WWF Wrestling Challenge (February 8, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: February 8, 1987 (taped January 27)

From Fort Myers, Florida; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Koko B Ware v Jimmy Jack Funk: I always get a kick out of how excited Monsoon gets about camera shots ‘over Frankie’s shoulder.’ Posturing to start, controlled by Koko. A hiptoss sends Funk to the outside, so Jimmy tries a wristlock on the way back in, but Ware reverses. Funk tries an overhead wristlock, but Koko escapes, as Slick split screens in to run down Ware. Koko with a cross corner whip, and he backdrops Jimmy on the rebound. Funk goes to a double knucklelock, but Koko escapes with a dropkick, and hits a missile dropkick for good measure. Brainbuster, and good night at 2:52. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is with President Jack Tunney, who announces that WrestleMania III will take place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan. It’s crazy to me that we’re less than two months out before even the city is announced

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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*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Kamala and Sika. And the fucking Wizard

Outback Jack vignette. Wasn’t he getting on the plane to come to the WWF a while ago already? What’s he still doing wandering around in Australia. Get to the fucking fireworks factory already, dick bag 

Jake Roberts v David Gold: Honky Tonk Man split screens in to remind us that he doesn’t like snakes. And, in fact, should he encounter one, he might make a seat cover for his Cadillac. Jake with a DDT at 1:09. DUD

Gene catches up with Billy Jack Haynes, who challenges Hercules to put his full nelson up against his own

Ricky Steamboat as at the Kennedy Institute for Handicapped Children, where he’s apparently recently graduated from

Demolition v SD Jones and Don Driggers: So we’ve got Ax and Smash played by the familiar guys now, but the haircuts and the facepaint are still not what we’d later become familiar with. Meanwhile, the Dream Team split screens in to put over Demolition, who they are excited to be stablemates with. Demolition but Driggers away at 1:57. DUD

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

Adrian Adonis v Mario Mancini: Monsoon is in shock as well, but Heenan isn’t at the commentary desk, so Gorilla can’t question him about what we just saw. They’re acting like this just happened, live, but it was from Superstars the day before, so I have no idea what they’re trying to pull. Adonis split screens in here, addressing rumors that Roddy Piper is on the verge of retirement, and Adrian puts Mario away with a sleeper at 1:14. DUD

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The Can-Am Connection v Iron Mike Sharpe and Steve Lombardi: That's like the WrestleMania main eventers of jobbers. Bobby is back at the desk, and he keeps the promo going on Hogan. Pairing Heenan with Andre was such a masterstroke, and really an underrated aspect to the huge angle. Meanwhile, Don Muraco and Bob Orton split screen in to laugh off the Connection as a team. The Connection with a combo on Lombardi at 4:20. Too long, but the prime jobbers knew how to make them look like stars. ¼*

Gene catches up with Butch Reed, and Okerlund wonders of Slick will do a better job managing Reed than he does “those six ladies up in Detroit.” Oh boy

BUExperience: This was good! The WrestleMania build is in full swing, and you get one of the most memorable title changes and angles of the entire 1980s in one episode. What more do you want? What more could you want?