WWF Superstars of Wrestling (February 6, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: February 6, 1988 (taped January 26)

From Hershey, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Ken Peiffer, the events manager for the arena this week, is proud to host the WWF

Ricky Steamboat v Rick Rude: The announcers are prohibited from discussing what happened on The Main Event, much to Jesse’s chagrin. It’s kind of weird that they’re running this so soon after pairing them at Royal Rumble. Posturing to start, with Rude pushing him around. Rick gets a standing headlock on, as Hercules and Harley Race make their way down to ringside. Steamboat forces a criss cross, and delivers a bodypress for two, then a pair of armdrags into an armbar. Rude fights free, but telegraphs a backdrop, and takes a swinging neckbreaker. That results in a slugfest, with Steamboat dominating. Steamboat stays on him with a series of turnbuckle smashes, and he heads to the top for a flying tomahawk chop. A chop drop follows, so Race trips him up, as Hercules distracts the referee. That draws Ultimate Warrior out to attack Race and Hercules, and everyone brawls until the referee throws the match out at 4:20. This never got out of first gear, but it was a lot less dull than the Rumble match. Afterwards, the brawl continues, until Jim Duggan marches out, and clears the heels out with his 2x4. ¼*

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us our first look at WrestleMania IV. No matches announced, just a reveal of the date and venue, along with information about where to get tickets

Don Muraco v Dusty Wolfe: Jesse tries to talk about The Main Event, but gets bleeped, in a funny bit. And also an annoying bit. Muraco with a tombstone at 1:57. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with the British Bulldogs, who are going to get revenge on the Islanders

The British Bulldogs thank the fans for all their cards for Matilda, and offer an update on her condition. Did they really need two back-to-back segments

Ron Bass v Gary Starr: Ventura is still hot about getting bleeped, so decides to talk about WrestleMania instead. But, since he doesn’t actually have any information about WrestleMania, he just says ‘WrestleMania!’ instead. What a time to be alive. Bass with a pedigree at 1:38. DUD

Jim Duggan v Brian Costello: Jesse, rightly, notes that why is it okay that Duggan brings a 2x4 into the ring, but not okay that Bass brings a bullwhip. Bruno tries to argue that it’s because Duggan doesn’t actually bring the 2x4 into the ring, which is so ridiculous that I’m surprised Jesse didn’t unleash some SummerSlam ‘89 level response. Meanwhile, Bad News Brown split screens in, promising more bad news for the other wrestlers. Jesse tries to talk about The Main Event again, but gets bleeped once more. Duggan with a three-point stance at 1:41. And then Jim brings the 2x4 into the ring, so Bruno moves the goalposts, saying that it’s fine because he isn’t actually using it. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Ultimate Warrior, and Warrior mostly just yells, but Gene does a great job of putting him over

Clips of Dino Bravo’s attempts to break the bench press record at Royal Rumble. At least it’s just a quick clip, because if I never see that full segment again it’ll be too soon

Bam Bam Bigelow v Gino Carabello: Bigelow puts him away at 1:17. Not much of note happening with this one. DUD

DeGeorge brings the Bolsheviks out for a podium interview, so they can sing the Soviet national anthem. Boris is doing a hell of a lipsynching job

Clips of the Jumping Bomb Angels defeating the Glamour Girls for the WWF Women’s Tag Team title at the Rumble. At least we’re finally talking about stuff that happened at the Rumble, last week was weird

The Islanders don’t even feel bad for what happened to Matilda

One Man Gang v Jerry Gray: Jesse explains that guys like Gang have to kickstart matches because of their size, in that they don’t have the stamina of smaller guys, so they need to get in and out as quickly as possible. Ventura is the master. He then takes a phone call from Donald Trump, as they discuss where Trump will be sitting for WrestleMania, with Jesse offering him a seat in the commentary box. Gang with a gourdbuster at 1:37. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Butch Reed, who doesn’t want to talk about Don Muraco

BUExperience: Lots and lots going on this week, as we get fallout from two major shows.