HITMAN383 Rant for WWF Survivor Series 1989

- The HITMAN383 Rant for WWF Survivor Series 1989. As promised, here it is! I haven’t seen this one since 1994, and I can’t remember much other than Zeus beating Hulk Hogan like a dog. Lets see what else there is…

- BTW, I use this system:
***** - Excellent,
**** - Great,
*** - Good,
**- Okay,
* - Decent,
DUD – Nothing Match.

- Another LAME opening, showing the people coming into the building, and different places in Chicago. Long and tedious. What was with them in 1989, anyway? They couldn’t come up with cool videos about the card yet? The most interesting part is seeing a pre-WWF superstar Bart Gunn as a sound tech.

- Also, all the wrestlers go through what they’re thankful for. Dusty Rhodes is apparently thankful for his polka dots. Okay… (That’s a hell of an inside joke, actually)

- Live from Chicago, Illinois.

- Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura. Thank G-D, I thought I’d go nuts if we had Tony Schiavone again.

- Opening Survivor Series Elimination Match: The Big Bossman, Bad News Brown, Rick Martel & The Honky Tonk Man vs. Brutus Beefcake, Tito Santana, The Red Rooster & Dusty Rhodes: Rhodes gets a separate entrance from his team, because he’s too weird for the other guys to even share MUSIC with him. (When you’re the weirdo in a bunch that includes a man-cock and a barber dressed for a night on the town in South Beach, well, it’s quite an accomplishment) Tito opens with Honky, so Martel distracts Tito, and Honky nails him. Santana slams him, however, and hooks an armbar. Damn, the crowd is HOT tonight! Honky breaks with knee shots, and tags the Model. Rick pounds away, and a criss cross allows him a dropkick. I wish we saw a PPV one-on-one encounter between these two, that could’ve been good. Atomic drop by Tito gets him two, and Bossman tags in. He gets armdragged, however, and Rhodes tags in. They have an issue, so the crowd goes WILD when Dusty elbows away. Tag to Beefcake, who drops in with an axehandle, but tags a thumb to the eye. Tag to Honky, but he misses a fistdrop, and Beefcake pounds away, so Honky makes a blind tag to Martel. Rick with a backbreaker for two, so Brutus tags Rooster. He backdrops the Model for two, but eats knee off of a cross corner charge. Tag to Honky, who does nothing (wait, he dances, if that counts) so he tags back out to Bossman. Slugfest won by Bossman, and Martel gets tagged back in. What, are they snubbing Bad News or something? (Sounds about right. I mean, since when are redneck prison guards, hick Elvis impersonators named ‘Honky’, and elitist models known to hang out with black guys) Model dominates, but gets rolled up for two, so he tags Honky. Rooster gets a sunset flip for two, and a criss cross allows Taylor a shoulderblock. He finally makes the hot tag to Tito, and Honky tags Martel! Tito dominates with dropkicks and backdrops, and tries the figure four, but gets tugged off. Slam by the Model, but he misses an elbow, so Santana rolls him up, only to be reversed (and eliminated) at 9:14.
- Dusty comes in next, and uses his elbow, and hits a pretty decent dropkick. Elbow drop gets two, and he tags the Barber. He hammers the hell out of Martel’s arm, and Rooster comes back in. He’ll probably take the next job. Martel backbreakers him, and brings Bossman back in. It looks like Terry hurt his knee again (like at SummerSlam) because he’s limping around, and I don’t think it’s selling. Bearhug by Bossman, but the arm only falls twice, and Terry fights out. Tag to Brown, who refuses to get in, so Rooster slingshots him up. He gets beat up as a result, since Bad News Brown is one bad motherfucker. Bossman comes in (minus a tag), but accidentally hits Brown. Oooh, that’s it. He shoves Bossman, and they tease a fight, so Brown walks out on his team at 15:27. (I liked how they foreshadowed it not only during the match, but the year before when Brown did literally the exact same thing when Honky was his team captain)
- Beefcake and Bossman go next, and Bossman takes him down with an elbow. Honky tags in, and side suplexes him for two. 10-punch count, so Beefcake starts punching back, and hits the high knee to eliminate Honky at 17:22. Big, big pop for that one!
- Martel comes in next, and chokes the life out of the Barber. Chinlock for a while, so Beefcake busts out with shoulderblocks, only to take a backbreaker. Martel gets cocky, however, and Beefcake manages to sunset flip (and eliminate him) at 20:11. ANOTHER massive pop for that.
- Bossman is alone now, and misses an avalanche on the Rooster, but still hits the Bossman slam to eliminate him at 20:56.
- The faces do a bunch of quick tags, without much of note, until Rhodes hits a bodypress for the pin at 21:57. Survivors: Dusty Rhodes and Brutus Beefcake. Afterwards, however, Bossman cuffs Rhodes to the ropes and beats him with the nightstick until Beefcake chases him off with the clippers. Pretty fun match, as they had tons of enthusiasm, which helps even bad wrestling! (Very true, and it works the other way around, too. Think Benoit/Malenko at Road Wild ’96) ** ½.

