WWF Superstars of Wrestling – March 25th, 1989

March 25, 1989

From the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, TX

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

This week, Hulk Hogan will be the guest on the Brother Love Show. Plus, Ted DiBiase, Jim Duggan, and Hercules in action and more!

Rick Martel w/ Tito Santana vs. Iron Mike Sharpe

Martel gives Tito a high-five before the match. He works the arm to start then hits Sharpe with a dropkick and an armdrag. We hear from the Brainbusters in an insert promo as they warn Santana & Martel about what will happen at WrestleMania. Martel breaks out of a hammerlock and goes back to the arm. Sharpe lays into Martel in the corner but Martel fights back then puts him in the Boston Crab for the win (2:51).

Thoughts: A win to put over Martel but the story heading into WrestleMania is whether or not Santana & Martel can shake off their rust as a team and defeat the well-oiled machine in the Brainbusters.

WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. He runs down the matches for WrestleMania V.

Dino Bravo w/ Frenchy Martin vs. Louie Spicolli

The crowd riles up the heels with a “USA” chant. Bravo catches Spicolli with a backdrop as we hear from Ronnie Garvin in an insert promo as he promises Bravo he’ll find out how much desire he has at WrestleMania. Bravo suplexes Spicolli and beats him down until he puts him away with a side slam (2:10).

Thoughts: Lots of USA chants here in one of Frenchy Martin’s final TV appearances. Believe it or not, Frenchy came back to wrestle on a house show loop early in 1990.

We now get comments from fans, telling us they will be watching WrestleMania on PPV or Closed-Circuit TV. A segment to remind us how to watch WrestleMania V without being at Trump Plaza.

Hercules vs. Tim Patterson

Hercules works the arm then no-sells some punches and yanks Patterson down by the hair. Hercules knocks Patterson down as we hear from King Haku in an insert promo as he promises to make Hercules bow at his feet after beating him at WrestleMania. Back to the match as Hercules hits a clothesline then hits a suplex before getting the win with a backbreaker submission (2:11).

Thoughts: Hercules was quite aggressive here and acted a bit heelish as he destroyed this jobber en route to facing King Haku at WrestleMania.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear from Jake Roberts and Andre the Giant & Bobby Heenan to put over that match at WrestleMania.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Black Knight

The Black Knight is Billy Andersen under a mask. He attacks Duggan from behind to start as Bad News Brown is shown in an insert promo talking about hurting Duggan at WrestleMania. Duggan takes control of the match as we get USA chants. He slams Knight off of the top rope then puts him away with the Three Point Stance (2:08).

Thoughts: Some last minute hype for the Duggan vs. Bad News match at WrestleMania. This match was barely received any hype at all.

We now hear from Randy Savage. He talks about Hulk Hogan being a primadonna to go along with a grandstander and a hotdogger as he puts himself over as the World Heavyweight Champion. Savage then tells Hogan he has lust in his black heart for Elizabeth and the greatest at the world in manipulating and brainwashing people’s minds. Savage promises Hogan he will feel the Madness at WrestleMania and beat him as he remains the World Heavyweight Champion. These Savage promos were all brilliant. He was great during this feud.

Fabulous Rougeau Brothers w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Sam Houston & Stefan DeLeon

We hear from the Bushwhackers in an insert promo as they talk about being just one week away from facing the Rougeaus at WrestleMania. The match breaks down to start as the Rougeaus take care of DeLeon before double-teaming Houston, who fights back and gets a nearfall before getting dumped outside. Jacques dropkicks DeLeon as the Rougeaus stay in control as Houston runs in for a save until the ref sends him back to the apron. The Rougeaus continue to beat on DeLeon then put him away with the Rougeau Bomb (2:19).

Thoughts: More hype for the Rougeaus vs. Bushwhackers WrestleMania match. This was the final TV appearance for Houston, who despite being a very good worker was relegated to the bottom of the card.

Brother Love Show with guest Hulk Hogan. Brother Love introduces Hogan as someone who knows about lust, not love. Hogan comes out and said he loved Elizabeth like a sister and how he used to love Savage like a brother before calling Savage a liar who used shortcuts. Hogan then declares he will be the champion at WrestleMania V.

WrestleMania V report with Okerlund. We get all of the matches again but this time comments from some of the competitors. Okerlund also reads off another telegram from Roddy Piper, who tells Morton Downey Jr. and Brother Love he can back up his mouth and wants to know if they can do the same to hype up their Piper’s Pit segment.

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Tim Horner

Before the match, DiBiase & Virgil taunt Horner with the Million Dollar Belt. DiBiase tries a sneak attack but Horner was ready and that triggers a really fast-paced Irish whip sequence ending with Horner hitting a pair of dropkicks for a nearfall. Horner then charges in the corner but runs into a back elbow smash as DiBiase takes control. We hear from Brutus Beefcake in an insert promo as he promises to make DiBiase pay for all of the times he embarrassed people with his money. Back to the match as DiBiase stays in control then puts Horner away with the Million Dollar Dream (2:58).

Thoughts: Really good for a TV squash match. Horner was very good in the ring and DiBiase was one of the best at this point. We also get some more last minute hype for the Beefcake vs. DiBiase match at WrestleMania.

Mooney is back in the Event Center. We hear from Rick Rude and the Ultimate Warrior to hype up the Intercontinental Title match at WrestleMania V.

Next Week’s show is the “Countdown to WrestleMania V” special. I will not be reviewing that as its a clip show.

Final Thoughts: Really, this was just more of the same WrestleMania hype that we’ve seen since the first few matches were announced and essentially an informercial for the PPV. They’ve hyped this card up as much as they were going to do and I’m ready for the show so we can move on to some new feuds afterwards.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

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

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 4/9/89