WWF Superstars of Wrestling (January 30, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: January 30, 1988 (taped January 5)

From Huntsville, Alabama; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse Ventura

Honky Tonk Man v Omar Atlas: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line here. Bruno begrudgingly admits that that, while he doesn’t like Honky, he has to give him credit for being a great singer. Clearly the dementia was setting in. Randy Savage split screens in here, ready to take the title back at The Main Event. Honky with the swinging neckbreaker at 1:55. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at The Main Event. That’s kind of interesting, considering they almost have an embargo on hyping Saturday Night’s Main Event shows, but they’re pushing Main Event super hard

Ultimate Warrior v Terry Gibbs: You can see why Warrior got over huge. He was just so different than anyone else, and who doesn’t like a dude that steamrolls guys? Well, Hercules, apparently, because he split screens in. Warrior with a press-drop at 1:18. They’re getting the hang of booking Warrior for maximum impact now. DUD

Dino Bravo v SD Jones: The commentators debate Bravo’s claims to have broken the world bench press record at the Rumble. Oh man, the less said about that segment, the better. Dino with a sidewalk slam at 2:17. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Andre the Giant, who has ‘millions and millions’ of reasons to win the WWF Title, and then deliver it to Ted DiBiase

The British Bulldogs thank the fans for all the cards and letters they’ve sent to Matilda, who is still recovering 

The Islanders v Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey: They’re doing a great job of getting the whole Matilda thing over here, though I’m surprised they don’t even mention the Islanders’ involvement in the Rumble show. Tama with a flying splash at 2:31. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Jim Duggan, who used to go both ways in football, but that was a long time ago. No mention of the fact that he, you know, won the Royal Rumble

Bad News Brown v Brady Boone: This is Brown’s debut. “Harlem, certainly one of the more beautiful sections in all of New York… geographically,” notes Vince. Meanwhile, Brown split screens in to introduce himself, which is the kind of thing this promotion excels at. They never let you feel lost. Bad News with a stiff clothesline at 1:34. DUD

DeGeorge brings WWF Champion Hulk Hogan out for a podium interview, and Hulk wants to make it clear, he wants this rematch too, so Andre and DiBiase shouldn’t feel like they’ve suckered him into anything. Meanwhile, he thinks DiBiase should learn to be a more responsible millionaire, like Howard Hughes or Donald Trump

Demolition v Outjack Jack and Jerry Allen: Demolition rough them up with glee, before finishing Allen with their finisher at 1:58. They were getting into badass squash mode here. DUD

Various fans weigh in on who will win the three title matches at The Main Event

Jake Roberts v Dusty Wolfe: More hype for The Main Event here, as I continue to scratch my head as to why that’s okay, but they don’t even say the words ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ on the syndicated shows. Jake with the DDT at 2:42. DUD

Okerlund catches up with WWF Tag Team Champions Strike Force, who think one of these teams will have to kill them if they want to take those belts off of them. That almost sounds like an invitation. At least a dare

Andre and DiBiase offer some closing thoughts on The Main Event. Hogan should have taken the cash, because now they’re going to break him in more ways than one

BUExperience: Surprisingly little talk about the Rumble here, as they immediately pivot to The Main Event, and don’t look back. And I get that, but they didn’t even mention who won the thing! After weeks of hype, it would have been nice to at least pay it some lip service.