The WWE Rewind: The Big Event

Next in our WWE Rewind timeline, we arrive at the Big Event. While not aired on traditional pay-per-view, the show aired on closed-circuit TV and has been released as, well, a big event.

THIS is Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. With somewhere between 64,000 and 70,000 fans in attendance, this set an outdoor attendance record at the time for professional wrestling. The event was released on Coliseum Video with several edits, and that’s the version we have now on YouTube’s WWE Vault. Exhibition Stadium wouldn’t see much more in the way of WWE, but it did have a show called WWF Xperience as a tenth anniversary show after the Big Event. Besides the main event of Shawn Michaels vs Goldust in a ladder match, it had a casket match with Undertaker vs Mankind and very 1996 matches like the Godwinns vs the New Rockers and Jim Cornette vs Jose Lothario.

Mean Gene Okerlund welcomes us via helicopter to Toronto as we get overhead shots of the fans loading into the stadium intercut with clips from the show we’re about to watch. It is a very impressive view and we get equally dramatic music.

Howard Finkel does our ring introductions and we’ll go ahead and note our announce team of Gorilla Monsoon, Ernie Ladd and Johnny Valiant. Well, that’s a trio for sure.

The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell) vs Jimmy Jack Funk and Hoss Funk (with Jimmy Hart)

We covered that Hoss was Dory Funk Jr. last time, but let’s figure out Jimmy Jack who is a mystery to me. For storyline purposes, he’s the brother of Terry and Hoss. In the real world, he’s not but he is the older brother of Art Barr. He’d eventually be the last of the Funk family, at least for storyline purposes, in the company until his release in 1987 due to a backstage brawl with Haku. You know who I wouldn’t brawl with backstage? Haku.

The wide shots of the crowd are wild as Gorilla says it is highly unlikely there will be a crowd like this at a wrestling event again. Well, certainly not until the next year. Hoss and Blair start it off, Blair slamming Hoss and the invading Jimmy Jack. A house of fire, notes Gorilla! The Funks bail out to argue with the fans before Hoss comes back in, trying to work Blair in the corner but Blair fighting his way out. You can tell its the 80s because you see puffs of smoke coming up into the air in the crowd shots. Hoss hits a few uppercuts on Brunzell who tags Blair back in, elbowing Hoss to the head. Jimmy Jack tags in and doesn’t have much better luck against the Bees. Brunzell hooks a sleeper on Jimmy Jack, Hoss breaking it up. Jimmy Jack stomps Brunzell down and slams him outside as Hoss distracts the ref. The Bees have masks under the ring and slide them on, confusing the ref. The Bees switch up and Brunzell rolls up Jimmy Jack, getting the three.

The Killer Bees defeat The Funks when Jim Brunzell pins Jimmy Jack Funk. This was a pretty good opener. I like the mask switching as a face technique compared to the usual heel Americanoesque use of them.

King Tonga vs Magnificent Muraco (with Mr. Fuji)

We have a twenty minute time limit here. For those who don’t know, King Tonga is Haku and commentary even declares mid-match he wants to be known as Haku now. Our footage is clipped a bit as we cut from introductions to the match in action. Tonga takes Muraco down with several high hip drops and a scoop slam, Muraco ducking to the outside. Tonga dropkicks Muraco back to the outside as Valiant wonders what “Haku” means. We clip further into the match and Haku working the arm. Valiant shouts about Muraco being devious as Muraco low-blows Haku.

As Muraco distracts the ref, Fuji smacks Haku’s neck with his cane. Great, now Haku is just going to come back one day with an even bigger stick. Muraco hooks on a nerve hold for roughly 48 minutes (slight exaggeration) before Haku fights out at last. Haku hits a nice dropkick and Muraco dodges a charge. Muraco works the leg and tries for a figure-four but Haku kicks out of that. He slaps the figure-four on for his second attempt and Haku is able to grab the rope. Muraco takes a while to head to the top rope, giving Haku a chance to toss him to the mat. Haku hits his own chops and heads to the top rope, nailing Muraco with a crossbody. The bell sounds as the ref’s hand hits the mat for one as we learn the time limit has expired. Boooooooo. We were spared a good chunk of the match.

