• Location: Lamar University in Beaumont, TX
• Raw Rating: 2.2
• Nitro Rating: 3.7

VIDEO: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler narrate the highlights from the Royal Rumble, including the controversial finish to the Rumble match.

RINGSIDE: The announce trio is hyping the action, and here comes a pissed off Bret Hart. He gets in the ring and takes aim at Vince, saying that Vince promised him a WWF title shot when he decided to come back to the company. Bret then plays up a conspiracy theory with Vince and Shawn Michaels. Bret wants to know where his opportunity is at says he’s been screwed by Michaels, Austin, Vince, and the WWF. Man, how prophetic that line, minus Austin, would become. Bret then says he quits the WWF and leaves through the crowd. And here comes Austin. His mic isn’t working, so he runs down the mic handler. Austin taunts Bret, then does the same to Gorilla Monsoon, Sycho Sid, and The Undertaker. Vince walks to the back in disgust. This was an AWESOME way to start the show.

Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon vs. Owen Hart and British Bulldog

Before the match, we see the recap of Owen eliminating Bulldog in the Rumble while trying to eliminate someone else. Also, this is a non-title match. Furnas and LaFon were such an underrated duo. These dudes could go in the ring. Furnas showcases that with a hurricanrana on Bulldog that pops the crowd. JR also reveals that Taker has been fined for chokeslamming a referee at the Rumble. Pretty much all Furnas and LaFon in this one until Owen hits a beautiful dropkick off the top to Furnas. Coming up after Raw is LA FEMME NIKITA. What a television program. Back and forth with Furnas getting a near fall, then Owen hits an enziguri for another near fall. The crowd is into it as Owen misses a flying headbutt, and they work to a hot tag to LaFon. He runs wild and gets multiple two counts on Bulldog. The action breaks down from there, and Owen hits LaFon with the Slammy while the ref is occupied with Furnas, which allows Bulldog to hit the Running Powerslam for the win.

• Blake’s Rating: This was great stuff between these four, but that’s not exactly a surprise given the talent involved. ***

VIDEO: Highlight package of Michaels’ entrance at the Rumble. You know the company is behind you when you get a highlight package of your entrance.

Farooq vs. Bart Gunn

Farooq is coming off the match with Ahmed Johnson at the Rumble, and my guess is Ahmed gets involved in some form or fashion. Speaking of getting involved, PG13 use some underhanded tactics on Bart while Lawler informs us Bill Clinton is tuning into Raw. Who am I to doubt the King? Farooq wears down Bart, but Bart mounts a comeback and hits a bulldog. However, more PG13 shenanigans and Bart goes after them, but he gets hammered by Farooq. Crush rolls Bart back in, and Farooq hits the Dominator for the victory.

• Blake’s Rating: Not much to this match, though it was an effective way to push the Nation’s advantage over its opponents. *1/2

IN THE RING: Vince is out with Gorilla, who is not happy with Bret leaving. Gorilla says Austin did technically win the Rumble, but he’s no longer guaranteed a title shot at WrestleMania. And then comes the announcement of Austin vs. Taker vs. Vader vs. Bret in a four-way No DQ elimination match, with the winner set to challenge for the WWF title at WrestleMania. Austin comes out pissed and says Bret quit. Then he says there’s no instant replay in the WWF before calling Gorilla a jackass. The fans are loving Austin, who says he’ll win the match and beat up Gorilla afterward. Austin gets in Vince’s face, and BRET IS BACK and accepts the match. Wild pull-apart brawl in the aisle as Bret throws Austin into the steel steps as they go to commercial. Back from commercial and they’re still jawing at each other as Taker comes out and brawls with Bret. Then Austin jumps Taker from behind and now these two are brawling. This was just tremendous.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker

The crowd is going nuts as the match starts and these two just go right at each other. Taker takes control early, but Austin reverses the momentum and starts to wear him down. Lawler leaves commentary and yells for Austin to go after Taker’s ribs. However, Taker mule kicks Austin right in the balls, but then Austin hits him with the Stunner. Meanwhile, the camera cuts backstage, where superstars are holding back Bret and Vader. Love it. Austin tries to go up top, but Taker racks him. But Austin goes back up and hits the elbow drop for two. LA FEMME NIKITA is next, folks! Here comes Vader, and there referee calls for the bell as Taker chokeslams Vader. Bret runs in and all heel breaks loose with these four with referees doing their best to pull them apart, but it doesn’t work. They continue to brawl as the show goes off the air.

• Blake’s Rating: Solid match that was mostly there to push the post-match angle, but given the excellence of the angle, there’s nothing wrong with that. **

Blake’s Take on WWF Monday Night Raw 1/20/97

• Best Match: Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon vs. Owen Hart and British Bulldog
• Show MVP: Stone Cold Steve Austin
• Overall Rating: 9.0/10
• Thoughts: This is just a fantastic edition of Raw built around the most engaging storyline in the company. What makes it work is it’s not just one segment dedicated to the storyline, but rather, the storyline being a running thread in nearly every segment on the show. That’s how it should be when a storyline is that good. The crowd was into it, and it was terrific work from everyone involved, including the announcers.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this WWF Survivor Series 1987 review, Hulk Hogan’s team faces off with Rick Rude’s team in the inaugural edition of the Thanksgiving tradition.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: Survivor Series 1987
• Date: November 26, 1987
• Location: Richfield Township, OH

We immediately get a shot of a guy that looks like Harvey Whippleman in the crowd. This show is already off to a great start.

ANNOUNCE BOOTH: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura are real and they are spectacular.

BACKSTAGE: The Honky Tonk’s team is jacked and ready to kick the Macho Man’s back.

Honky Tonk Man, Harley Race, Hercules, Danny Davis, Ron Bass vs. Macho Man, Ricky Steamboat, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Brutus Beefcake, Jake Roberts

This was back when Beefcake was manageable to watch. Macho’s team is quite stacked, no?

Macho tagging in Steamboat makes your heart melt after the classic that these two had at Wrestlemania III. Of course the crowd goes ballistic when Duggan comes in, and in true Duggan fashion, he brawls with Race on the outside and they both get counted out. Jesse calls it a dumb elimination, which it was.

Beefcake eliminates Bass. Then Beefcake gets worked over for a while and finally gets eliminated by Honky. Good. Get the bum out of there.

Hercules has always been underrated in my mind. He could have made for a great Hogan villain. Had the look and style that Vince loved. Danny Davis gets eliminated by Roberts.

Steamboat finally gets a hot tag and brings the crowd awake again after a few rest hold spots. He then destroys Hercules, and Macho finishes him off with the elbow drop to leave Honky by himself.

The beatdown on Honky is highlighted by Gorilla calling him a piece of garbage. Gorilla was a national treasure. Of course a clean finish was impossible during this day and age, so Honky gets himself counted out to give Macho’s team the win at 24:00.

