WWF at the Philadelphia Spectrum
March 14, 1987
by Scrooge McSuck
We're almost there... WrestleMania III is just two weeks away (and some change). We've made our last stops at MSG and Boston Garden, and now it's time for the final run through the Spectrum before the biggest show in professional wrestling's history (so far). Before we get to the action meant for the Philadelphia faithful, let's take a look at what other stops the WWF made on March 14th; The Baltimore Arena was headlined by an Elimination Tag Team Match, where the team of Ricky Steamboat, Koko B. Ware (subbing for JYD) and Billy Jack Haynes defeated Randy Savage, King Harley Race, and Hercules (Steamboat and Koko both left victorious, surprisingly), with Jake Roberts 2xCO King Kong Bundy, Demolition defeating Spivey and Kirchner and Honkytonk Man defeating George Steele underneath. Earlier in the afternoon, they ran the Berwick PA High School with Koko vs. Danny Davis, The Hart Foundation vs. The British Bulldogs, and Corporal Kirchner vs. Iron Sheik as the notables.
Dick Graham and Ken Resnick are ringside to call the action, unless otherwise noted. According to sources, this is Mr. Resnick's final appearance calling for WWF action, and we're all thankful to know that.
Paul Roma vs. Steve Lombardi:
I shouldn't be too surprised that this is our opener. Remember when they spent a few minutes on Superstars to make people possibly care to see this match? Don't worry, you're going to forget about it by the time you scroll to the next match. It's OK. Lockup to the ropes and Lombardi complains there was hair being pulled. We get the international, capped off with a slam from Roma. Lombardi buries a series of shoulders to the midsection, but Roma surprises him with a cross body and goes to work on the arm. Roma looks like he's enjoying that chicken and broccoli diet. Lombardi gets to the ropes to force the break, decks Roma with a right hand and connects with a back breaker. Roma fights to his feet, but a yank of the hair allows Lombardi to maintain control with a chin-lock. Roma with an escape, only to run into an elbow. Whip to the ropes, Roma with a leap frog and shoulder block. He sends Lombardi to the corner and pops him with a clothesline. Lombardi counters a monkey-flip with an inverted atomic drop and takes him over with a suplex. Roma reverses a whip, sending Lombardi's shoulder into the post. He takes Lombardi out of the corner with a hip toss and follows with a dropkick. Whip and Roma with a diving clothesline for two. Whip and a powerslam for two. Roma goes to the top rope and a flying sunset flip finishes at 9:55. This was a perfectly fine bit of pro wrestling and more than acceptable opener for the era. **½"The Rebel" Dick Slater vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed (w/ Slick):
Woah, Dick Slater is still hanging around?! After a quick search, this indeed is Slater's last televised appearance for the WWF. Even though he worked some dates into late May, he was never brought in for syndication taping, and he didn't hit any of the major markets again with regional broadcasts. Lockup to the ropes and Reed with the usual complaint. Slater jumps over the top rope and has words for Slick. Back inside, Slater avoids a cheap shot in the corner and lays into Reed with rights and lefts. He goes for the arm, but Reed gets to the ropes to force a break. Reed with a soft knee to the midsection, followed by a slam. He pops Slater in the throat, trying to shield the referee's view. Slater tries pushing off a side headlock, but Reed hangs on with a handful of hair. Snap mare out of the corner and an elbow across the top of the head. Slater teases a comeback, but Reed cuts him off, countering a piledriver with a back body-drop. Slater with another rally, hitting Reed with a swinging neck breaker, but missing an elbow drop. Reed with a sloppy piledriver, which somehow sends Slater rolling out of the ring. Reed follows and Slater works him over with chops and a headbutt. Back inside, Slater with a snap mare and flying elbow but Slick gets Reed's foot on the bottom rope at two. Slater gives chase then goes back to pounding away on Reed, but Reed sweeps the legs in the corner, stacks him up, and gets the rope assist for three at 8:21 despite Slater telling the referee and pointing at the ropes about Reed's cheating. It wasn't the worst I've seen of Reed in the WWF, but he still had his moments. If you were curious, Slater's final appearance on record was putting over Tiger Chung Lee on May 20th in Portland, OR. *
Outback Jack vs. Frenchy Martin:
What have I done to deserve this?!? Martin has mostly worked the C-Tours (like the local high schools) but did make the occasional appearance in bigger markets. Outback Jack is already labeled a colossal failure and his syndication appearances would be infrequent. Jack offers a handshake and Frenchy blows him off. WHAT A MARK. Lockup into the ropes and a clean break WITHOUT the heel complaining! Jack sends Martin to the canvas and NOW Frenchy complains that his hair was pulled. Jack sends Martin staggering into the ropes and plants him with a slam. Martin grabs a front face-lock, but Jack carries him to the corner and sets him across the turnbuckle. Frenchy offers a handshake and pops Jack as he looks to the crowd. WHAT A MARK. Jack shrugs off Frenchy's strikes and lays into him with right hands. Whip is reversed and Jack whacks Martin with a clothesline, then finishes with a clothesline to the back of the head at 5:00. Believe it or not, this was the abomination I expected. Just basic heel schtick from Martin and keeping it short before Jack's limited offense could be further exposed. *½WWF Tag Team Championship Match:
The Hart Foundation (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart & Danny Davis) vs. The Islanders:
Interesting match-up that we haven't seen before, and curiously, the Islanders are probably the biggest babyface snubs for WrestleMania III. This deep cut would be featured decades later on the Bret Hart Dungeon Collection DVD set. After some gaga, things settle down with Neidhart and Haku starting officially. Neidhart pulls down the straps for intimidation, but I'm positive Haku is immune to that. Lockup and Anvil is pleased with giving the slightest nudge. Haku responds with chops, knocking him out of the ring. Neidhart calls for a test-of-strength and it doesn't go well for him. Bret tries his luck and eats a Super-Kick. Haku with an atomic drop, followed by a wish-bone. Tama comes off the ropes with a shoulder block, followed by a series of chops, sending Bret to the floor for a Foundation conference. Neidhart wants another crack at things and Tama enjoys taunting him with his agility. The Islanders continue to dominate the pace, taking turns working the arm. Tama avoids a cheap-shot from the apron, but the brief distraction allows Neidhart to attack from behind and finally take control.
