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WWF TV Taping: New Haven, CT - April 24, 1987

by Scrooge McSuck

We're back with a rare look at Wrestling Challenge without the attachment to Superstars of Wrestling for a Double Feature. That's the wonders of Sweeps Month, where even the B-Show is thrown an extra bone. As always with these TV taping deep dives, we try to look at everything we can that was presented for the live crowd, whether it's feature matches, debuts, something taped for the non-canon WWF programming, taped for home video, and everything in between. I try not to use the "TV presentation" version to influence things, but I will specifically note if that does come into play, especially if there's a lot of pre-tapes or vignettes that are airing across multiple shows that paint a bigger picture, like the arrival of a new Superstar or significant changes in someone's character.

As we covered in the April 23rd taping from Worcester for Superstars of Wrestling, to go along with the Great Debate between Ken Patera and Bobby Heenan, a match was taped for syndication that allegedly went so poorly, they were forced to re-do it with the Wrestling Challenge taping, so here we are, with the final piece of the Superstars of Wrestling content before we jump into everything to do with Wrestling Challenge...

Ken Patera vs. Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan & King Harley Race)

Taped for broadcast on the May 16th episode of Superstars of Wrestling. Heenan is selling a serious neck injury and has Race with him at ringside for protection (and other shenanigans, of course). Mel Phillips (BOO) makes sure to note to the live crowd this is Patera's FIRST MATCH (since being released from Prison). Hercules attacks Patera before the bell and drives a knee across the chest. Patera fights from his knees with body blows, but Hercules cuts him off and unloads with right hands. Patera with a headbutt to the midsection, finally getting back to his feet. Hercules goes to the eyes to create separation and pounds away across the back of Jailbird. Hercules slaps on the bearhug, but Patera slips his arms in to break the hold. Whip is reversed and Patera drops Hercules with a clothesline. Patera scoops Hercules up and throws him across the ring! Patera with his own bearhug, bringing Race into the ring for the cheap disqualification at 3:15. Post-match, Hercules and Race put the boots to Patera until Billy Jack Haynes runs out for the save. I'm not going to call it a masterpiece, but this was fine considering the participants involved.

Two matches were featured for the live crowd that never made it to TV or home video release; Koko B. Ware battled "Dangerous" Danny Davis to a Draw (a common match that was running on the house show loop), and in the Main Event, Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts and Tito Santana defeated King Harley Race, The Honkytonk Man, and "The Natural" Butch Reed. That sounds like a wild ride, but considering some of the participants, I wouldn't expect it to be much of a match.

Missy's Manor may not have gone according to plan as a replacement for Piper's Pit on Superstars of Wrestling, but fear not, Wrestling Challenge fans; Jake Roberts is still here to host the Snake Pit, and joy of joys, we actually have all three segments taped from this cycle...

May 3rd: "Dangerous" Danny Davis is Jake's scheduled guest, the man barred for life from being a WWF referee. He comes out looking incredibly full of himself (and about 6 inches shorter than Jake). Davis says he's going to become one of the greatest "wrestlers of all-time" (now imagine that said in his accent). Jake says what you do in your past comes back to haunt you, and he has some people looking for him, which brings out Tito Santana and Koko B. Ware, who have unflattering words/threats for him.

May 10th: Jake says evil always wins, but it seldom conquers, which brings out the guests for our second segment, Mr. Fuji and his newest protege Killer Khan. Jake notes that Fuji has acquired the services of a tag team (Demolition) and Kamala, and now this guy, and he's clearly not going for beautiful people. Fuji wants people with his soul and spirit in them, and that means being vicious. Khan says nothing, Fuji says a few words, and Jake does all the heavy lifting of this interview. Seriously, why is Mr. Fuji being so prominently featured lately?

May 17th: Finally, we wrap up the Snake Pit section with Johnny Valiant and The NEW Dream Team. If you're not too familiar with any of the people involved in these segments, that's an 0 for 3 batting average, and Jake definitely earned the few bucks he was paid for working TV. Johnny V is reluctant to come out, embarrassed by what Brutus Beefcake did to his hair on Superstars. There's mild threats directed towards Brutus, but it's hard to take seriously when your manager is a goof like Valiant and looking the way he does.

