Wrestling’s Living Legend Bruno Sammartino (WF023)

WRESTLING’S LIVING LEGEND: BRUNO SAMMARTINO (WF023)

What can you say about Bruno Sammartino that hasn’t already been said? He carried the WWWF on his back for the better part of 20 years as wrestling shifted from reality to sports entertainment. From 1963 to his first retirement in 1980, Bruno was synonymous with the WWF. Then when he came back in 1985 to help his son, he competed again on and off for 2 more years before having a falling out with Vince McMahon. Of course, that’s a story for another day. This was 1986 and Bruno was still in Vince’s good graces. With personality profile tapes on Hulk Hogan (HULKAMANIA 1) Roddy Piper (ROWDY RODDY PIPER’S GREATEST HITS), ANDRE THE GIANT, and even Captain Lou Albano (THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO), it was time for Bruno to get his fair share. Unfortunately most of Bruno’s best work in the 60’s and early 70’s has been lost to time. But is there enough of his second and third runs to make this tape watchable? Let’s find out. Cue the 1985 Coliseum Video intro and “Mean” Gene Okerlund greets us. He says he won’t be the only host, he brings in Bruno Sammartino himself to guest host. Gene runs down the action before sending us to our first match.

 
Match 1

Nikolai Volkoff vs Bruno Sammartino (with Arnold Skaaland) for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship

Commentator Vince McMahon

 

October 25, 1976 (Mean Gene incorrectly says 1975) in Madison Square Garden saw Nikolai gun for the title. Nikolai had just turned 29 years old at the time and Bruno had just turned 41, both of their birthdays were in October. Bruno is in the navy blue trunks and Nikolai in the standard black. Bruno and Nikolai start with a test of mercy as Bruno in the voiceover says he didn’t come to wrestle, he came to annihilate him. Bruno wins the test of the strength with a boot to the mid-section. Volkoff charges but Bruno arm ringers him down. Volkoff gets to his feet but Bruno turns it into a headlock. They charge into each other with Volkoff dropping the champion twice. A third charge is met with an arm drag by Bruno. Bruno goes for the riding pin but Volkoff bridges. Once again we go to a test of strength and this time its Nikolai who goes for the riding pin. Bruno gets to his feet and Volkoff puts the boots to him. Oh no it’s the blatant choke! Volkoff poses for the irate crowd before kicking away. Bruno gets up and now we get the fisticuffs. Left, right, boot, turnbuckle smash. Right, right, right, left, right left right, down goes Volkoff. Bruno covers for 1…no, foot on the rppe. The ref gives Volkoff a standing eight count for some reason before we TAPE EDIT. Bruno synches in a headlock but a bull rush drops both men. A big right hand stuns Volkoff and the cover gets 1…2..nope. Vince says Volkoff could be running out of gas as Bruno rams his head into the mat twice. The ref gives Volkoff another standing eight count but Bruno stomps away to break the count twice. A third kick sends Bruno to the apron where Bruno stands on him until kicking him to the floor. The ref admonishes Bruno and Sammartino refuses to take the count-out victory. Back inside Bruno rallies with a series of right jabs and hooks, plus a big kick to the head. Volkoff staggers around the ring and raises his arm in victory. The ref quickly tells him no. A big headbutt to the mid-section drops the champion and Volkoff gets in a big stomp to the ribs. The cover gets a deuce and we TAPE EDIT again. Bruno whips Nikolai into the corner and rolls him up for 1….2….3 and Bruno wins it. The fans go nuts as Arnold Skaaland gets in the ring to raise Bruno’s arm in victory. We go to the replay before we cut there. Typical Bruno match. A lot of brawling mixed in with a few holds, but then again that was Nikolai’s style as well. Usually that doesn’t translate well and the crowd didn’t appear to be into it…but then again that could just be sound mixing which WWE is notorious for now. Not the most exciting of contests but let’s move on.
Time of match: An unofficial 8:15 (officially 19:11)

