WWF Prime Time Wrestling (June 8, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: June 8, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio. This week, they’re working really hard to push the 1987 WWF Calendar. In June. They must have had a hell of a surplus

Bob Orton v Frankie Lane: From Toronto Ontario Canada on May 17. Interesting that Bret Hart didn’t want a cowboy gimmick, so they gave it to another guy from Calgary instead. It does confuse Gorilla further, however, as both guys in the match are also cowboys. What a country. Orton with a running powerslam at 4:42. Is it me, or was Orton getting a full babyface reaction here? DUD

Killer Khan vignette

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center for another segment on Superstar Billy Graham being a broken down old man. They’re really working hard to convince us of this, but much like the ice cream bars, it sells itself

The Young Stallions v The Shadows: From Philadelphia Pennsylvania on May 9. What was the deal with these Shadows, anyway? Apparently it’s one Moondog and one Conquistador, which feels like the setup of a joke. Anyway, the Stallions get the three count at 17:28. Yes, they really did give this almost eighteen minutes. ¼*

Koko B. Ware stops by the studio (complete with entrance music) to lob threats at poor Danny Davis. And torture Heenan with his parrot. What a jerk

Lanny Poffo v Dave Barbie: From New York City on May 18. I appreciate how Howard Finkel would announce that Poffo has a poem, and that when Lanny turned heel, how he would use the exact same words, but with a dismissive tone. Barbie appears to be cosplaying at late 70s Harley Race. Poffo gives the guy a lot here, before putting it away with a bodyslam to set up a flying moonsault at 8:45. This was way longer and more competitive than it needed to be. This show is something. ¼*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Honky Tonk Man and Danny Davis to talk about a day in the life with Jimmy Hart. Honky is still talking about the petition to ban the DDT, despite them already announcing that Jack Tunney had decided against it on the weekend shows

Sam Houston v Iron Mike Sharpe: From Houston Texas on May 16. We don’t even bother with the ring announcements for this presentation, at least. I have nothing against jobber matches, but when it’s quick squashes. What is with all these extended jobber matches on this show? And not even ‘hot’ TV style ones, but slow, boring house show ones? I guess it was a different time. Houston with a bulldog at 5:02. DUD

Outback Jack v Frenchy Martin: From Toronto on May 17. Oddly, this had already aired on the May 25 episode of Prime Time. They usually didn't recycle stuff that quickly. Interesting how styles change, as Jack has very short hair, nearly a shaved bald head here, which Heenan notes is ‘a nice haircut… if you’re going to the chair.’ Jack with a clothesline to the back of the head at 4:22. DUD

Okerlund catches up with George Steele, who is still going on about Randy Savage. Get past it already, dude

Honky Tonk Man v Billy Jack Haynes: From Philly on May 9. Haynes is subbing for Jake Roberts here. Haynes dominates by working the arm early on, so Honky tries slugging, but gets dumped to the outside. Back in, Honky tries throwing a fist during a headlock, but Billy is wise to him, and Honky gets clobbered again. Haynes continues dominating, and he grounds Honky in a chinlock for a while. Haynes with a sunset flip for two, but Honky manages to throw a clothesline to finally gain the advantage. Honky goes to work, but Haynes manages a bodypress for two, before Honky cuts him off. Honky uses a side suplex for two, but Billy gets fired up, and goes on the comeback trail. That draws Jimmy Hart up to try and interfere, but it backfires, and Haynes hooks the leg at 14:54. This was pretty dull, but not unwatchably so. ¼*

BUExperience: The lineup here was terrible, with lots of (lengthy) squash level matches, and a lackluster feature.