WWF Superstars of Wrestling (November 22, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: November 22, 1986 (taped October 28)

From Binghamton, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Ricky Steamboat is looking forward to his shot at the big time: the Intercontinental title

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Randy Savage v Ricky Steamboat: Danny Davis tries to take over as the referee for the bout, but gets booted. Posturing to start, as Savage tries to avoid getting caught in something. Steamboat is too quick for him, however, and a deep armdrag allows him to hold an armbar. Savage whips him into the corner to escape, but a second one gets blocked, and Steamboat bodyslams him for two. Another armdrag into an armbar, and Macho is forced to resort to the ropes this time. A criss cross ends in Steamboat armdragging him over again, and he grounds him in another armbar. It’s all very basic structure, but they’re going through those criss crosses with tremendous speed and execution. Savage goes to the eyes and rattles the challenger with a turnbuckle smash, then a snapmare to set up a kneedrop for two. Randy dives with a flying axehandle for two, so Steamboat tries throwing rights, but Macho dives with a flying bodypress - Dragon rolling through for two. Cross corner whip, but Savage blocks the charge in. He tries a turnbuckle smash, but Steamboat reverses, and dives with a flying tomahawk chop to set up mounted punches. Savage wisely tries to bail, but Steamboat keeps him inside, so Macho dumps him. Steamboat hustles back up with a slingshot sunset flip, but Savage blocks, and dumps Steamboat over the top - only for Ricky to skin the cat. Steamboat hooks a rollup for two, so Savage tags him with a backelbow. Another criss cross sees the referee get bumped, and I bet he’s regretting sending Davis to the back now. That feels like something Jesse would say, though he didn’t. Steamboat stays focused with a flying bodypress, but there’s no referee. The official staggers over, and counts two, when Davis shows up to stop him help him. That distraction allows Macho to hit Steamboat with a high knee, and they spill to the outside. Randy drops him throat-first across the guardrail out there, and he drapes Steamboat over the rail for a flying axehandle to further injure the throat. Ricky is gasping for air, and Macho rolls in to get the countout victory at 7:05. But Macho isn’t satisfied there, and decides to grab the ring bell to really put a stop to Steamboat. Macho comes off the top with it, landing right on Ricky’s throat, and the Dragon is all kinds of messed up. This was really strong for a TV match during this era, had an amazing angle, and led to something substantial down the line. What else could you want? ***

Gene Okerlund is in the stupid for Update, with a look at Paul Orndorff’s preparations for Hulk Hogan

Junkyard Dog v Al Navarro: Vince notes that there’s a ‘hush’ over the crowd due to what happened to Steamboat, but I kinda think it’s just because everyone doesn’t want to see JYD. Dog quickly puts it away with the slam at 0:37. DUD

Backstage, Bruno tries to get an update on Steamboat, but he can’t get past the door

Ken Resnick catches up with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, is ready to drag race Kamala. We’re not in WCW, dude. You actually have to wrestle him here

Superstar Billy Graham vignette 

Dino Bravo v Kurt Kaufman: Bravo has still got dark hair and Johnny Valiant here. And he puts this away in a breeze at 0:54. I imagine everyone is running quick to accommodate the Savage/Steamboat match, which was like an iron man for these shows. DUD

Resnick catches up with the Islanders, who are not into changing diapers. Considering the family tree, that might be a problem

Outback Jack vignette

Dick Slater v Jimmy Jack Funk: Slater split screens in here to talk about his love of eating chicken. Hey, nothing wrong with that. Slater blitzes him, but a trip to the top ends badly when Funk slams him off. Funk with a bootchoke and a turnbuckle smash, but he loses a slugfest, and Dick delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Funk tries a clothesline, but Slater ducks, and hits an elbowsmash. Figure four, but Funk blocks, and dumps Dick over the top. Funk tries a turnbuckle smash on the way in, but it gets blocked, and Slater dives with a flying elbowsmash. That allows Slater an elbowdrop at 2:07. ¼*

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, with guests Kamala, Wizard, and Kimchee. 

Billy Jack Haynes v Ray Vance: Haynes with the full nelson at 1:07. DUD

Jesse breaks the news to Honky Tonk Man: he lost the fan ‘vote of confidence’ in a brutal landslide 

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Pedro Morales, Tito Santana, and Hillbilly Jim v Greg Valentine, Brutus Beefcake, and Johnny Valiant: Jim and Greg start, and Jim hits a shoulderblock to win a criss cross. He quickly passes to Pedro, and he knocks Greg around some more, so referee Danny Davis intervenes. Tag to Valiant, and he hammers Pedro, before passing to Beefcake. I dig Valiant’s gear here… basically wearing both Valentine and Beefcake’s tights at the same time. Pedro manages to backdrop Beefcake, and Jim gets the tag. Beefcake begs off in the corner, allowing him to rake the eyes, and Beefcake pounds Jim down. The heels cut the ring in half on Jim, but Valiant loses control, and Tito gets the tag. He blasts Johnny with a jumping forearm, and the figure four looks to finish, but Greg saves - Roseanne Barr the door! Everyone brawls, and Davis decides the babyface team isn’t listening, so he disqualifies them at 3:05. ¼*

Resnick catches up with Bobby Heenan, who is ready to take Boston by storm

Bruno is backstage, and he’s managed to get an update on Steamboat: he’s been taken to the hospital. Savage storms in to gloat, and that pushes Bruno over the edge - calling Macho a ‘piece of slime,’ and lunging at him

BUExperience: The Savage/Steamboat segment was more than enough to carry this. And then add in the fun closing segment with Bruno, and it’s a big win.