Winner: Bruno Sammartino by pinfall (still WWF Champion)
No nonsense, onto the next one.
Match 2

Baron Von Raschke (with Classy Freddie Blassie) vs Bruno Sammartino (with Arnold Skaaland) for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship

Commentator: Vince McMahon

 

Now here’s a treat, Baron Von Raschke in a WWF ring. For you youngsters, Baron was a mainstay in the AWA on and off for 20 years. He was a state wrestling champion in high school, Big Eight champion in college, the AAU Greco-Roman AND freestyle wrestling champion and was on the 1964 olympic wrestling team but didn’t place. He then turned into Baron Von Raschke, an evil German (he’s from Nebraska) who had a gangly body and shaved head. His trademark catch phrase was “and that is all the people need to know!” and his finisher was the claw. This match was from March 28, 1977 one month before he would drop the title to Superstar Billy Graham. Age and injuries caught up with the 41 year old champion and this would be one of his last big title defenses. Baron is in his standard gear of long black trunks with red stripe with Bruno in the green. Baron doesn’t wait for the bell, attacking Bruno in the corner. Baron wraps up Bruno with his robe and pounds away on him. Baron stomps away as Bruno in the voiceover brings up Raschke’s amateur background and he caught him off guard with brutal brawling as he expected scientific wrestling. Baron slugs away in the corner, whips him and hiptosses Bruno. An elbow drop and cover gets a 1 count as the ref was out of position. Rashcke gives the sign for the claw but Bruno kicks him in the ribs and floors him with an uppercut. A big uppercut has the crowd roaring and charges with the big knee in the corner. Bruno unloads with lefts and rights in the corner and sends him down with a big knee. The crowd is much more into this than they were with Nikloai shown earlier. Raschke bails to the apron before he gets back in. A whip of Bruno is met with a scoop slam by Baron. The cover gets a nearfall and he gives the sign for the claw again. They exchange brawling tactics before Bruno whips Baron into the corner. A whip off the rope is met with a backdrop and the cover gets a deuce. Two arm drags have Baron bailing to the outside as we TAPE EDIT to what looks to be 10 seconds later. Baron gestures toward Skaaland and to the irate crowd as the NY police backs the crowd up. Back inside Baron begs off but Bruno comes back with boots and uppercut. Bruno pounds away on Baron then delivers a running boot that has Baron in the Andre spot. Bruno kicks away as the ref releases Raschke. Finally Baron gets some offense with a headlocked punch as he stalks Bruno around the ring. Forearms drop the champion and Baron applies a nerve hold. We get another TAPE EDIT that looks to be 10 seconds later as Bruno begins the comeback. A right hand breaks the hold as Bruno favors the left shoulder. Baron continues to stalk Bruno but he evades him with a series of boots and a hiptoss. Bruno covers but the ref is out of position, near fall. Bruno charges but Raschke scoop slams him. Baron misses the big elbow and a shoulderblock by Bruno drops them both. Bruno shoots the half and gets 1…2…nope, Baron kicked out. Baron begins to slowly puts the boots to Bruno and covers for 1….2.nope. Bruno goes back with punches and knees to the head as some fan in the crowd shouts for Bruno. Bruno goes to the fisticuffs that drop Rashcke and Bruno covers….foot on the rope. Another TAPE EDIT has Bruno kicking Raschke around the ring. Another uppercut sends Raschke over the top rope to the floor. Bruno goes out to get him but Raschke sends Bruno in, getting his foot caught in the rope. Raschke grabs a plastic chair and slides into the ring. Baron waffles Bruno with it. Someone pelts the ring with garbage as Baron continues to kick away at the champion. The ref finally calls for the bell as the crowd starts getting unruly. Baron applies the dreaded claw but Tony Garea, Larry Zybysko and someone else hit the ring to pry Raschke off. Meanwhile the referee and Arnold Skaaland try to free Bruno. Having three guys to pry Baron off is good for heel heat. The announcer says Bruno has won by DQ as a sign in the crowd says “Bruno is Uno”. We cut here. Another match that turned into a brawl. Lou Thesz once said Bruno couldn’t wrestle, all he could do is brawl. Sounds a lot like Hacksaw Jim Duggan to be honest. Sure both he and Bruno COULD wrestle, but it was better for their character that they didn’t. Then again Bruno never played a character. Back then, Bruno got away with it because fans paid to see realism and that’s what they got. My grandfather used to scoff when I had wrestling on as a kid and Lex Luger would pop up after getting beat on for 5 minutes like nothing happened. Bruno would make the big comeback but would be winded or favoring a body part. The art of selling got lost in the 90’s and its even worse now. In terms of match quality, the crowd was into it but not his best work. I can forgive it only because Bruno was physically weak after carrying the company for the past 12 years. Think Hogan in 1992 or Austin by 2002 (although in his case, 4 years). Bruno would drop the title a little more than a month later.

