WWF Superstars of Wrestling (April 11, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: April 11, 1987 (taped March 21)

From Las Vegas, Nevada; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Koko B. Ware v Jimmy Jack Funk: Funk sneak attacks to kick start the match, but wastes time gloating, and Koko dropkicks him. Koko with a forearm shot, and a powerslam follows, leaving Jimmy begging off. Koko with a bodyslam to set up a 2nd rope fistdrop, but a corner splash misses, and Funk drops him across the top rope. Funk with a ropeburn, and he plants a backelbow for two. Backdrop, but Koko blocks, and hits a brainbuster at 2:21. This was energetic for what it was. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio with Update, and the news this week is that Demolition is now with Mr. Fuji. He also feels like kind of an odd fit, but so much better than Johnny Valiant

Greg Valentine and Dino Bravo v Tom Sharpe and Nick Kiniski: Valentine and Bravo announce themselves as the New Dream Team here, clearly not learning the lesson of every single team to do that. Although, they may have been the ones to establish the trope for all I know. Bravo with a sidewalk slam at 3:01. This had pep, if little else. ¼*

WWF Champion Hulk Hogan is ready for Bobby Heenan’s next challenge: Harley Race. Not to do a legend dirty, but what kind of threat is that after Andre the Giant?!?

Lanny Poffo likes WWF Ice Cream Bars

Honky Tonk Man v Jim Young: Jimmy Hart split screens in here, campaigning to ban the DDT. He should probably focus his time on getting Honky out of those suspenders. The swinging neckbreaker finishes at 2:22. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with bald Adrian Adonis, who is going after Brutus Beefcake for payback. What was up with Gene wearing sunglasses here, while making vaguely sexual remarks about golf balls to an unseen, offscreen woman?

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers v Bill Howard and Terry Gibbs: Jesse is really pleased that Raymond grew a mustache so he can finally tell them apart. The Brothers put this away with a combo at a brisk 1:56. DUD

DeGeorge catches up with Miss Elizabeth, who says that Randy Savage has become cruel since losing the title at WrestleMania

WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat and his wife, Bonnie, celebrate their new title - and announce that Bonnie is pregnant with a daughter 

DeGeorge tries to talk to Macho as he arrives at the building, but Randy is in no mood. Craig makes the mistake of saying that he thinks he’ll never regain the title, and Macho goes ballistic on him. Gosh, read the room, Craig

More of the Ken Patera story. Gosh, that Bobby Heenan is a menace 

Hercules v Billy Anderson: Jesse notes that every wrestler who has a manager is influenced by said manager, and it’s no excuse for beating up a cop and ending up in prison. Not quite exactly in those words, but read between the lines. Speaking of ‘lines,’ Billy Jack Haynes split screens in here, promising to finish what he started at WrestleMania. Getting counted out to twenty, instead of ten? Hercules with a full nelson at 1:02. DUD

Brutus Beefcake apparently has had dreams of shaving Adrian Adonis’ head since he was just a baby. Sounds like a very unfortunate childhood

Craig catches up with Adonis, who is going to make Beefcake wish he had never been born

The Hart Foundation v SD Jones and Rick Hunter: This is non-title. The British Bulldogs split screen in here, reminding us that they’re still in the title hunt. More contenders than the Islanders, or whoever they were trying to convince us of last week, I’ll say that. The Foundation with the Hart Attack combo at 2:19. Afterwards, Danny Davis comes in to continue the attack on the jobbers, but the Bulldogs make the save - with Matilda chasing Jimmy off! DUD

Okerlund (still with the shades) catches up with Heenan, who promises to make Hogan bow down to Harley Race. Their bickering here is epic, and super entertaining 

BUExperience: It’s kind of crazy to think there isn’t another pay per view to build to until November, but I’m enjoying the post-WrestleMania direction here.