This dragged a bit but was fine overall.

BACKSTAGE: Interview with Andre’s team of Rick Rude, Butch Reed, King Kong Bundy, and One Mang. Bobby Heenan and Slick also involved. What a damn squad that is.

Judy Martin, Lelani Kai, Dawn Marie, Donna Christianello, Sensational Sherri vs. Velvet McIntyre, Rockin’ Robin, Jumping Bomb Angels, Fabulous Moolah

Oh my. This could be a gem. It’s a shame that the Dawn Marie involved in this match isn’t the Dawn Marie from ECW.

This match starts rather slow but I don’t have to tell you that. Christianello and Marie are the first two to go. Immediately the Jumping Bomb Angels make the match worth watching as they’re just flying all over the place.

That’s really all this become. A showcase for the Angels, as they really put on a show here. Yamakazi’s pin on Martin wins it for the good girls at 20:00. This wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be.

BACKSTAGE: Heenan hypes up the upcoming Survivor Series match featuring all the tag teams.

Strike Force, Young Stallions, Fabulous Rougeaus, Killer Bees, British Bulldogs vs. Hart Foundation, Dream Team, The Islanders, Demolition, The Bolsheviks

Reminder that this is a 10 vs. 10 elimination match. 10 VS. 10. Seeing all these guys in the ring prior to the match is truly a sight to behold. Also worth a reminder that one man getting pinned means the entire tag team is eliminated.

Considering the insane amount of talent in the match, it’s no shocker to see the Bolsheviks get eliminated first. THE TAG TEAM SCENE WAS LOADED. Rougeaus are the next to go. And then Demolition gets eliminated because Smash throws the referee halfway to China and they get the DQ shaft.

Now we got the Hart Foundation going at it with the British Bulldogs. Phenomenal. Jim Powers is spending a lot of time in the ring and he was juiced up nicely as always. Poor Tito gets eliminated by Neidhart. Powers is back in the ring. He’s taken over this match. Finally Powers gets the hell out of there and we get a good sequence with Bret and Bulldog before Haku eliminates the Bulldogs.

I don’t to alarm you but Powers is back in the match. Roma finally gets him the hell out of there and pins Valentine. Brunzell eliminates Hart. Of course he did.

So to recap, we have the Young Stallions and the Killer Bees remaining with the Islanders. Of all those teams, these are the three left. Stallions and Bees get the win at 37:00. Long match, but made sense given how many people were included.

VIDEO: Million Dollar Man is just riding around in fancy cars flashing cash. Then we get a video of him challenging a kid to do 10 pushups. The kid stops at 9 and DiBiase tells him that isn’t good enough and he gets no money. Then we get the kid dribbling the basketball trying to win $500 dollars, and DiBiase even insults the kid and basically calls him poor. Then he kicks out of the kid’s hand at No. 14 to miss the 15-dribble mark. AWESOME.

Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, Butch Reed, One Man Gang, Andre the Giant vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Ken Patera, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff, Hulk Hogan

Hulkamania was clearly alive and well at this stage. The people go ballistic. We get Hogan vs. Rude early and I’m on cloud nine. This was my dream match. Rude is one of the greatest ever.

Patera comes in and immediately the match gets ugly. Go figure. Hogan eliminated Reed fairly quickly with the leg drop of doom. We then get Patera vs. Andre, which was not my dream match. Thankfully Andre gets out of the ring and lets Bundy do the work. Patera gets the hell beat out of him for a while. Massive “Andre sucks” chant as Patera finally gets eliminated by the Gang. Beautiful.

Rude uses the tights to eliminate Orndorff, but then gets pinned by Muraco. Terrible. Just terrible.

Gang then eliminates Muraco after beating on him for a bit. 3-2 advantage for the bad guys right now. Something tells me this won’t last.

Andre finally gets in the ring and we get the showdown with Hogan. This was what the people paid to see. They go at it a bit and then Hogan goes outside to slam Gang and Bigelow. The problem? Hulkster gets counted out. HULK IS GONE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY. To add insult to injury, the ref tells Hogan if he doesn’t hit the road then he will reward the match to Andre and company.

So in a strange turn of events, it’s Bigelow vs. Andre, Bundy and Gang. HOSSES EVERYWHERE. Bigelow sends Bundy packing to get closer to the pinnacle. Then Bigelow elminates Gang. Bigelow is out here about to win this match.

Just kidding. Andre gets in and takes care of business to get the victory at 22:00.

After the match, Hogan comes in wielding his title belt and nails Andre with it. Jesse rightfully calls him a sore loser and Hogan does the usual shenanigans in the ring to close the show.

And in the best line of the night, Jesse says that only in Cleveland would they boo a loser. Phenomenal.

BACKSTAGE: Heenan tells Hogan if he wants Andre, he’s got him. Andre is all smiles.

OVERALL

This is a very enjoyable show. The match featuring the tag teams was the best one, but the rest were all entertaining for what they were. And you had the surprising women’s match. Great start to the Survivor Series concept.

For more of my show reviews, visit the Reviews section!

In this Saturday Night’s Main Event 4/28/90 review, The Ultimate Warrior era has begun in the WWF, and his first title defense comes against a henchman of a familiar foe.

Plus, Hulk Hogan makes history against Mr. Perfect. And if you’re a Perfect fan, it’s not the good kind of history.

Let’s jump in.

• Date: April 28, 1990
• Location: Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX

VIDEO: We get a video package hyping the WWF title match between The Ultimate Warrior and Haku, and the big showdown between Hulk Hogan and Mr. Perfect.

RINGSIDE: An old western song starts playing as we cut to Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura, who are both wearing cowboy hats, RIDING UP THE AISLE ON HORSES. This is already the greatest Saturday Night’s Main Event ever. They hype the big matches.

BACKSTAGE: Sean Mooney with Perfect and The Genius. Perfect talks about his sports prowess and mocks Hogan for losing at WrestleMania.

BACKSTAGE: Mean Gene Okerlund with Hogan. He calls Perfect and Genius perfect fools. Hogan gives a motivational speech about getting back up after getting knocked down.

Mr. Perfect (w/The Genius) vs. Hulk Hogan

Vince is all over the Texas theme as he calls this match a shootout. Hogan quickly throws Perfect into the corner and he retreats to the outside. Back inside where Perfect hits a hip toss on Hogan as Genius dances around the ring. Hogan with a hip toss of his own and then he hits several bodyslams to send Perfect retreating once again. Perfect starts going to work on Hogan in the corner and he takes control with punches and chops.

