WWF Saturday Night's Main Event VI (May 1986)

Original Airdate: May 3, 1986

From Providence, Rhode Island; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan.


Opening Match: Hulk Hogan and The Junkyard Dog v Terry Funk and Hoss Funk: Big brawl to start - with JYD unloading bodyslams, and Hogan with crawling-headbutts to follow up, in a cute role reversal bit. Proper start with Dog and Hoss (Dory Funk), but Hoss gets slammed again, and bails to brother Terry. He has a bit of luck, but quickly misses a blind charge and ends up on the floor. The dust settles on Hogan/Hoss, and Hogan takes both Funks out with big boots. Elbowdrop gets two on Hoss, and he passes back to Terry. Funk manages to drive Dog to the wrong part of town for some double-team fun, and unloads a series of jabs. Hulk saves by Flair Flipping both Funks, and Terry ends up out on a table. Hogan with a suplex on Hoss, but another double-team puts him on the floor for some abuse from Terry and manager Jimmy Hart. Dog saves by slammed Terry on the exposed concrete, and then whipping him into a Hogan backdrop on the floor. Inside, Hulk creams Hoss with a big boot, and Dog fires off some headbutts - but Funk fires back with a series of uppercuts. Tag to Terry, but his misses a flying headbutt, and JYD tags the Hulkster to Legdrop Funk into tomorrow at 13:30. This was more 'fun' than 'good,' but it was well worked, well paced, non-formulaic, and featured a few crazy bumps from Terry. * ¼

King Kong Bundy v Uncle Elmer: This is basically because they're both fat. That's not editorializing - that's literally the basis for the match, hammered home by an actual 'Holy Toledo' moment, as they weigh in before the bout. Big fat staredown to big fat start, and they do a fat-stalemate. Bundy rakes the eyes to take control, and chokes away, but Elmer returns fire with his ass. Avalanche, but a second misses, and Bundy finishes him with an elbowdrop at 2:35. It was quick. DUD

Paul Orndorff v Adrian Adonis: Adonis had been constantly mocking Orndorff for his friendship with Hulk Hogan during this period, planting the seeds that would lead to him turning on the Hulkster not long after this. Gene Okerlund (in nothing but a towel) gets an interview with Paul before the match – from a sauna. Paul clears him out of the ring at the bell, so Adrian tries to hide under the ring, but Paul drags him back in for a (botched) Flair Flip to the floor. Adonis stalls (both outside the ring, and once he gets back in), but Orndorff kicks it into high gear with an abdominal stretch. Adonis makes the ropes, but misses a blind charge, and gets backdropped to the floor. He tries to stall again, so Orndorff responds by press slamming Adonis manager Jimmy Hart onto him. Airplane spin puts Adrian back on the floor, and Paul posts him this time. Jimmy Hart gets involved again, allowing Adonis a cheap shot to turn the tide, and he follows up with a kneelift. Splash misses, but he manages to slam Orndorff anyway, and drops an elbow for two. Suplex for two, but a flying splash hits the knees, and Orndorff ties him up in the ropes for some proper bashing. Dropkick, and he starts choking Adrian with his dress (Adonis' character was a cross dresser), but when the referee intervenes, Orndorff makes the mistake of shoving him to the mat, and gets himself disqualified at 12:00. Very slow, plodding match - with Adonis shuffling around forever between spots. ¼*

Jake Roberts v Ricky Steamboat: Jake jumps Ricky on the way into the ring, and gives him a DDT on the exposed concrete floor - knocking him out in the process. Jake rolls him in to abuse him with the snake (with Steamboat's wife watching from the audience), until a hoard of WWF Officials break it up. No match, but Roberts' finisher, gimmick, and first WWF feud are all established/put over in one shot, with one great angle. 

WWF Tag Team Title 2/3 Falls Match: The British Bulldogs v Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik: Davey Boy Smith starts with Volkoff, and dodges a blind charge for a quick cradle for two. Volkoff passes to Sheik, and he nails Davey with a side suplex, and picks up the first fall with the Camel Clutch at 1:20. Davey's dead after that, and the heels have no problem cutting the ring in half (Davey took the heat segment, as Dynamite Kid was still recovering from an injury sustained at WrestleMania 2 - where they won the titles) - until Volkoff makes the mistake of turning his back (he was celebrating, thinking he had pinned Davey, but his feet were on the ropes), and Smith rolls him up to even the score at 5:58. Davey's still in trouble, though, and the heels take turns kicking at his ribcage. Sheik with a Boston crab, but Davey makes the ropes, so Volkoff gives him a backbreaker for two. Bearhug, but Davey slugs free, and catches Sheik with the Running Powerslam for two. Tag to Dynamite Kid, but he walks into a double-team, and Sheik hits a gutwrench suplex. Camel Clutch, but Davey breaks it up and cradles him for the pin at 9:10. Well paced, with some nice stuff during the heat segment. * ¾

BUExperience: Nothing revolutionary on the mat, but the usual fun, variety-style program – with the very memorable and historically significant Roberts/Steamboat segment to kick off both the character, and a well remembered feud.