“I don’t consider myself a villain, I consider myself a VERY AGGRESSIVE WRESTLER.” – Big John Studd
Mean Gene Okerlund hosts this Coliseum Home Video from the WWF Control Center with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and The Team That Can’t Be Slammed, King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd.
Would just like to take a moment and note that just before I began writing this, the news came out that Mean Gene Okerlund passed away. Gene is ever-present on this crazy run through 80s WWF I am doing, and this tape is another example of the credibility and gravitas he brought to everything. R.I.P., Mean Gene.
1. Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Scott McGhee (MSG 4/22/86)
This was Jake’s MSG debut, which took place about a month after his proper WWF debut at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, where he also beat Scott McGhee. There is a better match these two had at the Joe Louis Arena a couple days after MSG too, but this is still good. It is a short match but a classic match, a throwback to when these debut squashes were treated with care and managed to pack a story that might take months today into a neat and tidy 5-minute package. McGhee tries a reverse cradle but Roberts holds onto the ropes, then annihilates him with the DDT. The real money here is the post-match, as Damien the Snake gets all up in poor Scott McGhee. **
2. Tor Kamata vs. Pat Patterson (Shea Stadium 8/9/80)
This is from a Shea Stadium show headlined by the Bruno vs. Larry Zbyszko steel cage blowoff and the original Hogan/Andre singles match. It is heated and wild but it is also like 2 minutes long. Tor, “the big Jap with the martial arts” according to Gorilla, is admirably aggressive while Patterson is admirably fired up. Tor throws salt in Pat’s eyes that get into the ref’s eyes and the bell rings for a DQ. N/A
3. WWWF World Heavyweight Title: Pedro Morales [c] vs. George “The Animal” Steele (MSG 6/30/73)
This is JIP, and the complete version was reviewed in Happy Thoughts – WWF Old School (MSG 6/30/73) as well in Network Reflections – Hidden Gems Collections (Fuji, Snuka, Steele). It’s a rare match reviewed here at Happy Wrestling Land twice, and I had DIVERGENT TAKES on each one. You see, kids? Star ratings are DUMB! Here are both reviews in their unashamed, unedited entirety:
“From Detroit, Michigan, George The Animal Steele, no hair whatsoever on that ugly head of George Steele… but wait till he takes off his sweatshirt … he’s covered in hair!” This match RULES. So wonderfully old school. It’s worth watching for the crowd just going BONKERS for everything – Morales’ fire and Steele’s big corner bump is better than any wrestling in the last 20 years. The work is super simple and probably doesn’t play today but it is SO FUCKING OVER. Amazing mannerisms by both, Morales as the expressive big babyface seller with fire on comebacks and Steele as the lurching hairy heel, hunched over in the corner as Morales is down. Steele takes a few massive bumps and does such amazing begging off. Pedro punches Steele until he bleeds and the ref stops the match. ***3/4
This is classic WWWF 80’s stuff so it’s ultra-basic but there’s some special stuff here: 1) the crowd being fired the fuck up for Pedro’s offense and George’s over-the-top selling and 2) Vince McMahon’s disgusted reaction to ol’ George. He describes him a man with “no hair whatsoever” and resembling one from the cro magnon period, just really laying into the poor guy. Steele was the #1 challenger to the title at that point, though that could simply mean he was just the guy chosen to wrestle Pedro on this particular show. Steele’s selling is incredible – he takes a slam into the turbuckle and stumbles on the apron to the other side and it is just mesmerizing. Pedro had an undeniable connection with the crowd and could get real fired up but this isn’t exactly his best outing, just a real straightforward punch-and-kick experience. Steele is eventually busted open and Pedro keeps hammering at his open wound, so the ref calls the match off. Average match but a hot crowd and great Steele performance. **1/2
4. Ernie Ladd vs. Andre the Giant (MSG 4/26/76)
This is JIP with only a few minutes shown, but it’s a magical little time capsule from a time when Ernie Ladd would conceal something in his thumb tape and be all sneaky and shit as Afro Andre sold for him. When it’s his turn, Big Ernie Ladd selling for Andre the Giant is #1 as well. N/A
Big Ladd selling for Andre is #1. Ladd conceals something in his thumb tape and is all sneaky and shit as afro Andre sells. It’s a magical time capsule, though only a few minutes of JIP action.