Perfect with an Irish whip and Hogan reverses to try to hit the big boot, but Perfect holds onto the ropes and heads outside. Hogan follows him and throws Perfect into the post as Jesse is losing his shit about Hogan resorting to dirty tactics. They head back in the ring with Hogan hitting a big clothesline and then another in the corner. Hogan with hard rights and chops before hitting another clothesline. Hogan throws Perfect in the corner and hits a running reverse elbow as Perfect flips over to the outside.

Hogan heads outside the ring with more hard punches, and Genius sneaks up behind him. Hogan turns around and delivers a haymaker as Genius slides into the ring. Meanwhile, Perfect grabs the metal scroll and nails Hogan with it as the ref turns his attention to Genius. Perfect gets back in the ring, and Vince lets us know that the TUSSLE IN TEXAS will resume after the break. We return to see Perfect kicking Hogan’s ass on the floor. He throws Hogan into the steel rail before throwing him back in the ring.

Jesse keeps bashing Hogan as Perfect bounces Hogan’s head off the top rope. I mean, he didn’t actually take his head and throw it. That would probably be a felony. Perfect goes for an elbow drop but Hogan moves out of the way. Hogan with several right hands before attempting a back body drop, but Perfect kicks him in the face. Perfect then hits the Perfect Plex, and wouldn’t you know it, Hogan becomes the first person to kick out of it. Hulk up time as he runs wild and hits the big boot and leg drop for the win at 8:03. After the match, Genius tries to hit Hogan with the scroll but gets thrown over the top for his troubles. Hot match with an obvious finish.

• Rating: **1/2

VIDEO: Rick Martel, who is wearing a cowboy hat while sitting on a horse, hypes his new fragrance ‘Arrogance’.

BACKSTAGE: Jesse with Earthquake and Jimmy Hart. Earthquake is going to beat the hell out of Hillbilly Jim.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with Hillbilly Jim. He tells a story about pigs and reading a story about a guy named Earthquake.

Earthquake (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Hillbilly Jim

Earthquake tries to attack from behind but Hillbilly moves out of the way. Hillbilly rams Earthquake’s head off the turnbuckle several times and hits a few chops before doing a cartwheel. Jesse basically calls Hillbilly an idiot for doing cartwheels, and it’s hard to disagree since Earthquake takes control. But Hillbilly regains the advantage with more chops as Hart climbs on the apron. Hart grabs Hillbilly’s horseshoe, and that allows Earthquake to hit a big splash on Hillbilly in the corner. Earthquake drops and elbow and hits the splash to win it at 1:58. Earthquake hits a few more splashes and elbow drops after the bell, which leads to Hillbilly doing a stretcher job. SQUASH.

• Rating: NR

VIDEO: More hype for ‘Arrogance’. Martel sprays it around and then two women walk out with him.

BACKSTAGE: Jesse with the Hart Foundation. Jesse praises them for challenging for the tag team titles before even knowing who the champs would be after WrestleMania. They hype their match with the Rockers.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with the Rockers. They want a shot at the tag titles too.

The Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers

Bret Hart and Marty Jannetty start things off. Jannetty slides between Hart’s legs and they exchange reversals before Shawn Michaels tags in and flies off the top onto Bret, who flips over to reverse it into a pin for two. Double team moves from Michaels and Jannetty, which leads to Jim Neidhart getting pissed and clocking both of them with a double clothesline. Neidhart tags in and he goes to work on Jannetty. Neidhart with a big shoulder block, but Jannetty quickly counters and hits a drop toe hold.

Michaels back in and he leapfrogs over Neidhart and hits a dropkick for two. Michaels goes for a cross body but Neidhard counters into a bodyslam. Bret back in and he hits the atomic drop before tagging Neidhart, who whips Michaels off the ropes as Bret holds the rope down. Back body drop from Neidhart to Michaels and Bret comes back in and whips Michaels into the corner. Another tag with Neidhart working on Michaels’ back.

Neidhart with some vicious shoulder drives to Michaels’ midsection, which leads to a near fall. Bret tags in but Michael uses the sunset flip for a pin attempt, but the crowd starts going nuts as Demolition make their way down the aisle. Bret hits a backbreaker on Michaels and then turns his attention to Ax and Smash. However, Michaels hops up and dropkicks Bret over the top. Ax and Smash try to help him back in the ring but Bret shoves them away.

Back from commercial with Bret beating up on Michaels. Bret with an Irish whip but Michaels reverses, with Bret caching him with a kick to the face.  Bret comes off the top with an elbow, but Michaels moves out of the way and makes the hot tag to Jannetty. The crowd goes apeshit for Jannetty who hits a powerlsam on Bret and then a super kick for a near fall. Jannetty counters an Irish whip attempt and uses a sunset flip for a two count. Jannetty tries to go back on offense but Bret hits a neckbreaker before tagging Neidhart, who catapults over but misses a splash on Jannetty.

Tag to Michaels who gets destroyed by a huge shoulder block by Neidhart for a near fall. Neidhart goes for a back body drop but Michaels hits an elbow to the face for two. Neidhart catches Michaels off the top, with Michaels falling on him for another two count as Neidhart’s kick out sends Michaels to the floor. Ax and Smash rolls Michaels back in which doesn’t please Jannetty as he hits Ax. Jannetty and Smash go it and all six men hit the ring for a good ‘ol fashioned BROUHAHA for the double DQ at 9:30. Despite the DQ finish, this was still a really good match.

• Rating: ***

BACKSTAGE: Mooney with Earthquake and Jimmy Hart. Earthquake says he’s gonna finish Hogan.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with Hogan. He says he’s a Texas tornado and that he’s gonna mow him down. Gene hypes up Earthquake’s strength and we get another speech from Hogan about fighting adversity.

VIDEO: Vince recaps the Hogan/Warrior match from WrestleMania.

BACKSTAGE: Jesse with Haku and Bobby Heenan. They run down Texas, and Heenan talks about the state being known for shit among other things. Haku says he’s gonna win the title, with Heenan running down all the historical figures from Texas.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with Warrior. We get the usual wild promo which includes grains of sand, being chosen to lead warriors into darkness, and threats towards Heenan and Haku. Gene’s facial expression during this entire thing is just pure gold.

Haku (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. (c) The Ultimate Warrior – WWF Title

Haku charges at Warrior and chops away at him, but Warrior uses some kicks to the midsection before hitting a back body drop. Haku rolls outside the ring as Warrior finally takes the belt off. They slide back inside where Warrior hits a shoulder block and ducks a clothesline. More chops from Warrior as he goes to work on Haku’s arm. Warrior then throws Haku over the top.

Warrior chases Haku back into the ring, which allows the latter to take control momentarily before Warrior rams Haku’s head 10 times into the turnbuckle. Multiple clotheslines from Haku and a dropkick to Warrior for a two count. Backbreaker from Haku gets another two. And then Haku hits a back suplex for yet another near fall. Haku with a bodyslam and he delivers a splash for……wait for it…..a two count. Warrior has had enough of this shit as he goes nuts with a clothesline and shoulder block before hitting the splash to retain at 4:49. Successful first title defense for Warrior.

