This is a supplement to Year in Review – WWF in 1987 and Those That Flooded the Airwaves: The WWF Superstars of 1987.
See more detailed matchlists here.
Angles Worth Watching
- Ricky Steamboat returns and goes after Randy Savage (SNME 1/3/87)
- Matilda goes after Slick (Superstars 1/10/87)
- Adrian Adonis cuts Brutus Beefcake’s hair (Superstars 2/28/87)
- Piper’s Pit w/ Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant; Andre challenges Hogan (Superstars 1/17, 1/31, 2/7 & 2/14/87)**
- Billy Jack Haynes takes Hercules’ Full Nelson Challenge (Superstars 1/17/87)
- Hulk Hogan/Andre the Giant WrestleMania III Contract Signing (Prime Time 3/2/87)**
- Roddy Piper says goodbye and Brutus Beefcake cuts Adrian Adonis’ hair (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- The Ken Patera Story (Superstars 4/4, 4/11 & 4/18/87)
- The Islanders join The Heenan Family (Superstars 5/30/87)
- Special Investigative Report: The Offices of The Hart Foundation (Coliseum Exclusive: The Hart Foundation (6/24/87)**
- One Man Gang gets fined $10,000 (Prime Time 8/10/87)
- Ted DiBiase and Virgil pay off Arthur Washington (Wrestling Challenge 8/23/87)**
- The Battle for Bam Bam Update: Bobby Heenan and Slick (Prime Time 9/7/87)
- Macho Man threatens Jimmy Hart in the dressing room (Superstars 9/12/87)**
- Ted DiBiase oversees a push-up contest (Prime Time 9/24/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage confronts Honky Tonk Man (Superstars 9/26/87)**
- Strike Force forms when Tito Santana saves Rick Martel from The Islanders (Superstars 8/15/87)**
- The Islanders attack Tito Santana (Superstars 9/26/87)
- Honky Tonk Man and The Hart Foundation attack Randy Savage and Elizabeth; Hulk Hogan saves (SNME 10/3/87)**
- Ted DiBiase has a fan dribble a basketball (All-American 10/25/87)**
- Magnificent Muraco saves Superstar Billy Graham from Slick, Butch Reed and One Man Gang (Superstars 11/14/87)
- Special Report: Hacksaw Jim Duggan/Harley Race feud (Prime Time 11/5/87)
- Special Report: Paul Orndorff/Rick Rude feud (Prime Time 11/5/87)
- Ted DiBiase’s Thanksgiving (Survivor Series 11/26/87)
- Ted Dibiase announces he wants to buy the WWF World Heavyweight Title (Prime Time 12/10/87)**
- The Islanders kidnap Matilda (Superstars 12/26/87)
Promos Worth Watching
- Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart promo at the The Heartbreak Hotel (Prime Time 1/26/87)
- Jake Roberts interview on his DDT (Prime Time 2/13/87)
- Ricky Steamboat challenges Macho Man Randy Savage for WrestleMania (Prime Time 2/16/87)
- Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Rowdy Roddy Piper on retirement (Prime Time 2/23/87)
- WrestleMania III Report: Hogan/Andre, Aretha Franklin/Jimmy Hart, Bob Uecker (Prime Time 3/9/87)
- Brutus Beefcake promo on Adrian Adonis (Prime Time 3/9/87)
- Bob Uecker reflects on his childhood with Mean Gene Okerlund (Prime Time 3/9/87)
- Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Elizabeth, Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan and Jake Roberts pre-match promos (SNME 3/14/87)
- Hulk Hogan promo on Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan (SNME 3/14/87)
- WrestleMania III Report: Bob Uecker, Mary Hart, more (Prime Time 3/16/87)
- Jake Roberts interview on Honky Tonk Man (Prime Time 3/16/87)
- Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan look for Andre the Giant in the woods (Prime Time 3/16/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage interview on Ricky Steamboat (Prime Time 3/23/87)
- Rowdy Roddy Piper’s final Piper’s Pit (Superstars 3/28/87)
- Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan and Hulk Hogan pre-match interviews (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan interview on Nikolai Volkoff (Prime Time 4/6/87)
- The Hart Foundation, Jimmy Hart and Danny Davis interview on The British Bulldogs (Prime Time 4/20/87)
- Elizabeth interview on Randy Savage’s behavior (Prime Time 4/20/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage interview on the IC Title (Prime Time 4/20/87)
- The Snake Pit w/ Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth (Prime Time 8/3/87)
- Rick Rude’s MSG debut promo (Prime Time 8/3/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage interview on championships (Prime Time 8/24/87)
