Originally reviewed – July 17, 2011
It’s retro wrestling time as we take a look at a WWE card from Madison Square Gardens from January 1989.
We open with Ron Trongaard and Lord Alfred Hayes, who mention several of the key matches. Well, really just Hogan-Boss Man and Dibiase – Hercules. Yep, sadly in 1989, Ted Dibiase had gone from feuding with the likes of Hogan and Savage to working with Hercules.
Trongaard…and I know I’m misspelling his name…is always going to be associated with the AWA in my eyes. No matter how many matches I see on WWE 24/7 where he’s calling house shows from MSG, etc, I’m always going to be waiting for him to talk about the Zbyszko-Gagne feud or call a Nick Bockwinkle title match…. And speaking of Larry Zbyszko… I found out recently that his real name? Whistler. I always figured Zbyszko was his given name and he just never bothered taking on an easier-to-spell stage name.
Now, I understand that “Whistler” probably wasn’t a great wrestling name either and this was a shout-out to Stanislaus Zbyszko, one of the top stars in the early 20th century, but seriously, Larry, what possesses someone to adapt the name like Zbyszko over a guy that 95% has never heard of?
Heck, even CM Punk’s name-dropping of Colt Cabana was a better move because at least the marks might stumble over Cabana while googling “I hate John Cena because everyone told me too!”
But let’s get our eyes back on the prize and check in on the opener: Sam Houston vs. “Dangerous” Danny Davis. Davis is the disgraced referee-turned wrestler-eventually turned respected referee. I don’t think Davis is still with WWE, but there was a long period in the 90s where you’d notice Davis as the referee, but never figured he’d turn heel again. He became just like any other referee, which probably wasn’t a bad thing. Fans want heels to be heels, not referees or commentators.
Actually, colour commentators can be heels as long as they remain behind the mic.
Sam Houston was the half-brother of Jake Roberts and his sister is Rockin’ Robin. He ended up kinda classed with Robin instead of Roberts, so he didn’t get the push of the Snake but didn’t get the crack addiction either, so you take what you can get I guess.
Oh…according to Wikipedia, he married and divorced Nickla Roberts (Baby Doll), or rather she left him due to his drinking which netted him a bunch of DUIs and a prison sentence. Jeez, at least Jake’s demons got him a movie out of it.
Wait…the half-brother of Jake Roberts married Nickla Roberts? Actually if you look at Houston and Baby Doll, that must have been the mid-80s version of Torrie Wilson and Billy Kidman. I think they figured Houston would be the next Barry Windham and ended up being the next Kendall Windham. Houston wins here, if you’re keeping score at home.
Next up: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig vs. Brutus Beefcake. Wow! The Ron Trongaard flashbacks will be in full effect here. The commentators are talking about how great Beefcake looks in his all-white outfit and gym bag. Knowing Beefcake’s history (or I guess his future here), I have to wonder if Beefcake has his own mini-pharmacy in there. Oh well, as long as he keeps that stuff in the bag, he won’t accidentally leave his crack lying around and the entire building won’t have to be evacuated when someone thinks it’s Anthrax. LOL! That’s totally my favourite Brutus Beefcake story.
Actually, an additional story: I actually saw this match-up, when Perfect-Beefcake met again…at Wrestlemania VI.
You know, with Beefcake’s outfit, he’s like Zack Ryder, without the personality. Woo Woo Woo…you know it, bro. (Actually, knowing Beefcake’s connection to Hogan, that might be “You know it…BROTHER!”)
Kind of an interesting ending to this match, as Ron Bass (whose hair Beefcake had cut) comes down and starts going through Beefcake’s bag. Beefcake, not wanting his stash to be disturbed, goes after Bass…and gets counted out. Good ending as the Bass-Beefcake story continues, Perfect gets the win, but Beefcake doesn’t have to job cleanly to him. Beefcake does come back and drive Perfect from the ring so he gets any heat he may have lost back. (Admittedly Hennig far out-classed Beefcake so it should have been a clean victory, but Perfect wasn’t a main eventer in early 1989, having just arrived from the AWA.)
Tim Horner vs. Jose Estrada: Jobber vs. Jobber here, even though Horner and Brad Armstrong had a pretty exciting team in the UWF and, for a short time, in Jim Crockett Promotions. Horner could have been what I think they were going for with Shane Douglas in 1990-91. And holy crap! I almost forgot that Douglas was also in the UWF about the same time, even had a short run as a total babyface TV Champion. I think he beat Eddie Gilbert but lost it soon after to Terry Taylor. “The Franchise” Tim Horner? Could have happened.
You know what’s interesting?
