June 8, 1985
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon
In action this week are Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff, Ricky Steamboat, and George “The Animal” Steele. Plus, Bobby Heenan hosts “Piper’s Pit.”
Sal Gee & Jose Luis Rivera vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/Freddie Blassie
After an Irish whip spot, Rivera gets two off of a sunset flip. Sheik quickly regains control and hits a backdrop. Volkoff tags and hammers away on Rivera in the corner. All of a sudden, George Steele runs up on the apron but Albano get him off as Vince lets us know that Steele’s match is coming up next. Back to the action as Sheik has Gee in the Camel Clutch and gets the win (2:38). After the match, the jobbers get tossed out to the floor.
Thoughts: The tag champs have been heavily featured on TV. The crowd still hates them though.
WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week’s subject is about Jimmy Hart. They show a clip of him tossing a bucket of water at Lord Alfred Hayes on the set of TNT as he laughs hysterically. They put over the stable of wrestlers that he has acquired.
Mike Powers vs. George “The Animal” Steele w/Capt. Lou Albano
Steele refers to Animal coming to the ring like a madman as “vintage.” Now we know where Cole gets it from. Steele chases Powers outside and lands a few shots. Powers stays outside for a minute then comes back in and submits to the flying hammerlock (1:51).
Thoughts: Steele as a face is still in its infancy but the crowd has taken a liking to him so far.
Gene Okerlund is with Capt. Lou Albano. He asks him about Steele and how he has helped him. Steele comes out as Albano says that shock treatments have been helping as Steele says relax.
The Spoiler w/Johnny Valiant vs. Joe Mirto
The Spoiler hits a few kneedrops before choking out Mirto. He gets on the top rope and hits Mirto with a forearm smash. Mirto gets booted right in the face then continues to get his ass kicked until he gets hit with a flying forearm off of the top rope then the Spoiler gets the win with a claw hold (3:08). The Spoiler kept the hold on after the match for a minute.
Thoughts: The Spoiler made his first appearance on “Championship Wrestling” since the beginning of the year. He wasn’t bad at all but past his prime and the crowd never really seemed to care about him in his final run.
Okerlund is with Blassie, Sheik and Volkoff. Blassie makes fun of Albano for feeling the effects of Steele’s shock treatments as Volkoff is sick of Rotundo & Windham whining.
The Axe vs. David Sammartino
They start out at a fast pace as Sammartino is in control. He takes the Axe over with a hip toss then hits a cradle out of an abdominal stretch. He works the arm for a bit then catches him with a backbreaker that didn’t quite work out and looks like a botched attempt at the powerslam, which followed that sequence and Sammartino gets the win (3:33).
Thoughts: The botch was really noticeable but that was all that stood out. Sammartino wasn’t bad in the ring but he wasn’t deserving of a push. He did not have charisma.
Piper’s Pit with guest host Bobby Heenan. Orton is still the bodyguard here. Anyway, the guest is Tito Santana. Heenan asks Santana if he is interested in his bounty, so he can send some pesos back to his family at home. Tito promises that it will be a cold day in hell for anyone who steps in the ring with Orndorff. Heenan threatens a bounty on Santana, who says that he wouldn’t mind teaming up with Orndorff and putting a bounty on him.
Aldo Marino vs. The Missing Link w/Bobby Heenan
The Link attacks Marino before the bell. He no-sells a dropkick then continues his assault. He mostly uses headbutts to attack then no-sells some more offense as he is busted open. He hits a slam then rams his own head off of the turnbuckle before hitting another slam, setting up the flying headbutt for the win (2:12).
Thoughts: The match was boring and the Missing Link never caught on in the WWF. He wasn’t around much longer.
Mr. X vs. Ricky Steamboat
The announcers put over Steamboat’s martial arts skills. Steamobat is even wearing newer gear, including long tights. He gets the better of Mr. X, who ducks outside for a breather. Back in, Steamboat uses a pair of leapfrogs before hitting an armdrag. Mr. X comes back with a slam but walks into another armdrag. Steamboat skins the cat and Mr. X charges but Steamboat leapfrogs and X spills out to the floor. X drags Steamboat outside and rams him against the post. Back in the ring, Steamboat fights back and hits a few chops. He then hits a swinging neckbreaker and a few more chops before putting him away with a flying body press (5:06).
Thoughts: Long for a TV squash but a nice match overall. The karate gimmick for Steamboat is terrible but he somehow made it work. His chops and “karate” kicks were really goofy and over-the-top though.
Okerlund is with Big John Studd. He calls him out for still carrying Andre’s hair as he promises to walk out a champion in Boston
Next week, Paul Orndorff will be in action. Also, Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Moondog Spot, Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine and the returning B. Brian Blair.
Final Thoughts: A fairly uneventful episode of Championship Wrestling. There were no big happenings this week either. Even the guys on the show weren’t people that the fans particularly cared about.