WWF Championship Wrestling (July 19, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: July 19, 1986 (taped June 24)

From Poughkeepsie, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino

Randy Savage v Eric Cooper: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line. Cooper is billed as from ‘Pontiac, Michigan,’ so I assume he was instrumental in securing the Silver Dome for WrestleMania III. Meanwhile, Bruno goes on a rant about how, if he were in the ring with Savage, Elizabeth would not distract him, gosh darn it. Captain Lou Albano split screens in, and claims he’s found Macho’s weakness, and will be clueing George Steele in. Savage with a flying elbowdrop at 2:36. Macho was all in with his squashing here. ¼*

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with Update, giving us a look at the mysterious Machines - who are totally Japanese 

The American Express v Gino Carabello and Al Navarro: Nice to see we can count ‘80s WWF’ on the list of folks who misinterpreted ‘Born in the USA.’ That tracks. Mike Rotundo puts this one away with an airplane spin at 2:40. ¼*

Ken Resnick catches up with Randy Savage and Adrian Adonis. Well, we can bet Adrian wasn't getting distracted by Elizabeth, either

Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff v Don Driggers and Jimmy Jackson: How are we supposed to take these jobbers seriously if they just sit around during the anthem? If they don't respect themselves, why should we respect them? And speaking of jobbers, Corporal Kirchner split screens in here. Sheik with the camel clutch at 2:50. DUD

Resnick catches up with Freddie Blassie and Jimmy Hart, likely on their way to the Met Gala

King Tonga and Sivi Afi v Lane Anderson and Gary Semones: Gosh, Tonga was around forever, but never really got anything that amounted to a serious push in the WWF. He broached one a few times, but they never really committed. Tonga with a splash at 2:47. DUD

Adrian Adonis hosts the Flower Shop, with guest Hercules Hernandez. This is mostly Adrian fawning over Herc’s muscles

Backstage, Paul Orndorff is still upset about Hulk Hogan missing his call, but Hulk tries to cool him down

Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff v Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy: Orndorff wants to start against John, and he’s towered, but holds his own in a slugfest. John tries a bodyslam, but Orndorff blocks, and hooks a sunset flip for two. That allows Paul to grab a standing side-headlock, but John’s size is just too much, and Studd whips him into the ropes. Orndorff manages a hiptoss anyway, so John tags out, and Bundy blasts Orndorff with a backelbow. Splash, but Paul dodges. Avalanche, but Paul dodges, and Bundy is stunned. Tag back to John, but Orndorff is getting cocky now, and stupidly tries a bodyslam. That ends badly, but Paul stays focused with a dropkick, so Bundy comes in, but Orndorff has one for him as well. Both heels bail, and after dominating the board like that, Paul is finally cool with tagging out. Hulk comes in with right hands on John, and a cross corner whip allows him a bodyslam! The reactions for this are off the charts. Meanwhile, Orndorff is looking annoyed that Hulk pulled off the bodyslam he couldn’t. But I’m sure he’ll get over it. Hulk hits John with an atomic drop next, and a cross corner clothesline connects. Again, but Studd rocks him with a clothesline of his own to block, and Bundy catches the tag. The heels work Hulk over, and a headbutt knocks Hogan into Orndorff - Paul taking a spill off of the apron as a result. The heels double team Hogan from there, but the referee objects, so they shove the official aside for the DQ at 6:30. Well, you weren’t really expecting a clean finish, were you? Afterwards, the heels continue to brutalize the Hulkster, and Orndorff doesn’t exactly rush in to make the save. He does eventually help, but then shocks the world by nailing Hogan with a short-clothesline after helping the world champion to his feet. Paul adds a piledriver from there to cement the heel turn, and the boos are deafening. He’s not satisfied, however, and waves Bundy and Studd back in to finish the job, but a bunch of babyfaces run in to save before they can do any damage. Then backstage, Orndorff hangs out with the Heenan Family, with Adonis stopping by to congratulate him for his behavior as well. This was great stuff. * ¼

Resnick catches up with Tito Santana, who is broken up and confused by Orndorff’s behavior. Ricky Steamboat then comes in, and he’s going to bounce Jake Roberts around like a basketball when they meet in Boston

BUExperience: Yeah, so this was a great episode, with a huge angle, and even the rest being quite strong to boot.