King Tonga and Magnificent Muraco wrestle to a time-limit draw. This was long and mostly not interesting, but I did enjoy the rarity of Haku working as a face. I’m glad we didn’t get all twenty minutes though.

Ted Arcidi vs Tony Garea

A true reward for the 70,000 or so in attendance, a Ted Arcidi match! Ted didn’t do too much in WWF outside of this and being in the WrestleMania 2 battle royal, but he DID get one of the LJN figures. He was also the first WWF wrestler to be nicknamed the World’s Strongest Man. Garea is one of those names that feels “before my time” in my fandom as I mostly know him as one of the agents that would appear to break things up. He did have an accomplished career including five WWF/WWWF Tag Title runs and being voted PWI Rookie of the Year in 1973. He retired from full time action in 1987.

The match itself is less notable. Arcidi controls almost the entire match, though Garea does get a dropkick in before Arcidi catches him in a bearhug and Garea gives up.

Ted Arcidi defeats Tony Garea by submission. A healthy serving of squash!

Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart) vs Junkyard Dog

Adonis tries to hit JYD with his own chair but that doesn’t work out well for him. JYD hits Adonis with headbutt after headbutt, Monsoon saying that Adonis looks busted open (he is not). JYD shoves the referee out of the way and Jimmy sprays his perfume in JYD’s face. You could question why JYD is just tossing the ref around without being DQed. Adonis splashes JYD and goes up top to do it again, getting a two count. Adonis tosses JYD to the outside where JYD stalks Hart around before Hart hits him with the perfume. With the ref down again for some reason, Adonis gets crotched on the top rope. Hart hops on the apron and Adonis knocks him off accidentally, tumbling out with him and losing by countout? Sure. This was a hot mess.

Junkyard Dog defeats Adrian Adonis by countout. This wasn’t good between the referee that kept getting knocked down and doing nothing about it and that weird ending. Skip it.

Dick Slater vs Mike Sharpe

This is part of a quick year or so of Dirty Dick being in WWF. Iron Mike was in the opening stretch of what would be a twelve year run in WWF. The official WWE Vault timer calls this “Iron Mike vs Sharpe vs Sivi Afi,” which is just a BIT off. This is mostly clipped, but Slater hits an elbow and gets the pin.

Dick Slater pins Mike Sharpe. This was quick and inoffensive but also not worth your time unless you’re an Iron Mike Sharpe completest (and who isn’t?).

Mean Gene chats with Bobby Heenan who promises the Machines will lose their masks in the next match and Orndorff will win the title tonight. He says there are 70,000 here because “wrestling is Heenan.”

Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy and Bobby Heenan vs Big Machine, Super Machine and Capt. Lou Albano (with Giant Machine)

Super Machine was Bill “Ax” Eadie while Big Machine was Blackjack Mulligan. We may never find out who the large 7’4”, 520-pound singlet wearing Giant Machine was. The fans go in hard on Heenan with the “weasel” chant. Studd and the first Machine kick it off, Studd going outside and the Giant Machine rolling him back in. Bundy tags in and faces off with the second of the Machines. Some tussling here that doesn’t really go anywhere. Studd is back in and works over the Machine he’s in there with. The Brain tags in with his singlet and tries to rip off the Machine’s mask. The other Machine comes in and nails Bobby who scurries for a pin.

The Machines work over Bundy as Monsoon is sure Bobby thinks one of the Machines is Andre the Giant. That’s just silly. Bobby tags in and taunts the fans, turning around to see Albano has tagged in. Albano offers Heenan a free shot and Heenan slaps before he flips when tossed into the turnbuckle. Bobby was awesome. Studd tags in and the Giant Machine comes in to help. The referee loses all control as Giant Machine towers over the Heenan Family and clears the ring.