• Rating: *1/2

VIDEO: Martel is playing tennis and he starts spraying ‘Arrogance’ everywhere.

VIDEO: We recap Ted DiBiase attacking the Big Boss Man before his match with Akeem at WrestleMania.

BACKSTAGE: Mooney with Akeem and Slick. They talk about DiBiase giving them an offer they can’t refuse.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with Boss Man. He bashes DiBiase’s money and says there are some things that can’t be bought. He adds that everything is bigger in Texas, including the ass-kicking he’s about to get.

Akeem (w/Slick) vs. Big Boss Man

Boss Man goes right at Akeem and throws him across the ring. Boss Man with the leg drop on Akeem’s neck before he misses a splash in the corner. Akeem whips Boss Man into the opposite corner and hits a huge clothesline. Then we get Akeem using the vaunted ASS SMASH to Boss Man’s face. Akeem with more offense and he hits a big splash, but Boss Man kicks out with authority at two.

Akeem goes for a piledriver, but Boss Man back body drops him over the top. Akeem gets back on the apron and Boss Man flips him into the ring. Boss Man whips Akeem into the corner and catches him for the side slam but here comes DiBiase and Virgil to force the DQ at 3:18. DiBiase and Virgil beat down Boss Man and handcuff him to the corner. Virgil grabs Boss Man’s nightstick and hands it to DiBiase. But Boss Man pulls out the key to the handcuffs and breaks loose to send DiBiase and Virgil scurrying to the back. The match was there to further the hot storyline between DiBiase and Boss Man, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

• Rating: 1/2*

VIDEO: Martel continues to promote ‘Arrogance’ as a hot woman hops in his car. He also insulates that it’ll improve your engine’s performance. Basically Martel was doing his own BlueChew ad read before BlueChew was a thing.

BACKSTAGE: Mooney with Heenan. He says he noticed weaknesses with Warrior and announces that Rick Rude is coming for the WWF title.

BACKSTAGE: Gene with Warrior. He yells about being out of control.

ON THE STAGE: Vince and Jesse hype the Warrior/Rude and Hogan/Earthquake feuds before hopping back on their horses. We also get a hilarious closing visual with Jesse sharing a carrot with a horse.

SHOW SUMMARY

It’s incredible how entertaining wrestling shows can be when they focus on building stories and characters. Saturday Night’s Main Event accomplished just that throughout the years, and this was another example of how to do it effectively by pushing multiple main event feuds, the loaded tag team title scene, and Martel’s awesomeness.

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After the marathon review that was WrestleMania V, next up is the Clash of the Champions VI review.

After Ricky Steamboat captured the NWA World Heavyweight Title at Chi-Town Rumble, it’s time to move to the next installment of Clash of the Champions, which happened to air at the exact same time as WrestleMania V.

Let’s jump right into Blake’s Clash of the Champions VI review.

Date: April 2, 1989

Location: The Superdome in New Orleans, LA

OUTSIDE THE RING: Jim Ross and Michael Hayes are your announcers for the evening. Hayes is already loaded. We then go to a video package of Jim Herd giving a speech about some of the wrestling greats of the past.

The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E Dangerously) vs. The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette)

The feud between Cornette and Dangerously continues, but with a different team representing the latter. With the original Midnights out of the promotion, Paul E found himself a new duo. Samu accidentally nails Fatu in the early going as Lane moves out of the way. But Samu answers a hellacious chop and slam before bringing in Fatu.

Eaton makes his way into the match and he goes up top to deliver the dropkick to Fatu. Cornette makes his presence felt by hammering Samu with the tennis racket as Hayes goes nuts on commentary. Samoans control for a bit but another miscue from Samu pisses Fatu off. Paul E does what Paul E does and calms him down.

Back and forth we go with both teams finding some offense. Things pick up yet again when Eaton gets in and gets a near fall on an inside cradle. Lane and Eaton make a tag behind Tommy Young’s back and that leads to a funny spot where Cornette jumps on the apron and encourages the crowd to admit they saw a tag. A brouhaha breaks out temporarily but Samoans use the double team to get the momentum back.

Young finds himself occupied with Lane and that gives the Samoans another shot at double teaming Eaton. We work to all four men in the ring and the battering ram from Lane and Eaton causes Samu and Fatu to start hitting each other. What teammates. Cornette uses the racket again but the Samoans use kicks to the momentum. And now we’ve got all four in the ring brawling once again. Crowd seems to enjoy this.

These guys are putting in a good effort, but the match is just too long. Fatu misses the headbutt off the top and Eaton gets the hot tag. Another Samoan miscue allows Eaton to hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Then we get the Rocket Launcher but Young is once again distracted by Lane. Samoans use Paul E’s phone to score the win at 20:32. This had some very good spots, but really long for what it was.

• Rating: **1/2

The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) vs. Steven Casey

Something tells me Casey doesn’t have a shot here. I absolutely LOVED Muta back in the day. Casey is a complete dumbass to start this match, as he gets right in Muta’s face after he sprays the mist. Naturally, Muta sprays the mist in Casey’s face. Muta goes to work. Casey’s face and hair are all green.

Casey gets a small amount of offense before Muta decides to start kicking his ass again. Not even sure why Casey is trying at this point. The next seven minutes is Muta completely decimating Casey and that’s about it. What a unique talent. He hits the Moonsault for the victory at 8:11. Muta is spectacular.

• Rating: **

Junkyard Dog vs. Butch Reed (w/Hiro Matsuda)

JYD comes out with his own New Orleans band. The entrances for this match lasted longer than the Muta match I think. They get some good heat early with JYD bringing it. Eye rake from Reed turns the tide. This leads to Matsuda getting involved while Teddy Long has his back turned. Go figure.

Chinlock from Reed slows things down. Crowd loves them some JYD. He fights out and gets a two count after a back drop. Double clothesline and both men are on the mat. Flying shoulder block from Butch and he goes for the pin, but JYD’s foot is on the ropes. At least Teddy saw that one.

But Teddy’s efficient refereeing did not last long, as he goes over and gets involved with Matsuda. This leads to JYD throwing Reed into Matsuda and scoring the pin at 9:56. Crowd enjoyed it.

• Rating: *1/2

Kevin Sullivan and Danny Spivey vs. (c) Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner (w/Missy Hyatt) – NWA U.S. Tag Team Titles

So apparently the WWE Network cut out three matches: Bob Orton vs. Dick Murdoch, Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams vs. The Road Warriors, and Ranger Ross vs. The Iron Sheik. Fuck those first two, but GIVE ME SHEIKY BABY. Of course, it’s worth noting that Rotunda and Williams won the titles from Hawk and Animal thanks to Teddy Long going rogue and screwing them over. Good moment there.

