Donnie watches WWF 1988

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion: Randy Savage-27/3/88
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Honky Tonk Man-13/6/87
WWF Tag Team Champions: Demolition-27/3/88

WWF WRESTLEFEST 1988
JULY 31ST, 1988
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY STADIUM.

Mooney, SBG & Hayes are our commentators for the evening in a super bad choice given Jesse, Vince & Bobby is the dream trio of the WWF.

Match#1 The Big Boss Man vs Scott Casey
Pretty much the same match as LA for 5 minutes. Not a bad match because Boss gets a little better every week, but there are far better jobbers he could face in such a place and time after already beating this guy up a few times. Boss wins with another horrible looking Boss Man Slam.
*3/4

Post match, he beats him with the Nightstick and drops the cuffs on his chest.

Match#2 Hercules vs Brutus Beefcake
WWF has finally ran a true war crime in front of thousands and thousands of people. Not quite on the crimes of current WWE, but still one for the books of two fucking turds getting 10 minutes to stink a show up as pro wrestling is the last job they should have ever taken on. Horrendous looking offence and bumping from both, but the crowd loves it because they're silly people. They trade bad stuff back and forth in between a terrible Herc control seg and an even worse Beef comeback. Brutus wins with a rollup
1/2*

Post match, Herc tries to attack with his chain, but he messes it up and gets ran off himself.

Match#3 The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers vs The Killer Bees

Bees are now wearing long pants with horizontal stripes and look like complete dork, and Hayes makes jokes about them being fat now. Feels like Vince is done with them, and it's about time. In saying that, first few minutes are very good as always with these match as Blair is there hold for hold, and the Brothers give him as good as he can take. Jim gets his leg worked on for the same segment we always get, and i'm truly sick of how lazy WWF matches have gotten as of late with all the talent to be found to make sure that doesn't happen. Blair gets the tag and works Jaques' knee for some revenge, and it's very good, but sort of dry and not all that exciting, sadly. The Brothers take over and beat him up in an ok control seg. Things break down and Ray punches Brunzell in the head so his brother can pin him.
*1/2

Match#4 Bret Hart vs Bad News Brown
News attacks him like a jerkoff and beats him up in the corner and goes to town with violence, but Bret shows heart and fights back and give him a kicking to the balls and body, and angry Bret rules. Bret whips his ass and even does an accidental Brain Buster to crush New's neck! Bad finally catches him in the face with a punch and takes over with another violent control seg as he's always better when fighting Bret. Hart makes a fun comeback and hits a plancha on the outside and takes it to the big man with no fear being shown. Bret gets him in a victory roll, but News leans back with one of his own and gets the tights to steal it.
**

Post match, Bret fights him on the outside and sends him into Anvil to kick his ass as well.

Stage Interview-
-Gene meets HTM & Jimmy as they make their way out in a jam packed stadium,
-Jimmy does his stump speech about HTM being the best IC champion who has proven he's the best. HTM promises to be the best IC champion when this over and sing and dance for his fans.

Match#5 Honky Tonk Man (c) w/Jimmy Hart vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan (WWF Intercontiental Championship)
HOOOOOO. Hack punches and drops this goofy goonball with all the fire, and finally brings some life to long dead title because Honky's run has been a complete boring bust. Jimmy distract our guy for Honky to beat up Hack with his nice looking punches and decent offence, and Hack sells it pretty well. Hack fights back and hits the Stance, but Jimmy trips him for the DQ.
*

Hack gets his board and chases after them, and beats up Jimmy. He breaks the guitar with his board like a hero.

