WWF Prime Time Wrestling (February 13, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: February 13, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

The Hart Foundation v Davey Boy Smith and Billy Jack Haynes: From New York City on January 19 1987. Haynes is subbing for the Dynamite Kid here. Bret Hart starts with Bulldog, and Davey uses power to dominate, and he Bret ends up getting abused in the corner. Tags all around, and Jim Neidhart tries a headlock, but Haynes forces a criss cross - winning with a drop-toehold into a hammerlock. Back to Davey, but he quickly gets into trouble, and the Foundation go to work. Davey eventually manages to drop Bret crotch-first across the top rope to allow the hot tag to Haynes, and Roseanne Barr the door! Referee Danny Davis gets bumped as Billy gets a full nelson on Hart, so a second referee runs out to call for the bell via submission at 9:52. This was actually really boring. ½*

From Superstars, we get Roddy Piper hosting Piper’s Pit, with guest Jesse Ventura. As promised, both men produce WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, respectively, but not expected: Bobby Heenan is here too. Hulk is in shock, and immediately starts freaking out, but Andre just stands there stonefaced. Bobby airs all of Andre’s grievances, and when Andre finally speaks, it’s to challenge Hulk for a title match at WrestleMania III. Hulk is in shock, so Andre tears Hogan’s shirt and crucifix off, and he rips so hard that Hulk is left with blood running down his chest as the heels leave. Hogan is near tears, and Piper is in complete shock, just mumbling ‘you’re bleeding’ over and over. This was incredible, and it’s amazing how efficient the segment is. It lasts all of a few minutes, but gets so much across, and advances all the necessary storypoints

Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart visit the studio where Elvis recorded all his hits, and endear themselves to fans everywhere 

Corporal Kirchner v Honky Tonk Man: From Hartford Connecticut on December 14 1986, in a dark match from the SNME taping. Kirchner gets a little fire early, but quickly gets into trouble, and hammered by Honky. Honky with a backelbow, but Kirchner counters a backdrop with a sunset flip for two, so Honky bodyslams him, and delivers a 2nd rope pointed elbowdrop for two. Backdrop again, but Kirchner blocks, and this time fights off Honky’s attempt to cut him off. Honky gets a shot off in the corner, and finally lands the backdrop for two. Honky adds a gutwrench suplex, and another bodyslam sets up a 2nd rope fistdrop, but Kirchner dodges. That allows Kirchner to go on the comeback trail, but an avalanche misses, and Honky delivers an elbowdrop, before finishing with the swinging neckbreaker at 5:11. A very dark matchy dark match. ½*

Nikolai Volkoff v Blackjack Mulligan: From New York on December 26 1986. Blackjack blitzes him during the anthem, and puts it away quickly with a jumping backelbow at all of 0:26. DUD

Ken Resnick catches up with Jake Roberts, who is not going to apologize for killing guys with the DDT. It’s his job, and he’s good at his job

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The British Bulldogs v The Hart Foundation: From Superstars on February 7 1987 (taped January 26) in Tampa Florida. Davey Boy Smith comes in fighting both heels, and he hits Bret Hart with a hanging vertical suplex, then dumps Jim Neidhart to the outside, as Dynamite Kid sells a megaphone shot that happened before the bell on the outside. Smith keeps dominating both challengers, and he hits Jim with the running powerslam, but referee Danny Davis is too busy checking on Kid, so no count. Davey goes to drag him in, but that allows Bret to attack, and the Foundation double team. They hit Davey with the Hart Attack, and we have new champions crowned at 2:49. There wasn’t much to it, but it was a great moment, and coupled with a great angle. ½*

Lanny Poffo v Red Demon: From New York on January 19 1987. Poffo appears to have one of Shawn Michaels’ ring jackets from 1996 here. Demon, meanwhile, has a very odd look here, with a red full body suit, coupled with white trunks over it, and a leopard print mask. It’s like he had several different ideas, and couldn’t make a decision. This one drags on and on and on until Lanny finally fights off Demon’s cheap heel tactics, and finishes with a flying somersault senton splash at 15:49. Yes, this got sixteen minutes. ½*

Roddy Piper v Adrian Adonis: From Saturday Night's Main Event in Hartford on December 14 1986 (aired January 3). Piper attacks right away, and beats him with gusto. Adonis manages to return fire for a slugfest, but Piper gets the best of it, and smashes his face into the mat a couple of times. Whip into the ropes is reversed, however, and Adonis hooks the Goodnight Irene sleeper on, but Roddy dives for the ropes, and they go tumbling out of the ring. Adrian sprays some perfume in his eyes out there, and rolls back in to grab a countout win at 3:35. This was more about furthering the angle in front of a big network audience than anything, and there's nothing wrong with that. ¼*

WrestleMania III ad

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Randy Savage v Bruno Sammartino: From Boston Massachusetts on January 3 1987. Savage tries to stall, but Bruno grabs hold of him, and runs wild! Macho bails, and hides behind Miss Elizabeth, which is enough to stop Bruno. That allows Savage to sneak attack, and Bruno eats the post. Savage with a flying axehandle, so Bruno goes to the eyes to buy time, and he pounds on Randy from there. Backdrop, but Macho blocks. He looks for a follow up, but Bruno knocks him out of the ring, so Savage pulls him out with him. He tries for the post again out there, but Bruno blocks this time. Bruno tries to beat the count in, so Savage nails him with a chair, and leaves him out there to take the countout at 6:03. Savage was extremely game to go out there and get destroyed, but it wasn’t really much of a match beyond that. ¼*

BUExperience: It’s weird, as this is one of the biggest and hottest periods in the history of the promotion (or even the sport, full stop), and you’d think the show would be less painfully boring than this just on sheer momentum. You’d be very wrong.