January 21, 1989
From the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, AL
Your hosts are Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Vince McMahon
This week, our feature match will be Randy Savage vs. Akeem in a non-title match. Also in action will be Rick Martel, Bushwhackers, and the “Brother Love Show” with guest Andre the Giant.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Rusty Riddle
Jesse doesnt understand why the crowd is chanting “USA” seeing as Riddle is also from this country. Riddle attacks Duggan from behind but gets knocked down. Jesse puts over the story in “WWF Magazine” about whether or not the 2×4 should be banned from ringside as Dino Bravo and Frenchy Martin are out at ringside. They leave as Duggan continues to beat on Riddle until putting him away with the Three Point Stance (2:47).
Thoughts: They are still pushing the Bravo/Duggan feud even after the Royal Rumble.
WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. This week’s subject is the Bobby Heenan/Red Rooster feud. We see the clips of Rooster beating up Heenan after losing on “Saturday Nights Main Event.” We then see a clip on “Prime Time Wrestling” where Heenan duped the Rooster into ending their relationship and had Steve Lombardi attack him from behind. Okerlund lets us know that Lombardi is now the “Brooklyn Brawler.” Talk about your lower card feud.
Tom Stone & Jerry Price vs. The Bushwhackers
This is the first Bushwhackers match on either Superstars or Challenge. Butch beats on Stone as we see the Bushwhackers in an insert promo as they talk about liking beating up people. The Bushwhackers stay in control as they now work over Price and hit him with the battering ram. Luke tags in then the Bushwhackers hit Price with a double gutbuster for the win (3:07).
Thoughts: The fans were into the Bushwhackers, which after all of the vignettes they had is a good sign to say the least.
Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear from the Bolsheviks and Slick, who tells us no other team in WWF history have faced tougher competition. Yeah. Koko B. Ware then talks about how Frankie and himself love to have a good time. Poor Koko has nothing at all going on in the company.
Josh Stroud vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby Heenan
We hear from the Ultimate Warrior in an insert promo as he warns Rude the power of the Warrior will eat him alive. Stroud hits a pair of dropkicks but misses a third as Rude takes control. Rude hits a suplex then gyrates before putting Stroud away with the Rude Awakening (1:18). After the match, Rude tells the crowd there is no one worthy of receiving the Rude Awakening in Huntsville as he leaves.
Thoughts: I liked how Rude switched up his post-match gimmick and refused to give a lucky lady the Rude Awakening. They are also going ahead with his feud against the Ultimate Warrior.
Big John Studd talks about how he won the Royal Rumble and is now back in the WWF bigger and badder than ever.
Powers of Pain w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Reno Riggins & Johnny Zeigler
The Powers of Pain destroy Zeigler to start as Jesse puts over his body when he was an active wrestler. Riggins tags in as Barbarian hits a press slam then the Powers of Pain get the win with a Doomsday Device (1:57).
Thoughts: Quick squash for the PoP’s as they continue to feud with Demolition.
Mooney is back in the Event Center. We hear from Ron Bass, who is wearing his hat to hide his bald head as he promises that 1989 will be year of violence and victory. He says he will show us what pain, destruction, and agony is all about in a pretty good promo. Bret Hart then tells us that 1989 will be the year he tosses out the rule book and his main goal is to wipe out Jimmy Hart and will take care of all his men. Mooney then tells us to keep an eye out for Bret getting revenge on Honky.
Rick Martel vs. Barry Horowitz
This is Martel’s first TV match since returning from injury. In reality, he was off the road tending to his sick wife. Martel hits a pair of dropkicks as Horowitz retreats in the corner. We then hear from Tito Santana, who welcomes his former partner back and even though they are now singles wrestlers, he’d love to team up with him again later down the road. Martel works the arm for a bit then hits a monkey flip. Martel knocks Horowtiz down with a Polish Hammer then makes him submit with a Boston Crab (2:44).
Thoughts: Martel looked good here as he will be a singles wrestler going forward.
Brother Love Show with guests Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan. Brother Love & Heenan state how Andre is not afraid of snakes as Heenan said Andre does not like to be surprised. Heenan then said he has hired the best hypnotist to prove this as they throw a bag that looks like Jake Roberts’ snake bag on the floor. Andre moves back a little then Andre stops Brother Love from picking up the bag and after Heenan whispered to him, Brother Love screams about how we witnessed a miracle and that he is not afraid. Okay, the Andre is afraid of snakes angles is played out at this point.
Akeem w/ Slick vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth
Akeem backs Savage into the corner but Savage fights back. Savage tries for a slam but fails as he ends up backing Akeem into the corner. Akeem lands a few shots but Savage whips him into the corner. Akeem blocks mounted punches in the corner with an inverted atomic drop but dances around and misses an elbow drop as the Big Bossman makes his way down to the ring and starts whacking the stairs with his nightstick as we head to commercial. The match returns with Savage getting rammed into the corner. Akeem targets the back and gets two with a clothesline. Akeem dances around as he stays in control while a worried Elizabeth looks on from ringside as he get camera closeups on her face. Akeem rams Savage into the corner and heads up top but misses a splash as both men are down. Savage is up first and snaps Akeem’s neck on the top rope before hitting a double axe handle. Savage then heads up and drops the elbow but Bossman comes in and breaks that up with his nightstick for the DQ (6:24) *1/4. Hulk Hogan runs in for the save and cleans house as the fans go insane. Hogan starts posing as Elizabeth consoles Savage, who looks on from his knees. Savage then holds the nightstick and looks at it as he heads closer to Hogan but he turns around. Hogan also turns around and grabs the nightstick as Savage seems conflicted as Jesse thinks he is confused from getting hit with the nightstick. Savage then starts posing a bit with Hogan but orders Elizabeth to leave and they head off with Hogan trailing far behind.
Thoughts: The actual match wasn’t much at all but what occurred afterwards was great. Savage nearly turned on Hogan but decided against it and after briefly posing to the fans decided to leave with Elizabeth. The storyline leading up to the Mega Powers split was really great.
Mooney is back in the Event Center. Hercules tells us he will remain a free man. We then hear from Jimmy Hart and the Fabulous Rougeau Boys as they talk about their new song, “All American Boys.”
Next week, we will see Demolition, Mr. Perfect, Bad News Brown, and the Brainbusters. Plus, the Brother Love Show with guests Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Elizabeth.
Final Thoughts: Good show this week. The Mega Powers/Twin Towers stuff worked tremendously and they are showing more direction now that the Rumble has ended.
Here is my schedule for the next several days:
Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 1/22/89
Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Superstars of Wrestling 1/28/89
Wednesday: PWG Thirteen 7/29/16
Thursday: Shoot Interview TBD
Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 1/29/89
Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 4/1/82
Sunday: WWF Los Angeles Sports Arena 1/29/89