WWF Superstars of Wrestling January 23rd, 1988

January 23, 1988

From the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, AL

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

Unfortunately, my copy of this show is missing the first show matches (Randy Savage vs. Barry Horowtiz and Butch Reed & One Man Gang vs. Rick Hunter & Wellington Wilkins)

Billy Jack Haynes & Ken Patera vs. Iron Mike Sharpe & Joe Mirto

My copy has this joined in progress as Patera beats down Mirto while the announcers talk about the upcoming Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match. We get an insert promo from Demolition, who tell Patera & Haynes they will beat the brains in as 1988 is the year of Demolition and as that happens, Haynes puts Mirto away with the full nelson. About two minutes of this was shown.

Thoughts: This was the last TV appearance in the WWF for Haynes. His team with Patera was used solely to get over Demolition. And to be honest, they weren’t even needed for that.

Gene Okerlund is with Don Muraco as he talks about the “Royal Rumble” show. They are now calling it that instead of the “Rumble Royal.” Muraco talks about how unique this match is as Okerlund runs down the competitors, mostly talking about nothing. Muraco is also wiping his nose and grinding his jaw which is what usually happens when you have been doing cocaine.

Rex King & Van Van Horne & Sam Houston vs. Hart Foundation & Danny Davis w/ Jimmy Hart

Before the match, Vince yells out a big “yee-haw” during Houston’s entrance. Houston and Davis start off the match. Houston sidesteps Davis with a cartwheel then hits a dropkick. Van Horne tags and works the arm then King comes off of the top with an elbow. Davis catches King with an elbow then Neidhart tags and beats King down for a bit. Bret is in and hits King with a backbreaker and a piledriver then Davis returns. King rolls away from an elbow drop then tags Houston, who runs wild. Bret trips up Houston then the Hart Foundation hit him with the Hart Attack behind the referee’s back and Davis covers for the win (2:55).

Thoughts: Poor Houston. The guy had to eat the pin teaming with two bums in order to keep his feud against Danny Davis going.

They hype up the Brutus Beefcake/Greg Valentine feud as they show a clip from “Saturday Night’s Main Event” where Beefcake saves Koko from Valentine’s figure four.

We are shown the Ted DiBiase & Andre the Giant interview from the 1/17/88 edition in which Andre promises to squeeze the WWF World Heavyweight Title belt off of Hogan and deliver it to DiBiase.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Steve Lombardi

Duggan gets the crowd going with his chants as he beats on Lombardi. Jesse then insults the crowd for being dumb as Duggan stays in control, eventually getting the win with his Three Point Stance (2:08).

Thoughts: Duggan was great at getting the crowd involved in his matches. This was no exception.

We get another promo from Bad News Brown, who tells us to forget about good news because for no on there will only be bad news.

A graphic of Matilda airs with the address to send “Get Well” cards to Matilda.

Jerry Allen & Scott Casey & “Leaping” Lanny Poffo vs. King Harley Race & “Ravishing” Rick Rude & Hercules

Casey is now sporting a cowboy hat. Jesse talks about Rude’s article in the “WWF Magazine” as Hercules beats down Casey. Rude tags and hits a clothesline before Race gets in and hits a suplex. Allen tags in as Race beats him down while Vince tells Jesse the Ultimate Warrior as a superior physique compared to Rude. A “weasel” chant breaks out as Hercules hammers away on Poffo. Vince says we will find out about the other two championship matches on the February 5th special as Hercules submits Allen with the Torture Rack (2:55).

Thoughts: Complete domination by the Heenan Family here. The other guys didn’t even get in a single move on offense. This was also Hercules’ debut of the Torture Rack as his finisher I believe. With Rude switching from the backbreaker submission to the Rude Awakening, it allowed Hercules to switch his finisher and it was for the best.

Okerlund is backstage with King Harley Race, who tells him that he will have #20 in the Royal Rumble match. Race declares he will win the match then asks Okerlund what the actual match is called.

In action next week will be Jake Roberts, The Islanders, Ultimate Warrior, and the Honky Tonk Man. Plus, the debut of Bad News Brown and an interview with Hulk Hogan.

Final Thoughts: They hyped up the Royal Rumble and the February 5th shows well, along with the top feuds. The action was nothing special though. All in all, what I saw of this show was alright.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 1/24/88

Tuesday: WWF 1988 Royal Rumble

Thursday: Shoot Interview TBD

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 1/30/88