WWF Superstars of Wrestling (April 4, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: April 4, 1987 (taped March 10)

From Dayton, Ohio; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Iron Sheik v Jim Duggan: Sheik attacks before the bell, but Jim quickly fights him off, and delivers a bodyslam to set up a kneedrop. Sheik bails, but comes in ahead of the count, and Hacksaw unloads. Duggan with a backelbow for two, but he gets nailed while trying a clothesline, and Sheik delivers a clothesline of his own. Jim fires back with jabs, so Sheik goes to the eyes, and that slows Duggan down. Sheik dumps him to the outside, where Nikolai Volkoff attacks, and he, Sheik, and Slick all gang up for the DQ at 2:58. Duggan does a blade job to get it over here, and the crowd responds well, but this whole thing got derailed when Duggan and Sheik got busted for drugs together in May. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, and the news this week is that Mr. Fuji is taking over control of Kamala. If that means we never have to listen to Wizard again, this is very welcome news

Outback Jack tries to go to bed, but the mattress is too soft, so he sleeps on the floor instead. Hey, an overly soft mattress is one of the worst things imaginable, the man isn’t crazy

The Killer Bees v Jimmy Jack Funk and Iron Mike Sharpe: Jesse has come around on the masks the Bees wear, noting that, with them, at least he doesn’t have to look at their faces. Important to always find the positive in any situation, good for him. Meanwhile, the Hart Foundation split screen in, not sweating the Bees’ challenge for a tag title shot. The Bees put Sharpe away with a combo at 2:52. This was energetic. ¼*

WWF Champion Hulk Hogan feels unstoppable, coming off of WrestleMania. Almost like a ‘high,’ you might say? I wonder what might make a guy feel like that in 1987

Nikolai Volkoff v Rick Hunter: Hunter looks like someone’s grandfather. And, obviously he isn’t aware of the fact that he’s 90, because he tries attacking Volkoff before the bell, and gets soundly destroyed by both Volkoff and Sheik. That draws Duggan back out, this time armed with the 2x4, and he chases the heels off! Again, this was all really great, and the crowd was into it, but it was about to get derailed anyway.

Gene Okerlund catches up with the Islanders, who are also in the tag title hunt. Haku is a great talent, but boy, was he in need of a mouthpiece. He was a much better fit once they turned him heel, and gave him a manager. But, at least he sounds like an ‘islander’ - Tama sounds like he’s on his way to get a hoagie in Philly

Jake Roberts v Raider: Another crazy jobber here, also attacking before the bell. He gets more traction that old man Hunter did (I guess the mask gives you powers), and Honky Tonk Man split screens in, promising to break another guitar over Jake’s head. Well, hopefully someone remembers to gimmick it this time. Jake with the DDT at 2:42. This wasn’t a very impressive squash, with Raider beating up on him for the whole match. But the snake is over huge, and so is the DDT, so it worked anyway. DUD

George Steele enjoys a WWF Ice Cream Bar. Oh man, those were so good. I mean, I haven’t had one since 1993, but I remember them being amazing. I bet if I had one today it wouldn’t live up to the hype I’ve built for them in my mind. Example: the Big New Yorker from Pizza Hut. I remember being obsessed with these in the early 2000s, and waiting forever for it to come back… and then finding it disgusting when they did bring it back a couple of years ago. Memory is a funny thing

Demolition v Sivi Afi and Brad Rheingans: Demolition is coming out to some driving, hard rock music… but still not their classic theme. Johnny Valiant split screens in here, addressing the dysentery in the ranks of the Dream Team. Meanwhile, Howard Finkel does a voiceover hyping a house show, where ‘every superstar imaginable’ will be on the card. That’s quite the promise. Best part: I just looked at the card for the show he’s hyping, and Hulk Hogan wasn’t even on it! Demolition with a combo at 1:32. DUD

Gene stayed behind at the Silverdome after WrestleMania III, where he recorded a recap of the show. This kind of thing was everything back in the days before you could look stuff like that up online. I’m actually shocked that they not only showed lots of video (as opposed to stills), but actually showed the finishes for every single match. Maybe that edict hadn’t come down yet, but that was definitely a huge no-no later on

A look at Ken Patera’s story, with an eye on his return… from prison

Harley Race v Don Driggers: Race split screens in here, gloating about beating Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania. Vince thinks it’s bad form, which Jesse quickly counterpoints by noting that McMahon has no problem with Hogan’s ten minute posing routines after every match. Race with a cradle suplex at 1:06. DUD

Gene catches up with Honky Tonk Man, who shows off his guitar. Okerlund sounds exhausted here

Gene catches up with the Hart Foundation, who are not into shirts or the British Bulldogs. Bret notes that he likes the girls. Oh, I’ll say he does

BUExperience: Good stuff all around this week, and the Sheik/Duggan angle was especially strong.