WWF Wrestling Challenge (April 5, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: April 5, 1987 (taped March 11)

From Columbus, Ohio; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

The Islanders v Iron Mike Sharpe and Al Navarro: The Islanders split screen in here, promising to take the WWF Tag Team title off of the Hart Foundation, no matter what Danny Davis has to say about it. The announcers act like the Foundation are ducking them, but come on, these goofs didn’t even make the card at WrestleMania. They’re not in the Foundation’s league. But then, neither did Demolition. Though, they were newcomers. This one drags on for a while, before the Islanders put Navarro away with a combo at 3:52. That actually wasn’t super long, but it felt like it was. DUD

Craig DeGeorge catches up with Randy Savage for Wrestlers’ Rebuttal, and it’s ‘no more mister nice guy’ now that he’s been robbed of the Intercontinental title

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

Honky Tonk Man v Sivi Afi: Heenan says ‘Sivi Afi,’ and for a minute, it sounded like he was saying ‘DiBiase,’ and my ears perked way up. Honky split screens in here, noting that, if Jake Roberts is allowed to carry a snake out there, then why can’t he carry a guitar? It’s not a bad point. Honky dominates here, as the crowd chants for Jake. Sivi makes a brief comeback, but a monkey flip gets blocked, and Honky delivers a swinging neckbreaker at 2:44. This was a complete squash. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Outback Jack who wants to work out with Hulk Hogan, but instead, discusses sheep fucking with Gene. Well, it’s good to have realistic goals 

Billy Jack Haynes v Gladiator: I’m shocked to learn that Haynes stuck around in the WWF for nearly a year after WrestleMania III. I don’t remember him doing anything of note after the Hercules deal. Meanwhile, Butch Reed split screens in here, and he also thinks Haynes is a joke. Haynes with a full nelson at 1:43. DUD

Gene catches up with Paul Roma, and Roma apparently made such an impression on Gene during a show in Australia that Okerlund pegs him as a future champion and top star. Well, he did better than Outback Jack

Kamala v Sam Cody: Kamala has Mr. Fuji with him now, alongside Kimchee. Kind of crazy to think that, despite multiple runs, Kamala never made it onto a WrestleMania until doing a nostalgia appearance in 2001. Cody is a little short, but looks like a star anyway. He’d have no shot in this era, though. Kamala with a flying splash at 0:54. DUD

Jake Roberts hosts the Snake Pit, with guest Blackjack Mulligan. Why does he always say ‘my next guest,’ when he only has one at a time? Anyway, they share WWF Ice Cream Bars, though Jake thinks it’s kind of childish to eat ice cream. What the fuck kind of childhood did he have that screwed him up so badly? Oh… nevermind 

Ron Bass v Joe Mirto: The announcers discuss the Bass/Mulligan issue here, since Blackjack was too busy shilling ice cream to do it himself. Bass with a jumping backelbow at 2:28. “Not exactly like Blackjack does it,” Gorilla says, disappointed. Who said it would be? 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

Outback Jack tries to take a dip in the harbor following a vigorous workout, but a cop stops him, and directs him to the showers instead. Some folks’ll never, but then again some folk’ll

Greg Valentine v Jerry Allen: Brutus Beefcake split screens in here, promising to put Valentine to sleep, and into nightmares. Greg with the figure four at 2:45. DUD

Gene catches up with Danny Davis, and getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to Danny, because now he’s with Jimmy Hart. Koko B. Ware is first in his line of fire. Yes, clearly things are really looking up for this gentleman

BUExperience: This one flew by, even if nothing particularly important happened.