Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan handle commentary duties for today’s show, concluding the taping cycle in Huntington, West Virginia.
Opening Non-Title Contest: Mr. Perfect (Intercontinental Champion w/Bobby Heenan) (22-2) pins Jim Brunzell (1-3) with the Perfectplex at 2:48:
All Brunzell can muster is a hiptoss that sends Perfect out of the ring. Even Brunzell’s dropkick fails to find the mark, allowing Perfect to capitalize and hit the Perfectplex, defeating Brunzell for the second time this year.
Lord Alfred Hayes’ Special Report recaps the formation of Power & Glory.
Sapphire shows off her new diamond necklace. She says that she loves all the gifts she is getting.
Dino Bravo (19-3-2) pins Mike Shelton after a sidewalk slam at 1:12:
In the split screen, Bravo says that he cannot wait to see Tugboat’s face when Hulk Hogan is stretchered out of SummerSlam. Bravo wears down Shelton with the usual power offense, running his winning streak to eight after a sidewalk slam.
Jimmy Snuka’s squash match from Prime Time Wrestling is shown.
Gene Okerlund does the SummerSlam Report. Earthquake says that he will take credit after SummerSlam for shutting down Hulkamania for good. Tugboat puts over Hulk Hogan’s energy, while Hogan promises to wake up WWF President Jack Tunney by annihilating Earthquake. WWF Champion the Ultimate Warrior asks for his fans to give him the energy to destroy Rick Rude at SummerSlam.
Tugboat (15-0) beats Black Bart after a splash off the second rope at 1:48:
Fans do insert promos about how they appreciate all the things Tugboat has done for Hulk Hogan. That prompts Heenan to make fun of their accents. For the second time this year Bart fails to contend with Tugboat’s size, finished off in less than two minutes with an avalanche against the buckles, a slam, and a splash off the second rope.
A replay of Sergeant Slaughter’s vignette from Superstars airs.
Gene Okerlund interviews Rick Rude and Heenan. Heenan puts over the danger of a cage match and says that Rude is not scared of the challenge. Rude adds that it is just a matter of time before the WWF Champion belongs to him.
Jake Roberts’ squash match from Prime Time Wrestling is shown.
Non-Title Match: Demolition – Smash & Crush (WWF Tag Team Champions w/Ax) (5-0) defeat Tom Stone & Spike Jones when Crush pines Jones after Demolition Decapitation at 2:38:
It has been a busy week for Demolition, who defended their tag team titles twice. They have an easier time today, wearing down Jones with a long beating before putting him out of his misery with Demolition Decapitation. In the split screen, the Legion of Doom argue that they do not fear Demolition and look forward to beating them up at an undetermined time.
Tune in next week to see the Texas Tornado, Ted DiBiase, the Legion of Doom, and the Big Bossman in action!
The Last Word: This was just a filler show on the road to SummerSlam. Earthquake is doing good promo work to hold his own in his feud with Hulk Hogan, so the rocket push he has received throughout the year has been deserved.
Here is a recap of the latest week of WWF house show action, with results courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com:
Los Angeles, California – The Sports Arena – July 27, 1990 (11,700): Black Bart pinned Shane Douglas…Hercules beat Jim Powers…Jimmy Snuka defeated the Barbarian via disqualification…Jake Roberts defeated Bad News Brown…Nikolai Volkoff beat Boris Zhukov…The Rockers beat the Orient Express via count out…WWF Champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated Rick Rude.
Detroit, Michigan – Joe Louis Arena – July 28, 1990 (3,200): Haku pinned Jim Brunzell…Koko B. Ware beat the Genius…Dustin Rhodes pinned Buddy Rose…WWF Tag Team Champions Ax & Crush defeated the Hart Foundation…The Brooklyn Brawler beat Barry O…Tito Santana defeated Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect via disqualification…Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Tugboat beat Earthquake & Dino Bravo when Duggan pinned Bravo.
Albuquerque, New Mexico – Tingley Coliseum – July 28, 1990 (5,033): The Warlord defeated Omar Atlas…Akeem pinned Pez Whatley…Paul Roma beat Paul Diamond…The Bushwhackers defeated Rhythm & Blues…The Big Bossman beat Ted DiBiase…Dusty & Sapphire (w/Miss Elizabeth) defeated Randy Savage & Sensational Sherri (w/Brother Love).
Backstage News*: For Saturday Night’s Main Event, the company wanted to get shots of fans wearing the Ultimate Warrior masks they handed out, but they could not find a sizeable group of fans for them.
*Dave Meltzer argues that the WWF needs to get out in front of the steroid issue by having a company-wide drug testing policy because it is just a matter of time before wrestlers drop dead from heart attacks or other steroid-induced issues. That could jeopardize the company’s lucrative relationship with NBC.
*To clarify last week’s reports about Haku’s involvement in a bar brawl in St. Louis, eyewitnesses argue that Haku attacked the patron, James Bishop, after he insulted a woman with the wrestlers. Police officers were only able to take down Haku after cracking him over the head with a baseball bat-sized club. Once subdued, Haku was said to be very cooperative at the police station. Curt Hennig was busted over the head with a stool in the melee. This caused him to miss a few house shows and Akeem took his place.
*According to the WWF, SummerSlam is now sold out and will bring the company $335,000 in revenue from ticket sales. If accurate, that will make SummerSlam the company’s largest gate in the United States this year.
*In talent relations news, the WWF is talking with Davey Boy Smith about returning.
*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for August 6.
Up Next: Prime Time Wrestling for July 30!