WWF Superstars of Wrestling (September 13, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: September 13, 1986 (taped August 26)

From Providence, Rhode Island; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Paul Orndorff v Sivi Afi: Paul split screens in here, laughing about turning on Hulk Hogan. Paul pops Afi with a cheap shot during a ropebreak to get control, but Afi reverses a turnbuckle smash on him, and adds a series. Afi with a cross corner whip, but Paul blocks the charge in. He tries a dropkick, but Afi dodges it, and goes back to throwing shots. Afi with a headbutt to allow him to get upstairs, but his flying bodypress misses. That allows Orndorff a short-clothesline, and the piledriver finishes at 2:34. Orndorff looked like a star here. ½*

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with Update, giving us a look at newcomer Harley Race

Sika v Don Driggers: This is Sika's return to the WWF for the first time since January 1985 (or October 1984 on TV). Sika takes his time with a slow and deliberate squash, as Wizard split screens in to yell his bullshit. Sika with a Samoan drop at 2:33. This was one second shorter than the opener, but somehow felt ten minutes longer. DUD

Ken Resnick catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage, who continues to brush off the challenge of George Steele as a joke

The Moondogs v The Islanders: Rex and King Tonga start, and they trade wristlocks. A criss cross allows Tonga a backelbow, so Spot tags in, but walks into a hiptoss. Tag to Tonga Kid, and he wins a criss cross of his own with a knife-edge chop, as Honky Tonk Man split screens in to express his disgust at what Paul Orndorff did to Hulk Hogan. Honky white knighting for Hulk Hogan feels so incredibly strange. The Moondogs get a super brief heat segment on Kid, before King gets the hot tag, and Rex eats a flying splash at 2:30. DUD

Resnick catches up with Harley Race, who feels at home in Boston, and he’s not going to let Tito Santana invade his home

Randy Savage v Troy Martin: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line here, and Martin is a very young Shane Douglas, having a cup of coffee in the big time. Meanwhile, Pedro Morales split screens in here, angry that a guy like Savage is desecrating the Intercontinental title. Savage gives Troy a glimpse of his future, dumping him over the guardrail, and getting a quick brawl in the crowd in, before finishing with the flying elbowdrop at 2:09. ¼*

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, and he’s celebrating the end of the Flower Shop, particularly the removal of all the ‘non-manly’ stuff. He machos all over the place, which draws Adrian Adonis out, challenging Roddy to a Pit v Flower ‘battle of the bands’ style face off

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Super Machine, Big Machine, and Giant Machine v Al Navarro, Rick Hunter, and JJ Jackson: Poor Vince trying to differentiate the Machines is fun. Well, at least one of them is obvious. Captain Lou Albano split screens in here, teasing more Machines. Giant puts this one away at 1:27. The crowd popped huge for Giant here. DUD

The British Bulldogs v Jack Foley and Les Thornton: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line for this. This is notable as Jack is a very young Mick Foley, in his professional debut. And it’s only the second ever episode of Superstars, so history all around. Dynamite Kid puts Jack away with a side superplex at 3:42, ending a very energetic squash. ½*

Ken Resnick catches up with the Machines, who tease the addition of Piper Machine

BUExperience: The promotion was on fire at this point. This was such a breeze to watch.