I'm always looking for new wrestling to re-watch, especially older stuff that I might've missed the first time around. While I've seen most of the big stuff from 80's WWF from about 1985-on, but as I didn't start watching regularly until November 1987, I thought it might be fun to go through starting with January 1984 and review the weekly WWF TV to track the story in real time.
WWF Championship Wrestling January 7, 1984
This is the legendary episode where Hulk Hogan, Gene Okerlund, David Schultz and Roddy Piper (Hogan, Okerlund & Schultz all infamously poached in the middle of the night from the AWA) all made their first appearance in what can be only viewed now as nothing less than a very strong "statement of purpose" from Vince McMahon as to where the tone and timber of his rapidly expanding promotion was heading.
I have never understood why in the Backlund-era intro to this show the shot of Snuka doing the Superfly splash with no boots in from one side of the ring suddenly cuts to a different shot of him jumping from the other side of the ring with boots on? Either way, he absolutely KILLS the dude on impact. Also the clip of pre-buzz cut "recite every President or I won't give you an autograph" high school assistant principal Bob Backlund is a testament to the fact that he was indeed over at one point before Billy Graham destroyed his belt, he cut his hair and became a lot less likable.
I have never understood why in the Backlund-era intro to this show the shot of Snuka doing the Superfly splash with no boots in from one side of the ring suddenly cuts to a different shot of him jumping from the other side of the ring with boots on? Either way, he absolutely KILLS the dude on impact. Also the clip of pre-buzz cut "recite every President or I won't give you an autograph" high school assistant principal Bob Backlund is a testament to the fact that he was indeed over at one point before Billy Graham destroyed his belt, he cut his hair and became a lot less likable.
From the Agricultural Hall Allentown, Pennsylvania Taped January 3, 1984
We open with an ever broad-shouldered 38 year old Vince McMahon in a powder blue suit who introduces the debuting "Mean" Gene Okerlund as his "sidekick". They push the debut of "Dr. D" as well as the first appearance of The Iron Sheik since defeating Backlund for the WWF Title in Madison Square Garden on December 26. They announce that Backlund will be taking on "Samoan #3" in a bout that was "originally supposed to be a tag team match, more on that later" (Spoiler: it's never explained why it was changed for a tag match).
Joe McHugh, who throughout this program has a curious affinity for mispronouncing names, is the ring announcer. He also can't be anywhere south of seventy years old which makes me sad for Howard Finkel.
WWF Tag Team Champions Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas d. Bill Dixon & Charlie Fulton in 3:12.
Perhaps already figuring out that the jobbers are wrestling Johnson & Atlas, they are booed by the contingency here in Allentown. Johnson looks like he's eyeing someone in the crowd before the bell rings, perhaps a young Rock was in the crowd? Throughout the program each match features an overdubbed advertisement from Howard Finkel pushing a different house show card. Gene describes an armdrag from Johnson to Dixon as "some kind of armbar", which is why he's a better interviewer than commentator. Johnson escapes from a leghold at the hands of Dixon with an impressive reverse roll up onto his feet in one smooth movement. Atlas is decidely less graceful, dominating their opponents with power moves. The finish off Dixon with a graceful doubleteam as Atlas whips Dixon tagging Johnson, allowing Rocky to catch him with a sunset flip on the rebound for the pin.
"Dr. D." David Schultz (with Roddy Piper) d. Steve Lombardi in 1:48.
McHugh announces Lombardi as "Lombardo" which Gene repeats throughout the match. Though Piper is a heel, he is cheered by a fair portion of the crowd, probably a sign that they were tape traders or at least read the magazines and knew that Piper was the hottest baby face aside from Ric Flair in Mid-Atlantic before being lured by McMahon just a month after Starrcade 83. Vince calls Piper "a wrestler extraordinaire apparently now trying his hand as a manager". It seems as though Piper was brought in to take The Grand Wizard's spot after his death a few months earlier. Schultz puts the hurt on "Lombardo" clearly trying to get over strong in his first appearance, finishing him off with a backwards elbow off the top. Schultz goes back onto the apron to have his hand raised by the referee.
