WWF Wrestling Challenge (January 24, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: January 24, 1988 (taped January 6)

From Nashville, Tennessee; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Honky Tonk Man v Jerry Allen: The WWF Intercontinental title isn’t on the line here. “We promised you a great card, and as always, we deliver,” notes Monsoon. Looking at the lineup this week, I think we need to sit Gorilla down for a chat. Miss Elizabeth split screens in here, and she does not appreciate Peggy Sue. Honky with a swinging neckbreaker at 2:38. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center for Special Report, with a look at the Matilda saga. The latest: Matilda has been found and is recovering in the hospital. It must not be too serious, because they don’t even call it a ‘medical center.’ The British Bulldogs are glad that she’s back, but she’s ‘not the same,’ and they’re coming for revenge on Bobby Heenan and the Islanders. Are we sure that no one pulled a Greg Focker with a can of paint, or something? Maybe she isn’t the same dog

Strike Force v Tiger Chung Lee and Dave Wagner: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line for this. Demolition split screen in here, warning Strike Force that they can’t keep ducking them for much longer. Strike Force put Wagner away with a combo at 3:11. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Jim Duggan, who is excited to find his spot in the Royal Rumble match. Yeah, as if someone like Jim Duggan would ever get booked to win a Royal Rumble

Bam Bam Bigelow thinks 1988 is going to be his year

Ted DiBiase v David Stoudemire: I think DiBiase should have been booked to win the first Rumble. He hadn’t gotten a big win on TV yet, was in the middle of a main event angle, and would continue to be a top guy for the rest of the year. Giving him a win in the Rumble would have at least put him over as a legitimate threat, as opposed to just a rich guy who buys his way to the top. And you could still play to that angle by having him buy the thirtieth draw. Ted with a 2nd rope backelbow drop at 2:04. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Don Muraco, who is still wrapping his mind around the unique rules of a Royal Rumble match. It’s hard to imagine a time when a Royal Rumble was a novel idea

Bad News Brown is coming

Brutus Beefcake v Dusty Wolfe: Jimmy Hart split screens in, announcing a new campaign: this time to ban the hedgeclippers Brutus carries around. Man, they just going to that ‘ban the ______’ well over and over and over again during this period, didn’t they? Beefcake with the sleeper at 2:05. DUD

DeGeorge brings Ron Bass out for a podium interview, and Bass is feeling strong, and decides to threaten poor Craig. He uses Craig as an example of what he’ll do to actual wrestlers, and chokes him down

Various fans weigh in on Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant at The Main Event

The Islanders v Brady Boone and Eric Cooper: Gorilla is flying solo here, while Bobby handles managerial duties for the Islanders. And, as always, I’m a massive Monsoon fan, but he is not good without someone to bounce off of. Tama finishes Cooper with a flying splash at 2:32. DUD

More fans weigh in on Hogan/Andre

Don Muraco v Iron Mike Sharpe: Muraco with the tombstone at 2:45. Don doesn’t have much going on at the moment, so this wasn’t the most engrossing appearance. DUD

Dino Bravo v WD Wellington: Frenchy Martin split screens in here, promising that Dino will break the bench press record at the Rumble. Bravo with a sidewalk slam at 1:33. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Slick, who has the concept of the Rumble match down: drawing a higher number is good

BUExperience: Not the best episode this week, but nothing to cry about. It was solid enough.