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

Original Airdate: November 28, 1987

From Seattle, Washington; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

George Steele plays with his toys, while Danny Davis rings his bell. And they thought the Attitude Era was bad, this show is totally inappropriate for children

George Steele v Danny Davis: I like how Davis always makes sure to tell the referee whats-what before his matches. That's a nice little bit of attention to detail. Steele is less impressed, and blitzes Davis at the bell. He unloads, but gets distracted by a tasty turnbuckle, and Danny attacks - only to get knocked to the floor in short order. They lather, rinse, and repeat that a couple of times, until Steele flips out and grabs a chair (and not even the folding kind - he is slow), and Davis manages to take over while George argues with the referee. Danny unloads with a foreign object in the corner, but gets too cute with the referee, and gets disqualified at 3:49. Just a comedy match. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

Backstage, the Hart Foundation fear the daughter of the devil, while Randy Savage rants about the 'danger zone' more than Paul Heyman and Tom Cruise combined

Randy Savage v Bret Hart: In another nice touch, Savage won't let Elizabeth climb into the ring to open the ropes, lest she get too close to the Hart Foundation. Considering Bret's reputation on the road, that's probably wise. Savage is still good and pissed following the events of the last SNME, and attacks Hart on the floor with a shot into the post. Inside, Randy unloads on him in the corner, but misses a charge, and Bret hammers away. Snapmare sets up a pointed elbowdrop, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and Savage hits him with an overhead elbowsmash, then uses the top rope as a slingshot to send Hart crashing into the rail. Savage stops to take out Jim Neidhart and Jimmy Hart before diving after Bret with a flying axehandle, but the reprieve allows the Hitman to snag Jimmy's megaphone, and he swats the Macho Man out of the air with it. Anvil rolls him in for Bret to legdrop, then hang in a tree of woe for a beating. Piledriver gets two, but a cross corner charge misses, and Savage tosses him shoulder-first into the post for good measure. Hairtoss sets up a flying axehandle for two, but Bret fights back with a backbreaker to setup a 2^nd rope elbowdrop - Macho dodging. Savage snaps his throat across the top rope for two, but he gets too wild with a charge, and Bret backdrops him over the top. Randy hurts his leg on the landing, and pulls off his boot to try and alleviate the pain. He sells like crazy as he fights to beat the count back in, but Bret shows no mercy - going eight after the ankle. He stomps it before wrapping it around the post, and a spinning-toehold leaves Savage in trouble. Macho manages to escape by shoving the Hitman into the corner for two, but Bret swipes at the leg again, and applies a half-crab. Savage makes the ropes, so Bret snapmares him in from the apron, and keeps pounding the leg. Bodyslam, but Savage hangs on to counter it into an inside cradle for the pin at 12:03. I know this one is pretty universally loved, but it's only 'okay.' Like, I really thought I underrated this one the first time out, but I came up with the exact same star rating this time out as well. The angle is top notch, Savage's selling is exemplary, but the match as a whole never really got into that upper echelon of stuff. ** ½ (Original rating: ** ½)

Backstage, King Kong Bundy doesn't care about the Hulkamorons. Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan DOES care about the Hulkamorons. See, and that's the difference

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v King Kong Bundy: Andre the Giant is hanging out at ringside, since Hogan/Andre = ratings, baby! Meanwhile, Jesse is still trying to convince us that Andre had Hogan pinned in the opening moments of their WrestleMania main event. Power-showdown to start, and Bundy wins with a shoulderblock, so Hulk throws a high knee for two. Bodyslam, but Bundy topples him for two, and lays the boot down. King Kong with a bodyslam to setup a splash, but Hulk rolls out of the way, and nails him with a running forearm smash to setup a series of three elbowdrop for two. Bundy manages a clothesline for two, and he grounds the champ with a chinlock. Hulk fades, but escapes, and hits a big boot. Legdrop, but Andre trips him up from the floor. Hey, maybe don't run the ropes right in front of him next time, ya think? Not saying Andre was right to trip him, but why even give him the opportunity? King Kong tries to capitalize with a sneak attack, but Hogan dodges him, and knocks him to the floor so he can have the ring to himself to properly cry and moan to the referee about Andre. Andre gets annoyed and decides to climb in and kick the shit out of big baby Hogan then and there, but Bundy and Bobby Heenan plead with him not to - since the DQ would kill Bundy's chances of winning the belt. Hogan, of course, keeps egging him on, since he's not only a giant baby, but also a big prick, to boot. Don't get me wrong, I loved the guy too, but the character makes me cringe so much watching him as an adult. Andre decides to go back to the dressing room, and with that out of the way, Bundy is able to unload on Hulk in the corner. Cross corner whip gets reversed, however, and Hogan follows him in with a clothesline, then unloads a series of turnbuckle smashes - one for each top buckle! High knee sets up an elbowdrop, but Bundy rolls out of the way, and drops an axehandle on him for two. Bundy with a cross corner whip and a bearhug, as some black guy in the front row jumps up in anger. Might want to think twice before rushing to defend Hulk Hogan there, buddy. Avalanche looks to finish, and Bundy adds a splash to make sure, but Hogan still HULKS UP!! Fists of Fury! Bodyslam! Bundy rolls to the floor to avoid the Legdrop, and Hulk follows - brawling with him. The champ gets the best of it, but Heenan hooks his ankle to prevent him from climbing back in, and Bundy wins via countout at 13:45. They don't call him the Brain for nothing - now Jack Tunney will have to sign a rematch! Hogan and Bundy always had pretty decent chemistry, and this was no exception. Plus, the angle with Andre was top notch. * ¼ (Original rating: ¼*)

Backstage, Hercules looks like he's about ready to explode, while Bam Bam Bigelow looks like a giant flamer. Oh no, wait, that's just Oliver Humperdink

Hercules v Bam Bam Bigelow: Hercules also misreads Bam Bam's tattoos, and gives him two tickets to the gun show, but the Beast from the East doesn't appreciate it. Hercules gets the best of a power-showdown with a knee to the gut, and a backelbow sets up a clothesline over the top. Bigelow snapmares him out of the ring for a brawl, and he delivers a bodyslam out there, but they're not mindful of the count, and we have a draw at 4:00. Bigelow challenges Hercules to continue, however, and we're back on. Another power-showdown goes Bam Bam's way when he outsmarts Hercules, but a dropkick misses, and Hercules drops a pair of elbows. Kneedrop follows, but a flying bodypress is caught by Bigelow with a press-slam, and a slingshot splash finishes at 7:00. Watchable, but not much to this one. ½* (Original rating: ½*)

Gene Okerlund informs us that Bobby Heenan sustained a neck injury at the hands of Hulk Hogan earlier on. King Kong Bundy and Andre the Giant don't seem to care much though, as they have their own problems to worry about (a title rematch and a trip to the dry cleaners, respectively). Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan refuses to share the number for his dry cleaner. Again, as a kid, that didn't seem so bad, but as an adult, that's just a dick move on the part of the world champion

BUExperience: A very entertaining episode, with a lot of focus on the Hogan/Heenan Family and Savage/Hart Foundation angles – both of which are among the best of the 1980s