- Backstage, Bossman gloats over his ass-whoopin’ on Rhodes.

- Also backstage, the team of Randy Savage, Greg Valentine, (Canadian) Earthquake and Dino Bravo promise victory in their match. Glad to see they’re confident … whodathunk it?

- Survivor Series Elimination Match: Randy Savage, Greg Valentine, Earthquake & Dino Bravo vs. Jim Duggan, Ronnie Garvin, Bret Hart & Hercules: The faces do a synchronized 2x4 routine before hand, which Duggan screws up. Sigh. What I don’t get is why they broke the Hart Foundation up for this show, with Bret here and Neidhart later on. Testing singles pushes? (Yep) Savage starts with Duggan, and runs like a good cowardly heel, so Hacksaw nails him, and serves him up to Hercules. Clothesline, and a great delayed press slam allows him to tag Valentine. Slugfest won by Herc, and he atomic drops him, then tags the Hitman. Big pop for that! He works the arm, of course. Tag back to the Hacksaw, who keeps it on the arm, as Gorilla and Jesse discuss how tough Stu Hart was/is. He looks like a nut in “Wrestling with Shadows,” anyway. (He was less a nut than just super old school) Garvin tags, and hooks a sleeper, but Greg tags out while in the hold to Bravo. Atomic drop by the steroid pumper, but he misses an elbow, so Ronnie tags the Herc. He hits a series of clotheslines, but gets tossed in the corner, and in comes the ‘Quake. He quickly hits the butt splash to get rid of Hercules at 3:56. Pretty swift.
- Duggan comes in for his team, and no one moves off a double shoulderblock, establishing that they’re both big. Hart,. The thinking man’s wrestler, then stand behind the fat man, allowing Duggan to knock him over! In comes Garvin, and he pounds the ‘Quake for a two count, so Tenta tags Bravo. Knee by Dino, and Greg gets back inside. He drops an elbow, and then a knee for two. Headbutt down low, and the figure four, but Ronnie kicks him off, and rolls him up for two. Tag to Savage, who drops a double ax for two, as Jimmy Hart cracks me up on his mega-phone. I miss Jimmy Hart sometimes. Tag back to Dino, but he gets backslid for two, but Ronnie can’t take control. The Hammer lays in the thick chops, so Garvin relents with his own, and makes a blind tag to Duggan, who lariats him for the pin at 7:29.
- Bravo nails him from behind during his celebration, and chokes away. Tag to Macho, who snaps Duggan’s neck on the ropes for two. ‘Quake comes back in, and slams him, only to miss an elbow drop. Tag back to the Rugged one, and one to Bravo at the same time, and Garvin does his stomp. What the hell kind of finisher is a SERIES OF STOMPS? (That one) Sharpshooter, but Dino rakes the eyes. Savage tags in, as does Bret, drawing a solid pop. Randy rakes the eyes, but eats turnbuckle, and takes an atomic drop. Tag to Dino, who takes a snapmare and a 2nd rope elbow from Hart for two. Ronnie tags back in, but quickly tags a sidewalk slam to end his night at 11:15.
