Reviewed April 2012
We’re only the first match in and already we’re at our first dead guy as Rick “Quick Draw” McGraw takes on Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart. McGraw looks pretty solid. Gotta love the all-black tights on Neidhart. Never saw the point of the Pink and Black Attack. I wonder if the Hart Foundation wasn’t supposed to be as over as they were, so they got saddled with the Pink tights gimmick and yet still got over to the point where the WWE had to put the Tag titles on them. Back and forth match as Gorilla Monsoon and Billy Red Lyons (the commentators) really put over just how great McGraw is. Not sure if they were teasing a push for McGraw (but then why job him to Neidhart in the opening match?) but he’d be dead in a couple of months anyways. Weird ending as Neidhart gets a powerslam for the pin and the ref makes the weirdest count ever. He basically spends about five seconds patting (not pounding, like most refs) the mat. At first, I was wondering if he was trying to feel under McGraw’s shoulders to see if they were indeed on the mat, but the actual count was very subtle. Anyways, Neidhart gets the victory.
Speaking of strange, Don Muraco takes on Steve Lombardi. When I say strange, I mean that Lombardi, as expected, gets a heel response, and Muraco gets a pretty strong face reaction…although that changes before the bell rings, as a “Beach Bum” chant breaks out. For a moment there, I wondered if I had somehow missed Muraco’s face turn in the early 80s WWF. But the “Beach Bum” chant, the remarks of Monsoon and the history I know of, Muraco was the heel here. Pretty much your regular Saturday morning Superstars of Wrestling bout, save they wouldn’t pit a heel Muraco vs. a heel Lombardi. What I mean is that Muraco had most of the offence, Lombardi had a couple of reversals, but in the end, Muraco hit his reverse piledriver for the victory.
“Gentleman” Jerry Valiant takes on Ivan Putski. I can’t say I’ve ever seen Jerry Valiant before (or at least not for a long while). I mean, I’ve seen Johnny Valiant, and Jimmy Valiant but Jerry’s a new one on me. (I think I’ve vaguely heard of Jerry, but he’s definitely the least known of the Valiants…He’s like that Kardashian who’s not Kim or Khloe. Oh…or that Osbourne kid who wasn’t on the show.) Bit of a change-up on the mic, as Jesse Ventura takes over for Billy Red Lyons. I know he had a major program with Putski at one point so I wonder if he’s out for more than just to spell Lyons. Oh well, I don’t care as long as we get the team of Monsoon and Ventura behind the mic. Pretty much a squash match, but a bit longer than normal. Putski wins with the Polish Hammer, as expected.
Wow…three squash matches…and all lasted longer than the World Championship match at Wrestlemania XXVIII….Yeah, I went there.
The other half of the Hart Foundation is in singles competition against George (Yeah, I can’t believe I was at a Wrestlemania either) Wells. Headshaker here as they’ve changed commentators again, with Jack Reynolds (who I just learned passed away in 2008) joining Jesse Ventura. That’s not the headshaker (it is kinda strange, although I guess Reynolds did quite a bit of commentary back in this time period). During the ring introductions, the announcer mentions that Wells had played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Literally seconds later, Ventura asks Reynolds where Wells played in the CFL and Reynolds has no clue.
It’s the Battle of the Dogs, as the Moondogs take on the British Bulldogs…Oh wait, it’s the Bulldogs vs. Moondog Spot and Barry O. Bit of an oversight as announcer failed to mention “O” as the Apex Uncle. Against a makeshift team like Barry O and Moondog Spot, this match lasted way too long for the British Bulldogs. I guess they wanted to introduce the team to fans by showing both their offensive moves and their resiliency. Still, couldn’t they have done that against a stronger team like…oh, heck, even the actual Moondogs team. (Or better yet, a newly formed Hart Foundation?)
