WWF Superstars of Wrestling (February 20, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: February 20, 1988 (taped January 26)

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

Sika v Bam Bam Bigelow: Sika attacks before the bell, hitting Bam Bam with a weapon before the official can intervene. Bam Bam fights back, and we have a slugfest. Bigelow with a clothesline, as Slick and One Man Gang split screen in to threaten Bam Bam ahead of the tournament. Bam Bam with more punches, and a slingshot splash finishes at 1:28. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, giving us the lowdown on the world title situation. The brackets still aren’t updated, giving us an impossible Randy Savage/Ted DiBiase final. I’m curious how close to WrestleMania they’ll update them

The Islanders v Omar Atlas and Rick Hunter: Heenan is still carrying around dog collar here to mock the British Bulldogs, and Bobby split screens in, promising big news about WrestleMania IV. Dave Hebner is the referee here, and Vince clarifies that he’s been fingerprinted to make sure it’s actually him. The funny part is that I think that’s actually Earl. Tama with the flying splash at 4:53. This was long. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Jake Roberts to talk about the tournament, and his first round opponent, Rick Rude

Dino Bravo v Dave Stoudimiere: Dino split screens in to yell in French, so you know to boo him. Bravo with a sidewalk slam at 1:45. DUD

Junkyard Dog v Ken Johnson: Jesse predicts that Andre the Giant will beat Hulk Hogan in the tournament here, as Dog finishes with a scoop powerslam at 0:57. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Andre the Giant, who lists off all the ways he’s dominated Hulk over the last year

Bad News Brown v Phil Newkirk: Brown kickstarts things, as Vince tries to put Harlem over as one of the most ‘beautiful parts of New York.’ Well, considering that the entire city was a sewer in the 1980s, that’s not really saying much. Brown with the enzuigiri at 3:18. DUD

DeGeorge brings Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan out for a podium interview, and it’s just general tournament hype. They don’t even mention Jake by name

DeGeorge is in the control center for the WrestleMania IV Report, and they announce that the Bulldogs will get the Islanders, but it’ll be a six-man with Bobby and Koko B. Ware involved as well. Meanwhile, Honky Tonk Man will defend the WWF Intercontinental title against Brutus Beefcake

Ultimate Warrior v Harley Race: 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*

Okerlund catches up with Bam Bam Bigelow to talk about the tournament. “If Bam Bam can get past the first round, it’ll be smooth sailing for a while.” Until the start of the next round?

BUExperience: Both of the feature matches were super short, but we continue building toward WrestleMania, and that’s cool.