WWF Championship Wrestling- June 28, 1986
by Scrooge McSuck
Hosted by Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino, taped on June 3rd from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, the last week for this taping cycle, so we should expect some excellent content. "Mr. Wonderful will headline the all-star card this week!" We'll see a bunch of tag teams in action, including the current tag team champions, a set of former tag team champions, and more!
Mike Rotundo & Dan Spivey vs. Tiger Chung Lee & The Gladiator:
They're STILL using the damn Springsteen song! GET THAT JUNK OUTTA HERE! Last week we got to hear an inset promo from the Not-US Express targeting the Funk Family of all teams, because even the prelims sometimes deserve some attention too. Rotundo starts with the WELL SEASONED VET known as "The Gladiator." The WSV grabs a side headlock and holds on with a handful of hair. Rotundo counters with an atomic drop and Spivey nails him with an elbow. Lee tags in, grabs his own headlock, and Spivey nails him with a shotgun dropkick that looked better than doing a traditional style. Rotundo tags back in as we get comments from the Dream Team... what, are all the teams beefing now? Whip and we get a double dropkick. Spivey knows the point of doing a dropkick is to not land awkwardly on the back of his neck, right? Whip and a double back body-drop, followed by a short leg-drop from Rotundo. The Tiger Gladiators take control, but they whip Rotundo INTO HIS OWN CORNER. Spivey with the easiest hot tag in history and the bulldog finishes at 3:29. They're just filling a spot on the roster, but this team has little chemistry."Mean" Gene Okerlund is standing by with "Update." Wow, they're still using content from the WWF Magazine for the source material! We see highlights of Randy Savage in action, promoting his dominance as the Intercontinental Champion. George "The Animal" Steele still has his sights set on the belt, as well as Miss Elizabeth. Okerlund decides to do do a comedy bit that gets a laugh from the production crew.
The Magnificent Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji) vs. Bob Boyer:
Hopefully Mr. Boyer puts a bit more effort into his performance last week against the Hart Foundation. I don't want to assume Boyer is a decrepit old man, but a quick search has him working matches as early as the late 1950's! That means he's at least pushing 50, if not older. Vince says Muraco is bulking up so much he can barely get his shirt off... draw your own conclusion with that line. Lockup and Muraco easily outclasses Boyer with some chain wrestling. Boyer pops to his knees after taking a hip toss and throws a few rights that Muraco no-sells. Muraco with a slingshot beneath the ropes before tossing him to the outside where Fuji can get a shot in with the cane. To be fair, it was a love tap. I'd rather that happen than let Fuji housesit for my dogs. Back inside, Muraco continues punishing Boyer. Vince thinks there's been sighting of Andre the Giant, but we cannot confirm it. HOW THE F*CK DO YOU GET MISTAKEN FOR ANDRE THE GIANT? No, that wasn't me, that was Bruno saying it, minus the swear. Muraco finishes the geek with the Spike Piledriver at 3:30. With how Vince took a shot at Muraco's appearance and talked over the action with a bogus story on Andre, you can see he's not a big part of the picture right now.Ken Resnick is standing by to promote the 2nd Annual King of the Ring Tournament on July 14th from Foxborough! Later in the program we'll reveal some of the 1st round action. We'll also see the British Bulldogs defend the Tag Team Titles against Johnny Valiant's Dream Team inside a Steel Cage! We get a promo from the challengers, including a god-awful British accent from Beefcake.
Tito Santana & Pedro Morales vs. Lane Anderson & Al Navarro:
I can't think of many people introduced from Ogden, UT, so it's always worth a mention because that's the announced hometown for Mr. Anderson (though I swear it sounded like Henderson). Morales starts, grabbing a hammerlock on Navarro. Whip to the ropes and Morales with a shoulder tackle, followed by a scoop slam. Santana in to crank on a wristlock. He nails Navarro with a dropkick to the face. Lane tags in and immediately is swept off his feet. Whip and a double elbow. Morales with a slam and more work on the arm. Vince notes Pedro and Tito are looking pretty darn good. Yeah, all those arm holds are electrifying. Navarro back in with some shots to the throat of Santana. Tito fights out of the corner and tags in Morales. He lands a big left to the body and takes Anderson over with a back body-drop. Whip and Tito finishes with the diving forearm at 3:12. This team of Tito and Pedro does nothing for me and seems like such a downgrade for Santana, with the belts on the Bulldogs and no sign of that duo losing the belts any time soon.Ken Resnick is standing by for more hype of the 2nd Annual King of the Ring Tournament. The Bulldogs and Captain Lou come in to hype their Cage Match with Johnny Valiant's Dream Team.
