WWF Championship Wrestling: June 15th, 1985

June 15, 1985

Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon.

In action tonight are Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake, Tito Santana, Ricky Steamboat, and Paul Orndorff.

Dave Barbie vs. Tito Santana

Barbie shoves Santana twice off of a lockup. Tito then goes behind him and from that hits a slam and a dropkick. Barbie ducks outside for a breather for a moment then comes in only for Tito to take him down. Tito ducks a clothesline and they have some miscommunication before Santana takes him down with a leg whip. Santana knocks Barbie down with some forearm smashes, which prompts Vince to remind us of his “Latin temper.” The crowd chants for Tito as he works the arm of Barbie. Tito gets backed into the corner but fights right back. He hits a backdrop then attempts to put on the figure four but Barbie seemed to not be able to take the hold and from there, Tito drops a knee right on his chest before putting him away with the flying forearm (4:30).

Thoughts: Tito seemed pissed at Barbie, who was out of position on more than a few occasions. The announcers hyped Tito, referring to him as one of the greats in the company.

WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week, the subject is Jesse “The Body” Ventura and how he has been taunting Bruno Sammartino.

B. Brian Blair vs. Steve Lombardi

Blair makes his return after a nine month leave. They start by trading go-behinds until Blair grabs hold of the arm. He hits a shoulderblock then uses a drop toehold. As Blair works the arm, Finkel does a voiceover for a local show in Fitchburg, MA that will feature newcomers like Randy Savage and Jim Brunzell, who we will be seeing in the upcoming weeks. Lombardi fights out and even manages to hit a backbreaker but Blair fires away then slams him down. He hits a clothesline then heads up top before hitting a double axe handle then drops the elbow for the win (4:08).

Thoughts: Blair was a little less boring than usual but still doesn’t show much at all in terms of personality. At least is was a good worker but I cant help but think that if he hadn’t been thrown into the Killer Bees gimmick, he would have been on the same level as guys like Lanny Poffo and Rick McGraw during the rest of his run, due to the complete lack of personality

Jack Reynolds runs down the June 25^th show at the Boston Garden before welcoming the Junkyard Dog, who will be facing Greg Valentine for the Intercontinental Title. JYD said the last time he was in Boston, he got his pocket picked then calls Jimmy Hart a mouse. JYD also promises that Big John Studd will bite the dust after facing Hulk Hogan.

Rene Goulet vs. Ricky Steamboat

Steamboat leapfrogs over Goulet then hiptosses him out of the corner. He hits some sort of karate kick, which looked pathetic, that sends Goulet to the floor. Back inside, Steamboat hits a flying headscissors and Goulet goes back outside. The announcers put over his agility as he grabs a side headlock. Goulet catches him with an inverted atomic drop then puts on the claw. The ref counts to two then Steamboat fights back. He takes him down with a chop then does some karate poses before hitting the flying body press for the win (3:25). After the match, Goulet attacks Steamboat from behind but that doesn’t last as Steamboat hits a backdrop that has Goulet scrambling outside.

Thoughts: I give Steamboat all of the credit in the world for pulling off this goofy martial arts gimmick. He somehow made it work, despite his goofy kicks and poses.

Reynolds is with Freddy Blassie. He says that Windham & Rotundo have no chance at getting the belts then does an impression of JYD before saying he will lose to Valentine. He also promises that Studd will beat Hulk Hogan.

Jim Young & Bobby Leon vs. Barry O. & Moondog Spot

Spot beats on Young as Finkel does a voiceover promoting the first ever “King of the Ring,” which took place at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, MA, which was the former home of the New England Patriots. Barry is now beating on Young, who makes the tag to Leon. The heels work over Leon in the corner until Spot drops him right on his head after performing a shoulderbreaker then Barry hits a knee drop from the middle rope.

Thoughts: I am shocked that Leon got up after that move and when he did, he was dazed and confused. Barry O. was an average wrestler with little personality and would be a permanent jobber when Rex made his return.

Piper’s Pit with guest host Bobby Heenan. He says that Piper is home resting his vocal cords and comments on Orton’s watch, which he said was a gift from Piper. As this is going on, the Missing Link is pacing all over the set like a maniac while Heenan tells the crowd to take a look at the man who will collect the $25,000 bounty on Orndorff. Link growls into the microphone at the end of the interview. Link is not really getting over and his gimmick was more of a hit in the 1970’s than here.

A.J. Petruzzi vs. Paul Orndorff

Orndorff comes out to some generic 80’s rock music and the crowd goes nuts. Orndorff backs Petruzzi into the ropes then hits a shoulderblock. He drops an elbow, which prompts Vince to say “vintage Orndorff.” Orndorff hits a running knee smash then a kneelift before tossing him over the top rope. Orndorff follows him out and slams him on the floor then goes into the ring and poses before hitting the piledriver for the win (2:28).

Thoughts: Its funny how despite turning face, Orndorff continued to wrestle the same way he did as a heel. You rarely saw babyfaces in the 1980’s toss job guys out of the ring then slam them on the concrete.

Mario Mancini & Paul Roma vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake w/Jimmy Hart & Luscious Johnny Valiant

Both men take turns beating on Roma. Mancini tags and gets the same treatment. Mancini tries to fight back but Beefcake rakes the eyes then tags Valentine, who beats on Mancini. He also knocks Roma off of the apron before he can make the tag. Beefcake hits a flying knee smash then Valentine softens him up before applying the figure four (4:16).   

Thoughts: They are putting over the team of Valentine & Beefcake strong. Their opponents didn’t land any offense at all.

Reynolds is with Jimmy Hart, who briefly says that JYD has nothing. Heenan and Studd then come out afterwards and talk about trophies as Studd holds the bag containing Andre’s hair.

Next week, Tony Atlas & Ivan Putski will be in action. Plus, the Missing Link, Brett Hart & Jim Neidhart, and Ricky Steamboat will be in action.

Final Thoughts:  The action was decent enough but not a whole lot happened here as the Pit segment with Missing Link didn’t go over well and the return of Brian Blair was also pedestrian. There isn’t a whole lot of direction right now, with Hogan out of the storylines and Piper at home.