WWF Primetime 2-22-88

 Sorry I haven't done any updates in the last month.  I'm trying to juggle studying for my personal training certification with working out and doing this.

I had some problems with getting the 2-19 show going as my version cut off very early, so here's the results for that for you to get caught up, courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com...

- Andre the Giant (w/ Ted Dibaise & Virgil) pinned WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan at 9:05 to win the title even though Hogan's shoulder came up before the three count; Ted Dibiase paid off Earl Hebner to fill in for his twin brother Dave as the referee for the match; according to storyline, Dibiase had plastic surgery done to get the referee to look like Dave; after the bout, Dibiase put the championship belt on as Dave Hebner ran into the ring and hit the other referee; Hogan then tossed Earl over the top rope onto Dibiase and Virgil; voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Match of the Year (Earl Hebner's debut) (Hulkamania 3, The History of the WWE Heavyweight Championship) (The Main Event - 2/5/88; Indianapolis, IN; Market Square Arena)
- Steve Lombardi & Barry Horowitz defeated Lanny Poffo & Scott Casey at 5:04 when Lombardi pinned Poffo with a clothesline after Horowitz landed a knee to the back from the ring apron (1/26/88; Hershey, PA; Hersheypark Arena)
- Ron Bass pinned Hillbilly Jim at 5:32 with the Pedigree (1/25/88; Madison Square Garden)
- Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) pinned SD Jones with the side suplex at 8:19 (1/9/88; Philadelphia Spectrum)
- The Conquistadors defeated Brady Boone & Omar Atlas when Atlas was pinned at 6:19 after a slingshot / clothesline off the top double team (1/27/88; Salisbury, MD; Wicomico Youth & Civic Center)
- King Harley Race & Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan, who came ringside mid-way through the bout) defeated Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid via count-out at 9:05 when the Bulldogs chased Heenan backstage after he taunted them with a dog collar and leash; after the bout, the Bulldogs returned to the ring and attacked their opponents with the props (1/26/88; Hershey, PA; Hersheypark Arena)

Primetime is back on Mondays now and we've got George Steele v. The One Man Gang in the main event. Bobby and Gorilla both think Steele is very dangerous, even in 1988.

Bad News Brown v. Outback Jack-Salisbury, MD January 27, 1988

Jack didn't get any kind of intro at all for this one, at least not on this broadcast. Brown went right after him and kept striking him and working over his left shoulder a little towards the end. Jack got some small hope spots, very small. Bobby called Jack “Outhouse.” The biggest offense Jack had was a clothesline and then an elbow drop and a two-count. He then whipped Brown into the corner but ate a clothesline and then the Ghetto Blaster kick to the head for the win. Pretty boring match here.

Craig DeGeorge interviewed Bad News and this was way more interesting than the match. Brown said he came to the WWF for one reason and that's to take care of business. He “intends to slaughter, annihilate, mutilate, and downright assassinate any poor turkey who signs to get in the squared circle.” He's lived with rats and rodents and he takes no prisoners and gives no mercy. If you like rough fighting, he's your guy to watch in the future in the WWF. Craig said he's got a lot of stiff competition and Brown said the only thing stiff will be the bodies that he leaves laying in the ring and he'll pay for their bandages. Great promo.

Gorilla said Bad News would fit in well in the Heenan Family because Brown knows rats and rodents already. Bobby said he knows a lot of rats. He would like to manage him but Brown doesn't talk to anyone and keeps to himself. Gorilla then pointed out that he made some picks and filled out his tournament bracket for the WrestleMania 4 Title Tournament. Rick Rude and Jake Roberts were mentioned but they didn't end up in the tourney. Gorilla wondered what it would be like if Rude had to face Hulk or Andre late in the tournament.

It was stated that even Danny Davis was shocked at the outcome of the title match in Indianapolis.

“Dangerous” Danny Davis v. Brady Boone-Boston, MA-February 6, 1988

This match was pretty dull. Davis wasn't very good and Boone was boring. Davis started by telling the ref he knows nothing and that Davis was the best ref in the WWF before his suspension. He said he was suspended for nothing and that no one could buy him off. Boone attacked him and went to work with two great dropkicks and a crossbody. However, Boone missed a third dropkick and Davis stayed on top with strikes. Davis hit a clothesline and got a two-count and then argued with the ref and threatened to punch him. Boone made an uneventful comeback with no heat. He went for a Vader Bomb and seemed to nail it but he sold it like Davis countered it. Alfred Hayes and Craig DeGeorge said Davis got his elbow up on Boone but it didn't look very good. Davis did the Doink sit-down squash move on Boone's sternum from the top for the win.

