WWF Superstars of Wrestling – December 24th, 1988

December 24, 1988

From the Ocean Center in Dayton Beach, FL

Your hosts are Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Vince McMahon

In action this week are Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Bad News Brown, Rick Rude, Ronnie Garvin, and the Powers of Pain. Talk about a lineup of legitimate tough guys.

Akeem vs. Juan Valdez

Jesse immediately makes a coffee joke at the expense of Valdez. Akeem beats on Valdez as we get an insert of Akeem and the Big Bossman with Slick, who states one of them will win the Royal Rumble match as both guys argue over who will win. Back to the match as Akeem hits a front suplex then puts Valdez away with a splash (2:16).

Thoughts: Really just a segment to put over the “every man for himself” theme of the Royal Rumble match.

Brother Love Show with guest Big John Studd. Brother Love puts over Studd for being one of the toughest and strongest to ever step foot in the ring and that its all true because of Bobby Heenan. Brother Love surprises Studd with Heenan who comes out but Studd turns his back then refuses a handshake. Studd then calls Heenan a “weasel” and that he is no longer part of the Heenan Family. Studd says he will be at the Royal Rumble and toss out every member of the Heenan Family one-by-one as the announcers are surprised. The angle itself was fine but everyone seems to get a big pop at first when they turn on Heenan. For Studd, he was unable to sustain anything and he really did not fit in with this roster anyway. I cannot imagine anyone clamoring for his return.

Another ad for the Royal Rumble airs.

Powers of Pain w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Joe Cruz & “Leaping” Lanny Poffo

Poffo’s poem is about the PoP needing more than muscle to defeat Demolition. This is the PoP’s first TV appearance with Fuji as their manager. The PoP destroy Poffo as we hear from Demolition in an insert promo as they will defend the titles against anyone before talking about one man winning the Royal Rumble. Cruz is now in and also gets his ass handed to him. The Warlord holds up Cruz for a suplex as Barbarian comes off the top with a shoulderblock as that gets the win (3:12).

Thoughts: They touched upon the Demolition feud but the theme of the night was the Royal Rumble and the “every man for themselves” gimmick as they showed how two tag team partners would go at it in order to win the match.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear from Ted DiBiase and Brutus Beefcake as they hype up the Royal Rumble match. Bobby Heenan is with King Haku and tells Harley Race he has to stick with Haku but if he wins, the coronation will take place. Heenan seems conflicted here as to who he wants to win.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Tony Suber

Jesse talks about being a veteran and disgusted that Duggan is the best flag bearer the company can find. Duggan beats on Suber to start. Suber mocks Duggan after kicking him as we are shown Dino Bravo, Frenchy Martin, The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, and Jimmy Hart in an insert promo hyping up the six-man tag at the Rumble then Duggan gets the win with his Three Point Stance (2:08).

Thoughts: They did some hype for the six-man match at the PPV here and per usual, the crowd ate up Duggan’s shtick.

Mooney is in the Event Center as we hear from Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan as they talk about winning the Royal Rumble match.

“Ravishing” Rick Rude vs. ???

We never did get the name for Rude’s opponent. He was a generic guy with a mullet and long tights. Rude hammers away then gyrates as we hear from female fans on what they think of Rude as he received a mixed reaction. Back to the match as Rude hits a slam then uses the Rude Awakening for the win (1:40). After the match, Rude gives a girl wearing his shirt a kiss.

Thoughts: Most of this was about Rude’s gimmick and to hype up his posedown with the Ultimate Warrior at the PPV.

WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. This is all about the Royal Rumble as Okerlund runs down the card and the rules of the Rumble match.

Bob Emery vs. Bad News Brown

Bad News immediately attacks Emery and catches him with a clothesline before hitting the Ghetto Blaster for the win (0:23). After the match, Bad News tosses Emery outside then grabs the mic and tells us “our hero” Randy Savage is somewhere hiding behind Elizabeth’s skirt as he calls him out. Bad News then headbutts referee Dave Hebner as Savage runs out and beats on Brown. The locker room empties as they try to break up the melee but Savage keeps going after Bad News.

Thoughts: Nice, pull apart brawl here to get over their feud for the house shows. Bad News really was an effective heel in his role.

“Rugged” Ronnie Garvin vs. Barry Horowitz

Garvin had left the NWA in the Summer and spent some time in the AWA before coming here. Garvin grounds Horowitz as we here him in an insert promo as he proclaims himself as one of the toughest in the world and looking forward to the competition in the WWF. Garvin applies a reverse chinlock as Horowitz fights out and hammers away. Garvin then ducks a crossbody and uses the Garvin Stomp before getting the win with a piledriver (2:21).

Thoughts: Garvin looked decent in victory, even if the crowd did not seem all that familiar with him.

The Bushwhackers are shown with Santa Claus, who is played by Gene Okerlund. Vince introduced this as his favorite part of the show. The Bushwhackers are very excited and list of some of the tag teams they want to face and give Santa some sardines. They pull off the beard to reveal Okerlund as they laugh and accuse him of playing a trick. It was amusing.

Martin Roy vs. “The Outlaw” Ron Bass

Bass hammers away before gauging Roy’s eyes. He continues the assault until hitting the Gourdbuster for the win (2:16). After the match, Bass uses Miss Betsy on Roy.

Thoughts: They did some hype for the Bass/Beefcake feud but the announcers talked about the Rumble match and return of Studd.

Mooney is in the Event Center as we hear from Tito Santana and the Big Bossman, who vows to “break” Hogan if he faces him in the Rumble. The Ultimate Warrior then talks about Rick Rude to put over their pose down at the Royal Rumble.

Next week is the 1988 year in review show. I will not be reviewing that as I will jump right into 1989

Final Thoughts: The big news here was the return of Big John Studd and how he turned face by ditching Heenan. The rest of the show was time spent on putting over the Royal Rumble match as it appears TV will focus on that until the show airs.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 12/25/88

Monday: WWF Madison Square Garden 12/30/88

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 1/7/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 67

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Santino

Friday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 1/7/89