The Can-Am Connection vs. Kamala & Sika (w/ Mr. Fuji & Kim-Chee)

Taped for broadcast on May 3rd. Well, we've got a recent challenger to Hulk Hogan's WWF Championship and the top babyface team (as far as future plans are concerned), so we could probably expect this one to have a non-finish. Kamala and Sika attack at the bell, with Martel getting dumped out in short order. The team of meanies do the double-team belly bump then get greedy and have miscommunication, allowing Martel to knock Kamala out of the ring with a dropkick and go to work on the arm of Sika. Sika misses a charge into the corner and gets taken to the canvas with an arm drag. Zenk gets caught on the wrong side of town, punished with the usual arsenal of chops and chokes. Watching Kamala awkwardly make tags is something else. Martel gets the hot tag, running wild on both men. It's not long until Zenk gets back into the action. Martel gets laid out in a mid-ring collision. Sika plants Zenk with a slam. Martel trips up Kamala on a splash attempt and comes off the top with a body press on Sika for three at 4:20. Post-match, Kamala and Sika work over Zenk until Martel blasts everyone with Fuji's cane. Zenk looked like a total geek out there! Even though Sika is lower on the pecking order, I'm still shocked they went with a pin-fall finish.

Jim Duggan STILL has issues with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, going out of his way to make sure that the Soviet anthem isn't performed. This time around, Duggan cut the chord of the microphone in the middle of Volkoff's performance (Slick's Army would go on to squash the trio of Leapin' Lanny, Superfly Sivi, and Mario Mancini, for those wondering).

The Rougeau Brothers vs. Demolition (w/ Mr. Fuji)

Taped for broadcast on May 10th. We have another balanced lineup here, as Demolition is still trying to establish themselves in a loaded division, and the Rougeau Brothers are clearly guys who might not be legit top-tier babyfaces, but are kept reasonably strong due to the WWF running the Quebec market regularly. Raymond and Ax start. Lockup and Ax unloads with clubbing blows. Raymond avoids an elbow drop and goes to work on the arm. Jacques with a dropkick and Raymond hits a cross body press. Smash tags in and now he gets his arm worked over. Jacques gets caught in the corner, allowing Ax and Smash to punish him with rights. Raymond comes in for the save and the Rougeaus clear the ring with a pair of dropkicks. The fight continues at ringside, and we get a weak Double Count-Out at 2:28. See, THAT is what I expected from the Can-Am/Kamala and Sika match! The fighting continues after the bell, but referee Jack Kruger is having none of that!

Tito Santana, Paul Roma, and Jim Powers vs. The Magnificent Muraco, Bob Orton, and Tiger Chung Lee

More for the May 10th broadcast. You can tell it's sweeps when Wrestling Challenge gets to eat. Muraco and Orton are without Mr. Fuji, which doesn't bode well for the former muscle of the recently departed Adrian Adonis. Like the Shadows getting some spotlight at the Superstars taping, we're going to pay some attention to Roma and Powers, as they are becoming a regular tag team on the house show loop. Roma and Orton start, locking up into the ropes and giving a clean break. Orton with a drop toe hold, but Roma scrambles to his feet and cranks up a headlock. Whip is reversed and Roma with an O'Connor Roll for two. Powers in, working the left arm until Orton pops him on the chin with a dropkick. Muraco holds Powers open for Tiger and the plan backfires. Muraco and Orton hop off the apron for a conversation while Tiger gives up the control of the match. Tito with a BAAAAACK body-drop and the Flying Forearm finishes at 2:41. I should point out Tiger had a chance to tag out, but there was nobody there to receive.

George "The Animal" Steele vs. The Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart)

THREE MATCHES FOR MAY 10th?! Not to mention the broadcast features a recap of the Ken Patera/Bobby Heenan saga AND Brutus Beefcake vs. Johnny Valiant from Superstars of Wrestling! I don't know what purpose The Animal serves at this point, but Honky has gained serious momentum lately. Steele chases Honky around the ring, unable to get his hands on him. Steele picks up the dropped guitar and swings at Honky with it, smashing it across the ring steps, and that's a DISQUALIFICATION AT 0:23. Yes, that's a cheap way to stuff more guys into the show.

