OMG! I’ve been trumpeting the praises of the WWE Vault YouTube channel for a while now. Meanwhile, I’ve been wanting to add some content to the Milner Mat Report for the first time in the better part of decade. This afternoon, I decided to see what new stuff was on the channel and low and behold what do I see but “The Wrestling Classic!” This brings back so many great memories of renting the VHS tape from Vince’s Variety back in the day. So guess what I am spending the latter part of my Sunday afternoon watching (and reviewing)?
This was the very first WWF pay-per-view, held on November 7, 1985, (two days after Bill Elliott won in Atlanta) with a 16-man tournament as the centrepiece and a WWF World Championship match pitting Hulk Hogan and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Taking place in Chicago’s Rosemount Horizon, the event was promoted as being “Wrestlevision,” which I assume was the WWF’s plan to brand pay-per-views.
After the iconic opening with the WWF logo, the equally iconic voice of Howard Finkel introduces the participants of the tournament. Finkel throws it to Vince McMahon who basically says the same thing before introducing Lord Alfred Hayes and Susan Waitkus, who according to Google, is only famous for being on this show (or maybe went into real estate). Vince and Hayes talk about how the wrestlers’ physical conditioning is going to come into play here in this tournament. They show the tournament brackets on a large board that Susan basically points to, using the old-fashion rods that teachers used back in the day, and go through the first-round match-ups. Even though we know the results, a video of various wrestlers and managers drawing names of their opponents is aired. Ricky Steamboat is excited to have drawn Davey Boy Smith and says it will be a tough match. “Macho Man’ Randy Savage berates Elizabeth for drawing Ivan Putski. Mr. Fuji draws Tito Santana as the first round opponent for his charge, Don Muraco.
McMahon and Hayes then throw it to “Mean Gene” Okerlund who is now standing by with WWF President Jack Tunney. Tunney’s really excited about the event and says that the only rule is that you must win your match to advance. Interesting quirk here: While Okerlund keeps interacting with Tunney throughout the segment, an obviously nervous Tunney barely breaking eye contact with the camera.
Back to Vince who FINALLY throws it down to the arena floor and Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Unlike all the hubbub with Vince and his crew, Gorilla and Jesse basically just say they’re excited to be there and then the first match is introduced.
First Round Matches
Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart) vs. Corporal Kirchner
Adrian isn’t “Adorable” yet. Gorilla makes reference to Adonis and Ventura teaming as “The East-West Connection” and winning the WWF Tag Team Championships. Adonis had held the WWF Tag Titles but it was with Dick Murdoch. Adonis and Ventura won the tag titles in the AWA (which, of course, doesn’t exist in the WWF universe in 1985). Adonis was also bulking up in preparation for his “Adorable” Adrian transformation. Ventura and Monsoon re-iterate about having to win your match to advance and announce that the first round matches have 10-minute time limits. Kirchner was going for a suplex and Adonis turned it into a pseudo-DDT for the win.
“Mean Gene” is back with Adonis and Hart in the iconic (I’m using that word a lot today) interview area in front of the WWF logo. For a guy who just wrestled for several minutes, Adonis looks amazingly unsweaty (if that’s a word and WordPress’s editor tells me it isn’t). Hart calls Adrian “Adorable” and Adonis says he’s going to be victorious in the tournament.
The Dynamite Kid vs. Nikolai Volkoff
Gotta type quick because this won’t last long, as I recall. Volkoff sings the Soviet National Anthem. As Volkoff insults the crowd, Dynamite dropkicks him from the top rope and that’s the end of it. “Nikolai didn’t even get a chance to take his jersey off,” Ventura says and that pretty much sums it up.
“Mean Gene” is backstage with Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Elizabeth. Savage says he’s ready but he’s nervous. He’s going to prove he’s the #1 wrestler in the world. Even Elizabeth gets to talk and she says she’s excited for tonight. She agrees with Savage that Putski is strong but that Savage will be the quicker of the two.
Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs. “Polish Power” Ivan Putski
Interesting fact: Ivan Putski is still alive at the age of 84. Savage (with Elizabeth) had one of the best entrances in the history of the WWF. I mean, when he (or rather) they would come out to face the jobbers on Wrestling Challenge or the Superstars of Wrestling, you could just tell that Savage was going to be something special. Ventura is already basically saying that he will be biased towards Savage and calls Ivan “Paduski.” Savage definitely is quick but Putski has the power early in the match. Putski controlled basically the entire match and was working over Savage in the corner. Macho Man up-ended Putski and had his feet on the ropes for leverage and got the pinfall. Savage and Elizabeth head for safety as he’s declared the winner. I get they wanted to show how Macho Man was cheating to win the match but that was a lot of offence for Putski who didn’t do a whole lot after this. (I’ve read he took a hiatus from wrestling in 1986 but also that he was teaming with JYD and Superstar Billy Graham in 1987.)
