WWF Superstars of Wrestling (May 16, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: May 16, 1987 (taped April 23)

From Worcester, Massachusetts; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Demolition v The Islanders: Why do they always announce the Islanders as from ‘the South Pacific?’ They clearly have ‘Tonga’ written on their robes, why not just say that? Ax and Haku start, and Haku fights off getting cornered by throwing chops. Tag to Tama, and the Islanders work the arm with quick tags. Ax manages to power into a tag, but Smash gets nailed by Haku as soon as he gets inside. Haku uses an atomic drop to knock Smash into a kick from Tama, and Tama tags in with a flying axehandle, but gets powered into the heel corner again. Ax tags in, and Demolition gets control, but the Islanders are too quick for them. Tama gets to the top, but Mr. Fuji trips him with the cane, and he takes a dramatic bump down to the mat - Demolition picking up the pin at 3:43. ½*

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

WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat eats WWF Ice Cream Bars

Jim Duggan v Dave Barbie: Sure, Duggan is a big tough guy, with Slick’s crew nowhere to be seen. Duggan with the three-point stance at 2:29. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Hulk, who wants to talk about the size of the pythons

Honky Tonk Man v Joe Milano: Jimmy Hart has a giant sign, still campaigning to ban the DDT. Honky with the swinging neckbreaker at 1:40. DUD

Gene catches up with George Steele, who doesn’t trust Danny Davis. Does anyone? He was stripped of his license after a very public scandal! 

Killer Khan v Rick Hunter: Fuji had a lot of guys at this point, didn’t he? And two more - Don Muraco and Bob Orton - split screen in here to hype up Khan. Khan with a flying kneedrop at 1:21. DUD

DeGeorge catches up with Greg Valentine and Dino Bravo, who are furious that Brutus Beefcake beat up Johnny Valiant. It was a sanctioned match! That Valiant challenged for!

Ken Patera v Hercules: This is from April 24 in New Haven Connecticut, and it’s Patera’s first match since June 1985. 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

Backstage, Gene catches up with Patera, who is fuming, but ready for another battle with Heenan

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Tito Santana, Blackjack Mulligan, and Billy Jack Haynes v Iron Mike Sharpe, Shadow #1, and Shadow #2: Mulligan split screens in here, reminding us that he’s from the sticks. Haynes finishes Sharpe with a full-nelson at 4:37. Poor Mike had to to the job in this bunch? DUD

Okerlund catches up with Danny Davis, who thinks President Jack Tunney is trying to take him out by booking him against George Steele

Gene catches up with Demolition, who are ready to make sure the Can-Am Connection won’t be pretty boys for much longer

Bob Orton wants to put a stop to the Hulkster’s hanging and banging

Hogan literally compares himself to creation, while fireworks go off in the background. I’d say he’s still both hanging and banging

BUExperience: This was okay. There’s direction, but they desperately need another pay per view to build towards. And we’re still a long way from one.