August 1, 1987
From the Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and Vince McMahon
In action this week will be Brutus Beefcake & The Rougeau Brothers, Ken Patera, and the Honky Tonk Man. Plus, the posedown between Butch Reed and Superstar Billy Graham and more
Bubba Kirk & Rick Renslow & Dave Wagner vs. The Rougeau Brothers & Brutus Beefcake
The Rougeaus hit Wagner with a double dropkick. Renslow comes in for a cheapshot and gets hit with a double dropkick himself. Beefcake and Kirk tag in as we get an insert prom from the New Dream Team as they tell Beefcake he will not get away for what he did to them. He hits a back suplex then tags out as the Rougeaus get the win with the Rougeau Bomb (1:54). After the match, Beefcake cuts Kirk's hair then spray paints a giant "B" on his chest.
Thoughts: Not much to the match other than Beefcake cutting the hair of Kirk at the end. This also continues the feud the three winners have against the New Dream Team.
WWF Update with Craig DeGeorge. We see a clip of the Fabulous Moolah losing her Women's Title to Sherri Martel at a House Show in Houston. Martel got the win after rolling through a slam attempt.
Bobby Heenan heads to the ring with King Harley Race and Hercules. He tells us that he has been in pain for months due to Ken Patera but will no longer worry about that as he can relax as he has found the newest member of the Bobby Heenan family, "Ravishing" Rick Rude. As he heads inside, Rude removes his robe then flexes as Jesse is in awe.
Mario Mancini & Rick Hunter & Jerry Allen vs. King Harley Race & Hercules w/ Bobby Heenan
Rude starts the match as he powerslams Allen, the man we fought in his MSG debut a week prior. Race tags and beats on Allen as we get Heenan in an insert promo saying that Rude will also help him sign Bam Bam as they are good friends. Back to the match as Hunter gets roughed up until Rude puts him away with a slingshot suplex (1:38). Jesse also puts over Rude as a National Arm Wrestling Champion.
Thoughts: Solid TV debut for Rude as the WWF continues to add more talent to the roster. Hercules and Race were just their are garnish, to borrow from Dusty Rhodes.
Gene Okerlund is with Hulk Hogan, who will be facing Killer Khan at the Cow Palace on August 25th. Hogan flexes to the side of the camera then he tells us how after Khan spit mist in his eyes, he spoke with Oliver North to devise a battle plan to take care of Khan and Fuji. Goofy promo from Hogan. Well, goofier than usual.
A Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase vignette airs. He asks the clerk at the hotel for the finest room but is informed that the Honeymoon Suite has been reserved for months and the people have already checked in but Virgil throws her enough money to let them have the room. We then see Virgil ordering the just married couple out of the room as DiBiase is off to the side telling us its not the clerks fault as she has her price, just like us. He also adds that in ten years that couple would probably want separate rooms. When we get back to the show, Jesse is laughing saying that guy probably didn't know what to do on his wedding night.
Ken Patera vs. Terry Gibbs
Gibbs sneak attacks Patera but that fails as Patera rams Gibbs head into the corner. Patera then roughs him up until he finishes him off with the bearhug (1:21). Patera poses to the crowd after the win, getting a decent reaction.
Thoughts: Quick squash as they are still trying to put over Patera. Its not really working.
Okerlund is now with The Islanders. Haku puts over the leadership they are receiving from Heenan and will get the belts. Tama then tells us what Heenan wants is what they get and they will get the belts. I never heard Haku speak for this long during a promo. It was odd.
Joe Malano vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart
Malano is built like a swimmer who stopped training a year ago. Honky stomps on Malano after hitting a back elbow match. Hart is then shown in an insert promo saying that he will sign Bam Bam, who will be making an announcement about this next week. Honky stays on the attack and takes Malano down with a clothesline before hitting the Shake, Rattle, and Roll for the win (2:22). After the match, Honky thanks the crowd then sings and dances for them as they boo.
Thoughts: Honky's heel act was quite enjoyable.
DeGeorge is now on the podium with Rick Martel. He asks Martel about his partner, who quit, as Martel tells us it was hard to take. They will not mention Zenk by name. Martel then tells us he is not a quitter and does not care if he is by himself as he will fight the Islanders for what they have done. He then puts over the crowd for being behind him. They are going to continue this feud without Zenk and even here it seemed set up to give Martel a new partner.