 

Time of match: An unofficial 8:12 ( officaly 17:45)

Winner: Bruno Sammartino by DQ (still WWWF Champion)
Moving right along to the next match
Match 3

Bruno Sammartino (with Arnold Skaaland) vs Ken Patera

Commentator: Vince McMahon

 

After Bruno dropped the title to Billy Graham in Baltimore, Bruno shifted to Ken Patera the Olympic strongman. August 29, 1977 in Madison Square Garden saw the two legitimate strongmen go at it. We’re joined in progress as Patera is in the gray singlet and Bruno the green trunks. Bruno has a rear chinlock on as Bruno in the voiceover says he trained for the match by power lifting to match strength. Bruno says its one of the greatest bouts he ever had. Bruno stomps away at Patera flails and begs around as Bruno challenges him to come on. Bruno goes to the fisticuffs in the corner as Patera looks dazed. The ref gives Patera the standing eight count but Ken recovers with a series of boots to the head. Patera “Get up boyyyyy!” The crowd boos as Bruno does, in fact, get up. Bruno is whipped to the buckle as Patera scoop slams him. Patera drops an elbow but misses the second attempt. Patera clutches his right elbow but knees Bruno in the head. Once again we get fisticuffs as a shoulderblock drops both men as the bell inadvertently rings. Vince on commentary doesn’t mention it but the crowd is totally confused. Meanwhile Patera continues the onslaught with forearms to the neck. Patera misses the mark as Bruno rams his head into the mat. Bruno dazes Ken with a knee to the forehead and follows with a scoop slam. Bruno covers for 1…2…nope. A big right hand staggers Ken and an atomic drop sends Ken through the ropes to the apron. The referee gives Patera the standing eight count but Bruno stops the count with repeated kicks. Ken falls like a tree as Bruno backdrops Ken. Vince says victory appears imminent for Bruno but the cover only gets two. Patera rolls to the apron and babyface Sammartino lets him lie there. Patera slides back in and Bruno greets him with an uppercut. Patera returns the greeting with a low blow. Vince “Patera reaching for the abdominals”, bullshit Vince. Patera wobbles to the corner where he drops second rope boots to the back. Patera really sells being dizzy and we get a blatant choke! What a heel! Ken whips Bruno off and scoop slams him. Patera poses for the irate crowd and says “Wooooooo:” Patera covers Bruno but only gets a two. They brawl for a bit before Bruno slugs him into the corner. More fisticuffs end with a whip to the other corner. Patera bails to the apron and applies a full nelson from the outside. He follows Bruno back in the ring and Bruno goes for the “momentum rams Patera” spot but Patera stops and reapplies the full nelson. Bruno kicks off the buckle and it turns into a german suplex pin. The ref counts 1….2..Bruno gets the shoulder up…3…and there’s your winner. Ken thinks he’s won it as the crowd knows the truth. The ref raises Bruno’s arm in victory as Patera can’t believe it. Fink gets in the ring with a really bad comb-over and even worse 70’s tux and announces Bruno the winner. Another bad match and actually, I’m starting to believe what Ole Anderson said in his shoot interview. He said that Bruno was limited as a wrestler and the only reason he lasted so long at the top was that he wrestled the big cards every few months so fans didn’t see him often. That’s actually a great point because by the mid 90’s when guys were on once or twice a week, fans saw them more often and would point out every flaw they could. Great Khali was roasted over the coals for his “work” but that’s because fans saw him once or twice a week instead of every 3 or 4 months.
Time of match: 12:13

