WWF Wrestling Challenge (October 11, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: October 11, 1987 (taped September 16)

From Rockford, Illinois; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Strike Force v Iron Mike Sharpe and Terry Gibbs: Bobby is all about Tito not being 100% here, but Santana is kicking ass and taking names, so he shuts up quickly. Tito ends this with a jumping forearm on Sharpe at 3:33. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center for Special Report, giving us a look at Ken Patera getting ready to return

Butch Reed v Lanny Poffo: Slick shares that Reed was the inspiration for Jive Soul Bro. Poffo dodges a sneak attack, but loses a criss cross when Reed dropkicks him. That puts Lanny on the outside, and Reed follows for a bodyslam on the floor, before posting him. Inside, Reed slams him, but Poffo manages to block a flying axehandle. That allows Lanny a series of rights, and he plants a backelbow. Bodypress, but Reed catches him, and drops him across the top rope, as Superstar Billy Graham split screens in. Reed with a press-slam at 2:13. ½*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Paul Orndorff, who is still mad at poor Bobby Heenan

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Bam Bam Bigelow v Shadow #2: Bam Bam's weird side beef with the Shadows continues! One Man Gang split screens in here, excited that he’s bigger than Bam Bam. I’m not sure if that’s the flex he thinks it is. The Shadows actually do a twin magic switch, but Bam Bam makes short work of them both, and finishes with a slingshot splash at 1:18. ¼*

Okerlund catches up with Don Muraco, who wants to squeeze another Intercontinental title reign out of Honky Tonk Man

The British Bulldogs like bulldogs. In musical form!

The Islanders v Mike Richards and Mario Mancini: Johnny Valiant sits in for Heenan here. New gear for the Islanders this week, and it’s… not good. But, hey, are you going to say anything to Haku? Jim Duggan split screens in here, white knighting for Tito Santana. Tama with a flying splash on Richards at 4:05, which felt much longer. DUD

DeGeorge brings WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation out, and man, why does every belt in the WWF look like it was made for Bret Hart? They’re hyped up to prove they’re the best team at the Survivor Series. Doesn't the belt already do that?

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Honky Tonk Man v Randy Savage: From Saturday Night's Main Event on October 3 (taped September 23) in Hershey Pennsylvania. Joined in progress as Macho continues to blitz the champ, but misses a cross corner charge, and Honky backdrops him. Spinebuster gets two, and he unloads a ten-punch count. Snapmare sets up another 2nd rope fistdrop, but Randy dodges this one, and unloads overhead elbowsmashes. Backdrop leaves Honky begging off, but Savage shows no mercy with a vertical suplex for two, so Honky rakes the eyes, and tosses him over the top for the Harts to abuse. They drop the challenger throat-first across the rail before rolling him back in for Honky to elbowdrop for two. Shake, Rattle, and Roll, but Savage backdrops him to block, and hits a bodyslam. That sets up the Flying Elbowdrop, but the Harts break up the fall - getting the champ disqualified, but saving his title at 13:00. Afterwards, the Harts and Honky proceed to destroy Savage with an epic beat down. Honky decides to punctuate it by smashing his guitar over Randy's head, so Liz rushes in to beg for mercy - only for Honky to shove her to the mat, then do it anyway. Elizabeth runs to the back in tears, but returns moments later with backup - in the form of Hulk Hogan! The Hulkster rushes in to clean house, and the future Mega Powers do a dramatic handshake to cap things off. And THAT is how you do a massive face turn, and create a new star. Soap opera writers take note. The match was fine, but the angle is what it's all about here - one of the best in Saturday Night's Main Event history, and kicking off one of the most important storylines of the 1980s. ** ½ 

Killer Khan v Chris Zarna: Khan with some mist, and the flying kneedrop at 1:36. DUD

Okerlund catches up with the New Dream Team, who are looking at the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers as a warm up

Okerlund catches up with Honky Tonk Man, who isn’t intimidated by Muraco

BUExperience: Look, this show features what might be the climactic chapter of the epic Bam Bam vs. Shadows saga. What more do you want?

Unless this somehow isn’t the blowoff. In which case… handicap match next week? Stay tuned.