WWF Madison Square Garden – October 19, 1990

October 19, 1990

From Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

Tonight, Texas Tornado defends the Intercontinental Title against Mr. Perfect and the Hart Foundation defend the Tag Team Titles against Rhythm & Blues

Shane Douglas vs. Brooklyn Brawler

Brawler taunts the crowd before locking up then the announcers talk about the potential of Douglas. Brawler gets dumped outside then returns as Douglas works the arm. Douglas uses his speed to elude Brawler, who retreats in the corner. Brawler cheap shots Douglas, who fights back and regains control. Douglas works the arm for a while but gets caught with a backbreaker as Brawler taunts the crowd. Brawler hits a slam then another backbreaker for just a one count then rams Douglas into the corner. Brawler stays on the back then applies a bearhug. Douglas escapes and tries a slam but Brawler falls on top for a two count. Brawler goes back to the bearhug as several people are chanting “boring.” Its an awful looking bearhug. The crowd is now loudly booing as Brawler works the bearhug on the mat. Brawler brings him back up but Douglas finally escapes after using a bell clap then both men collide and end up on the mat. Brawler drapes his arm over Douglas for a two count then tosses him in the corner. Brawler runs into an elbow smash as Douglas now fights back. Douglas hits a clothesline and a knee lift then hits mounted punches in the corner. Brawler reverses an Irish whip and charges but Douglas floats over and takes Brawler down with a sunset flip for the win (10:19) *1/2.

Thoughts: Douglas looked good on offense but Brawler’s bearhug spots killed the match flow. They were terrible. Anyway, the company is starting to push Douglas now as he debuted on the syndicated shows this past weekend.

The Warlord vs. Koko B. Ware

Gorilla makes fun of Heenan for choosing to manage The Barbarian over The Warlord, referring to the former as the “guy with the antlers.” Warlord yells at the crowd then shoves Koko into the corner a few times and flexes. Koko fights back as Warlord spent too much time taunting the crowd. He gets two with a double axe handle but Warlord throws him on the kickout then stomps on Koko in the corner. Koko starts firing away then pokes the eyes but Warlord drops him with a lifting choke hold. Gorilla says he just heard Mr. Perfect is breaking things in the locking room as Heenan leaves to go check on his client. Warlord continues to beat on Koko then applies a bearhug. Koko finally escapes but Warlord chokes him out on the ropes. Warlord cuts off a comeback but eats boot on a charge. Koko comes back with a missile dropkick for two then tries a running crossbody but Warlord turns that into a hotshot and gets the win (8:07) 1/2*.

Thoughts: The Warlord was awful but Koko made this somewhat watchable. All Warlord did was slow, basic power spots and flexing. This did nothing to help get Warlord over.

Lord Alfred Hayes is in the crowd. He tells us he just came from the dressing room where Mr. Perfect says he has formulated the perfect plan to reclaim the Intercontinental Title by “sucking him into a vortex of violence” and Tornado will just turn into a gust of air. What a terrible promo with some of the worst verbiage you’ll ever hear on WWF programming.

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Mr. Perfect w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Texas Tornado (c)

Lord Alfred has joined Gorilla on commentary. Perfect jumps Tornado as he tried to get into the ring. He sends Tornado outside then follows out to inflict more punishment. Perfect kicks Tornado off of the apron but Tornado drags Perfect outside and fires away. He decks Perfect with a discus punch as Perfect is staggering around on the outside. Perfect gets tossed back outside then returns as Tornado works the arm. Perfect chops Tornado in the corner then applies a sleeper but Tornado escapes and applies one of his own. Perfect takes Tornado down and targets the neck. Tornado reverses an Irish whip and sends Perfect into the referee by accident. Perfect then ducks a punch as the ref gets knocked out. Perfect attacks Tornado and hits the Perfect Plex but the ref is not awake. Perfect & Heenan try to wake up the ref then Perfect removes the top turnbuckle pad as he rams Tornado’s head into the exposed steel. He covers but the ref is still out. The ref slowly crawls over as Perfect still has the pin but Tornado is just able to kick out. Perfect is irate then Tornado starts to fight back. Tornado hits a discus punch then knocks Perfect outside. He heads outside and they brawl on the floor until both men are counted out (8:50) **1/4. After the match, Heenan demands Tornado return then says this was the worst officiating he has ever seen. Perfect says he should be the Intercontinental Champion and a rematch right now with an official who knows what he’s doing.

Thoughts: Decent action here. The officiating was truly atrocious but that appeared to be for storyline purposes. Perfect worked hard and had to because Tornado was really deteriorated in the ring.