Vince and Hayes talk about the results of the first few matches as Susan updates the tournament board. Volkoff comes in to complain about “American Justice” and being robbed during his match. Funny moment that I don’t think anyone picked up on: Volkoff points to himself and (inadvertently?) flips off the TV audience.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Davey Boy Smith
Steamboat and Smith shake hands as the match starts. Monsoon believes it will be a scientific match while Ventura isn’t so sure. Early portion of the match is a scientific match with both men getting the advantage at different junctures. Smith with two tremendous press slams gets a two count each time. Smith has the power advantage while Steamboat has the speed advantage. “This whole match-up is close,” Ventura says. Smith has Steamboat on the ropes and attempts a dropkick. The Dragon moves, however, and Smith crotches himself on the top rope. With Smith too injured to continue, the match is called in favour of Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat comes to the aid of his opponent and helps him back to the dressing room.
“Mean Gene” is now with the Junk Yard Dog who will be battling the Iron Sheik. JYD says the Sheik has a great resume and says Chicago is doing a great job putting on this show, adding that fan support will play a part in the match.
The Iron Sheik vs. the Junk Yard Dog
I think the JYD is the first wrestler to come out with original theme music, as “Grab Them Cakes” plays. (Savage came out to “Pomp and Circumstance” which, considering it’s played at every graduation ceremony, can’t be deemed “original.”) The ref gives JYD whatfor for bringing in his chain and as the Dog goes to take off the chain, he gets attacked by the Sheik and choked out by the Sheik’s robe. The Sheik was one of those guys for whom the Internet was created. Becoming an Internet personality gave the Sheik a second career, so to speak. (Seriously, check out YouTube.) The Sheik has the advantage after the sneak attack but the JYD comeback has the Sheik scrambling to the floor. JYD has the advantage until he misses with a headbutt. The Sheik slaps on the Camel Clutch but the Dog battles back. The Sheik has the JYD in the corner and the ref tries to get the Sheik out of the corner only to be tossed aside. With the Sheik distracted, the JYD delivers a headbutt and while Ventura and Monsoon assumed there might be a disqualification, instead its a pinfall victory for the JYD.
While Mean Gene Okerlund tries to interview Terry Funk (with Jimmy Hart), Funk spews chaw all over him, while talking about taking the $50,000 bounty on Paul Orndorff and using it to get a title shot at the World Heavyweight Championship who Funk predicts will be held by Roddy Piper. Okerlund eventually steps away and Hart holds the mic for Funk. Hart says to “bring them all on” as Funk spits tobacco juice at the camera.
Moondog Spot vs. Terry Funk
Funk says he doesn’t want to wrestle Spot and Spot doesn’t want to wrestle him. Spot shakes his head and so Funk says they should both just leave and settle for a draw. Spot gets Funk to leave first but as they walk down the aisle, Funk attacks Spot. Spot comes back to battle Funk who inadvertently backdrops the Moondog back into the ring. Funk doesn’t get back into the ring in time and is counted out. Funk attacks Spot and even takes after the referee. This result was…interesting.
Okerlund interviews Fuji and Muraco. Fuji predicts victory over Tito Santana. Muraco puts over Santana as a great wrestler and says the way you become the best is by beating the best.
Tito Santana vs. “The Magnificent” Don Muraco
Muraco hulk-a-cizes his T-shirt. Ventura says Santana, as Intercontinental Champion, is making a mistake, risking injury by being in this tournament. Monsoon says Tito couldn’t have stayed out of such a prestigious tournament. Muraco takes charge in the opening moments but Tito makes some comebacks to get two-counts with a flying bodypress, a sunset flip and a backslide. Tito gets the advantage and takes it to Muraco. The fast-paced match slows down with an armbar by Tito. Muraco clotheslines Santana on the top rope and uses his power to eventually get a two-count. He then slams Santana and the ref counts three, only to notice Tito’s foot was on the rope. As Muraco celebrates, Tito attacks and gets a small package for the real three count.