Schultz and Piper cut a promo with Gene immediately following the match. Whatever goodwill Piper might've had with the fans when he was first introduced was quickly erased with his classic aggravating, rapid fire, quick witted master heel interview. That said, as good as Piper was, Schultz didn't really need a manager as he could get over pretty well on his own with his redneck shtick, so this was a good example of the old WWF philosophy of every heel needing a manager proving itself to be a bit out-dated.
Gene does some promos with Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana and The Samoans with Capt Lou Albano plugging a Battle Royal in Los Angeles, which I believe was the first WWF card held in Los Angeles.
WWF Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik (with "Ayatollah" Fred Blassie d. John Callahan in 2:14.
Well, the fans HATE Sheik, except for the one smart ass teen aged heel fan who is displaying Sheik's pic from the WWF 1984 calendar. As tasteless as it is, I can't help but get a kick out of "Ayatollah" Fred Blassie, complete with Arabian head scarf, grinning like the Cheshire cat. Fans begin chanting "We Want Backlund" as Sheik makes quick work out of his opponent, finishing him off with the camel clutch. We see a shot of a fan holding a sign that reads: "Backlund Is My Champion".
More arena promos with Gene promoting the MSG card later that month where Hogan will replace Backlund and win the title from The Sheik. Gene brings in Sheik and "Ayatollah" Blassie who calls Arnold Skaaland Backlund's "Chicken liver manager" who threw in the towel and informs us that "they'd have to kill the Sheik" before he'd willingly sacrifice the title. Sheik gives praise to the real Ayatollah, compelling Blassie to look to the heavens and proclaim "Bali Bali!" Tito Santana comes in for his second promo of this show, building up his challenge to Magnificent Muraco for the Intercontinental Title. Muraco was pretty much the perennial champion in the early days of the title, but Santana was about to begin a solid 2 year off and on run with the strap. Muraco and Albano follow, with Captain Lou delivering some butchered Spanish to insult Santana's fan. Muraco delivers a great promo about how when you come to MSG you don't come to see the Stones, you come to see Jagger. When you come to see wrestling you come to see Magnificence. He does a great job starting out very mellowly before becoming quite animated as he gets into the promo, compelling Albano to howl with laughter and proclaim proudly, "He's sick, my man is sick"! I haven't seen much of heel Muraco but he seems pretty great.
Tito Santana d. Bob Bradley in 2:40.
Bradley is a perennial jobber in the Duane Gill and Reno Riggins category up into the early 90s on WWF TV. Finkel does voice over promo for a bunch of house shows, all which take place in New York state which speaks to the density and incredible financial windfall that the area provided. Vince reads a question from a fan, "What's the highest that Jimmy Snuka has ever leaped and has anyone ever leaped any higher?" Vince refers to the cage dive that Snuka did in MSG, incorrectly referring to the match as a "victory" (he lost to both Backlund and Muraco in those cage matches). Vince informs us that Mildred Burke wrote in to correct and errenous comment from Pat Patterson a couple of weeks before where Pat claimed that Moolah beat Burke for her Women's title. Tito knocks Bradley out with the flying forearm.
Victory Corner with The Iron Sheik and Ayatollah Blassie
Very odd to see the set that would become Piper's Pit later in the month. Sheik states that Iran is known for two things: "Oil and wrestling." He uses his shoot name and refers to his Olympic experience. It's kind of funny that they give Sheik a manager, presumably due to his accent but he, not Blassie ends up carrying most of the promos. Blassie didn't say a word here.
Masked Superstar d. Victor Mercardo in 1:17.