Spivey slams Gilbert early and lets off the pinfall. More work from Spivey and Steiner gets the hot tag and hits a huge powerslam for a near fall. Belly to belly from Steiner but Sullivan breaks up the count. And then Sullivan goes after Hyatt to the surprise of no one. Out of nowhere, Gilbert scores the pin at 3:51 as we rush to commercial break. So yeah that was that. Extremely short match due to what was coming next.

• Rating: 1/2*

Ric Flair vs. (c) Ricky Steamboat – 2/3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title

Here we go. Terry Funk is on commentary. They exchange slaps to start the match. Amateur wrestling moves and then Steamboat slaps Flair again. Wristlock from Flair until Steamboat breaks it and Flair regroups to the outside. JR takes a shot at the boys up north by saying Flair and Steamboat are in the best shape of any two men battling for a world title on April 2. SHOTS FIRED AT THE MACHO MAN AND HULKSTER.

Flair works out of the headlock and Steamboat takes him down to lock it on again. We get to the corner where Flair starts chopping the life out of Steamboat. Then Steamboat fights back with chops of his own and hits the hip toss. Steamboat on fire now as he controls the action. We work back to the corner and more chops from both men. These things are vicious. Backdrop from Steamboat and then a dropkick for the two count. Flair pleading for Steamboat to stop. Something tells me he won’t.

Pace picks up as Steamboat gets a couple of near falls before going back to the front facelock. BACK TO THE CHOPS. Flair does the Flair flop for another near fall. They are really telling the story of Steamboat staying aggressive to try to get that first fall. He’s going for pins after all of the impact moves and it works well. Flair is pissed now and he’s chopping away. BUT STEAMBOAT IS NOT DONE CHOPPING. Flair regains the advantage and goes for a series of pins of his own.

Flair goes for the Figure Four but Steamboat reverses it into a small package for two. That leads to Flair reversing into a small package of his own to score the first fall at 19:33. Flair leads 1-0.

Quick pace to start the second fall as Steamboat is showing the aggressiveness again to try to tie it up. Flair misses a knee drop and Steamboat takes advantage by going after Flair’s knee. Steamboat locks in the Figure Four on Flair and Nature Boy is in pain. Flair finally reaches the ropes. Steamboat pulls him off and then locks in the Boston Crab. Flair reaches the ropes yet again. Good wrestling sequence to work to the backslide from Steamboat that gets two and a half.

Business really picking up as both men go outside and Flair tosses Steamboat into the railing before slamming him. Another rail shot from Flair before he goes back inside. Steamboat back on the apron and Flair is beating the hell out of him. Vertical suplex from Flair back into the ring and he gets a two count. We’ve reached 30 minutes and it’s easily the quickest 30 minutes I’ve ever seen in a match. Even Funk points out that it feels like this one hasn’t been going that long. That’s what happens when you have two legends in their prime.

Shenanigans from Flair as he uses the ropes to try and get that second fall. Steamboat gets it and tries to fight back with the chops. Quick rollup from Steamboat gets another near fall. Choppy choppy from Flair as get goes up top. Steamboat catches him and delivers the superplex to get the momentum back. Steamboat goes to work on the lower back. DOUBLE CHICKEN WING and Flair gives up at 34:14. Tied at 1-1.

Flair chops Steamboat’s knee to start the third fall. That of course leads to more chopping from Steamboat. Seriously, these chops are brutal. You’ll never see two dudes chopping each other like this. Flair locks in the Figure Four but Steamboat quickly reaches the ropes. Of course, Flair isn’t happy with that, so he pushes Tommy Young. Flair goes back to working on Steamboat’s leg. MORE DAMN CHOPS. Hell of a sequence where Flair flops over the turnbuckle and then Steamboat chops the nipples off his chest on the apron. Flair works his way back and uses the feet on the ropes to try and get multiple falls. It doesn’t work.

Figure Four locked in again from Flair. Steamboat holding on for a while here before rolling it over and reaching the ropes. Flair rams Steamboat’s leg off the apron multiple times. THAT WON’T STOP THE CHOPS. Flair gets thrown into the corner again and then comes off the top with the flying cross body for two and a half. We’re at the 45-minute mark. Flying cross body from Steamboat gets a two and a half of his own. Reverse neck-breaker from Steamboat gets a near fall. Flair retaliates by throwing Steamboat to the outside.

Sunset flip from Steamboat and it gets a two count. Now Flair locks in the sleeper hold. Steamboat launches Flair into the turnbuckle to get out of it, and Flair falls outside the ring. Steamboat is stumbling as Flair sneaks back in behind him. But karate kick from Steamboat gets another near fall. We’re at 50 minutes. Steamboat misses the splash off the top and Flair goes back to the knee. Flair exchanges chops and knees. He’s getting pissed that Steamboat won’t go down as he’s hobbling all over the place.

Chop exchanges again and Steamboat sends Flair to the mat. Clothesline from Steamboat and Flair gets his foot on the ropes on the pin. Elbow to the head from Flair before hitting the suplex. Flair then goes up top but Steamboat stops him and presses him to the mat. DOUBLE CHICKEN WING again as both men go to the mat after Steamboat’s leg buckles. Young counts the three as Flair’s foot is visibly under the bottom rope and Steamboat is the winner at 55:19.

What can you say that hasn’t already been said? This wasn’t 55 minutes of stalling to work to a dramatic finish. They never slowed down and get you invested the entire time. It was in essence the perfect match, and the finish sets up the rematch at WrestleWar the following month.

• Rating: *****

BACKSTAGE: JR with Steamboat. He says he’s beaten Flair twice now and is ready to move on to a new challenge. They roll the video of Flair getting the foot under the rope and Steamboat admits that Young simply missed it. Steamboat says if he was Flair he’d be upset.

SHOW SUMMARY

The entire card was nothing special, but the main event was one of the best matches in wrestling history. Some would even argue that it was the best match ever. If you’ve never seen this match then I have no idea what you’re doing with your life. It is truly a one of a kind match.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this Mid-South Wrestling 2/6/82 review, Skandor Akbar has a master plan, Paul Orndorff squares off with Mr. Olympia, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: Mid-South Wrestling
• Date: February 6, 1982

RINGSIDE: Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts hype the big matches for this episode.

