WWF Coliseum Video Collection: The Ken Patera Story (1987)

WWF Coliseum Video Collection: The Ken Patera Story (1987)

Coliseum Video compilation. The front cover features Patera looking like he's making a very difficult choice at his favorite local bakery

Craig DeGeorge and Johnny Valiant host from the studio

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Pat Patterson v Ken Patera: From New York City on April 21 1980, though the graphic on the screen claims it as ‘1981.’  We’re joined in progress with Pat working the leg in the corner, but Ken reverses a cross corner whip. He charges, but Pat sidesteps, and Patera goes crashing into the post. That gets Patterson two, so he unloads on Ken with a flurry of shots on the mat, but a shoulderblock ends in the referee getting bumped. Ken dives with a flying knee, and the groggy referee counts the pin at 2:17 shown of 20:48, missing Patterson’s foot on the ropes. What a way to kick off his title reign. There was not enough shown to rate it, but it’s historically interesting considering this was the first ever Intercontinental title change, ending initial champion Patterson’s reign after over seven months.

From Tuesday Night Titans, Ken and Bobby Heenan join host Vince McMahon so Bobby can go on his usual anti-Hulk Hogan rant

Ken Patera v Ronnie D: From the May 18 1985 episode of All Star Wrestling (taped April 23) in Brantford Ontario Canada. Patera casually throws Ronnie around, and pulls him up at two a few times to mess around, before finishing with a swinging full nelson slam at 2:05. Just a squash. DUD

Gene Okerlund presents his investigative report on why Patera went to prison, and he’s pinning the blame on Bobby Heenan, whose bad influence is what pushed him down a dark path. I’m honestly surprised that they were even acknowledging that Ken went to jail, you’d think they’d just make up some other story, or, as they often did, just not say anything at all. Gene does a great job here, though, really making you believe that it was a crooked judicial system that sent Ken up. And then we get Gene catching up with Ken ‘just outside the prison,’ as well as Heenan’s response, which is basically laughing off the accusations. This leads to an Okerlund moderated ‘debate’ between Heenan and Patera to ‘determine’ whose fault it actually was. It’s kind of weird that Ken came to the debate in his singlet. Did he do the same in court? Because that might have something to do with why they threw the book at him. Anyway, Heenan is harsh, but his points about how he can’t be held responsible for Ken’s actions aren’t wrong. He isn’t a babysitter! And Ken comes off like a total crybaby, complaining about how Heenan didn’t come visit him in jail, and that his wife never even got a letter from Bobby! Not even a letter? No wonder he’s bitter. I mean, stamps were still pretty cheap back then. Hilariously, the crowd is totally siding with massive heel Heenan here - you can see people jump up and cheer him. So all this comes to Bobby trying to attack Ken, but that ends badly for him, and Patera destroys him, which gets the crowd back on his side. I mean, Bobby may make some good points, but no one likes him

Ken Patera v Hercules: From Superstars on May 16 1987 (taped April 24) in New Haven Connecticut, marked Ken’s return to the ring following the stint in prison. Hercules attacks before the bell, and pounds Patera down, putting the boots to him in vicious fashion. Ken slugs back, so Hercules throws a knee, and hammers him into the ropes. Ken responds by going low, and he returns the favor, pounding Hercules into the ropes. Hercules goes to the eyes to shake him off (fair), and he hammers on Patera’s back with forearm shots. This is a very one dimensional match thus far. Hercules with a backbreaker (the first actual wrestling move of the match), and he goes to a bearhug from there. Yeah, one move, I’d need a rest, too. Ken escapes, and manages a clothesline, allowing him a pair of bodyslams. Ken had some nice bodyslams. Patera with a bearhug of his own, so Harley Race runs in for the DQ at 3:14. Not much of a match here, but it did what it was designed to: set up house show matches. DUD

