WWF Matches and Angles Worth Watching in 1985

Matches Worth Watching

TNT continues to be one of the primary sources of in-ring content on the WWE Network into 1985, but it gets some assistance: more full cards, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and WrestleMania. There is a massive lull of nothing in the summer, but Savage and Steamboat and Santana stand out in addition to Hogan’s title defenses and Junkyard Dog vs. Terry Funk from the November SNME.

• Tonga Kid vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (TNT 1/4/85)1
• Andre the Giant & S.D. Jones vs. Big John Studd & Ken Patera w/ Bobby Heenan (TNT 2/1/85)
• WWF World Tag Team Title: Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch [c] vs. Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo w/ Captain Lou Albano (TNT 2/22/85)
• WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper w/ Cowboy Bob Orton (War to Settle the Score 2/18/85) (TNT 3/8/85)
• Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/ Freddie Blassie (TNT 3/15/85)
• Andre the Giant, Jimmy Snuka & Junkyard Dog w/ Captain Lou Albano vs. Big John Studd, Ken Patera & Jesse Ventura w/ Bobby Heenan (MSG 3/17/85)
• Lumberjack Match – WWF Intercontinental Title: Greg Valentine [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana (MSG 3/17/85)
• Andre the Giant vs. Ken Patera w/ Bobby Heenan (TNT 3/22/85)
• WWF Intercontinental Title: Greg Valentine [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Junkyard Dog (WrestleMania 3/31/85)
• WWF World Tag Team Title: The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham) [c] w/ Captain Lou Albano vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff [c] w/ Freddie Blassie (WrestleMania 3/31/85)
• Hulk Hogan & Mr. T w/ Jimmy Snuka vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff w/ Cowboy Bob Orton (WrestleMania 3/31/85)
• Ricky Steamboat & Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake w/ Jimmy Hart (Maple Leaf Gardens 4/21/85)
• WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Paul Orndorff (Maple Leaf Gardens 4/21/85)
• Junkyard Dog & Tito Santana vs. The Dream Team w/ Johnny Valiant and Jimmy Hart (MSG 4/22/85; airs on Prime Time 11/18/86)
• Ricky Steamboat & The U.S. Express w/ Captain Lou Albano vs. Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff & George “The Animal” Steele w/ Freddie Blassie (SNME 5/11/85)
• WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] w/ Mr. T vs. Cowboy Bob Orton w/ Rowdy Roddy Piper (SNME 5/11/85)
• WWF Intercontinental Title: Greg Valentine [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Junkyard Dog (Boston Garden 6/23/85; airs on Prime Time 10/21/86)
• Steel Cage Match – WWF Intercontinental Title: Greg Valentine [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana (Prime Time 7/23/85; airs on Grudge Match Coliseum Video)
• WWF World Tag Team Title: Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff [c] w/ Freddie Blassie vs. The U.S. Express w/ Captain Lou Albano (TNT 7/19/85)
• Ricky Steamboat & Junkyard Dog vs. Magnificent Muraco & Mr. Fuji (Boston Garden 8/3/85; airs on Prime Time 8/18/86)
• Dynamite Kid vs. Bret Hart (Baltimore 9/14/85; airs on British Bulldogs Coliseum Video)
• Bruno Sammartino & Paul Orndorff vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper & Cowboy Bob Orton (Philadelphia Spectrum 9/28/85; airs on Living Legend Coliseum Video)
• Flag Match – WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Nikolai Volkoff w/ Freddie Blassie (SNME 10/5/85)
• Paul Orndorff vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (SNME 10/5/85)
• Junkyard Dog vs. Terry Funk w/ Jimmy Hart (SNME 11/2/85)
• WWF Intercontinental Title: Tito Santana [c] vs. Macho Man Randy Savage (SNME 11/2/85)
• Kung Fu Challenge: Ricky Steamboat vs. Mr. Fuji w/ Magnificent Muraco (SNME 11/2/85)
• The Wrestling Classic – Quarter Final: Ricky Steamboat vs. Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• The Wrestling Classic – Quarter Final: Dynamite Kid vs. Adrian Adonis w/ Jimmy Hart (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• The Wrestling Classic – Semi Final: Dynamite Kid vs. Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• The Wrestling Classic – Final: Junkyard Dog vs. Macho Man Randy Savage (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• Andre the Giant & Hillbilly Jim vs. Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan (Old School Maple Leaf Gardens 11/10/85)
• Ricky Steamboat vs. Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth (Old School Boston Garden 12/7/85)
• Bruno Sammartino vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (Old School Boston Garden 12/7/85)
• WWF Intercontinental Title: Tito Santana [c] vs. Jesse Ventura (Old School Boston Garden 12/7/85)
• WWF World Tag Team Title: The Dream Team (Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake) [c] vs. The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell) (Old School Boston Garden 12/7/85)

Squashes Worth Watching

Not all matches are created equal. A lot of matches at the WWF’s Poughkeepsie TV tapings were a few minutes of moves before a finishing maneuver to establish a guy’s shtick – when done right, they are some of the finest wrestling there is.