5. Lou Albano vs. Gorilla Monsoon (MSG 6/30/73)
Much like the Pedro/Steele match from the same card, this was already reviewed in Happy Thoughts – WWF Old School (MSG 6/30/73).
It’s announced as a Special Added Attraction, One Fall to a Finish, and I am AMPED. Cap’n Lou comes out in a satin jacket and tights over his belly-button to cover his gut, raising his arm and immediately shit-talking a guy wearing a vest and no shirt in the crowd. Monsoon, who is HUGE, charges past the ref ready to kick Lou’s ass. Lou IMMEDIATELY begins begging off. The rest of this is like a 2-minute angle with Gorilla beating on Lou, Lou thumbing an eye, Lou bleeding and escaping to the back. Crowd was hot as hell. *1/2
6. 2/3 Falls: Stan “The Man” Stasiak & Blackjack Lanza vs. Andre the Giant & Chief Jay Strongbow (clip; MSG 11/12/73)
Stan “The Man” Stasiak wildly bumping for Chief Jay’s armdrags is kind of incredible. This is just a few minute clip though with no finish.
Magnificent Muraco Retrospective
Don Muraco and Rowdy Roddy Piper get more focus than the others here, with a few of their matches and angles shown.
A few seconds of Muraco vs. Pedro Morales from some point in the mid-80s sees Muraco just dump poor Morales on the guardrail with a slam, which sends him head-first to the concrete floor.
Most of Muraco vs. S.D. Jones is shown, in which S.D. works a heck of a headlock, and by heck of I mean unnecessarily long. The finish is sweet though as S.D. tries a crossbody out of the corner but Muraco catches him with a powerslam.
Finally, Ricky Steamboat vs. Mr. Fuji, which was reviewed in Happy Thoughts – WWF Home Video Classics: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (5/2/86), is shown, as Muraco attacks Steamboat after the match. This is really fun actually – Fuji’s shtick is simple, but the crowd is fired up and Steamboat is a GOD. Muraco shows his true villainy after the match as he just doesn’t attack Steamboat from behind with a wooden chair, but jabs his throat with a broken piece.
Rowdy Roddy Piper Retrospective
A bunch of the Roddy classics are here… Piper’s Pit w/ Jimmy Snuka (covered here), Piper slapping Lord Alfred Hayes on TNT (covered here), Piper’s Pit w/ Frankie Williams AKA the “I change the questions!” promo (covered here, Piper punching Lou Albano on TNT (covered here), Piper interviewing Mr. T on the A-Team set (covered here), and some random clips of Piper in action including Piper vs. Snuka with Lou Thesz as referee and Piper/Orton vs. Snuka/Tonga Kid.
With the exception of the Albano punch, it’s nothing that’s not on the Piper Coliseum Video. Classic stuff though.
7. WWF Intercontinental Title: Tito Santana [c] vs. Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth (Boston Garden 2/8/86)
This match aired in full on WWF Old School and was covered in Happy Thoughts – WWF Old School (Boston Garden 2/8/86). This here is the finish only, but it’s a good finish – Savage cheats to win the title off of Tito and kicks off quite the run.
The WWE Network edited out Terry Funk beating up ring attendant Mel Phillips, a prominent player in the WWF’s ring boy sex abuse scandal in the early 90s. Probably for the best. There is, however, a picture of the angle shown during the end credits of this video.
8. Iron Sheik w/ “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Nikolai Volkoff vs. Corporal Kirchner (MSG 4/22/86)
This inexplicably is the most complete match of the video and the longest clip yet. I am beginning to realize the best thing about Kirchner matches are the subtle burials Gorilla, Hayes, and Ladd would get in. Says Alfred: “He gets so hyped up for these matches, he really doesn’t even know what he’s doing.” Or Ladd: “One of the things I like about the Corporal, is I like how he’s putting together a series of moves to wear his opponent down.” Everybody has a laugh over Kirchner not hooking Sheik’s shoulders down on a sunset flip, then the ref calls for the DQ when Volkoff hits Corp with Blassie’s cane. Sheik and Volkoff double team Kirchner post-match – VILLAINS. **
The tape ends with The Most Dastardly Acts of All, which include Bobby “The Brain” Heenan not accepting Manager of the Year and leading an attack on Hillbilly Jim, Bundy and Studd attacking Andre the Giant and breaking his sternum, Bundy breaking Hulk Hogan’s ribs, and Studd and Ken Patera cutting Andre’s hair. The baddies laugh as Gene lists them off, and offer brief thoughts as footage of each angle begins. Everything that follows is a classic if you have not seen it, and all in some way setup big things for the first two WrestleMania’s.