McHugh calls Puerto Rico "Puerto Rica". Wrestling needs more masked gimmicks that aren't just luchadores. Superstar finishes Mercardo off quickly with a swinging neck breaker. Some fans in the crowd wear grocery bags on their heads with stars written on them. Vince slips up and announces that we'll find out "why we won't see Backlund in the title match, er, the tag team match rather", showing their hand on the angle where Hogan replaces Backlund against Sheik in the Garden.
Bob Backlund d. Samoan #3 by disqualification in 4:34.
For some reason they didn't bother to give the future Samu a name. Afa & Sika along with Albano keep trying to grab at Backlund from outside the ring, so he quickly goes back and brings in Hogan to an enormous pop. All I can say watching this is that I hope Backlund saved his money and if he didn't see the writing on the wall here then he needs to get his eyes checked because this was like walking from one dimension into another. Okerlund reminds us of Hogan's appearance in "Rocky 3". Quickly enough, it all breaks down and The Samoans and Hogan all run in. In a very subtle but telling spot, Backlund punches Albano who merely does the windmill sell, but when Hogan punches him he takes a bump which is very rare for Albano. It's those little touches that you don't see in wrestling anymore, these days they hit you over the head with everything. The fans stand and crane their necks to watch Hogan and Backlund as they leave, absolutely electrified. Vince seems like he's going to blow a gasket. "That's 300 pounds in there!"
Hogan and Backlund join Gene. The fans loudly chant "Hogan!" Backlund assures us that Hogan's "changed his ways and won't have Blassie around anymore," referring to Hogan's heel run in 3 years earlier. Imagine them referring to story lines from 3 years ago today. Turns out if you treat that stuff like it matters, it well, and your angles and characters will have more depth and resonance. Hogan thanks the fans and so overwhelmed with excitement that he just has to tear his shirt off, sending the fans into a frenzy of excitement.
More promos for the January MSG show. Backlund comes in. Maybe it's because I mainly know him from his heel run in 1994, but his hushed, charisma vacuum delivery just makes him come off like your boring Uncle who tries to read you bible verses after dinner. Bob says the worst day of his life was having to tell his daughter that he was no longer the WWF Champion and she said simply, "Dad, we have to get that back." Backlund promises to be champ again, which he was though it took him almost 11 years to do so.
Mr. Fuji d. Denny Hill in 2:19.
Hill is announced as "Dennis" Hill. Fuji is winding down here and will take Albano's spot as heel manager when Albano turns face later this year. He's one of those workers that you watch today and shake your head wondering "how did people think this was real?" Fuji is about as phony as it gets with weak kicks and chops that the much larger Hill has to sell unbelievably. Vince announces Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee vs. Hulk Hogan & Bob Backlund for next week. Fuji pins Hill after a running back splash.
As simple as it was, this one was of the best hour long wrestling shows I've seen. The debut of Hogan was like switching from black and white to color when comparing him with Backlund. Frankly, I was excited when the show was over to see what was in store for next week. WWF is off to a great start in 1984.
We open with an ever broad-shouldered 38 year old Vince McMahon in a powder blue suit who introduces the debuting "Mean" Gene Okerlund as his "sidekick". They push the debut of "Dr. D" as well as the first appearance of The Iron Sheik since defeating Backlund for the WWF Title in Madison Square Garden on December 26. They announce that Backlund will be taking on "Samoan #3" in a bout that was "originally supposed to be a tag team match, more on that later" (Spoiler: it's never explained why it was changed for a tag match).
Joe McHugh, who throughout this program has a curious affinity for mispronouncing names, is the ring announcer. He also can't be anywhere south of seventy years old which makes me sad for Howard Finkel.
WWF Tag Team Champions Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas d. Bill Dixon & Charlie Fulton in 3:12.
