WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XVIII (November 1988)

Original Airdate: November 26, 1988 – airing just two days after the ’88 Survivor Series, though taped a few weeks before – making this both a wrap-up and go home show.

From Sacramento, California; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura.


Opening WWF Intercontinental Title Match: The Ultimate Warrior v Super Ninja: Ninja is NWA Pacific NorthWest darling Rip Oliver, under a mask, and saddled with one of the more feeble attempts at a gimmick during the period. He tries to jump Warrior, but runs into a barrage of no-selling, and a big boot puts him on the floor. Warrior press slams him back in, where another press slam finishes at 2:11. Total squash, but a fun SNME debut for Warrior. Kind of odd that the guy was around as long as he was (he was already Intercontinental Champion by this point) before appearing on the show. ¼*

Virgil v Hercules: This was part of the angle where Herc's manager, Bobby Heenan, sold him as a slave to Ted DiBiase. So, naturally, DiBiase's default slave wants to make sure he falls into line, and knows who the bitch is. DiBiase and Virgil jump Herc before the bell, but he unloads a double clothesline, and backdrops Virgil once DiBiase is cleared out of the ring. Series of clotheslines puts Virgil down, and a running powerslam finishes at 3:20. For the live crowd, this was some setup for Survivor Series (where DiBiase and Hercules were on opposing teams), for the TV viewers, it was a measure of revenge for Herc after DiBiase eliminated him in that match. ¼*

WWF Title Match: Randy Savage v Andre the Giant: Savage - bless his heart - goes right for Andre, but gets predictably clobbered, and ass-smushed in the corner. Front-facelock, but Savage gets uppity, so Andre just shifts to blatantly choking him. Savage still doesn't get the message, and railroads the Giant into the corner, so Andre hooks an awkward looking standing-armbar. Savage tries to jab his way out, so Andre responds with more blatant choking, as manager Bobby Heenan beams with pride. Meanwhile, Jake Roberts (who had given Andre a 'heart attack' on the previous SNME - though obviously a rather mild one, as he's back in the ring only a month later) makes his way to ringside, distracting Andre, and giving Savage some breathing room. Literally. The distraction is enough to allow Savage a running axehandle - as he desperately tries to take control - but Heenan runs in. Savage knocks their heads together, causing Andre to fall, and get tied up in the ropes, which draws Jake in to unleash the snake - and cause a double DQ at 8:51. This one is somewhat well remembered, and it had a fun dynamic with Savage pinballing off of Andre every time he tried anything - but it was almost all restholds or punch-kick stuff, surrounding the angles. ¼*

Flag Match: Jim Duggan v Boris Zhukov: This is 'Winner Waves His Flag' rules - though they kinda negate the purpose before the bell even rings, as both guys wave their flags a bunch of times during the entrances. Slugfest allows Duggan a quick atomic drop, and a clothesline takes Zhukov down. Backdrop, but Zhukov kicks him in the face to stop it. He tries to capitalize, but Duggan's CRACKING UP!! Clothesline! Bodyslam! 3-Point Stance finishes at 2:27. For America. Aaannnd... DUD

The Brother Love Show: Brother Love has special guests (aren't they all?) Slick and Hulk Hogan out to discuss Hulk's feud with The Big Bossman. Hogan keeps it vague enough not to give away what happens at Survivor Series to the live crowd, and also not really discussing it in the kind of detail the usual post-pay per view interviews would go into. Of course, the whole thing ends with Hogan beating down Brother Love. Hogan wasn't scheduled to wrestle, but a good portion of the crowd was obviously there to see him - so well booked segment.

The Young Stallions v The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers: Jim Powers and Jacques Rougeau start, with Jacques controlling. Rougeau with a 2^nd rope axehandle, and he tags Raymond Rougeau in for a double team backbreaker. The Rougeau's continue to cut the ring in half, but Jacques misses a 2^nd rope bodypress, allowing the tag to Paul Roma. He's a house of arson - hitting a gorgeous missile dropkick on Jacques - but the chaos of the obligatory four-way brawl allows The Rougeau’s to hit La Bombe de Rougeau (a bearhug/flying seated senton combo) for the pin at 3:05. Le squash. ¼*

Everyone offers some closing thoughts with Mean Gene Okerlund. They discuss Ramiz Alia, Roh Tae-woo, and, you know, other shit.

BUExperience: Savage/Andre is fairly well remembered, but it’s not enough to carry this squash filled show. Pre-taping kind of put them in an awkward position, as they couldn’t really advance or introduce new storylines, and also couldn’t capitalize much on the events of Survivor Series. Unfortunately, they also couldn’t be bothered to book any good matches. Pass.