Winner: Bruno Sammartino by pinfall
We keep rolling to one of the most infamous feuds of the 70’s.
Match 4

Killer Kowalski vs Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship

Commentator: Vince McMahon

 

Back to April 29, 1974 in Madison Square Garden for this epic encounter between the legendary Kowalski and Bruno. I’ll give a disclaimer before the match, this isn’t going to be pretty. Both were brawlers and both were nearly or over 40 but let’s see if the crowd intensity carries it. We’re joined in progress as Kowalski is in standard gear with Bruno in the black trunks. Bruno chases him around the ring and tackles him as Okerlund in the voiceover says Kowalski was such a madman he ripped an opponent’s ear off and laughed at him in the hospital. The truth is Kowalski dropped a knee on Yukon Eric (no not the Lumberjacks from TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS) who had badly cauliflowered ears and the ear came off by accident. Kowalski visited Eric in the hospital and they laughed together about the incident. The newspapers didn’t want to break kayfabe so they printed that Kowalski came to the hospital to laugh AT him. It established Kowalski as a viscious heel that carried him his whole career. Think Chris Benoit getting the nickname “crippler” by breaking Sabu’s neck. Anyway Bruno fireman carries Kowalski down, who crufixes the champion. Bruno in the voiceover praises Killer for his stamina, saying he once wrestled him for 90 minutes straight. Not bad since Kowalski was 47 years old at this time. Bruno and Killer exchange actual wrestling holds for pinfall attempts as Bruno in the voiceover says Killer was the toughest man he ever faced. Killer chokes Bruno on the bottom rope before kicking him on the ground. Killer goes for the blatant choke and the ref doesn’t even attempt to stop him. The crowd gets into it as Killer goes up to the top. Bruno throws him off the top and scoop slams him. Bruno covers for 1…2…nope. Bruno goes for a surfboard but Killer makes it to the ropes. Bruno looks out toward the crowd and they chair before dropping a knee to the back. Bruno pounds away in the corner but Kowalski gets the upper hand with the iron claw to the ribs. Killer bites the head of Bruno and does the big stomp off the second rope. Back to the iron claw, Bruno kicks him away a few times before picking him up with a double leg shot and dumping him over the top rope. Nice classic wrestling there. Bruno rams him into the post as Killer begins to stall. Back inside Kowalski lands a mediocre forearm as they both look gassed. A dropkick by Kowalski sends Bruno through the ropes to the outside. Back inside Killer scoop slams Bruno and covers for 1…2..nope. 2 big foearms sends Bruno through the ropes to the outside. Some old lady in the front row shouts at Killer as Bruno gets back to the ring steps. Killer catches Bruno on his way into the ring and bites the forehead. Kowalski punches in the corner and continues to bite Bruno. Sammartino finally blades but Kowalski won’t stop punching him in the corner Kowalski shouts at Skaaland and continues to bite and punch. Vince “How much can one man take?” Kowalski continues the onslaught in the corner as Bruno appears to be going for the big comeback. Bruno “Hulks up” ten years before Hogan would and starts beating the ever loving shit out of Kowalski much to the crowd’s delight. The crowd nearly blows the roof off as Bruno annihilates Kowalski with boots and fists. Eventually Kowalski fights back and they continue to slug it out. The crowd goes nuts as the ref calls for the bell…you gotta be kidding me. At least use a chair or do it on the outside if you’re gonna go with that finish. Arnold Skaaland tries to pry Bruno away from Kowalski as Chief Jay Strongbow, Pedro Morales and one of the Japanese wrestlers get in to stop the fight. Kowalski bails to the back as Vince says its absolute mayhem in the Garden. Sammartino complains to Morales as the announcer gets in the ring. The crowd isn’t happy with the decision but Bruno stomps around the ring, ready for round two with Kowalski. Arnold and Strongbow raises Bruno’s arms in victory as we cut here. Now that’s more like it. Ring of Honor spotfest jagoff marks can complain about the match being “shit” but they don’t know shit about wrestling to begin with. The story being told is Bruno trying to counter the dirty tactics of Kowalski with brawling. After Kowalski opened him up, he made the big comeback and the crowd loved it. The fans left thinking “Damn that was fun” and that’s the point. Who cares if they didn’t do triple moonsaults into reverse monkey fuckers or worked a half crab leg lock like Ole Anderson for 30 straight minutes?
Time of match: Joined in progress (officially 24:15)