The Heenan Family defeat the Machines and Capt. Lou Albano by disqualification. The wrestling wasn’t great, but the entertainment was high and a lot of that comes down to Bobby Heenan.

Snakepit Match: Jake Roberts vs Ricky Steamboat

A Snakepit match is no DQ, anything goes. There is, sadly, not a snakepit. There was actually something hot behind this one as Jake attacked Steamboat on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Snake tries to attack during Steamboat’s entrance but the Dragon turns it around on him. The wrestle for a while because they are full of honor despite the blood feud going on. Steamboat works the arm as Valiant wonders what would happen if the male dragon saw a female dragon in the crowd. Steamboat hits some hard chops on the Snake and Roberts tumbles to the outside. Steamboat follows and Roberts slams him to the floor before laying him over the ring area’s ledge and attacking his neck. Ricky smacks Roberts in the knee then the head with a chair and tosses him back in, hitting him with a chop from the top rope for a two count.

Roberts hooks another armbar as Valiant correctly asks why the Dragon is slowing it down with a wrestling hold when he had momentum going. Snake tosses Roberts to the outside while Valiant brags about being right. Roberts slides out behind him and slingshots the Dragon right into the steel post. Steamboat is busted open as Roberts rolls him back in and taunts him. Fans chant “DDT” as Roberts punches him in the forehead. Roberts sets up the DDT, Steamboat drives him into the corner to break it. Roberts straddles Steamboat for the cover, Steamboat rolls him up for the three and Roberts pitches a fit in the ring. Steamboat’s blood splashes on the camera lens outside as the Fink makes the announcement.

Ricky Steamboat pins Jake Roberts. This was awesome and I’m mad I hadden seen it before now. If you’ve never seen this one, make a point to watch it. Two pros in an incredible atmosphere.

Billy Jack Haynes vs Hercules Hernandez

These two would be on a collision course all the way until WrestleMania 3, mostly over who had a better full nelson. Ladd and Valiant have abandoned Monsoon for the match as Monsoon tells us that, since this match, Slick has taken over all of Freddie Blassie’s contracts including Slick. We clip on through the match to Haynes being beaten down by Hercules. The crowd are not into any of this in case you were wondering what 70,000 people being bored sounded like. Poor people didn’t even have cell phones to check in their boredom. Haynes has “Oregon” across his tights and hits a backbreaker on Haynes, going to the second rope and hitting an elbow for a two. Haynes tries for the full nelson, Hercules powers out quickly.

Hercules works the sternum as Monsoon tells us how happy Slick would be watching this. Hernandez suplexes Haynes in and covers for a two. Hernandez celebrates, thinking he pinned Haynes, and Haynes rolls him up for the awkward pin attempt followed by a backslide that does get the pin.

Billy Jack Haynes pins Hercules Hernandez. This was dull as dull can be.

The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) vs The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond Rougeau)

Ladd and Valiant return to commentary and we return from the weird post-recorded Monsoon commentary of the last match. Dream Team attack before the bell sounds but the Rougeaus battle back, Jacques springing in for a two count. Raymond hits a mule kick on Valentine, Monsoon declaring he hasn’t seen one of those in ten years. Beefcake tags in and slingshots Jacques loudly into the turnbuckle. Jacques backflips Ray off the top onto Beefcake for the two.

As Beefcake distracts the ref, the Hammer slams Ray into the side of the ring. The Dream Team use that teamwork to work down Ray in the corner for a while. Quite a while. Hammer tries a bearhug and Raymond punches out, Hammer cuts off the attempt at the hot tag. The bearhug is hooked again and Beefcake tags in. Hammer misses an elbow and Jacques gets the hot tag, dropkicking both opponents like  crazy. Hammer is able to get Jacques down again as Valiant is freaking out on commentary. Hammer hooks the figure-four. Raymond comes in to break it up and the referee is just lost. As the ref tries to get Beefcake out, Jacques leaps over the Hammer for the pin. Gorilla points out that the wrong Rougeau got the pinfall, adding to Valiant’s rant.

