WWF Prime Time Wrestling (January 18, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: January 18, 1988

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Sika v SD Jones: From Paris France on October 23 1987. They posture a bit, before Sika just says ‘fuck it,’ and starts choking him down. Good for you, kid. Don’t take no shit off nobody. Sika works him over in punch/kick/nervehold fashion, until Jones catches him with a random sunset flip at 4:00. DUD

WWF Women's Title Match: Sensational Sherri v Rockin' Robin: From New York City on December 26 1987. Sherri tries to corner her at the bell, but Robin fights her off, and gets the champion on the mat in an armbar. She works on that for a bit, giving us a chance to admire the sheer 80s-ness of Sherri’s outfit here. She looks like an extra on Physical. Robin misses a charge to allow Sherri to turn the tide, and the champion goes to work. She dumps Robin to the outside, but while Sherri is gloating, Robin slips under the ring. Sherri can’t find her, allowing Robin to sneak up from behind, and a dropkick knocks Sherri over the top. Sherri throws a fit about it, so Robin chases, but Sherri fails to steal the high ground, and gets nailed. Robin with a jumping clothesline for two, and a bulldog is worth two. Robin with a slam off the middle rope, but a 2nd rope elbowdrop misses. Sherri tries turning the tide, but Robin manages to hold control, and a facebuster gets her two. Another dive off the middle misses, however, and Sherri cradles at 7:32. This was fine. ¾*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, with a look at the history between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant over the last year, ahead of their big rematch, with Ted DiBiase in the shadows 

The British Bulldogs v Gino Carabello and Brian Costello: From Superstars of Wrestling on January 16 (taped January 5) in Huntsville Alabama. The Bulldogs are good and pissed with their lack of Matilda, and what a dick the production guy is who still brings her little platform out for their matches, despite knowing that she’s missing. A hilarious dick, but a dick nonetheless. Dynamite Kid with a side superplex for the pin at 3:19. Afterwards, the Bulldogs notice that Bobby Heenan has brought the Islanders to the podium with Craig DeGeorge, and Bobby wants the Bulldogs to be the first to know that the Islanders have been reinstated. ¼*

Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Nikolai Volkoff, Boris Zhukov, Uno, and Dos v Junkyard Dog, George Steele, Jim Brunzell, and B. Brian Blair: From Huntsville Alabama on January 5. Steele and JYD both wear the Bees’ masks as well, in a funny bit. Also funny: Bruno Sammartino pronouncing ‘Conquistadors.’ The babyfaces frustrate the Bolsheviks in the early going, but Dog gets into trouble, and worked over by the heel side. Things break down, and Dog is able to turn it around with a scoop powerslam on Uno at 10:54. Dull. ¼*

Gene Okerlund catches up with Dino Bravo, who is going for the world bench press record at the Royal Rumble. Gene has finally managed to get the name of the stupid show right, though he still thinks there’s ‘debate’ about Royal Rumble v Rumble Royal

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center for Special Report, with a look at Dino Bravo’s goal of breaking the world bench press record at the Royal Rumble

Bad News Brown is on his way into the WWF

Dino Bravo v Jerry Allen: From Boston Massachusetts on January 9. Gosh, they’re going all in on Dino this week. Bravo with the sidewalk slam at 3:32. Low key stuff here. DUD

Harley Race and Hercules v Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes: From Nashville Tennessee on January 6. We have Vince McMahon and Nick Bockwinkel on commentary here, which is a unique combination. Race and Patera start, and Ken reverses a cross corner whip, sending Harley bumping over the top. Hercules comes in without a tag, but Ken bodyslams him, then dumps him over the top with a backdrop. Harley gets back in, but Ken bops him with a backelbow for two, and he goes to a chinlock from there. Race with a cheap shot on a rope break to furnish a tag, and Hercules is able to catch Ken with a clothesline. Patera manages to win a slugfest, however, and he tags out - Hercules quickly scurrying back to his home corner to stall. Hercules gets dominated once they engage, and Ken comes off the top with a flying axehandle for two. Hercules pulls back enough to tag out, and Race is able to nail Patera on the exchange. That allows Race to land a piledriver for two, and a headbutt sets up a headbutt drop for two. The referee is making some notably slow counts here, so much so that the announcers can’t ignore it. The heels go to work on Patera, but fail to cut the ring in half, and Haynes gets the tag. A criss cross with Hercules ends in Hercules landing a clothesline, and boy, that was one hell of a criss cross, actually! Tag back to Race for a belly-to-belly suplex for two, and now the heels are able to settle into a proper heat segment. They work Billy over, until Hercules misses an elbowdrop, and Patera is able to catch the hot tag. He runs wild on Hercules, and a few bodyslams look to put it away, but Race saves at two. Race tags in legally, and he’s able to go after Ken’s bad arm. Back to Hercules for more of the same, but Ken slips away, and makes the tag. Haynes comes in hot, and Hercules eats a press-slam right away. Billy slaps the full nelson on, so Race comes in, but Patera cuts him off. The referee kicks Ken out, allowing Race to break the hold, and as the official deals with all of that, Hercules grabs the chain. He blasts Haynes with it, but the referee catches it, and calls the DQ at 16:34. * ½  

BUExperience: A lot of tag wrestling this week. Not much good wrestling, though I did like the last match.