WWF Superstars of Wrestling – February 11th, 1989

February 11, 1989

From the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ

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

The show starts off by showing us footage from “The Main Event” show last week where the Mega Powers exploded.

WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. This is an interview with Hulk Hogan after getting attacked by Randy Savage. Hogan said that Savage made the decision to betray him and that they could have made this work. He then talks about seeing Savage’s and Elizabeth’s love and how he would never do anything to disrupt that. Hogan says he saw Savage’s true colors and jealousy and realized Hulkamania is in trouble. He then ends by saying he wants his title back and claims he is still the champion because he was never beat for the title. The big news is that Hogan wants a title shot and now we will have to see if Savage puts it on the line. Hogan did a decent job with this promo.

We get an ad for WrestleMania V

Sam Houston vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart

Houston got his entrance here. Jesse asks what Hogan has done to deserve a title shot as Houston hits Honky with a dropkick then gets two with a sunset flip. Honky retreats to the corner and catches Houston with a knee smash as we get an insert promo from Bret Hart, who tells Honky he has not forgotten about getting it with the guitar and the next time they meet it will be a different outcome. Houston fights back and tries the bulldog but Honky counters that with a back suplex and hits the Shake, Rattle, and Roll for the win (1:54).

Thoughts: Decent, little match here. Houston was a really good worker at this point but it did not do him any good as he would shortly be released along with several other talents. The big news though was that Jesse said here he would have an exclusive interview with Savage later on in the show.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. He runs down the card for a house show in Nashville. We hear from Akeem and Slick as they run down Big John Studd to hype up their match then Mr. Perfect talks about admiring Rick Martel fr coming back from injury but that he beats people he admires to hype up that match.

We now see Ted DiBiase in a limo as part of his shopping spree in Greenwich, CT. He goes to Betteridge Jewelers where he meets the owner, who tells us they closed down the store so he could shop in peace. DiBiase then tells the owner that he wants them to craft him a Million Dollar Belt. And this was how that got created.

The Bolsheviks vs. The Bushwhackers

Vince wants to know if Jack Tunney will sanction DiBiase’s belt as Jesse was who cares what Tunney thinks. Volkoff sings the Russian National Anthem before the match. The Bushwhackers got ambushed as they entered the ring. The Bushwhackers then take control and almost put Zhukov away with the battering ram but Volkoff breaks up the pin. Luke is getting double-teamed in the corner and finally breaks free but Zhukov knocks Butch off of the apron to prevent the tag. Luke then comes back with an eye poke and makes the tag as Butch cleans house. The match breaks down and Zhukov accidentally hits Volkoff then the Bushwhackers hit Zhukov with a double gutbuster for the win (3:10).

Thoughts: A win to showcase the Bushwhackers. The Bolsheviks were also rumored to be getting released at this time. They were an awful team and did not even bother having Slick accompany them here. The match itself was terrible but the crowd popped huge for the win. It goes to show how the vignettes did a great job getting the Bushwhackers over.

Mooney is back in the Event Center. We hear from Tito Santana as he tells DiBiase he cannot be bought to hype up their match in Nashville. After that, the Brainbusters and Bobby Heenan run down the Rockers to hype up their match.

Tito Santana vs. Tim Patterson

Tito hits a dropkick then works the arm as Jesse accuses Hogan of sneaking in through the back door for a title shot. Tito then backdrops Patterson and puts him away with the flying forearm (1:50).

Thoughts: Just a backdrop for the announcers to talk about the Mega Powers feud. Tito was really floundering at this point.

We get another ad for WrestleMania V.

Brother Love Show with guests Brooklyn Brawler and Bobby Heenan. They run down the Red Rooster with the Brawler saying he will pluck his feathers one-by-one and they all laugh. Basic and uninspired hype for the Rooster/Brawler feud.

Big John Studd vs. Black Knight & Jim Atkinson

Haven’t seen a handicapped match on TV in quite some time. I believe the first since the days of “Championship Wrestling.” Studd overpowers both men with ease as the announcers talk about the “WWF Magazine” article on his return. Jesse then informs us that he has to leave because Savage is ready to be interviewed then Studd makes Atkinson submit to the bearhug (1:53).

Thoughts: This crowd had been hot for everything tonight but were quiet for this, which shows us how Studd’s returned really was a dud.

Jesse is now backstage with Savage and calls him the better half of the Mega Powers. Savage accuses Hogan for having eyes for Elizabeth and for having no characters or guts. Savage then says his momentum will not be stopped and that Hogan’s back is against the wall. Jesse also points out Hogan’s envy over Savage’s woman and title shot but asks him about putting up the title against Hogan. Savage says he will have to think about it and tell us his answer next week. Savage was sweating like crazy here and it made sense as he missed the “Wrestling Challenge” tapings the following day with Pneumonia. Anyway, great stuff from Savage here and Jesse playing the instigator role was also brilliant. Jesse really enhanced this angle.

Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. Sid Sharkey

This Sharkey guy is jacked. He is also god-awful in the ring. The announcers talk about Savage’s interview as Jesse says he is smart for thinking about the situation. Beefcake hits Sharkey with a high knee then hammers away. Sharkey manages to land some shots of his own in the corner and they look pathetic. Beefcake fights back then catches Sharkey with a sleeper for the win (1:49). After the match, Beefcake gives Sharkey a haircut.

Thoughts: This crowd was jacked for Beefcake but the focus on commentary was on whether or not Savage will give Hogan a title shot.

Mooney is yet again back in the Event Center. We hear from the Brooklyn Brawler and Bobby Heenan as they run down the Red Rooster for their match in Nashville then the Ultimate Warrior rants and raves about the Big Bossman to hype up his match against the Big Bossman.

Next week we will see the Brainbusters vs. Rockers. Plus, comments from both Hogan and Savage as well as an update on WrestleMania V.

Final Thoughts: Overall, a really good show this week. The stuff with the Mega Powers was awesome. We also got to see how the Million Dollar Belt was created. They also set up next week’s show as must-watch TV with Savage’s announcement happening, as well as a really good tag team match. Right now, the company’s top feud is piping hot and that is a great thing.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Monday: WWF Philadelphia Spectrum 2/11/89

Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 2/12/89

Wednesday: TBD

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with Steve Blackman

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 2/18/89

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 4/15/82

Sunday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 2/19/89