Okerlund is back with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan. The Heenan Family was conspicuous by their absence, as Gorilla Monsoon might say, but Heenan says hes always scouting for talent. Okerlund makes a weasel joke which Heenan gets upset by, and adds that he’s got the bounty on Orndorff and he feels like he’s going to pay it tonight.
“Cowboy” Bob Orton vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
This is a wild one to start with Orndorff working away on Orton’s “injured” arm. Orndorff’s face turn has been solidified and he has it all his way until an Irish whip into the corner is followed up by Orton getting his knees up. Orton takes over until Orndorff attempts a sunset flip. He uses Orton’s trunks for leverage and WWE has since blurred out Orton’s butt. However, Orton stays in control. Orton tosses Orndorff into the corner but Mr. Wonderful moves as Orton follows him in and Orton gets caught up on the top rope. Orndorff is back in control and soon the action spills to the floor. Orton adjust his cast but hammers Orndorff right in front of the referee. Orton is disqualified and Orndorff comes back and sends Orton running.
That’s the last of the first round and I know these types of shows get slammed for their short matches but each match, at least, so far did a fine job in telling a story. Sadly, of the 16 first round participants, only five are still alive. Back at the tournament board, Hayes is molesting Susan before Vince calls him off and they go through the first round matches and show the second round match-ups. And once again, a wrestler (this time Terry Funk) storms in and says he was robbed. Funk blames the WW-blank and calls Hayes a “big-eyed jerk” which is not an insult you hear every day before threatening to slap Lord Alfred.
Second Round Matches
The Dynamite Kid vs. Adrian Adonis
The Dynamite Kid comes out a house-of-fire and sends Adonis to the floor. Adonis gets back in the ring and takes over on Dynamite. As Monsoon and Ventura discuss the second round matches (all with a 15-minute time limit), Ventura says he has to go back and talk to Savage. Adonis hits a suplex on Dynamite Kid and gets a two-count. Adonis uses his power to maintain control over Dynamite. He sends the Kid into the corner but when he follows him in, Dynamite maneuvers out of the way and gets a sunset flip for a two-count. Adonis goes for a bulldog but Kid shoves him into the corner and follows up with a flying kneedrop. Dynamite has his second wind and comes off the second rope with another flying kneedrop but doesn’t get the three count. Snap suplex and a flying headbutt by Dynamite has Adonis in trouble, so much so that Jimmy Hart climbs up on the apron. Adonis tries for a roll-up but when Dynamite kicks out, it propels Adonis into Hart and the megaphone. Adonis is down, Dynamite makes the cover and that’s the three count. Dynamite is injured but victorious. The post-match meltdown by Adonis is hilarious.
Mean Gene Okerlund and Jesse Ventura are in the back to talk about the upcoming Savage-Steamboat match. Ventura says he’s been watching the matches and has taken his expertise to the Macho Man.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage
As anyone who recaps this show will tell you that a year later, this match-up became very personal and led up to one of the greatest matches of all time at Wrestlemania III. Mind games and a sneak attack by Macho Man comes to very little as the Dragon sends Savage scrambling. The battle rages inside and outside the ring on several occasions and the Macho Man and the Dragon exchange the upper hand. Jesse Ventura has returned to commentary. Savage comes off the top rope but the Dragon catches him with a shot to the mid-section and follows it up with some karate shots. The Macho Man heads outside the ring and the Dragon suplexes him back inside and then comes off the top rope with a high cross body but doesn’t get the three count. The Dragon continues with the offense but as the ref backs him away, Macho Man grabs something out of his trunks. Wait…before anyone gets offended, it was just a foreign object. Sorry, “international object.” (Man, it’s hard to write in 2025.) When the Dragon goes to back suplex Savage back into the ring, Savage clocks him with the object and that’s enough for the victory. Basically a foreshadowing of the same ending of the Savage-Santana Intercontinental Championship match in the Boston Gardens in early 1986. Too short to be considered a real classic but definitely shows what the two could do in the ring.
Mean Gene is with Moondog Spot who attempts to cut a promo before his match with the Junk Yard Dog. “Incoherent” is the way Gorilla Monsoon terms it. Man, I wanna see a debate between Spot and George “The Animal” Steele, although I think Steele was more coherent.
The Junk Yard Dog vs. Moondog Spot
Spot on the attack but fails with a flying bodypress. JYD with the headbutts and makes the cover. No referee so the Dog makes the three count himself. Apparently, that’s allowed to stand.
