Prime Time Wrestling - July 21, 1986
by Erick Von Erich
Hello again, everybody, it's time for Prime Time Wrestling with Gorilla Monsoon and your host, Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. I've always been a little curious why the intro had some barely audible commentary on it, which you can hear during clips of the Andre the Giant and Brutus Beefcake matches. I've finally tried messing with the audio feed and it sounds like Gorilla Monsoon is saying something about how "he has to reach down inside" and then, "powering his way up". Seems weird to have this playing over a random assortment of clips. In the studio, we've got a big feature on deck, tonight: Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff vs. The Team That Can't be Slammed- Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy! We've got plenty of other exciting action...and also Billy Jack Haynes! But with so much going on in the World Wrestling Federation, let's get down to ringside for...
Billy Jack Haynes vs. Brutus Beefcake (w/ "Luscious" Johnny Valiant)
All of our matches are from Madison Square Garden, unless noted. Gorilla and Lord Alfred Hayes on the audio sticks. Haynes is already in the thick of the mid-card, and this is probably his biggest match, to date. Valiant distracts, allowing Bruti to attack from behind with a knee, then slam him. Brutus unload on Haynes, as it appears the ring ropes are especially loose for this show. A second-rope fistdrop from Bruti misses, then Haynes with a sunsert flip for 2. Haynes blocks and reverses a vertical suplex, but sells an injury to the external occipital protuberance. Belly-to-back suplex scores 2 for Bruti. A slam attempt fails and Haynes gets a desparation 2 count. Big whip and clothesline gets another 2 for Bruti. Another whip and this time, Haynes connects with the clothesline. Haynes with a knee-lift, forearm shots and a backdrop. Powerslam, leg-drop and second-rope knee gts 2 for Haynes. They hit the ropes and Luscious John grabs the leg to trip up Haynes. Ref sees it and the bell sounds for a lame disqualification, awarded to Haynes. Haynes slugs Bruti out of the ring and that's that. Despite the weak ending, this was the best Haynes match on Prime Time, thus far. No chinlocks or headlocks and he finally looks like a worthy addition to the roster."Leaping" Lanny Poffo vs. "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas
Yeah, face vs face. But first, Leaping Lanny has a poem for us all: "They call him Mr. USA, a name that means a lot. And if my best is good enough, I'll give it all I've got. I'd like to throw some frisbess now, but there's nothing I can do. The airlines lost my luggage, just remember: I owe you"! Handshake to start, then Atlas easily beals Poffo and goes into an armwringer. Backflip reversal from Poffo, but Altas powers him off. They fight over an armbar and waistlock as Alfred acknowledges Atlas' former tag title reign. Head-scissors from Poffo and they play with that for a bit. Your basic "scientific match", with lots of headlock takedowns and counters. Ridiculous looking criss-cross sequence, which ends with an Atlas hiptoss. Poffo works an armbar, while the Society of Resthold Haters begins to stir. After a rope-break, they get into a staredown and Atlas rudely shoves Poffo away, then slams him. Crowd gets into that. Single-leg takedown from Poffo and they're back to mat. Dueling drop-kicks as both guys end up on their backs. Rolling cradle from Poffo, but too close to the ropes. Big Headbutt from Atlas, then more armbar. Reverse roll-up gets 2 for Poffo. Atomic drop from Atlas, as they really go back-and-forth. Clean break into the corner, then Atlas slaps Poffo to a small pop. A reverse chinlock happens. Into the corner as Atlas does a leap-frog, then hooks a backslide to get the pin. Wha? Atlas won cleanly?! Poffo's quick to raise Atlas' arm, to show that there are no hard feelings. Not a terrible match, but it would've been more at home in 1981.Ken Resnick Studio Interview with Mike Rotundo & "Golden Boy" Danny Spivey
They call themselves the "American Express", so that name really did exist! At least, temporarily, until the AMEX corporation gets wind of it. Very generic interview, as they simply recite the current tag team roster.WWF Tag Team Championship:
British Bulldogs (w/Capt. Lou Albano) vs. The Moondogs
(Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith vs. Rex & Spot)Bulldogs beat away on Spot, to start. Rex tags in and gets nailed with a double shoulder-block. Spot Irish whips Davey, but eats a kneelift and a slam for 2. Rex comes in for some clubberin', but Davey counters with a high cross-body for 1, then a small package gets 2. Dynamite with a sunset flip on Spot for 2, then gets thumped by Rex. Rex accidentally hits his knee going into the turnbuckle, so the Bulldogs start working his legs. Grapevine or half-sharpshooter as Davey works over Rex. Gorilla mentions that Spot isn't exactly exterting himself with his efforts to tag in. Rex tries to headbutt the legendary head of Dynamite, but you know that trick never works. Dynamite gets trapped in the opposite corner and the Moondogs finally take over for a bit. Lukewarm tag to Davey and the ol' "double noggin' knocker". Big powerslam on Rex gets 2 for Davey. Rex ducks and sends Davey out to the floor. Double Dog Clothesline on Davey gets 1. A chinlock happens. Spot flies off the seocnd rope with a kneedrop for 2. A regular kneedrop gets 2 for Rex. Slam and a splash gets another 2 for Rex. Reverse neck-breaker from Rex (wha?!) for yet another 2. Flying forearm from Spot for 2. Rex goes for a second-rope splash, but Davey gets the knees up. Spot cuts off the tags and keeps working on Davey. Davey finally reverses a verrtical suplex and makes the hot tag to Dynamite. Headbutts and chops a-plenty. Charging clothelsine and a top-rope fistdrop on Spottie. Rex and Davey comes in to slug it out. Dyanmite ascends to the top, again, and leaps over Rex and Davey with a high crossbody on Spot to get the 3 count. A little chroegraphed, as you could see Rex, Davey and even the referee ducking down. The Moondogs had absolutely no chance of winning, but this still came off as a good showcase for both teams.