SD Jones vs. Iron Mike Sharpe

Gorilla tells us that SD just returned from a successful tour of the Middle East. Sharpe stalls on the apron and yells at the fans to start. Heenan has returned on commentary and complains about the officiating as we get more stalling from Sharpe. SD takes down Sharpe then uses a hammerlock but Sharpe once again ducks out onto the apron. Heenan wants a competent referee for Perfect’s next match as SD hits a pair of arm drags. Sharpe bails then returns but SD catches his foot and spins around for an atomic drop. Sharpe gets caught in the ropes as SD decides to take a break after delivering a feeble punch. SD slingshots Sharpe, who once again heads outside and up the aisle. Sharpe returns and offers a handshake and SD accepts then kicks Sharpe in the gut. SD misses a charge in the corner then Sharpe lands some stomps before taunting the crowd. Sharpe chokes SD out against the ropes as the announcers talk about Perfect still being upset and shoving down two photographers on his way backstage. Sharpe uses a cross armbreaker as SD tries to escape. SD fights back with a punch to the gut in an awkward spot but Sharpe takes him down with a clubbing forearm. Sharpe works the neck but SD picks him up and drops him in the corner. SD fights back with headbutts then slams Sharpe for two as the ref counted after Sharpe’s foot was on the ropes. Headbutt gets two. Sharpe reaches into his tights as SD is complaining to the ref then loads his forearm and hits SD for the win (10:56) -**

Thoughts: I have no idea why the company decided to put these two against each other. This was pathetic and maybe could have been somewhat passable a decade prior but to be this slow, uncoordinated, and ineffective in this era was not going to fly. It appears this was SD’s last WWF match and the final MSG appearance for both men. Just atrocious and if you feel like torturing yourself, watch this on the 11/12 edition of “Prime Time Wrestling.”

Another ad to buy tickets for live events airs. After watching this on TV you’d probably reconsider before putting money down on a ticket.

Rhythm & Blues head out to the ring for a performance of “Hunka, Hunka, Honky Love.” This bit is just boring the crowd to tears at this point.

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Dusty Rhodes

No polka dots for Dusty, who gets jumped while entering the ring. Dusty takes both men down with a double clothesline then clears the ring as the crowd cheers. DiBiase takes his time before re-entering the ring and cheap shots Dusty with a knee smash. Dusty reverses an Irish whip and drops DiBiase with an elbow then sends him into Virgil with an atomic drop. Dibiase tries another cheap shot but Dusty blocks it and hits an elbow smash. Virgil grabs Dusty’s leg and gets chased as Dusty puts him in a sleeper until DiBiase makes the save. DiBiase stomps away then heads inside as Dusty is on the floor for well over a ten count then DiBiase goes out to roll him back inside. Dusty fights out of a chinlock and almost puts DiBiase away with a small package but DiBiase fights back and puts on another chinlock. Dusty avoids a corner charge then fires away as DiBiase is now begging for mercy. Dusty his ten mounted elbows in the corner before knocking DiBiase outside. Virgil gets up on the apron so Dusty pulls him inside. DiBiase sneaks in from behind and tries to hit Dusty with the ring bell but that gets blocked. Dusty takes the bell and hits DiBiase as the signals for the DQ (8:46) *1/2. DiBiase & Virgil then beat down Dusty and hit him with the bell. A few officials run out to check on Dusty

Thoughts: The sports-entertainment stuff made this okay. Dusty could barely move but they told a good story at least and it prolonged their feud.

Sean Mooney is in the MSG Event Center. He talks about the November 24th show that will feature matches like Sgt. Slaughter vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Texas Tornado vs. Mr. Perfect, and Earthquake vs. Hulk Hogan. The show is being dubbed the “Night of Mega Matches.” We then hear from everyone involved in those matches.

Lord Alfred is backstage with Dusty Rhodes, who is pissed. Dusty says DiBiase & Virgil have made this real personal so he has something for him in his son Dustin. He puts over Dustin as being 6’5 and 270 lbs and challenges them to a match. We then hear from DiBiase & Virgil, who accept the challenge.