Non-Title Match: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed (w/ Slick)

Taped for the May 17th episode of Challenge, and yes, this is a preview of what allegedly was the original plans for the Intercontinental Championship (a story I don't buy whatsoever, there's no way Vince is just making title changes on a whim. Never.) and how different would wrestling history have been if we didn't get the existing timeline? Steamboat gets clobbered before the bell. Whip to the ropes, Reed drives a knee into the midsection and punishes him in the ropes. Reed brings the Dragon in from the apron with a suplex and chokes him with his entrance gear. Steamboat ducks under a clothesline and starts laying in with chops. Whip to the ropes, Reed counters a back body-drop attempt and lays Steamboat out with a clothesline. Reed with a scoop slam and elbow drop, but he chooses not to go for a cover. Steamboat slips out of a press slam and takes Reed down with a back suplex. Whip to the ropes and they smack heads for a double-down. Reed is too slow climbing the ropes and Steamboat slams him down. Slick hops on the apron for a distraction. Steamboat briefly chases but gives up, hitting Reed with a cross body press that takes both men over the top rope. Steamboat manages to get back in before the 10 count and takes the victory at 6:07. You didn't see competitive matches on syndication often. This felt like a 15-minute match in an era of rushing through a 90-second nothing burger.

Outback Jack vs. Killer Khan (w/ Mr. Fuji)

Wrestling Challenge is looking like an overstuffed burrito at this point. Outback Jack has mostly been relegated to matches taped for Prime Time and stinking up the ring in house show prelims. After months of hype, they abandoned that push the second he debuted in the ring. Khan attacks Jack before the bell, choking him out with Fuji's cane! Referees come out to get things under control, but they have a difficult time breaking things up, or they don't care much for Jack and aren't putting much effort in restoring order. The match never started, but Killer Khan should be announced the winner anyway.

The Killer Bees vs. The Islanders

For the second week in a row, Challenge gets THREE matches where guys of name value are opposite each other (and in both cases, one of those matches was a nothing-burger that either barely qualified as a match or never officially got started). This is the second time we're getting the Islanders in a babyface vs babyface match. We get handshakes because everyone is nice and friendly. Blair and Tama start. Lockup and Tama with a snap arm drag. Blair responds with a fireman's carry into an arm bar. Crisscross and Tama with a drop toe hold into a hammerlock. Blair counters again and tags in Brunzell. He takes Haku over with a monkey-flip, but Haku holds on with the arm bar. Whip to the ropes and a battle over a hip toss sends them into the ropes. The referee calls for a break and Haku shoves Brunzell on his bottom. Haku hangs on tight with a side headlock. Whip to the ropes and Haku with a sunset flip for two. Islanders with a whip and double chop. Tama with a snap mare into a chin-lock, and you can see a little more aggression from the Islanders than usual. Whip and a double elbow from the Islanders, followed by a combination back breaker and flying chop. Brunzell creates separation and tags in Blair, who goes to work on the left leg of Tama. Whip is reversed and Blair with a dropkick. Brunzell connects with a dropkick of his own but Haku saves. Haku and Blair get into a shoving match until Haku sends him out of the ring with a clothesline. Haku breaks up another pin attempt and shoves down referee Joey Marella for the DQ at 5:34. The Bees aren't happy with how things played out, but Islanders bail out before it escalates further. I would dare say this was a GOOD match, not "good for TV", but in general.

Final Thoughts: If you're a collector and like to cobble together one big show of the matches featuring just the name Superstars, you could put together an entertaining little show, even if there's not too much to talk about as far as developing storylines. We've got Killer Khan's push going full steam ahead on both Superstars and Challenge, Danny Davis getting work as a singles attraction, Beefcake vs. the New Dream Team, and Duggan vs Sheik and Volkoff as clear (and continued) direction, and there's definitely something brewing with the Islanders losing their cool lately. Next up in the 1987 deep dive, we're returning to the Boston Garden on May 2nd!

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