- Hacksaw’s in now, to take on the ‘Quake, and he does half of the 10-punch count. Tag to Hart, and they hit a double clothesline, so he tags Randy. Fine by me. Randy wants to go up, so Bret simply moves back, and Randy’s lost! That’s just COOL. Randy gets caught in the wrong part of town, and hooked in the ropes, so he takes a beating for a while. Randy resorts the raking the eyes, but he misses a kneedrop, allowing Hart a backbreaker for a close two. Small package gets two, and a kick to the face sets up a 2nd rope sailing elbow. That misses, allowing Bravo to tag in, and he hits a slam. Elbow drop, and he hooks a bearhug, since it’s Dino Bravo. He lets off, and tags Earthquake, who chokes away. Just tag in Macho King already, will ya? Elbow drop gets him two, so Dino gets back in. NO, the guy in the PURPLE TIGHTS, damn it! Bret plays Rick Morton, as this match drastically slows down. Tag to Randy, but a heel miscommunication spot goes down, allowing Duggan to get the hot tag. He fires away with clotheslines, and a slam connects. An elbow drop doesn’t, so Bret gets back in. He has little success, however, so Bravo goes to work on him, and hits a shoulderbreaker after Hart got posted. Savage comes in to hit the big elbow and eliminate Bret Hart at 19:04.
- Duggan’s alone now, so the heels have a conference, and decide Earthquake should go in first. Good plan, if ya ask me. He works Jim over in the corner, but misses the avalanche, of course, so all the heels run in. They fail miserably, and Jim cleans house, driving the Chicago crowd wild. Man, is this the same city that died so quickly at WrestleMania XIII? Oh, wait … that was WM XIII … I don’t blame them. Some more double team tactics fail, so Earthquake runs in, and whacks Duggan with a clothesline. Slam, and he drops an elbow for two. Tag to Dino, who does nothing, so Savage drops an axehandle for two. I just want to mention how smart this crowd is. They only chant “U.S.A.” when either Bravo or Earthquake are in (Canadian’s), but not when Savage is in. Most crowds don’t catch on to stuff like that, so I stand in awe. (Yeah, outside of 90s ECW crowds – who could be quite witty – wrestling crowds usually don’t catch on to subtle stuff like that) Nash rope choke spot misses, and Jim hits an atomic drop. He bounces off the ropes, so Sherri tugs them down, dumping him to the floor. The heels kill him out there, and he’s counted out at 23:22. Oh COME ON! JIM FREAKIN’ DUGGAN couldn’t do a job? Survivors: Randy Savage, Dino Bravo & Earthquake. Afterwards, Duggan cleans house with the 2x4. Pretty fun match, but it got slow after the hot Savage/Hart period. ** ½.

- Backstage, the team of Ted DiBiase, Zeus and the Powers of Pain send out threats at Hulk Hogan’s team.

- Also backstage, Mean Gene updates us on the condition of Dusty Rhodes. Oh, thank G-D. I was loosing sleep! Now that I know he’s not dead … I GUESS I’m happy … sorta. (I don’t hate Dusty at all anymore. Yeah, he had some goofy booking ideas over the years, but he also had some great ones, and he’s definitely someone who ‘gets’ the business ten times more than the creative team running the WWE today)

- In the arena, The Genius reads us a poem. Man, why is it always before the Hulk Hogan matches? (Because they were enemies, duh)