Bobby said he talked to Davis on if he were the ref in Indy, what would he have done. He said he would've stopped the match and awarded it to Hogan. Gorilla laughed and Bobby admitted he was lying and that Davis in fact said he would've made the three-count.

Craig report on Mania IV and Jack Tunney's ruling on the Indy match. The ref's decision is final but Dibiase is not the champion. Also, Andre did surrender the belt, which means he isn't not the champ either and the belt is vacant and there will be a tournament held for a new champion. Hogan and Andre will also get first round byes.

Gorilla hypothesized about the Mania tournament that Dibiase could again have a chance to buy the belt. If the finals end up with Andre facing Dibiase, he could buy off Andre again in the match.

Killer Bees v. Barry Horowitz/Steve Lombardi-Hershey, PA-January 26, 1988

This was a pretty average tag match. The Bees had recently won a tournament in Canada. The Bees controlled the match until Lombardi gave Brunzell and eye rake and kept him isolated in his corner for a couple minutes. Bobby doesn't think it's right to allow the Bees to take their masks on and off during their matches. Alfred Hayes said that Lombardi has gotten a lot of good training from Pat Patterson, who takes an active interest in Lombardi at all times. Brunzell got the tag to Blair who cleaned house with two individual slams and then a slam of Horowitz onto Lombardi. All four guys were in but Lombardi got knocked outside. Brunzell hit Barry with an atomic drop sending him into the awaiting Blair who clotheslines him off the middle rope and won the match. The finish was fun.

Gorilla thinks Terry Garvin needs to re-evaluate his training of Lombardi and Barry. Bobby didn't know what kind of training they go through and it's none of his business.

Ultimate Warrior v. Harley Race-Hershey, PA-January 26, 1988

I really anticipated this match since they announced it earlier in the show. The dynamic of these two guys together in a match is very intriguing. It didn't end up very well and the best parts were Race selling for the Warrior. They fought several times on house shows in 1988 and they'll fight again on Primetime in March, so we'll see how that turns out. Race ran right in and hit a piledriver on the Warrior followed by an elbow drop.

 He tried striking the Warrior but the Warrior came back with his own strikes that sent Race falling backwards over the top rope. Warrior got him back in and hit a huge clothesline out of the corner but Hercules came in from behind and nailed the Warrior with his chain and started to choke him with it. Eventually, the Warrior tossed Herc out of the choke and the heels bailed, leaving the Warrior to swing the chain like a maniac.

Work that chain

Gorilla shilled the 1988 WWF calendar with Hulk on the cover. Bobby asked if he could have it because his friend just got a cat and he needs a liner for the litter box.

Sam Houston v. “Iron” Mike Sharpe-Boston, MA-February 6, 1988

This was a pretty solid match with Sharpe on top most of the time but Houston kept getting hope spots. Houston hit a big dropkick early followed by an arm drag and a hip toss and Sharpe bailed. Sharpe stalled a lot in order to keep the pace slower, in his favor. Sharpe came back in and posed, asking for a test of strength but Houston was reluctant but he agreed. Sharpe won out and every time Houston tried to power out, Sharpe would shut him down with a kick to the guts. Houston cartwheeled out but got blasted by Sharpe hard. Houston then got in a crossbody but Sharpe bailed and began to leave but changed his mind. Sharpe got back in control and stayed that way until the end as Houston got his hope spots. Houston got thrown outside and Sharpe followed and threw him into the guard rail. 

Sharpe got him back in and was pounding on him until Houston hit a big monkeyflip out of the corner and then nailed a bulldog for the win. Danny Davis came in after the match and laid out Houston.

Gorilla said Davis was a piece of garbage. Bobby saw at the end how Houston was on his hands and knees hurting. He said that Houston had heard The King was in the building and he was showing proper respect. Bobby then tried calling Donald Trump about what celebrities were going to be at WrestleMania this year.

We've got a Mania report with Craig. Matilda will return at Mania in the corner of the Bulldogs and Koko against the Islanders and Bobby Heenan. The Islanders and Heenan cut a confident promo saying Koko's mother's name is Tupper. Bobby knows a great taxidermist for his opponents and Matilda. The Bulldogs and Koko cut a short promo about the match. It was also announced that the Honky Tonk Man would defend his IC belt against Brutus Beefcake. Jimmy Hart said he wants to ban Beefcake's scissors. Honky said he can't and won't be beat and he won't be humiliated by Brutus at all. Bob Eucker also cut a promo about Mania.

Bobby said he has enough faith in himself and his team to not worry about the match at Mania. He said that he going to send Matilda back to her vet along with two more bulldogs and a bird.