• Magnificent Muraco w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Mario Mancini (TNT 2/1/85)
• Jim Neidhart w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Jose Luis Rivera (TNT 2/22/85)
• Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/ Freddie Blassie vs. Quickdraw Rick McGraw & S.D. Jones (TNT 3/1/85)
• S.D. Jones vs. Jim Neidhart w/ Jimmy Hart (MSG 3/17/85)
• Jose Luis Rivera vs. King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart (MSG 3/17/85)
• S.D. Jones vs. King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart (WrestleMania 3/31/85)
• Ricky Steamboat vs. Steve Lombardi (TNT 4/5/85)
• Bret Hart w/ Jimmy Hart vs. George Wells (Maple Leaf Gardens 4/21/85)
• Ken Patera vs. Ronnie Dee (TNT 5/24/85)
• The Missing Link w/ Bobby Heenan vs. S.D. Jones (TNT 7/5/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Aldo Marino (TNT 7/19/85)
• Ricky Steamboat vs. Genoves Carabello (TNT 8/2/85)
• Terry Funk vs. Paul Roma (TNT 8/16/85)
• “Iron” Mike Sharpe & Barry O vs. The Killer Bees (in the rain) (TNT 11/15/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth vs. Jim Powers (TNT 11/22/85)
• The Dream Team (Hulk Hogan & Andre the Giant) w/ Captain Lou Albano vs. Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan (SNME 11/2/85)
• The Wrestling Classic – Round 1: Dynamite Kid vs. Nikolai Volkoff (The Wrestling Classic 11/6/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage & Jesse Ventura w/ Elizabeth vs. Mario Mancini & Mike Rice (TNT 12/13/85)

Angles Worth Watching

The sports entertainment machine revved up in 1985.

• Hulk Hogan Trains Hillbilly Jim (1/4/85 & 1/18/85)
• Nikolai Volkoff Sings the Russian National Anthem (WrestleMania & Various)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper Interrupts Cyndi Lauper at MSG (TNT 2/15/85)
• Hulk Hogan and Mr. T Train at Venice Beach (TNT 3/8/85)
• Piper’s Pit with Bobby Heenan on the $15,000 Body Slam Challenge (TNT 3/15/85)
• Live Piper’s Pit w/ Mr. T (MSG 3/17/85)
• Piper’s Pit Promo on Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (TNT 3/22/85)
• Hulk Hogan and Mr. T Shop for Nutrition Food (TNT 3/22/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper Interviews Mr. T on the A-Team Set (TNT 3/26/85)
• “George” The Animal Steele is Consoled by Captain Lou Albano (SNME 5/11/85)
• Live Piper’s Pit w/ “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (SNME 5/11/85)
• “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff Saves Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (SNME 5/11/85)
• Piper’s Pit w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan Announcing He’s Fired Paul Orndorff (TNT 5/24/85)
• Bobby Heenan, Freddie Blassie and Jimmy Hart make offers to Macho Man Randy Savage (TNT 7/19/85)
• Greg “The Hammer” Valentine Destroys the WWF Intercontinental Title (TNT 7/26/85)
• Magnificent Muraco and Mr. Fuji Hang Ricky Steamboat With a Tie (TNT 8/2/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage introduces Elizabeth (TNT 9/13/85)
• Manager of the Year Presentation (TNT 9/27/85)
• Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy Attack Andre the Giant (TNT #9/27/85)
• Uncle Elmer’s Wedding Ceremony (SNME 10/5/85)
• Terry Funk Brands Red Walsh (TNT 11/8/85)
• Junkyard Dog Brands Jimmy Hart (SNME 11/2/85)

TNT Segments Worth Watching

TNT phases out the gimmick where they dress up the studio to let the wrestler guest teach us about culture as 1985 goes on, opting more for crowd interaction than anything else. 1985 still has some classics though: the lead-up to Fuji Vice, Dr. D’s gun room, and George “The Animal” Steele’s therapy session in particular.

• Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Big John Studd and Ken Patera Give a Crew Member a Haircut (TNT 1/25/85)
• Granny Kim Serves Dinner (TNT 2/15/85)
• “Dr. D” David Schultz Shows Off His Gun Room (TNT 3/1/85)
• King Kong Bundy Tries on Wigs (TNT 4/26/85)
• Café le Bump (TNT 5/3/85)
• A Physician Examines Cowboy Bob Orton’s Injury (TNT 5/10/85)
• Dr. Sigmund Ziff Treats George “The Animal” Steele (TNT 6/21/85 & 8/2/85)
• Magnificent Muraco Gets a Massage (TNT 6/28/85)
• Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes visit The Missing Link (TNT 7/5/85)
• Vince McMahon Interviews Terry Funk at the Silver Dolar Saloon (TNT 7/26/85 & TNT 8/16/85)
• Nikolai Volkoff and Iron Sheik Visit Cousin Vladimir (TNT 8/23/85)
• Ricky Steamboat Undergoes Three Martial Arts Tests (TNT 8/23/85)
• Leaping Lanny Poffo Gymnastics Exhibition (TNT 9/6/85)
• Fuji General (TNT 9/27/85)
• Captain Lou Albano, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton Cook Italian Food (TNT 10/4/85)
• Jimmy Hart Sings “Eat Your Heart Out, Rick Springfield” (TNT 10/11/85)
• Fuji Bandito (TNT 10/18/85)
• Captain Lou Albano Carves Pumpkins (TNT 10/25/85)
• Audience Q&A with Bobby Heenan and Big John Studd (TNT 11/1/85)
• Halloween at Rowdy Roddy Piper’s House (SNME 11/2/85)
• Audience Q&A with Freddie Blassie and Nikolai Volkoff (TNT 11/8/85)
• Tiger Chung Lee Martial Arts Demonstration (TNT 11/15/85)
• Junkyard Dog and Adrian Adonis Basketball Dunking Contest (TNT 11/15/85)
• Audience Q&A with Jesse Ventura (Phil Burke question) (TNT 11/22/85)
• Advice for the Lovelorn: Freddie Blassie (TNT 11/22/85)
• “Classy” Freddie Blassie Plays with Action Figures (TNT 12/6/85)
• Fuji Chan (TNT 12/6/85)
• Jesse Ventura Tests Out Christmas Gifts (TNT 12/13/85)
• Captain Lou Albano and George “The Animal” Steele Make Christmas Cookies (TNT 12/13/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper’s A Christmas Carol (TNT 12/20/85)

TNT Interviews Worth Watching

Lots of couch, tons of character.

• Captain Lou Albano on Cyndi Lauper and Turning Face (TNT 1/4/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper on Captain Lou Albano and Cyndi Lauper (TNT 1/4/85)
• Bobby Heenan on Cutting Andre the Giant’s Hair (TNT 1/25/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper on the Hogan/Piper Contract (TNT 2/15/85)
• The U.S. Express and Captain Lou Albano with Girls Watching (TNT 2/22/85)
• “Dr. D” David Schultz on his Arrogance (PULLS OUT A GUN) (TNT 3/1/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and Cowboy Bob Orton on WrestleMania (TNT 3/8/85)
• Bobby Heenan, Big John Studd and Ken Patera on the $15,000 Body Slam Challenge (TNT 3/15/85)
• Wendi Richter on Fabulous Moolah and Leilani Kai (TNT 3/15/85)
• Andre the Giant on the $15,000 Body Slam Challenge (ANDRE PUTS HIS CAREER ON THE LINE) (TNT 3/22/85)
• Greg Valentine and Jimmy Hart on Junkyard Dog (TNT 3/22/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and Cowboy Bob Orton on WrestleMania (TNT 3/22/85)
• Dr. Jerry Graham on His Reputation (TNT 4/26/85)
• Paul Orndorff Fires Bobby “The Brain” Heenan (TNT 4/26/85)
• Rusty Brooks, Jim Powers, Jose Luise Rivera, Johnny Rodz, Pete Doherty and Charlie Fulton on Their Motivation (TNT 5/3/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton on Orton’s Cast (TNT 5/10/85)
• Bobby Heenan and Ken Patera on Paul Orndorff (TNT 5/24/85)
• Bruno Sammartino Punches “Luscious” Johnny Valiant (TNT 6/7/85)
• Captain Lou Albano and George “The Animal” Steele on Steele’s Behaviorist (TNT 6/21/85)
• Bobby Heenan on The Missing Link (TNT 7/5/85)
• Paul Orndorff on the $25,000 Bounty (TNT 8/16/85)
• Jimmy Hart and The Hart Foundation on The U.S. Express (TNT 8/16/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage on Being the Premiere Wrestler in The World Today (TNT 9/13/85)
• Bobby “The Brain” Heenan on the Big John Studd Action Figure (TNT 9/13/85)
• King Kong Bundy on Andre the Giant (TNT 10/18/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth on Savage Wanting a Title (TNT 10/18/85)
• Ernie Ladd on Doing PR for the WWF (TNT 11/1/85)
• Adrian Adonis on Being Fat and Junkyard Dog (TNT 11/15/85)
• Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth on Savage’s Ego (TNT 11/22/85)
• Iron Mike Sharp on Being a Classy Individual (TNT 11/22/85)
• Jesse Ventura on The Hillbillies (TNT 11/22/85)
• Rowdy Roddy Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton on Junkyard Dog and Paul Orndorff (TNT 12/20/85)