WWF Wrestling Challenge (August 30, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: August 30, 1987 (taped August 5)

From LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Backstage, Gene Okerlund catches up with the Governor of Wisconsin, who is excited to have the WWF in his state

Jake Roberts v Steve Lombardi: Monsoon and Heenan get into a funny back and forth about Lombardi’s career here. Roberts with the DDT at 3:29, which is an eternity for a Jake squash. They were usually super quick, to leave time in the segment for the snake treatment. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center with Special Report, giving us a look at Strike Force’s beef with the Islanders 

Jesse Ventura catches up with Mr. Fuji, letting him know that he’s out of the running for Bam Bam Bigelow’s contract 

Killer Khan v Jack Milliman: “Good looking guy,” Heenan deadpans about Khan. Khan with a flying kneedrop at 1:52. He got some killer hangtime on that one, Killer. ¼*

Okerlund catches up with WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man, who is looking for a challenge

Don Muraco isn’t crying about his breakup with Bob Orton, since he never needed a partner anyway

Butch Reed v Brady Boone: Nikolai Volkoff is out to ring the Soviet national anthem here, to add some more heel heat to Reed’s act. Meanwhile, Slick split screens in, promising that he’s won the contract for Bam Bam. Reed with a press-slam at 3:53, in another lengthy squash. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Billy Jack Haynes, who is still beefing with Hercules

The British Bulldogs give us some pet care tips

George Steele v Rick Gantner: Heenan storms off the set as Gorilla threatens to air footage of him getting fired by Paul Orndorff. Steele with the hammerlock at 2:00. Two minutes of George Steele is a lot of George Steele. DUD

The Young Stallions v Harley Race and Hercules: Johnny Valiant is out to do commentary with Gorilla here. Big brawl to start, controlled by the babyfaces. The heels manage to get control on Jim Powers, and they go to work on him. Paul Roma finally comes in to a trigger another brawl, and he gets Hercules in an airplane spin, but it backfires when he gets too dizzy. That allows Race to blast him, and Hercules gets the pin at 3:20. Not much to this one. ¼*

A look at Piledriver

Koko B. Ware v Dave Wagner: Bobby is still throwing a tantrum, so Valiant remains on commentary. And speaking of commentary, Koko split screens in to comment on his work on Piledriver. Ware with the brainbuster at 1:36. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Demolition, who don’t care what Gene’s actual name is

BUExperience: Watchable, though not exceptional.