WWF Superstars of Wrestling (February 21, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: February 21, 1987 (taped January 26)

From Tampa, Florida; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Hart Foundation v The Islanders: Interestingly, the Foundation don’t even get an entrance here. They still manage to look like stars, though. Danny Davis does get an entrance, however, as Jimmy Hart introduces him to the crowd as the newest member of the stable. Bret Hart and Tama start, and a criss cross ends in Tama landing a knife-edge chop. Tag to Haku for a combo on the Hitman, and Haku adds a fistdrop, before passing back to Tama for stereo headbutts. Jim Neidhart throws a cheap shot to turn the tide on Tama, as Hillbilly Jim split screens in to offer his thoughts on Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant at WrestleMania. The Foundation work Tama over, but Haku leapfrogs over Bret to make the tag, and Haku runs wild. He blasts Bret with a superkick, and tags Tama for a dive, but Davis knocks Tama off the ropes. That allows Jim to tackle Tama for the pin at 4:06. Nothing exceptional, but solid. * ¼ 

Gene Okerlund is in the studio with Update, and the big news is that Roddy Piper has announced his retirement. He just has one last piece of business to settle with Adrian Adonis, and after that’s done at WrestleMania, he’s done. Wild to think he was only 32 years old at the time

WrestleMania III ad

Harley Race v Salvatore Bellomo: The announcers discuss all the stipulations for Race’s match with Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania here, and there’s a funny moment where Vince notes that there are ‘too many stipulations to list’ … and then promptly lists them all. JYD split screens in here, promising to make Harley bow at WrestleMania. Race with a fisherman buster at 1:06. That’s such a simple, but visually effective finisher. DUD

Gene catches up with the Hart Foundation, who promise to be fighting champions, and are ready to defend against the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers

Recently, Tito Santana and the British Bulldogs formed a partnership to go after Danny Davis

Billy Jack Haynes v Morgan Bastien: Hercules watches on a monitor in the back, acting like a crack addict. Haynes with the full nelson at 2:14. DUD

Gene catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage, who doesn’t sweat George Steele standing in Ricky Steamboat’s corner at WrestleMania 

The Dream Team v Paul Roma and Frankie Rose: I always liked how Howard Finkel would refer to tag matches as ‘tag team attractions.’ Little things. The Rougeau Brothers split screen in here, hyping their match with the Dream Team for WrestleMania. Greg Valentine finishes Rose with the figure four at 2:21. Roma didn’t even try to save! What a loser! ¼*

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 is in the control center for the WrestleMania III Report! Gene promises a surprise in the Can-Am Connection’s corner at the show, which is something that did not happen. I wonder who that was supposed to be. He also teases a surprise guest in Hogan’s corner for the main event, which is also a thing that did not happen

Koko B. Ware v Red Demon: Butch Reed split screens in, hyping his match with Koko at WrestleMania. Bruno notes that Frankie is ‘the observer’ of wrestling, and I’m half surprised Vince or Jesse didn’t make some crack about ‘bird brained observers,’ or something. Koko with a brainbuster at 3:08. DUD

Gene catches up with Hogan and Haynes, who are ‘similar, but different,’ per Hulk

BUExperience: It’s the WrestleMania III build! What’s not to like?