SNME 4/88.
Here we are fresh off of Wrestlemania and we have a brand new Undisputed WWF Champion in Randy “Macho Man” Savage. With everyone just knowing that Hulk Hogan would win the Title, it was a big surprise to see the Hulkster and Andre the Giant both eliminated in the 2nd round of the Tournament. Ted DiBiase as a result, after beating Jim Duggan and Don Muraco would receive a bye into the finals of the tournament. Randy Savage did it the hardway, beating “The Natural” Butch Reed, Greg Valentine and the One Man Gang before facing DiBiase in the finals. It was a great match. Much better than their first one in the 3/88 SNME show. Both Virgil and Andre the Giant were at ringside for “The Million $$$ Man” and they made life miserable for Savage until Elizabeth went to the back and returned with the other half of the Megapowers, Hulk Hogan, who evened the odds. And with the help of a well placed chair shot by the Hulkster, Savage drops the flying elbow on DiBiase to claim WWF Gold.
But that wasn’t the only title change of the night, as Strike Force fell before the might of Ax & Smash, Demolition who would begin their domination of the WWF Tag Team scene by winning the WWF Tag Team Titles.
*whew!* Got all that? Good! Because that brings us to tonight’s episode of SNME live from Springfield, Ma. And our 16th episode of SNME with Jesse Ventura and Vince McMahon as your announce team.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan v. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
Andre the Giant is at ringside with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, as Andre had interfered in Duggan’s match against Ted DiBiase at Wrestlemania 4, costing Duggan the match.
As things kick off, both men lock up but break with no clear victor. Hercules fakes a second lockup and pounds Duggan instead. Herc tries to ram Duggan’s head into the turnbuckle but Hacksaw reverses it, slamming Hercules into the corner instead. Duggan whips Herc to the far corner, but Hercules reverses it. Duggan rebounds out of the corner though, and nails Hercules with a clothesline. Herc goes for a punch and misses, allowing Duggan to atomic drop Herc, sending him to the corner. Hercules goes outside the ring while Duggan argues a bit with Andre the Giant. Hercules makes it back to the ring apron, and Duggan slams him back inside the ring. Irish whip by Duggan, into a back body drop. Duggan attempts a running knee drop, but Herc moves out of the way in time.
Hercules proceeds to kick at Duggan’s knee to press the advantage. Duggan tries to fight back, but Herc rakes the eyes to regain the advantage. Duggan finally gets a second wind and fights back on Hercules. Duggan misses a charge into the corner, and once again, Hercules gets the advantage, punching and choking Duggan on the ropes. Duggan fights back again with several rights, but Hercules sends Duggan outside the ring. Duggan makes it back to the ring and after an irish whip by Hercules, takes an elbow to the head and hits the mat again. And with the ref distracted Bobby Heenan takes the opportunity to choke Duggan. “Hacksaw” has had enough of this, and grabs his 2x4 and clears everyone from around the ring!
With order eventually restored, both men make it back to the ring with Hercules immediately attacking Duggan from behind. Hercules presses Duggan with a series of rights and lefts. Herc then drops several forearms on Duggan’s back. Duggan fights back though and the two trade punches for a while, until Herc counters with the Greco-roman thumb to the eye. He follows up with a powerful bearhug. Duggan breaks the hold, but Herc catches Duggan with a knee to the chest. From there, it’s back to work for Herc, as he chokes Duggan under the bottom rope. Herc telegraphs a backdrop and gets kicked in the head for his trouble, allowing Duggan to regain the advantage. Duggan gets Herc in the corner and pounds Herc with the traditional 10 punches of doom. Duggan whips Herc to the ropes and hip tosses him. From there, Duggan signals his 3 point stance and levels Herc with a big clotheline. No cover though, as Bobby interferes with the count. Andre the giant then climbs in the ring for the double team, but none other than the Ultimate Warrior runs in to make the save. Duggan wins the match by DQ.
Well, you don’t watch Hercules v. Duggan for the hurracanrana or the moonsaults. It was a decent brawl. Outside of that, it wasn’t anything to write home about.
Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake v. “Dangerous” Danny Davis
Prior to the match, footage is shown of Jimmy Hart getting his head shaved after Brutus’ match with the Honkytonk Man. Hart promises that former heel referee Danny Davis will provide all the revenge that Hart wants.
Both men are in the ring, and Brutus easily throws off diminutive Davis after the initial lockup. Another lockup sees Davis back Beefcake to the ropes. He punches Beefcake, but it has no effect. Brutus proceeds to ram Davis into to corners before beel throwing him across the ring. Brutus has Davis back in the corner, and Davis manages a cheap shot, while the ref is trying to break them up. Davis works away on Beefcake with several punches, chops and chokes. Jimmy Hart nearly cuts Beefcake’s hair, but Brutus gets up in time. Davis is right there for the attack though. Davis tries to whip Beefcake to the ropes, but Brutus reverses it. Davis comes off and ducks as if he were expecting Brutus to throw a clothesline, but Brutus kicks Davis in the gut instead. Brutus now works on the very stunned Davis (who was definitely not expecting that kick and is moving very sluggish now.). Bodyslam by Brutus, who struts for the crowd and signals for the sleeper hold. Davis immediately bails out of the ring though. After conferring with Jimmy Hart, Davis gets back up on the apron, but Brutus is waiting right there and snap mares Davis back in the ring. From there, Brutus whips Davis to the ropes and slaps on the sleeper hold. Jimmy Hart tries to interfere, but the ref won’t let him get anywhere near the ring. With Hart stymied, Davis is put to sleep and the ref calls for the bell to end the match. Afterward, Beefcake celebrates by cutting Davis’ hair. Brutus adds insult to injury by waking up Davis, showing him his new haircut and then slugging him a few times before throwing him out of the ring.
Not too bad. It was better than the first match, and served to get Beefcake over after his failing to win the IC Title at Wrestlemania.
Randy “Macho Man” Savage v. The One Man Gang
At Wrestlemania 4, Savage reached the finals of the tournament when he beat the One Man Gang by DQ. Savage would go on to defeat the “Million $$$ Man” Ted DiBiase to win the WWF Heavyweight Title. This would be his first televised title defense.
With all the participants in the ring prior to the start of the match, the Gang’s manager Slick gets in Elizabeth’s face, but Savage chases Slick to the back. Returning to the ring, the match gets under way with Savage using his superior speed to keep out of the Gang’s clutches, while still drilling him with numerous rights and lefts. Savage hits a cross body block for a 2 count, but the Gang kicks out, putting Savage all the way out of the ring in the process. By the time the Gang gets to his feet, Savage has already climbed to the top rope and nails the Gang with another cross body. The Gang kicks out again, and Savage snaps the Gang’s neck over the top rope.
Savage’s luck doesn’t last long though, as the Gang manages to get a hold of Savage and slows the match down with an assortment of punches kicks and bearhugs. Slick even manages to interfere once or twice when the opportunity presented itself. Irish whip by the Gang. Savage ducks under a clothesline and then slides out of the ring to chase after Slick! The enraged “Macho Man” chases the “Doctor of Style” back in the ring where Savage manages to catch Slick, but the Gang drops an elbow on Savage to save his manager and put the advantage back in his favor. From there, the Gang goes back to choking, eyeraking and the general assortment of heelish pounding to keep Savage on the defensive. The Gang eventually goes for a cover, but only gets 2. The Gang whips Savage into the corner, but Savage gets out of the way in time. Savage fires back with several elbows to the head and a clothesline taking the Gang over the top rope to the floor. Savage follows up with a double Ax handle from the top rope to the floor. The Gang makes it back to the ring, and Savage tries for another double ax from the top, but the Gang nails Savage on the way down. Bodyslam by the Gang and then it’s his turn to go to the top rope. The Gang attempts a big splash, but Savage gets out of the way in time. Savage attempts to attack Slick again, as he was yelling at Liz, which of course leaves Savage open to another attack by the Gang. With the ref preoccupied with Elizabeth, The Gang holds Savage up, while Slick grabs his cane and attempts to hit Savage. Savage gets out of the way, causing Slick to nail the Gang instead. From there, Savage goes straight to the top rope and drops the flying elbow on the One Man Gang for the 3 count and his first successful WWF Title defense on TV.
