WWF Prime Time Wrestling (February 22, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: February 22, 1988

Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from the studio

Bad News Brown v Outback Jack: From Salisbury Maryland on January 27. Brown kickstarts things, and unloads. Jack fights back, and briefly gets fired up, but Brown cuts him off, and unloads in the corner. Brown with a bodyslam to set up a headbutt drop, and the enzuigiri ends it at 4:28. This was boring. Afterwards, Brown is called over to the podium by Craig DeGeorge, and at least his promos aren’t like watching paint dry. DUD

Danny Davis v Brady Boone: From Boston Massachusetts on February 6. Davis with a flying seated senton splash at 7:58. Wow. DUD

DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us a look at President Jack Tunney’s brain waves over the world title situation. They’re doing a great job of setting up the tournament, and making it exciting. And say what you will about the actual show, it was probably the best booking, as no top match they could have run would have had more intrigue than the tournament idea. Hogan/Andre again? Hogan/DiBiase? I don’t think either would have played

The Killer Bees v Barry Horowitz and Steve Lombardi: From Hershey Pennsylvania on January 26. The Bees put Barry away at 5:44. This was quite long. “A terribly impressive victory,” notes Lord Alfred Hayes. Well, he’s half right. DUD

Ultimate Warrior v Harley Race: From the February 20 episode of Superstars of Wrestling (taped January 26) in Hershey Pennsylvania. Race attacks, and lands a piledriver right away. That allows Harley an elbowdrop, but he doesn’t go for the cover, and Warrior starts slugging at him. A chop sends Harley over the top, and Warrior chases after him with an elbowsmash from the apron. Back in, Warrior catches him with a clothesline, and he looks to finish, but Hercules attacks for the DQ at 1:37. ¼*

Sam Houston v Iron Mike Sharpe: From Boston on February 6. Houston with a bulldog at 11:37. “An incredible upset,” notes Hayes. Well, it certainly upset me. Afterwards, Dany Davis shows up, and attacks Houston. DUD

DeGeorge is in the control center for the WrestleMania IV Report. It’s amazing how far in advance they basically announce the entire card. They built in plenty of promo time in those days

The Bolsheviks v SD Jones and Brady Boone: From Hershey on January 26. Big night for Brady Boone. He gets to eat the pinfall from Boris Zhukov at 6:19. Another one that ran for far too long. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Don Muraco who is so juiced up that he literally looks like he’s going to explode. It’s uncomfortable to look at him

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant: They’re reairing this again?! From The Main Event on February 5 in Indianapolis Indiana. Funny gigantic 'Andre WHO?' sign in the crowd. This is also the debut of the classic 'winged eagle' design for the belt - still the greatest title belt design of all time. In hindsight, they probably should have just waited for WrestleMania IV to debut it though, given the whole tournament deal. Hulk attacks as Andre talks strategy with DiBiase and Virgil, and gets rid of his seconds with a pair of big boots. The crowd is just rabid for this. He goes back to pounding Andre for an extended period of time, and manages to stagger him after dozens of shots, but can't quite knock him down. Well, at least he's not stupidly trying to slam him again. With everything in his usual arsenal unable to take the Giant off his feet, Hulk decides to try going to the top rope and send his weight at the challenger, but Andre slams him down, and grips him in a chokehold on the mat. Cross corner whip and a bodyslam leave Hogan down and in trouble, and Andre puts the boots to him. Series of headbutts and a big boot follow - though executing the big boot knocks Andre onto his ass as well. Probably shouldn't be trying stuff like that, big guy. More choking, but Hulk fights free, and starts slugging away again. 2nd rope clothesline is finally enough to knock Andre down, and Hulk adds the Legdrop, but the referee is caught up with Virgil. Hulk lets off to go protest, but that allows Andre to attack with another series of headbutts, and he hiptosses Hulk over for the three count at 9:05 - despite Hogan clearly getting the shoulder up at two! And, now having been awarded the title, Andre immediately relinquishes it to DiBiase per their arraignment, and Hogan goes fucking berserk. He chases the heels away, but it's too late for him - the decision has been made, and he is no longer the champion! While all this is going on, suddenly another referee joins them in the ring - an exact double of Dave Hebner (Earl, in his surprise debut). You see, DiBiase had hired his evil twin brother to stand in for him, and screw Hogan out of the title. And, of course, big man Hogan beats up the puny referee as well, since he can't take it out on Andre or DiBiase - nearly killing him with a press-slam halfway up the aisle. Great visual, though. This was a helluva piece of business, not so much for the in-ring action (which was decent for the guys involved) as the extracurricular activity. One of the better angles of the era. * 

BUExperience: I enjoyed all the WrestleMania build, but you could get all of that on Superstars or Challenge, and not have to sit through these insanely long squash matches on top of it.