TNT Flashback: Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
They go just outside the studio, with the Sheik's own personal camel, George. Volkoff gets decked out in similar "sheik gear" and tries to ride the camel. The camel just sits there and bellows until Iron Sheik gets on. Really nothing heel-ish about this, as it was just some guys screwing around and laughing.
SD Jones & Paul Roma vs. Mike Brown & Paul Berger
Looks like a leftover from "Championship Wrestling" with Gorilla going solo in the booth. They work on Berger's arm...and I'm sure I'm missing some good pun opportunities, here. Slam from Jones, then Brown comes in for some punishment. Clothesline and slam from Roma, then a headlock takedown. More headlockin' from Jones, mixed with a slam. Vertical suplex from Roma gets 2. They take turns working a hammerlock, then hit a double clothesline. Headbutt from Jones, then he press-slams Roma onto Brown to get the 3 count. Basic, quick, squash match.Ken Resnick Studio Interview with Magnificent Muraco & Mr. Fuji
The "Masters of Mind-to-Mind Communication" blame their recent TNT screw-ups on an electrical cloud that was passing over. Silly and kinda' worthless.Recap of Hulk Hogan & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
Flashback segments from Adrian Adonis' "Flower Shop", where Adonis stirs the pot about dissention between Orndorff and Hogan. Hogan insists Orndorff is his "blood brother". Another segment, where Bobby Heenan adds to the heap, challenging Orndorff to take on King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd, calling him "Hulk Junior". An irate Orndorff calls Hogan on the phone, but can't get ahold of him. Vince MaMahon and Bruno Sammartino close their show, but Orndorff comes in to complain about Hogan being unavailable. Back to one more Flower Shop, where Orndorff and Hogan agree to take on the Moondogs as a warm-up before Studd/Bundy. Hogan's glad to see "the OLD Mr. Wonderful" back.Hulk Hogan & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. King Kong Bundy & "The Giant" John Studd (w/Bobby Heenan)
Just like last week, it's a re-broadcast from Championship Wrestling, with Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino. Short backstage segment as Hogan tries to apologize for the missed phonecall. They walk out from the locker and Orndorff is visibly pissed as Hogan cuts to the front. Orndorff insists Hogan stay on the outside, as he starts thumping away on Studd. Of all things, an Orndorff sunset flip gets 1. They hit the ropes and Orndorff hiptosses Studd across the ring. Bundy comes in for a shoulderblock, then misses a splash and a charge to the corner. Orndorff unsuccessfully tries to slam Studd, then clears both heels from the ring with flying drop-kicks. Fans are eating this up as Hogan is finally tagged in. Hogan picks up Studd for an easy slam and clears the ring. Orndorff seems a little miffed that he couldn't slam Studd. Hogan with an atomic drop on Studd, then whips him to the corner for a clothesline. Studd catches him with a clothesline and the bad guys double-team Hogan. Bundy with a slam, the Hogan makes the heroic comeback by...raking the eyes of Studd and Bundy. Hogan goes to bounce off the ropes and accidentally nails Orndorff with an elbow. Double-team on Hogan, but Orndorff does nothing. He finally comes in to clean the ring, then helps Hogan up...and clotheslines the snot out of him! Big jumping piledriver! Hogan twitches on the mat, while Orndroff works the crowd and invites the Heenan Family into the ring. So, um, DQ win for Hogan/Ornodorff or a "no conest"? They're set to beat away on Hogan, more, but the American Express, Sivi Afi and King Tonga are in to make the save. Orndorff leaves with the Heenan Family, and gets congratulated by Adrian Adonis and Jimmy Hart in the locker room. It's basically the significant heels all working together because Everybody Hates Hogan. Good, old-fashioned, heel turn, nonetheless! Some fans were actually sympathetic to Orndorff and his frustration with Hogan's grand-standing antics.Wrestling fans, we're out of time, but tune in next week for a special steel cage tag team main event!
Why'd You Watch This?:
I kinda' liked this episode. Yes, even the Lanny Poffo match. Sure, you don't need to track this down, but if you're scanning through 1986 WWF, this is a good "time capsule episode" of the period.
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