- Survivor Series Elimination Match: Ted DiBiase, Zeus & The Powers of Pain vs. Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts & Demolition: All the faces get independent entrances, and the heels don’t even get an entrance, period. Gee! Big pop for Hogan. The heels won’t let the faces in the ring, so Jake throws the snake in, and GOODBYE HEELS! Zeus starts with Jake, but he wants Hogan, so Hulk obliges, popping the crowd. Shovefest won by Zeus, and he shoulderblocks Hulk down. Hogan backs off, then tries punches and clotheslines, but they have ZERO effect. Rake of the eyes, and he slams him, but Zeus no sells that too! Hulk bounces off the ropes, but Barbarian nails him with a knee to the back, as if Zeus needed any help. Zeus snaps Hogan’s neck, and then chokes the life out of him, drawing a “Hogan” chant. The ref tries to pry him off, so Zeus shoves him, causing a DQ at 3:21. BIG pop for that one, but Zeus still won’t let off Hogan.
- DiBiase goes right to work on Hogan, driving knees into the back, and choking him some more. He eventually runs into a big boot off of a corner charge, however, and Hogan tags Roberts. He clotheslines Ted out, and then posts him! Inside, Ax tags in to hammer Teddy, and then tags in Smash, who does the same. Hulk gets in, and nails a 2nd rope axehandle, then he and the Demo’s triple team him. Cross corner back elbow, and Ax comes in, but takes a back elbow from DiBiase. Ted tags Warlord, who goes to work on Ax, but the crowd is GONE. And this is a great crowd, too. Barbie with a shoulderbreaker, but he misses his 2nd rope elbow drop, so he quickly tags Warlord. He takes a back elbow and a clothesline, but Ax gets tripped up in the ropes, and pinned at 9:49.
- Smash is next, and does nothing, so he tags the WWF champion. Big clothesline by him, and a slam. Tag to the Snake, as the crowd calls for the DDT, but instead get Smash back in. The faces decide to work the arm, and Smash tries a backbreaker, but gets a thumb to the eye. Tag to Barbie, who tries a backdrop, but gets nailed, but Smash misses an elbow drop. Tag to the Million Dollar Man, who drops a 2nd rope axehandle. A pair of fistdrops gets two, and he hooks a knee-to-neck chinlock. Slugfest ends the hold, won by Ted, but he misses his 2nd rope back elbow spot. He ALWAYS misses that. Ted gets stun gunned, but Barbarian gets the blind tag and hits a flying clothesline to eliminate him at 13:39. Hey, it’s his own fault. He had TONS of time to tag out, but he chose not to.
- Roberts is in, but gets backdropped off of a DDT attempt. Barbarian misses an elbow, but still manages to tag in Warlord, who tosses the Snake from corner to corner. Barbie tags back in, and does exactly the same thing, then drives a headbutt into the back. Backbreaker, and the tag to Warlord, who keeps the hurt on the back. DiBiase now, who cuts the ring in half, and keeps Roberts at bay with knee drops. Piledriver gets two, since Jake’s foot is on the ropes. Barbarian tags, and drops a headbutt, then goes upstairs, but misses the flying headbutt. Where’s Benoit when ya need him. (Hell) Hot tag to Hogan, who beats up all three heels, and clotheslines Barbarian. Series of elbow drops gets two, and a suplex gets two. Slam, but Warlord runs in and nails him. Double clothesline fails, so Hogan takes both out with his own, only to take a spike piledriver. The ref has had enough, however, and DQ’s both POP at 19:43. Oh COME ON! Will anybody job in this match? In this night?
- DiBiase goes to work on both faces, but Hogan’s the legal man, so he focuses on him. Million Dollar Dream applied, as outside ref Shane McMahon looks on. Two arm drops, so Jake runs in to make the save. The hypocrite ref doesn’t DQ HIM, however, and Jesse calls him on it. Ted hooks it again, so Hogan rams him into the corner to break out, but is still hurt bad. Ted goes to the 2nd rope, but takes his somersault bump off of an axehandle attempt, and then Hulk makes the hot tag. Jake takes Ted to school, as the crowd wildly calls for the DDT. Short-arm clothesline, but Virgil pops up on the apron, so Jake DDT’s him, allowing Ted to drop a fist and get the pin (with two feet on the ropes) at 23:47. And those who job can’t even do it clean! Damn it! (Relax already – it’s Survivor Series, dude)
- Down to one-on-one, but Hulk’s dead, still laying in the corner since he made the tag. Ted works the shoulder area, and clotheslines him for two. Chinlock (at this juncture?), so Hogan fights his way out, and goes to work, but a double clothesline neutralizes both. Ted recovers first, and side suplexes Hogan, but it’s no sold! Big boot, legdrop, pin (at 27:27) (Not sure why that needed parenthesis, but okay) to make Hulk Hogan the sole survivor. LONG match, that had it’s moments, but lack of jobs (or clean jobs) hurt it, as well as it’s length. *.

