WWF Prime Time Wrestling (May 18, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: May 18, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Brutus Beefcake v Johnny Valiant: From Boston Massachusetts on May 2. Valiant attacks from behind to kick start the bout, and he chokes Brutus down in the corner. Valiant with a bodyslam to set up a bootrake, and he bashes Beefcake’s head into the mat a few times, before the Barber reverses. Beefcake with a bodyslam of his own to set up a 2nd rope axehandle drop, and a series of turnbuckle smashes follow. Beefcake with an atomic drop, and he wants the sleeper, but Beefcake goes to the eyes. Beefcake quickly fights him off, however, and a 2nd rope elbowsmash leads to the sleeper at 3:28. This was nothing in the way of a competitive wrestling match, but I get why they included it. ½*

Sivi Afi v Iron Mike Sharpe: From Boston on May 2. Mike attacks during the patdown, but Sivi fights him off, and uses a pair of armdrags to send Sharpe running for the hills. Sivi continues dominating, until Mike goes to the eyes, and takes control. He goes to work for a while, but ends up missing an elbowdrop, and Sivi makes the comeback. A 2nd rope axehandle gets him two, and a headbutt drop connects. Sivi with a cross corner whip, and Mike rebounds into a clothesline. That lets Sivi go to the top with a flying bodypress, but Sharpe rolls through (with a handful of tights) at 9:38. Really top level stuff here, by all accounts. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, with a look at Harley Race’s goal to dethrone WWF Champion Hulk Hogan

The Can-Am Connection v Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff: From Saturday Night's Main Event XI on May 2 (taped April 28) in Notre Dame Indiana. Duggan chases Volkoff out of the ring to prevent his singing of the Russian national anthem, once again noting that he can't sing that anthem since this 'is the land of the free.' Jesse has a field day with that one, of course. The Connection dominate with quick double-teams early on, but Tom Zenk telegraphs a backdrop, and gets booted by Sheik. Sheik with a gutwrench suplex for two, and a vertical suplex for two. The heels cut the ring in half on Zenk, but make the mistake of beating him on the outside right in front of Duggan, and the distraction gets Sheik rolled up at 4:45. This was fine, though more about Duggan than putting over the Connection. ¾*

Frenchy Martin v Nick Kiniski: From Boston on May 2. What a house show this must have been. We’re joined in progress with Nick in control, and it’s armbar city for the longest time. Nick with a bridging German suplex at 10:28 shown of 11:31. Annnnnd DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat, who seems more excited about the upcoming birth of his child than he does about his new title. Such a mark for fatherhood, gosh

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Tito Santana, Davey Boy Smith, and Dynamite Kid v Jimmy Jack Funk, Gladiator, and Barry O: From the April 12 Wrestling Challenge (taped March 22) in Phoenix Arizona. Danny Davis split screens in here, noting that he’s not impressed with the Bulldogs or Tito. I get why they had this match on March 22, but I don’t get why they’re airing it this far post WrestleMania. Were they planning to make this a regular team? This one drags on forever, before Santana puts Funk away with a jumping forearm at 3:57. Was that really only four minutes? DUD 

Ken Patera v Hercules: This is from April 24 in New Haven Connecticut, and it’s Patera’s first match since June 1985 (aired on the May 16 Superstars of Wrestling, though taped separately from the rest of that show). Hercules kickstarts the bout, and puts the boots to Patera. Hercules keeps hammering him, and gets a bearhug on, but Patera escapes. Hercules responds by pounding him again, but Ken catches him with a clothesline, and follows with a bodyslam. Patera with a second slam, and he locks a bearhug of his own, so Harley Race attacks for the DQ at 3:16. Quite the return for Patera. The Heenan Family beat Patera down after the bell, but Billy Jack Haynes makes the save. DUD

Demolition v The Islanders: From Boston on May 2. Smash and Tama start, and they posture. Tama dominates, and lands a bodypress for one, before tagging to Haku. Haku holds a wristlock, so Smash rakes the eyes, and tags Ax in for a bodyslam. Ax misses an elbowdrop, allowing Haku to throw a superkick, and he goes back to the arm. Ax manages a clothesline to shake him off, but Haku hangs tough, and gets a hammerlock on. Ax powers into his home corner in the hold for a tag, and Smash comes in slugging, but Haku wins that particular exchange. Tag to Tama for a flying axehandle, and he grabs a wristlock. Smash forces a criss cross, allowing Ax to take a cheap shot, and the heels take control. They work Tama over, until Smash loses a criss cross, and Tama catches him with one. Hot tag to Haku, and Roseanne Barr the door! The Islanders dominate, but Mr. Fuji passes Ax his cane, and Tama gets nailed with it to allow Smash the pin at 9:55. Basic, but solid. *

Gene catches up with Honky Tonk Man, who is still very pleased with himself. Also, he has a Cadillac. I like him already

Ricky Steamboat v Butch Reed: From the May 17 Wrestling Challenge (taped April 24) in New Haven Connecticut, with the WWF Intercontinental title not on the line. Reed kickstarts things, and he delivers a vertical suplex, before choking Ricky with his own entrance gear. Reed tosses Dragon over the top for Slick to abuse, but the referee intervenes. Back in, Reed misses a clothesline, allowing Steamboat to throw some shots. Backdrop, but Reed blocks, and lands another clothesline attempt. Reed with a pair of kneedrops for two, and a bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop. Reed tries a press-slam, but Steamboat counters with a side suplex, and both guys are left down. Steamboat is up first, and wins a slugfest, but a criss cross sees them collide for another double down. Reed is up first this time, but a trip to the top results in Steamboat slamming him off. That draws Slick over for a distraction, and Ricky stupidly takes the bait. Unfortunately for Reed, he fails to recover in time to capitalize, and Steamboat hits him with a bodypress - only for it to send both guys tumbling over the top. Steamboat beats it in, and Reed is counted out at 6:01. This was solid. *

BUExperience: As usual, Monsoon and Heenan are entertaining. Sadly, also as usual, the rest of this show is not.