Winner: Draw, Double DQ.
We now break the action for a little interview in the studio with Bruno and Okerlund. Okerlund says Bruno main evented the Garden 211 times and Okerlund says Bruno is the greatest of all time. Bruno says he’s been on top for 22 years (in WWWF, he started in 1959) as we get a graphic saying Bruno won the heavyweight title in 55 seconds on May 17, 1963. Bruno to this day claims the match was a shoot and knowing Buddy Rogers reputation, Bruno may be right. Bruno says he wrestled in Italy and played soccer until World War 2 broke out. He started power-lifting when he got to America because he was physically weak hiding in the mountains of Abruzzi. He set the world records in weight lifting in 1959 and a graphic shows Bruno picking up the 600 pound Haystacks Calhoun. Okerlund says Bruno vs Pedro in Shea Stadium was one of his favorites. Bruno says it rained all weekend and it was still a great match. Wish they could have shown that one on this tape. Bruno says you need to put forth your best effort in wrestling. Bruno is actually sweating and says in life, take care of your friends and family. We TAPE EDIT (yeah, on an interview) and Okerlund asks which generation is better, old or new. Bruno says he prefers the old school because of the athletic skill instead of the “screaming” which he means the promos. Bruno “Everything is hate, hate hate” It’s a nice babyface interview but the reality would be far worse which I’ll get to later. Okerlund asks him how he’s transitioning to announcer and Bruno says he’s not the best at it and gives credit to Gene, Monsoon and Vince for being able to do it. Gene asks if Bruno will come out of retirement and Bruno says he doesn’t do it for the money, he does it for the challenge. He says he wants to go in there against guys half his age and beat them because of his clean lifestyle. He was right on the money there. He’s still alive and kicking in 2016 while most everyone who competed at Wrestlemania’s 6 and 7 five years after this tape was released are currently dead. Okerlund concludes the interview by calling him the king of sports. The REAL reason Bruno started to detest wrestling was because it went from wrestling to sports entertainment. The sillyness of TNT plus the pageantry of Wrestlemania and the onslaught of fake wrestling, culminating in Vince coming out in public saying wrestling is scripted….drove Bruno away. He pretty much said to hell with WWE from 1988 to 2013 when he returned to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Those 25 years gone was a waste of time that nobody would ever get back. Good interview.

 

