WWF Wrestling Challenge – February 24, 1991

February 24, 1991

From the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, GA

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

This week our featured match is Greg Valentine vs. Dino Bravo. Plus, a special interview with Sgt. Slaughter. Also in action are Jim Duggan, The Mountie, and Tito Santana.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Pez Whatley

Heenan takes more shots at Mike McGuirk, saying she’s so ugly his suit wrinkled when she walked by him. Duggan hits a pair of clotheslines as the announcers talk about Slaughter being more dangerous than ever because of his new rules. Duggan beats on Whatley in the corner then puts him away with the Three Point Stance (1:27).

Thoughts: An easy win for Duggan, who does not have a match at WrestleMania. Heenan continues to make a ton of jokes about McGuirk and really amped it up at this point.

WWF Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. Same report as we saw on “Superstars of Wrestling” that focused on the fallout of last week’s #1 contender Tag Team Battle Royal.

Tom Landel vs. The Mountie w/ Jimmy Hart

Gorilla brings up how The Mountie will face Tito Santana at WrestleMania as Heenan jokes how the Mountie is going South of the border to get his man this time. The Mountie beats on Landel then catches him with a dropkick. We hear from Tito in an insert promo as he talks about being part of every WrestleMania then promises to take care of The Mountie. Back to the match as The Mountie stays in control and uses a two handed chokeslam as Gorilla notes how that move reminds him of another person then The Mountie uses the Carotid Control Technique for the win (2:47). After the match, The Mountie cuffs Landel before shocking him with the cattle prod.

Thoughts: Poor Tito is being pushed in this match by saying he’s been on every WrestleMania to date but really its just a way to build him up for The Mountie, who is the one getting a push.

Gene Okerlund is at Toys R Us shilling the new WWF merchandise. The Big Bossman then comes in and tells us when it comes to fun he’s right here at Toys R Us. Bossman tosses the figures of Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase then cuffs Okerlund before taking his own action figure with him. There were rumors of Bossman being into cocaine and after watching this I would certainly believe them.

Tito Santana vs. Brooklyn Brawler

Tito uses a hip toss then a dropkick before working an armbar on the mat. Heenan talks about what will happen to Tito’s hair after The Mountie shocks him at WrestleMania. We now hear from The Mountie with Hart in an insert promo as he warns Tito about being the only law and order in the WWF. Brawler gauges the eyes but Tito fights back and hits the flying forearm for the win (2:29).

Thoughts: More subltle hints of a Mountie/Bossman feud with Mountie claiming to be the only law & order in the WWF.

Gene Okerlund brings Sgt. Slaughter & Gen. Adnan to the interview platform. Adnan is holding up a Hulk Hogan poster on a stick. Slaughter says he does not see an American hero but rather an infidel who has no idea what its like to be in combat, making him scum. Slaughter then tells us he sees a man who plays by the old rules but now we are playing by Sgt. Slaughter rules. Slaughter shows off the title belt then sees the belt around Hogan’s waist while noting he is now in possession of that belt. Adnan then waves the poster to the crowd before they set it on fire as Slaughter tells us Hogan will go up in flames at WrestleMania. We see USA chants from the crowd then Slaughter & Adnan destroy what is left of the poster. This segment here was designed to put over the “Slaughter Rules” stuff and they continue to lay it on heavy, too heavy to be honest.

Dino Bravo w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine

Valentine now has theme music as Gorilla notes he’ll be facing Earthquake at WrestleMania. The camera cuts to fans cheering in the crowd to let the viewer at home know he is a face. Bravo attacks Valentine from behind then chops away in the corner. Valentine fights back as Heenan calls WrestleMania VII the greatest wrestling card he’s ever seen. Gorilla plugs the strength and conditioning article in “Bodybuilding Lifestyles” magazine as Bravo uses an inverted atomic drop. Bravo uses more feeble stomps then chokes out Valentine with the ropes. Bravo misses a pair of elbow drops then Valentine runs wild then tries for the figure four but Earthquake runs in and attacks for the DQ (2:59) 1/4*. Earthquake drops an elbow but then the same masked man who attacked Rick Martel on “Superstars of Wrestling” Comes out for the save. The man then helps Valentine up before running backstage.

Thoughts: The match sucked and Bravo was gassed about 20 seconds in. The masked man (Brutus Beefcake) coming out, still not identified, seems to be part of an angle building up but it was dropped as soon as it started.

WrestleMania Report with Gene Okerlund.

Rick Martel defeats Dale Wolfe in a match first shown on the 2/18 edition of “Prime Time Wrestling.”

Next week in action are The Nasty Boys, Big Bossman, Undertaker, Texas Tornado, and Ted DiBiase. Plus, an interview with Hulk Hogan and more.

Final Thoughts: The big news was the second appearance of this masked wrestler. Other than that we got hype for the lower card WrestleMania matches and it did not make for exciting programming.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 3/2/91

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 3/3/91

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 6/16/83

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 3/9/91

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 3/10/91

Tuesday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 3/11/91

Wednesday: WWF Madison Square Garden 3/15/91