WWF Superstars of Wrestling (February 13, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: February 13, 1988 (taped January 26)

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

WWF Title Match: Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant: From The Main Event on February 5 in Indianapolis Indiana. I guess the embargo is over, because we go right into this. 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. * 

WWF Champion Ted DiBiase celebrates with his new title belt, along with pal Andre the Giant

WWF President Jack Tunney compares the title match to fucking Pearl Harbor. So, the referee’s decision is, unfortunately, final. So, Hogan is indeed no longer the champion. But, neither is DiBiase, since the rules say you have to win it in the ring. And neither is Andre, since he effectively forfeited it. He declares the title vacant, and announces a tournament for the belt, to take place at WrestleMania IV. They unveil the brackets, and while the matches are the same, the placing is wildly different, with both Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase in the bottom half, which wouldn’t allow them a path to meeting in the finals. Actually, the brackets here, assuming a Hogan/DiBiase final, would have likely been a hell of a tournament, with Hogan/Rick Rude in the semi, Savage/Ricky Steamboat in the quarter, and Savage/DiBiase in the other semi. I’m just guessing, of course, but that appears to be the most likely booking

The Young Stallions v Terry Gibbs and Joe Mirto: We join this in progress, because obviously we’ve had bigger fish to fry than fucking a Young Stallions match. The small fish score the pin at 1:38 shown. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Randy Savage to discuss the tournament, and it’s kind of telling that he’s the very first person to cut a promo on it. I’m guessing the brackets were just simply messed up, because it really does feel like they were planning to put the title on him from the start

Butch Reed v Rex King: Reed split screens in here, promising victory in the tournament. Well, it’s good to have confidence. Reed puts this away at 1:43. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Butch Reed and One Man Gang, who each have a shot in the tournament, and are ready to represent 

Jim Duggan v Dave Wagner: Jesse wonders how Duggan is able to travel around with the 2x4 in his airplane luggage. And this was 1988! That said, why would he assume it’s the same fucking 2x4 every time? Does Duggan march around the local Target with it on his days off, or something? Jim with the three-point stance at 1:45. DUD

The British Bulldogs v Red Demon and Van Van Horne: Still no Matilda, but they still bring out her little stand anyway. And then put it on the opposite side of the ring from where the Bulldogs are, which feels like an even bigger dick move than simply bringing it out. Bulldogs with a combo on Horne at 2:06. ¼*

Demolition v Eric Cooper and Dave Stoudemire: Vince argues that Tunney’s decision is totally fair, since everyone heard Andre say the words “I surrender the title.” Yeah, hinging any sort of legal defense on direct quotes from Andre in that segment would be a faulty strategy, at best. Demolition with their finisher at 1:44. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Hulk, who is still near tears, and ranting about plastic surgery. He hates what happened, but he’ll plow through the tournament, and get his gold back

BUExperience: The embargo is over, and we’re right into the good stuff here.