WWF Superstars of Wrestling (January 17, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: January 17, 1987 (taped January 5)

From East Rutherford, New Jersey; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Ricky Steamboat v Barry O: This is Steamboat’s return to TV after the injury angle, though he’d already appeared at house shows. Randy Savage split screens in here, promising to put him right back on the shelf at the earlier possible date. Steamboat with a flying bodypress at 2:36. DUD

Gene Okerlund is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at the beef between Billy Jack Haynes and the Heenan Family. Bobby threatens to sic someone on Haynes who is even stronger than Billy Jack. But who could that be, I wonder?

George Steele tries to read. It does not go well

Kamala v Don Driggers: Kamala wastes little time, killing his jobber with a flying splash at 0:33. DUD

Ken Resnick catches up with Bruno, who is eager to get Randy Savage in a Lumberjack match, where Macho can’t run

Harley Race reminds us that he is the king. Well, he does have a crown, can’t really argue with that

Resnick catches up with Raymond Rougeau, who is ready for the Hart Foundation. Hard to take that completely seriously when his partner couldn’t even be bothered to show up

Outjack Jack vignette

Demolition v Mario Mancini and Salvatore Bellomo: This is Demolition’s debut. There was obviously still a lot of tweaks needed, but two of the most off putting of this incarnation: the facepaint that almost reads like ‘black face’ on Ax, and Johnny Valiant as the manager. Adding the theme music later was also obviously a huge piece of the puzzle. Demolition pick up the debut win at 2:19. DUD

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, where President Jack Tunney presents Hulk Hogan with a trophy in honor of holding the world title for three years. Hulk is very excited, and then Andre the Giant shows up - all smiles, but he gives Hulk a really firm handshake. Maybe a little too firm. Great, subtle start to the angle. And all the better because no one actually discusses the stiff handshake - it’s just a little moment between the two

Hercules v Jim Parks: Hercules puts this away quickly with the full nelson at 1:27. As it should be. Squash those jobbers, this ain’t Crockett. Afterwards, Heenan throws out a challenge to anyone who thinks they can break the full nelson. That draws Billy Jack Haynes out, and he’s on the verge of breaking the hold, so Heenan and Hercules beat him down before he can. Simple, but effective, angle. DUD

WrestleMania III ad

The Killer Bees v Iron Mike Sharpe and Terry Gibbs: The Hart Foundation split screen in here, promising to put a stop to the ‘illegal’ masks the Bees use. The angle here is that referee Danny Davis keeps putting the screws to the Bees, but the Bees pick up the win anyway at 5:20. Effective, but went on for too long. ¼*

Resnick catches up with the Hart Foundation, who are feeling cool in their new leather jackets

Resnick catches up with Savage, who is ready to finish Sammartino off

BUExperience: I mean, the debut of Demolition, the return of Ricky Steamboat, the start of the Hercules/Haynes angle, the start of the Hogan/Andre angle… this was eventful!