Perhaps already figuring out that the jobbers are wrestling Johnson & Atlas, they are booed by the contingency here in Allentown. Johnson looks like he's eyeing someone in the crowd before the bell rings, perhaps a young Rock was in the crowd? Throughout the program each match features an overdubbed advertisement from Howard Finkel pushing a different house show card. Gene describes an armdrag from Johnson to Dixon as "some kind of armbar", which is why he's a better interviewer than commentator. Johnson escapes from a leghold at the hands of Dixon with an impressive reverse roll up onto his feet in one smooth movement. Atlas is decidely less graceful, dominating their opponents with power moves. The finish off Dixon with a graceful doubleteam as Atlas whips Dixon tagging Johnson, allowing Rocky to catch him with a sunset flip on the rebound for the pin.
"Dr. D." David Schultz (with Roddy Piper) d. Steve Lombardi in 1:48.
McHugh announces Lombardi as "Lombardo" which Gene repeats throughout the match. Though Piper is a heel, he is cheered by a fair portion of the crowd, probably a sign that they were tape traders or at least read the magazines and knew that Piper was the hottest baby face aside from Ric Flair in Mid-Atlantic before being lured by McMahon just a month after Starrcade 83. Vince calls Piper "a wrestler extraordinaire apparently now trying his hand as a manager". It seems as though Piper was brought in to take The Grand Wizard's spot after his death a few months earlier. Schultz puts the hurt on "Lombardo" clearly trying to get over strong in his first appearance, finishing him off with a backwards elbow off the top. Schultz goes back onto the apron to have his hand raised by the referee.
Schultz and Piper cut a promo with Gene immediately following the match. Whatever goodwill Piper might've had with the fans when he was first introduced was quickly erased with his classic aggravating, rapid fire, quick witted master heel interview. That said, as good as Piper was, Schultz didn't really need a manager as he could get over pretty well on his own with his redneck shtick, so this was a good example of the old WWF philosophy of every heel needing a manager proving itself to be a bit out-dated.
Gene does some promos with Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana and The Samoans with Capt Lou Albano plugging a Battle Royal in Los Angeles, which I believe was the first WWF card held in Los Angeles.
WWF Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik (with "Ayatollah" Fred Blassie d. John Callahan in 2:14.
Well, the fans HATE Sheik, except for the one smart ass teen aged heel fan who is displaying Sheik's pic from the WWF 1984 calendar. As tasteless as it is, I can't help but get a kick out of "Ayatollah" Fred Blassie, complete with Arabian head scarf, grinning like the Cheshire cat. Fans begin chanting "We Want Backlund" as Sheik makes quick work out of his opponent, finishing him off with the camel clutch. We see a shot of a fan holding a sign that reads: "Backlund Is My Champion".
More arena promos with Gene promoting the MSG card later that month where Hogan will replace Backlund and win the title from The Sheik. Gene brings in Sheik and "Ayatollah" Blassie who calls Arnold Skaaland Backlund's "Chicken liver manager" who threw in the towel and informs us that "they'd have to kill the Sheik" before he'd willingly sacrifice the title. Sheik gives praise to the real Ayatollah, compelling Blassie to look to the heavens and proclaim "Bali Bali!" Tito Santana comes in for his second promo of this show, building up his challenge to Magnificent Muraco for the Intercontinental Title. Muraco was pretty much the perennial champion in the early days of the title, but Santana was about to begin a solid 2 year off and on run with the strap. Muraco and Albano follow, with Captain Lou delivering some butchered Spanish to insult Santana's fan. Muraco delivers a great promo about how when you come to MSG you don't come to see the Stones, you come to see Jagger. When you come to see wrestling you come to see Magnificence. He does a great job starting out very mellowly before becoming quite animated as he gets into the promo, compelling Albano to howl with laughter and proclaim proudly, "He's sick, my man is sick"! I haven't seen much of heel Muraco but he seems pretty great.
Tito Santana d. Bob Bradley in 2:40.
