Friday, November 23, 2012

Saturday Night's Main Event 11/29/1986


So today, I bring you another edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. I’m a little out of order as I thought this aired November 15, but it actually aired November 29. But I said I would review this airing today, so let’s get to it, from the Los Angeles Sports Arena

We start off with the wrestlers having various intros. I think they can speak for themselves better than I this time

So before any match, Gene Okerlund interviews Jake Roberts, who says no one wants to shake his hand a second time because of the snake. He also says people are content with life passing them by. He’s not and no one will stop him, especially not Randy Savage. Yeah sure.

Now a rebuttal from Savage, who claimed he was going to skin Roberts and make a belt out of him.

Match: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) for the Intercontinental Championship
Before the bell, Jake used Damien to intimidate both Elizabeth and Savage, who used her as a human shield.
The ref restores order, the bell rings… and Savage doesn’t go out the ring. He does keep stopping short of hitting Roberts at first. But when he does go for him, Roberts has a bit of an edge on him at first. Before he could pull off the DDT, Savage finally went out of the ring. Upon coming back in, Savage was able to make use of a second wind. Eventually, Roberts came back and the match remained pretty much even until the end, when they both pushed the referee.

Winner: Double Disqualification
So this was the perfect match to open the card. Both men were great and their abilities where evenly portrayed. Some great moments were when Savage left and hid Damien, causing Roberts to leave and get him back. Roberts also threatened Elizabeth at a couple times and it showed his sadistic side. It was a great match, but when Roberts shoved the referee, that was the only bad point as it looked forced.4/5

Okerlund interviewed Bobby Heenan, who spouted how he had all this pull in Hollywood. Probably a load of bull. Hernandez claimed he loved Heenan as a manager and that he would  become the champion.
An interview with Hulk Hogan, where he said Hercules is stronger and that he’s trained like he would be facing a powerful god… Um, how do you even do that?

Match: Hercules Hernandez (with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) vs. Hulk Hogan for the World Championship
I haven’t seen Hogan for a while and at least he’s not yelling about how the championship is an All-American institution and that he’s going to keep it away from the dirty Reds.
Anyway, Hogan started off… losing? Interesting. Hernandez had the main edge at the beginning, but Hogan eventually found his steam. However, Hogan got cocky and tried to pull off one of his signature moves, which Hercules turned around to his advantage. At one point, Hernandez thought he had beat Hogan by submission to a backbreaker. The referee didn’t hear though, so it didn’t happen. Hogan was able to go into God Mode from there.

Winner: Hulk Hogan to retain the Championship
Not that much of a surprise, but it was a good surprise to see him almost beaten. I do think it’s time that the Reign of Hogan ended though.4/5

Ventura interviewed Cowboy Bob Orton, who claimed Piper used him when they were partners, hiding behind him. Tonight, he said Piper had no friends.

Okerlund interviewed Piper, who said he picked Orton out of the gutter. That, plus other indecipherable blabber. Classic Piper.

Match: Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Cowboy Bob Orton (with Jimmy Hart and the Magnificent Muraco)
Muraco started off being a distraction to Piper, but he was taken back and Piper started wailing on Orton. For most of the match, Piper had the edge on Orton, who was eventually able to get some offense in until he missed. From then, Orton never had a chance

Winner: Rowdy Roddy Piper
Great match. Both were very energetic, and I liked how Orton got some offense in, but then got too proud of himself. 3/5

Okerlund interviewed the Hart Foundation who said he was going to clip the wings of the Killer Bees.

The Hart Foundation (with Jimmy Hart) vs. The Killer Bees for the Tag Team Championship
Brunzel and Hart started off, with Hart an unclear edge until the Bees found it. During the match, an interview was shown with the Bees with their masks on fooling Okerlund. Due to some dirty fighting, The Harts were able to turn the match over in their favor. Near the end, the Bees doned their masks and were able to regain offense

Winners: The Killer Bees to retain the championship
This was an ok match. The ending is what killed it for me. The masks are cool, but they should have gone into the match with them. Putting them on mid-match and acting as a lucky feather sort of thing makes it seem like a forced win. Especially when the Harts were obviously dominating. 2/5

Koko B. Ware had an interview with Okerlund, who took the reins of making fun of Russia from Hogan. That doesn’t work.

Ventura interviewed Slick and Volkoff. Slick kept talking about money and that Koko should beware. Volkoff called Slick an honest man, unlike most Americans. Yay propaganda.

Nikolai Volkoff (with Slick) vs. Koko B. Ware
Nikolai started beating Koko down before the bell rang, though he was able to find an opening and start returning the favor. Volkoff had a midmatch second wind, but it wasn’t enough, eventually giving Koko another opening.

Winner: Koko B. Ware
Short but good match. No real complaints 3/5

Match: The Magnificent Don Muraco (with Mr. Fuji) vs. Dick Slater
I don’t remember Slater ever winning, so this is pretty much a foregone conclusion
Yeah, Muraco decimated Slater, who only got in a couple hits and got taken out by Fuji.

Winner: The Magnificent Don Muraco
This wasn’t that good of a match and wasn’t really needed. That’s all I have to say. 2/5

So it was a pretty great night, with the final score coming out to 3/5
I’d say my favorite match was one of the first two. They were great ways to open the card, but unfortunately the show got weaker as the night went on. Also, like I said, the last match was unnecessary and not even that good.

Coming up Monday: Superstars of Wrestling from 11/15/1986







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