WWF Prime Time Wrestling (April 27, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: April 27, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Tuxedo Match: Mr. Fuji v Hillbilly Jim: From New York City on December 26 1986. Are you really expecting play-by-play for this? Fuck you, too. Jim gets the win at 4:16. Happy? DUD

WWF Women's Title Match: Fabulous Moolah v Leilani Kai: From New York on December 26 1986, and originally aired on the January 25 1987 episode of All American Wrestling. Kai kickstarts things, and gets Moolah to run out of the ring, as Monsoon makes cracks about her weight. Kai with a catapult as Moolah gets back inside, but Moolah nails her, and throws her around by the hair, then to the outside. Moolah keeps her from getting back in, so Kai pulls her out with her, and they brawl. Moolah feeds her the announce table, then whacks her with a telephone, before bodyslamming her on the floor. Inside, Moolah continues to hammer, as Heenan suggests that Gorilla start his own referee training school, instead of constantly complaining about them. The man has a point! And then, when he eventually became president of the entire promotion, he still didn’t do anything about it! In fact, he gave Harvey Wippleman a manager’s license, despite years of evil deeds! Moolah works her over, as Gorilla and Bobby hold a summit on women’s rights. Moolah with a schoolboy at 10:50. ¾*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio with Update, giving us a look at the latest dastardly deeds of Danny Davis

The latest chapter of the Ken Patera Story, and he’s going full Max Cady this week

Honky Tonk Man v Tom Sharpe: From Superstars of Wrestling on April 25 (taped March 21) in Las Vegas Nevada. Honky’s deal here is still trying to get the DDT banned, which is a solid ‘chickenshit heel’ angle. Honky with the swinging neckbreaker at 3:05. DUD

Fuji Vice! Gosh, mid-80s Miami looks nothing like it does now. Hard to believe it’s even the same city. I mean, a lot of this was obviously shot elsewhere, but even the establishing shots make the difference obvious

George Steele v Tiger Chung Lee: From Boston Massachusetts on August 3 1985. How did this show draw viewers for years and years? I mean, did people actually sit and watch these low level matches on TV every week? And, it’s not even like the squash matches on Superstars (which have personality), they’re just boring. Steele gets the pin at 4:37. DUD

The Islanders v Moondog Spot and Gladiator: From New Haven Connecticut on February 16. Tama with a flying splash on Gladiator at 5:21. A little long. ¼*

Bret Hart v Dynamite Kid: From Landover Maryland on September 14 1985, and originally aired on the October 8 1985 Prime Time. Bret stalls to start, and a criss cross doesn't go his way when a dropkick is countered with a catapult into the corner. Great timing on that spot there. Bret stalls on the outside after that, but still takes an atomic drop on the way back in, and Kid drills him with a snap suplex. Great execution all around here. Kid with a chinlock, so Hart counters to a hammerlock, but Kid dumps him out of the ring to escape. Bret stalls out there again, and they trade wristlocks once they get back at it, with Hart able to dominate. He whips Kid into the ropes for a knee, then gives him a hairpull slam, followed by a 2nd rope pointed elbowdrop. That wasn't quite as graceful as his later take on the move. To the outside, Hart bodyslams him on the floor, but Kid beats the count, so Bret delivers a backbreaker for two. Backdrop, but Kid counters with a sunset flip for two, so Hart stomps him in the groin. Well, that'll usually get a message across. Bret unloads with uppercuts, but Kid counters one with a backslide for two, then reverses a backbreaker, so Bret ties his ass up in the ropes for some abuse. Bodypress, but Kid dodges, and Bret takes a visually impressive bump into the ropes. That looked great. That allows Kid to make a comeback, and a cross corner whip sets up a kneedrop for two. Side suplex gets two, and a 2nd rope flying kneedrop is worth two. Criss cross sees Kid trip over Hart and take a spill into the ropes, and Hart dumps him to the outside, but Kid comes back in with a rollup at 12:25. Some great stuff, and certainly some beautiful execution, but pretty disappointing overall. Watching Bret play William Regal for half the match wasn't my favorite, either. * ½

BUExperience: How this show became a fan favorite, I’ll never properly understand. Maybe you just ‘had to be there.’