Howard Finkel welcomes Okerlund to the ring as he is the host of the posedown. Both competitors eventually make it to the ring. Okerlund goes over the rules, which has the guys do four poses each, and tells the fans that they are the judges, which will be based off of their noise. They pose and it is boring until Reed attacks Graham, going after his hip. Graham fights back and tosses Reed to the floor. Graham goes nuts in the ring, as do the fans, while we see Reed and Slick head up the aisle. The segment wasn't much but the crowd was really into it and it was a smart idea to have this take place in a WWF town like Glens Falls.
Outback Jack tells us about the dangers of Killer Khan's mist, comparing it to mace.
Killer Khan w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Eric Cooper
Khan immediately knocks down Cooper then stomps away. Fuji is shown in an insert promo telling us he will sign Bam Bam because he signs all of the "big men." Back to the match as Khan sprays mist into the face of Cooper then hits a backbreaker setting up for the top rope knee drop and the win (1:13).
Thoughts: Quick match to put over Khan and his mist. The only thing Jack did good in the WWF was putting over Khan's mist.
Okerlund is with Mr. Fuji, who tells Hogan to be on his toes when he faces Killer Khan. Demolition then walk in as they talk about their match against Ken Patera & Billy Jack Haynes. That match never happened as Patera got hurt and was replaced by George Steele. These Cow Palace matches actually took place before a "Wrestling Challenge." The Demolition interview was unmemorable and they are usually entertaining with Okerlund.
Next week in action will be Jake Roberts, Demolition, Hart Foundation, George Steele, and the One Man Gang.
Final Thoughts: Not a bad show at all. Rude made his TV debut, DiBiase had another great vignette, and they are at least doing a good job of building up Khan as a challenger to Hogan by focusing on the mist. Also, they made a big advancement in the Bam Bam storyline as they made it appear that Hart was the frontrunner, with an announcement next week.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Kevin Steen
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/2/87
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/8/87
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/9/87
From the Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and Vince McMahon
In action this week will be Brutus Beefcake & The Rougeau Brothers, Ken Patera, and the Honky Tonk Man. Plus, the posedown between Butch Reed and Superstar Billy Graham and more
Bubba Kirk & Rick Renslow & Dave Wagner vs. The Rougeau Brothers & Brutus Beefcake
The Rougeaus hit Wagner with a double dropkick. Renslow comes in for a cheapshot and gets hit with a double dropkick himself. Beefcake and Kirk tag in as we get an insert prom from the New Dream Team as they tell Beefcake he will not get away for what he did to them. He hits a back suplex then tags out as the Rougeaus get the win with the Rougeau Bomb (1:54). After the match, Beefcake cuts Kirk's hair then spray paints a giant "B" on his chest.
Thoughts: Not much to the match other than Beefcake cutting the hair of Kirk at the end. This also continues the feud the three winners have against the New Dream Team.
WWF Update with Craig DeGeorge. We see a clip of the Fabulous Moolah losing her Women's Title to Sherri Martel at a House Show in Houston. Martel got the win after rolling through a slam attempt.
Bobby Heenan heads to the ring with King Harley Race and Hercules. He tells us that he has been in pain for months due to Ken Patera but will no longer worry about that as he can relax as he has found the newest member of the Bobby Heenan family, "Ravishing" Rick Rude. As he heads inside, Rude removes his robe then flexes as Jesse is in awe.
Mario Mancini & Rick Hunter & Jerry Allen vs. King Harley Race & Hercules w/ Bobby Heenan
Rude starts the match as he powerslams Allen, the man we fought in his MSG debut a week prior. Race tags and beats on Allen as we get Heenan in an insert promo saying that Rude will also help him sign Bam Bam as they are good friends. Back to the match as Hunter gets roughed up until Rude puts him away with a slingshot suplex (1:38). Jesse also puts over Rude as a National Arm Wrestling Champion.
Thoughts: Solid TV debut for Rude as the WWF continues to add more talent to the roster. Hercules and Race were just their are garnish, to borrow from Dusty Rhodes.