The Bolsheviks w/Slick v. Brady Boone/SD Jones-Hershey, PA-January 26, 1988

Squash match with no heat except for one USA chant. Nikolai started off with a huge boot to Boone's face and then a one-hand choke press. 

SD got the tag in and did well as his team made some quick tags but SD got clipped with a clothesline later. SD was isolated and double teamed until he made the tag to Boone who was quick but not effective. Nikolai made a blind tag, Boone got clipped by Zhukov and then sledged by Nikolai. Finally, Boris came in, dropped a knee, and won the match.

Gorilla was back on Bobby about the match at Mania, saying he doesn't even want to wrestle, yet he still signed for the match, and it's because he's an idiot. Bobby hung up on Trump to respond by saying that Gorilla was actually concerned about his well-being.

FLEX magazine spokesman

Gene interviewed Don Muraco about WrestleMania IV. He said he wanted Dino and they both want to be WWF champ. Dino won't be better than him and Muraco can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the tournament. Terrible promo.

Gorilla made the announcement that there were so many calls into the show demanding to see more clips from the Indy title switch, that they're not going to show the One Man Gang/George Steele match this week. Then, they showed the clips and that was about it.

WWF MSG August 22, 1987

Tama v. Scott Casey

This was pretty boring and the crowd thought so too. Casey was on top for a while as Tama kept complaining about hair pulling. Casey dropkicked him outside and he immediately complained about a hair pull. Tama won out with a blatant low blow in the corner but his advantage only lasted a little bit. Casey worked on the left shoulder and even started some hair pulling and eye poking. 

Casey tried for a back dropped but Tama saw it and delivered a headbutt. He maintained control with a nerve hold for the longest time. Gorilla could not fathom why Tama was only working on Casey's traps instead of his legs or some other useful body part. Casey got his comeback and nailed a piledriver but he waited to cover him and only got a two. 

 He then tried charging into Tama in the corner but missed and Tama splashed him from the middle rope for the win.

“Outlaw” Ron Bass v. Tito Santana

These guys had fought before and Tito got hurt bad by Bass, so this was the return match and Tito was pissed. On July 25^th, in MSG, Bass attacked Tito and they fought to a DQ on June 20^th in Philadelphia. Tito destroyed Bass initially as they brawled outside with chairs and Bass was sent into the railing. Bass got back in and Tito ripped his vest up over his head and continued to destroy him. Bass tried to leave but Tito went and got him. Then, Tito went for Betsy which prompted Bass to grab a chair and throw it in the ring and Tito caught it. The place was going nuts for this. Bass was begging for mercy and Tito was giving none. Tito went for a pin but pulled him up at two for more of a beating. Bass ended up outside and he slipped a foreign object into the ring and clocked Tito with it. Bass tossed Tito out and crotched him on one of the railings and then he hit a headbutt onto the floor. Bass means business. 

Bass hit a piledriver and later sunk in a headscissors and used the ropes for leverage. The ref wondered why the ropes were shaking and Bass explained that one of the camera men did it. On a side note, how in the hell does grabbing the rope in any way equal more pain for the guy in the submission? I never quite got that. Tito got a ropebreak and nailed his forearm with little height. Tito locked in his figure four but Bass escaped and Tito hit a full-force forearm out of nowhere and Bass flew outside until the bell rang. The time limit expired and it was a draw. However, Tito wanted five more minutes and Bass teased that he was getting back in for it but he left instead. This was a pretty long match and it wasn't too bad, nothing classic though. Of course, New York loved Tito.

Velvet McIntyre v. Sensational Sherri-WWF Women's Championship

Velvet

This was a pretty decent match here that was back-and-forth the whole way through. Sherri won the belt in her first WWF match against Moolah in Houston on July 24, 1987. Sherri was wrestling in the AWA prior to this and even had her last match there on June 22, 1987, so she was fresh by this point. McIntyre had been wrestling for the WWF since 1984. Velvet rushed her right away with a high knee but Sherri tried to escape only to be caught by her cape for a few seconds. Sherri did a ton of cheating in this match with chokes and hair pulling. Velvet exploded with a good exchange of a leap frog into a crossbody and then a slam and a sunset flip off the ropes. Sherri went back to her choking and hair pulls as Velvet took a breather outside. Sherri then missed in the corner and Velvet delivered three big one-foot dropkicks as Sherri bailed out this time. Velvet followed and decked Sherri with a right hand. Velvet put her in a bodyscissors and rolled her around the ring into a pin but referee Billy Caputo was too slow in counting. In fact, he was terrible at doing his job with all the cheating going on. 

