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

Original Airdate: January 27, 1990

From Chattanooga, Tennessee; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura. Jesse’s sans any sort of head covering tonight, which is unnerving

We take a look back at Randy Savage cheating to defeat Jim Duggan for the king's crown

Randy Savage v Jim Duggan: So, while Rumble '90 was the first time I remember seeing Savage work with the long tights, he's actually got them here as well (this was taped weeks before the pay per view). I guess it was some sort of fashion related New Years resolution type deal for him, like Ross and his leather pants. Duggan is not impressed, however, and overturns Macho's throne during the entrances, then beats him up on the way in. Cross corner whip and a clothesline get two, but an atomic drop triggers a distraction from Sensational Sherri, and Savage capitalizes by knocking him to the floor for a flying axehandle. Randy hits another one on the way back in for two, and he snaps Jim's throat across the top rope for two. Savage's timing and speed as a worker are just incredible. He misses a straddling ropechoke, however, and Duggan backdrops him over the top. That cues another distraction from Sherri, but this time Hacksaw ignores it, and levels Savage with a clothesline on the outside. Bodyslam on the way back in sets up a kneedrop, so Sherri distracts the referee to delay the count - Macho kicking out at two. No wonder Sherri was so mad after he lost to Warrior at WrestleMania VII - she certainly lived up to her end of the bargain as a manager. She attacks Duggan on the outside next, and nearly takes a beating for it before Macho saves with a high knee. Flying axehandle hits, but Sherri wants to make sure, and passes Savage her loaded purse - distracting the referee to allow him to bash Jim with it. It only gets two, however, and Duggan comes back with an inside cradle for two. Turnbuckle smash and an atomic drop lead to a pair of clotheslines, but the 3-Point Stance knocks Macho to the floor. Jim is right after him with a vertical suplex back in, but Sherri sweeps the legs, and Macho topples him for the pin (with two feet on the ropes to make sure) at 9:14. Holy fuck, Sherri EARNED her money, I'll tell you. This was basically two people carrying Duggan to something watchable - and doing a damned good job of it, too. ** (Original rating: *)

We take a look back at the confrontation between Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior at the Royal Rumble

Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior v Mr. Perfect and The Genius: Warrior's still sporting the black leather version of the Intercontinental belt here. As closely associated as he became with the yellow strap version, he really didn't use it for very long, did he? Hogan starts with Perfect, and slams him around with ease. That brings Genius in illegally, but he gets the same treatment, and both heels bail. Tag to Warrior, and he jumps them both on the floor, then brings them in - only to have the pleasure of throwing them right back out again. Man, this has been quite the blitz from the face side thus far. Hulk goes after Perfect on the floor as well, and Perfect is just bumping like a madman for the Hulkster here. I mean, this is like Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005 levels of overselling. A turnbuckle smash earns a fucking full somersault, for fucks sake! Forget wrestling, Hennig should have tried out for the Olympics. Big boot knocks Perfect over the top, but a shot with Genius' scroll slows Hogan down, and the heels cut the ring in half on him. PerfectPlex looks to finish, but he changes his mind, and breaks his own count to let Genius have the honor. Yeah, that's not wise. Flying moonsault promptly hits the knees, and Hogan takes out Perfect as well before getting the tag off. Warrior is a nuthouse of fire, and a sloppy Legdrop from Hulk finishes Genius at 8:02. Afterwards, the heels jump them again, and Warrior ends up popping Hogan in the face by accident during the chaos - leading to a shoving match to setup the inevitable WrestleMania bout. Tons of energy and fun. ** ½ (Original rating: ¾*)

Flashback to January 20, when Jake Roberts brawled with Ted DiBiase and Virgil - stealing the Million Dollar Belt in the process. It's kind of hilarious to 'flashback' to a date that happened three weeks after this show was even recorded, but such was the fun of pre-taping in this era

Jake Roberts v Greg Valentine: Valentine controls with armdrags to start, so Jake goes for the DDT early, but Greg hits the deck and bails. A trip-up from Jimmy Hart allows the Hammer to take control on the way back in, and he cross corner whips Roberts a few times. Elbowdrop gets two, and an overhead elbowsmash is worth two. A pair of knees to the lower back get two, but a charge in the corner misses, and Jake starts mounting his comeback. DDT, but Greg makes a last ditch effort with a backdrop, and he tries for the Figure Four, but Roberts blocks, and executes the DDT - only to get attacked by Ted DiBiase and Virgil for the DQ at 5:16. More background for the angle than anything else. ½* (Original rating: ¼*)

Rick Rude v Dusty Rhodes: Rude tries jumping him before the bell, but a cross corner whip gets reversed, and Rhodes tosses him out of the ring. Dusty follows and rams the back into the apron before bringing things back inside, cracking Rude with some overhead elbowsmashes. Elbowdrop misses, however, and Rude capitalizes with a chinlock, but eats a backdrop. Bobby Heenan makes himself useful by accosting Sapphire on the outside to distract Dusty from his comeback, however, allowing Rude to pounce. Both managers ejected for their behavior, but the damage is done, and Rude drives Rhodes into the post. Dusty beats the count, but Rick is ready with an armbar, as Sapphire shows up with a first row ticket, and tries to rally the crowd from there. I get what they're going for, and I'm not really complaining, but it's asking a lot of your audience to buy that there just happened to be a ringside seat available in the middle of the damned event. It's not a TNA show, after all. Rude works him over, but gets distracted by Sapphire, and heads to the outside to give her a piece of his mind. That draws Rhodes over, and we have a lame double countout at 9:04. Dull match, but there was enough extracurricular stuff going on to keep us engaged. ½* (Original rating: ¼*)

Ronnie Garvin v Dino Bravo: Bravo hammers him at the bell, but misses a clothesline, and gets pounded. Criss cross ends in Bravo tossing him to the outside, however, where Earthquake is ready and waiting with a cheap shot. Back in, Bravo bodyslams him to setup an elbowdrop for two, and a gutwrench suplex is worth two. Bodyslam, but Garvin counters with a rollup - only to get blocked with Bravo hooks the ropes. Elbowdrop misses, however, and Ronnie starts mounting a comeback. Garvin Stomp, but Earthquake protests, and Bravo rolls through a flying bodypress for the pin at 3:19. Man, they just FLEW through that one. Hey, if you’re going to use Dino Bravo, that is how it's done, though. ¼* (Original rating: ¼*)

BUExperience: Though pre-taped, this episode doesn’t suffer as badly for it as the ‘post’ Survivor Series episode did. That’s not to say that it’s a good show, however, but at least it didn’t stink of pre-taping. And that’s something