This week, we look back at an issue of The Wrestler that went to press September 1, 1988 that sold for $2.75 in the U.S., $3.50 in Canada, and £1.50 in the United Kingdom. Let’s go straight to the Ratings, where a future WWF champion slips in at #10 in the tag teams under a name and gimmick he’d soon discard.
We start proper with Your Letters, the mailbag feature, where Marilyn from Toledo says she’s no longer a fan of the Rougeau Brothers because they have become irritating. In fact, she’d like to see Hacksaw Duggan and the Ultimate Warrior team up to teach those Canadians who’s boss! She concludes by saying the Rougeaus are not fabulous but foolish, and “They don’t love America, they don’t belong in the WWF, and I feel foolish for being taken in by them. America and the WWF would both be better off without them.” Meanwhile, Dwayne from Marystown, Newfoundland sings the praises of Max Pain. “This guy has it all: 350 pounds packed in a 6’6 frame.” (Of course, in a year or two those pounds would start spilling out.) Then there’s Jon from Memphis who says that while Ric Flair and Randy Savage never leave their area, Jerry Lawler is a traveling champion who defends his title all over the world and should be ranked number one in the ratings. “He’s even beaten Savage and Flair in the past! It’s a known fact that Lawler has offered the NWA and WWF champions a rematch for his belt, but Jim Crockett and Vince McMahon denied Lawler those bouts.” We also get a letter from Aresh Homayoun from Potomac, Maryland who says the Midnight Express is the best tag team in wrestling because of Bobby Eaton’s aerial skills, Stan Lane’s martial arts ability, and Jim Cornette’s genius, and it’s only a matter of time before the Midnights beat Tully and Arn for the World tag team championship.
Elsewhere, Kurt from Bethesda, Maryland says Leslie Williams’ letter in the October issue of The Wrestler berating Lex Luger and praising Barry Windham was stupid. For example, Leslie said Barry was more giving than Lex. “If he was such a giving guy, would he have betrayed Luger in such a gross manner? I just wish Ms. Williams knew the facts. Maybe then she could make an intelligent comment.” And Dan from Mayo, Yukon apologizes for responding to the September, 1988 issue so long after the fact, but says “Being in my distant outpost in the Yukon territory, we get our mail rather late.” Dan says a reader wrote in to say the real Bad Company was the AWA tag team and not Brian Pillman and Bruce Hart of Stampede wrestling. “Here in Canada, we take great pride in Stampede wrestling. It’s a great federation, and Pillman and Hart are a great tag team. The only thing AWA’s Bad Company knows how to do is cheat.” (Well, that’s why Diamond and Tanaka were never known as “Good Company.”) Finally, Anthony from Uniondale, New York predicts that the Ultimate Warrior will defeat the Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental title.
Next, What’s Happening! with Bill Apter… The longest WWF Intercontinental title reign ever has ended! The Ultimate Warrior, subbing for the injured Brutus Beefcake, stormed the ring and pinned the Honky Tonk Man in 31 seconds to win the belt at SummerSlam 88 on August 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Honky Tonk won the belt from Rick Steamboat on June 2, 1987 and held the title for one year, two months, and 27 days. (Or over two years according to Billy Graham’s math.) Honky has signed a series of rematches against the Warrior. Elsewhere, Dustin Rhodes, son of Dusty Rhodes, is scheduled to make his pro debut September 6 at the Tampa Fairgrounds on a Florida Championship Wrestling card. In World Class, Kerry Von Erich was carried off on a stretcher after getting mauled by Tommy Rich and Buddy Landell. In Stampede, Brian Pillman injured his right bicep during a match and might require surgery. In the AWA, word is Wendi Richter is coming in to feud with Madusa Miceli. Meanwhile, AWA champion Jerry Lawler has been having trouble defeating Greg Gagne, but has somehow managed to hold onto the title. In the NWA, Ric Flair has similarly been losing to Lex Luger but has been able to hold onto the NWA title. That includes a defeat at the NWA’s first show at the Omni in Atlanta since the July Democratic Convention, which Luger won by disqualification. (Insert your own Dukakis joke.) And that’s what’s happening. See you at the matches!
