In this WWF Wrestling Tough Guys review, it’s a look at a classic WWF Coliseum Home Video release from 1990 that features Dino Bravo vs. Tito Santana, Hercules vs. Akeem, and more.
Let’s jump in!
VIDEO: Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes welcome us, and Mooney is showing off his muscles while wearing a Hulk Hogan shirt.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Boris Zhukov (w/Nikolai Volkoff)
A Superstars match here with Mooney and Alfred on commentary. They get the crowd worked up before they lay a finger on each other, which is another missing art in professional wrestling. Hacksaw with several hard rights to send Zhukov to the outside, and Hacksaw invites Volkoff in. If you want some, come get some! Hacksaw goes for a headbutt, but it appears Zhukov’s head is made of steel because he bounces right off of it. Zhukov bites Hacksaw’s head, and then he throws Hacksaw face-first into the steel steps. Zhukov with the bearhug, but Hacksaw backs him into the corner before hitting a clothesline. Hacksaw with the three-point stance and clothesline, but Volkoff distracts the refreee. Volkoff slips the 2×4 to Zhukov, but then the refreee gets distracted by Volkoff. That allows Duggan to hit Zhukov with the 2×4 for the win.
- Blake’s Take: Short and tough. Hacksaw was a good choice for this tape since he’s a tough guy. HOOOOOO. 1/2*
Haku (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. ‘Rugged’ Ronnie Garvin
This match is from Wrestling Challenge, with Mooney and Alfred still on commentary. A nice handshake from Haku and Heenan to start the match, and I appreciate their appreciation for each other. Garvin knees Haku right in the ass, to which Alfred proclaims that it’s a “blatant violation of the rules.” Garvin with five punches in the corner, but Haku turns it into a reverse atomic drop. Garvin goes for a pin but only gets two. And now they are CHOPPING. Heenan distracts the referee, which allows Haku to choke Garvin. Haku sends Garvin to the outside, and then he shoves his back into the apron as the referee counts them both out.
- Blake’s Take: It was hard-hitting, but the countout seemed unnecessary. *
The Powers of Pain (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The Bushwhackers
Gorilla and Alfred are in Toronto for this clash. This tape is leaving a lot to be desired thus far, so maybe Barbarian and Warlord can save it. Barbarian has had enough of Luke and Butch dancing to their music, so he goes after Butch. The action picks up after Butch gets his head rubbed by Butch. Gorilla lists off the top teams in the WWF tag team division, and it was certainly stacked at this point. Butch with an assist from Luke to send Barbarian to the outside. Luke and Warlord are in, and Warlord goes to the bearhug. Butch is back, as Warlord hits him with a big clothesline. Gorilla says Fuji is a FOUNTAIN OF MISINFORMATION in yet another Gorilla classic.
Fuji clobbers Butch with the cane to further his argument. Barbarian slams Butch into the steel ring post, but the crowd rallies him to his feet. Barbarian jumps off the top with an elbow to Butch, and then he delivers a big boot to the face. Double team effort from Barbarian and Warlord, and Warlord hits a drop elbow to keep on the onslaught going. Barbarian with a headbutt into the “short rib area,” and Alfred is trying to figure out why the hell they aren’t going for the pin. Barbarian goes for a flying elbow, but Butch moves out of the way and makes the tag to Luke. Double battering ram to Barbarian, and they do the same to Warlord.
The referee gets Butch out of the ring, and Fuji sneaks in to hit Luke with the cane….but Butch turns the referee around so he can see it for the DQ. Finally, a babyface that understands what to do! Butch hauls off on Barbarian and Warlord with the cane after the match.
- Blake’s Take: A step up from the previous two matches. The Bushwhackers were never my favorite team, but I found them to be pretty enjoyable in this one. **
Akeem (w/Slick) vs. Hercules
We’re in Portland for a Superstars match featuring Tony Schiavone and Alfred on commentary. Speaking of favorites, I was a fan of both of these dudes. Hercules with a clothesline and a hard right, and that sends Akeem falling through the ropes to the outside. Hercules kicks Slick as he tries to motivate Akeem, so Akeem holds him back. LET THE SLICKSTER LOOSE. Hercules goes for the bodyslam, but Akeem says I don’t think so. Slick grabs a rope from his sleeve, and he starts choking Hercules while Akeem distracts the referee.
Akeem squashes Hercules in the corner, and then he chokes him on the ropes. Once again, Slick chokes Hercules for even more shenanigans. Akeem goes for a splash in the corner, but Hercules moves and proceeds to bounce Akeem’s head on the turnbuckle. Hercules with a couple of clotheslines, but Slick pulls down the top rope for the DQ. After the match, Akeem goes for a splash, but Hercules moves of the way and then bodyslams Akeem for a big pop from the crowd.
- Blake’s Take: I was more entertained than most would be. *1/2
Dino Bravo vs. Tito Santana
Gorilla and Mooney are back for a Hamilton, Ontario show at Copps Coliseum. A reminder that the best Dino Bravo match I’ve ever seen was on the WWF World Tour tape. He went one-on-one with Bret Hart, and it was good stuff. Bravo hits the road before the match begins, but he decides to come back. Cross body from Santana, and he sends Bravo out of the ring. Santana with a double wrist lock, and Gorilla notes that Bravo has put on 80 pounds since he was a champ in Canada. Maybe he was working out like Hercules and Paul Roma on the WWF Hottest Matches tape!
Bravo gets Santana to the corner, but Santana reverses and goes for a monkey flip. However, Bravo reverses and drops an elbow for a near fall. Bravo with the reverse double chinklock, but Santana goes for the backslide and gets a two count. Bravo locks in the bearhug, and Santana may be out of it. He’s not! Santana regains the momentum and hits a backdrop. Santana calls for the forearm, but Bravo hits a side suplex for the win.
- Blake’s Take: The best thing on this tape. That isn’t exactly a high bar to clear, but it’s notable nonetheless. Am I becoming a Dino Bravo fan?! **1/2
IN THE STUDIO: Mooney has a neck brace and a patch over his eye. Someone body slammed him and then catapulted him over the top rope. The man also got a piledriver. Mooney has decided he’ll let the tough guys be tough. Alfred finds all of this comical.
BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF WRESTLING TOUGH GUYS
This tape is less than an hour long, so at least there’s that. Not much to it with zero recommended matches, even if the main event was solid. And yes, Dino Bravo has some of the highest-rated matches on these Coliseum Home Video reviews we’ve been doing. That’s something.
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