WWF Superstars of Wrestling (March 19, 1988)

 

Original Airdate: March 19, 1988 (taped March 9)

From Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

Bucky Dame, manager of the building, is pleased to have the WWF in town. Only in North Carolina could a man named ‘Bucky’ become manager of anything

Honky Tonk Man v Jim Evans: The WWF Intercontinental title is not on the line here. Brutus Beefcake split screens in, promising to snip Honky’s guitar strings at WrestleMania. Honky with the swinging neckbreaker at 1:19. Afterwards, Beefcake shows up to turn Honky’s music off to fuck with him. DUD

Craig DeGeorge is in the studio for Update, which serves as a WrestleMania IV Report

Strike Force v Iron Mike Sharpe and John Ziegler: The WWF Tag Team title is not on the line here. Jesse cracks a joke about how many showers Sharpe takes, which didn’t mean much to a casual viewer in 1988, but after listening to Something to Wrestle, it’s hilarious. Demolition split screen in here, ready for WrestleMania. Strike Force pick up the pre-WrestleMania win here at 2:21. DUD

Gene Okerlund catches up with Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase, who are still rubbing it in that Hulk Hogan is the former champion now

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Vanna White models outfit choices for WrestleMania 

Koko B. Ware v Pete Sanchez: The British Bulldogs are at ringside with Koko for this, and Ware finishes with a brainbuster at 1:49. DUD

Okerlund catches up with Bobby Heenan and the Islanders, who defend their recent animal issues 

Jake Roberts gets Bob Uecker comfortable around his snake

Ricky Steamboat v Dave Wagner: Greg Valentine split screens in, promising to take the steam out of Steamboat’s engine at WrestleMania. Ricky picks up the win here at 1:22. DUD

One Man Gang v Rick Hunter: Bam Bam Bigelow split screens in to hype the tournament, as Gang finishes the squash with a gourdbuster at 1:17. DUD

DeGeorge brings Hulk Hogan out, and Hulk is going to prove that “when you live by the bucks, you die by the bucks.” Commie

Okerlund is in the control center with the WrestleMania IV Report. I like how Gene is suddenly back in the mix now that there’s a big payday around the corner. They’re hyping Gladys Knight & the Pips performing at the show, but we got Gladys sans Pips. Not a Pip in sight

Ted DiBiase v Scott Casey: Ted has Andre in his corner here. Jim Duggan split screens in to talk tournament, as Ted finishes with a 2nd rope backelbow drop at 2:11. DUD

DeGeorge catches up with Honky Tonk Man, who is fuming about Beefcake’s stunt earlier 

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BUExperience: Ya gotta love WrestleMania season!