WWF Prime Time Wrestling (September 17, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: September 17, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Demolition v Junkyard Dog and George Steele: From New York City on August 22. Ax and Dog start, and Ax hammers on him, and delivers a bodyslam. Elbowdrop, but Dog dodges, and George helps by biting Ax in the face - leaving Steele with paint all over him, in a funny bit. Tags all around, and Ax distracts Steele to allow Smash a sneak attack. Demolition gang up in their corner, but a clothesline from Smash gets blocked when Steele bites the arm. Tag to Dog for a wristlock, and a punch drops Smash for two. Dog goes to an armbar, but Smash wrestles into his home corner, and tags. Ax works a chinlock as Demolition takes control, and they casually double team Dog. Steele responds by nailing Smash with a chair, but the referee sees it, and calls a DQ at 5:23. Not a lot here. ¼*

Lanny Poffo v Jose Estrada: From New York on August 22. Gorilla gives the legal spiel about how this match is the property of Madison Square Garden Productions, etc etc etc, as if anyone would try to lay claim to this particular match. I mean, I get that he probably had to get that statement in once per broadcast, or some such, but maybe pick your spots better. Estrada dominates the entire match, before Lanny finally makes his comeback, and finishes with a flying somersault senton splash at 7:41. This felt ten minutes longer than it was. ¼*

Slick is looking forward to unleashing Jive Soul Bro on the world

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio with Update, still trying to convince us that Superstar Billy Graham is ‘amazing’

From Superstars on September 5, DeGeorge brings Slick and Nikolai Volkoff out for a podium interview so they can officially welcome Bam Bam Bigelow into their group. But, instead of Bigelow, they get Oliver Humperdink, who claims that he’s managing Bigelow. And, unlike everyone else for the last however many weeks, he can actually prove it, by producing Bam Bam Bigelow. So Bigelow comes out, and gets in Slick’s face, thus establishing himself as a babyface. Volkoff takes exception to that, and tries getting in Bigelow’s face, but Bam Bam knocks him off of the stage

Rick Rude v SD Jones: From Philadelphia Pennsylvania on August 15. Rude stopping to brush his hair mid-match is a mood. I always find it interesting that Rude could drag a great match out of Ultimate Warrior, but could be so dull in the ring on so many other occasions. I know people tend to like his WCW work better than his WWF work, but for me, his biggest strength is as a character, and the WWF was a better place to shine for the ‘sports entertainment’ aspect to shine. Rude with a backbreaker rack at 10:22. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Demolition, who will seek and destroy 

Randy Savage v Tiger Chung Lee: From Superstars of Wrestling on September 5 (taped August 26) in Fresno California.  Jesse continues to entertain by getting on McMahon for ogling Miss Elizabeth. Speaking of Liz, she split screens in here, disagreeing with Honky Tonk Man’s claims of being the greatest WWF Intercontinental champion of all time. Macho with the flying elbowdrop at 2:44, as the announcers argue over who thinks Randy is coolest. DUD

WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man doubles down on his claims of being the greatest champion 

Recently, Randy Savage cornered Jimmy Hart in the locker room to dispute Honky's claim

The British Bulldogs offer pet tips

Outback Jack and SD Jones v Rudy Ryder and Darrell Nickell: From Fresno on August 26. Haven’t we seen enough of SD Jones for one day? Someone backstage clearly liked this guy, because he’s always getting spots, and even made the card for the first WrestleMania. Jack scores the pin at 3:45. DUD

Slick and Nikolai Volkoff laugh off Bam Bam’s challenge

Bam Bam Bigelow v Nikolai Volkoff: From Superstars on September 12 (taped August 26) in Fresno. This is Bigelow's TV debut. Volkoff tries to attack before the bell, but Bam Bam fights him off, and Volkoff ends up on the outside. He dusts himself off, and comes back in to do some measuring, which Bigelow gets the better of. Volkoff tries engaging in a slugfest, but Bigelow wins that exchange as well, and Bam Bam adds a headbutt drop. Bam Bam with a clothesline, so Volkoff throws a kick to the midsection, plus an eyerake to finally slow Bigelow down. Volkoff unloads, but Bam Bam starts shrugging him off, and a standing dropkick sends Volkoff over the top. Volkoff beats the count, so Bigelow rakes the eyes as payback for earlier, and he throws a series of headbutts to knock Nikolai out of the ring again. Volkoff beats the count, and manages to get a few shots in to stagger Bam Bam. A clothesline misses, however, and Bam Bam tags him with a jumping headbutt at 4:01. The structure and psychology of the match made it watchable, even if it was mostly punching and kicking. ½*

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Honky Tonk Man v Tito Santana: From Fresno on August 26. Honky stalls to start, until Santana catches up with him, and delivers a pair of bodyslams. Honky bails, but manages to grab a headlock as he comes back in. Tito forces a criss cross to escape, but Honky manages a hiptoss, though an elbowdrop misses. That allows Santana a series of rights, and another bodyslam sends Honky back to the outside. Back in, Honky hammers on the arm, but Tito reverses a wristlock, and cranks. Tito with a backdrop to set up a kneedrop for two, and he hammers in the corner, until Honky is able to fire off a cheap shot. Honky goes to work, but Santana gets fired up, and bodypresses him for two. Honky cuts him off, and uses a snapmare into a fistdrop for two, then slaps on an abdominal stretch. Santana escapes, so Honky tries a big charge in the corner, but ends up wiping out. That allows Santana to go on the comeback trail, and he lands the jumping forearm. That sets up the figure four, so Jimmy Hart comes in for the DQ at 10:50. This was solid stuff. It’s interesting how guys would always have peppier matches at the TV tapings (even if they were dark matches) than at the house shows. *

BUExperience: The Intercontinental title match is worth a look, everything else is worth a skip.