- Backstage, Randy Savage and Zeus are pissed, but are ready to kill Hogan and Beefcake at the No Holds Barred cage match. That’ll be reviewed soon. What I don’t get is why Savage and Beefcake weren’t in the Hogan match, since DiBiase and Roberts could have been traded off for those two, but whatever. Or even get rid of one member each of the tag teams.

- In the locker room, Hulk Hogan celebrates with Brutus Beefcake, and threatens the Savage/Zeus combo. Sherri interrupts, and throws powder in their eyes, allowing the heels to attack them, and choke them out. The whole locker room (faces and heels alike) run in to try to pull Zeus off, as I laugh out-loud at how Mean Gene ran like a coward the minute Zeus ran in. Hilarious.

- At ringside, Jesse tells us that there is trouble within the ranks of the Heenan Family. Monsoon responds, “well, who knows, maybe something interesting will happen here at Survivor Series tonight!” referring to a possible breakup of the Family, but giving me a totally different reason to laugh.

- Backstage, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect and the Rougeau Brothers promise victory. That was the stupidity of the 80s, pre-match everyone would promise victory, as if we thought they were planning on loosing or something.

- Also backstage, Roddy Piper’s team disagrees with the above statements. Oh, and here I am expecting them to just say “okay, if you guys promise a win, we give in … you win,” but I guess I was wrong. (Yes, all this is true, but those guys did it with STYLE! Still better than twenty minute Randy Orton interviews on RAW that make the same point in the dullest way possible)

- That was your intermission, BTW.

