WWF Superstars of Wrestling (August 29, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: August 29, 1987 (taped August 4)

From Madison, Wisconsin; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Paul Orndorff v Iron Mike Sharpe: Bobby Heenan split screens in with Rick Rude, vowing revenge on Orndorff for firing him. Orndorff with a piledriver at 3:15. Sharpe got a lot in here… not exactly a great endorsement for Oliver Humperdink over Heenan. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, with a look at Brutus Beefcake taking lessons in hairstyling from Salvatore 

Backstage, Jesse catches up with Bobby Heenan, and breaks the news that the Brain is out of the running for Bam Bam Bigelow

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Harley Race, Rick Rude, and Hercules v Frankie DeFalco, Pete Sanchez, and Rick Gantner: Heenan is all worked up about the Bam Bam news, and these jobbers are going to suffer for it. Rude puts this away with a backbreaker rack at 1:36. This was really quick for a six-man. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Oliver Humperdink, who is ready to lead Orndorff to victory against any and all members of the Heenan Family, starting with King Kong Bundy

WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man is already claiming to be the best champion in the title’s history. That was a wild claim this early into the reign, but considering how long his reign lasted, he kind of made it true

Junkyard Dog v Terry Gibbs: Danny Davis split screens in, threatening to use JYD’s own chain to choke him out with. Dog with a running powerslam at 2:06. DUD

Okerlund catches up with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan

Handicap Match: One Man Gang v Arthur Washington and Jim Milliman: This is scheduled as a tag match, with Nikolai Volkoff as Gang’s partner, but Slick is feeling confident, and decides Gang should do this alone to make a statement. Meanwhile, we get a still photo of Slick with Bam Bam, as apparently he has won the race for his contract. Gang stacks them up for a pin at 1:32. DUD

DeGeorge brings Ted DiBiase out for a podium interview, and Ted is offering $200 for someone to come out of the crowd and kiss Virgil’s feet. Some guy takes the bait, and Ted has a ball humiliating him. DiBiase is a brilliant heel, and you can really see the difference when you watch these not long after seeing the Tiger Ali Singh knockoffs from 1998

Strike Force v Steve Lombardi and Tiger Chung Lee: Rick Martel and Tito Santana are officially a team now, though Ventura is quick to rip into them and mock the name. It’s an awesome name, shut up, Jesse. Strike Force score the pin with a combo at 2:51. DUD

The British Bulldogs give dog care tips

Demolition v Sivi Afi and Scott Casey: Demolition split screen in, hyping up their new theme. Normally, I’d find that annoying… but considering the theme in question, I’ll allow it. Demolition with the combo at 2:20. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Danny Davis, who promises a surprise for Jake Roberts

 

Backstage, Slick celebrates winning the competition for Bam Bam 

BUExperience: Just kind of stuff. I’m glad the Survivor Series build isn’t too far away, they desperately need a big show to anchor the storylines.