WWF Championship Wrestling (September 14, 1985)

 

Original Airdate: September 14, 1985 (taped August 20)

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

Tito Santana and Pedro Morales v Terry Gibbs and Dave Barbie: I dig and appreciate how Howard Finkel makes the effort to properly pronounce the hispanic names. Santana finishes this one up with the jumping forearm at 4:08. Yawn. DUD

Lord Alfred Hayes is in the studio for Update, with a look at the Dream Team capturing the WWF Tag Team title from the US Express in Philadelphia on August 24

Missing Link v Sal Gee: I think Sal Gee may be my least favorite of the regular jobbers. He just seems like such a fucknut. Link no sells a bunch of stuff, before finishing up with 2nd rope kneedrop at 2:08. I like Link’s energy. ¼*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Captain Lou Albano, who nearly blows a gasket yelling about Jimmy Hart

King Tonga v Gino Carabello: This is Tonga's TV debut, though he’d worked some live events prior to when this aired and when it was taped. Bruno goes on a long, rambling explanation of why some guys work barefoot. Tonga with a superkick at 2:52. Tonga got very little reaction here, which was to be expected, since they used to debut guys blind back then. Incorporating the vignettes into the presentation later made a huge difference. DUD

Gene catches up with Freddie Blassie, since it’s manager night, apparently. 

The Hart Foundation v Lanny Poffo and Rick McGraw: The Foundation kick start the match after Poffo insults them with his poem, but the jobbers manage to stay in the game for a bit, before Rick eats a Hart Attack at 3:30. ¼*

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, with guest King Kong Bundy, who laughs off the threat of Andre the Giant, since he’s the real and only giant in wrestling. Funny bit here, as Piper wants to know what it would be like to be splashed by a guy like Bundy… so he volunteers Bob Orton to take one and report back

Steve Gatorwolf v Mr. X: This is Gatorwolf’s debut, but like Tonga, he’d worked some live events prior. Vince thinks Gatorwolf’s physique is ‘unusual,’ while Bruno thinks most of the Native American Indian wrestlers ‘look alike.’ Gosh, no wonder this guy never made it. Gatorwolf with a splash at 2:29. DUD

Mr. Fuji v Ricky Steamboat: Steamboat runs in and chokes Fuji down with a belt to kick start things, apparently still hot about Fuji and Muraco trying to hang him not long before this. Gosh, some people and their grudges. Ricky goes to town, until Fuji is able to pop off a shot down low, and a series of strikes lead to a headbutt drop to the groin. Fuji with a chop, and he goes to a nervehold, but Steamboat starts to stir. He fights up with a flying bodypress for two, but Fuji blocks a splash with his knees. Side suplex, but Ricky counters to a schoolboy at 4:07. Afterwards, Muraco sneak attacks Steamboat, laying him out in the aisle. ¼*

Freddie Miller catches up with Randy Savage, and his new manager, who he reveals to be named ‘Elizabeth.’ Freddie calls Elizabeth ‘beautiful’ about six times in as many seconds, and I’m honestly surprised Macho didn’t slit his throat right then and there

BUExperience: I had fun with this one.