- Tito Santana and Rick Martel promo on becoming Strike Force (Prime Time 8/31/87)
- Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart promo on Randy Savage (Prime Time 9/17/87)
- Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage interview on The Mega Powers (SNME 10/3/87)
- Piledriver music videos (Prime Time 10/12, 10/19, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 11/30 & 12/10/87)
- Craig DeGeorge interviews Hulk Hogan on Andre the Giant (Superstars 11/1/87)
- Andre the Giant Survivor Series Team interview with Hogan stretch doll (Superstars 11/14/87)
- The Hart Foundation’s Survivor Series Team interview (Wrestling Challenge 11/15/87)
- Hulk Hogan’s Survivor Series Team interview (Hogan in disguise) (Prime Time 11/19/87)
- Honky Tonk Man’s Survivor Series Team interview (Prime Time 11/19/87)
- ALL Team (Honky Tonk Man, Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, Hart Foundation, Strike Force and Hulk Hogan) group interviews (Survivor Series 11/26/87)
- The Hart Foundation and Macho Man Randy Savage pre-match interviews (SNME 11/28/87)
- Magnificent Muraco interview on Butch Reed and Slick (Prime Time 11/30/87)
- Craig DeGeorge interviews Jack Tunney and Hulk Hogan on Ted DiBiase’s offer (Prime Time 12/14/87)
- Ted DiBiase and Virgil interview on Hulk Hogan’s rejection (Superstars 12/26/87)
Matches Worth Watching
- WWF Intercontinental Title: Macho Man Randy Savage [c] w/ Elizabeth vs. Ricky Steamboat w/ George “The Animal” Steele (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth vs. Bret Hart w/ Jimmy Hart and Jim Neidhart
- WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Andre the Giant w/ Bobby Heenan (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- Survivor Series Elimination Match: Macho Man Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Brutus Beefcake w/ Elizabeth vs. Honky Tonk Man, Harley Race, Hercules, Outlaw Ron Bass & Danny Davis w/ Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan
- WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan and Andre the Giant (SNME 11/28/87)
- Steel Cage Match – WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Paul Orndorff w/ Bobby Heenan (SNME 1/3/87)
- Hair vs. Hair Retirement Match: Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis w/ Jimmy Hart (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- WWF Women’s Tag Team Title: The Glamour Girls [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Jumping Bomb Angels (Prime Time 12/14/87)
- Tito Santana vs. Magnificent Muraco (Prime Time 7/27/87)
- Elimination Match: Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper & Billy Jack Haynes vs. Adrian Adonis, Paul Orndorff & Hercules w/ Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan (Prime Time 4/20/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: Strike Force [c] vs. The Islanders w/ Bobby Heenan (Prime Time 12/21/87)
- WWF Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat [c] vs. Hercules (SNME 5/2/87)
- Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules w/ Bobby Heenan (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- Tito Santana vs. Jake Roberts (Prime Time 1/5/87)
- Davey Boy Smith & Billy Jack Haynes vs. The Hart Foundation (Prime Time 2/13/87)
- Lumberjack Match – WWF Intercontinental Title: Macho Man Randy Savage [c] w/ Elizabeth vs. Bruno Sammartino (Boston Garden 2/7/87)
- British Bulldog w/ Dynamite Kid vs. Bret Hart w/ Jimmy Hart and Jim Neidhart (Superstars 5/9/87)
- WWF Intercontinental Title: Macho Man Randy Savage [c] w/ Elizabeth vs. Bruno Sammartino (Prime Time 2/13/87)
- WWF Intercontinental Title: Honky Tonk Man [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana (Prime Time 9/17/87)
- Tito Santana vs. Nikolai Volkoff (MSG 7/25/87)
- Tito Santana vs. Outlaw Ron Bass (All-American 9/6/87)
- Koko B. Ware vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart (Prime Time 4/6/87)
- George “The Animal” Steele vs. Kamala w/ The Wizard and Kim Chee (Prime Time 2/23/87)
- Frank Tunney Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament – Final: The Killer Bees vs. Demolition w/ Mr. Fuji (Prime Time 4/13/87)
- The Islanders vs. Demolition (Prime Time 4/6/87)
- Frank Tunney Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament – Quarter Final: King Kong Bundy & Paul Orndorff vs. Magnificent Muraco & Cowboy Bob Orton w/ Mr. Fuji (Prime Time 3/23/87)