Haku w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Davey Boy Smith

Lord Alfred has replaced Heenan on commentary. Davey returns for the first time in two years and now sports threads and a greatly enhanced physique. Davey takes control to start. Haku bails after a dropkick then returns after regrouping with Heenan. Davey hits a pair of slams but Haku fights back with chops. Davey locks on a sleeper that Haku breaks up with a hip toss but Davey trips him up and grabs an armbar. Davey fires away but Haku blocks a monkey flip with an inverted atomic drop to finally take control of the match. Haku blocks a reverse rollup but Davey comes back with a crossbody for a two count. Davey gets a nearfall with a crucifix but Haku powers out then hammers away. He murders Davey with a piledriver for a two count as Haku is in disbelief. Haku works a chinlock for a bit then catches Davey with a knee smash for a two count. Davey fights out of a chinlock but Haku thumbs him in the eye and tosses him outside. Davey returns and Haku skies him with a backdrop for two then stretches him out while pulling his hair. Haku now works a chinlock and gets backed in the corner but is able to whip Davey upside down in the corner for a two count. Davey ducks a chop and hits a back suplex as both men are down. Davey is able to cover and gets two then both men collide. Davey then turns over Haku for a sharpshooter as the fans cheer but Haku grabs the ropes. Davey gets kicked in the head after ducking for a backdrop then Haku chops him back down. Shoulderbreaker gets two for Haku but Davey holds the ropes on a dropkick attempt then hits a backdrop and a vertical suplex that gets two. Haku then misses a charge and Davey catches him with a running powerslam for the win as the fans give him a great ovation (19:34) ***1/2. After the match, Heenan yells at the referee.

Thoughts: Davey made a statement here in his MSG return. And Haku deserves credit too for keeping up with him. They both worked a fast-paced, hard-hitting style and it was a welcome breath of fresh air on a show with subpar matches. The crowd was into this more than anything else on the show and with good reason. A true hidden gem with a style ahead of its time. I might be overrating a bit based on everything else on the card but this was a ton of fun. Seek it out if you can (I had to buy this show from a tape trader because its not online but this match was featured on the “Mega Matches” Coliseum Home Video release).

Dino Bravo vs. Tugboat

Bravo attacks Tugboat from behind and lands some kicks in the corner. Tugboat comes back with a few clotheslines and an atomic drop as Bravo rolls outside. Bravo returns and flexes before offering a test-of-strength. Tugboat accepts but Bravo stalls and kicks the ropes. They finally engage in a test-of-strength where Bravo kicks Tugboat down and holds him but Tugboat escapes and slams Bravo after whipping him into the corner twice. Tugboat misses an elbow drop as Heenan makes fun of him then Bravo uses a chinlock. The announcers hype up next month’s show as Tugboat escapes but gets raked in the eyes. Bravo poses after hitting an inverted atomic drop then covers for two. Bravo goes back to the chinlock after a snapmare as the camera zooms in on Tugboat’s hat. Tugboat gets out but eats boot on a charge then Bravo hits a slam. However, Bravo spends too much time taunting the crowd as Tugboat attacks. Tugboat hits a splash but Bravo got his foot on the rope. Tugboat thinks he has won so Bravo sends him outside with a knee smash. Bravo refuses to let Tugboat back inside so the ref calls for the bell. Tugboat runs back in and chases Bravo outside and to the locker room as we learn that Tugboat has won by DQ (8:28) -*. Tugboat comes back out to celebrate and Bravo sneaks out too so Tugboat chases him back.

Thoughts: Terrible, and this feud is not over at all. The crowd was dead and the action sucked. Even the theatrics after the match was met with silence.

Mooney is back in the Event Center to hype the 11/24 show. We also learn that The Rockers will face The Orient Express (That did not happen as they were replaced by Demolition as Sato left to become an office liason in Japan) and that Roddy Piper will be the special guest referee in the Intercontinental Title match.

WWF Tag Team Title Match: Rhythm & Blues vs. The Hart Foundation (c)

Heenan tells Piper to brush up on his officiating skills because Perfect will rough him up if he does not. The Hart Foundation work over Valentine, who Gorilla keeps referring to as “Boxcar.” Valentine fights back against Neidhart then tags out as Honky kicks away. Neidhart catches Honky with a bearhug but Valentine breaks that up from behind. Valentine distracts the ref so he missed Neidhart tagging out as the challengers stay in control. Valentine gets a few nearfalls but Neidhart comes back with a clothesline as both men are down. Bret tags in and runs wild then the match breaks down. Honky holds up Bret for a guitar shot but gets hit by accident then Bret covers for the win (6:10) *.

Thoughts: A weak match to close out a forgettable show. This feud did not have any juice and the Rhythm & Blues act is far too stale and dated to be considered legitimate contenders.

Final Thoughts: Davey vs. Haku was a blast but besides that this card was, in the words of Ole Anderson, “the shits!” With shows like this its not hard to figure out why the company’s house show business was struggling. At least they are building up next month’s show and loading up the card so we do not get stuff like Iron Mike Sharpe vs. SD Jones.