Mean Gene is with Bobby Heenan. While Mean Gene Okerlund doesn’t think Heenan will have to pay the bounty for the upcoming Tito Santana-Paul Orndorff match, Heenan says that he is always scouting for talent. He also believes Hogan is ripe for the picking in the upcoming WWF Championship match.
Tito Santana vs. Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff
Match starts out as a scientific match between two faces. Santana has a side headlock clamped on for some time until Orndorff powers out of it but Santana counters into a head scissors. Orndorff eventually does counter that into a pin attempt but to no avail. A test of strength results in a chicken wing by Orndorff that Santana eventually reverses. Orndorff gets an atomic drop and that takes Tito out of commission for a few minutes due to an obvious injury from a previous match. Mr. Wonderful takes advantage by hooking a toe hold. Santana gets out of it and the lockup on the ropes and a forearm shot by Orndorff sends Tito to the floor. Orndorff comes out and the pair come to blows on the outside. The battle on the floor goes to a 10-count. The double count-out eliminates both men from the tournament. (This was basically about five moves, each one just drawn out.)
Vince and Alfred and Susan are back at the board to discuss the tournament. Hayes says the Dynamite Kid has had an easy time of it, compared to Randy Savage and the Junk Yard Dog has a bye into the finals.
World Championship Match: Hulk Hogan vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Piper is led to the ring by a Scottish pipe band. I know that’s supposed to make him a heel but he gets face points from me. Backstage, Mean Gene is with Hulk Hogan who says the whole world will see the “wrath of Hulk Hogan” that is coming down heavy on Roddy Piper. A moment or so later, “Real American” hits and the crowds go wild. There’s a struggle for the WWF belt and the battle is on. Piper sends Hulk to the floor but Hogan pulls Piper out and the two battle on the floor. Back inside, Piper has the advantage due to some questionable tactics. Hogan makes the comeback and slams Piper. For a moment, I thought he was coming off with the big boot rather early but he lands an elbow drop. Hogan starts pounding away on Piper, first on the floor and then in the corner. Ref steps in and gives the Hot Rod an opening to get the advantage on Hogan. Piper does try for a couple of pinfalls but Hogan isn’t ready to get pinned. Piper jumps up on Hogan’s back and applies the sleeper hold. The ref haphazardly checks for a submission but on the third attempt, Hogan’s keeps the arm up and begins the Hulk up. Hogan gets to his feet but Piper is still hanging on. Over the top rope they go. Piper tries to send Hulk into the ring post but Hogan reverses it. Piper back with a couple of punches that Hogan no-sells. Hogan takes after Piper and they get back into the ring. Hogan with an irish whip and the big boot which Piper only sorta sells so it’s an atomic drop by Hogan. Another irish whip that Piper reverses and as Hogan rebounds off the ropes, Piper steps aside and Hogan takes down the referee.
With the referee down, Piper grabs a chair from the outside, then clobbers Hogan with it. Piper goes to ram the chair into Hogan’s throat but Hogan blocks it. Hulk hits Piper with the chair and then slaps on a sleeper of his own, while still holding onto the chair. Hogan drops the chair but keeps the sleeper on Piper. As the referee starts to come around, Cowboy Bob Orton hits the ring and attacks Hogan. The referee calls for the bell but the double-team continues until Paul Orndorff arrives and grabs a chair to clear the ring.
(Interesting moment. As Hogan and Orndorff stand tall in the ring, they show a crowd shot and right in the centre is a guy doing the “I’m making it look like I’m scratching my nose but really I’m giving the finger.” From the look on his face, he thinks he’s the coolest person in the building. Let me tell you, as the biggest dork you know, I look at people who do that and think “What a loser!”)
After Orndorff watches Hogan do his usual posedown, we go to Mean Gene and the Junk Yard Dog. JYD hopes for victory in the tournament. Jimmy Hart interrupts, promising revenge for the Dog de-pantsing him recently.
Semi-Final Match: The Dynamite Kid vs. Randy “The Macho Man” Savage
Dynamics and the Macho Man try for several lock-ups and nothing comes of it. Savage gets a momentary advantage and they exchange some amateur holds before Savage ducks out. Back inside, Dynamite and the Macho Man lock up and then pirouette along the ropes for about half the ring until the ref gets in between them, opening the door for a cheap shot by Savage. The Macho Man takes over for a minute or so before a gut shot by Dynamite turns the tide.