Match#6 Powers of Pain vs The Bolsheviks
Ewwwwwwwwww. The Russians sandbag the new monsters on the block and do everything they can to hamper them, and POP aren't protected or smart enough to just fuck them up for it, so this is horrible for a few minutes. Pop finally end it with the flying headbutt.
DOG SHIT

Match#7 Jim Neidhart vs Lanny Poffo
Ugh, why????? 2 minute squash for Anvil that could have happened on Challenge a month ago, or maybe did???? Anvil wins with his powerslam to kill some time.
1/2*

Match#8 Randy Savage (c) w/Miss Elizabeth vs Ted DiBiase w/Virgil (WWF World Heavyweight Championship)
Ted uses Virgil to distract right away so he can go on the attack and pounce on Randy with his awesome violent stuff, and gets far with it for once. Randy won't die and comesback like a lunatic and bashes his ass back for some oh sweet revenge. Ted bumps his ass off and stalls to save himself, but Savage keeps taking his head off whenever he can. Ted grabs him by the tights to fling him to the floor like he has done a few times, and we get the classic awesome Ted control seg for a few minutes. Ted lays into him like a bully and attacks the face and throat for something new, and Savage sells his ass off. Randy mounts a comeback and punches the breaks off him as he's faster and more ramped up, and Ted has to catch him with an elbow and lock in the head to finally get him to stop. Randy tries to again but misses a running knee and smacks it against the post super hard. He manages to pull Ted down, but he's too hobbled to fully jump on him, SO HE KICKS HIM OFF A FIGURE FOUR AND SENDS HIM TO THE FLOOR. FUCK YEAH. He now whips his ass as Ted is cooked and all kinds of fucked. Virgil tries to help but Savage sends them into each other to get rid of him. Ted gets back and manages to lock in the MDD, but Savage falls into the ropes to break it. He lands on the mat after Virgil hits him and can't get back up, so Ted hits a couple of fist drops and tries to pick him up, but Savage pulls him in to a cradle to win.
***

Post match, the heels beat Randy up until he fights them off and holds the ring. Randy puts Liz on his shoulder and parades her around the ring.

Match#9 Curt Hennig vs Terry Taylor
Woooo, he's finally back and here for good. Weirdly, Foley and Cole are on commentary for this as i guess this was shown on another DVD and added to this show. Great chain wrestling to start as they both smooth and work the arms, and each man shows off what they can do. Mick and Cole talk about Perfect's career up to this point and it's a great history lesson of what bought him to the dance. Perfect takes over and attacks Rooster's back with some good brutal looking work, and Terry is fun at fighting from underneath. Terry tries to fight back as Perfect takes some big bumps, but Perfect gets a Forearm out of nowhere to win.
**

Match#10 Jake Roberts vs Rick Rude
Oh great, here we go again. Same opening as always as my earlier point rings no more true than with two lazy boring goons in this terrible dead in the water feud that started with SO much promise. Rest of the match goes the same way as Rude works a long boring headlock and Jake makes fine little comebacks, but doesn't show a ton of care or fire as it goes on. They end up fighting to the floor and both get counted out.
3/4*

Match#11 King Haku vs Sam Houston
7 minute Haku squash as this show is super weirdly booked and feels like a thousand ideas being thrown at a wall and each one getting a turn. It's perfectly fine but nothing to write home about, so whatever. Haku wins with his Kick of Fear.
*1/2

Match#12 Bobby Heenan vs The Ultimate Warrior (Weasel Suit Match)
Goddamn it. Same as always in the fucking theme of the night. Warrior does bad work and Heenan dies for him and hurts himself more and more as it goes on. Warrior wins of course.
1/4

Match#13 Demolition (c) w/Mr Fuji vs The British Bulldogs (WWF World Tag Team Championships)
Now we're talking. The Dogs refuse to be bullied like last time and attack the arms of both to keep them where they want, and it's really good once again. Demo get mad and club DK into the mat, but he fights back and cracks them right back like the asshole he is. They knock him back down and grind him down in good Demo fashion, and DK takes a nice beating for them as his bad back is worked on. Davey gets in and takes them to task with a hell of a hot tag knocking their faces off. It all breaks down as it tends to and Kid is knocked out with the Cane again and Smash steals the win.
**1/2

Match#14 Dino Bravo w/Frenchy Martin vs Ken Patera
No thank you. Very bad and very short at 3 minutes of horrible wrestling as they're both throwing those weak and bad looking shots, and just SUCK the life out of an already dull and bad show. Dino wins with his Sidewalk Slam.
1/6*