Next up is a special Piper’s Pit from October 21, 1985 in Madison Square Garden. Piper tells the crowd to kiss his ass and Bruno says “I never liked Piper” in the voiceover. Piper in real time “Ladies….no wait, we’re in New York. PEOPLE!!!” Hahaha. Bruno runs out and Bob Orton sets up a chair next to Piper’s. Bruno “You want to interview me? Get rid of this garbage” and he motions toward Orton. BURN! Bruno threatens Piper that he’ll bring in one of his friends to counter Orton unless Bob leaves. Orton wants to rumble but Piper whispers in his ear and sends him away. Piper “I have nothing to fear.” Piper “Are you a happy person now? Have a seat.” Piper “You’ll still be able to get up won’t you?” Piper waves the air “Garlic for lunch? You know we sit here face to face and I look at you, you’re so much uglier than I am.” Piper says people told him to call Bruno the “living legend”. Bruno cuts him off “You know why they call me the living legend, is because I’ve met many, many big mouthed people and I shut them all.” Piper gets up and retreats and Bruno stands up as well. Piper “You fought here at Madison Square 211 times, correct?” Bruno “That’s correct” Piper “How stupid can you be to wrestle 211 times when you’re all washed up?” Bruno “The 211th time I kicked my opponent’s butt so I couldn’t have been too washed up.” Piper “I noticed you lost a little weight” Bruno “I’m no longer 265, I’m 245. I’m in shape.” Bruno “I lost a lot of hair, just like my father, he lived to be 95.” Piper “Where are you from?” Bruno “I’m from Italy. By the way, in Italy we don’t wear skirts.” The crowd cheers and Piper retreats. Piper “It aint me that’s got a fat, little puke son running around imposing on daddy’s name.” Bruno “Don’t you get smart with me, interview me like a man or get out of here.” Piper “You think 15 years ago in your prime you could take someone like me who’s in my prime now. I know your ears are nasty and your nose is smeared all over your face, but try to think about it.” Bruno “15 years ago I would have squashed you like a grape and I could squash you like a grape now.” Piper “You stupid wop man!” Oh snap! Bruno shoves Piper on his ass and the crowd goes nuts. Piper waffles Bruno with the chair and goes to town on Bruno with it. The crowd pelts the ring with garbage as Piper rips Bruno’s shirt off. Piper kicks away at Bruno and sheds his own shirt. Monsoon on commentary says people will come out to save Bruno soon. Ventura on commentary says Bruno started it. Bruno then rallies with right hands, grabs a chair, swings at Piper and misses. Piper runs into Orton outside and they bail to the back. Bruno stands tall in the ring. The crowd starts a Bruno chant and we cut here. Now that was pretty damn good. Piper stung with insults but Bruno answered every single one of them. This was to set up Piper/Bruno now that Piper/Hogan had ended.
Match 5

Bruno Sammartino vs “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

 

December 7, 1985 in the Boston Garden saw the 31 year old Piper take on the now 50 year old Bruno. We’re joined in progress as both men are in standard blue trunks. Bruno rams Piper’s head into the ring post and Bruno in the voiceover saying he warned fans before the match that this was going to be a wild brawl. At least he was honest. Bruno on the floor rams Piper into various scenery as Monsoon calls this a pier six brawl. Piper is already busted open as Piper drops from a boot to the ribs. Piper begs off as Monsoon brings up the Piper’s Pit that brought this on. Bruno wipes out the referee after going to town on Piper and he apologizes. Piper takes advantage with a low blow and covers for 1…2…nope. Monsoon and Ventura praise Bruno’s stamina at 50 years old. Piper then goes to town on Bruno with a series of punches as referee Danny Davis checks the wound. Bruno rallies with right hands but an eye gouge stops the momentum. Piper sends Bruno to the outside and goes out after him. Piper rams Bruno head first into the steel barricade as Ventura says Piper looks to be in rough shape. Monsoon calls Piper gutsy as Bruno rallies with kicks that sends Piper outside. Piper goes for the exit but Bruno gets out and throws Piper back in. Piper and Bruno continue to brawl as Piper tries to bail again. Once again Bruno catches him and throws Roddy back inside. Piper begs off as the crowd cheers Bruno. Piper crawls away and Bruno exposes Roddy’s ass trying to bring him back in the ring. Piper punches and claws to stall Bruno and an axehandle floors Bruno. Ventura says before the match he’d give the stamina edge to Piper but now he’s not so sure. Monsoon says Bruno’s been running 5 miles a day 3 times a week. Did I mention he was 50? No wonder he’s still alive now. Bruno unloads on Piper when Cowboy Bob Orton runs in for the DQ. Bruno cuts him off and starts pounding away on Orton. Bruno cleans both of them out,tossing Orton over the top to the floor. Bruno visciously attacks Piper when Orton cracks Bruno with the cast on the back of the neck. Orton and Piper get the upperhand as Orton tosses Danny Davis aside. Piper even decks Davis for good measure. Orton and Piper tie Bruno in the ropes Andre style. Orton drops Davis one more time as Piper and Orton celebrate. We cut here and that was pretty good. Once again, throw catch as catch can out the window and go by pure intensity and story. The 50 year old Bruno proved he can still hang with the contemporaries.
Time of match: Joined in progress

