WWF Prime Time Wrestling (December 2, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: December 2, 1986

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo v Pepe Gomez and Karate Kid: From New York City on November 24 1986. What was the fascination with these matches? I get that they were going for a variety show feel - something for everyone - but was this anyone’s favorite part of the show? Gomez look kind of like Sgt. Pepper’s era George Harrison, which at least gives me some amusement with this crap. Gomez and Kid pick up the win at 14:06. Yes, fourteen minutes. DUD

We get clips of WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defending against Ricky Steamboat on the November 22 episode of Superstars (taped October 28 in Binghamton New York), and just when Steamboat has him beat, referee Danny Davis comes in, and distracts the original official. That allows Savage to recover, and he does some serious damage to the Dragon’s throat with the ring bell. That feels like a big deal

Gene Okerlund is in the studio for Update, chewing over the Savage/Steamboat segment. He gets Steamboat’s wife, Bonnie, on the phone, and Gene manages to show more tact and compassion in this worked tragedy than Vince McMahon did with a very real tragedy in his Melanie Pillman interview in 1997

Pedro Morales v Hercules: From New York City on November 24 1986. Joined in progress, with Hercules on the defensive, taking a breather on the outside. Inside, Hercules catches him with a punch, and unloads in the corner, but Pedro reverses a cross corner whip. Pedro with a series of punches to put Hercules on the outside, but Hercules manages to win a criss cross with a clothesline on the way back in. That’s enough to turn the tide, and Hercules goes to work. Hercules with a vertical suplex for two, and a series of elbowdrops get him two. Pedro fires up and makes a comeback, and he hooks a small package for two. A backdrop and a backbreaker get two when Bobby Heenan breaks up the count from the outside, so Pedro gives chase. That allows Hercules to recover with a schoolboy at 7:37 shown of 9:07. ¼*

Lanny Poffo v Steve Lombardi: From New York City on November 24 1986. Poffo reads a poem name checking every New York sports team, making sure even hometown boy Lombardi gets booed. Poffo works a hammerlock, but Lombardi starts to fight free, so Poffo cradles for two. Steve gets control, and does some chinlocky shit, until he misses a charge in the corner, and Lanny makes a comeback. Steve tries going to the top, but Poffo slams him off, and delivers a bodyslam to set up a flying somersault senton splash at 10:41. ¼*

On a recent Piper’s Pit, Roddy was due to have George Steele out as his guest, but instead Adrian Adonis made his surprise return - attacking Piper, and putting him out with a sleeper

Gary Davie is in London England with Andre the Giant, who has just been reinstated. Who the hell is Gary Davie? And why was this shot in England? They weren’t even touring over there during this period

Koko B Ware v Jimmy Jack Funk: From New York City on November 24 1986. Posturing to start, dominated by Koko. A dropkick sends Funk to the outside, but Jimmy gets a side-headlock on as he heads back in. Ware forces a criss cross and delivers a monkey flip, so Funk bails. Funk manages to pound him down on the way back in, and a swinging neckbreaker gets him two. Funk goes to a chinlock from there, but Ware fights him off in the corner, and makes a comeback. Koko lands a missile dropkick, and a brainbuster ends it at 8:45. ¼*

Bob Orton v Billy Jack Haynes: From New York City on November 24 1986. The announcers discuss how, while this is the opening match of this card, it ‘could be a main event anywhere else.’ Yeah, like this episode of Prime Time! Posturing to start, dominated by Billy. Haynes wins a slugfest to get a two count, so Bob bails to regroup. Haynes with a bodyslam, and an armdrag allows him an armbar. Bob starts fighting free, so Haynes dumps him. Orton responds by bringing Jimmy Hart’s necktie in, and he chokes Billy down while Jimmy distracts the referee. That’s enough to turn the tide, and Bob uses a snapmare to set up a pointed elbowdrop. Orton drops him across the top rope for two, and a shoulderbreaker gets two. Bob tries a superplex, but Haynes blocks, and Orton ends up straddled on the top rope. Billy makes a comeback, but Orton dives into the ropes to avoid the full nelson, and both guys tumble out of the ring. They slug it out, and it’s a double countout at 14:34. Not a lot here. ¾*

BUExperience: Little Tokyo? Big no.