WWF Superstars of Wrestling (October 11, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: October 11, 1986 (taped September 16)

From Baltimore, Maryland; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Jesse catches up with WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs, wondering if it’s true what they say about English women: great bodies, not so great faces. As evidenced by their new manager: Matilda

The British Bulldogs v The Dream Team: This is non-title, and McMahon is extremely excited about Matilda. Both Dream Team guys attack before the bell, and they isolate Dynamite Kid. They get some shots off before Davey Boy Smith saves, and the dust settles on Kid and Greg Valentine. Kid backdrops him to set up a kneedrop, and Kid adds a snap suplex from there. Over to Davey Boy, and he works a wristlock on the dazed Hammer. Greg manages to catch him with a backelbow to allow the tag to Brutus Beefcake, and he kneedrops Smith for two. Brutus with a vertical suplex, but he bumps his own head on the landing, and Smith tags out. The Bulldogs with stereo headbutts, but Brutus manages to backdrop Kid to allow the tag to Greg. Valentine hits Kid with a backbreaker, and he goes to the top, but Kid slams him off for two. Greg shoves him into the heel corner to prevent a tag, and Brutus tags in with a press-backbreaker for two. Back to Greg for a flying axehandle, and he tries for the figure four, but Kid blocks. Brutus comes in to bodyslam him, but an elbowdrop misses, and Davey gets the hot tag! He press-slams Brutus, so Greg comes in, but Smith cuts him off with a dropkick. Smith stays on Brutus with a vertical suplex for two, but the referee gets bumped on the kick out. That allows Greg to dive on with a flying axehandle, and he covers, but the groggy referee realizes that Greg isn’t legal, and flags it. The heels stay on Smith with a tandem suplex, and Greg covers again, but the referee disqualifies the heels for not following his instructions at 4:58. These two teams always had great chemistry, but man, that finish was a bed shit. * ¾ 

Gene Okerlund is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at Jake Roberts in the shower, playing with his snake

Don Muraco and Bob Orton v Billy Jack Haynes and Sivi Afi: The heels come out to Roddy Piper’s music to troll him here. Don starts, but gets dominated by the babyfaces, who use quick tags in and out. Don manages to tag out, and Bob wins a criss cross with a hiptoss on Billy, but misses an elbowdrop. That allows Billy an armdrag into an armbar, and he passes to Afi. Muraco is quick with a cheap shot to turn the tide, and the heels quickly put Afi away with a superplex at 1:46. Had some mojo, but way too short to find a gear. ¼*

Ken Resnick catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage, who thinks Ricky Steamboat should take a good look at his TV screen, because the closest he’ll ever get to the title belt

King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd v Dick Slater and Rick Hunter: Haha, fuck you Dick Slater, you’re on job duty! I mean, I don’t actually have anything against Slater, I just find it funny that he came in with vignettes and everything, and here he is teaming with Rick Hunter. The Machines split screen in here, promising even more new Machines to come. Bundy with the avalanche at 3:56. This was pretty long for what it was. DUD

Resnick catches up with Ricky Steamboat, and what’s up with his accent here? I guess he changed it following the kayfabe throat injury? Because, if so, that was quite the dedication, as he stuck with it for the rest of his career

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers v Hercules Hernandez and Barry O: Danny Davis split screens in here, telling anyone who doesn’t appreciate his refereeing to back off. The Brothers put Barry away with a combo at 1:44. DUD

We get a look at the ongoing construction of a new Piper’s Pit set 

Roddy Piper is still fuming about Adrian Adonis, Don Muraco, and Bob Orton

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Pedro Morales, Haku, and Tama v Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Ken Glover: A big brawl to start, instigated by the babyfaces! They manage to clean house, and the dust settles on the babyfaces working over Glover, with Tama finishing him off with a flying splash at 1:29. The Foundation never even legally got into the match here. Fucking jobber. And the Hart’s feel the same way, apparently, as they kill Ken with the Hart Attack after the bell. DUD

Slick takes Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff for a ride in his limousine, giving them a taste of the good life they’ll have if they bring him the WWF Tag Team title belts

Junkyard Dog and George Steele v Steve Regal and Terry Gibbs: Well, at least these are proper jobbers. Butch Reed split screens in here, and he can’t settle on his nickname. ‘The Natural Hacksaw Butch Reed’ doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. JYD puts Gibbs away at 0:56. DUD

Resnick catches up with Bob Orton, who has never been happier than he is now that he’s away from Roddy Piper’s bullshit. Yeah, Roddy does seem like a lot

Don Muraco is so ready for Piper that he doesn’t even have time to wipe the coke out of his beard before the camera rolls

BUExperience: This era is a lot of fun.