WWF Wrestling Challenge (September 13, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: September 13, 1987 (taped August 25)

From San Francisco, California; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Superstar Billy Graham v Tim Patterson: Hear me out: missed opportunity: Superstar should have only wrestled on Superstars. Or, you know, not at all. Superstar gets the bearhug on at 1:51. DUD

Demolition v Ricky Ataki and Pete Ketchum: Demolition still haven’t done much of note on TV at this point, but they felt like a big deal anyway. They pick up the win with a combo at 2:58. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Junkyard Dog, who is upset about Butch Reed and Virgil not doing things ‘the right way’

Jake Roberts v Iron Mike Sharpe: Cool gear for Jake this week. Roberts with the DDT at 3:34. Considering what a known germophobe and clean freak Sharpe was known to be, I’ll bet they had to give him a really nice bonus to take the snake treatment. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Hercules, who laughs off Ken Patera 

Ted DiBiase v Lanny Poffo: DiBiase takes exception to Poffo’s poem, and charges, but Lanny ducks him, and cleans house. DiBiase regroups, and hammers on Lanny, then whips him into the corner for a backdrop on the rebound. Ted with a 2nd rope axehandle, and a series of elbowdrops find their mark. DiBiase with a clothesline and a powerslam, before finishing with a spinning toehold at 2:23. I see they were still playing around with different finishers. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge brings WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart out for a podium interview, and Craig wants to know how Honky feels about Randy Savage disputing his claim to be the ‘greatest Intercontinental champion of all time.’ Honky, rightly, notes that Savage is a former champion, so his claims aren’t particularly strong anyway

The British Bulldogs lecture us on responsible pet ownership, while likely putting cigarettes out on Matilda between takes 

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Danny Davis v Sivi Afi, Scott Casey, and Carl Schmidt: Danny Davis split screens in, noting that he isn’t scared about getting in the ring. The Harts do all the heavy lifting  and then let Davis score the pin on Carl at 2:21. DUD

Okerlund catches up with the ‘biggest member of the Heenan Family,’ King Kong Bundy. Um… Andre?! Anyway, Bundy must have hit his head, because he’s suddenly calling for a rematch with Hulk Hogan, like we’re just coming out of WrestleMania 2, or something

BUExperience: Easy watch, but nothing of note.