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. Max Blue:
What is Vince McMahon thinking, putting his "Main Event" match in the middle of the show! Last week we got testimonial from Hulk Hogan himself that he and Mr. Wonderful are friends to the end. I mean, Mama Wonderful called HOGAN a NUMBER ONE SON, so you know how much of a bond they have. Vince is so excited by Orndorff's presence he identifies Blue as Al Navarro. Orndorff plays to the crowd, cupping his ear. GET YOUR OWN GIMMICK, BUDDY. He WHACKS Blue with a clothesline and punishes him in the corner before tossing him roughly through the ropes. Orndorff follows and gives him a god-awful slam on the concrete. Back inside, Orndorff with a whip and clothesline. The Piledriver finishes at 1:38. Orndorff interrupts the Fink, telling him to introduce him as "The Old Mr. Wonderful." This isn't mid 90's WCW, Paul. You're still somewhat in your prime. Oh, I think he meant something else."Adorable" Adrian Adonis and Jimmy Hart are standing by for this week's edition of The Flower Shop. This week's guest is Bobby Heenan, who last week was rudely interrupted by the Chump Hulk Hogan. Now he's interrupted by "Hulk Jr", Paul Orndorff. Heenan said he may be the old Mr. Wonderful in the ring, beating up a nobody. He's managing Studd and Bundy, the next Tag Team Champions, and if Hulk Jr is so tough, why not sign for a tag team match next week with his buddy Hulk? Orndorff says all he has to do is get on the telephone and call Hogan, and he'll be there by his side. He's going to call him RIGHT NOW. Adonis says he couldn't stand being second-rate like Orndorff. Heenan says Hogan is so tired of carrying Hulk Jr that he probably changed his number three days ago.
Killer Ken Resnick is standing by with WWF President Jack Tunney for the official drawing to fill out the brackets for the 2nd Annual King of the Ring Tournament, to be held on July 14th in Foxborough. 14-Men will compete, which means there'll be 6 1st-round matches and 2 men will receive byes. The two names drawn to get a bye to the Quarter-Finals are Hercules Hernandez and Mike Rotundo. The rigged drawing pops out these matches to fill out the 1st round: Pedro Morales vs Cowboy Bob Orton, Nikolai Volkoff vs Danny Spivey, The Junkyard Dog vs "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Billy Jack Haynes vs The Iron Sheik, George "The Animal" Steele vs Harley Race, and The Magnificent Muraco vs Roddy Piper!?!?
The British Bulldogs vs. The Menace & Jack Kruger:
The Bulldogs are without Captain Lou, and this is obviously Non-Title. It's still weird to think Kruger would shave off that grade-A mustache and become the sloven and loud referee we would all fall in love with for most of 1987 and 1988. BREAKING NEWS: Paul Orndorff is trying to contact Hulk Hogan. Dynamite Kid starts, grabbing a wristlock on Kruger. Kruger fights free and hits a swinging neck breaker for a one-count. WHA?!?! Dynamite is done giving and snaps Kruger over with a suplex. Whip to the ropes and he connects with his signature clothesline. Davey Boy in with the Menace as we have a camera backstage to see Mr. Wonderful freaking out because Hulk Hogan is in the weight room and can't be disturbed. Stuff happens in the ring, but does anyone really care? The Menace gets some token offense as Bruno and Vince debate Orndorff's reaction. Davey teases going for the mask, sending the Menace scrambling out of the ring. Back inside, Davey Boy keeps working the arm. He takes the Menace over with a not-so-delayed suplex for two. The Menace gets straddled across the turnbuckle and Dynamite takes him down with a super-sized back suplex for three at 4:40. The TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS are used as background noise to the ongoing drama surrounding Hogan and Orndorff.Ken Resnick with more hype for the July 14th card in Foxborough. We get promos from the Junkyard Dog and George Steele & Lou Albano to promote the King of the Ring Tournament. Resnick notes the Magnificent Muraco is the defender of the crown.
Paul Orndorff storms the set saying Hulk Hogan hasn't answered the phone, so there won't be a match next week. DARN.
Final Thoughts: The drama between Hulk Hogan and the insecure Paul Orndorff continues to grow thanks to the relentless taunting from Bobby Heenan and Adrian Adonis. Hogan being too busy to answer the phone might be the least justified for a friend to feel betrayed, but no one ever said Orndorff's change of heart was justified, just great manipulation from others. Even though it's not a big deal to the national audience, the King of the Ring Tournament is coming up and we'll actually have something develop out of that. As for the rest of the show, there's a lot of guys getting work but not a lot to get too excited about.
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