- Superstar Billy Graham vs. Butch Reed w/ Slick (Prime Time 10/29/87)
- Brutus Beefcake vs. Greg Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart (Superstars 11/28/87)
Hart Foundation Tags Worth Watching
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The British Bulldogs [c] (Hart Foundation Coliseum Home Video; from Boston Garden 11/1/86)
- The Islanders vs. The Hart Foundation (Prime Time 1/14/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart and Danny Davis vs. The Killer Bees (MSG 2/23/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart and Danny Davis vs. The Rougeau Brothers (Boston Garden 3/7/87)
- The British Bulldogs & Tito Santana vs. The Hart Foundation & Danny Davis w/ Jimmy Hart (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- 2/3 Falls – WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart and Danny Davis vs. The British Bulldogs w/ Tito Santana (SNME 5/2/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Junkyard Dog & Rick Martel (All-American 8/2/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Strike Force (Superstars 11/7/87)
- The British Bulldogs vs. The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart (Prime Time 11/19/87)
Squashes Worth Watching
- Harley Race vs. Sivi Afi (Prime Time 1/5/87)
- WWF World Tag Team Title: The British Bulldogs [c] vs. The Hart Foundation (Tag Title switch; Superstars 2/7/87)
- King Kong Bundy vs. Pete Doherty (Prime Time 2/16/87)
- Ricky Steamboat vs. Iron Sheik w/ Slick (SNME 3/14/87)
- Frank Tunney Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament – Semi Final: The Can-Am Connection vs. Demolition w/ Johnny V (Prime Time 3/23/87)
- Frank Tunney Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament – Quarter Final: The Killer Bees vs. Kamala & Sika w/ The Wizard (Prime Time 3/23/87)
- Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid & Little Beaver vs. King Kong Bundy, Lord Littlebrook & Little Tokyo (WrestleMania III 3/29/87)
- Sika w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Pete Doherty (Great Samoan Drop) (Prime Time 5/11/87)
- Brutus Beefcake vs. Johnny V (The Barber debuts) (Prime Time 5/11/87)
- WWF Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat [c] vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart (IC Title switch; Prime Time 6/22/87)
- Cowboy Bob Orton vs. Jerry Allen (Prime Time 7/27/87)
- Rick Rude vs. Jerry Allen (Prime Time 8/3/87)
- Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth vs. Brady Boone (Prime Time 8/10/87)
- Rick Rude vs. Scott Casey (Prime Time 8/17/87)
- Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Sivi Afi (Prime Time 8/31/87)
- Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Oliver Humperdink vs. Nikolai Volkoff w/ Slick (Superstars 9/12/87)
- Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Oliver (Prime Time 11/26/87)
Random Moments Worth Remembering
- Harley Race bodies Sivi Afi (Prime Time 1/5/87)
- Dick Slater’s lockup against Greg Valentine (Prime Time 1/14/87)
- Koko B. Ware takes a full speed bump to the floor (Prime Time 1/26/87)
- The Can-Am Connection lifts weights and names landmarks (Prime Time 2/2/87)
- Tiger Chung Lee avoids Jerry Allen’s crossbody (Prime Time 2/2/87)
- Jake Roberts’ exposed shoulder attire (Prime Time 2/13/87)
- “WE LOVE YOUR BUNS” sign (Prime Time 2/16/87)
- Bobby Heenan waits for Paul Orndorff to emerge (Prime Time 3/2/87)
- Bob Uecker casually admits to his father’s parking lot schemes (Prime Time 3/7/87)
- Sika growls into the microphone (Prime Time 3/9/87)
- Blackjack Mulligan talks to a guy in the front row (Prime Time 4/6/87)
- Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon talk about Kevin Dunn’s honeymoon (Prime Time 4/6/87)
- Gorilla Monsoon gets Bobby Heenan a one-year anniversary cake (Prime Time 4/20/87)
- Butch Reed vs. Dick Slater in a (not) Mid-South rematch (Prime Time 5/4/87)
- Bobby Heenan and Ken Patera’s timed debate (Prime Time 5/4/87)
- Steve Lombardi and Paul Roma working like future stars (Prime Time 5/11/87)
- Sika does the wildest Samoan Drop I have ever seen (Prime Time 5/11/87)
- Slick sings the Russian National Anthem (Prime Time 5/11/87)
- Gene Kiniski’s kid wins with a German Suplex Hold (Prime Time 5/18/87)