After the “Intermission” it’s time for another tag match, as the Dream Team of Brutus Beefcake and Intercontinental Champion Greg “the Hammer” Valentine, with Jimmy Hart. Hmm…I don’t recall Hart managing the complete Dream Team. I always figured when Johnny Valiant took over managing Valentine, then he teamed him up with Beefcake. Actually, I just realized this match took place just days after Wrestlemania I…and Beefcake was even managed by Valiant at that event. Oh…it’s the Dream Team vs. Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Interesting combination, although I think this was more a “Santana vs. Valentine with a tag partner”. I wonder if this was the first teaming of the Dream Team.
Wikipedia says Valient and Hart first put the two together in May 1985 to take on Santana and JYD, so this might just be the first, or at least one of the first, teamings of Valentine and Beefcake.
This was a solid back and forth tag match. In any other situation, I might have frowned upon a make-shift team of two stars, even the stature of Steamboat and Santana, going over an established team like Beefcake and Valentine. But the future Dream Team was pretty early in their run as a regular team, plus the victory by Santana served its purpose.
In the end, Santana got the figure-four leglock on Valentine for the victory. Good ending as it followed up on Santana’s use of the figure four leglock on the Executioner at Wrestlemania which, as Ventura (who’s back on the mic with Monsoon) had stated “served notice to Greg ‘the Hammer’ Valentine” that he knew how to use the move. This was, of course, a foreshadowing of the continuation of the Valentine-Santana feud over the Intercontinental Championship.
I wonder how wrestling history might have changed if it had been Steamboat and Santana had been the team to come out of this match as regular partners. With Volkoff and The Iron Sheik as World Tag Team Champions and heels, the face team of Santana and Steamboat could have been made contenders to the belts. Of course, Windham and Rotundo wouldn’t have regained the titles and might have left for Florida earlier. With Windham having more time in Florida and then in Jim Crockett Promotions by late 1986, perhaps he would have taken over Magnum T.A.’s role after the latter’s car accident and might have been the guy Flair dropped the title to. Meanwhile, odds are Santana, involved in the tag team scene, wouldn’t have regained the Intercontinental Championship, and Steamboat’s title reigns (both Intercontinental and NWA World) might have been delayed or derailed altogether.
The Main Event is a World Championship match pitting Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff challenging Hulk Hogan. There’s a delay before the ring introductions leading Monsoon and Ventura to believe there may be some issue, but nothing is ever explained. Hogan comes out with the NWA Television title (I kid, but the 1985 version of the title belt does resemble the NWA TV title) and to “Real American” which is pretty wild considering the song wasn’t released until late 1985 and then was to be used for Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo.
Interesting that Orndorff was still working as big a heel as if the events of the first Wrestlemania hadn’t gone down. In other words, he and Piper must not have discussed him taking the fall in the main event, thanks to getting hit by Orton’s cast. Really, there was no dressing room discussion of what happened? He and Piper weren’t working out in the gym and Piper leans over and says “Sooo…about that big loss we saddled you up with, there Paul?” or Orndorff turns to Piper and says “You need to get make sure that bodyguard of yours has better aim next time.” (I kid.)
As per usual with Hogan’s matches of the period, he ended up on the receiving end of a lot of punishment from Orndorff, selling well and making the crowd believe he might drop the title. (Too bad Ventura and Monsoon are, with all due respect to them, totally no-selling the existence of Wrestlemania I, or they might have been able to put over the idea that “Maybe the Hulkster was doing too much too much work prior to Wrestlemania.” “That’s right, Gorilla, He was out there, doing the talk shows and hanging out with Mr. T, while Orndorff was in the gym.”) The ending was a little different. No Hulking up, and hitting the big boot and the legdrop. Instead, Orndorff to the top rope, but as he come off with a hi-cross body, Hogan rolls through for a sloppy pinfall for the three count. Afterwards, Orndorff extends the hand. The commentators aren’t sure (and neither is my Mom sitting here watching the last few moments.) Hogan shakes the hand and (surprise!) no double-cross by Orndorff. Just a handshake and Orndorff departs. The commentators do touch on the fact that Heenan is no longer there for Orndorff, so maybe his face turn had started. Hogan is surprised by Orndorff’s actions (or lack of) but goes into the pose down as the show comes to an end.
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