WWF Superstars of Wrestling September 26th, 1987

September 26, 1987

From the Civic Center in Peoria, IL

Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, and Vince McMahon

In action this week is Bam Bam Bigelow, Hart Foundation, Randy Savage, and the Islanders.

Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Oliver Humperdink vs. Barry Horowitz

Horowitz yells at the referee while we get an insert promo from Nikolai Volkoff, yelling in Russian. Back to the match as Bam Bam chases Horowitz around the ring before catching him inside. Damn, Bam Bam moved fast. He tosses Horowitz before taking him down with a clothesline as the crowd is digging Bam Bam a lot. He slams Horowitz a few more times then puts him away with the slingshot splash (2:38).

Thoughts: Impressive showing for Bigelow. The fans went nuts for his athleticism and he did a great job of playing up to the crowd. Dude looks like a surefire star already.

Craig DeGeorge is on the interview podium with Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man. DeGeorge asks Honky about his claim that he is a better Intercontinental Champion than Randy Savage as Honky says he has the top song on the “Piledriver” album along with the best manager. Savage himself runs out and tells Honky he will be feeling the “Macho Madness” then challenges Honky to a match right now before heading through the crowd and into the ring. The crowd goes nuts as Honky says he is not “dressed” for the match and heads to the back. A wonderful segment as the feud between these two heat up.

We get a voiceover telling us to get ready for the “Survivor Series” on Thanksgiving night. No other details were given.

The Shadows vs. Paul Roma & Jim Powers

Ventura is pissed over Roma & Powers coming out to the “Crank It Up” song that Jimmy Hart sung on the “Piledriver” album. Vince refers to the team as “Young Stallions” for the first time. Match starts with Powers catching #2 with a slam and an armdrag. Roma tags in and gets trapped in the opposing corner. Roma comes back with a flying headscissors then tags Powers, who hits a poor excuse of a monkey flip that gets countered into a sunset flip. Ventura cant believe Roma & Powers “stole” the song from Jimmy Hart as the Shadows work over Powers. Roma pulls Powers down as #1 held him up then eventually tags in but the ref did not see it take place. Powers comes back with a double clothesline then tags Roma, who runs wild. He hits a few nice dropkicks then tags Powers, who gets the win with a powerslam (4:08).

Thoughts: With the new song and now an actual team name, it seems like Roma & Powers were getting a push and a feud but that would be very, very short-lived.

Gene Okerlund is with Savage, who will be facing Hercules at the 10/3 show at the Boston Garden. Its the same promo he cut last week.

Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart & Danny Davis vs. Sonny Rogers & S.D. Jones

The match starts as the announces talk about Hulk Hogan possibly dating Dolly Parton. Neidhart slams Rogers as we get an insert of Tito Santana and Pedro Morales doing the Spanish commentary. Bret tags and beats on Rogers while Ventura expecting Santana to run in an interfere and after that the Hart Foundation get the win with the Hart Attack (3:01).

Thoughts: Not much to this other than establishing the fact that Tito was on Spanish commentary. That would come into play later in the show.

Okerlund is with Superstar Billy Graham, who will be facing Butch Reed at the 10/3 Boston Garden show. Graham’s promo style was really dated here. And this feud seemed to only get over in the Northeast.

Terry Gibbs vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Duggan’s return since getting fired. According to Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter,” the announcers were instructed to pretend like Duggan never left the company. And they never mentioned that he had even left. Match starts with Duggan ramming Gibbs into the corner as the crowd chants right along with him. He then tosses Gibbs across the ring before getting the win with a Three Point Stance (2:24).

Thoughts: Duggan was still over with the fans but he was nowhere near the level he was at before getting fired.

WWF Update with Craig DeGeorge. He talks about the “Piledriver” album then we see clips of fans telling us about their favorite songs. “Girls in Cars” got the most votes as we get a clip of the “Piledriver” song music video.

The British Bulldogs and Matilda tell us not to smoke. Funny as Dynamite Kid reporetdly smoked like a chimney.

The Islanders w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Jim Evans & Brady Boone

Boone and Tama work a quick sequence that ends with Tama hitting a clothesline. Boone rolls away form an attack then tags out as Evans gets destroyed by Haku. Tama tags in and hits a jumping back elbow smash as the Islanders beat Evans down until putting him away with double diving headbutts (3:09). After the match, the Islanders head on over to the Spanish commentary team to yell at Santana, who has enough and starts hammering. He gets outnumbered as Pedro Morales tries to make the save but gets tossed as the Islanders beat down Tito until several officials intervene while Ventura yells that Santana got what he deserved for throwing the first punch.

Thoughts: The post-match stuff was great. The Strike Force vs. Islanders feud was one of the most underrated Tag Team feuds in wrestling history if you ask me. The segments were great, as were the matches.

Another plug for the “Survivor Series.” Still no idea what it is at this point but given its the second announcement already this show, its obviously a big deal.

Rick Renslow vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth

The fans were crazy into Savage as Ventura calls Bruno and Vince hypocrites for hating him until recently. And he was right. Savage snaps Renslow’s head off of the top rope then hits a suplex as we are shown an insert of Craig DeGeorge from the dressing room where doctors told him not to expect any career threatening injuries for Santana as Jesse jokes that they should cut to the Spanish commentary now since Tito and Pedro are gone, leaving the other guy by himself. Back to the match as Savage hits Renslow with the double axe handle then sets him up for the flying elbow drop and the win (1:58).

Thoughts: Savage was insanely over with the fans at this point. Any guy on the roster today would kill to be this popular with the crowds.

Okerlund is with “The Natural” Butch Reed, who is seen posing. Reed then tells us how he will beat Graham and is the better man. Reed could usually cut a solid promo and he did so here.

Next week in action we will see Superstar Billy Graham & Rougeau Brothers, Ted DiBiase, Paul Orndorff, Hercules & King Kong Bundy & Rick Rude, and the return of Ivan Putski

Final Thoughts: Fun show. You had two great angles, the hype of the mysterious “Survivor Series,” and a great showing from Bam Bam Bigelow. The WWF is keeping their recent momentum going strong.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Saturday: Highspots Presents: Brickhouse TV Season One, Episodes 3 & 4

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/27/87

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 10/3/87

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Bret Hart, Volume 2

Friday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 10/3/87