WWF Prime Time Wrestling (November 19, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: November 19, 1987

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Boris Zhukov v SD Jones: From Houston Texas on October 9. It’s the battle of the big head and the headbutt. The lights are surprisingly high here for a live event. Pete Doherty on commentary here sounds like a cross between Jack Nicholson and Hannibal Lecter, and it’s really creepy. Boris with a headbutt at 5:28, which actually works because he shoots it at the chest instead of the head. DUD

The Young Stallions v Gino Carabello and Tom Barnett: From Syracuse New York on October 27. Carabello is dressed like Power & Glory era Hercules here. And that’s cool. But you know what’s not cool? TV taping dark match squashes getting air time. No one asked for that. Jim Powers with a powerslam on Gino at 6:02. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at new WWF Tag Team Champions Strike Force. Why are they acting like using a Boston crab was some sort of shocking development? Especially for Rick Martel! 

From Superstars of Wrestling, DeGeorge brings Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude, Butch Reed, One Man Gang, Bobby Heenan, and Slick out for a podium interview, and Bobby can’t wait for Survivor Series, because it doesn’t matter how many guys are out there, eventually Andre is going to get his hands on Hulk Hogan. They then demonstrate what they’re going to do via a Hogan stretch doll. Fun promo

Bob Orton v Jim Duggan: From Toronto Ontario Canada on November 1, with Orton subbing for Ted DiBiase. Orton looks annoyed at having to deal with Duggan’s antics. Jim dominates early, so Bob tries triggering a slugfest, but loses. That allows Duggan an atomic drop, and the announcers are very confused about Jim’s ho’ing. Poor Nick Bockwinkel just doesn’t know what to make of it. And then the poor guy had to deal with him when he was commissioner of WCW years later. At least here he’s just calling the action. Orton manages a takedown, and he hammers Duggan with fists. He dumps Jim to the outside, but Duggan muscles back in, and unloads, as Bockwinkel continues to try and make sense of Duggan. He thinks his popularity is a sign of the decline of society. The man isn’t wrong. Jim with a small package at 4:41. This felt much longer than it actually was. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, Superstar Billy Graham, Paul Orndorff, and Bam Bam Bigelow to talk about Survivor Series. Poor Bam Bam looks like he’s holding in a massive shit. And speaking of shits, was Ken Patera actively taking one? Where was his ass?

Survivor Series ad

Stand Back music video

Don Muraco v Sika: From Houston on November 6. Sika dominates early, but Don catches him with a Thesz press at 3:09. Managed to be really boring, even at only three minutes long. DUD

From Wrestling Challenge, DeGeorge brings The Hart Foundation, Demolition, The New Dream Team, The Islanders, and The Bolsheviks all out for a podium interview to hype up the big tag series match at Survivor Series. And not just all of those guys, but their managers, too! That’s one hell of a stage!

WWF Women's Title Match: Sensational Sherri v Debbie Combs: From Toronto on November 1. Joined in progress with Combs dumping the champion to the outside. Back in, they trade wristlocks, with Sherri getting control with a cross-armbreaker. Combs gets an armbar on, and shifts to a hammerlock, but Sherri snapmares her way out of it, and hooks a chinlock. Debbie escapes, and gets fired up, so Sherri dumps her to the outside. Sherri blocks her from getting back inside, but Combs gets by, and takes control. She gets Sherri up in an airplane spin, but Sherri rolls through into a cradle at 9:37 shown. This seemed pretty complete, so I feel comfortable enough rating it. ½*

Okerlund catches up with Honky, Ron Bass, and Danny Davis to discuss Survivor Series

Survivor Series ad

Superstar Billy Graham v Butch Reed: From the November 14 episode of Superstars of Wrestling (taped October 27) in Syracuse New York. Reed sneak attacks to kickstart things, and he unloads, targeting the bad hip. Butch decides to up the ante by hitting the hip with a chair a few times, and he keeps hammering the part after that, as One Man Gang split screens in, talking up Slick. Reed tries a flying axehandle, but Graham blocks, and throws a series of rights to knock Reed out of the ring. Cue Slick for a distraction, so Graham attacks, but that allows Gang to come in for a DQ at 2:23. Afterwards, the heels destroy Graham, and leave him broken and laying. This is notable as Graham’s last televised match, effectively the end of his career. DUD

The Hart Foundation v The British Bulldogs: From Houston on November 6. Bret Hart and Dynamite Kid start, and they feel each other out, with Kid controlling. Tag to Davey Boy Smith, and they trade wristlocks - Smith in control. The Bulldogs dominate Bret, but Hart manages to block a suplex attempt from Kid, and finally tags out. Jim Neidhart comes in unloading on Kid, and then back to Bret to dump Kid to the outside. The Foundation work Kid over, until Davey catches the hot tag, and he runs wild. A clothesline on Neidhart gets two, and a backelbow is worth another two. Smith with a sunset flip for two, so Neidhart tries a clothesline, but misses. That allows Davey a sleeper, so Bret comes in, but Kid cuts him off. The referee steps in, but Bret is able to nail Davey on the way out, and a loopy Neidhart collapses on top of Smith for the pin at 8:36. Great finish here. *

BUExperience: Skip it.