- Ken Patera vs. Hercules is re-taped and still not good (Prime Time 5/18/87)
- World-renowned hip surgeon Lawrence Dorr explains Billy Graham’s injury (Prime Time 5/25/87)
- Vince McMahon reacts to The Barber (Prime Time 6/17/87)
- Superstar Billy Graham trains for a comeback (Prime Time 7/6/87)
- Pete Doherty hams it up against Junkyard Dog (Prime Time 7/6/87)
- Killer Khan vs. Outback Jack (Prime Time 7/6/87)
- Mr. T cuts a promo on Danny Davis commentary (Prime Time 7/6/87)
- McMahon on Danny Davis: not just dangerous, distasteful and despicable too (Prime 7/27/87)
- Freddie Blassie’s says Bam Bam Bigelow isn’t worth the trouble (Prime Time 8/17/87)
- Ken Patera and Jim Brunzell’s bad promos (Prime Time 10/8/87)
- Brian Costello has to submit twice to George “The Animal” Steele (Prime Time 10/12/87)
- Legends’ Battle Royal (Meadowlands 11/16/87)
- Vince McMahon performs Stand Back (Prime Time 11/19/87)
- Greg Valentine introduces his new manager, Jimmy Hart (Prime Time 12/10/87)
- Hercules beats Junkyard Dog by mistake (Prime Time 12/10/87)
- Hulk Hogan says HELLLLLLL NOOOO! (Prime Time 12/21/87)
- Jim Duggan throws Bobby Heenan in the trash at the Slammys (Prime Time 12/31/87)
Random Reviews
Tito Santana vs. Jake Roberts (Prime Time 1/5/87) – Incredible pairing, watch two masters of actual psychology go to a 20-minute draw that takes the crowd on such a ride they actually want more. They milk everything, from a grin to a kneelift cut-off to a 3-minute chinlock. The crowd is way into Jake and the DDT, but any Tito rally gets a huge pop too.
King Kong Bundy vs. Pete Doherty (Prime Time 2/16/87) – At the Boston Garden, Bundy gives hometown guy Doherty a whole match: The Duke of Dorchester dodges a splash in the corner, does a 10-count haymaker, and ends up DQ’d for hitting Bundy with a chair. There’s DUKE DUKE DUKE chants here. Game performance by the low key athletic Bundy too.
George “The Animal” Steele vs. Kamala (Prime 2/23/87) – This is from Maple Leaf Gardens in November ’86, but a special use of 5 minutes where two physical comedy masters have a crowd losing it by just doing gestures. Pause this on George staring down Kamala from the entrance ramp and tell me that isn’t a main event anywhere in the world. They have another match at the Spectrum in ’87 and it’s… not as good.
WWF World Heavyweight Title: Hulk Hogan [c] vs. King Kong Bundy (Prime Time 2/23/87) – This is from 1985 actually, but if you’re watching February 1987 Prime Time Wrestling I highly recommend you check it out. It’s one of those Hogan matches that clicks extra well and way more impressive than the WrestleMania cage match. Relentless HULK chants and legitimate fist-pumping are a perfect atmosphere for this big heavyweight show with shoulder tackles and wobbly selling, all timed incredibly. They build up this real competitive atmosphere, and cap it off when Hogan wins not with a leg drop but by dodging the Avalanche splash and hitting a powerslam. Sometimes you’ve got to switch it up!
The Hart Foundation vs. The Rougeau Brothers (Prime Time 4/13/87) – Back when the boys had something to say, even in a completely random tag, even tasked with 20+ minutes. It follows the beatdown/hot tag formula, but Neidhart’s wild bumping and the Rougeau’s momentarily still reading as likable keeps things entertaining. Bret’s the key though, putting extra emphasis on all he can think of.
Elimination Match: Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper & Billy Jack Haynes vs. Paul Orndorff, Hercules & Adrian Adonis w/ Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart (Prime Time 4/20/87) – Beautiful reflection of this space and time: Hulk and Piper teaming, Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan on the floor. Everybody is over and if they’re not, the crowd is willing to buy it because Billy Jack Haynes hanging out with people who are. The entrances are spectacular, the crowd is raucous, and the wrestling is just so unquestionably big.
The heels fly around, Piper and Orndorff do the most intense test of strength, and even Billy Jack has some power behind those shots. Piper and Adonis get counted out, Hogan rolls up Orndorff, Herc pins Haynes after a low blow, and Hogan beats Herc with the legdrop – in case you were wondering. Heenan takes a bump, Hogan does the full posedown — glory to the Federation.
