WWF Wrestling Challenge December 27th, 1987

December 27, 1987

From the Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers

Your hosts are Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

In action this week will be Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, and the British Bulldogs vs. Islanders (which aired on the 12/26 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling”).

Strike Force vs. Rick Gantner & Terry Gibbs

Match starts with Santana taking Gibbs down and working the arm. Martel tags as we get an insert promo from the Hart Foundation and Jimmy Hart as they talk about regaining the Tag Team Titles. Back to the match as Martel slingshots Gibbs into the ring then Gantner tags and doesnt fare any better as Strike Force cuts off the ring. Martel gets caught in the wrong corner but hits Gantner with a knee lift then makes the tag. Santana is a house of fire then tags Martel, who catches Gantner with a powerslam then puts on a Boston Crab and gets the win (3:06).

Thoughts: Once they got the belts and their storyline with the Islanders ended, there wasnt much going on with Strike Force and it seems like the fans lost interest.

WWF Special Report with Craig DeGeorge. He talks about Ted DiBiase and how his plan to buy the WWF World Title from Hulk Hogan failed as Hogan refused the offer. We are then shown Hogan making his decision from the 12/19 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.” After that, they cut back to the announcers as Heenan calls Hogan an idiot for declining the offer.

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Sivi Afi

I felt like I have seen this match several times before. DiBiase trips up Afi after a break then hammers on him against the ropes. We get an insert promo from DiBiase laughs at the notion of fans believing he is upset over Hogan declining his offer, adding that he always gets what he wants and will be the WWF World Heayweight Championship one way or another. Back to the match as DiBiase hits Afi with an elbow smash from the middle rope. He then catches Afi with a clothesline before getting the win with a falling back elbow drop (2:17).

Thoughts: DiBiase looked good in the ring here and his insert promo added a lot of intrigue to his storyline of becoming the WWF World Heavyweight Champion, no matter the cost. Showing that he was not upset and had a backup plan leaves you in anticipation of what will happen next.

DeGeorge is with Rick Rude and his thoughts about 1988. Rude says that 1987 was a super year for him and wishes the people a Happy New Year but knows his will be better because he’s the “sexiest man alive” while others are likely “fat-bellied construction workers.” Rude then says that his mind is on Hogan’s title and if not that, someone’s “old lady.” Rude corrects DeGeorge in saying Heenan’s Family is not a stable because that is where you keep horses before stating whoever stands in his way on his path towards Hogan will be taken down. Really strong heel promo by Rude, who was rapidly becoming one of the best heels on the roster.

Steve Lombardi vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Roberts works the arm until Lombardi shakes him off with an arm drag. Lombardi charges after Roberts a few times but gets caught with a slam then goes out to the floor for a breather. He returns and lands a few shots until Roberts connects with a knee lift. Lombardi uses an eye rake but gets freaked out by Damien’s bag and ends up caught with a back suplex. Lombardi is able to block a DDT with another eye rake but Roberts grabs his arm and hits a DDT for the win (2:15). After the match, Roberts dumps Damien on top of Lombardi.

Thoughts: Roberts was over but did not have a feud at this time. And the snake gimmick worked like a motherfucker. Say what you want about some of the gimmicks here but quite a few of them made these guys into much bigger stars than without the gimmicks.

DeGeorge is with Bam Bam Bigelow and Oliver Humperdink, who promises that Bam Bam will rid the WWF of trouble like King Kong Bundy and the One Man Gang. Bigelow then turns his attention to the One Man Gang and says he does not respect him as he follows that with a generic promo warning him about causing trouble.

Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin vs. Jerry Allen

Before the match, Martin tells everyone to shut up as he apparently has an issue then just walks away. The crowd gave him the silent treatment here and honestly, came off as just plain terrible. Bravo catches Allen off of a leapfrog and hits him with an inverted atomic drop. Bravo hits a few chops in the corner and shortly after that he hits a back suplex for the win (1:30). After the match, Gorilla wonders whether or not Martin can take Bravo to new heights as we get a freeze frame shot of Martin in the ring.

Thoughts: Already, the Martin/Bravo pairing seems like a bad idea. And Martin attempt to get heat before the match was more sad than anything else.

“The Rock” Don Muraco vs. Frank DeFalco

Muraco is now sporting the baby blue colored tights, which as the Honky Tonk Man said is the kiss of death for your career. DeFalco lands a few shots in the corner but Muraco comes back with a Russian leg sweep. We get an insert promo from Slick who tells “Brother Muraco” that if Butch Reed doesnt get him the One Man Gang will. Back to the match as Muraco slingshots DeFalco into the corner before getting the win with a Tombstone piledriver (1:31).

Thoughts: Really just a reminder that Muraco is still a wanted man by Slick and his guys.

DeGeorge is on the interview platform with Mr. Fuji and Demolition, who say that they are going to demolish everyone in 1988. Ax then yells at the fans to shut their mouths as he tells us they were tear people up and break the bones of every opponent because no one is safe when they face Demolition. Fuji didnt speak here but nodded and smiled as Demolition promised to destroy everyone en route to the Tag Team Titles and honestly, as a fan, how could you not want to route for this team. They had a cool look, music, and were badass in the ring.

We are shown the British Bulldogs vs. Islanders match from the 12/26 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.” The match did not officially take place but the Islanders and Heenan ended up kidnapping Matilda. When they came back, Monsoon kept on going off on Heenan, who took up right as Gorilla introduced the footage.

Jimmy Hart shows us the article inside of “WWF Magazine” about the Honky Tonk Man, who Hart proclaims as the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all-time while screeching even higher-pitched than usual about him keeping the belt forever.

Jerry Gray vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth

Gray was a bit of a journeyman, working for several territories in the past. Savage immediately goes to work and sends him outside with an elbow smash. We get an insert promo from the Honky Tonk Man, who tells Savage he’s the best IC Champion of all time while he dances with Peggy Sue. Back to the match as Savage flies outside and connects with the double axe handle. Savage then rolls Gray back into the ring and gets the win with the flying elbow drop (2:01).

Thoughts: Just a quick win for Savage as they put over the addition of Peggy Sue into his feud against Honky. It was another layer added to let the feud go on longer.

DeGeorge is with Greg Valentine, who says that 1987 has been a confusing year for him. He talks about he was wondering where his career and life were going until Jimmy Hart became his manager, saying that he is the best manager in the world. Valentine talks about all of the past success he had with Hart then talks about having a “bad manager and two bad partners” before saying he does not care how big his competition is as he feels stronger than ever and now ready to face anyone. A strong promo by Valentine but the core of the promo sounds like something a babyface wrestler would say.

Next week is the Year in Review show of 1987. I will not be reviewing that show.

Final Thoughts: This show was fine. It highlighted several feuds that would be heating up into the new year, which is always a good thing.

And that wraps up my coverage for the WWF in 1987. But do not worry as I will be going straight through 1988, starting Tuesday with the 1/2/88 edition of “Saturday Night’s Main Event.”