WWF Wrestling Challenge – July 23rd, 1989

July 23, 1989

From the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Niagara Falls, NY

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone and Gorilla Monsoon

In action this week are the Ultimate Warrior, The Widowmaker, Haku, and The Rockers.

Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Bill Wood

Wood works the arm for a bit but Honky fights back. Honky hits a fist drop then stays in control until getting the win with a Shake, Rattle, and Roll (2:21). After the match, Honky thanks the fans.

Thoughts: Just a basic squash match win for Honky. His feud with Snuka was not mentioned here.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes as he lists off all of the matches named for SummerSlam at this point.

The Rockers vs. Mike Williams & Smitty Austin

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers are in an insert promo warning the Rockers to take better care of themselves before they end up in new careers. Shawn and Williams start off as Shawn hits a powerslam after a few whips into the turnbuckle. Jannetty tags and hits a corkscrew neckbreaker then Austin tags in as he grabs a side headlock. The announcers talk about some of the SummerSlam matches as Jannetty gets trapped in the opposing corner. He fights out and Shawn clotheslines Austin from the apron. Williams breaks up a sunset flip attempt as the match breaks down. Williams gets dumped then the Rockers get the win with a double flying fist drop (3:48).

Thoughts: The Rougeaus vs. Rockers feud was really good in hindsight. Its been an enjoyable midcard tag team feud.

Dusty Rhodes gas station vignette airs again.

Barry Windham defeats Dennis Allen in a match shown on the 7/17 edition of Prime Time Wrestling.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center for more hype of the 7/28 Nashville show.

Haku w/ Bobby Heenan vs. John Weiss

Haku hits Weiss with a shoulderbreaker then follows with a pair of backbreakers. Heenan is shown in an insert promo talking about how Gorilla & Schiavone will beg them to come back to the show but he will not as Haku puts Weiss away with a thrust kick (1:26).

Thoughts: This was more about pushing the Heenan angle of leaving two shows to start his own than it was about Haku.

Replay of the Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake promo from this past edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.”

Ultimate Warrior vs. Barry Hardy

Warrior knocks Hardy down then yells in the camera about Rick Rude. The fans cheer as Warrior poses on the middle rope then goes back to dominating his opponent. Warrior hits a flying double axe handle then goes outside and slams Hardy down. We hear from Rude in an insert promo taunting Warrior about being the Intercontinental Champion then Warrior gets the win with a press slam/splash combo (2:23). After the match, Warrior tosses Hardy outside and carries him over his shoulder before dumping him in the aisle as he stands over him beating his chest.

Thoughts:

Gene Okerlund welcomes the Twin Towers, Slick, Andre the Giant, and Bobby Heenan to the interview platform to hype their match against Demolition & King Duggan at SummerSlam. They are build as three-quarters of a ton and put over their own size to tell us they cannot be stopped.

Tito Santana defeates Boris Zhukov in a match shown on the 7/17 episode of “Prime Time Wrestling.”

Randy Savage, Sensational Sherri, and Zeus promo from “Superstars of Wrestling.”

Powers of Pain w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Chuck Williams & George Skaaland

Williams is better known as the Rockin Rebel of ECW fame. The Powers of Pain take control early as The Genius wants the Powers of Pain to beat up the Bushwhackers because they smell like sardines. Back to the match as the Powers of Pain put Williams away as Warlord holds him up as the Barbarian comes off the top with a clothesline.

Thoughts: They are going back to building up the Powers of Pain as a team since their singles runs went nowhere.

More Event Center hype for the 7/28 Nashville show.

Next week in action are King Duggan, Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, Bad News Brown, and the Bushwhackers.

Final Thoughts: More SummerSlam hype here. The rest was a bunch of uninspired TV squash matches but with the PPV card a month away we now get more of a focus to these shows.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Wednesday: Revolution Pro Wrestling High Stakes 1/21/17

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with Lex Luger

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 7/29/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 6/3/82

Sunday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 7/29/89

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/30/89

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/5/89