WWF Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat [c] vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart (Superstars 6/13/87) – In which the Honky Tonk Man wins the Intercontinental Title. This was on Superstars and very much a TV match, which might say some kind of thing: welcome to the new era, pal… it’s blue. Honky scrambling around for Steamboat creates a great atmosphere, though it’s replaced after just a few minutes with confusion as Honky counters an inside cradle by grabbing the ropes and wins the dang title. Jesse Ventura immediately begins yelling about what an upset it is and how successful Jimmy Hart is.
Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth vs. Brady Boone (Wrestling Challenge 8/2/87) – Savage’s squash matches were always better than most, and here he was fully playing along with Brady Boone’s nifty spots. There’s a Dino Bravo/Brady Boone match from the same time period, and seeing how much better Macho Man times and takes Brady’s double backflip to dropkick spot is an otherworldly experience.
WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The British Bulldogs (Prime Time 8/10/87) – Maybe the last Hart Foundation vs. British Bulldogs match at MSG, though I’ll be cool if I find out that’s inaccurate. There’s an intensity to this worth checking out, like they were sick of having matches together and decided to just hit each other for real. Davey Boy press slams Bret balls-first onto the top rope, but when he tries to bring Bret back in Anvil trips him and Bret gets the 3.
Brutus Beefcake vs. Harley Race w/ Bobby Heenan (Prime Time 8/24/87) – I don’t exactly feel “comfortable” highlighting this match, but both the beginning of Barber Brutus and end of King Harley’s runs do deserve a feature. This is an 80s WWF match that’s nothing more than an armbar and hiptoss but the crowd (Wisconsin!) is just going insane for every twist and turn. Great work.
Elimination Match: Bruno Sammartino, Jake Roberts & Tito Santana vs. Honky Tonk Man & The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart (Prime Time 8/31/87) – Look at this big time match from the Boston Garden. Jake gets counted out early, so you have the incredible superhero combination of old man Bruno and Tito Santana against the biggest turds in the company. Both take turns getting “worked over” (as they say in the business) and the crowd reacts accordingly, then Bruno ends up alone against all three. What do you think happens? Bruno by kneelift.
Tito Santana w/ Rick Martel vs. Haku w/ Bobby Heenan and Tama (Prime Time 10/19/87) – Tito, Haku, 1987… this does not hit the beats of a standout match even in the era, but it’s also so supremely solid and speaks to many of the little things that kept things credible and respectable Back in the Day despite all the contrary.
Superstar Billy Graham vs. Butch Reed w/ Slick (Prime Time 10/29/87) – From Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, a bad match that’s a good match. Billy Graham physically worked like a liability in the ring at this point, but the crowd was way into him as one of the first recognizable guys on the card and it’s interesting to see them think up all sorts of wrestling tricks to get by while avoiding taking any actual bumps.
WWF World Tag Team Title: The Hart Foundation [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Strike Force (Superstars 11/7/87) – A 10-minute pop version of the Rock & Roll vs. Midnight Express with another excellent Hart Foundation performance, even as they lose their championships. Neidhart especially is amazing, always in place for Strike Force’s babyfacin’ and towards the end just wildly throwing punches in a valiant attempt to keep the titles. Bret has to Bret too, and takes an extra psychotic chest-first bump in the corner. Neidhart submits to Martel’s Boston crab, which might sound silly but Martel made it some serious business.
The British Bulldogs vs. The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart (Sam Houston Coliseum 11/6/87) – Here’s another late-stage Bulldogs vs. Hart Foundation match that feels completely different from the others, though it’s more because Dynamite Kid’s skeletal frame was trying to tell him some things. Even immobile, guy remains smooth as butter and the other three work around it and have a great tag.
WWF Women’s Tag Team Title: The Glamour Girls [c] w/ Jimmy Hart vs. The Jumping Bomb Angels (Prime Time 12/14/87) – One of the cool things about 80s WWF is when they expose their big tent audience to something completely different, you can still hear the surprise. The Glamour Girls turn heads with their stupid costumes, but the Jumping Bomb Angels flip MSG out. It isn’t just the Angels doing high spots at a fast pace; they let their stuff breathe and the Glamour Girls are generally incredible: there for every spot, nasty on offense, and totally not afraid to look like dorks.