Match#15 Andre The Giant w/Bobby Heenan vs Hulk Hogan (Steel Cage Match)
Andre wraps his paws around Hogan's throat and makes him a purple faced bitch in the now normal slow but amazing Andre attack as his body is destroyed, but the heart and spirit is still refusing to go gently into the good night. Hogan fights back in a slow way himself, and it allows Andre to stay in control and mess him up some more. Andre gets Hogan's shirt and ties him to the cage and chops the piss out of him. AMAZING. Andre tries to get out, but Hogan gets free and beats him up as it turns into a slow and fine back and forth. Andre headbutts and elbows him a ton, but Hogan can't die and keeps fighting back to stop him from leaving. Bobby tries to help, but Hogan fights them both off, ties Andre in the ropes and climbs out to win.
**

Awful show.

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion: Randy Savage-27/3/88
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Honky Tonk Man-13/6/87
WWF Tag Team Champions: Demolition-27/3/88

WWF Superstars of Wrestling
August 6th, 1988
LaCrosse, WI

Match#1 Don Muraco vs Dave Wagner
Rock gets 2 minutes to do things and he mostly cares again, which is nice of him. Also, good for me to watch him actually crack people hard and be awesome. He kills the kid with some old classics and wins with the Tombstone.
*3/4

WWF Update-
-Gene covers the build to the Mega-Powers vs Mega-Bucks.
-Gene suggests getting a group of boys and girls to watch SummerSlam.

Match#2 Ted DiBiase w/Mega-Bucks vs Mike Richards
Vince questions if Jesse can really be impartial, and he swears he's the only man on the planet that can be in the middle of such a match. Very good Ted squash as he's once again violent and mean, and just gets how to use the time better than almost anyone else at this point. Ted wins with the MDD.
*3/4

Post match, he shoves the cash down the jobbers throat.

WWF Events Center-
-Sean covers tonight's Boston show.
-Brutus tries show off George Steele as his new second, but he refuses to be on camera or near this fucking mope.
-Hack cuts the same promo on Andre he always cuts, tough guy.

Match#3 The Hart Foundation vs Tom Stone & Chris Curtis
Jimmy has a cut in saying the boys will never win the titles without him at SummerSlam!! This fucking rules as it gets 3 minutes and Anvil is throwing dropkicks and crushing people, and Bret is a different beast as the weeks move ahead and he gets better as it goes on. He throws some nasty Uppercuts and is super mean and smooth as he does his thing. They win with the Hart Attack.
**

Match#4 Terry Taylor vs Chris Todd
A real Rooster of a man makes his debut on TV with a fine little basic squash. He's not an exciting guy by any means, but he's solid and fun enough to watch so it evens out. He works the leg for a while and wins with his Sharpshooter.
*

WWF Events Center-
-The Mega-Powers talk about having a rep to maintain and are becoming a human destruction machine because the task calls for it. They're going to be ready for that stinky giant that they've been throwing around for so long, and then it's time to come for Ted and his dirty money. Liz kisses him, AND HOGAN HAS THE FUCKING GALL TO ASK IF HE CAN HAVE A KISS AS WELL. OH YOU DIRTY SON OF A BITCH.
-Randy actually allows it like an idiot, and Hogan says they're going to make them weak at the knees and he's got all the trust in Randy. He fears no man or giant, and he doesn't care if Jesse is paid off because they'll look through the sweat at Liz and be inspired to win.
-Hogan is a bastard.

Match#5 Tito Santana vs Tim Dixon
Tito gets 4 minutes in a wild and wonderful call because he deserves it on account on being Tito, but yeah little too long and boring in the middle as he doesn't do a lot. Still, love to see Tito getting back in the mix for singles action given how insane the mid card is. Tito wins with the Forearm.
*1/2

Stage Interview-
-HTM & Jimmy are the guests.
-He says NOTHING new about Brutus, so fuck him.

Match#6 The Bolsheviks w/Slick vs JT Thomas & Warren Bianchi
No, thank you.

