Vince McMahon, Randy Savage, and Roddy Piper are in the booth, starting a new taping cycle in Tucson, Arizona. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on May 28. Piper opens up a Father’s Day gift from his “Jamaican children.” The gift is a tie that Piper wraps around his neck.
Opening Contest: Bret Hart (7-0-2) beats Louie Spicolli via submission to the Sharpshooter at 2:42:
Bret does an insert promo about how pink is going to be the color of the summer. Bret is still finding his rhythm in these squashes as he pauses a lot between moves. A suplex and Sharpshooter give the Hitman another win.
Gene Okerlund’s Update segment shows Andre the Giant walking out in front of a crowd on a cane. Andre does a taped promo says Earthquake will never have the chance to attack him again. However, Okerlund says Andre’s future in the ring is in jeopardy because he is getting reconstructive knee surgery.
Ted DiBiase (w/Sensational Sherri) (11-2-1) beats Larry Luden via submission to the Million Dollar Dream at 2:11:
Piper and Savage spend the squash debating DiBiase’s skill and intelligence before the segways into McMahon asking Savage what the status is of his relationship with Elizabeth. After the match, DiBiase stuffs $100 bill down Luden’s throat until Sherri collects it for herself.
The Mountie (w/Jimmy Hart) (16-0) defeats Stephen DeLeon with the carotid control technique at 1:51:
The Big Bossman does an insert promo about how the Mountie is at the top of his most wanted list and he is coming for him. McMahon keeps asking Savage about Elizabeth, but Savage continues to switch the subject. After an easy win, the Mountie handcuffs DeLeon to the ropes, reads him his rights, and shocks him with the cattle prod.
The Texas Tornado and Power & Glory put over how powerful Sid Justice is.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (13-0-1) pins the Black Knight after the three-point stance clothesline at 2:11:
Duggan spams clotheslines to daze the Knight and then does not sell the Knight’s blows in the corner. Another clothesline and three-point stance clothesline carry Duggan to victory.
Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect is this week’s guest on the Funeral Parlor. Perfect welcomes Bobby Heenan out as his former manager as Heenan will be doing more broadcast journalist responsibilities from this point forward. Perfect introduces his new manager, Coach, who tries to blow a whistle as he cuts a hard to discern promo of how he will coach Perfect to greatness. Coach was John Tolos, a former Canadian wrestler and WWWF United States Tag Team champion. He had spent the last year working for Herb Abrams’ UWF as a manager and color commentator. Heenan stepped aside from managing due to burnout and neck problems. The managerial switch was a downgrade for Perfect since the Coach was too cartoonish.
The Nasty Boys & Earthquake (w/Jimmy Hart) defeat the Bushwhackers & Tugboat when Earthquake pins Luke after the Earthquake Splash at 4:28:
Tugboat is not on the same page as his partners, tooting to the crowd instead of accepting tags from the Bushwhackers. When Luke tags him in, Tugboat does a staredown with Earthquake and then tags Luke back in without doing anything. Tugboat also does not make any saves for his team, forcing Butch to do all of the work. When all hell breaks loose, Tugboat gets in and clotheslines Butch in the back of the head and throws him out. Then, he splashes Luke, leaving him dead to rights for Earthquake. Savage and Piper have a tough time calling the turn at first, with Savage saying Tugboat has wrestled himself silly and forgot what team he was on. This was more angle than match, but it moved along well. Rating: *
After the match, Tugboat embraces the heels as fans are shown dumbfounded. Tugboat appears to be Hart’s replacement for Andre the Giant and teaming with Earthquake looks to be in his future.
Colonel Mustafa (w/Sergeant Slaughter & General Adnan) (8-0) beats Matthew Bird via submission to the Camel Clutch at 1:30:
Mustafa suplexes the paper-thin Bird several times and submits him with the Camel Clutch, cranking back on it a lot after it is applied. After the match, he applies it again before tossing Bird to the floor.
Tune in next week to see the British Bulldog and the Undertaker in action! Also, there will be the debut of the Beverly Brothers! And the Big Bossman will be a guest on the Funeral Parlor!
The Last Word: A new taping cycle brought a lot of changes and made for a fun show. The Tugboat turn was needed because the character was sinking all year and it was clear that the company still wanted to do something with him, hence why he eliminated Hulk Hogan from the battle royal two months ago on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The end of Bobby Heenan’s managing days marks the end of an era in the company. And the Coach gimmick was dead on arrival with an annoying whistle and wearing gaudy red gear that made him look like a gym coach from the 1950s. It also does not jive with Mr. Perfect’s more serious character, the same problem Perfect had with the Genius from 1989-1990.
Up Next: Wrestling Challenge for June 16!