WWF Superstars of Wrestling (March 14, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: March 14, 1987 (taped February 16)

From New Haven, Connecticut; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

The Killer Bees v Tiger Chung Lee and Iron Mike Sharpe: Jesse, rightly, mocks the Bees’ tights. Meanwhile, Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff split screen in, promising to make ‘honey’ out of the Bees at WrestleMania. Jim Brunzell puts Tiger away with a dropkick at 4:41. This felt endless, to the point where I had to double check to make sure this was actually only five minutes. DUD

Gene Okerlund is in the studio for Update, and gives us the Tale of the Tape for the WrestleMania main event

WrestleMania III ad

Harley Race v Don Driggers: Bob Uecker split screens in here to hype up WrestleMania. And then we see Junkyard Dog watching this match on the monitor in the back, as Harley puts this away with a cradle suplex at 1:49. At least this one wasn’t seventeen hours long. DUD

WrestleMania III closed circuit viewing locations ad

Gene catches up with the Can-Am Connection, who aren’t worried about Mr. Fuji at WrestleMania. As long as they leave their dogs at home

Butch Reed is going to pluck Koko B. Ware at WrestleMania

Koko B. Ware v Barry O: Vince notes that this should be a ‘fantastic’ match, which should tell you all you’ll ever need to know about his honesty. Tito Santana split screens in here, talking about Danny Davis. Oh, get over it already! It was over a year ago! Koko with the brainbuster at 2:40. DUD

Gene catches up with Aretha Franklin, and I remain surprised that she actually did advance stuff for them ahead of the show

Gene catches up with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, who is in full Hulkster mode, as WrestleMania approaches 

Andre the Giant leans on Bob Uecker. Given how some of their other interactions went, that was a pretty easy night for old Bob

Hercules v Mario Mancini: Vince keeps adding the ‘Hernandez’ to Hercules’ name here, which I thought was no longer a thing at this point. But, then, I guess if Vince says it’s a thing, then it’s a thing. Simple as that. Billy Jack Haynes split screens in here to hype his match with Hercules at WrestleMania, as the crowd loudly jeers Hercules. Hercules with a full nelson at 1:19. DUD

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, with guest Hogan. They get right into their mutual admiration society, and Roddy thinks Hulk can get it done against Andre

WrestleMania III ad. As opposed to literally this entire show?

Gene is in the control center for the WrestleMania III Report

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Randy Savage v Sivi Afi: A criss cross right away, ending in Afi delivering a bodypress for two. He adds a dropkick to send Savage to the outside, and Afi dives at him. Inside, Afi with a headbutt and a bodyslam, but Savage blocks a pump-splash, and throws a hangman clothesline. Afi bails, so Macho chases with a high knee into the guardrail, and he rolls Afi in for a bodyslam. To the top for the flying elbowdrop, and we’re out at 1:31. This was fun, but too short to be of any real substance. ¾*

Gene catches up with Hercules, who is going to crush Haynes at WrestleMania, and then go kick back to watch Andre win the world title

BUExperience: The WrestleMania III hype - while completely understandable and correct - was in overdrive to the point of obnoxiousness here.