WWF Superstars of Wrestling – August 20th, 1988

August 20, 1988

From the Wheeling Civic Center in Wheeling, WV

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

In action this week will be the Big Bossman, Ultimate Warrior, King Haku, and the Junkyard Dog. Plus, a special interview with Hulk Hogan and more.

King Haku w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Mike Richards

Haku stomps Richards to start. Richards fights back and catches Haku with a slam but Haku counters a side headlock with a back suplex then goes back on the attack. Vince asks Jesse about being the referee for the SummerSlam main event as he claims to be calling the match down the middle. Haku hits a dropkick then puts Richards away with a thrust kick (2:14).

Thoughts: They are still trying to establish the King Haku gimmick, which is struggling out of the gate to say the least. On commentary, Vince was yet again trying to pressure Jesse if Ted DiBiase has bought him off as the special guest referee for SummerSlam.

WWF Special Report with Gene Okerlund. He hypes up the main event for SummerSlam as we see clips of Hogan at ringside for Savage’s match last week against one of the Conquistadores to show that the Mega Powers are on the same page.

The Rockers vs. Trent Knight & Al Navarro

Jesse refers to the Rockers as “pretty boys” as Jannetty hits Knight with a powerbomb of sorts. The Rockers clean house then Vince starts asking Jesse how he would officiate this match as the Rockers beat on Navarro until Jannetty gets the win with a crossbody from the middle rope (3:19).

Thoughts: The Rockers continue to get great reactions from the crowd. However, the company is slowly bringing them along so they are not in any feuds yet but are at least being able to showcase a lot of their moves.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center to hype the September 10th show at the Boston Garden. We hear from Jimmy Hart and the Honky Tonk Man, who tells the Ultimate Warrior that he does not have to wear tassels or hide behind face paint as people want to see what he looks like and promises to give Warrior the “shortest and fastest trip” on his back. Funny how that turned out for Honky. We then hear from Ted DiBiase, blaming Hulk Hogan for costing him the WWF World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania IV to hype up their match.

George Steele is holding up his Mine Doll and a copy of “WWF Magazine” with Brutus Beefcake on the cover as he tells us Mine does not need a haircut.

Big Bossman w/ Slick vs. Bob Emery

Bossman boots Emery down before catching him with a backbreaker. Bossman asks Slick for better competition as he chops Emery down. Bossman then hits a spinebuster as we hear from Koko B. Ware in an insert promo as he hypes his match against Bossman at SummerSlam. Bossman then roughs up Emery some more until hitting the sidewalk slam for the win (2:02). After the match, Bossman cuffs Emery to the ropes and beats him with his nightstick.

Thoughts: They are building up the Bossman well as he continues through enhancement talent. At SummerSlam, Koko will be his first credible opponent in front of a National audience.

Mooney is back in the Event Center now to hype up SummerSlam. We hear from the Mega Powers as Hogan tells us they have everything down pat and if Jesse Ventura is paid off by the Mega Bucks, it will not matter as they have been training down in the “Combat Zone.” By training, I assume they meant they went down to the Combat Zone section of Boston to purchase the amounts of cocaine these two were likely on when this was filmed. Savage then talks about the inspiration of Elizabeth.

Junkyard Dog vs. Johnny Zeigler

JYD shoves down Ziegler to start. Ziegler comes back with a clothesline after an eye rake but JYD takes him back down. JYD hits a clothesline and a falling headbutt as we hear from Rick Rude in an insert promo as he promises to teach an old dog new tricks at SummerSlam as JYD gets the win with a powerslam (1:35).

Thoughts: Just a match to showcase JYD as he heads into SummerSlam to face off against Rude.

Craig DeGeorge welcomes the Mega Bucks to the interview platform. DiBiase tells Hogan his pride will cost him everything as Andre tells us he will be back in the with Hogan, who he refers to as a little kid. Andre then calls Hogan the ex-champ and refers to Savage as a “chimpanzee” while promising to show him that he is the toughest guy. Heenan then talks about Jesse giving them a fair shake as they all start laughing. Vince then asks Jesse what he has to say about that as Jesse replies “no comment.” Decent heel promo here.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Dusty Wolfe

Warrior destroys Wolfe as the announcers put him over as a lunatic. Warrior breaks a full nelson with ease before hitting a suplex. Warrior then slams Wolfe then signals for his finisher as he hits a press slam/splash combo for the win (2:41).

Thoughts: The commentators kept pushing how Warrior was crazy. This crowd was rabid for him too. Still, he has nothing currently scheduled for SummerSlam.

SummerSlam Report with Gene Okerlund. He runs down all of the matches and tells us how to order on pay-per view.

“The Outlaw” Ron Bass vs. Jim Evans

We hear from Brutus Beefcake in an insert promo as he hypes up his match against the Honky Tonk Man at SummerSlam before telling Bass he could use a haircut. Bass beats on Evans as Jesse wants to know why Beefcake is wasting time on Bass when he has a title match to worry about while Bass puts Evans away with a gourdbuster (1:07). After the match, Bass grabs his spurs then shoves down the referee. Beefcake then runs out for the save as he fires away on Bass as the crowd goes insane. Bass flees then Beefcake takes his clippers and starts cutting up Miss Betsy as Bass is irate on the outside. Beefcake then points at the hat on the ring post and grabs that as he struts around with it before cutting it up. Beefcake then struts around with the hat all cut up while Vince is cackling like a moron before he chases Bass up the aisle.

Thoughts: First off, the whole confrontation came off as being too contrived. Beefcake, in the midst of an Intercontinental Title match at Summerslam, randomly showed up in an insert promo talking about wanting to give Bass a haircut then made the save when Bass tried to attack the jobber after the match. Sure, the crowd ate up Beefcake’s antics, not as much as Vince though, but when it was over, it made you think as to why this ended up happening when Brutus was going to face the Honky Tonk Man at SummerSlam. Giving those circumstances, it did at least come off well on TV.

Mooney is back in the Event Center to hype up the September 10th Boston Garden show. We see a clip from the August 6th show in Boston where DiBiase grabbed Elizabeth by the ankle and held her down while she was standing on the apron.

In action next week will be Brutus Beefcake, Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, Hart Foundation, and Hercules. Plus, an interview with the Mega Powers.

Final Thoughts: Not a whole lot to this show besides the Bass/Beefcake angle. They hyped SummerSlam and gave a lot of the newer characters and wrestlers matches but nothing that was memorable or anything.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Wednesday: EVOLVE 61 5/7/16

Thursday: Kayfabe Commentaries Timeline Series: 1986 WCW as told by the Rock & Roll Express

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/21/88

Saturday: RoH The Conclusion 11/28/03

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/27/88

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/28/88

Tuesday: WWF SummerSlam 1988