WWF Wrestling Challenge (November 15, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: November 15, 1987 (taped October 28)

From Rochester, New York; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Jeff Calkins, manager of the arena, welcomes us to Rochester

Nikolai Volkoff v Jake Roberts: Jake stupidly goes after Boris Zhukov before the bell, allowing Volkoff to attack from behind. Gorilla trying to make sense of that strategy requires some incredible mental gymnastics. He’s lucky Jesse wasn’t there, he’d have torn him apart. Jake fights Volkoff off and gets a wristlock on, then an atomic drop. DDT, but Boris hooks the ankle to block, and Volkoff slugs him down. Boris adds a cheap shot for good measure, and Volkoff puts the choke on Jake. Boris trips Jake up again to allow Volkoff a two count, but the Bolsheviks collide on another attempt, and Jake schoolboys at 3:03. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at new WWF Tag Team Champions Strike Force

Rick Rude v Brady Boone: Gorilla calls this solo, while Bobby accompanies Rick. Rude with a backbreaker rack at 1:21. Nothing of note here. I thought for sure this was just background for another Paul Orndorff appearance in the background. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with the Young Stallions, who are excited to be captained by the new tag champions at Survivor Series

Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes v Dave Wagner and Gino Carabello: Demolition split screen in here, promising to finish the job on Patera and Haynes. Billy with the full nelson at 3:00. He’s full of something, alright. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude, Butch Reed, and One Man Gang to push Survivor Series. Positioning Gene and Bobby in the back to really accentuate the size of these guys is a great creative choice

Jim Duggan v Dusty Wolfe: Harley Race split screens in here, warning Duggan for messing with the king. Jim with the three-point stance at 1:05. DUD

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!

Slick is pleased to be in the new WWF Magazine

Stand Back music video. “Not my favorite,” notes Gorilla

Ted DiBiase music video

Randy Savage v Rip Oliver: Ricky Steamboat split screens in here, ready to roast turkeys at Survivor Series. Did he change his accent during his break? Macho with a flying elbowdrop at 2:29. DUD

Okerlund catches up with the New Dream Team, whose dream is apparently to win at Survivor Series. Yeah, fuck the tag title 

Danny Davis is going to do his own strutting and cutting; Brutus Beefcake might literally stab him to death, though

BUExperience: This wasn’t particularly interesting, but it was an easy watch.