WWF Wrestling Challenge (October 19, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: October 19, 1986 (taped October 7)

From Rochester, New York; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan 

Koko B Ware v Steve Lombardi: Koko split screens in to let us know that the parrot's name is ‘Frankie.’ Big news here. I hope someone taped it. Or, well, I mean obviously they did because I’m watching it here over thirty seven years later. But you know what I mean. Koko with a brainbuster at 2:37. DUD

Wrestler’s Rebuttal is Roddy Piper ranting about Bob Orton and Don Muraco. And Punky Brewster

In a taped segment, we see Paul Orndorff visit a beauty salon, and be a huge pain in the ass to the girls doing his hair and nails. This segment didn’t really work. Orndorff is great, but he’s supposed to be a top level heel, and this felt like midcard silliness 

Paul Orndorff v Tony Parks: Johnny Valiant sits in for Bobby Heenan here, and Orndorff is still coming out to Real American. Glad to see it. Paul with a piledriver at 1:20. DUD

Ken Resnick catches up with Tito Santana, and Ken knows that the top thing on his mind must be chasing WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage. Dude, it’s been eight months! Move on. But then, Tito never could, could he?

Dick Slater v Bob Bradley: Bobby officially turns babyface here, wondering if rebel flag wearing Slater is aware that the war’s been over for more than a hundred years. Meanwhile, Danny Davis split screens in, and he’s sick of fans writing in letters complaining about his refereeing. He’s the professional, and he’s not taking tips from a bunch of amateurs. Dick with a flying elbowsmash at 2:43. DUD

Resnick catches up with the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, and Jacques seems really suspicious this week. Maybe Joey Tribbiani was booking

The Dream Team v Jerry Allen and Rick Hunter: Bobby gets a funny line in about why the British Bulldogs are the tag champions: “they have a lot of non-title matches.” I can hear Jerry Lawler making that joke too, but he’d probably add a grating cackle. I love the King, but Bobby was more subtle. Both monumental talents. Greg Valentine with the figure four at 2:32. DUD

Jake Roberts hosts the Snake Pit, with guest Junkyard Dog. Not much here, just Jake making racist assumptions about JYD, and Dog spitting at the snake

Sika v Jose Luis Rivera: Wizard is still around at this point, and he split screens in with his usual shouty promo. Both he and Sika are such blind spots for me. Neither of them ever made a pay per view (which was my primary introduction to this era when I became a fan in the mid-90s), and I only remember Wizard from his terrible WCW run. Sika with a headbutt drop at 2:08. DUD

In a park somewhere, Bobby catches up with WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs so he can insult Matilda. That’s the whole segment. Making my job easy, at least

The British Bulldogs v Steve Regal and Rudy Diamond: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line here. Proving Bobby’s point! Dynamite Kid springboards off of Davey Boy Smith’s shoulders with a flying headbutt drop on Diamond at 2:13. Nice finish, and great timing throughout from the Bulldogs. ½*

Resnick catches up with Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, and they want the British Bulldogs to sign a contract on the paper so they can get a title shot. As opposed to on a leaf of lettuce? 

BUExperience: These are too much fun. Nothing notable, but just fun.