Next, it’s Win, Lose or Draw by Andy Rodriguez. He says Bobby Heenan might not be “the Brain” after all. Why? He broke up the Islanders, his best chance to finally win gold in the WWF, to crown Haku (bless you) King. Andy says, “The Islanders were a very good scientific team when they debuted in the WWF a year ago. Heenan saw something in them and encouraged them to change their style. They agreed. For a while, Heenan’s way was working. The Islanders developed a reputation as both good and mean, winning matches with a combination of technical precision and sheer brutality. Along the way, however, Heenan had them doing some strange things like kidnapping the Bulldogs’ mascot, Matilda. Then suddenly, Tama was gone and Haku was ‘King’.” Bobby Duncum, who was coholder of the AWA tag team championship as part of the Heenan Family, says, “Bobby always had too many irons in the fire. That’s always been one of his problems. He figured that if he put a lot of men out there, he’d have to win something. Well, sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t.” Andy continues: “In the AWA, Heenan managed the tag team champions and the World champion at the same time. But after four years in the WWF, Heenan hasn’t won a thing. And with the Islanders breaking up, Heenan no longer has a tag team.” A WWF insider speaking on the condition of anonymity, however, says this might be part of Heenan’s plan. “He’s not a tag team expert like Jimmy Hart is, and he knows it. He’s going back to what he feels he knows best: singles wrestling. He likes the challenge of taking one man and molding him into a champion rather than dealing with two men and two different ways of thinking. The Islanders were like an experiment that failed.” Andy adds, “Failed, that is, in Heenan’s eyes. The Islanders were clearly on their way up. The experiment didn’t fail. It was just never completed.” Andy does concede that the law of averages dictates that if Heenan manages in the WWF long enough, he will eventually manage a winner. “But Heenan doesn’t live by the law of averages,” Andy says. “Has a manager ever lasted so long in an area without winning a title?”
Next, Blindsided with Bob Smith, where Bob says sister publication Wrestling Superstars received so many ballots for their “Sexiest Superstar” contest, a dozen secretaries are still busy applying soothing balms and salves to their fingers. But you while might think the most successful wrestlers are those who painstakingly sculpt their bodies into slabs of rock-hard muscle, CWA heavyweight champion Phil Hickerson has a rebuttal: “Bull.”
Hickerson
“Those pretty boys can kiss my sweet patootie,” says Hickerson in his gravely Tennessee drawl. “To me, spending hours in a gym is a waste. One of the biggest lies in wrestling is that you have to look like a Greek god in order to win. That’s now what it’s about, Jack. It takes guts and skill to defeat your opponents, and that’s something the glitter boys can’t understand.” Bob Smith says there’s plenty of proof that Hickerson is right. “Look at Buck Robley or Buddy Rose, who will never win a ‘sexiest superstar’ contest. Or how about Abdullah the Butcher, who would send most women running? The truth is you don’t need to look like Rick Rude, the Ultimate Warrior or Lex Luger to win wrestling matches. The slovenly breed sure isn’t sexy but it can be successful.”
Next, Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down, where Missy Hyatt is praised for acting as a manager/valet and Miss Elizabeth is shamed for wearing a bikini. (And boy do they love showing off that photo of Warrior with a mustache.)
Next, Correspondents Reports: Jerry Lawler pinned Doug Furnas to hang onto the AWA World title at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. Andre the Giant was counted out in a lumberjack match against Hacksaw Jim Duggan in New Haven, Connecticut after the referee was distracted by Haku, allowing Duggan to knock Andre out of the ring with his 2×4. The Road Warriors defeated Ivan Koloff and the Russian Assassin in a scaffold match in Salisbury, Maryland after Koloff and the Assassin were kicked off.