Bret with an inverted atomic drop and leg drop. The Foundation takes turns choking Tama in the corner while the referee distracts himself with a Yo-Yo. Haku gets fed up with the extra help from the apron, but it doesn't improve Tama's situation, as he's dumped to the floor and assaulted by Danny Davis. Back inside, Bret with a dropkick for a two-count. Whip to the ropes and Tama with a sunset flip, but Neidhart gets the tag on the follow-through and clubs Tama with a right forearm. Tama escapes a chin-lock but is sent to the floor with an elbow. Bret with a back breaker, but Haku breaks the pin attempt. Neidhart makes the illegal switch and we get a mid-ring collision. Bret offers assistance with a dropkick, but the momentum puts Tama on top of Neidhart for a near-fall. Bret meets a knee in the corner and Haku gets the hot tag. He runs wild on Bret with chops and a BAAAACK body-drop. The Foundation involuntarily meets in the middle. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Tama with a flying body press, but Davis sneaks in with the referee's back turned and rolls Bret on top for three at 18:24. Good enough for what it was, but that finish always feels like a wet fart for me. ***
Tom Zenk vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine:
Hey, it's a Road Block Match (is anyone other than one person going to get that reference?!). Don't worry, we're going to see the other half of each team battle it out later on the card. Ken Resnick gushes over Zenk, reminding us he's a former Mr. Minnesota. Lockup into the corner and they trade shoves. Valentine with a snap mare, but an elbow drop misses the target. Whip is reversed, sending Valentine into the corner. Zenk works the arm and the Hammer casually steps between the ropes to force a break. They trade blows in the corner with Zenk regaining control and going back to the arm. Whip to the ropes and Valentine ducks under a cross body press. He slams Zenk into the turnbuckle and gives him a back massage with the bottoms of his boots. Snap mare and elbow across the top of the head for two. Valentine continues working the back and hits a weird slam that looked like it was either going to be a shoulder breaker or a tombstone. Zenk teases a comeback, throwing a flurry of rights, but Valentine cuts him off and drops him across the top rope from a suplex position. He signals for the Figure-Four and has the hold applied in the center of the ring, but Zenk's fighting spirit allows him to get to the ropes. Valentine does his best to keep Zenk from getting back in the ring. Zenk picks the ankle and pulls Valentine out with him, and now it's Valentine begging off. He leads Zenk on a race around the ring and cuts him off rolling back in. Zenk counters a suplex with a school-boy for two. He rocks the Hammer with a pair of dropkicks for another two-count. Valentine straddles Zenk across the top rope... and that's a DQ at 11:44. I guess I should have saved the wet fart finish remark for this match, because that's weak sauce. The match was fine but that ending really hurts whatever enjoyment there might be. *½Rick Martel vs. Brutus Beefcake:
We'll see what kind of miracles Martel can perform here. Hopefully we get a better finish than the last match between their partners. Beefcake avoids a lockup and struts. Lockup to the ropes and Beefcake gives a cheap shot after teasing a clean break. Beefcake pops Martel in the throat on several occasions and they're definitely pacing themselves. Beefcake buries a knee to the midsection and unloads with rights. Martel turns it around and throws a flurry of strikes of his own and gives Beefcake a receipt with a shot to the throat. God, even Beefcake's pantomiming is terrible. Martel takes Beefcake over with a hip toss and works the arm. Beefcake escapes and sends Martel to the corner, but rams his own knee into the turnbuckle. Martel jams up the hamstrings and works a step-over toe hold. Beefcake creates separation, but only briefly, as Martel goes back to the leg. Beefcake escapes with a leg smack across the face.Whip to the ropes and Beefcake counters a dive by dropping Martel across the top rope. He sweeps Martel off his feet and drops a headbutt across the midsection for a two-count. Martel battles to his feet but Beefcake cuts him off with a boot and knee lift. Beefcake with a press slam into a back breaker that somehow makes Volkoff's version look like a career-killing spot. Another comeback cut short as Beefcake rakes the eyes across the rope. Martel easily breaks out of a bearhug and nails Beefcake coming off the top rope. Beefcake begs off, but Martel isn't having any of that nonsense, sending him from turnbuckle to turnbuckle. Martel locks in an abdominal stretch, but Beefcake counters with a hip toss. He misses a fist drop and Martel jumps on him with a sleeper. *Beefcake uses the ropes to take both men out of the ring. They fight on the apron, with Martel knocking Beefcake back in the ring just a second or so before the bell rings at 15:37 and it's a DOUBLE COUNT-OUT. Wow, I had it prepared that it was an even dumber finish that Beefcake was awarded the match, but nope. We're getting some real great finishes tonight. **¼