Sherri managed to flip herself around in the move, facing Velvet, so she could try some pin attempts. Then, she hoisted up Velvet by her hair and dropped her down, almost in a powerbomb. This was a great move but it got no heat, which was the story of the match. Velvet exploded and hit a giant swing but she missed a crossbody in the corner. Sherri then went up top but was caught and slammed down as Velvet got only a two-count. She started arguing with the ref and Sherri came up from behind and gave her a back suplex for the win.

Rick Martel v. Haku

Martel was really hot at points in this match but he seemed to fizzle a little by the end. Tama was out with Haku and they wouldn't let Martel into the ring. As a result, Tito Santana came out and evened the odds. The Islanders had recently attacked Martel and Tito came to his aid and they decided to form Strike Force from that, on August 4^th taped for August 15^th Superstars. Martel had been teaming with Tom Zenk until July 9, which was their last match together. This match was pretty hot to begin with as Haku flung Martel into the ropes, missed an elbow and a clothesline, and Martel exploded with a huge crossbody but only got a two. That felt like it could have been the finish as I've seen matches end that way with a good amount of heat. Haku got control and tried for a back drop but Martel cartwheeled out of it, hit a dropkick, and then a rana.

 Haku regained control with a crescent kick in the corner and he started working over Martel, who had some hope spots. Later, Haku went for a middle rope splash and missed, setting up Martel's slow comeback. This was the point where he seemed to fizzle out and the crowd did too. He hit a monkey flip and tried for another rana but Haku launched him backwards into the corner, which looked sick. 

Then, he hit a big running headbutt and a false finish. Haku began distracting the ref and Tama came down with a chair and nailed a weak shot on Martel and Haku then pinned him. Tito came back down too and cleared the ring of the Islanders as Martel was stretchered out. Oh yea and “Duke” Pete Doherty was introduced as a new member of the announcing team.

Ricky Steamboat v. Honky Tonk Man w/Jimmy Hart-IC Title Lumberjack Match

 I already reviewed this for the 2-1-88 Primetime show, so I'm just copying my review from that. Steamboat's theme is totally awesome and I don't recall it being on the episode of Primetime but for this it was.  Here's my original post with some more pics

This was an ok match and Ricky was pretty over. George Steele started by trying to pump up the crowd by pounding on the mat. Honky attacked Steamboat and threw him out but Ricky skinned the cat. Then, he dropkicked Honky and threw him over the top three times, and each time Honky was tossed back in. Jimmy Hart went on commentary and said there was a conspiracy against Honky tonight because he kept getting thrown back in by the faces. Steamboat was on top for a little bit and he smashed Honky's head into two turnbuckles, ten times each as the crowd counted along. Lord Alfred Hayes still referred to the Hart Foundation as the tag champs. Honky gained control and the Islanders tripped up Steamboat and then Steele tripped Honky followed by a quick roll-up for Ricky. Steamboat hit a back suplex then tried a monkey flip but it was blocked and Ricky sold it in an upright position for nearly ten seconds which was weird. According to Gorilla, the lumberjacks could catch the wrestlers if they so desired, as they flew out. Ricky hit a cross body hope spot and later went into his less than fiery comeback. He gave Honky a slingshot, then a slam, and went up top and hit his karate chop move and pinned him. The only problem was that the ref was being distracted by Jimmy Hart. George Steele came in and made the count and Hart came into the ring. Then, Ricky went after Hart as the ref was distracted by Steele and this led to Honky nailing Steamboat with the megaphone for the win. After the match, all ten or so of the lumberjacks came in and fought and the fans chanted bullshit.

Gorilla Monsoon interviewed the Duke of Dorchester Pete Doherty on his new announcing job in the WWF. Doherty said the WWF has shown smarts and brains for getting someone like him to give color on all the blacks, yellows, and whites inside that ring. I kid you not, he actually said that. Gorilla remembered him as a mad man inside the ring and he wondered if that would carry over into his announcing.

We got a “Superstar” Billy Graham promo about how no one figured he'd walk again much less wrestle but he has survived and he has beat the odds. He said watch out for the bear hug as there is no escape for it.

Gorilla interviewed Butch Reed and Slick. Slick said that if Billy thinks his beating was tough from before, he should go into early retirement now and Reed can take him on. Butch said that there's two things that don't last long in his business: dogs that chase cars and broken down wrestlers. Must be a shot at Matilda with that one.

Gorilla interviewed JYD and George Steele on their match with Demoltion. JYD said the Demos are dangerous but his team has plans of their own. Steele spouted out some jibberish and then grabbed a table as JYD smiled.

