WWF Prime Time Wrestling (February 23, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: February 23, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

George Steele v Kamala: From Toronto Ontario Canada on November 16 1986. Oh dear. Three minutes in, still no contact made, as they just sort of circle each other. They finally make contact in the form of George stomping his foot, and then both guys go right back to circling. Steele stomps the foot again, so Kimchee distracts him, and Kamala nails him with a weapon. That allows Kamala to go up with a flying splash at 4:29, with Steele ‘out cold like a Jewish salami,’ per the announcers. What does that even mean? This barely qualified as a match. DUD

Jose Luis Rivera v Terry Gibbs: From Toronto on January 11. I understand why they needed to put stuff like this on to pad out the live events, what with all the shows they were running on any given day… but why televise it? Was anyone tuning in to see this? Rivera with a sunset flip at 7:56. Yes, this was eight minutes long. DUD

From Superstars, Jake Roberts hosts the Snake Pit with guests Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart. Jake makes fun of Honky’s name and outfit, which seems like a pretty bold position from a guy wearing a shirt that’s knotted up at the belly. But then Jake makes fun of Honky’s musical talent, so Honky breaks a guitar over his head. According to legend, they didn’t gimmick the guitar, and I don’t know if that’s true, but I can certainly say that the shot was one of the most brutal I’ve ever seen. If I were betting, I’d bet it wasn’t gimmicked

Gene Okerlund is in the control center with the WrestleMania III Report!

Harley Race v Billy Jack Haynes: From East Rutherford New Jersey on January 5. Haynes dominates early, delivering a pair of backdrops, and leaving Harley begging off. Haynes goes to a headlock, but Race whips him into the ropes to escape, and catches Haynes with a high knee. Race looks to add a headbutt drop, but Haynes dodges, and grabs a mat-based headlock. Race escapes, so Haynes tries a backdrop, but Harley counters with a swinging neckbreaker. Race adds a kneedrop for two, and he dumps Billy to the outside, before diving off the apron on him. Race feeds him the post out there, but trying a piledriver on the floor backfires when Haynes backdrops him. Both guys make it in ahead of the count, and Haynes corner whips him, with Harley taking a nice bump over the top. Race beats the count, but Billy is on the comeback trail now. Race catches him with a headbutt in the corner, allowing Harley time to get upstairs, but Haynes slams him off the top. Haynes with a press-slam, and he applies the full nelson, so Bobby Heenan runs in for the DQ at 10:25. A solid little match, with Harley trying to punch his bump card like he’s due a free sandwich, or something. * ¼

Lord Littlebrook v Cowboy Lang: From New York City on June 14 1986. Joined in progress, with Lang in control. Littlebrook gets tired in the ropes for a bit, and Lang backdrops him, then hooks a cradle at 5:14 shown. The full match was about ten minutes, so I’ll refrain from rating it, but let’s just say that I’m glad they decided to trim it.

Blackjack Mulligan v Jimmy Jack Funk: From Saturday Night's Main Event on January 3 (taped December 14 1986) in Hartford Connecticut. Girl referee alert! And she's rocking a crazy mullet. Funk makes a stink over Mulligan wearing spurs into the ring, and jumps him as he removes them, but gets reversed during a cross corner whip, and clotheslined out of the ring. Mulligan follows with a backdrop on the floor, then unloads a press-slam on the way back in. Lariat and a jumping backelbow finish at 2:31. Just a quickie to send us home. ½*

From Superstars, Gene sits down with Roddy Piper, who announces that WrestleMania will be his farewell match - win, lose, or draw

The Islanders v Al Navarro and Joe Mirto: From Springfield Massachusetts on February 17. We’re joined in progress for this one. Wait, so we have to sit through full length Rivera/Gibbs shit fests, but a peppy squash is clipped? Tama with a flying splash at 3:19 shown. DUD

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v King Kong Bundy: From Boston Massachusetts on October 12 1985. Bundy unloads to start, beating Hulk all over the ring. Hogan slugs back, and manages to stagger Bundy, but gets caught in a bodyslam for two. Bundy dumps him to the outside, but Hulk pulls him out with him, and hammers him with punches. Hogan smashes him into the apron before taking it back inside, where the champion dodges a kneelift. That allows Hulk a pair of elbowdrops, and a big boot follows. Hogan with a cross corner clothesline, but Bundy blocks a bodyslam. That allows Bundy to deliver an elbowdrop for two, and he goes to a chinlock from there. Hulk fights to his feet, but gets caught with a backelbow while trying to run the ropes. Bundy with the avalanche, and he adds a splash, but still only gets two - and triggers the HULK UP!! Fists of Fury! Bundy tries another avalanche, but Hulk no-sells. Cross Corner Clothesline! Bodyslam! 6:12! This was more fun and entertaining than the pure star-rating reflects. ¾*

BUExperience: A couple of decent matches, but really nothing special. This show is much more of a chore than the weekend shows, despite generally having bigger matches.