Ken Patera v Jimmy Jack Funk: From Superstars on June 6 1987 (taped May 12) in Anaheim California. Joined in progress, but looks like just moments in. Funk suckers him into the corner, and takes Ken to the mat for a 2nd rope fistdrop that gets two. Bobby Heenan split screens in with threats as Patera makes a comeback, and Ken delivers a vertical suplex for two. A cross corner whip sends Funk into a bearhug, and we’re out at 1:35 shown of 2:39. I guess this was shown to illustrate Patera getting back in his groove, but why not just show him fighting the Heenan Family? I think we can safely call this at ¼*

Ken Patera v Frankie Lane: From Superstars on June 27 1987 (taped June 2) in Buffalo New York. The Heenan Family show up in the aisle to observe, and even Andre the Giant makes an appearance, so clearly this is a big deal. Patera with a bearhug at 1:42. Patera looked energetic here. Afterwards, the Family advance on the ring, and put a beating on Ken, though Andre doesn’t join in, so clearly they’re not too worried. ¼*

We get an episode of the Snake Pit, as Jake Roberts hosts the Heenan Family, who swear more revenge on Patera. I’m guessing this leads to another showdown in the next match…

Honky Tonk Man v Ken Patera: Or not. From New York City on May 18 1987, and Patera is subbing for Jake Roberts here. Ken slams Honky around to start, until Honky bails. Honky tries grabbing a headlock on the way back in, but Patera quickly fights him off with an atomic drop, and Honky decides to walk out. Jimmy Hart convinces him to get back inside, but Ken is ready with a snapmare into an elbowsmash. Ken goes to town in the corner, but a charge misses, and Patera hits the post. That allows Honky to turn things in his favor, and he goes to work. Honky misses a kneedrop, allowing Patera a comeback, and a backbreaker gets him two. A bodyslam gets another two, so Jimmy tries a distraction, but it backfires. That allows Ken to get the bearhug on, so Hart comes in for the DQ at 8:33. ¼*

Hulk Hogan and Ken Patera v Harley Race and Hercules: From June 20 1987 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The babyfaces charge in to kickstart things, and they clean house. The dust settles on Hulk and Harley to start, and honestly, what was up with the off center crown logo on Race’s trunks? Race goes to the eyes to allow the heels a double team right away, but Hulk reverses a vertical suplex on him, and a clothesline sends Harley over the top. Tags all around, and Ken powers Hercules around. Patera with a snapmare to set up a bootrake, and the babyfaces pinball Hercules around in their corner. Ken gets a front-facelock on ahead of a tag, and Hulk side suplexes Hercules ahead of some mounted punches. Hogan with a backelbow for two when Race makes the save, and that allows Hercules to throw a cheap shot to the throat of the Hulkster. The heels work on Hogan, and holy shit, Ken is getting to be the hot tag guy in a match with 1987 HULK HOGAN?! No wonder this made the tape! Hulk fights Hercules off long enough for the hot tag, and Patera runs wild. He gives Hercules a series of suplexes, and gets the bearhug on, but Race saves. Harley tags in and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex for two, and a gutwrench suplex is worth two - Hogan making the save for each of those. Race stays focused with a snapmare, but Ken dodges a headbutt drop, and gets the hot tag to Hulk. That’s more like it. Hulk runs wild on Harley with bodyslams, so Hercules comes in, and Roseanne Barr the door! Hulk hits Race with the legdrop, but Bobby Heenan prevents the cover. Hulk takes him out, and a tandem clothesline with Patera on Race finishes at 11:28. As usual for this period, Hulk Hogan was super entertaining. *

BUExperience: What I really like about the earlier Coliseum profile tapes is that they tried to tell a story, instead of just showing random matches, and this certainly did that. It really comes down to the subject, and while Ken Patera is not exactly a draw with me, I am not all that familiar with the weekly TV from this period, so these tapes do a great job of filling in the blanks for me. 

A decent addition to your Coliseum Collection.