WWF Wrestling Challenge – July 24th, 1988

July 24, 1988

From the Broome County Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Binghamton, NY

Your hosts are Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

In action this week will be the Powers of Pain, Ted DiBiase, Big Bossman, and the Rockers. Plus, the “Brother Love Show” with guests Jake & Cheryl Roberts

Powers of Pain vs. Tony Parks & Brad Andrews

Heenan points out how the Powers of Pain are even bigger than Demolition. The Barbarian destroys his opponents to start. The Warlord tags and beats on Andrews as Slick is seen snapping photos from ringside. Parks tags as the Warlord hits him with a powerslam then tags in the Barbarian, who gets the win with a diving headbutt (2:16).

Thoughts: They are really trying to build up the Powers of Pain but the fans were dead for this match.

WWF Special Report with Craig DeGeorge. This shows all the events leading up to Randy Savage issuing a challenge to Ted DiBiase & Andre for a tag team match with an unnamed partner. That match includes Jesse Ventura as the special guest referee as he tells us he will step in and officiate the match better than anyone Jack Tunney ever appointed as the pride is on the line.

Tito Santana vs. Terry Gibbs

Santana works the arm as the announcers speculate as to who will be Savage’s partner. He stays on the arm until catching Gibbs with a scoop slam as Heenan makes fun of Santana for no longer having a partner. Gibbs lands a few punches after raking the eyes but Santana fights back then puts Gibbs away with the flying forearm (3:00).

Thoughts: The story here is that they are re-establishing Santana as a singles performer since Martel is injured.

An ad for SummerSlam appears.

Dave Lanning vs. Bad News Brown

Bad News attacks Lanning before the bell as Heenan believes ring announcer Mike McGuirk should be at home doing the dishes, because a woman’s place is at home. Bad News stays on the attack as Gorilla notes that both members of the Hart Foundation are after him. Bad News then tells us read all about him in “WWF Magazine” before getting the win with the Ghetto Blaster (1:50).

Thoughts: The Bad News push continues as he is being booked as a dominant act.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear from the Young Stallions, sporting their own shirt, as they thank the fans and promise to go a “little bit further” as they try to get to the top of the mountain so they can “gallop” all over Demolition. Talk about shitty material to work with. After that, Frenchy Martin and Dino Bravo put down the United States. Bravo thinks all Americans are collecting welfare checks.

The Rockers vs. Iron Mike Sharpe & Chris Duffy

The Rockers get the best of Sharpe as we hear an insert promo from the Rougeau Brothers, as they believe the Rockers are too cocky to make it in the WWF. They are waving around the smallest American flags they have used to date. Back to the match as Duffy accidentally knocks Sharpe off of the apron then Shawn tags and leaps off of Marty’s shoulders with a splash for the win (4:15).

Thoughts: The Rockers looked good here and are rapidly becoming fan favorites.

Mooney is back in the Event Center. We hear from Ron Bass, who tells us Miss Betsy and himself are going to “take the hyde off” of your back. The Ultimate Warrior then tells us that the power of the Warrior is something you want to see and might even be a little frightening. Warrior then promises all of the little Warriors he will never let them down. Your standard psychotic promo from the Warrior.

Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Mario Mancini

Valentine destroys Mancini as we hear from Don Muraco in an insert promo as he promises Superstar Billy Graham will walk again. Valentine turns around his shinguard then puts Mancini in the figure-four leg lock and gets the win (3:15).

Thoughts: The dull Muraco/Valentine feud continues.

Another ad for SummerSlam.

The Brother Love Show with guests Cheryl & Jake Roberts. Brother Love tells us Cheryl & Jake need to learn about love. Jake tells us he is only out here to let Rick Rude know he is after him as Brother Love wants to talk down Cheryl but she shuts her right down. Brother Love then wants to know if Cheryl is related to Jezebel as Jake grabs and threatens Brother Love before walking off as Heenan wants to investigate what happened. It was nice to see an annoying act like Love get some comeuppance but these segments have been quite awful as a whole.

Big Bossman w/ Slick vs. Bill Woods

Bossman destroys Woods as we hear from Slick and himself in an insert promo as they promise to rid the WWF of all the “evil.” Bossman then finishes off Woods with a sidewalk slam (2:17). After the match, Bossman cuffs Woods to the ropes and beats him with a nightstick.

Thoughts: The Bossman continues to impress since his TV debut last month. The gimmick is working out well.

The third ad for SummerSlam appears. We still have no idea what will take place.

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil & Andre the Giant & Bobby Heenan vs. Jerry Allen

DiBiase beats on Allen to start. Allen comes back with a slam but ends up getting tossed to the floor after that. DiBiase hammers away on Allen then catches him with a powerslam before locking on the Million Dollar Dream for the win (3:20). After the match, Allen gets a $100 shoved in his mouth.

Thoughts: DiBiase looked great in the ring as this was a showcase for the heels to hype up the future match against Savage and his partner.

Mooney is once again in the Event Center. We hear from the British Bulldogs as they look to once again become Tag Team Champions. After that, we hear from Demolition and Mr. Fuji, who tell us that Demolition has run out of opponents. Demolition then promises their opponents they will have to make prior arrangements to get an ambulance after the match is over.

Next week in action will be the British Bulldogs, Dino Bravo, and the Hart Foundation. Plus, Randy Savage announcers his partner to go up against DiBiase & Andre the Giant.

Final Thoughts: They showed a lot of the key feud, which is Savage vs. DiBiase & Andre stuff. Also, this show tried to put over the Tag Team division, which did feature a lot of depth at the time. Other than that, it was a skippable show.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 7/30/88

Wednesday: PWG All-Star Weekend XII, Night Two 3/5/16

Thursday: Shoot Interview TBD

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/31/88

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 12/17/81

Sunday: WWF WrestleFest 7/31/88

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/6/88