(Reader’s response: Something other than this blog?)
Funny, but what I’m talking about is the fact that this match is already longer than probably all the wrestling you’ll see in the first half hour of Raw. If Raw was to feature some mid-card newcomer vs. a jobber (Can you imagine how much the IWC would crap over the 2011 version of Tim Horner vs. Jose Estrada which I guess would be something like Jay Briscoe vs. Primo Colon) it’d be one or two high spots from Briscoe and then the go-home. In the 80s, these guys got the chance to work.
Horner got some exciting stuff in, Estrada worked him over (which gave the fans the chance to see that Horner was resilient and could last in there against Estrada. In the end, Estrada turned his back on Horner, thinking he had things well in hand (putting him over as a cocky, yet foolish heel) and Horner got the roll-up for the victory.
The Honky Tonk Man’s theme plays, and they show a fan at ringside who’s probably the only person brave enough to be vocal of their backing of Honky Tonk. I can’t tell if that’s a girl or just a guy with a really long mullet. (Damn 80s hairstyles.) I will admit, the Honky Tonk Man theme is darn catchy.
And for the second time this weekend, I’m reminded of my late-80s crush on tennis star Gabriella Sabatini. (In late 1987, I made a parody of Honky’s theme called “Sabatini”…don’t ask. It was so corny I still get shivers thinking about it.)
Honky Tonk takes on Bret Hart in what must be the tail-end of Hart’s first singles run. I guess the world (or rather Vince McMahon) just wasn’t ready for a World Champion who wasn’t a 300-pounder who refused to put anyone but himself over. Not that Hart’s ascension to the title stopped that, isn’t that right, Stone Cold, HBK, Rock, Nash, Goldberg, Lesnar…???
Oh, the Honky Tonk Man fan is definitely a female.
And as goofy as the Honky Tonk Man was (and as outspoken as he might sound on the Net today), he’s one of those guys who totally did what was right for the business. When he was champion, he made everybody he stepped into the ring with look good. It always seemed as if the challenger was about one move away from totally destroying Honky and walking out the champion. And even when Honky retained, everyone walked out think “Wow! The challenger totally had Honky’s number. I bet if he gets a rematch he’ll totally win the belt!” So that elevated the challenger…and once Honky lost the title, he totally (Wow! 3 totallys in two sentences, I’m TOTALLY getting into the 80s vibe here!) did the job to just about everyone they put him in the ring against, so again doing what was right for the business, helping to elevate people (like Bret Hart, who was mostly thought of as a tag wrestler in the WWE in the late 8os.)
Of course, I say that, and what happens? Honky Tonk and Hart battle to a double-count-out. Well, if they were serious about giving Hart a singles push (which considering he was back to tag action soon after, I guess they weren’t), they should have had Hart go over cleanly here.
The Brainbusters vs. The Rockers: Yes! A great series but man, Arn and Tully totally should have been given a much longer run as the WWE Tag Champs.
Actually, if the Busters would have had the belts and defended them against the Rockers, now THAT would have been a great series. I’ve long been a proponent of the idea that you take a great match, and you make it a title match, that just makes the match THAT much better.
Of course, a series like the Buster-Rockers was one where the participants just raised it to the next level.
Wow! Flashback time, as Arn Anderson had Shawn Michaels in abdominal stretch, and boy did it look like the old days of the Horsemen vs. Rock n Roll Express. By the way, can I add my name to the list (that includes Randy Orton, William Regal and others) of people who think Arn Anderson deserves entry into the WWE Hall of Fame. Personally I think he should have gone in with Flair, and for that matter, so should have all of the original Horsemen.
If the finish to the Honky-Hart was a surprise in a not-so-pleasant way, than the Busters-Rockers match was a nice surprise. Arn hooked the leg of Jannetty, allowing Blanchard to get the victory. I figured the bout would go to a double-countout or a time limit draw. (They had several battles on TV where they just brawled to the back.) Nice to see one team – and that team being the Brainbusters is even better – getting a victory here.
LOL! Funny moment here as Trongaard throws it back to the interview area “and Shawn Michaels.” I assume it’s going to be Michaels complaining about how the Rockers-Brainbusters match ended, perhaps even vowing revenge in a rematch. Instead, he get Ted Dibiase, Virgil and…SEAN Mooney. We get Dibiase, Hercules (who kinda stumbles through his interview) and the Big Boss Man and Slick. Man, Slick was hilarious on the mic. (Exac-atickly!)
