WWF Wrestling Challenge September 27th, 1987

September 27, 1987

From the Metro Centre in Rockford, IL

Your hosts are Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

In action this week will be Paul Orndorff, One Man Gang, Rick Rude, and Sensational Sherri.

Demolition w/ Mr. Fuji vs. S.D. Jones & Outback Jack

Smash starts the match by beating on Jones until he misses a charge in the corner. Jack tags and works the arm until he gets nailed with a clothesline. Ax tags in and works the back as Demolition are back in control of the match. Jack boots Smash in the face to counter a backdrop then makes the tag as Jones hits a few headbutts but gets caught by Smash then Demolition hits the Decapitation for the win (4:03).

Thoughts: Here, Jack is fully cemented as a TV jobber. No entrance or anything for one of the biggest flops in WWF history. The match itself was too long as Demolition is ready for more than just destroying jobbers.

A replay of last month’s vignette featuring Brutus Beefcake training with hairstylist Sal Fodera.

Another plug for the “Survivor Series” airs. They have yet to tell us what this, only saying it will air Thanksgiving night.

Paul Orndorff w/ Oliver Humperdink vs. Brian Costello

Heenan tells us that he was going to fire Orndorff before he quit as he helps build up the Orndorff/Rude feud. Match starts with Orndoff beating on Costello then grabbing a chinlock. Costello rakes the eyes and fights back but runs into a knee as Orndorff slams Costello off of the mat. Heenan warns us about Humperdink being an awful person then says he never wanted to manage Bam Bam Bigelow to begin with. Back to the match as Orndorff clotheslines Costello then puts him away with the piledriver (3:01).

Thoughts: Orndorff is seemingly now ahead of Ken Patera as Heenan Family enemy #1. I don’t have a problem with that.

Gene Okerlund is with Strike Force and asks them about the Islanders. Santana says that they formed due to the Islanders as Martel once again says Santana as his partner is a blessing. Okerlund strongly hinted that they would be getting a shot at the Tag Team titles soon. And they would in several weeks.

We get the same fan response segment from “Superstars of Wrestling” regarding the “Piledriver” album.

One Man Gang w/ Slick vs. Van Van Horne

Gang assaults Van Horne before the bell. He rips off his jacket then hammers away as the announcers put him over as a threat to Hogan’s WWF World Title. We get an insert promo from Bam Bam Bigelow, telling us that Gang is not a “bad” man while Gang is in the ring destroying Van Horne until he puts him away with the front suplex (1:52). After the match, Gang continues to beat on Van Horne, hitting him with three splashes. The medics come out and take Van Horne to the back on a stretcher.

Thoughts: Still keeping Gang strong as he was getting title shots against Hogan on the house show circuit.

Okerlund is with the Killer Bees. This is a repeat promo from a few weeks ago in which they talk about getting a title shot.

Superstar Billy Graham & Ivan Putski vs. Rocky Stone & Joe Mirto

Before the match, Mirto & Stone try to attack their opponents but get caught in bearhugs at the same time. The bell rings and they are still in the holds and eventually tap out (0:17).

Thoughts: Talk about a washed-up tag team. The short match length was definitely for the best. Putski’s comeback lasted until the end of November.

Craig DeGeorge is on the interview podium with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The crowd goes nuts for his chants. Duggan says that he is not going to let people push others around in the WWF before saying a lot of Pro USA stuff. The fans still love the guy.

“Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Sivi Afi

Johnny V. has replaced Heenan on commentary. Match starts with Rude beating on Afi while Monsoon rags on Johnny over his wig. We see an insert promo of Rude, telling the male fans their women all know who he is while he continues to beat on Afi. Rude hits a clothesline then flexes and hits a snap suplex, breaking the pin to flex again. Ha. Rude locks on a Camel Clutch but misses a dropkick as Afi chops away. Afi tries a crosbody but Rude catches him and hits a backbreaker then hits a piledriver for the win (4:08)

Thoughts: Rude did a great job working his heel act in this match. The crowd hated him.

Another plug for the “Survivor Series.”

Velvet McIntyre vs. Sensational Sherri

Sherri attacks McIntyre before the bell. McIntyre blocks a monkey flip then lands a kick before applying a headlock. Sherri fights back and slams McIntyre’s head off of the mat a few times. They go back-and-forth briefly until McIntyre takes the advantage with a headscissors takedown and a dropkick. She hits a slam then uses a giant swing for a nearfall then tries a reverse rollup but Sherri grabs the tights and reverses it for the win (3:35). After the match, McIntyre gets her revenge and sends Sherri to the floor.

Thoughts: And now we have a Women’s title feud, for the first time in over two years.

Okerlund is with the Hart Foundation, who say that all of the other teams in the WWF are “parasites.” Okerlund then asks them about Jimmy Hart as they mention how they love him. Funny stuff from Neidhart here.

Next week in action will be Bam Bam Bigelow, Ted DiBiase, Don Muraco, and the featured match of the Rougeau Brothers & Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Hart Foundation & Danny Davis.

Final Thoughts: Not much to talk about here other than they have a feud for the Women’s title. Everything else major that happened shown here was from “Superstars of Wrestling.” Challenge really was the “B” show, like how Smackdown is to RAW today.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

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

Saturday: TBD

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 10/4/87