November 8, 1987
From the Rochester Community War Memorial in Rochester, NY
Your hosts are Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon
In action this week will be Bam Bam Bigelow, Ultimate Warrior, and the featured bout of the British Bulldogs vs. New Dream Team. Plus, we will see footage of the Hart Foundation vs. Strike Force Tag Team Title match from the 11/7/87 “Superstars of Wrestling.”
Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Oliver Humperdink vs. Terry Gibbs
Heenan rants about Bigelow being a show-off and how he will tear up his knee with his athletic offense. Bigelow catches Gibbs with a slam then shows off agility, including a standing dropkick. Bigelow grabs a chinlock briefly then it appears as they mess up an enziguiri spot where Bigelow missed as Gibbs stood there and didn’t even budge. Gibbs lands a few shots but Bigelow fights back then gets the win with a springboard splash (1:12).
Thoughts: The crowds were super into Bam Bam here. He was rapidly becoming one fo the most popular guys on the roster.
WWF Special Report with Craig DeGeorge. We are shown footage from last week’s show where Demolition beat down Brady Boone after their match then did the same to Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes when they tried to make the save. We are then shown Demolition, wearing the style of face paint they were most famous for as they blame Patera & Haynes for what happened last week. This feud is clearly designed to get Demolition over.
Ultimate Warrior vs. Barry Horowitz
Warrior shoves Horowitz into the corner as Gorilla teases Heenan about Warrior having a better body than Rick Rude. Horowitz gets dumped to the floor then yells “shut up, rednecks” to the fans that were taunting him. Funny stuff. Back inside,Wrrior no-sells punches then chops the shit out of Horowitz as we get an insert promo from Warrior, ranting like a psycho about bringing the power to the WWF. Back to the match as Warrior hits a press slam for the win as Heenan says there is something very wrong with Warrior, implying that he is schizophrenic (1:51).
Thoughts: The seeds for Warrior’s push are planted here. Instead of a basic promo like he did last week, he channeled his insanity to cut the same ones he is remembered for today. The fans are reacting okay to him so far.
Gene Okerlund is with Randy Savage, who talks about the Survivor Series. He still hates the Honky Tonk Man. Nothing else to say other than that.
We are shown Ted DiBiase and Virgil, who are laughing about the fact George Steele did not show up for their match last week as he was “too stupid” to find the arena.
New Dream Team w/ Johnny V. vs. British Bulldogs
Gorilla proudly boasts that this could be the main event in any arena in the world. Match starts with Davey getting the best of Bravo. The Bulldogs use a lot of quick tags until Dynamite eats boot on a charge. Bravo drops an elbow for two then Valentine comes in and works over the leg. He tries the figure four but Dynamite escapes then makes the tag to Davey, who runs wild on Bravo. He tags Dynamite and hits the running powerslam to set up for the dibing headbutt but Johnny V. interferes for the DQ (3:14). After the match, the Bulldogs use Matilda to chase off Bravo & Valentine then head back into the ring and beat on Johnny V. Dynamite ends up hitting Johnny with a super back suplex, almost killing him in the process.
Thoughts: This was the final TV appearance for the New Dream Team. It was pretty much Johnny V’s swan song as a manager as after the team split and went with different managers, Johnny went back to wrestling at house shows, putting over guys like S.D. Jones and Brady Boone before leaving the company in March of 1988. The New Dream was certainly a forgettable part of Greg Valentine’s career.
Okerlund is with Hulk Hogan and his Survivor Series team. He address them one-by-one then Okerlund interviews the others briefly. Basic hype for the PPV and a fine segment overall.
Clips of the Honky Tonk Man and the Hart Foundation destroying Randy Savage at last Month’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event.”
Jerry Allen & S.D. Jones vs. The Islanders w/ Bobby Heenan
Gorilla is solo on commentary for this one. Tama gets his knees up on a splash from Jones as the Young Stallions are shown in an insert promo talking about the Survivor Series. The Islanders work over Jones, who rolls away and makes the tag. Allen is in and tries to do a crossbody in the corner after getting whipped but fucks it up. He tries it again as Haku ducks then Haku hits a shoulderbreaker and Tama puts Allen away with a flying body splash (2:19).
Thoughts: The Islanders looked good but not much mention about their feud with Strike Force here.
Craig DeGeorge is on the interview platform with Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man. Hart brings out stretch dolls of Steamboat and Savage as they joke about wanting an Elizabeth doll. Honky then warns Savage that at the Survivor Series, he will have nothing to be thankful for as his team will take care of rest of the competition. Hart then laughs like a maniac as he stretches out the Savage doll, screaming like a girl to make fun of Savage, as Honky whacks it with the guitar. Great heel stuff from these two.
And now we are shown the “Jive Soul Bro” music video. It was tremendous.
“The Natural” Butch Reed w/ Slick vs. Omar Atlas
The announcers put over the latest issue of “WWF Magazine” while Reed beats on Atlas. He stays in control until putting him away with a flying clothesline (1:14).
Thoughts: Quick match to put Reed over for his upcoming match next week on Superstars against Superstar Billy Graham.
And the Hart Foundation vs. Strike Force match from 11/7/87 “Superstars of Wrestling” is shown.
Okerlund is with Mr. Fuji, who talks about Demolition and their involvement in the Survivor Series. He tells us they can survive anything because they were in Lake Erie this morning. Demolition come in as they talk about beating up everyone in the match.
Next week’s featured match will be Nikolai Volkoff vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts. We get promos from both men. Also in action will be Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Rick Rude, Ken Patera & Billy Jack Haynes and more.
Final Thoughts: The show was fine. Most of it revolved around hyping up the Survivor Series and it did a great job at that. Add in the “Jive Soul Bro” video and the Tag Team Title match in case you missed that on “Superstars of Wrestling” and you have yourself an enjoyable show.