- Survivor Series Elimination Match: Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect & The Rougeau Brothers vs. Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka & The Bushwhackers: Cute comment by Monsoon during the heel entrance when Hennig makes his entrance with the Genius behind him: “I wouldn’t want the Genius walking right behind me!” Jesse: “Why?” Monsoon: “Look at him!!” (Heh) One side is actually pretty good, the other … well … the less said the better. Hennig jumps Luke, and goes to work, so Butch tags in and bites him. Piper does the same, and then so does Snuka. Butch bites the ass, as Hennig tries to remember a counter from the Dungeon, but can’t. He tags Jacques, who shows off, but Snuka seems unimpressed, and hits a diving headbutt. Criss cross, and Snuka does his double leapfrog (and DOESN’T SCREW IT UP!), then follows with a backbreaker. Kneedrop, and a slam set up the big splash, ending Rougeau’s night at a brisk 4:01.
- Rude runs in, and goes to work, but makes the mistake of posing, and takes a headbutt. Tag to Perfect, but Rude accidentally tugs down the ropes during a criss cross, causing Curt to tumble out. They argue, so Snuka rams their heads together, and tags in Piper. I guess that’s how they solve disputes on the island. Hennig goes into only a mild-sell mode for Piper, not using any flips, or 360s, or anything. I’m shocked! The Bushwhackers go to work (with a devastating array of punches and bites), then tag in Roddy for an atomic drop. That allows him to tag Raymond, as Jimmy Hart coaches him on. Piledriver by Piper, so Ray backdrops him, only to get sunset flipped for two. Rougeau still hits a savate kick for two, but takes a delayed piledriver to be eliminated at 7:39. Man, are they the job boys tonight, or what? I just hope the top guys go clean.
- Perfect goes in, and hits his jumping neck snap for two. I predict the ‘Whackers go next, hopefully clean. He holds Piper at bay from making a tag with a front facelock, which is a great spot because it pumps up the crowd. Roddy manages to give Perfect his slingshot bump for two, however, and tags Butch. Clothesline gets two, and a kick to the face get two. The Bushwhackers are such technical masters. Piper’s in again, and taunts Rude while he beats up Hennig, and NOW we get the OVERSELL! Butch is unfortunately tagged in again, and more ass-biting results, but Curt has had enough (as have I!), and rolls him up for the pin at 10:42. Hey, I called that one.
- Roddy runs in and rolls Hennig up the same way, but only gets two, and so Luke hits a headbutt for two. Another headbutt, but he gets decked, and Rude tags in. He gets nailed off of a flying axehandle attempt, however, and gets bit. I hope he’s had his shots! He still manages the Rude Awakening, however, to get rid of Luke at 12:12. Could’ve seen that one from a mile away.
- Snuka again, against Hennig, which Curt controls as this match drastically slows itself down with a Ricky Morton period on the Superfly. Great dropkick by Perfect for two, but he gets kicked in the face, and a small package gets Snuka two. Slugfest won by Jimmy, and a diving headbutt connects. Criss cross leads to a double headbutt, and both men make the tag. Okay, here’s the money match! Slugfest to start, easily won by Piper, and he backdrops him. They spill to the floor in their brawl, and both get counted out at 18:36. Hey, I said it earlier, the big name won’t cleanly go. Only the jobber tag teams will.
- Down to Hennig and Snuka, which Curt dominates. He gets shoulderblocked down, however, but still manages a series of hip tosses, arm drags, and dropkicks. Suplex back in for two, and they do a pinfall reversal sequence, both getting twos. Snuka with his chops, and a 2nd rope bodypress, but Hennig rolls through for two. This is done, however, as Curt nails the Perfect-plex to end this at 21:23. Afterwards, Snuka beats up the Genius, because he’s a piece of shit. Curt beat him, with no help from the Genius (or unfair tactics) so he had no right to do that! Jesse calls him on it, of course. Okay-ish match, but the LONG Ricky Morton period on Snuka hurt it quite a bit. * ½.

- Backstage, the heel side gloats over their win, as Sean Mooney stirs up shit about the absence Bobby Heenan.

- Also backstage, the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Duggan and the Rockers promise a main event win. Man, even the Rockers’ t-shirts look like the Hardy Boyz’ do. (Okay, this was likely written in 2001 then)