The Rougeau Brothers defeat The Dream Team when Raymond Rougeau pins Greg Valentine. This was a very good tag team match. The refereeing wasn’t good, but the action was hot and of course the Canadian crowd were into it and Valiant on commentary added to it.

King Harley Race vs Pedro Morales

Morales was in the downswing of his wrestling career, with a little over a year left in his WWF run before retiring from in-ring competition. His royal opponent would continue with WWF until 1989 and call it an in-ring career at the end of 1990 after time in Japan and WCW (minus a trio of house shows in 1993 against Ric Flair).

We join this in progress. Valiant tries some questionable comedy with a Puerto Rican accent as Race slugs Morales on the outside. Morales rolls Race up for a two, the King boots out of it. The ref tries to step between Morales, Harley hooks the legs with his feet on the ropes and gets the pin. “What a miscarriage of justice,” announces Gorilla. The refereeing in Canada isn’t in line with standards for sure.

King Harley Race pins Pedro Morales. I’m afraid to report that this was also boring. At least it was short.

WWF Championship: WWF Champion Hulk Hogan vs Paul Orndorff (with Bobby Heenan)

Hulk was not a shining beacon of character, but there’s not much that matches 70,000 or so people cheering for Hulk’s entrance with large banners. Bobby has decided to keep wearing his singlet instead of putting on pants. I get it, pants are restrictive. Orndorff cheap shots Hogan and punches him down before Hogan rolls it into his own punches. The ref grabs Hogan’s hair to pull him off Orndorff. WHAT IS THIS REFEREEING. Hogan slugs Orndorff down to the delight of the loud, loud crowd. They fight outside and Hogan slams Orndorff head-first into the ring apron, the hardest part of the ring. They fight back in and Hogan drops a big elbow, then tosses Orndorff from corner to corner with clotheslines. Heenan slaps Hogan, distracting Hulk long enough for Orndorff to attack. Hogan atomic drops Orndorff and Hogan goes after Bobby, Orndorff cutting off Hulk.

Orndorff suplexes Hogan onto the padding outside of the ring, posing for the crowd as the referee counts. Gorilla reminds us that you can’t win the title on a countout. Orndorff knees Hogan in the head Orndorff works over Hogan to the pissed off crowd for a few minutes. Paul tries for a piledriver, Hogan backdrops him to escape but Orndorff continues to work over the Hulkster. Orndorff spends a lot of time arguing with the ref before Orndorff bites him in the face. Hogan hooks a headlock, Orndorff suplexes him down to the mat and covers, Hogan’s foot under the ropes. Hulk Hulks up and knees Orndorff into the referee, Hogan laughing at the downed ref.

Hogan clotheslines Orndorff and lifts Orndorff up for a piledriver only for Bobby Heenan to come smash a wooden stool into his back. Orndorff covers but the ref isn’t with it, missing an easy ten count. The ref taps the shoulder of Orndorff three times and Orndorff and Heenan celebrate with the belt, the bell ringing and all. Heenan straps the belt on Orndorff and Fink appears to tell us that Hulk wins by disqualification.

Orndorff attacks Hogan after the match while wearing the belt before pulling it off and trying to smash Hulk with it. Hulk blocks and hits the boot on Orndorff before Paul runs off.

Hulk Hogan defeats Paul Orndorff by disqualification to retain the WWF Title. There isn’t much better than Hulk against a hot opponent with a molten hot crowd. Again, the refereeing in Canada is questionable but this was an enjoyable mess.

Overall, a so-so show. The crowd is a spectacle and adds a lot to it all. As a two-hour show, it isn’t a hard watch.

Recommendations to watch: Roberts vs Steamboat, Dream Team vs Rougeaus, Hogan vs Orndorff