Winner: Bruno Sammartino by DQ
Moving right along to the next match.
Match 6

Bruno Sammartino and “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

 

This match actually predates the last one. This was from September 28, 1985 in Boston Garden. Orndorff has a cast on his right arm to counter the one on the left of Orton. Both are in standard red trunks. Bruno and Piper are in the blue trunks. Paul and Bruno clear the ring as Orndorff drops Piper with the cast. Bruno and Piper brawl on the outside as Paul rams Piper and Orton’s head together. Finally we get started with Paul and Roddy in the corner. Paul chokes Piper with the tag rope and nails Orton for good measure. Orndorff revs up the crowd and tags Bruno in. Piper tags in Orton and Bruno clobbers him. Orton gets the upperhand with his cast and tags in Bruno. Piper slaps Bruno who responds by kicking his ass out of the ring. Bruno follows but Orton catches him. Orton distracts the ref and Piper clobbers Bruno with a wooden chair. Paul throws the chair inside and the referee takes it away. Bruno slides back in as Piper throws away the wooden steps, only for Orton to throw Bruno into them. Piper and Orton do the “I love you” sign in the center of the ring amidst a chorus of boos. Ventura says Bruno should have stayed retired. Ventura “Same thing could happen to you Gorilla” Bruno rallies in the corner and nails Orton but that gives Piper enough time to rake the eyes. Bruno ducks under a clothesline and wallops Piper with a forearm to the chest. Bruno tags in Orndorff who nails Piper with the cast. Paul nails Orton as well and goes for the piledriver on Piper. Bruno runs in to stop Orton but the ref intercepts him. Orton goes to the top and nails Orndorff with the cast. Piper rolls on top and the ref counts 1…..2….NOOOOO, Paul kicked out. Piper rams Orndorff into the corner as some idiot throws a Frisbee into the ring. Piper throws it at Bruno (perfect spiral too) and Orton makes an illegal tag in the ring. Orton covers Orndorff for 1…..2..nope. Orndorff rallies with the cast but Piper tags in. Piper unloads with right hands on the ground but Orndorff goes for the sunset flip. Orndorff pulls Piper’s trunks down and we get an uncensored shot of Piper’s ass as he goes down for 1…2..nope, Orton breaks the count. Piper continues to stomp away with his trunks down before making the tag to Orton. Orton pounds on Orndorff and goes for the piledriver but Orndorff counters with a backdrop. Paul clotheslines Orton down. Bruno finally gets the hot tag as Orton tags in Piper. Bruno throws Piper to the outside and they brawl on the ground. Orton and Orndorff go at it inside. Bruno chucks a chair and Piper’s head and it just barely misses. Piper pokes Bruno in the eyes 3 Stooges style and rolls into the ring to beat the count. The crowd doesn’t like it as Piper gets his hand raised. Piper and Orton retreat to the back before the faces can get to them. The announcer says the heels have won it by a count-out. That was a high intensity match but what’s the point of showing Sammartino losing? Once again, on a profile tape, Bruno loses. Unlike the almighty Hulkster who can’t lose….right? Ventura goes to the replay as Monsoon says both of them should have been counted out.
Time of match: Joined in progress

Winners: Piper and Orton by count-out
We finish up by going back to the past…..WHY?
Match 7