Good match. But in 1988, Savage could get a 3 star match out of a broomstick.
Demolition v. The British Bulldogs
Demolition are now the current WWF Tag Team Champions, having defeated Strike Force at Wrestlemania 4. This would be the first of 4 Tag Title reigns for Demolition, and the beginning of a 4 year domination of the WWF tag team ranks by what many consider one of the greatest tag teams of all time. Demolition started off as just another knock off of the legendary Road Warriors, but distinguished themselves in the WWF as probably the only team to have escaped the LOD’s shadow and forge their own identity. And they couldn’t have asked for a better team to have their first televised title defense against than the British Bulldogs. Dynamite Kid and Daveyboy Smith have long established their credentials as a tag team, having already held the WWF Tag Titles back in 1986.
The match starts off with Daveyboy Smith and Smash in the ring. Smash takes control with a multitude of punches and forearms. He whips Daveyboy to the ropes and drops down. Davey hits the far ropes before ducking a clothesline attempt and grabbing the ropes. Smash is looking at Smith wondering why he stopped, and turns around only to get nailed by the Dynamite Kid who had tagged Daveyboy when he was running the ropes. Dynamite goes to work on the stunned Smash with an arm bar. Smash attempts a bodyslam but Dynamite slips around back and pushes Smash to the ropes for a rollup. Smash grabs the ropes and sends Dynamite backwards to the mat, but misses an elbow drop when Dynamite rolls out of the way in time. Smash tags in Ax, who immediately pounds on the Kid. Dynamite makes it to his feet and tags Davey who begins working on Smash’s arm. Davey tags in Dynamite who attempts a snap suplex but Smash runs in to break the hold. Smash tags in and bodyslams the Kid for a 2 count. Smash then picks Dynamite up into a bear hug. Dynamite fights his way out with several punches and a headbutt, but Smash keeps him from tagging in, while at the same time tagging Ax in. Ax punches Dynamite before tagging Smash back in. Smash whips the Kid to the corner but catches a boot to the face.
Dynamite finally manages to tag in Daveyboy who goes to work on both Ax and Smash. Dynamite tags back in but was not recovered enough, and gets thrown out of the ring. Mr. Fuji attempts to attack Dynamite, and Daveyboy gets his pet bulldog Matilda and uses her to chase Fuji back to the locker room. Eventually, both teams wind up in the ring, as Daveyboy returns to the ring with Fuji’s cane. The Bulldogs go to work on Demolition with the cane, knocking them silly, and running them from the ring, but also getting themselves disqualified in the process.
This wasn’t too bad. These teams would have better matches against each other on the house show circuit later in the year, but it was still good enough to showcase what both teams had to offer without giving away a pinfall victory for the tag champs, thus killing the feud before it could get off the ground.
”Million$$$ Man” Ted DiBiase vs. THE ROCK!
Ok, calm down. DiBiase wasn’t wrestling THE Rock, Rocky Maivia. He was actually wrestling Don “The Rock” Muraco. During his heel days, he was “The Magnificent” Muraco, but following his babyface turn last year, became known as The Rock for his absolutely chiseled (and chemically enhanced, no doubt, considering his manager is “Superstar” Billy Graham) rock-lick physique. Ironically, Muraco as the Intercontinental Champion back in 1983 had a fantastic feud with Rocky Johnson (The Rock’s dad), who was then also known in the WWF as you guessed it: THE ROCK. Small world huh?
And what more can be said about Ted DiBiase that hasn’t already been said? Like Randy Savage, DiBiase could wrestle a mop and get at least 3 stars out of it. With Ricky Steamboat out of the company for the next 4 years, DiBiase and Savage were the best workers in the entire company. And the spring and summer of 1988 would be filled with Savage defending the WWF Title against DiBiase in some of the best matches most people had ever seen. If you can get a hold of any of their matches from Madison Square Garden, you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
DiBiase also combined his incredible in-ring talent with probably the best gimmick in the history of the company. Nearly 10 years after leaving the WWF for the last time, DiBiase is still synonymous with his Million$$$ Man gimmick. That’s how you know that someone was tailor made for the gimmick that they were given.
