WWF Championship Wrestling (February 23, 1985)

Original Airdate: February 23, 1985 (taped February 12)

From Poughkeepsie, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino

The US Express v Steve Lombardi and Johnny Rodz: The WWF Tag Team gold is not on the line here. The Express coming out to Born in the USA is cool beans, but also exactly the sort of thing that made that song so misunderstood. The Express score the win at 2:59. DUD

Lord Alfred Hayes is in the studio for Update, giving us news of Leilani Kai winning the WWF Women’s title from Wendi Richter 

Greg Valentine v Joe Mirto: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line. Greg with the figure four at 2:46. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Freddie Blassie, who promises that his men (Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff) will soon capture the tag title

David Sammartino v RT Reynolds: Vince is very excited that there’s a female referee here. Interesting, it took more than thirty years beyond this before that became somewhat commonplace. David scores the pin with a powerslam at 3:18. Afterwards, Andre the Giant shows up to raise David’s hand, as they try to get him over by any means necessary. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Captain Lou Albano, who thinks Jimmy Snuka is just a real good guy. Well, who could argue with that?

Don Muraco v Tony Garea: Don with a hiptoss, but he misses two elbowdrop attempts, and Tony backdrops him. Garea keeps coming with a hiptoss and a bodyslam, and Don wisely bails to break the momentum. Muraco stalls as he climbs back inside, but he manages a corner whip - only for Tony to catch him with a sunset flip for two on the way in. Don pops him with a fist to allow a 2nd rope fistdrop, and he grabs a bearhug, and Garea slugs free. Tony pounds him down, so Muraco goes to the eyes. Don tries a suplex over the top, but Garea reverses him back in - only for Don to roll back into a cradle at 2:48. Really short, but peppy. *

Roddy Piper hosts Piper’s Pit, with guests: Heenan Family members Big John Studd and Ken Patera

We gets clips of Hulk Hogan defending the WWF Title against Roddy Piper at The War to Settle the Score

Paul Orndorff v Jim Young: Orndorff brings a stretcher with him, in preparation for what he’s going to do to this kid. Paul with the piledriver at 3:51. And, indeed, Young does a stretcher job after the match. ¼*

Okerlund catches up with Hillbilly Jim, who is mighty folksy, but pops something out of his overalls that scares poor Gene

Okerlund catches up with Roddy Piper, who thinks Jimmy Snuka is a real coconut. But, wait, what does Lou Albano think?!

 

Vince closes the show, noting that Hulk has asked Mr. T to be his tag partner, and they've laid out a challenge to Piper and Orndorff for a match, which, if accepted, could take place 'at some time' Yeah, let's follow that story for sure. 

BUExperience: Watchable, as always, but not especially good this week.