Pro Wrestling This Week
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The SmarK Rant for Pro Wrestling This Week – 08.15.87

By Scott Keith on 13 January 2026

The SmarK Rant for Pro Wrestling This Week – 08.15.87

Originally written 01.12.26

Once again courtesy of KrisPLettuce and his Patreon! Now that I’ve lost all access to Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, I might go back to Georgia to get my fix from that time period, but I don’t really need to worry about lining up with the other two anymore at least.

Your hosts are Gordon Solie & Joe Pedicino and TOMMY RICH’S CROTCH FLYING AT THE SCREEN AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I’m already on back pills tonight, I don’t need that image messing me up in this state.

First up, the AWA!

The Original Midnight Express v. Sonny Rogers & Steve O

Paul E. Dangerously gets his big exposure on the national stage for the first time and never looks back. Joined with Steve O chasing Randy Rose back to the corner, but Rogers tags in and immediately gets smacked down like a complete geek. Condrey with a backbreaker and Rose hits Rogers with a flying forearm, and Condrey hits a second backbreaker and follows with a brainbuster to finish.

To the NWA/UWF, as Joe discusses the WarGames matches, and we take a look at the Luger/Dusty feud, although we don’t get any footage. So it’s more Joe describing the angle from the TV show. And also he goes over Terry Taylor’s heel turn on Chris Adams, which was pretty awesome, but again just Joe talking about it.

Sound Off! With Boni Blackstone!

First up, a fan wants to know why the Rock N Roll Express don’t ever wrestle in singles matches? Because they’re the tag team champions, you MORON. YOU’RE SO STUPID. GOD. Also a fan writes in to complain about Lex Luger. Fuck you, jerk. Also a fan wants to know what happened to Baby Doll. Well, we’d find out soon enough and it’ll involve one of the all time terrible angles with Dusty Rhodes, so count yourself lucky that she’s not around.

To Continental…

Alabama title: The Bullet v. Jonathan Boyd

The Bullet appears to be younger than usual here, and Bullet quickly gets the figure-four on Boyd, but heels (apparently “The Wild Bunch”) attack him and it turns into a big brawl with the heels triple-teaming Scott Armstrong while the timekeeper helplessly rings the bell.

Off to Central States:

Abdullah the Butcher v. Bruiser Brody

Joined with them brawling into the crowd while manager Rip Rogers cackles on commentary, and we’re clipped to later in the show, as Abby is brutalizing some geek in the ring, but Brody saves with a garbage can while still covered in blood from the brawl with the Butcher. So they brawl to the floor and Brody is throwing chops as they battle around the ringside area and bleed all over the place before fighting back to the dressing room again. This was pretty awesome.

Over to Memphis!

Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis v. Keith Robertson & Buddy James

Jeff and Billy are the tag team champions at this point in time, and we’re joined with them double-teaming Robertson in the corner. Buddy comes in and he doesn’t fare any better, as Jarrett dropkicks and pins him to win.

PRO WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED SPECIAL! WITH BILL APTER!

Top 10 WWF:

  1. Hulk Hogan
  2. Honky Tonk Man
  3. Randy Savage
  4. Killer Khan
  5. Harley Race
  6. Hercules
  7. Ken Patera
  8. One Man Gang
  9. Ricky Steamboat
  10. Bam Bam Bigelow

Top 10 Popular:

  1. Hulk Hogan
  2. Dusty Rhodes
  3. Nikita Koloff
  4. Steve Williams
  5. Ricky Steamboat
  6. Chris Adams
  7. Barry Windham
  8. Ken Patera
  9. Kevin Von Erich
  10. Jerry Lawler

Moving on, Bill is getting tired of fans complaining about Tommy Young being biased towards Ric Flair and saving Ric’s title. Bill’s take: No he’s not, shut up. Well I’m convinced!

Off to Wild West Wrestling in Texas, which they keep trying to make happen.

