WWF Wrestling Challenge – March 26th, 1989

March 26, 1989

From the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, TX

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

In action this week will be Brutus Beefcake, The Brainbusters, and Rick Martel. Plus, a special interview from Randy Savage, comments from Hulk Hogan and more.

Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. Tim Patterson

We hear from Ted DiBiase in an insert promo as he tells Beefcake he is in over his head and outclassed. Beefcake takes Patterson down with a hiptoss and follows with a slam. Patterson then lands a few shots but Beefcake catches him with the sleeper for the win (2:09). After the match, Beefcake gives Patterson a haircut as Gorilla plugs the “Wrestling Spotlight” magazine with Beefcake on the cover.

Thoughts: Quick match to hype up Beefcake vs. DiBiase at WrestleMania. They also seem to be given Beefcake more of a push as they strongly promoted the fact he was on the cover of “Spotlight Magazine.”

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. He runs down the card for WrestleMania V.

Ricky Ataki & Mark Ming vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart

We hear from the Hart Foundation as they tell Valentine, Honky, and Jimmy Hart the deck is stacked against them at WrestleMania. Valentine suplexes Ataki around then roughs up Ming after he makes a tag. Honky is now in and he clotheslines Ming then hits the Shake, Rattle, and Roll but opts to tag Valentine, who puts Ming away with the figure four leg lock after turning around his shinguard (2:58).

Thoughts: More hype for the Hart Foundation vs. Valentine & Honky match at WrestleMania

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear the same promos from Rick Rude and the Ultimate Warrior from 3/25/89 episode of Superstars.

Rick Martel w/ Tito Santana vs. Jose Estrada

Martel hits Estrada with a pair of armdrags as the announcers put over his physique. Martel catches Estrada with a bodyscissors in the corner then gets two with a sunset flip. We hear from Strike Force as they tell the Brainbusters they will be in for a big surprise at WrestleMania then Martel hits a pair of dropkicks before getting the win with a Boston Crab (2:27).

Thoughts: The fact Martel & Santana were not teaming up prior to WrestleMania should have tipped us all of something was going to happen between them.

Frankie Valdez vs. King Haku w/ Bobby Heenan

Gorilla is solo on commentary. Before the match, Heenan tries to get the crowd to bow to Haku but they respond with a “weasel”chant. We hear from Hercules in an insert promo as he tells Haku not to underestimate his strength and that he will never bow to him. Haku overpowers Valdez and hits a running powerslam before putting him away with a thrust kick (1:29).

Thoughts: Quick win for Haku to hype up his WrestleMania match against Hercules.

We hear from Hulk Hogan as he tells Randy Savage they are just one week away from WrestleMania V and at the end, the Hulkamaniacs and himself will be standing tall. He even checked all systems and when they get ready to go to “orbit” something will malfunction for Savage as his system is built on lies and jealously. Hogan then talks about how much it hurt when Savage accused him of having lust for Elizabeth but that is has another kind of lust and that is for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship Title and to put his hands on Savage as this lust will eat Savage alive. Solid promo.

Hart Foundation vs. Dusty Wolfe & Iron Mike Sharpe

We hear from Valentine, Honky, and Jimmy Hart in an insert promo as they tell the Hart Foundation they will never get their contract back because they cannot win at WrestleMania. Match starts with Neidhart overpowering Sharpe before beating on Wolfe. Bret tags and hits a backbreaker then shortly after that they put Wolfe away with the Hart Attack (2:54).

Thoughts: They once again pushed on TV the fact that the Hart Foundation can win their contracts back from Jimmy Hart if they are victorious at WrestleMania.

Gene Okerlund welcomes Randy Savage to the interview platform. Savage tells Hogan everyone knows how he is a primadonna, hot-dogger, and a grandstander. Savage also says he is the World Champion and Hogan is not as the crowd boos. Savage said what everyone does not know about Hogan is that he is a thief. He accuses Hogan of trying to steal the World Heavyweight Championship Belt and Elizabeth from him but it will not work. He then says what Hogan has stolen is the minds of the Hulkamaniacs and when you take something from someone it makes them totally different and now all of the Hulkamaniacs are a “Pukeamaniac” as he promises WrestleMania will be Hogan’s moment of truth. Savage was incredible here. His intensity and delivery were off the charts.

WrestleMania V Report with Gene Okerlund.

The Brainbusters w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Tim Horner & Louie Spicolli

We get an insert promo from the Brainbusters as they promise to dominate Strike Force at WrestleMania. Horner uses his speed to stay in control as he works the arm of Tully. Arn cheap shots Horner from the apron but misses a pair of elbows as Spicolli tags and gets attacked by Arn. The Brainbusters beat on Spicolli in the corner as Gorilla puts them over as being masters of deception and tag team wrestling then distract the ref so they can hit the Spike Pilerdriver for the win (2:15).

Thoughts: The Brainbusters were such an awesome team in the ring. Gorilla really went out of his way to put them over on commentary as you can tell they have bigger plans for them going forward.

The same Event Center promo from Jake Roberts and Andre the Giant that we saw on Superstars.

Final Thoughts: Another informercial for WrestleMania V. Really not much to add other than that but they did seem to be putting certain acts over on commentary. Luckily, WrestleMania is next as we can move on to other feuds from here.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

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

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 4/15/89