Your Champions WWF Champion: Randy Savage Intercontinental Champion: Ultimate Warrior Tag Team Champions: Demolition
Calling the action: Lord Alfred Hayes and Rod Trongard
I loved Trongard (en.wikipedia.org) as play-by-play man here. He called nearly every move, has a really distinctive voice and had an air of a real sports announcer (he *was* a real sports announcer). Hayes wasn’t offensive at all, except when saying Tully Blan-CHARD’s name.
-The Brain Busters (without Bobby Heenan) defeated The Rockers (about 15:00 shown)
You can imagine how good of match these 4 could put on. The highlight of the match for me was the opening action (pre-face in peril), which saw (Dave) Hebner missing several tags by the Busters (and not recognizing them), while the Rockers switched places behind Hebner’s back without tagging.
-Hercules defeated "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (with Virgil) by reverse decision (about 10:00 shown)
This feud began, as we all know, after DiBiase tried to buy Hercules’ contract from Bobby Heenan so that he could make Hercules his personal slave. Howard Finkel announced that the stipulation in this match was that Virgil was banned from ringside. A funny bit saw Virgil trying to bribe the referee to let him stay. DiBiase got the pin, but Virgil returned post-match to attack Hercules. The ref then reversed the decision (I believe that’s how it went down – my attention was diverted at the moment).
-Sean Mooney (with MSG backdrop and MSG mic!) interviews the Big Bossman and Slick about Bossman’s upcoming match against Hulk Hogan. This match is a return bout from the last MSG show, which featured Hogan cuffing Bossman to the top rope.
-The Big Bossman defeated Hulk Hogan by DQ (about 10:00 shown)
The camera follows Hogan’s walk through the MSG tunnel prior to his entrance. This match featured Hogan cuffing Slick to the ringpost. Later, Bossman handcuffed Hogan’s hands (in front). Hogan then called to the heavens for help before breaking apart the cuffs. End of the match: Hogan hits one legdrop. He hits a second one, then goes for the cover, but stops Hebner mid-count to go grab Bossman’s nightstick. Hogan wants to use the nightstick…Hebner tries to stop him…Hogan throws Hebner to the mat, drawing the DQ.
Your Champions WWF Champion: Bob Backlund Intercontinental Champion: Pedro Morales Tag Team Champions: Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito
Calling the action: Vince McMahon
I wasn’t watching wrestling at this time in my life. I’m familiar with most of the characters, but not many of the storylines.
All of the champs are in action tonight.
-Pedro Morales and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (without Captain Lou Albano) were both disqualified (about 14:00 shown, clipped)
Ivan Putski is special referee (why?) and McMahon notes at one point that this match is “no holds barred.” Putski, however, disqualifies both because they wouldn’t stop choking each other. Snuka is a heel and Morales is mad over at MSG.
-Bob Backlund (with Arnold Skaaland) defeated “Playboy” Buddy Rose (with The Grand Wizard) (about 9:00 shown)
Two persons dressed as Rockettes, who are either men or really ugly women, also accompany Rose. Was that part of the gimmick? The end of an energetic match that featured “Bobby!” and “Let’s go Bob!” chants from the crowd sees Backlund win the fall with the crossface chickenwing.
-Andre the Giant, Chief Jay Strongbow and Jules Strongbow defeated Black Jack Mulligan, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito two falls to one (best two out of three falls) (about 9:00, about 3:00, about 3:00)
We get full ring introductions from Finkel, complete with chyron. The faces win 2 straight falls after dropping the first. Post-match saw Andre slapping the claw on Mulligan and not letting go.
Man, I didn't even realize I *had* MSG as part of my sports package until just this minute. Is this going to be a weekly thing? A quick check of my satellite listings and the MSG website only turned up a vague "eight times this summer and 30 times in the coming year".
"It's the four pillars of the male heterosexual psyche. We like naked women, stockings, lesbians, and Sean Connery best as James Bond because that is what being a [man] is." -Jack Davenport, Coupling
I think it's just going to be the old MSG house shows that they used to televise. If you've got WWE 24/7 they run a few of them (or ones from the Boston Garden, or Maple Leaf Gardens, or some other big regional place without Garden in the name) every month under the Old School or Big Ones banner.
Basically, before they had monthly PPVs they'd run a big blow-off show in the major city of whichever regional market they were running and air them on the regional tv stations. Anytime there was a show at MSG they'd tape it for air at a later date.
The kid is all confused and thinks to himself "I'm not calling anyone mommy because the last time I did that, it led to this." -My Wife on adoption
My brother called me to tell me about this, and boy, am I glad he ever did. Really awesome stuff...not ***** classics or anything, but a great piece of nostalgia and really well done. I look forward to future installments of these, if/when they happen.
Also, looking at Bob Backlund's pale body reminded me of Bryan Danielson.