Bob Orton Jr. vs. Ken Woodby

Pretty sure this is our first look at Woodby in Mid-South, and I don’t expect his record to be 1-0 after this one. Orton takes things to the mat, where he uses his cerebral approach to go after multiple body parts. Orton hits the backbreaker and comes off the top before hitting the piledriver for the win. Woodby’s sell of the piledriver is a thing of beauty. (SQUASH)

RINGSIDE: Boyd with Ernie Ladd. The Big Cat is pissed, and Boyd isn’t taking any of his shit. GET HIM BOYD. Watts comes in and points out Skandor Akbar is in the ring representing The Samoans, and Ladd ain’t having it. He goes to the ring, and Akbar calls him a big dummy and blames him for the Samoans losing a match. Ladd hauls off on Akbar and takes it to Afa and Sika. A mystery man comes to the ring and hits a flying knee to Ladd’s knee as the medical team attends to him.

RINGSIDE: After the break, Watts reveals Ladd was helped to the back and there will be no tag title match.

Ron Cheatham vs. Ted DiBiase

This is a non-title match, the concern continues from Watts regarding Ladd’s knee injury. DiBiase’s work is fantastic at this stage of his career, and this wasn’t much of a contest with DiBiase locking in the Figure Four to notch the quick victory. (SQUASH)

RINGSIDE: Akbar is back, and he demands the tag title match be next on the show. Boyd goes off on his ass too. Watts wants to know who the mystery man is, but Akbar won’t tell him.

The Samoans (w/Skandor Akbar) vs. (c) The Junkyard Dog and Mike George – Tag Team Titles

So the match is made official based on Akbar’s demands. I love storylines like this one that weave their way throughout the entire episode. Afa and Sika control the early portion of the match, with some underhanded tactics adding to their advantage.

George eventually gets the tag and the action breaks down from there. Sika misses the headbutt off the top, but JYD moves and he takes away the chair from Afa. Here comes Akbar who throws the fire, but the chair is enough for JYD to block it. The referee is distracted, which leads to Afa hitting a Samoan drop on George on a chair to win the titles. More about the story than the match, but the crowd reaction was genuine and it had a great payoff. (**1/2)

Bob Roop vs. Frank Monte

Watts isn’t happy with how things turned out in the tag title match. He also announces Roop vs. JYD next week for the Louisiana Heavyweight title. Watts even throws in the tidbit that George was carried into the trainer’s room due to back spasms after the chair drop. The little things! Roop destroys Monte and gets the squash win. (SQUASH)

Paul Orndorff vs. Mr. Olympia

A non-title match here. Olympia gets the better of Orndorff in the early going, and that pisses off the latter. Nice back and forth, while the crowd cheers on Olympia in a big way. Orndorff reverses the momentum by nearly decapitating Olympia with a diving clothesline off the top.

Orndorff keeps going at him, but Olympia kicks out at two. Then Orndroff hits the powerslam, and Olympia kicks out at two and a half. Another kickout after the knee drop. Orndroff goes for the Figure Four, but Olympia fights him off. And now it’s Olympia reversing the piledriver attempt. Hell of a sequence.

Orndorff tries to regain control, but it’s Olympia who goes to the sleeper and Orndroff tries to fight out. But eventually, the arm drops a third time in dramatic fashion, and Olympia is your winner. This was a terrific match and easily one of the best thus far in this Mid-South rewatch series. (***1/2, Recommended)

Ed Wiskowski vs. Brian Blair

Another fun pairing. Mid-South is on a roll right now. Blair almost gets a quick small package for the win, but that only angers the Polish Prince. He beats down on Blair until the latter fights back. If you were expecting a finish in this one, you’re not getting it as these two continue to battle before the bell rings for the time limit draw.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON MID-SOUTH WRESTLING 2/6/82

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Thoughts: A must-see episode of Mid-South Wrestling. The running storyline with Akbar stealing The Samoans from Ladd was entertaining, and the Orndorff vs. Olympia match was fantastic. This is how to effectively book an hour of pro wrestling television.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this WWF Superstars 2/19/94 review, Bret Hart and Owen Hart continue exchanging words, Lex Luger has a guarantee for Yokozuna, and much more.

Let’s jump in.

• Show: WWF Superstars
• Date: February 19, 1994

VIDEO: Owen Hart hypes his upcoming match with Marty Jannetty, then taunts Bret Hart ahead of their WrestleMania X match.

Owen Hart vs. Marty Jannetty

Vince reminds us Jannetty will team with Razor Ramon to go for the tag titles on Raw. Owen once again rips up his glasses in front of a bunch of kids. That scoundrel. It probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that these two work a solid match, with Jannetty on the attack early until Owen catches him with the Sharpshooter for the win.

VIDEO: Bret Hart weighs in on Lex Luger vs. Yokozuna. He’s fine with either being his opponent. Bret continues to push that Owen has brought their issues on himself, and he’s starting to be more open to them wrestling each other.

RINGSIDE: Johnny Polo joins Vince on commentary.

Kwang (w/Harvey Whippleman) vs. Scott Taylor

The future Scotty 2 Hotty in action here. He showcases a quick flurry of impressive offense, but Kwang starts spraying. You don’t want to mess with Kwang’s spray. Kwang squashes poor Taylor for the easy victory.

VIDEO: ICO PRO commercial with Luger. You’ve got to want it!

VIDEO: Stan Lane shares an interview with Shawn Michaels, who explains the rules and strategy of the first-ever Ladder Match at WrestleMania X. He taunts Razor and guarantees the win to become undisputed Intercontinental Champion.

Heidi Lee Morgan vs. (c) Alundra Blayze – WWF Women’s Title

Polo is pretty funny on commentary. Hey, at least we’re getting a title match, though my prediction is we won’t be getting a title change. Morgan takes it to Blayze, but Blayze hits the Northern Lights Suplex to retain the title.

VIDEO: WrestleMania X report with Todd Pettengill. He continues to push all the big matches on the show, including Randy Savage vs. Crush in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. We get interviews from Crush and Savage. Pettengill also reveals Earthquake vs. Ludvig Borga, and Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon vs. Doink and Dink have been added to the card. We also get a promo from Sy Sperling, who is the president of Hair Club for Men. He wants to give Bastion Booger a makeover.

The Earthquake vs. Jim Massenger

Before the match, Vince announces that Burt Reynolds will be a special guest ring announcer at WrestleMania. Massenger is a big dude, so this is officially a HOSS FIGHT. Inset promo from Earthquake and he’s gonna destroy Borga. Before he does that, he squashes Massenger for the win.

VIDEO: Hype for Bret vs. Adam Bomb on next week’s Superstars.

RINGSIDE: Funeral Parlor with Paul Bearer. Yokozuna is the guest, and he’s joined by Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji. Cornette loses it on Bearer and wants to get the hell out of there. Bearer senses fear from them regarding WrestleMania, and Cornette tries to debunk that idea by calling Luger crooked. HERE COMES LUGER. Luger takes aim at Cornette, then notes his confidence in beating Yokozuna. Cornette mouths off again. and Luger guarantees victory. This was an effective segment from Luger and Cornette.