Next up, You Asked Us, where fans send in questions for wrestling superstars and the magazine. Stephanie from Amarillo asks Kerry Von Erich, “Who do you think is your toughest competition for the World Class belt?” Kerry says, “Well, right now, I’ve got enough to think about, what with my belt-against-belt matches against AWA World champion Jerry Lawler, plus the intense competition of World Class itself. Also, I’ve got a score to settle with Iceman Parsons for what he did when I substitute for my brother, Kevin.” John from Larchmont, New York asks Ronnie Garvin, “Why did you leave the NWA?” Ronnie says it was a contractual disagreement, but he’s also accomplished all his goals there. (Ronnie would turn up in the AWA.) Keith from Ladson has a question for Austin Idol: “Will you return to the NWA and let IdolMania run rampant?” Idol says he’s too busy with other matters, such as putting Eddie Gilbert and Paul E. Dangerously out of wrestling and winning the AWA World belt. Jenny from Piqua, Ohio has a question for Editor-in-Chief Stu Saks: “What chance do the Midnight Rockers have of beating Demolition for the tag team title?” Stu says, “None at all. If there was a WWF Intercontinental tag team belt, then the Rockers would have a shot at some WWF glory. As it is now, they won’t beat Demolition.” Karlan from New York asks Dave Rosenbaum if he agrees that the match between Flair and Luger at the Great American Bash in Baltimore should have been stopped on account of blood. Dave says, “No, it was an abomination. Luger’s cut was not that severe.” Travis from Augusta, Kansas asks Bruno Sammartino, “Who do you think is the greatest Intercontinental champion of all time?” Bruno says the Honky Tonk Man. Just kidding. He says “Pedro Morales is the finest I-C champion of all time, and doggone it, everybody knows it. Pedro defended the I-C belt with honor and integrity, and he also held the WWF World belt and WWF World tag team belt as well. He was a great wrestler, and it’s a shame the Honky Tonk Man has erased his I-C belt record. The Honky Tonk Man is the biggest sham in the history of the WWF. He can’t wrestler. All he does is sing, and he can’t even do that. He has no business being in the wrestling ring.”
Next, we’re introduced to Steven Casey, a challenger to Eric Embry’s World Class junior heavyweight title. At just 26 years old, the 232 pound Texan has been making a lot of fans. (He was actually 30.) He says he’s just getting started and is taking it one match at a time. (Casey, real name Steven Sasser, went on to have a modest pro wrestling career and died in 2020.)
Next, Q&A with Rick Morton. The magazine says the fans are broken up about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express splitting up, but Rick says he hopes fans keep it in perspective. “There are worse things to get shook up about, aren’t there? Robert is my best friend, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express will never die. We’re just taking a break because we have different career goals right now.”
Asked about the breakup, Rick says he wanted to continue to wrestle for the NWA but Robert wanted to go back to the AWA. “He asked me if I wanted to come with him, but I told him I missed the NWA and thought I should try go gain some singles titles here. That’s really all there was to it.” Asked about teaming up with Brad Armstrong and Nikita Koloff, Rick says he’s enjoying it because Armstrong is one of the best young wrestlers in the sport and Nikita is a good friend. But no one can replace Robert, and neither Armstrong nor Nikita is a permanent partner… yet.” Asked if he would like a match against Ric Flair for the World title, he says, “Does a pig like rollin’ in the mud? I’m not setting my sights low just because Robbie left. I’m gunning for the best I can get cause the fans truly deserve the best.” Rick ends the interview saying, “Remember, rock ‘n’ roll ain’t never gonna die. It’s just time for a brand-new song.”
Next, the Spotlight in on Rick Rude, the former World Class champion who continues his feud against Jake Roberts in the WWF.
And on to X-Ray, featuring Al Perez…
Next, an article about two rulebreaking teams going at it: The Midnight Express vs. Tully & Arn. The magazine says the feud has left the referees bewildered and the fans disoriented, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t enjoying it! Nonetheless, there have been different reactions. In Philadelphia, for example, the fans recently sided with Tully & Arn. In Richmond, however, the fans sided with the Midnights. Midnight manager Jim Cornette, however, insists his team isn’t turning into fan favorites. “Fan favorites?” he yells. “We’re here to win the World belts, that’s all. We’re not doing this to make points or make fans.” J.J. Dillon says something similar about his men, Tully and Arn. “The only thing that matters is the belts, and we have them.”