Manager of the Year Presentation ends with Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy attacking Hillbilly Jim (Poughkeepsie 9/9/85)
This angle was aired on TNT #51 and covered here.
The Manager of the Year vote is finally presented and it’s really weird because Captain Lou Albano, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and HILLBILLY JIM are finalists. I know Jim was Hogan’s buddy and I guess with his injury he managed Uncle Elmer, but how did this happen? Heenan says he got got Blassie, Hart, Fuji, and Valiant’s votes by proxy (!?), but Jim gives Albano his THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND votes so Albano wins. Heenan attacks Albano with the trophy, and then Jim gets surrounded by Studd and Bundy. Studd hooks Jim’s legs and Bundy drops a splash. It’s real straightforward, basic stuff – two big jerks attack and lay out the friendly hillbilly who’s all alone. It kept Studd hot after his loss to Andre at the first WrestleMania and continued heating up Bundy en route to The Hulkster at the second.
Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy break Andre the Giant’s sternum (Maple Leaf Gardens 3/10/85)
This angle took place right before the first WrestleMania, but was aired on TNT #51 along with the Manager of the Year angle as Bundy was getting pushed. It is also covered here.
Studd and Bundy try to cut Andre’s hair again (after the original haircut angle, which is on this video… just after this which took place after it, because editing is hard). Andre grabs Studd’s hand and BITES IT as the crowd goes nuts. Studd is able to hold Andre down though as Bundy splashes the hell out of him and the crowd BOOOOOO’s. Andre’s sternum came out of this angle broken and the hushed silence as big Andre lays in a wreck is awesome. This kept the Studd feud going and immediately established Bundy, who squashed S.D. Jones at Mania and worked Andre at MSG in late-September in the fabled Colossal Jostle.
King Kong Bundy splashes and injures Hulk Hogan after Hogan vs. Magnificent Muraco (SNME 3/1/86)
This angle WILL be covered when I post the reviews of Saturday Night’s Main Event in 1986, but until then will just be covered here. This is from the Saturday Night’s Main Event prior to WrestleMania 2, and though only the attack is shown there was a lot of build-up: Bundy and Heenan call out Hogan early in the show before Bundy squashes Steve Gatorwolf, then Muraco tells Mean Gene that Mr. Fuji is sick so Heenan will be his temporary manager, which Mean Gene thinks is fishy.
Finally, what is aired here: after Hogan/Muraco ends by DQ via Heenan interference, Bundy attacks Hogan from behind and puts him DOWN.
Muraco holds Hogan’s arms as Bundy delivers an Avalanche in the corner, then throws the referee out as Bundy hits another and ANOTHER. Heenan pushing Bundy for momentum as he runs for the final one is so epic. Hogan is OUT and it is awesome, as he’s selling it like death and they bring out a stretcher and ambulance. WWF usually does their big WrestleMania angles well, half because the writing and characters are good and half because so little usually happens on WWF shows that when something like this happens it feels like and is treated like the major deal it is.
Big John Studd and Ken Patera cut Andre the Giant’s hair (Poughkeepsie 11/13/84)
This angle was aired on TNT #21 and covered here. It was the big setup for the Andre vs. Studd match at the first WrestleMania, and I highly recommend watching TNT #21 in place of this as it not only has the complete angle and match that happened prior to the angle, but it also has the reaction interviews that are highlighted by Bobby Heenan being such a swaggering little shit.
The angle is classic old dirty 80s wrestling stuff – must-watch. After Big John Studd and Ken Patera are DQ’d vs. Andre and S.D. Jones, they continue attacking Andre. Eventually, a scissors comes out. People are screaming. They’re throwing shit in the ring. Heenan stomps on S.D. to keep him out. Vince is hard-selling on commentary, shooting a god damn ANGLE: “This is humiliation. This is sheer humiliation … Studd and Patera rape the dignity of Andre the Giant.” Patera and Studd hold up Andre’s hair with glee as more trash is shown at them. I mean this is special stuff, folks.
These are VILLAINS.
This is a neat enough digest and Heenan/Bundy/Studd gloating throughout is great, but most of the good stuff here is aired in full in other places and the new stuff isn’t much. 4/10
