WWF Saturday Night's Main Event V (Version II)

Original Airdate: March 1, 1986

From Phoenix, Arizona; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

Mr. T works a heavy bag in preparation for tonight's boxing match against Bob Orton

Boxing Match: Bob Orton v Mr. T: Three minute rounds here. In the pre-match interview, Roddy Piper produces a newspaper clipping with picture of Mr. T and notes that this 'ain't the kind of guy you want your kids hanging around.' I guess Hulk Hogan took that advice to heart.
ROUND 1: Very even round, with both guys trading unenthusiastic swings, until Orton manages to upset him with an eye jab, and Mr. T goes ballistic on him until the round ends - Bob taking a cheap shot at the bell.
ROUND 2: T is still pissed, and comes out hot, so of course, Orton cheats by dropping him with a kneelift, and it's over at 4:00. T's corner crew celebrating the win like a definitive knockout is pretty hilarious - like and 80s SummerSlam '93, or something. Piper thinks it's pretty stupid too, as he starts spitting at T, and goads him into a fight - only to have Orton jump him for a beat down. Boxing gimmicks in wrestling have always (and will always) suck, and this was no exception. But, it was quick, and served its purpose - no harm done. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

Gene Okerlund catches up with Mr. T after the commercial break, and T notes that no one but his mama has ever whooped him, and that when he was six years old. Luckily, Gene is able to control the interview, lest Mr. T continue to tell us more about his mama

King Kong Bundy v Steve Gatorwolf: Hard to believe Bundy wasn't even thirty years old yet at this point. Just born that way, I guess. Nothing squash, as Bundy hits the Avalanche at 0:41. Five count, baby! Nothing, but like the boxing match, it was quick and served its purpose. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v Don Muraco: Weird yellow tights/boots with white kneepad combo for Hogan tonight. Mr. Fuji is faking sick, so Bobby Heenan stands in for him in Muraco's corner. Muraco attacks and manages a couple of turnbuckle smashes, then takes a page out of Hogan's book with a series of backrakes. He even adds a chestrake for good measure. What is this, FMW? Tone it down, guys! Cross corner whip is reversed, however, and Hulk backdrops him, then returns the favor with a series of backrakes. Cross corner clothesline flops Muraco, and an atomic drop sends him to the outside. Hulk stays on him out there, and dominates a slugfest on the way back in for two. Bearhug, but Muraco uses a headbutt to escape, and he punts Hogan in the ribs, then drops a leg. Muraco's lucky Undertaker wasn't around yet, because all this offense stealing would undoubtedly have landed him in Wrestler's Court in a different era. Don keeps working him over with basic punch-kick stuff, and a falling headbutt to the groin sets up a 2^nd rope fistdrop, but that only triggers a HULK UP!! Cross Corner Backelbow! Big Boot! Legdrop! - but here's Heenan to break up the pin, and get Muraco disqualified in the process at 6:53. Afterwards, Hogan goes to beat Heenan down, but here's King Kong Bundy to save his manager, and (along with Muraco's help) it's Avalanche time for Hogan! Hulk takes three of them, followed by a pair of splashes to (kayfabe) injure his ribs to setup the showdown at WrestleMania - including a full stretcher job from the Hulkster. I love how all the babyfaces only hit the ring AFTER Bundy and Muraco are safely out. Guess they like Hogan, but not enough to actually risk their own wellbeing to help him. That's always nice. This was more about the angle than anything going on in the ring, but the action was decent enough as well, and the angle led to a WrestleMania main event, so it's certainly notable. ¾* (Original rating: ¼*)

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Dream Team v The British Bulldogs: The Bulldog's beat the Dream Team in a non-title match back in January to set this up. Greg Valentine starts with Davey Boy Smith, and quickly takes an atomic drop and a headbutt for two. Vertical suplex gets two, and Smith passes to Dynamite Kid for a tandem shoulderblock for two. Tag to Brutus Beefcake, but Kid dodges a double-team, and turnbuckle smashes him, then tags back out to Davey. Great pacing thus far here. Smith works the arm with a wristlock, but fails to cut the ring in half, and Valentine tags. Davey keeps things going with a press-slam for two, and looking unbelievably babyfaced in the process. Hard to believe how young he was during his entire mainstream career sometimes... hell he was only thirty nine when he passed. Bulldogs with a tandem headbutt, and Kid drops a pair of knees on the Hammer. A well executed side suplex sets up a falling headbutt for two, and a 2^nd rope flying kneedrop follows. Back to Davey, and he wins a slugfest with a dropkick, then hooks a small package for two. The challengers continue to cut the ring in half on Valentine, but Kid walks into an inverted atomic drop, and Beefcake is able to tag in. That nearly triggers a four-way brawl on the floor, and the Bulldogs get the best of it when Davey nails Beefcake with a missile dropkick for two. His style changed so much once he got bloated up in the 90s, but 80s Davey Boy was doing some crazy stuff. Tag to Valentine for a Figure Four, but Kid breaks it up, and tags in himself. Greg destroys him in a slugfest, however, and delivers a 2^nd rope flying elbowdrop for two. Shoulderbreaker gets two, and Beefcake tags in with a snapmare for two. The champs briefly cut the ring in half on Kid, but Valentine fails to apply the Figure Four, and Kid slams him off the top rope, then adds a missile dropkick of his own for two. Clothesline gets two, but a crisp snap suplex draws triggers a four-way brawl - a double knockout leaving Valentine passed out on top of Kid for the fluke win to retain at 10:00, thus setting up a rubber match for WrestleMania 2. Awesome stuff here, with both teams displaying tremendous chemistry, and able to work a fast paced, refreshingly non-formula bout. *** ¼ (Original rating: ** ¾ )

Gene Okerlund is outside the hospital where Hulk Hogan as been rushed following the attack by Bundy and Muraco earlier, and is waiting for an update from the attending physician. I love stuff like that, as it adds to the overall realism

Real American music video! One of the best theme songs ever (not that they're doing much to try and top it these days, with their cookie cutter bullshit stuff that all sounds the same), and Hogan emphatically ripping up a picture of Gaddafi and then posing is the kind of 80s cheese I live for

Junkyard Dog v Adrian Adonis: Dog destroys him from the get-go, and a clothesline gets him two. Earringer hits, and a whip into the corner sends Adrian flipping over the top rope with gusto. Manager Jimmy Hart tries to pull Adonis away, but JYD ain't havin' it, and pulls them both in for a beating. Dog with a headbutt for two, so Jimmy uses one of Adrian's scarves to tie his boot to the bottom rope, and Adonis chokes him out. Adonis goes to work, but an attempt to whip JYD into Hart's megaphone is reversed for the pin at 6:45. I didn't need seven minutes of it. ¼* (Original rating: DUD)

Gene is still outside the medical center, where the attending physician note that while Hogan does not have any internal bleeding, he has suffered substantial damage to the ribs

BUExperience: It certainly makes a nice companion piece for WrestleMania 2, as a lot of the major angles are set up on this show, and the tag title match is certainly worth seeking and checking out, but overall this one just didn’t do it for me