- Main Event: Survivor Series Elimination Match: Andre the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson & Bobby Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart & The Rockers: Heenan is subbing for Tully Blanchard, as the ‘Busters were on their way out of the WWF at this point. The faces take a pounding before Warrior even comes in, so he runs in, and clotheslines Andre out for a count-out at :26. This was basically because Andre was falling apart at this point, and couldn’t really do anything anymore. Of course, that would translate to a tag title run in 1989 WWF, but whatever. (At least the payoff at WrestleMania VI was worth it, though)
- Warrior goes to work on the Enforcer next, and tags Jim in. He isn’t drawing the massive pops Bret was earlier, however. He spears Anderson in the corner, so Arn tags Haku, who takes a series of shoulderblocks. Slugfest won by Haku (with an eye gouge), and the Family work him over in the corner. Kick to the back of the head by Haku puts Neidhart out at 3:28. Man, we’re just ZIPPING through this match, eh? At least the two worst guys are out.
- Shawn Michaels is next in, and takes a beating. A criss cross allows Haku a falling headbutt, but it misses, so the Rockers do some cool double team stuff, working Haku’s arm. I love the Rockers. Jannetty tries a bodypress, but gets caught, so Michaels dropkicks him, toppling Haku, and giving Marty a two count. Once again, I love the Rockers! Tag to Anderson, as I dare to dream what a great match this would be if Tully Blanchard was in there. He and Haku tries to double suplex Marty, so the Rockers hit a double superkick. Flying back elbow on Haku for two, and Warrior tags in. Backdrop, but he misses a nice elbow drop. Tag to Anderson, as Heenan BEGS Haku not to tag him. Warrior works Arn’s arm, then tags Marty to do a better job of it. He does, of course. Arn escapes with a drop toehold, and tags Haku, who uses a headlock. Tag to Bobby, who gets one shot in, gets hit in the gut, and quickly tags out. Very funny to watch, actually. Superkick by Haku gets two, and Heenan’s back! He stomps away on Marty Morton, and actually gets the pin at 8:47. Oooh, that took balls right there.
- Tag to the Enforcer, who goes with the Intercontinental champ, and gets bearhugged by the maniac. Eye rake breaks, so in comes Haku, who has the same fate (a bearhug). Atomic drop, and Shawn hits a dropkick for two. Nice one, there. He gets caught in the wrong part of town (no, not Harlem!) (I actually have a friend who lives in Harlem now. He eats McDonalds so frequently, he’s known around the neighborhood as the ‘King of McDonalds’ much the way Dave Van Ronk was known as the ‘King of MacDougal Street’) however, and Anderson goes to work. Shawn tries a moonsault, but misses (still landing on his feet), then grinds Arn’s face into the mat. Tag to Warrior, who decks Arn, and draws big heat from the fans. Tag to Michaels, who hits a Warrior-assisted Rocket Launcher for two. Arn tags Haku, who chops away, but misses a 2nd rope bodypress. Shawn goes up top, and hits a flying bodypress of his own, and gets Haku at 12:47. WHAT? People jobbing? What is this? Big pop for it, however.
- Arn jumps him, dumps him to the floor, and allows Bobby to do something. He climbs to the top rope, then remembers he isn’t Randy Savage, and allows Arn to do the work. That allows Shawn a sunset flip for two, as Arn yells at Heenan for being a coward. Criss cross leads to a double knockout, and they have a slugfest while on their knees. Shawn wins, but Arn hits Shawn Morton to take over. Criss cross allows Anderson the spinebuster, and that’s in for HBK at 15:34.
- Warrior’s alone (but essentially only against one guy, and not two), and he goes to work with shoulderblocks. He goes to the well once too often, however, and gets dumped to the floor. Bobby gets brave, and goes up again, then chickens out again. Coward. He tags in, and hammers, but then realizes he’s pounding the ULTIMATE FREAKIN’ WARRIOR, and tags Anderson again. Warrior rams them together, however, and press slams Arn for the pin at 18:13. Big pop for that one.
- Heenan vents his anger at Arn Anderson, then realizes “HEY! I’m in their alone with the Ultimate Warrior, and I’m gonna die!” and gets a classic look on his face. Warrior rips him apart, so Heenan tries to bail, only to get dragged back in by the IC champ. Shoulderblock, and a big splash finish Heenan to make Warrior the sole survivor at 20:22. Fun match, with ALL CLEAN JOBS (minus one), makes for a decent rating. **.

- Bottom Line: Nothing classic … and nothing too historical, but overall a solid effort. The main problem is how LONG these matches are, but most of them had a good pace and flow for the most part, so nothing is bad enough to actively hate it. But nothing is good enough to actually like it, either.

- Neutral Feelings on this one. Don’t avoid it at all costs, but don’t hunt it down, either. This is the kind of tape to get if you’re at Blockbuster (At where now?) and it’s the only wrestling tape they have that you haven’t seen. Otherwise…