“Superstar” Billy Graham v. “The Natural” Butch Reed w/Slick

This was the main reason I bought this show, so I could see Superstar in the Garden in 1987, against Butch Reed, of all people. I thought this was the sell-out show he did but it turns out that was on October 16^th against Reed. I'll have to find that one now. Reed had been criticizing Graham for a while and they even had a posedown in Glens Falls, NY on July 25^th. The match was pretty basic but it was fun if you're a Superstar fan. Graham exploded right at the beginning and went after Slick and knocked him out of the ring. As Graham was fighting Reed near the ropes, Slick handed Reed a foreign object and later, nailed Superstar with it to gain the advantage.

 Reed ripped off Superstar's tie-dyed shirt and choked him with it and targeted Graham's bad hip. Slick even got some cheap shots in. Superstar had several hope spots and he finally got his second wind. He nailed in the bearhug, right in the middle of the ring, only for Slick to jump in and hit Superstar with a cane to the back. Well, Superstar no-sold that one like a beast and went after Slick until Reed nailed him from behind. Graham kept fighting and put the bearhug on again but wouldn't release it this time. Refs and officials tried to stop him but to no avail. Even Gorilla Monsoon came in t try and stop him but he only ended up delivering an elbow to Slick. Finally, the hold was broke and the official decision was a double DQ as Superstar posed a little.

Bearhug

 

 

“Leaping” Lanny Poffo v. Jose Estrada

This was a dreadful match with absolutely no heat except for some boring calls. Poffo read a poem and threw out some signed frisbees, as he came across as the gayest wrestler of the night, especially with his manly mustache and sequined jacket. Maybe he should have had Pat Patterson as a mentor too. Estrada was on top most of the time. When Poffo got him on the ground, Estrada would beg off and nail Poffo with a cheap shot. The third time this happened, Poffo didn't fall for it though. Poffo hit a headscissors and missed his crappy moonsault that is always off the mark. Gorilla was complaining how referee Billy Caputo was talking too much to the wrestlers. Estrada missed a splash in the corner and Poffo then hit a somersault off the top for the win.

Lord Alfred Hayes interview with the Demolition. Smash said they're a major disaster for JYD and Steele tonight. Ax said they were zookeepers tonight and they're going to have to clean house.

Demolition v. JYD/George Steele

Gorilla said this was a gynamic main event. This was short and basic and safe. Steele wanted the Demos to take their masks off.

JYD started off on Ax and Steele got a hold of him and bit him and had makeup all over his face. Steele came in but got distracted and double teamed. Smash hit a clothesline on Steele only for Steele to bite his forearm instead and make the tag to JYD. However, JYD got isolated until a double clothesline spot with Smash. Steele made the tag but the ref didn't see it. Well, Steele didn't care and stayed in anyways, only to get tossed out by Ax and Smash, who proceeded to double team JYD some more. Steele grabbed a chair and brought it in and nailed Ax in the kidney with it and the ref called for the DQ. Afterwards, Steele chased the ref out of the ring. 

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @stevesgraps for tons more pics that I didn't have room for here.  I'm always looking for followers.  I'm going to start the next episode of Primetime 88 right away and soon I should have some stuff coming in like the October 87 MSG with Reed/Superstar in a cage and some older stuff.  Also, I've got an 89 Philly show with Demolition v. The Powers of Pain to fall back on.  Thanks for reading.

Things That Never Were: Road Warrior Animal and Crush team up in 1992

 My original plans for going over a best of Demolition set have fallen through because the picture quality was actually worse than these pics.  I had a 1977 MSG show planned but that thing isn't working on my PC at all.  So, I really wanted to write about something unique and I decided to finally watch an old 1992 WWF house show where Animal and Crush teamed up against the Beverly Brothers.  This show took place in Germany on September 25, 1992 and Crush had re-debuted as a face in April 1992.  By this point, Hawk was gone from the WWF but Animal and even Paul Ellering remained.  In what appeared to be an experiment, the WWF began pairing Animal and Crush up for several shows in Europe and the States, only house shows though.  Paul Ellering even joined them in a couple six man matches.  Animal would not last long in the WWF after these team-ups though.  Their chemistry wasn't there and often times, Animal looked way better than Crush.  Animal was isolated and he made the hot tag to Crush who was very underwhelming.  This was only supposed to be a temporary thing for the European tour, as Animal wanted his brother Marc to be his new partner.  There was talk of possibly keeping this team going but the plans were nixed.  It's very interesting to see what could have been in pro wrestling.  Sorry that the pics aren't very good but it's the best I could do.  Credit to Dave Meltzer and the WON for the info in the last couple sentences.