Mike Miraldo vs. Diesel (w/Shawn Michaels)

If only Miraldo had been one-third of the nWo instead of Diesel. In a fun moment, Diesel sees Nikolai Volkoff in the front row and nearly hauls off on him. Inset promo from Razor, who basically says Diesel won’t be able to help Shawn Michaels in their Ladder Match. Diesel destroys Miraldo for the quick victory.

VIDEO: Lane shares an interview with Owen. He’s not having any second thoughts about his match with Bret. Owen thinks Bret is scared because he knows he’s better than him. Great promo from Owen. He was so good.

VIDEO: Commercial for WWF Royal Rumble on Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. I loved that game!

VIDEO: Whippleman hypes Bomb’s match with Bret on next week’s Superstars.

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BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF SUPERSTARS 2/19/94

Overall Rating: 7.0/10

Thoughts: As usual, an episode more on storylines than in-ring actrion, but I thought it was an effective one. The Luger/Yokozuna segment was a good sell for their match, as were the promos from Bret and Owen. And again, Polo was entertaining on commentary playing off of Vince.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

As you’ll notice from the Clash of the Champions V review, a whole lot has changed since Starrcade 1988 in December, with the biggest being Dusty Rhodes gone from WCW.

Would that change the direction of the company going forward?

Let’s jump right in with Blake’s Clash of the Champions V review.

• Date: February 15, 1989
• Location: Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland, OH

ANNOUNCE BOOTH: Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome us and hype the big title matches for the evening.

The Russian Assassins (w/Paul Jones) vs. The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette)

Good to see my tag team of the year in ’88 starting off the new year with a match against a quality opponent. Yeah, not really. If you go straight from watching any NWA event the previous year to watching this one, the first thing you’ll notice is the presentation changes. Billionaire Ted wanted his product to look a wee bit better.

Express in control in the early going. That’s no surprise since they are a zillion times better than the Assassins. We get a cut-in interview with Paul E. Dangerously hyping the upcoming Chi-Town Rumble match. Cornette and Jones get ready to go at it on the outside but Lane pops Jones to stop that. Paul E joins commentary and he’s confident. Meanwhile Cornette pops one of the Assassins with the racket and then struts.

The Assassins take control and go into a long work over sequence on Lane. Really long. They finally miss the Russian missile and Lane makes the tag to Eaton. Double noggin knocker and double bulldog gives the Midnight Express control. Then they finish it off with the Rocket Launcher at 13:10. This wasn’t great.

• Rating: **

INTERVIEW: Bob Caudle is with Ricky Steamboat. As you probably know by now, Steamboat left the WWF after WrestleMania IV and now he’s here to challenge Ric Flair for the title at Chi-Town Rumble. Steamboat has little dragon in hand and says don’t do drugs. True. Don’t do them.

Steve Casey vs. Butch Reed

Well this should be a total squash. Minutes into the match and WE CUT TO THE CROWD WHERE TWO HUMAN BEINGS ARE MAKING OUT. Only in WCW. And then we see a kid wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers sweatshirt. Poor kid.

This match is dragging right along. There’s some jacked up dude in the crowd that is absolutely losing his shit over this match. Meanwhile, I’m just bored. Every time Jim Ross says Hacksaw Butch Reed, I’m just waiting for Hacksaw Jim Duggan to come out of the crowd and decapitate everyone with the 2×4.

We’re now over 10 minutes in this match and I have no idea what’s going on. This is in no way selling me on wanting to see Chi-Town Rumble. THEY ARE NOW IN THE 17TH MINUTE OF THIS THING. Are we about to get an hour broadway from BUTCH REED AND STEVE CASEY? Thankfully we’re not as Reed hits the flying shoulder block for the win at 17:34. Absolutely horrendous. Even more horrendous that Casey was being hyped as undefeated prior to the match.

• Rating: DUD

IN THE RING: Flair is here and he’s got five dime pieces with him. He’s wearing a phenomenal coat as well. He calls out Steamboat and sure enough here comes the Dragon. They go back and forth until Flair tells Steamboat to go help his wife with the dishes. IT’S GO TIME. Full-on brawl now with Steamboat ripping Flair’s shirt and pants to shreds. Steamboat hits the flying cross body and pins Flair as the fans count. But then Flair’s manager Hiro Matsuda attacks Steamboat. Finally, Steamboat regains the upper hand and starts kicking Flair’s ass into the crowd.

The Blackmailer (w/Hiro Matsuda) vs. Lex Luger

If the Blackmailer looks a lot like a Russian Assassin, it’s probably because it is. Jack Victory worked his second match of the night here. So now he’ll get squashed by Luger.

Except for that he’s not getting squashed by Luger. In fact, this Blackmailer fella is hanging with him. WHERE’S MY SQUASH? More back and forth with Luger even tossing himself on the outside. Then Blackmailer knees Luger on the apron and sends him into the rail.

This goes on for way too long until Luger uses Barry Windham’s superplex off the top for the win at 12:53. If it took Luger over 12 minutes to beat a random dude named Blackmailer, it may take him three hours to beat Windham at Chi-Town Rumble.

• Rating: *

The Fantastics vs. (c) The Varsity Club (w/Kevin Sullivan) – US Tag Team Titles

Steve Williams and Kevin Sullivan won the titles from the Fantastics at Starrcade ’88, but we’re getting the team of Williams and Mike Rotundo here. Rotundo starts off with several technical moves on Rogers. Clevelanders chanting “Syracuse sucks” while Syracusers are probably somewhere chanting “Cleveland sucks”.

Cut-in to Rick Steiner hyping the TV Title match with Rotundo at Chi-Town Rumble. Rotundo still working over both Fantastics members with Williams offering a little help occasionally. Fulton finds some offense and does some work on Rotundo in the corner until Williams comes over and cheap shots Fulton to the outside.

Fulton keeps getting destroyed and then makes the hot tag to Rogers. He takes down Williams but then gets slung outside by Rotundo. This allows the bad guys to go for the double team on Fulton. That doesn’t work. BUT TEDDY LONG IS NOT OUT THERE TO LET THIS MATCH HAVE A CLEAN FINISH. So he occupies himself with Rogers, which allows Rotundo to hit a stomp on Rogers and Williams covers him for the victory at 13:25. This was just kinda there and was nothing special at all.

• Rating: **

Bob Bradley vs. Ricky Steamboat

PLEASE LET THIS JOBBER GET SQUASHED. Never mind. Not happening. This fucking Bradley guy is actually getting in offense on the top challenger for the World Heavyweight title. Stop this madness.

Thankfully it does after Steamboat hits the judo chop off the top rope and then lands the flying cross body for the pin at 6:23.

