WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 12th, 1989

November 12, 1989

From the Toledo Sports Arena in Toledo, OH

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone and Gorilla Monsoon

In action this week are The Bushwhackers, The Widowmaker, and the Powers of Pain. Plus, the featured match between Tito Santana vs. Honky Tonk Man and more!

Tito Santana vs. Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart

The fans are behind Tito. Both men start off trading arm wringers until Tito takes over. He hits Honky with an atomic drop but Hart distracts him and Honky knees him in the gut. Honky lands some punches then sends Tito into the corner. Tito fights back and hammers away as Honky begs for mercy. Tito knocks Honky down as the announcers talk about the Survivor Series then we see Big Bossman come down with his ball-and-chain. Tito hits a slam and sets up for the flying forearm but Honky ducks then Bossman whacks Tito in the back with his nightstick for the DQ (3:07) *. After the match, Bossman tries to put the ball-and-chain on Tito but Dusty Rhodes runs out for the save.

Thoughts: Forgettable action and the focus was on the Dusty/Bossman feud that will continue at the Survivor Series.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. This shows Demolition defeating The Brainbusters for the Tag Team Titles. They are showing us this as much as possible now.

Reno Riggins vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart

Riggins hits a pair of armdrags to start. Valentine then hammers away and lands a few chops as we hear from Ronnie Garvin in an insert promo as he says Valentine will not survive the Survivor Series. Back to the match as Valentine hits three straight elbow drops then turns around his shinguard before putting on the figure four as that gets the win (1:52).

Thoughts: The Valentine/Garvin feud continues.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center to hype the 11/13 Nashville Auditorium show. Hacksaw Jim Duggan tells Macho King Randy Savage he is getting back to business and will beat him up then Rick Rude calls out Roddy Piper for their Lumberjack Match.

The Bushwhackers vs. Mike Scarberry & Kenny Arnold

The Bushwhackers get attacked from behind but fight back then march around as the announcers wonder how Piper will be able to control them at the Survivor Series. The Bushwhackers hit Scarberry with the battering ram then put him away with a double gutbuster (2:32).

Thoughts: Typical Bushwhackers squash match as we get more Survivor Series hype too.

The Genius shows us Mr. Perfect dominate at ping pong as they both tell Hulk Hogan he can not compare.

Mark Regan vs. The Widowmaker

The Widowmaker knocks Regan down as we hear him in an insert promo saying his Survivor Series team will win the match their way. He stays in control and hits a dropkick then a suplex and softens Regan up until putting him away with a superplex (2:10).

Thoughts: This was the final appearance on TV of The Widowmaker character.

We hear from the Million Dollar Survivor Series team. DiBiase tells us he paid a high price for his teammates as they all talk about being victorious. Really not much of a promo at all to be honest and I’m a huge DiBiase fan.

The Rockers defeat Barry Hardy & Alan Reynolds in a match shown from the 11/6/89 edition of Prime Time Wrestling

Gene Okerlund welcomes out The Hulkamaniacs Survivor Series team. They all come out to their own theme music. Hogan says the Million Dollar team are fighting for money while they are “fighting for the cause” as he says all they have to do to win is feed their hunger. Demolition and Jake then put over their team and call out the men they are feuding with before Hogan closes out by saying he will get his hands on Zeus. The problem with this is that the Hogan/Zeus feud is has cooled off considerably and really not enough to get you that excited for the show.

Survivor Series Report with Gene Okerlund.

Bill Woods & Chuck Casey vs. The Powers of Pain w/ Mr. Fuji

The Powers of Pain beat their opponents down the put Casey away with a lifting clothesline (1:11).

Thoughts: The Powers of Pain are still not over after a year in the company. The crowd are usually silent for their matches.

Mooney is back in the Event Center for more hype of the 11/13 Nashville Auditorium show. Rick Martel brags about receiving more letters from women than his opponent, Brutus Beefcake, and is sexier and a better wrestler than him. Piper then talks about being small but that he is not scared of Rick Rude.

In action next week are Jim Duggan and the featured match between Dusty Rhodes and Akeem as we hear from both men.

Thoughts: The featured bout was forgettable and the Survivor Series hype seems tedious at this point. The Survivor Series hype train is not that strong as the main event match really pales in comparison to the first two shows.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Monday: WWF Survivor Series Showdown 11/12/89

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/18/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 81 3/31/17

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with Curtis Hughes

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 11/19/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 8/19/82

Sunday: WWF 1989 Survivor Series