Next, the magazine recaps several “Summer Supercards.” They begin with The Great American Bash, the NWA’s annual series of cards throughout the country, which started on June 26 in Orlando and ended August 7 in Kansas City. There were two title changes: Dusty Rhodes and the Road Warriors won the six-man tag belts from Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, and Arn Anderson on July 9 in Chicago, and the Midnight Express won the U.S. tag belts back from the Fantastics on July 10 in Baltimore. There were also War Games, and once again the Four Horsemen were losers. Combinations of Dusty Rhodes, Lex Luger, Nikita Koloff, Steve Williams, the Road Warriors, and Paul Ellering scored decisive victories over the Horsemen and J.J. Dillion. Meanwhile, before a nationwide pay-per-view TV audience, Lex Luger appeared to defeat World champion Ric Flair for the NWA title when it was announced that an official from the Maryland State Athletic Commission had stopped the match because Luger was bleeding from the forehead. (There were about two drops of blood, if I remember correctly.) Sadly, this was Flair’s only title defense on the tour.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, WrestleFest happened on July 31 at Milwaukee County Stadium. (Me, 27,000 fans attended the 15-match outdoor card which featured Hulk Hogan’s return from a three-month layoff. The event featured several recent acquisitions: the Powers of Pain defeated the Bolsheviks, the Big Boss Man defeated Scott Casey, and Curt Hennig defeated Terry Taylor. But it was Ted DiBiase’s match with Randy Savage that stole the show, with the Macho Man successfully defending the WWF title after reversing a small package. The show ended with Hulk Hogan defeating Andre the Giant in a steel cage.
Meanwhile, AWA World champion Jerry Lawler has been wrestling World Class champion Kerry Von Erich in title versus title matches, including one on August 15 in Memphis where the first two referees were injured, forcing CWA matchmaker Eddie Marlin to name wrestler Billy Travis as a substitute. Minutes later, Lawler covered Kerry for the pin, but Von Erich put his foot on the ropes. Travis did not see this and counted three, awarding the match to Lawler! Later however, Lawler, in sportsmanlike fashion, returned the belt to Kerry after viewing the tape after the match. “For him to do that proves what kind of a man he really is,” Kerry said gratefully. “I couldn’t believe it. But then again, it’s been that kind of summer.”
The Megapowers defeated the Megabucks at Summerslam before over 23,000 fans at Madison Square Garden thanks to Elizabeth, who proved she’d do anything for the Macho Man—including taking off her clothes! The magazine says, “Who really expected sweet Elizabeth to drop her skirt for all the world to see?”
The magazine does point out she was wearing opaque stockings and she kept her top on, but there was no need to go any further. She successfully altered the course of the match. In the battle of the Megapowers and the Megabucks, there was no way to stop the Megawoman.
Austin Idol has a theory: the fans in Memphis will eventually realize Lawler’s a no good cheater and turn against him, and Idol will win them over, and, with their support, become the new king of wrestling.
In the AWA, Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka, aka Bad Company, were set for an easy match one recent night in Las Vegas. It was that night the young AWA tag team champions learned that there is no such thing as an “easy match” in professional wrestling―especially against veteran technicians such as Mando and Chavo Guerrero. “Those oldsters?” thought Bad Company’s manager Diamond Dallas Page upon receiving the contract. “Easy pickings, man. I thought Chavo was retired!” Yet Page’s confidence would soon turn into humiliation. Tanaka and Diamond suffered the worst drubbing of their championship reign at the hands of the Guerreros. In the end, they only retained their title thanks to a disqualification! (I always liked the beginning of Rocky when Rocky keeps bragging about beating Spider Rico, and everyone’s like, “Wait, he’s still around?”)
That’s it for this week. Join me next week WWF Magazine’s coverage of Summerslam 88 as well as a Survivor Series preview! Plus, Bobby Heenan explains why he’s sexy. And if you’re new here, be sure to leave a comment and check out the archive. Also, check out my website to see what books I’ve written!