Speaking of guys who were awesome on the mic, Ravishing Rick Rude will start the 2nd half. And much like the Busters, Rude is out here without Bobby “the Brain” Heenan. And sadly, it’s not like Heenan is on commentary. Wait! Rude faces Hillbilly Jim? Talk about a contrast in…well, just about everything. Styles, ability, body, mic skills, overness. Man..I guess the closest 2011 version of this match would be…Alberto Del Rio vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan. (I think Duggan is still on the WWE roster. They bring him out about once a year.)
Of course, Rude gets the victory here, and was heading towards a feud with the Ultimate Warrior that would net him the Intercontinental Championship.
One of the key matches of the night is next, as Ted Dibiase takes on Hercules, but Virgil is barred from ringside. Of course, this gives Dibiase an opportunity for some theatrics as Virgil is sent packing.
This was a pretty long match. Hercules came out strong and although Dibiase came back for a while, it was Hercules who had the advantage at the end. However, the end was a page out of the Valentine-JYD match at the first Wrestlemania. Dibiase cradled Herc for the pinfall and put his legs up on the ropes for leverage.
Once the match was complete, Virgil came back to ringside and he and Dibiase tried to do a number on Hercules. It succeeded for a moment but eventually Hercules drove them off and was left standing tall in the ring swinging his chain. The Dibiase-Hercules feud never really went anywhere, save I think a nod at the Survivor Series (and even then, I’m not sure), and these house shows. Wait…was there a blow-off at a Saturday Night’s Main Event???
The referee reverses the decision due to Virgil’s interference. Which pretty much kills my whole spiel of how they made the right call putting Dibiase over here, since he had a better upside than Hercules, who really went nowhere with the face turn and was headed to Jobber to the Stars-ville before he hooked up (not THAT WAY!) with Jim Powers as Power and Glory. Come to think of it, the whole P&G team never went anywhere either. (Didn’t they cost the Road Warriors a shot at the tag titles at Wrestlemania VII, and then get their @sses handed to them by the LOD – That’s Legion of Doom, not Lines of Defence – at Wrestlemania VII?)
Ron Bass takes on Tito Santana. See, some might question why they’d put another mid-card match right before what must be the main event. I meant, Ron Bass vs. Tito Santana was nobody’s idea of a semi-main event in early 1989. However, the idea was that people would be so pumped up after the Hercules-Dibiase match and they needed a chance to calm down and regroup before the main event. I’m going to shrug my shoulders at the idea that Hercules-Dibiase lived up to its hype. It got a lot more time to build than it would have in 2011, I’ll give them that.
As anyone who’s been paying attention can probably have seen coming, Brutus Beefcake comes to ringside with Bass in control. Beefcake grabs the hat and whip of Bass from the corner. Bass gets distracted long enough for Santana to get the pinfall. Nice to see Santana get a pinfall, since his career was heading in the same direction as Hercules. (Oh wait, Tito would return to glory as El Matador!) Not that Bass-Beefcake was going to end up in the same category as Flair-Steamboat later in the year, but I guess in the grand scheme of things, the events of the show (with Beefcake and Bass interfering in the other’s match) was a good way to build some kind of interest in their feud.
And so, we’re on to the main event as Hogan takes on the Boss Man. In a strange twist, the commentators are talking up how the Boss Man is out for revenge because of what Hogan did to him and Slick in the previous bout at MSG.
Ah…Hogan in 1989. Just as his relevance was coming to an end and the days of “Are you STILL here?” were about to begin. 1989-2011. So that was 22 years ago…and Hogan is STILL around and still believes he should be in the main event. (He basically said that in an interview recently and promised/threatened to be the biggest face star in Impact Wrestling by year’s end…so we have that to look forward to.)
Now, as much as I’m going to complain about the fact that Hogan basically wrestled the same match for his entire career (fast start, in trouble, Hulk up, legdrop, pin, pose) you can’t deny that it did work for a time. There was a time from 1985-1989 where Hogan could do no wrong. Hulkamania may not have lasted forever but for those five years, he was the most popular star in the industry. Not the best, mind you, as Flair had that tag, but Hulk was the most popular.
Hmm…I wonder if the Flair-Steamboat series was the beginning of the end for Hogan. People saw that there was more to wrestling than just punch-kick-bodyslam-legdrop. Interesting thesis to explore at a later date.
This match had a bit of a twist to it. Hogan did the fast start-in trouble-Hulk up routine. But the ending saw Hogan (who Boss Man had handcuffed on the outside) hit two legdrops, but instead of going for the pin, grabbed the Boss Man’s nightstick. When the referee tried to stop Hogan, the Hulkster tossed him aside and drew the DQ.
Of course, Hogan still ran off the Boss Man and Slick and did the posing routine to send the crowd home happy.
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