Match#7 Jake Roberts vs Harley Manson
"He's not related to Chuck is he?"
'Chuck, who?"
"You know who, Vince"
DEAD.
Fine 90 second Jake Squash as he's found his level as a face and i don't think he's moving past it until he finds a proper feud that brings the best out of him again. Jake wins with the DDT.
*

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF Boston Gardens-6/8

Match#1 Koko B Ware vs Ron Bass
Woah, a house show actually starting off with two great wrestlers and not trash bags on fire. Bass tries to bully him as he does to everyone, but our Bird has heart and takes him down and makes a fool of him as he's quick as hell and meets him at every turn with something cool that puts him on his ass. Ron catches him with a knee to the guts and beats the hell out of him with some classic bully offence, and our guy sells his ass off for all of it. He punches at his stomach with gross rights and lefts and beats the ribs down for something new and awesome. Koko makes a great comeback and nearly gets it done, but Bass hits him in the face with Betsy to steal the win.
**1/2

Match#2 The Hart Foundation vs The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers
The Brothers tell the ring announcer to make sure he tells the people they're moving to America soon. Anvil tries to power the brothers, so Ray monkey flips out of an Hammerlock to show off, but he runs at Jim and can't hurt him. Ray throws a dropkick instead and knocks him down, but Anvil tugs the beard and dropkicks him back. Bret gets in and uses his speed to crush Jaques head with an elbow to make do a D-Von like seizure sell in a funny moment. HF ramp it up and beat the shit out of Ray with some great double teams and cheating as they're still bastards, and it's all SO good to watch. Jaques trips Bret as he runs the topes and they smack him in the back of the skull with an elbow and attack his back in the corner, and go to town with a killer control seg. They beat the hell out of his neck and tag in and out as quick as they can so they can make sure the attack is fresh and great, and poor Bret is murdered and then some. Ray tries to monkey flip him in the corner, AND BRET HOLDS ONTO HIS KNEES AND HITS AN ATOMIC DROP AND GETS ANVIL IN FOR A SICK HOT TAG. FUCK YEAH MAN. He blasts the shit out of them and knocks the daylights out of them, and the bumping and selling is sick as hell. Bret comes back to life and hits an assisted elbow to the chest, and all breaks loose as Jimmy Hart comes down to ringside to get in Anvil's face. In the ring, Jacques comes off the ropes with an Axe Handle to the back of Bret's head, and Ray rolls on top to win.
***

Match#3 Honky Tonk Man (c) w/Jimmy Hart vs Brutus Beefcake w/George Steele (WWF Intercontiental Championship)
Fuck it, this feud is over in a few weeks because life is finally getting better, so i'll watch these dweebs one more time. No actually, this is the same match they always have as no one is more lazy and bad than these two in a match, and for 6 minutes of playing the worst hits possible it's dismal shit. The seconds fight, and HTM hits Brutus with his Megaphone to win.
1/7*

Post match, Jimmy is stripped and beaten up.

Match#4 Demolition w/Mr Fuji vs The British Bulldogs
Hell yeah, lets go again. Davey is once again a man with zero fear or brains as he fights them and uses his speed to take them to task like very few men have done before without getting killed for it. The Dogs work Ax's arm and beat the heck out of it, and then do the same to Smasher when he tries to stop it. They work on him for a while and i now realise this the infamous heel in peril work that WWF will try to do a few times, and it's not the worst when it makes sense, but Demo being dominated for a long time isn't the best of ideas. Demo thankfully come back and kick the shit out of DK for being a monster of person, and it's another great shit kicking. Hayes sings their praises as he says they've gotten better as the months have rolled on, and to beat them will take a massive effort. Davey gets in and cleans house on them with some truly amazing looking lariats to take their heads off. DK joins in on the fun and hits a few hard shots as the last of the greatness is being used. Things break down and Ax sledges DK in the back of his terrible brain and that's enough for Smash to roll on top and win, Weak ending for a fun match,
**3/4

Match#5 Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth vs Ted DiBiase w/Virgil (WWF World Heavyweight Championship)
This is their shortest match at 7 minutes, so they go wild right away for another wild braw of hatred as these two aren't missing any time soon, and can make anything work given a chance. Randy moves ahead and bounces him over the Garden and the concrete floor, and Ted is again a nutcase who takes huge bumps for everything he gets smacked with. They use the same transition spot as the last match where Randy drives his knees into the buckles and gets them worked on by Ted using the post and his great offence on it. Randy gets the hell beaten out of him, but he makes a quick comeback and manages to smash Ted into the post on the floor and wins by countout. WOAH.
**1/2

Post match, Ted grabs Liz's ankle as she's on the apron and hurts her. Randy sees it and chases after them to stab a bitch.

