WWF Wrestling Challenge (February 21, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: February 21, 1988 (taped January 27)

From Salisbury, Maryland; Your Hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Demolition v The Killer Bees: Ax starts with B. Brian Blair, and Blair stupidly tries to slug it out with him, which ends badly. Ax with a backelbow to set up an elbowdrop, but it misses, and Jim Brunzell is able to tag in. The Bees dominate Ax with quick tags, but Blair gets decked, and Smash tags in. Blair catches him with an armdrag on the way in, and the Bees work his arm, again utilizing quick tags. Jim hits a 2nd rope elbowsmash for two, and Blair delivers one of his own, then hooks a sleeper. Smash tries escaping, so Blair preemptively shoves him into the corner for two, in a nice bit. Ax takes a cheap shot from the apron to take Blair out, and Demolition takes control. They work Brian over, until he slips away, and gets a hot tag to Jim. Brunzell hits Smash with a dropkick for two, so Ax comes in, and Roseanne Barr the door! Jim rolls Smash up, so Ax pops him with Mr. Fuji’s cane, and Smash scores the pin at 4:12. Both of these teams had a great understanding of the art of tag team psychology. ½*

Craig DeGeorge is in the control center for Special Report, with a look at President Jack Tunney doing mental gymnastics to explain the status of the WWF Title

Junkyard Dog v Steve Lombardi: I always get a kick out of Gorilla annoying Heenan when he calls his group a ‘stable.’ JYD with the pin at 2:14. DUD

Dino Bravo v Phil Newkirk: Don Muraco split screens in here, preparing for Dino in the tournament. And, holy shit, the guy looks as big as 1999 Scott Steiner here. Probably couldn’t even turn around to wipe his own ass, this guy. Meanwhile, Gorilla can’t figure out the jobber’s name, and I can’t really blame him, considering he has ‘BK’ on his boots. Bravo with a sidewalk slam at 1:17, as Monsoon says with a straight face that we may be looking at the next world champion. Gosh, I’d buy BK over him. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Jake Roberts to talk tournament 

Jim Duggan v Terry Gibbs: Monsoon notes will determine ‘once and for all’ who the champion is. So they don’t have to defend it? That didn’t last. Ted DiBiase split screens in, complaining about the fact that now he has to win a tournament to get the belt back after he rightfully bought it. Yeah, but if he wins he’ll never have to defend it, apparently. Duggan with a three-point stance at 1:42. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Randy Savage, who is moving past the Intercontinental title, with his eye now on the big prize

One Man Gang v Wellington Wilkins: Slick split screens in here, promising that his men will end Macho’s title aspirations in the first round. They’re doing a great job of building every match in the tournament, and making it feel like anyone could do it. Gang with a gourdbuster at 1:55. I never associated that move with Gang, but boy, he used it as his finisher for a long time. DUD

DeGeorge brings Ultimate Warrior out for a podium interview, and he’s mad at Hercules. This was not good

DeGeorge is in the control center for the WrestleMania IV Report

Ron Bass v Van Van Horne: Bass with a pedigree at 2:46. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Butch Reed to talk the tournament 

BUExperience: A fun time to be watching, though this episode in particular wasn’t especially notable.