What the World Was Watching: WWF Superstars – July 28, 1990

Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura are doing commentary, concluding the tapings in Dayton, Ohio.

The Big Bossman squash from Prime Time Wrestling begins the broadcast.

Gene Okerlund’s Update segment recaps the heel turn by Paul Roma and Hercules on last week’s show. Roma and Hercules welcome Slick as their new manager, saying he is the missing ingredient that is needed for their success. Slick announces that the new team’s name is Power & Glory.

Boris Zhukov’s squash from Prime Time Wrestling airs.

Dusty Rhodes’ match with Paul Diamond from Prime Time Wrestling is shown.

Okerlund does the SummerSlam Report. Jimmy Hart warns Hulk Hogan that he should get some earthquake insurance, while Dino Bravo warns Tugboat to stay out of his way. Earthquake repeats his vow that he will eliminate Hogan from professional wrestling. Hogan rebuts that he is going to show Earthquake that Hulkamania has gone to a whole new level while Tugboat screams himself hoarse in the background. Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan remind the Ultimate Warrior that Rude is the only man on the roster who has defeated him, and Rude adds that a cage match is parts unknown for the Warrior so that guarantees that “Rudeness” will rule the WWF. New matches announced include Jake Roberts against Bad News Brown with the Big Bossman serving as the special guest referee. It is promised that Brown will bring Harlem sewer rats to the ring to counter Damien.

Bad News Brown (18-0-1) defeats Troy Williams after the Ghetto Blaster at 1:30:

Brown hauls a large covered container to the ring, which McMahon says contains “more than 200 pounds of Harlem sewer rats.” That triggers a long conversation between McMahon and Ventura about how the rats could be used at SummerSlam. Ventura also raises the question of whether the Bossman can be an impartial official because he is from the South. To that McMahon has no rebuttal. Fans never get the see the rats after the squash, which follows the formula of all other Brown matches.

Jimmy Snuka screams “Ooo” several times after biting into a WWF ice cream bar.

Brother Love plays host to the Legion of Doom on his show today, introducing them as Demolition imposters. Animal claims that Demolition has never encountered a force like them before and the Legion live in no one’s shadow. Hawk says that Demolition have a lot to worry about between the Legion and the Hart Foundation.

Earthquake’s squash from Prime Time Wrestling airs.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan (20-1-1) pins Buddy Rose after a three-point stance clothesline at 2:17:

Nikolai Volkoff does an insert promo that puts over Duggan as a great American and says that Duggan is his idol. Ventura laments “that someone led that poor boy astray in his new land.” Rose tries to go to the top rope, but he gets tossed off and that leaves him vulnerable to Duggan’s three-point stance clothesline.

A new Sergeant Slaughter vignette sees him choke on the stench of communists like Nikolai Volkoff, his supporters, and peace.

It is announced that WWF Champion the Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude will face off for the title on this evening’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. The Warrior promises to walk out of the event as champion, while Rude promises the opposite.

Tune in next week to see Jake Roberts and Rick Rude in action! Also, the “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich will make his debut! Demolition will be guests on the Brother Love Show! And Nikolai Volkoff will receive a special award from the Boy Scouts of America!

The Last Word: Almost all of the content of this show was seen earlier in the week on Prime Time Wrestling. Nikolai Volkoff is doing his best to get his babyface turn over, but the whole angle is too cheesy, and the Sergeant Slaughter vignettes are more edgy and interesting. The WWF owes the audience an explanation for why the Big Bossman has been plugged into the Jake Roberts-Bad News Brown feud, especially because the Bossman should be more preoccupied with Ted DiBiase based on existing storylines. And the weird booking of the WWF title picture continues as the Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude will face off on free television a month prior to the pay-per-view.

Up Next: Saturday Night’s Main Event XXVII!