• Rating: *

Rip Morgan vs. Rick Steiner 

Damn this has been a brutal card. Rotundo cuts in early with a promo and says he’s gonna win back his title. Steiner makes Morgan look silly early. Then he makes himself look silly by bashing his own head into the turnbuckle.

This goes on for several minutes and then Steiner hits the belly to belly to win it at 4:40. This show has been a mess.

• Rating: 1/2*

BACKSTAGE: Michael Hayes, Sting, and Junkyard Dog walk into a bar…..just kidding. They actually just stand and talk. Then they walk downstairs to their dressing room, and Kevin Sullivan strolls in and locks them in there. Well, there goes the main event.

The Varsity Club vs. (c) Road Warriors and Genichiro Tenryu – World Six-Man Tag Titles

So obviously the story is that Hayes/Sting/Dog are locked in and can’t make it out for the match. So for no apparent reason at all, the Varsity Club hit the ring and start brawling. We get a live camera on them still locked in and trying to get out. What a great use of Sting this was. He goes from being made to look like a star thanks to Flair to being made to look like a complete buffoon.

The backstage cam continues with the BOLT CUTTERS now making an appearance. Sure enough that works and here comes the original participants. Sting/Hayes/Dog run in and we get the immediate DQ at 5:53. At least the crowd was hot for this brouhaha.

• Rating: 1/2*

SHOW SUMMARY

My goodness was this show dreadful. It wasn’t a great start to 1989 for the NWA, and it certainly didn’t do much to get anyone excited about Chi-Town Rumble. The Flair/Steamboat brawl was the best thing on the show, and as we all know by now, that would prove to be the case with those two over the next several months.

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For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

In this WWF Raw 1/13/97 review, it’s the go-home show for the 1997 Royal Rumble, as the tension builds towards Sid vs. Shawn Michaels and the Rumble match.

Let’s jump in!

• Show: Monday Night Raw
• Date: January 13, 1997
• Location: Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, NY
• Raw Rating: 2.3
• Nitro Rating: 3.4

VIDEO: Vince McMahon narrates the highlight package, with footage of Sid going after Pete Lothario, Stone Cold Steve Austin trying to destroy Bret Hart’s leg, and much more.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Jerry Lawler vs. Marc Mero (w/Sable) and Goldust (w/Marlena)

Honky Tonk Man is back on guest commentary. What’s more noteworthy is Sable is out with Mero. And of course, Marlena is out with Goldust, who will face off with HHH at the Royal Rumble. Vince hypes upcoming matches with The Undertaker vs. Crush, and Rocky Maivia vs. The British Bulldog. Lawler stalls in the early going, and they work to Goldust not being able to contain himself from going at HHH. Eventually, he gets in and delivers a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER to HHH and Lawler. The heels go back to the underhanded tactics on Miro, but Goldust returns as Lawler wants the tag from HHH. He wants no part of that. More back of forth which features Lawler hitting Mero with a foreign object to give HHH the advantage. However, Mero makes the hot tag to Goldust, who goes off on HHH. That leads to a spot with HHH tied in the ropes, and Goldust chokes him until the referee calls for the bell. Goldust then hauls off on Lawler and Mero. *1/2

VIDEO: Shawn Michaels is in San Antonio, then we get a promo from earlier in the day with Sid in the Alamodome. He talks about German philosophy and how he’s gonna kick Michaels’ ass. Sid points where Michaels’ mom, Jose Lothario, and Michaels’ friends will be at in the crowd. He says they’ll all see him get his ass beat. Sid was at his best during this run.

INTERVIEW: Vince recaps Sid destroying Pete Lothario, then throws it to Michaels at an autograph signing in San Antonio. There’s one woman behind Michaels who can’t take her hands off of him. She’s rubbing him and everything. I mean, he is a sexy boy. Michaels says he’s gonna kick Sid’s teeth down his throat. Vince asks what if Michaels lets his fans down, and he says he delivers better than the US POSTAL SERVICE. That’s when you know he delivers, folks.

RINGSIDE: Bret Hart limps his way down to join Vince and Honky on commentary.

The British Bulldog (w/Clarence Mason) vs. Rocky Maivia

Bret’s exact words: “I think Rocky Maivia has shown more promise than any other wrestler I’ve seen come into the World Wrestling Federation.” He wasn’t wrong. Vince recaps the rift between Mero and Sable on Shotgun Saturday Night, which led to Rocky helping Sable, only to get pushed by Mero. Bret’s not happy with Austin trying to end his career, which makes sense. Honky isn’t having Bret’s greatness talk about Rocky and is only concerned with his own goals. Nice back and forth between Rocky and Bulldog, and the latter regroups on the outside with Mason. The action continues, and here comes Owen Hart, who puts his Slammy on the announce table and stands in front of Bret to make sure he doesn’t interfere. Vince pushes the bad blood between the two, while Bulldog continues to dominate the match. Bret sounds like he wants to punch Vince for stirring the shit, and he’ll get his opportunity at Survivor Series. Rocky fires up and both men spill outside after a clothesline. Austin is here! He attacks Bulldog as Bret and Owen give chase, with Bulldog getting counted out to give Rocky the victory. **

BACKSTAGE: The Nation of Domination is backstage, and once again, Vince pushes that they’re gonna self-destruct in the Rumble match. Vince has no fucks to give when it comes to hyping dissension for the Rumble. It’s hilarious. Farooq talks about unity, then Crush says he’s gonna dominate Taker.

The Undertaker vs. Crush

The PG-13 version of the Nation was interesting. Taker wastes no time going after Crush in the aisle and proceeds to throw him into the steel steps. Taker and Vader will square off at the Rumble, and Honky is intrigued. Vince hypes the winner of the Rumble will face the loser of Sid/Michaels on next week’s Raw. Taker and Crush battle it out with a variety of power moves, including Crush hitting Taker with a pile driver. Crush proceeds to destroy Taker on the outside, and now Vader is looking on from the aisle. Another long stretch of Crush working over Taker, but Taker mounts his comeback until Crush reverses the Tombstone with a belly-to-belly suplex. But Taker chokeslams Crush, and the Nation and Vader hit the ring and beat down Taker. Vader hits a pair of Vader Bombs for good measure. Ahmed Johnson hits the ring with a 2×4 and gets a beatdown as well. *1/2

Blake’s Take on WWF Monday Night Raw 1/13/97

• Best Match: The British Bulldog vs. Rocky Maivia (I guess?)
• Show MVP: Sid
• Overall Rating: 4.5/10
• Thoughts: Outside of the Sid promo and the entertainment value of watching a young Rocky Maivia, this wasn’t exactly a must-see go-home show for the Rumble. The three matches were long because they had to be long, not because they should be long. That made this particular episode a bit of a slog to get through.

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