The Roddy Piper Retirement Tour continues with the last Piper's Pit at the Philadelphia Spectrum (SUBJECT TO CHANGE). He says that he and the fans have fought for a long time, but always had respect for each other. Piper's scheduled guest is the disgraced former referee, Danny Davis. He talks about the trash concern and says to box it up and ship it to Montreal where they're trash at Hockey too. Piper asks Davis not to take offense to his first question, "Why is he such a jerk?" Davis threatens to walk out and gets chewed out for it. Piper says he doesn't think he's seen a worse referee than Davis. Davis refutes that, claiming to be the best referee and says any other referee would agree. Piper brings out Joey Marella to confirm, but he responds that Davis "really sucks." Davis reveals he has a surprise for Piper; "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. Piper clears the ring of the furniture and prepares to fight as Adonis taunts him with a pair of scissors. Piper avoids an ambush, sending Adonis over the top rope, and GORILLA MONSOON assists in escorting Adonis from ringside. Davis continues taunting Piper, joking about how he'll show up in Hollywood without any hair. Piper lays Davis out with a right hand and gestures for him to kiss it.
"Special Delivery" Jones vs. Dino Bravo
Bravo is introduced as "The Pride of Montreal" and still has dark hair. I have no idea what is up with the Montreal stuff in this match and the last segment with Piper. Bravo jumps on Jones as the referee checks his gear. Bravo plants Jones with a slam and continues putting the boots to him. Poor Jones can't even get out of his ring jacket! Jones reverses a whip to the corner and Bravo practically throws himself on a hip toss. Jones with a pair of slams and a headbutt and the crowd does not care about this one. Whip to the corner and Bravo counters a monkey-flip with an inverted atomic drop. He turns Jones over with the Quebec Crab, but Jones powers out. Jones avoids an elbow drop and throws a pair of left hands. Jones misses a charge to the corner and Bravo finishes with the side suplex at 3:05. Too short to hate too much, but Jones looked really bad out there.Hulk Hogan & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff & Kamala (w/ The Wizard & Kim-Chee):
The Main Event and final match of the card. Considering their pushes in the second half of 1986, it's still fascinating that Orndorff and Kamala don't exist in WrestleMania III canon (yeah, yeah, just in case Andre can't go… I'm calling BS on that one). It's a brawl at the start, with Hogan and Piper sending Kamala and Orndorff into each other and clearing the ring. Piper and Hogan take turns working the left arm of Orndorff and the crowd is jacked up for this one. Kamala hooks Hogan from the apron, but Piper saves and Hogan rocks Orndorff with a clothesline. The heels are knocked into each other again and Orndorff gets sent into the corner with an atomic drop. Piper cuts off Kamala with a stooge-style poke of the eyes and peppers the belly with a flurry of rights and lefts. Piper busts out a dropkick, but Kamala won't bump for it. Whip to the ropes and we get a double boot from the Super Powers. Hogan with a slam and elbow drop, then shots for Orndorff and Kim-Chee.Piper gets caught in the wrong side of town and gets choked out with the tag rope. Kamala with a choke and Orndorff drops a series of elbows across the throat. Piper carries Orndorff on his back and gets to the corner, but referee Joey Marella misses the tag! More double-team work from Kamala and Orndorff, keeping Piper from getting to the Hulkster. Kamala hits the splash but Hogan saves. The referee misses another tag. Piper scrambles through the legs of Orndorff and Hulk finally gets the hot tag! He lays into Orndorff and Kamala with right hands. Orndorff gets to take a trip from corner to corner. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Kamala accidentally whacks Orndorff with a chop and Hogan covers for three at 8:55. Weak finish to a really fun match. I'm surprised they didn't let Piper get the fall, but he got his shine and got to make Danny Davis look like a goof earlier, so a fair trade. ***
Final Thoughts: A couple of solid matches on top, with a mostly unremarkable under-card, with a few matches stretched long for some reason and some poor finishes on top of it. The Spectrum is always going to be one of my least favorite shows on the schedule, but it's always good for some random stuff you wouldn't see anywhere else, and sure enough, Hogan/Piper vs Kamala/Orndorff fits that description, as well as a rare Foundation/Islanders match. Next in the timeline would be the March 15th card taped from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, but we've got that in the archives, so we'll just to the next show and... well, you'll see it when the time is right.
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