With both men in the ring, we get to the action with DiBiase attacking Muraco when he was distracted by Virgil. The advantage doesn’t last very long however as the much more powerful Muraco reverses an irish whip and back body drops DiBiase. Muraco follows it up with a solid right hand before ramming DiBiase into the turnbuckle. Ted rolls out of the ring to get his bearings and slow things down a bit. Back in the ring, they lock up with Muraco getting a side headlock. Ted shoots Muraco to the ropes but goes down from a shoulderblock. Ted manages to hip toss Muraco after another whip, but misses an elbow drop. Muraco follows up with a big clothesline followed by a powerslam. He only gets a 2 count as Virgil puts DiBiase’s leg on the bottom rope. Ted manages to get back in control, clothelining Muraco and covering him for a 2 count. DiBiase executes a text book vertical suplex for another 2 count. It’s now DiBiase in control with several punches, kicks and a great gut wrench suplex for a third 2 count. Irish whip by DiBiase, but a back body drop attempt is countered by Muraco into a side Russian leg sweep. Muraco takes control of the match with a running elbow and another powerslam for a 2 count. Muraco with a double chop to DiBiase’s throat. Ted tries to beg off, and then sucker punches Muraco. DiBiase then bodyslams Muraco and covers him. Instead of kicking out of such a weak move though, Muraco simply places his foot on the bottom rope. The ref doesn’t see it though, and makes the 3 count.
Not a bad match, but a terrible ending here. I could dig it if Ted had put his own feet on the ropes for the pin, but this way was extremely anti-climactic.
”Ravishing” Rick Rude v. Koko B. Ware
Rick Rude is about to get the push of his career in the coming months when he begins his feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. The two of them already wrestled to a good 15 minute draw at Wrestlemania and were going to do some really good work with each other over the summer and fall months. Koko B. Ware as always been an underrated wrestler, being a small man in a big man’s promotion. Although, Ware never achieved a great deal of success in the WWF, he did manage to make a lot of people look good while he was there.
We see Rick Rude take immediate control of the match, hammering on Koko. Ware fights back though and the two are slugging it out before Rude rakes the eyes. Rude fires Ware to the ropes, but instead of a back drop, Koko leapfrogs over Rude and nails him with a great dropkick before taunting Rude by swiveling his hips in a blatant show of “gimmick infringement”.
The two lock up again with the more powerful Rude backing Koko into the corner and firing away with several right hands. Koko turns it around, but the ref stops Koko from punching Rude, allowing Rude to get in a sucker punch, sending Koko to the mat. The Ravishing one capitalizes with several elbow dropps on the stunned Ware, followed by a hard right to the face. Rude suplexes Koko, and then delivers a fist drop from the top rope. It’s all Rude here, as he continues to punish Ware, choking him on the middle rope. Rude then pulls a new trick out of his book and Dropkicks Koko! Rude goes for another one, but Koko moves out of the way. Getting his second wind now, Koko whips Rude to the ropes for a backdrop. Rude is on the ropes, and Koko goes for a cross body block, but Rude moves out of the way, and Koko winds up getting hotshotted off the top rope. From there, Rude hits the Rude Awakening neck breaker and it’s all over for the “Bird Man”.
In all, this wasn’t a pivotal show. We didn’t see any major storylines come to a head here, but we did see several wrestlers get airtime who would be involved in very high profile feuds in the coming months. We saw both Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage in action, who would be feuding with each other in both singles matches, and later tag matches. We saw Brutus Beefcake, who would be chasing down Honkytonk Man for the Intercontinental Title. We saw Rick Rude in action who would be bringing down the house with his feud with Jake Roberts. And we also got to see Demolition begin their domination of the WWF Tag Team division.
Despite the fact that there wasn’t anything earthshattering here, everything was at least “Good”. My Score: 7.8 Better than Average, but not by a great deal. I’ll see you soon with the 10/88 SNME which will take place after the inaugural Summerslam. So not only will you get the rundown of that 10/88 show, I’ll also wind up summarizing many of the big feuds that the WWF had going on at the time. See you soon.
-Corey
Feel free to email me at gnagus@comcast.net with your comments. I read and answer them all, and it helps in preparing for future columns. Thanks again for reading.
