WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event II (October 1985)

Original Airdate: October 5, 1985

After the success of the first Saturday Night’s Main Event in May – with the WWF still running wild in the thick of the Golden Age – they came back for another late night special on NBC that fall.

From East Rutherford, New Jersey; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura.


WWF Title Flag Match: Hulk Hogan v Nikolai Volkoff: Flag match rules always vary, depending on who is booking, but in this case it isn't 'capture the flag' rules, rather a standard match, where the winner gets to wave his countries flag. Volkoff jumps Hogan while he’s waving the flag (which kinda negates the point of the match, really), tearing his t-shirt off, and choking him with it. Hogan quickly comes back with a cross corner clothesline, and an elbowdrop. Big boot knocks Volkoff to the outside, so Hogan follows, but gets posted. Back in, Volkoff works the back (though he posted the shoulder), and hits an impressive backbreaker for two. Piledriver, but Hogan backdrops him. Volkoff keeps after him with a bodyslam, but, oh shit, HULK UP!! Legdrop finishes at 5:17. For America. ¼*

Uncle Elmer v Jerry Valiant: Elmer pins him with a bodyslam in 0:12 seconds. Just a big fat squash from a big fat man. DUD

The Body Shop: Jesse Ventura hosts an interview segment, with guest Bobby Heenan. Much like his current show, Ventura reels off conspiracy theories. Though, in this case they're limited to Heenan's managerial situation. The segment is basically to announce that Heenan has put a bounty on Paul Orndorff's head - and he brings the obligatory suitcase full of cash to prove it. The highlight of the segment is some asshole in the crowd constantly blaring an air horn, visibly annoying Ventura and Heenan. And probably getting him an asskicking from whomever had the luck of getting a ticket next to him.

Roddy Piper v Paul Orndorff: Big slugfest to start, with Orndorff controlling, and he bites at Piper. Piper rakes the eyes to take over, and hits a DDT. They spill to the outside, with Piper going after him with a chair, but Orndorff dodges, and throws him into the rail. Inside, Paul with a flying elbowsmash, and a side suplex. Fists of fury, but Piper goes to the eyes again to slow him down. Double knockout off of a shoulderblock, but Piper recovers first, and chokes at him. Splash hits the knees, however, and they spill outside again, leading to a double countout at 4:01. Afterwards, the camera follows their brawl all the way through the locker rooms, until Piper gets behind a locked door to stop Orndorff from killing him. Fun, intense match - but too short to really go anywhere. ¼*

Uncle Elmer's Wedding: The fat guy from earlier (who is probably most famous for this segment, along with his association to Hillbilly Jim) gets married. Legitimately. Remember, this is 1985 - well before the Reality TV boom, and MTV and E! Wedding specials. Anyway, they get married. Since it's pro-wrestling, Roddy Piper interrupts the ceremony – which almost never happens on E! - but doesn't have the balls to get in the ring while Hillbilly Jim (best man), Andre the Giant (in charge of booze), and Hogan (bachelor party) are there - making his presence known from the aisle.

King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd v Andre the Giant and Tony Atlas: Bundy and Andre start, and Andre immediately goes to a nervehold. They have some fun with that (who wouldn't be having fun getting paid tons of money to stand around?), until both guys tag. Studd overpowers Atlas (oh, the irony...) but Andre tags back in, and hits a big boot. That draws Bundy in, and he and Studd take turns avalanching the Giant until the referee throws the whole thing out at 4:26. Hulk Hogan makes the save, of course, since when you hurt his friends, you hurt his pride. He’s gotta be a man – he can’t let it slide. Kick-punch stuff from bell to bell, but the crowd loved it. DUD

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Dream Team v Lanny Poffo and Tony Garea: Greg Valentine and Lanny Poffo (brother of Randy Savage) start, with Valentine taking him to the mat. Tag to Brutus Beefcake, but Poffo starts unloading on both guys, and hits a flying moonsault on Beefcake. Cheap shot from Valentine turns the tide, and they cut the ring in half, but Poffo gets a fluke tag. Garea's a house of arson, but Valentine gets him in the figure four for the win at 3:30. Not long enough to properly work a formula tag match, but energetic enough for what it was. ¼*

Uncle Elmer's Wedding Reception: Elmer has his reception, backstage on a soundstage. Best Table Award: McMahon, Hogan, Orndorff, and Ventura. Imagine that roundtable, and then imagine it about ten years later. Poems are read, dances are danced, Elmer serenades his new bride, and Jesse Ventura gets shoved into a cake. This was super goofy, super campy stuff, but it worked for what it was - particularly considering they were occupying SNL's usual slot.

BUExperience: Dude, a hillbilly gets married, Hogan does the Hulk Up, a guy gets shoved into a cake. This could have been a WrestleMania!

Nothing even comes close to breaking a star, but it’s good, campy, well booked TV from the Golden Era. I doubt a modern fan would have any interest, but for those of us who grew up on the WWF, it’s a lot of fun.