Bradley is a perennial jobber in the Duane Gill and Reno Riggins category up into the early 90s on WWF TV. Finkel does voice over promo for a bunch of house shows, all which take place in New York state which speaks to the density and incredible financial windfall that the area provided. Vince reads a question from a fan, "What's the highest that Jimmy Snuka has ever leaped and has anyone ever leaped any higher?" Vince refers to the cage dive that Snuka did in MSG, incorrectly referring to the match as a "victory" (he lost to both Backlund and Muraco in those cage matches). Vince informs us that Mildred Burke wrote in to correct and errenous comment from Pat Patterson a couple of weeks before where Pat claimed that Moolah beat Burke for her Women's title. Tito knocks Bradley out with the flying forearm.
Victory Corner with The Iron Sheik and Ayatollah Blassie
Very odd to see the set that would become Piper's Pit later in the month. Sheik states that Iran is known for two things: "Oil and wrestling." He uses his shoot name and refers to his Olympic experience. It's kind of funny that they give Sheik a manager, presumably due to his accent but he, not Blassie ends up carrying most of the promos. Blassie didn't say a word here.
Masked Superstar d. Victor Mercardo in 1:17.
McHugh calls Puerto Rico "Puerto Rica". Wrestling needs more masked gimmicks that aren't just luchadores. Superstar finishes Mercardo off quickly with a swinging neck breaker. Some fans in the crowd wear grocery bags on their heads with stars written on them. Vince slips up and announces that we'll find out "why we won't see Backlund in the title match, er, the tag team match rather", showing their hand on the angle where Hogan replaces Backlund against Sheik in the Garden.
Bob Backlund d. Samoan #3 by disqualification in 4:34.
For some reason they didn't bother to give the future Samu a name. Afa & Sika along with Albano keep trying to grab at Backlund from outside the ring, so he quickly goes back and brings in Hogan to an enormous pop. All I can say watching this is that I hope Backlund saved his money and if he didn't see the writing on the wall here then he needs to get his eyes checked because this was like walking from one dimension into another. Okerlund reminds us of Hogan's appearance in "Rocky 3". Quickly enough, it all breaks down and The Samoans and Hogan all run in. In a very subtle but telling spot, Backlund punches Albano who merely does the windmill sell, but when Hogan punches him he takes a bump which is very rare for Albano. It's those little touches that you don't see in wrestling anymore, these days they hit you over the head with everything. The fans stand and crane their necks to watch Hogan and Backlund as they leave, absolutely electrified. Vince seems like he's going to blow a gasket. "That's 300 pounds in there!"
Hogan and Backlund join Gene. The fans loudly chant "Hogan!" Backlund assures us that Hogan's "changed his ways and won't have Blassie around anymore," referring to Hogan's heel run in 3 years earlier. Imagine them referring to story lines from 3 years ago today. Turns out if you treat that stuff like it matters, it well, and your angles and characters will have more depth and resonance. Hogan thanks the fans and so overwhelmed with excitement that he just has to tear his shirt off, sending the fans into a frenzy of excitement.
More promos for the January MSG show. Backlund comes in. Maybe it's because I mainly know him from his heel run in 1994, but his hushed, charisma vacuum delivery just makes him come off like your boring Uncle who tries to read you bible verses after dinner. Bob says the worst day of his life was having to tell his daughter that he was no longer the WWF Champion and she said simply, "Dad, we have to get that back." Backlund promises to be champ again, which he was though it took him almost 11 years to do so.
Mr. Fuji d. Denny Hill in 2:19.
Hill is announced as "Dennis" Hill. Fuji is winding down here and will take Albano's spot as heel manager when Albano turns face later this year. He's one of those workers that you watch today and shake your head wondering "how did people think this was real?" Fuji is about as phony as it gets with weak kicks and chops that the much larger Hill has to sell unbelievably. Vince announces Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee vs. Hulk Hogan & Bob Backlund for next week. Fuji pins Hill after a running back splash.
As simple as it was, this one was of the best hour long wrestling shows I've seen. The debut of Hogan was like switching from black and white to color when comparing him with Backlund. Frankly, I was excited when the show was over to see what was in store for next week. WWF is off to a great start in 1984.
No comments:
Post a Comment