WWF Prime Time Wrestling (August 10, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: August 10, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Randy Savage v Brady Boone: From Wrestling Challenge on August 2 (taped July 16) in Lake Placid New York. The babyface reaction for Savage is huge here, even if the official turn hadn’t come yet. But, Monsoon is praising him, and Heenan is knocking him, so clearly they’re leaning into it. Macho gives him a lot here, and is actually having a match with the guy, instead of just a straight squash. Some crazy stuff for 1987, with Boone executing a rana, and Macho countering another one into a powerbomb. Boone then tries a flying moonsault press, but Savage dodges, and puts things away with a flying elbowdrop at 4:17. This was way ahead of its time, and especially for a squash. ¾*

Butch Reed v Hillbilly Jim: From New York City on July 25. Posturing to start, until Reed grabs a standing side-headlock. Jim whips him into the ropes to break it, and they measure each other with shoulderblocks to a series of stalemates. Jim pops him with a right hand to end that, but he telegraphs a backdrop, and gets nailed. Reed tries a kneedrop, but Jim dodges, and delivers a headbutt drop to the belly. Reed bails, but manage to turn the tide, and he works Jim over. Reed gets up to the middle rope, and dives with a clothesline - getting the pin with a handful of tights (or, overalls, in this case) at 11:54. ¼*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Jake Roberts, who is going to DDT Honky Tonk Man, and even that greased up hair won’t save him

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio with Update, giving us a look at Ted DiBiase’s latest Barry Lyndon narration 

DeGeorge is in the control with a Special Report on Superstar Billy Graham’s old man hip

Recently, DeGeorge had a podium interview with Rick Martel, who sounds like he’s on the verge of tears while talking about Tom Zenk

WWF Women's Tag Team Title Match: Leilani Kai and Judy Martin v The Jumping Bomb Angels: From Lake Placid on July 16. The announcers actually make an effort to name the Angels and continue to call the match while using their names, which I think might be the only time that ever happened. The Angels fight off an attack from Martin at the bell, and they pepper the champions with fast paced action. Of course, eventually they get into trouble, and the champs work them over. Hot tag made, and the Bomb Angels run wild for a but, but Martin delivers a powerbomb, and Kai covers at 11:18. *

Hercules v Billy Jack Haynes: From New York on June 14, and we’re joined in progress, with Billy chasing him out of the ring. Hercules stalls on the outside, but still eats a backbreaker after getting back in. Hercules manages to blast him with a clothesline off the middle to turn the tide, and Hercules works him over in rather dull fashion. Hercules gets the full nelson on, but Billy escapes, and chucks Hercules across the ring. Haynes makes a comeback, but a slugfest ends with time expiring at 20:44 shown of 22:55. This was long and dull. ½*

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Hart Foundation v The British Bulldogs: From New York on July 25. Brawl to start, won by the Foundation. They isolate Davey Boy Smith as the action gets properly underway, and they work him in their corner, but a double team backfires, and Dynamite Kid catches a tag. He bashes the champs’ heads together, and a turnbuckle smash on Bret Hart leads to a snap suplex for two. Tag to Davey with a headbutt for two, and he grounds Bret in a chinlock. Smith with a crucifix for two, and back to Kid for a clothesline that gets two. Smith with a bridging fisherman suplex for two, and then right back to Kid again to stomp on the Hitman, as the Bulldogs throw everything at the champions. Bret manages to deck Kid and tag, allowing Jim Neidhart to come in and hammer away. The Foundation cut the ring in half on Kid, until Davey gets the hot tag, and nails Bret with a 2nd rope kneedrop for two. A vertical suplex gets another two, and the running powerslam looks to finish, but Bret has a foot in the ropes at two. Davey tries to pick him up for another one, but Hart counters to a sleeper, so Kid comes in to save. That allows Davey to try a press-slam, but he can’t hold him, and ends up dropping Hart crotch-first across the top. Accidentally. Davey tries to suplex him back in from the apron, but Neidhart sweeps Smith’s leg, and Hart topples for three at 11:12. To the surprise of no one, these two teams worked well together. * ¾ 

BUExperience: It’s always fun to see a new Harts/Bulldogs match.