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion: Randy Savage-27/3/88
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Honky Tonk Man-13/6/87
WWF Tag Team Champions: Demolition-27/3/88

WWF Wrestling Challenge
August 7th, 1988
Cedar Rapids, IA

Match#1 The Powers of Pain vs George Petraski & Rick Renslow
Bobby points out that no one is bigger than Demo than POP, and it could give them an edge unlike any team before them. Another short and fun one for POP as they smash faces and hurl people around with zero regard. Barb wins with his sick Headbutt.
*3/4

WWF Update-
-Craig wants you to buy SummerSlam on PPV.
-He runs down the entire card again.

Rick Rude comes out for his match AND HE HAS JAKE'S WIFE FACE ON HIS TIGHTS. OH FUCK.

Match#2 Rick Rude w/Bobby Heenan vs Billy Brown
Only a minute for the Rude dude this time, but still has enough going for it to end up a decent squash. RA ends it.
*

Post match, he kisses another woman.

WWF Events Center-
-That turncoat Jimmy Hart is with Demolition & Mr Fuji!!!
-Jimmy says he's going to tell them all HF's weakness to win this match. Smash says they're going to kick teeth in, and Ax says they have the guiding light and they're going to own MSG and them.
-HF say this is the final countdown. Jimmy Hart? BIG DEAL They're the new Hart Foundation and back and better than ever. Anvil says they got Jimmy out of the trashbag, and they're on the right track with him hahahahahhahahahahahaha.

Match#3 Brutus Beefcake vs Warren Bianchi
Heenan says the tights were actually a gift from Cheryl Roberts, and she's finally in love with him. This is a Brutus Beefcake squash, but he's being written off soon, so i get a nice break from such things. Brutus wins with the Sleeper.
1/9*

Post match, he cuts the hair like the bully he is.

WWF Events Center-
-Andre welcomes the ex champ back and he's not too sure of himself anymore. He's going to show him what it to the be the only undefeated wrestler in the world. He's put him down once before, and he's going to do it again.
-Ted says they've got all the power and money in this team, and the people with power are the people with money as history will show us. Bobby says they've got the mega brain and an even better referee.

Match#4 The Iron Sheik vs Kim Yates
YEAH BUBBA MAKE HIS ASS HUMBLE. Gorilla tries to say Sheik is fat now, but that's a lie as Sheik is just built like that. Sheiky wins with the Clutch.
Iran #1

The Brother Love Show-
-I LOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
-He's excited because his personal friend, Ted Dibiase has bought him here so he could deliver his message. He tries to bring on Ted, but Randy Savage walks out instead with Liz, and BL is upset.
-Randy calls him a bum and says he has no idea what love is, but he's got his love for Elizabeth. He tells BL to stay back if he wants to keep his health for the long run. He loves the world title, and he loves his partner. Hogan comes out on the B show, and Heenan leaves commentary in disgust as the crowd loses their damn minds for the big man.
-Hogan says his definition of love is loving his Hulkamaniacs, and then chases BL off his set like a big bastard.
-Hogan says they both love the fact they can chop Andre down to size, and stick the cash back in Ted's cash register. They also love that they will be having their arms raised in victory. Randy asks Hogan to slam Andre for him, and then they pick Liz up and show off to the crowd as she poses.

Match#5 The Rockers vs Dave Wagner & Tom Burton
3 minutes for the new kids on the block to show off and be amazing as hell in another squash of the highest order. Tons of wicked moments as Gorilla loves them, and Bobby is not a fan at all. Shawn wins with his fistdrop
**

WWF Events center-
-Sean finds Jesse watching tape of the wrestlers as he asks his thoughts on this. Jess says he's the only man who can control any of these men, and that's why Tunney picked him. Jesse says he's going into referee and to NEVER question if he's in shape as his arms are bigger than Arnold's.
-Sean asks if he can stay neutral, and Jesse grabs him by the throat and makes him say he's going to be neutral.