John Tatum & Jack Victory v. Bobby Durell & David Hamilton

I wonder if Pedicino was an investor in this promotion or something? Nobody watched this Wild West promotion but they keep pushing it hard on Pro Wrestling This Week. The promotion only lasted a couple of months and then Ken Mantell’s group got absorbed back into World Class again. Tatum and Victory double-team the jobbers until Wild Bill Irwin comes out to protest all the heel tactics and Missing Link runs as well for the DQ. Wild West certainly had the talent as compared to World Class at the same time, at least.

Also, Bill Mercer sits down for an interview in the gym with Jesse Ventura, who talks about his brief flirtation with football and getting into wrestling. Pretty brief clip here.

Mat Classic: Tony Marelli & Antonio Leoni v. The Garibaldi Brothers

Ehhhhhhh! It’s the second fall of the all-Italian tag team match that started on last week’s show, capice? From 1958 apparently. Joined with Leone tying up a Garibaldi in a hold reminscent of the Paradise Lock, but the Garibaldi brothers trap Marelli in their corner and double-team him. But Marelli makes a comeback with some very dramatic kneedrops, but Leo rolls up Marelli for the pin to win the match in two straight falls.

THE DANGER ZONE! WITH SPECIAL GUEST BORIS ZHUKOV!

Paul interviews Boris this week, as Boris claims to have run Sgt. Slaughter out of the AWA, although he says nothing and Paul just thanks him and sends him away again.

The WWF Report this week sees Joe talking about the Hart Foundation facing the new team of the Young Stallions and losing via reversed decision thanks to TROUBLESHOOTING REFEREE MR. T! Oh god I always forget about that. Also Bam Bam Bigelow has turned down the managing services of Jimmy Hart to eliminate him from contention.

To Puerto Rico…

Carlos Colon v. TNT

Joined with TNT holding a chinlock and hitting Colon with a superkick to cut off his comeback. TNT goes to the cobra sleeper, but Carlos flips off the middle rope to escape and makes the comeback as the crowd goes crazy. Colon with a headbutt, but TNT fights back, so Carlos gets the sleeper and Mr. Pogo runs in for the DQ, accidentally hitting TNT in the process. TNT of course better known as Caribbean Legend Savio Vega later on.

Also, Hugo Savinovich interviews Kareem Mohammad, the former Ray Candy. Apparently we have to give him respect, or else. Duly noted.

Meanwhile, Bob Armstrong is awarded a trophy from the Wrestling Fans International Association, for Wrestler of the Year. Uh, OK then.

To World Class for the feature match!

Ted Arcidi, Len Denton & Tim Brooks v. The Rock N Roll RPMs & Matt Borne

Joined with Arcidi working Lane over with an elbow, and Denton comes in with a suplex for two. Lane comes back with a sunset flip on Brooks for two, but Denton cuts him off. Mike Davis gets a hot tag and slugs away on Denton and it’s BREAKING LOOSE IN TULSA as everyone brawls. Percy Pringle tries to interfere and Borne slams him off the top rope and pins him to win the match, apparently.

To Portland…

Art Crews v. Art Barr

Joined with Crews tossing Barr and pounding him on the apron, as Art was a very skinny and raw rookie at this point. Art comes back with a backdrop and goes up for a frog splash, but he hits knees and Crews hits him with a gourdbuster for two and picks him up. He hits a second one and pins him this time, although referee Sandy Barr is none too happy to count that pin for whatever reason.

Off to some kind of Montreal wrestling to wrap things up.

Sadistic Steve Strong v. Yvonne Laverdur

RSPW legend Strong quickly finishes with a flying elbow, but a masked guy attacks Steve and then unmasks to reveal Dr. D.

And Joe and Gordon plug the wrestling dream cruise and then award the Wrestler of the Week award to…Gordon Solie, who was awarded wrestling commentator of the year by the WFIA group. I guess the choices were really slim this week then.

I know footage costs money but MAN to not have any stuff from WWF or NWA or UWF at all this week? That’s hella lame.