This is a Coliseum Home Video filled with contests wherein, as host Gorilla Monsoon dutifully describes, “There is a hatred between the combatants that goes far beyond the boundaries of the squared circle.”
He warns the viewer before the festivities begin: “I must caution the viewers – some of these matches, even for pro wrestling, are unusually violent.”
1. WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Magnificent Muraco w/ Mr. Fuji (MSG 5/20/85)
The Grudge is that Magnificent Muraco is Hulk Hogan’s PERPETUAL nemesis, and this is a return bout for the WWF Title. These two had met a month earlier at MSG and Muraco bested Hogan by countout.
Monsoon speaks over Hogan’s entrance to intro the match, so we miss THE POP. Also thinking they might not have had the rights to Eye of the Tiger for the cassette.
This is a Hogan Classic – under 10 minutes, hot crowd, pre-bell attack with Hogan’s shirt torn off, blood, Hogan slamming a chair on Muraco and biting his wound (you know, good guy stuff). A legdrop seems to finish it but Fuji puts Muraco’s foot on the bottom rope – the bell rings anyway and the crowd goes crazy, but the referee waves it off. Muraco then throws salt in Hogan’s eyes for the DQ. Muraco being escorted to the back by cops is awesome. ***1/4
2. Junkyard Dog vs. Terry Funk w/ Jimmy Hart (1/28/86)
The Grudge is that two feuded for most of late-1985 through WrestleMania 2, with JYD always getting shots in on Jimmy Hart.
The match is only a few minutes long but for a few minutes long it’s very good, as Terry Funk is selling for The Junkyard Dog. The finish is why this is here, as Jimmy tries to attack JYD from behind but gets whipped into the buckle and takes an amazing bump. JYD begins to brand Terry until a balding man in a suit runs in, takes the time to take his boot off, and clocks JYD with it, leading to a beatdown. It’s DORY FUNK JR! Fun TV match with a notable finish. ***
3. Junkyard Dog vs. Terry Funk w/ Jimmy Hart (SNME 11/2/85)
I wrote about this when covering WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event (1985). It’s a masterful Terry Funk performance and an all-time great WWF match. It’s also only five minutes long. ****1/2
4. WWWF World Heavyweight Title: Bruno Sammartino [c] vs. Ivan Koloff (MSG 11/17/75)
This is JIP and clipped at points – about half of its 20 minutes are shown.
The Grudge is that Koloff had ended Bruno’s first eight-year reign in 1971, though Bruno has since regained and was in the midst of another long one.
Gorilla is doing commentary. This is a Bruno Classic and Bruno is beating some ass. I love how the big, burly Koloff could totally go when needed – there’s a great rope-running sequence leading to a massive back body drop here. Bruno eventually gets cut big and they have a State Athletic Commission doctor enter the ring, where he rubs Bruno’s wound with his bare finger. After getting checked, Bruno beats some more ass. The referee eventually gets knocked down and the whole roster runs out to pull these guys from each other as they’re swatting away. Wild. ***1/4
5. WWF Intercontinental Title: Tito Santana [c] vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ Captain Lou Albano (9/24/84)
The Grudge isn’t quite here yet, though Valentine was after Tito’s title. This match would start The Grudge, as Valentine takes Tito’s title and puts him in the hospital.
The match is only a few minutes, but it’s hot and they pack a lot in: Valentine attacks pre-bell, crowd chants TI-TO, Valentine takes an amazing face-first bump off a figure-four counter, Tito hits the forearm, Tito covers but Valentine’s in the ropes, Valentine knees Tito (who thinks he’s won) from behind and wins the title.
Valentine puts Tito in the figure-four after the match and injures his leg. This tape includes Santana’s classic drugged up post-surgery promo: “I will get better. And I will come after you. And payback’s gonna be hell. Ariba.” **
6. Steel Cage Match – WWF Intercontinental Title: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana (7/6/85)
The Grudge is that Tito wants his title back from the guy who put him in the hospital.
These two had perfect chemistry and now they’re in a Steel Cage. And it’s incredible. Tito is the fired up nice guy who always looks simultaneously out on his feet and one swing away from toppling his opponent. Greg is the stoic brick wall of a guy who will occasionally take a punch and fall on his face.
This is basically all escape attempts and the occasional ass-beating and it’s kind of beautiful. Nothing is fancy here and the grittiness is turned up to 11. The crowd buys in on every climb of the cage or opening of the door. Outside of the escapes, Valentine is bumping, Tito is firing off shots, and Jimmy Hart is shouting stuff.
There’s a section here that’s basically this match’s very own Dark Night of the Soul, as Valentine rams Tito’s head into the steel and Jimmy is just cackling nearby. They do a great spot later on where Valentine falls on his face and the crowd goes crazy because Tito is right by the door… but Tito collapses backwards.
Brilliant finish too, as Tito climbs over the top of the cage and Valentine tries to escape through the door… until Tito kicks the door into his head and WINS!!! Incredible. They don’t show it here, but Valentine would later destroy the title – bastard. *****
7. WWWF World Heavyweight Title: Superstar Billy Graham [c] w/ The Grand Wizard vs. Bruno Sammartino (Special Referee: Gorilla Monsoon) (MSG 8/1/77)
Monsoon is commentating AND the referee. This match is a god damn treasure. There’s shining up a babyface and then there’s shining up a BABYFACE. Superstar is the KING as he gets whipped around by Bruno and stumbles all around the ring, occasionally stumbling so hard he gets tied up in the ropes. The crowd is FREAKING OUT for all of this.
Superstar eventually tries to bail so Monsoon LIFTS HIM OVER HIS SHOULDERS and tosses him back inside, which the crowd EXPLODES for. Both guys bleed, Gorilla gets blood all over his white shirt, Superstar is bumbling around and swinging at nothing, Bruno is just firing off punches, and Gorilla calls for the bell because it’s just too damn crazy. Magic. ****1/4
8. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T w/ Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff w/ Cowboy Bob Orton (WrestleMania 3/31/85)
I wrote about this in Happy Thoughts – WrestlemMania I (3/31/85). It’s another all-timer on this tape, a perfect example of WWF’s Bullshit Machine completely delivering. Mr. T is the GOAT celebrity wrestler and used perfectly, while everybody else is in their prime and being amazing. ****
Great tape. Everything’s great. 10/10
