WWF Championship Wrestling: August 3rd, 1985

August 3, 1985

Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon

In action tonight are Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo, Hart Foundation, and the British Bulldogs. Plus, Randy Savage and Terry Funk in singles action and “Piper’s Pit” with guest Tito Santana

Barry O. & Larry Finnegan vs. Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo w/Capt. Lou Albano

Rotundo and Barry O. go at it for a minute. We then see Greg Valentine, Brutus Beefcake, and Jimmy Hart ringside, scouting the champs. Hart is calling his men the “Dream Team” through his megaphone. Windham hits Barry O. with a dropkick and a slam then tags Finnegan. Vince calls Finnegan the “biggest piece of garbage that he has ever seen” as that is a fitting line for a piece of shit like him. The champs hit Finnegan with a double dropkick then shortly after that, Windham puts him away with the bulldog (3:18).

Thoughts: Looks like the tag champs are moving on to a new feud already, which is a good thing because they have been spending the past several months wrestling Sheik & Volkoff. And for anyone wondering why I have been calling Finnegan a piece of shit, this is why:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Angela-Carella-Stamford-s-bloody-June-of-1988-4594639.php

WWF Update with Lord Alfred Hayes. This week’s subject is Corporal Mike Kirchner, who is in the 82^nd Airborne Division. We then are shown a vignette of Kirchner jumping out of plane with a parachute and when he lands, he says that is next jump will be to the WWF and he will “kick butt.” Kirchner’s delivery was wooden to say the least. For those who are unaware, Kirchner previously wrestled as jobber R.T. Reynolds. He would go on to have success in Japan as Leatherface after leaving the WWF.

Jim Londos vs. Missing Link w/Bobby Heenan

Londos hits a few dropkicks with minimal effect. Link headbutts him down then rams him into the corner, causing the entire top rope to fall down. Hillbilly Jim joins the announcers table and talks about voting Lou Albano for the “Manager of the Year” award as Link is destroying Londos with the turnbuckle. Link then puts away Londos with  a flying headbutt (1:33). After the match, some fan wearing a multi-colored wig starts to taunt Link, who then picks up the stairs and places it on the apron, whacking his own head against it repeatedly.

Thoughts: The rope falling off and Link using the fallen turnbuckle as a weapon made for a cool visual. However, the crowd usually sits on their hands when the Link is wrestling.

Gene Okerlund is backstage with Paul Orndorff, talking about his match against Roddy Piper. Nothing stood out about this interview.

Hart Foundation w/Jimmy Hart vs. George Wells & Joe Mirto

Wells starts by working the arm of Hart. Neidhart pulls down the ropes on Wells, who is able to skin the cat and take Bret down with a headscissors, who then takes down Neidhart. Wells works on Neidhart and tags Mirto, who gets taken right down. Hart hits a dropkick then they hit a few double-team moves. Wells chases Jimmy Hart away then the Hart Foundation hit the Hart Attack for the win (2:40).

Thoughts: Wells has officially made the transition to a jobber. Anyway, the Hart Foundation continue to improve and are starting to get more of a reaction from the crowd but in no way are they over as a heel act yet. Jimmy Hart is the reason for their heel heat

Mr. Fuji and Don Muraco are “via satellite” talking about their match against JYD and Ricky Steamboat at the Boston Garden. Again, nothing out of the ordinary from these two.

Jim Young vs. Terry Funk

Funk brought a branding iron with him to the ring. He chops Young before tossing him to the floor. He then stomps him from the apron before bringing him back into the ring. Funk drops an elbow then kicks him in the face. Young comes back with a hip toss and a dropkick. He hits a slam but misses an elbow drop then Funk drops him throat-first on the top rope before putting Young away with a sleeper (3:43). After the match, Funk retrieves his branding iron and puts it right on the chest of Young. He then starts slapping Young around then starts stomping him on the mat.

Thoughts: I liked the fact that Funk would sell for anyone. He continues to get over as a heel and the branding gimmick adds something new to the promotion, even if it is a cheap way to get heat.

Piper’s Pit with guest Tito Santana. Piper said that he does not need fans cheering for him to pretend that he has guts. Tito asks him about having Orton in his corner and Piper said he is his friend then calls out Tito for not defending the belt and wrestling in tag matches. He then calls out Tito for being afraid to collect the bounty on Orndorff when he said that Orndorff was his friend. Piper was great at agitating Tito in this segment.

Paul Roma vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage

Savage toys with Roma before putting him in an armbar. Roma manages a nearfall off of a sunset flip and hits a slam but ends up getting tossed through the ropes. Savage flies out with the double axe handle before rolling him back inside then finishes him off with the flying elbow smash (2:04). After the match, Savage calls out Hulk Hogan.

Thoughts: Fun match. Savage was such a breath of fresh air to the WWF. He was a star the instant he entered the company.

Hillbilly Jim gives the kids a Public Service Announcement about making sure they use the sidewalks and to be careful crossing the street.  

British Bulldogs vs. Jerry Adams & Moondog Spot

Spot and Dynamite go back and forth to start. Dynamite gets a nearfall with a crossbody block. Spot knocks him down and hits a fist drop from the middle rope for two. Vince informs us that Lou Albano has just surpassed Freddie Blassie for the lead in the “Manager of the Year” Award. Dynamite is able to tag out as Davey hits Adams with the running powerslam then Dynamite hits the flying headbutt for the win (3:40).

Thoughts: This was pretty dull, actually. The announcers spent a majority of the match hyping the “Manager of the Year” award too.

Okerlund is backstage with Piper. He asks him about Orton being barred from his match against Orndorff in Boston by Jack Tunney. Piper says that he hired Orton as his bodyguard because everyone is constantly trying to be around him. Piper then recalls when he was driving and Orndorff told him about his psychological problems and recommended that he call Dr. Ruth. Piper then goes insane for a minute, even  more so than usual, with his voice shrieking and face looking like it is about to explode. Great stuff by Piper

Final Thoughts: I thought this turned out to be a fun show. The “Manager of the Year” award angle is getting interesting and the angle between Piper and Orndorff is starting to heat up. Also, they teased a new feud for the Tag Team Champions and showcased their newer heels, Terry Funk and Randy Savage.