Gene Okerlund is with Hulk Hogan, who will be facing Killer Khan at the Cow Palace on August 25th. Hogan flexes to the side of the camera then he tells us how after Khan spit mist in his eyes, he spoke with Oliver North to devise a battle plan to take care of Khan and Fuji. Goofy promo from Hogan. Well, goofier than usual.
A Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase vignette airs. He asks the clerk at the hotel for the finest room but is informed that the Honeymoon Suite has been reserved for months and the people have already checked in but Virgil throws her enough money to let them have the room. We then see Virgil ordering the just married couple out of the room as DiBiase is off to the side telling us its not the clerks fault as she has her price, just like us. He also adds that in ten years that couple would probably want separate rooms. When we get back to the show, Jesse is laughing saying that guy probably didn't know what to do on his wedding night.
Ken Patera vs. Terry Gibbs
Gibbs sneak attacks Patera but that fails as Patera rams Gibbs head into the corner. Patera then roughs him up until he finishes him off with the bearhug (1:21). Patera poses to the crowd after the win, getting a decent reaction.
Thoughts: Quick squash as they are still trying to put over Patera. Its not really working.
Okerlund is now with The Islanders. Haku puts over the leadership they are receiving from Heenan and will get the belts. Tama then tells us what Heenan wants is what they get and they will get the belts. I never heard Haku speak for this long during a promo. It was odd.
Joe Malano vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart
Malano is built like a swimmer who stopped training a year ago. Honky stomps on Malano after hitting a back elbow match. Hart is then shown in an insert promo saying that he will sign Bam Bam, who will be making an announcement about this next week. Honky stays on the attack and takes Malano down with a clothesline before hitting the Shake, Rattle, and Roll for the win (2:22). After the match, Honky thanks the crowd then sings and dances for them as they boo.
Thoughts: Honky's heel act was quite enjoyable.
DeGeorge is now on the podium with Rick Martel. He asks Martel about his partner, who quit, as Martel tells us it was hard to take. They will not mention Zenk by name. Martel then tells us he is not a quitter and does not care if he is by himself as he will fight the Islanders for what they have done. He then puts over the crowd for being behind him. They are going to continue this feud without Zenk and even here it seemed set up to give Martel a new partner.
Howard Finkel welcomes Okerlund to the ring as he is the host of the posedown. Both competitors eventually make it to the ring. Okerlund goes over the rules, which has the guys do four poses each, and tells the fans that they are the judges, which will be based off of their noise. They pose and it is boring until Reed attacks Graham, going after his hip. Graham fights back and tosses Reed to the floor. Graham goes nuts in the ring, as do the fans, while we see Reed and Slick head up the aisle. The segment wasn't much but the crowd was really into it and it was a smart idea to have this take place in a WWF town like Glens Falls.
Outback Jack tells us about the dangers of Killer Khan's mist, comparing it to mace.
Killer Khan w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Eric Cooper
Khan immediately knocks down Cooper then stomps away. Fuji is shown in an insert promo telling us he will sign Bam Bam because he signs all of the "big men." Back to the match as Khan sprays mist into the face of Cooper then hits a backbreaker setting up for the top rope knee drop and the win (1:13).
Thoughts: Quick match to put over Khan and his mist. The only thing Jack did good in the WWF was putting over Khan's mist.
Okerlund is with Mr. Fuji, who tells Hogan to be on his toes when he faces Killer Khan. Demolition then walk in as they talk about their match against Ken Patera & Billy Jack Haynes. That match never happened as Patera got hurt and was replaced by George Steele. These Cow Palace matches actually took place before a "Wrestling Challenge." The Demolition interview was unmemorable and they are usually entertaining with Okerlund.
Next week in action will be Jake Roberts, Demolition, Hart Foundation, George Steele, and the One Man Gang.
Final Thoughts: Not a bad show at all. Rude made his TV debut, DiBiase had another great vignette, and they are at least doing a good job of building up Khan as a challenger to Hogan by focusing on the mist. Also, they made a big advancement in the Bam Bam storyline as they made it appear that Hart was the frontrunner, with an announcement next week.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Kevin Steen
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/2/87
Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/8/87
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/9/87