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion: Randy Savage-27/3/88
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Honky Tonk Man-13/6/87
WWF Tag Team Champions: Demolition-27/3/88

WWF Superstars of Wrestling
August 13th, 1988
LaCrosse, WI

Match#1 Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth & Hulk Hogan v sConquistador #1 w/ Conquistador #2
HELL YEAH RANDY SQUASH ON TV LIKE THE OLD DAYS. He's a full blow crazy person for 2 minutes as he breaks out all the offence and kicks the snot out of this dweeb. Randy runs through him and hits the Elbow to win.
**

Post match, Hogan decks the other one, and the Powers pose. Somehow, this warrants "Real American" playing, despite Randy just winning. All three faces then pose. "She could be the downfall of this team. You can't have one woman and two men." - Jesse. My man can see the truth unlike anyone else.

WWF Update-
-Mean Gene runs down the SummerSlam card.

Match#2 Rick Rude w/Bobby Heenan vs Buck Zumhoff
Rude has the tights on again, and Vince is horrified at such an act towards another man's wife. Rude kicks the fuck out of this shitbag and looks amazing in the process. He wins with the RA.
*3/4

Post match, Rude does his thing with a lady.

WWF Events Center-
-Ted DiBiase says he's not patient anymore, and he can't wait to get Hulk Hogan back in a ring so that he can pay him back for his part in the robbery at WrestleMania IV. He says Hogan isn't a champion anymore, and he's not even the #1 Contender, because that's his too, just like Hogan's spot is his now.
-The Harts want a rematch with the Rougeaus, and Bret says Jimmy Hart might have signed them against the Rougeaus again, but they'll roll over them this time

Match#3 The British Bulldogs vs Tom Burton & Chris Curtis
Davey's mullet is getting more and more amazing as the weeks go on, and i can't wait for his dreadlock era. Oh, squash is a Dogs squash, you know the fucking score. DK wins with the Superplex is a proper rarity for 88 post peak DK. Good for him.
*1/2

Match#4 Bad News Brown vs Kim Yates
News gets 2 minutes and bashes the fuck out of the kid with punches to the throat and face, and just fucks him up in the best way possible. Blaster gets him a win.
**

WWF Events Center-
-The Bucks are here. Ted says Hogan will go to the well one last time because he thinks he can change fate as all the Hulkamanics are changing their ways by asking money without doing their jobs. They know money is power and money is what its all about. Hogan is desperate to hold it together, but it's never going to happen. Bobby says Liz should be managing a dinner as that's all she's good for. Ted grabs Andre's fist and tells Liz to kiss that.

Match#5 Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs George Petraski
Short and not much as he's not much when lacking for time, sadly. He wins with the 3 Point.
3/4*

Stage Interview-
-Demolition, Fuji & Hart make their way out as Craig is very confused as he must not watch Challenge.
-Jimmy says he took HF to the titles with his brains and ability, and they chased him off and kicked him out of the locker room. He's been laughed at, and no one makes a fool out of him. He called Fuji and formed an alliance because no one knows them better than him, and they've got a lot of weakness and he's going to spill his guts to stop them from holding the gold.
-Smash says they've beaten everyone up bad, and Fuji has told them to kick some teeth in. Ax promises to send these bums to the hospital.

Match#6 Dino Bravo w/Frenchy Martin vs Chris Zarnoff
Short and bad. He wins with his bad Sidewalk Slam
1/2*

Match#7 Powers of Pain vs Rick Gantner & Frankie DeFalco
The monsters get 3 minutes in a maybe too long one, but it mostly works because they kick the shit out of them and don't do anything bad or dumb. Barb wins with his headbutt
*3/4

WWF Events Center-
-Hogan has been hanging and banging at Gold's gym all this time. Ted caused all of this by paying off that ref, and he's first on his list. He's going to snap all he wants and starting with his legs. They touched HIS manager and he's going to get them back for hurting her as he makes the rules and he's coming for Ted. He's going to see what makes him tick in Boston.