You know, I don’t remember the Dynamite Kid looking this blonde. He looks like Chris Benoit. Macho Man sends Dynamite into the ropes but a shoulder block drops Savage and Dynamite follows up with a backdrop off the ropes. Dynamite comes off the ropes with a body press but the momentum carries he and Savage into the ropes. Savage sends Dynamite into the ropes but the Kid gets in an attempt at a sunset flip. Savage drops down and breaks up the attempt and ducks a flying bodypress. Double clotheslines as both men come off the ropes. Savage recovers first and goes to the top rope, only to be met by a dropkick by the Dynamite Kid. The Dynamite Kid takes Savage off the top rope with a superplex but when they land, Savage hooks the Kid’s legs for the pinfall.
For the first time, we go to Vince and Susan and Susan is not being molested by Lord Alfred Hayes (that we can see anyways). Vince goes to throw it to Hayes in the ring but first goes to a video of the Rolls Royce that they are giving away. Howard Finkle is with WWF President Jack Tunney, Director of Promotions Basil DeVito (ooooh..that’s who that guy is!), Ed Fibershoff, Director of Marketing for Don Gigota Associates (That’s as close as I can get to the spelling) who looks scared to death to be there. Lord Alfred Hayes announces that Michael Hamley of Batavia, Illinois won the Rolls Royce.
In the locker room, Mean Gene interviews Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff about the feud between them and Roddy Piper. Hogan says they have a surprise for Piper and Orton.
Finals: Randy “The Macho Man” Savage vs. The Junk Yard Dog
I hadn’t been paying close enough attention but I suspected the following to be true: Elizabeth has been changing her dress in between matches, much like she would at Wrestlemania IV during the WWF Championship tournament. Savage looks spent while the Dog comes out looking well-rested, without an ounce of sweat on him. Savage bails and threatens to use a chair. The Macho Man jumps in and out of the ring. When Savage does get back in and finally locks up with the Dog, the JYD tosses him aside with relative ease on a couple of occasions. Atomic drop sends Savage to the canvas and JYD puts Savage into a bearhug. JYD works over the back, as injured in the Dynamite Kid match, in the early going. As the JYD sends Savage into the corner, the Macho Man comes off with an awkward looking clothesline that stops the JYD’s momentum. The Dog, however, will kick out of a pinfall attempt with authority. Savage sends JYD out to the floor and then follows it up with a double axe handle off the top rope. Savage follows up with a double axe handle (although not a flying one) to the back of JYD as the latter was trying to climb back in the ring and then sends the Dog into the corner post. Savage heads back to the top rope and hits another double axe handle to the JYD. Savage then hits the Dog with a chair. Savage gets back in the ring just long enough to break the count. Afterwards, he attacks the JYD as the Dog tries to get back in the ring and chocks him out on the ring barrier. Savage gets back in the ring just enough to beat the count and then heads back out, this time to toss the Dog back in the ring. Savage leaps off with what was to be yet another double axe handle but this time the JYD connects with a shot to the mid-section. Both Savage and the JYD are down but the Dog recovers to deliver a series of headbutts that Savage sells like he’s a ping pong ball. The JYD hauls Savage out of the corner and a standing headbutt sends Savage into the ropes. After working over Savage in the ropes, JYD untangles him but Savage gets some momentum…until, that is, he charges the Dog on the ropes. JYD backdrops Savage over the top rope.
The Junk Yard Dog wins via count out and therefore, wins the Wrestling Classic. Jesse Ventura protests the results because of the bye.
Okay, obviously this was a precursor to the King of the Ring tournaments that would take place on numerous occasions as house shows until it became a pay-per-view (or whatever they call them now) in 1993.
Weird booking because it almost seemed like they were booking Savage as the face in this tournament, with his final opponent (JYD) getting the bye into the finals and the ease of his semi-final opponent’s (the Dynamite Kid) previous matches being referenced. The final match itself seemed to be more typical of the face-heel match. Having Savage lose via count out protects him. In retrospect, you could definitely see how they were building up Savage to be a superstar and eventually the choice to dethrone Santana for the Intercontinental Championship.
One might say that there wasn’t exactly a classic match to be had but I liked the Savage-Kid match, even knowing who was eventually going to win. You also have to tip the hat to the WWF’s booking staff allowing for a couple of face vs. face (Steamboat/Smith and Orndorff/Santana) matches and a heel vs. heel (Moondog Spot vs. Terry Funk) match, something they really didn’t do too often at the time.
And for a great dose of nostalgia for reliving the post-Wrestlemania I scene in the WWF, and the Gorilla Monsoon-Jesse Ventura commentary team, the Wrestling Classic is just that.
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