WWF Wrestling Challenge – November 19th, 1989

November 19, 1989

From the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita, KS

Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon. Vince tells us that he is here because Tony Schiavone is on vacation.

This week’s featured match is Dusty Rhodes vs. Akeem. Also in action our are the Colossal Connection and Demolition plus a replay of the Test of Strength between Dino Bravo & Ultimate Warrior from one week ago.

Demolition vs. Gene Ligon & The Conquistador

The Conquistador here is in fact Jose Luis Rivera. Demolition takes control as we get an insert promo of fans talking about Thanksgiving as one kid calls DiBiase’s team the “Million Dollar Brats.” Demolition stays in control then put Ligon away with the Decapitation (3:15).

Thoughts: Just some generic Survivor Series hype here.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. We see another clip of Rick Martel modeling clothes on the interview platform.

Akeem w/ Slick vs. Dusty Rhodes

They start off with a dance off until Slick distracts Dusty so Akeem can attack from behind. Akeem misses a charge in the corner as we hear from the rest of The Enforcers Survivor Series team run down their opponents in an insert promo. Slick grabs Dusty’s leg as Akeem stays in control and works a nerve hold for a bit as we see Slick yell at a female fan at ringside as they keep going at it as Dusty fights out. Akeem now looks over and comes out to yell at the woman to mind her own business but Dusty sneaks behind and chops Akeem down then rolls inside as Akeem is counted out (3:52) 1/2*. After the match, Akeem and Slick yell at the woman as they leave as the camera zooms in on her.

Thoughts: The action was poor but this was noticeable for the first appearance of the woman who would later become Sapphire. Oddly enough, we did not get an appearance from the Big Bossman. As it turned out, Akeem hurt himself and had to be replaced at the Survivor Series by Bad News Brown.

Sean Mooney is in the Event Center to hype the 12/12 Nashville Auditorium show. Demolition tell the Colossal Connection they are ready for them while stating that two members of the Heenan Family are now gone. Slick & Big Bossman then warn Dusty what will happen when they face off.

Colossal Connection w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Brian Johnson & Mike Powell

The Brainbusters are shown in an insert promo putting over the Colossal Connection, who are destroying their opponents. Vince talks about dissension in the Heenan Family as Haku beats on his opponents until he tags Andre, who holds Powell up for Haku to hit a thrust kick then he drops an elbow for the win (3:51).

Thoughts: The comments about dissension among the Heenan Family continues and while they never went into specifics here it was ultimately done as a way to write off the Brainbusters. Tully was fired at this point too and his name was not mentioned until his final match on “Saturday Night’s Main Event” aired.

The Hulkamaniacs Survivor Series team hype up their Survivor Series match.

The Genius & Mr. Perfect are at a pool as Mr. Perfect does all sorts of dives off of the diving board then calls out Hogan for not being able to do that.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Rusty Riddle

Riddle attacks Duggan from behind on the outside but ends up getting shoved into the ring post. We hear from Macho King Randy Savage in an insert promo telling Duggan to accept defeat at the Survivor Series. Duggan yells for Savage then puts Riddle away with the Three Point Stance (2:00).

Thoughts: Not much to this one other than they are still pushing the Savage/Duggan feud as they face off at Survivor Series.

Gene Okerlund welcomes the Million Dollar Team to the interview platform. DiBiase says there is no greater motivator than money and he has a ton of it as the members of his team talk about what they are going to do at the Survivor Series.

Survivor Series Report with Gene Okerlund.

Clips of Dino Bravo & Canadian Earthquake attacking the Ultimate Warrior from the 11/11/89 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.”

Mooney is back in the Event Center to hype the 12/12 Nashville Auditorium. Hogan & Brutus Beefcake are behind the blue bars and talks about settling their differences between Macho King Randy Savage & Zeus in a steel cage match.

Next week in action are Powers of Pain, Brutus Beefcake, Rick Rude, The Rockers, Mr. Perfect, and the featured match between Hercules and Macho King Randy Savage.

Final Thoughts: This is the last TV to air before the Survivor Series. They hyped up the PPV a lot but there was no feud hot enough to carry it and a lot of it is falling flat. At least this show had a featured match and newsworthy segment but its the same hype we’ve been hearing for weeks.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 8/19/82

Sunday: WWF 1989 Survivor Series

Monday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/25/89

Tuesday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 11/25/89

Wednesday: PROGRESS: Orlando 3/31/17

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with Curtis Hughes

Friday: WWF Madison Square Garden 11/25/89