WWF Superstars of Wrestling (July 4, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: July 4, 1987 (taped June 23)

From Indianapolis, Indiana; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Randy Savage v Sonny Rogers: Savage was getting stronger babyface reactions by the day at this point. I’m glad they didn’t rush the turn, but it was just a matter of time. Macho with the flying elbowdrop at 1:32. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at the Heenan Family’s attack on Ken Patera last week. As soon as he got back to the dressing room, Billy Jack Haynes and Brutus Beefcake tended to him, and he’s fuming

Kamala and Sika v Jim Powers and Mario Mancini: Vince questions Bruno about what the two jobbers need to do in order to win this. How about, start with not being jobbers? Mr. Fuji split screens in here, promising another member of his stable soon, though only teasing him by saying ‘bam bam.’ Terry Gordy is coming in?! Kamala with a splash at 1:55. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man. The luckiest guy in all of this is Jake Roberts, who is now getting title shots across the board just by virtue of already having matches signed against him before he won the belt

Ted DiBiase vignette. He really loves money, this guy. This is the skit where Ted pays off a local public pool manager to kick all the kids out so he can swim in private. This is great… but… why would a rich and powerful dude like him want to swim in a nasty public pool anyway? I guess just to be a dick? Works for me. Don’t overthink it, it’s great

Tito Santana v Terry Gibbs: Vince is aghast at DiBiase’s behavior. The man just wanted to swim without wading through piss! Don’t demonize him! Tito with the jumping forearm at 2:42. ¼*

Okerlund catches up with the Can-Am Connection. What’s up with Gene wearing sunglasses throughout the show today?

DeGeorge catches up with Butch Reed to watch footage of Superstar Billy Graham working out. Reed is none too impressed. I am! He went from ‘basically dead’ to bodybuilding in a matter of weeks! That’s something!

Outback Jack v Killer Khan: Khan stomps him down, but Jack slugs back. Jack lands a clothesline, but Khan manages to throw a superkick, and he blinds Jack with some mist. That allows Khan a backbreaker, and he dives with a flying kneedrop at 2:09. This was terrible. DUD

Jake Roberts hosts the Snake Pit, with guests the Killer Bees. Jake wearing a fedora and a sport coat is a weird look. The Bees are looking to leverage their non-title win over the Hart Foundation into a title shot soon

Brutus Beefcake v Chris Curtis: Jesse is grilling Bruno here about what he thought about Predator. I feel like watching Bruno watch the movie would be more entertaining than the movie itself. Beefcake with the sleeper at 0:59. DUD

DeGeorge catches up with Danny Davis, who reacts to Mr. T being the new special enforcer

A (quick) look at the Jumping Bomb Angels

The Islanders v SD Jones and Frankie DeFalco: It’s weird, I never gave a shit about them while watching old pay per views on Coliseum Video when I was a kid, but now I’m really into the evil Islanders. Meanwhile, Bobby Heenan split screens in, and now he’s hyping up a new Family member who goes by ‘bam bam.’ I sure hope this doesn’t lead to a battle of the Bam Bam’s. That could be crazy. Tama with a flying splash on DeFalco at 2:20. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Jake Roberts, and he’s lost the shades, at least

BUExperience: Fun and light, but once again, not having a pay per view to build to makes everything feel like it’s in neutral a little too much.