WWF Prime Time Wrestling – March 20th, 1989

March 20, 1989

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

Tonight, we will see the Brutus Beefcake vs. Rick Rude match from “Saturday Night’s Main Event,” Jake Roberts vs. Boris Zhukov, and the featured match of Ted DiBiase vs. Bret Hart

Boris Zhukov vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

This is from the 3/8 “Wrestling Challenge” tapings in Odessa, TX. We get Lord Alfred Hayes and Tony Schiavone on commentary. The fans chant “USA” as Jake breaks out of a test-of-strength. They square off as Jake tries to play mind games then he takes him down with an armdrag as Zhukov takes a break outside. The USA chants start up again as Zhukov finally heads back into the ring. They trade hammerlocks until Jake runs Zhukov through the ropes. Jake heads out to toss Zhukov back inside then the ref yells at Jake, who gets stomped as he returns into the ring. Zhukov takes control and uses a lot of basic heel offense as he targets the back. He gets two off of a backbreaker then grabs a bearhug. Zhukov celebrates after an Irish whip into the corner but that allows Jake to fight back. Zhukov catches Jake with a knee but Jake soon reverses then puts Zhukov away with a DDT (6:44) *3/4. After the match, Jake places Damien on top of Zhukov.

Thoughts: Actually, this was a fun match believe it or not. Jake did a great job getting the crowd into this and the crowd went nuts for him.

WWF Update Segment with Gene Okerlund. They show Elizabeth from “Saturday Night’s Main Event” where she said she’d remain in a neutral corner at WrestleMania.

Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Tim Horner & Jim Evans

This is from the 3/7 “Superstars of Wrestling” tapings in El Paso, TX. Horner catches Honky with a slam then an atomic drop as he then goes to work on the arm. Honky tags out as Horner escapes from the corner then hits Valentine with a pair of armdrags. Evans tags and also works the arm until Valentine chops him down. Valentine then hits a shoulderbreaker as Evans is getting beat down. Honky ducks his head as Evans kicks him then tags out but Honky retreats to the corner. Valentine makes a blind tag and lands a few shots but Horner is able to go back to working the arm. Horner hits an atomic drop then gets two with a rollup. Valentine chops Horner down then hits a suplex before tagging out. Horner fights back against Honky and tags out but Honky catches Evans with a clothesline. Honky then hits the Shake, Rattle, and Roll and tags Valentine, who twists around his shinguard and puts on the figure four for the win (5:49) *1/2.

Thoughts: This was good when Horner was in the ring at least. The Honky & Valentine team really has no momentum at all and at this point just comes off as two fading singles stars passing the time.

The “Brother Love Show” segment from the 3/18 “Superstars of Wrestling” show. This was the Red Rooster calling out Bobby Heenan in an incredibly lame promo.

King Haku vs. Tommy Causey match from the 3/18 “Superstars of Wrestling” show.

Sean Mooney in the Event Center with comments from WrestleMania V participants.

Tito Santana vs. Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin

This was actually from the 8/24/88 “Wrestling Challenge” tapings in Hartford, CT. These two go back-and-forth to start. Tito then fires away and knocks Bravo through the ropes as Bravo is pissed. Back inside, Tito breaks out of a side headlock and hits a few armdrags as Bravo bails and heads halfway up the aisle with Frenchy. Bravo heads back in as Tito works the arm for a bit. He then fires away in the corner but Bravo blocks a monkey flip attempt with an inverted atomic drop then hammers away. Bravo now works a chinlock as we head to break. The action returns with Tito breaking free from that chinlock but he ends up running into a back elbow smash. Bravo drives his knee into Tito’s midsection then chokes him out on the bottom rope before going back to the chinlock. Tito gets out and hits a crossbody for two but Bravo hits him with a piledriver and gets two as he covered nonchalantly after celebrating. Bravo goes back to the chinlock once again as Tito fights out. Bravo tries for another piledriver but Tito counters that with a backdrop. Tito fires away then hits an elbow smash from the middle rope. Tito stomps away then hits a backdrop as he signals for the flying forerarm. However, Frenchy Martin trips him up as Tito chases him around the ring until Bravo comes out and attacks him. They are now brawling on the floor as Frenchy gets involved again as Bravo rolled in just before the ten count for the win (13:20) *1/2.

Thoughts: Really dull match. Bravo was terrible here and killed the flow with his constant chinlocks. Tito was game but unfortunately for him got stuck working with a slug.

WrestleMania V Report

Rick Rude vs. Brutus Beefcake match from “Saturday Night’s Main Event.”

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart

This is also from the 3/8 “Wrestling Challenge” tapings from Odessa, TX. Before the match, DiBiase demands to be announced as the Million Dollar Champion. Hart dropkicks DiBiase to start them hammers away. He gets two with a Russian leg sweep and an atomic drop as DiBiase bails. A really fast and crisp sequence there. Back inside, DiBiase blocks a reverse rollup but Hart gets up and catches him with a small package for two as DiBiase bails again. Hart slingshots DiBiase inside then ties him up in the ropes with a headbutt. Hart charges but misses and slowly drops to the floor. Hart rolls back inside as DiBiase stomps away then chokes him out on the mat. DiBiase nails Hart with a clothesline then drops an elbow for two. He hits an elbow smash from the middle rope before taunting the crowd as he is in full control of the match. DiBiase gets two with a suplex then tries it again but Hart reverses as both men are down. They trade punches from their knees as DiBiase wins that battle then gets two with a back suplex. DiBiase whips Hart into the corner a few times before getting two with a backbreaker. Hart manages a pair of small packages for two but DiBiase sends him to the floor. Back inside, DiBiase gets two with a fist drop then applies a chinlock. Hart gets out and they fight over a wristlock until DiBiase yanks him down by the hair. Virgil gets up on the apron to distract the referee so DiBiase can choke out Hart. They end up clotheslining each other then DiBiase climbs up top but Hart slams him off as the crowd goes nuts. They slug it out in the corner until Hart knocks DiBiase down. Hart backs DiBiase in the corner and fires away again. He drops an elbow for two then climbs up to the middle rope with another elbow for two after hitting a backbreaker. Hart misses a charge in the corner as DiBiase drags him into the middle of the ring. DiBiase uses a spinning toe hold until Hart pushes him over the top rope then Hart flies out with a pescado as they trade punches until getting counted out (15:59) ****. After the match, Hart chases Virgil around then turns around to knock DiBiase out of the ring.

Thoughts: Excellent match. Both guys were awesome and this was one of the better TV matches I’ve seen from this time period. They also protected Bret here too as he was treated as someone on DiBiase’s level. I’d certainly try to seek this match out, which is also available on the “Best of the WWF Vol. 19” and “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, Was, and Ever Will Be.”

Final Thoughts: The featured match was tremendous but most of this was recycled WrestleMania V hype or clips from other shows. Besides Bret vs. DiBiase there is really no need to see the show unless you are unfamiliar with how WrestleMania V is being built up.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Monday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 3/25/89

Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 3/26/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 68

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with the Wild Samoans

Friday: WWF WrestleMania V

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 5/6/82

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 4/8/89