WWF Superstars of Wrestling (November 7, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: November 7, 1987 (taped October 27)

From Syracuse, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Jake Roberts v Rip Oliver: Nice baby blue/white gear for Jake this week. Jake with the ol’ DDT at 2:53. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge brings Jim Duggan out for a podium interview, and he’s declaring himself a king as well. That draws Bobby Heenan out to protest the crown and cape he stole from the rightful king, Harley Race. Duggan goes after him, but it was all a ruse to allow Race to sneak up and attack Duggan with the 2x4

King Kong Bundy v Pete Lucic: Bundy has his entire Survivor Series team out with him for support. Bundy puts this away quickly, at all of 0:50. DUD

Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes v Terry Gibbs and Ray Miller: Mr. Fuji split screens in, laughing off this new team. Rightly so. We know jobbers when we see them. Haynes with a full nelson at 1:15. No one’s wasting any time this week. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Bam Bam Bigelow to talk Survivor Series. Hulk’s bandana-with-bangs is a very unfortunate look. It’s clear that they were looking to push Bigelow as a top guy, and I’m honestly surprised they didn’t try him as a heel for a house show run against Hulk. It would have been a better run than Killer Khan, that’s for damn sure

Survivor Series cable listings ad. What the hell is that music? 

Killer Khan v Kurt Hoffman: Khan with a 2nd rope kneedrop at 1:30. DUD

DeGeorge brings Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts, Jim Duggan, and Brutus Beefcake out to talk Survivor Series. We haven’t seen Ricky in a while, welcome back. Savage cutting promos for the entire team is everything, who better could you ask for

Sam Houston is still excited about his win over Danny Davis last week

Honky Tonk Man theme song music video

Backstage, WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation get pumped up for their title defense

WWF Tag Team Title Match: The Hart Foundation v Strike Force: Bret Hart starts with Rick Martel, and Bret pounds him with punches right out of the gate. A criss cross allows Martel a pair of dropkicks, and an armdrag leaves Bret in an armbar. Tag to Tito Santana for a double team, and Tito holds an armbar of his own to keep Bret grounded. Rollup, but Bret blocks, and tags. Jim Neidhart misses a pointed elbowdrop, allowing Santana an armbar, but Jim powers out. That triggers a slugfest, and Santana holds his own, so Bret throws a cheap shot from the apron. That allows the champs to go to work on Tito, but he gets away from Anvil long enough for the hot tag to Rick. Martel runs wild, and a 2nd rope bodypress gets two on Jim when Bret saves. In comes Tito for a double team, and Martel puts a Boston crab on Anvil for the win at 9:15. I’m honestly surprised that Jim just kind of submitted there, with Bret never even getting back in to try for a save, or something. It felt out of nowhere, though I appreciate that they actually gave this some time. *

Backstage, DeGeorge gets word with the new champions, with all the babyfaces in the locker room celebrating with them

Superstar Billy Graham wants to dance with Butch Reed

Butch Reed would rather not

BUExperience: A title change, and Survivor Series build. Good stuff.