George “The Animal” Steele vs Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage Match

Commentator: Gorilla Monsoon

 

We go back to July 25, 1970, no idea where we are, joined in progress during Bruno’s first run as champion for the cage match with Steele. This is pretty grainy footage and Steele attacks Bruno, tearing Bruno’s wig off. Steele also attacks Bruno with turnbuckle stuffing. Steele kicks Bruno from pillar to post and Bruno makes the exact same comeback he made against Killer Kowalski earlier. Monsoon says that was his trademark. Steele goes to escape and Bruno goes apeshit on him. Bruno sends him into the cage and continues to unload with punches. Bruno rams him into the steel ringpost. Bruno sends him into the cage again and Steele is out cold. Bruno steps through the ropes, down the steps and out of the cage as the crowd cheers. At least it was short. No idea why this was placed at the end but oh well.
Time of match: Joined in progress (officially 13:14)

Winner: Bruno Sammartino (still WWWF Champion)
The credits roll and this one is history. Time for the previews. We get BEST OF THE WWF VOLUME 8, MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE AND ELIZABETH and WWF’S EXPLOSIVE TNT SHOW. As for this one, it’s a shame we couldn’t get Bruno’s best work. Most of Bruno’s best work was during his first run as champion back before video footage was commonplace. Ole Anderson was right when he said seeing Bruno too often would explose his limited wrestling skills so seeing Bruno punch and kick for 80 minutes straight did become a bit redundant. But that’s just the in ring work, in terms of match intensity, storylines and realism, you bet your sweet ass this tape delivered. Wrestling was presented as real back then and Bruno embodied it. Natural muscles, natural conditioning and brawling tactics anyone would use in a street fight. Fans still talk about Bruno to this day as one of the greatest and this shows why. By 1986 he was nearing the end of the line and it was great for Vince to showcase him before he left. I give the tape 3 out of 5, 2 points off for the crappy in-ring work but definitely worth watching for classic, realistic wrestling. Plus the Piper segments were gold. We go from real to silly very quickly as the next tape after this is Best of The WWF Volume 7.

Villains of the Squared Circle (WF022)

 

VILLAINS OF THE SQUARED CIRCLE (WF022)

Like I had mentioned on ROWDY RODDY PIPER’S GREATEST HITS, the WWF had hit on a revolutionary concept. Showcasing the top babyface stars was nothing new in wrestling. From Verne Gage acting in The Wrestler, to Jerry Lawler being all over Memphis to WWF’s own Hulkamania. However, what all the regional territories failed to capitalize on was the other side of the spectrum. You didn’t see a Nick Bockwinkel t-shirt or video tape. You saw Lawler but was there a spotlight on Bill Dundee? There was no 4 Horseman tape in the Carolina’s. The WWF was the first to truly market and specialize the heels as well as the faces. We saw Roddy Piper get his own tape and some of the heel managers were highlighted in THE AMAZING MANAGERS but this one, we got em all. This tape is to showcase the villains both past and present that ran roughshod over the WWF. Will it be good to highlight the bad? Let’s find out. Cue the 1985 Coliseum Video opening and Mean Gene Okerlund is our host today….scratch that. He introduces guest hosts Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd. Heenan says Okerlund to keep his mouth shut. Studd says he’s not a villain, he’s a very aggressive wrestler. Bundy says they’re winners. Okerlund and Heenan go back and forth and Studd says Okerlund is gonna get the splash before the tape is over. Okerlund runs down what we’re about to see as the truo howl with laughter. We then go to our first bout.
Match 1

Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs Scott McGee

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Alfred Hays and Ernie Ladd

April 22, 1986 in Madison Square Garden is the date and venue for this non-legendary squash match. Okerlund in the voiceover says Roberts is the newest heel in the WWF and Heenan scoffs at the terminology Okerlund uses to describe him. The bell sounds and Roberts is in the purple tights with green snake imprints while McGee is in the red trunks. Roberts unload with right hands and rams McGee into the corner. Studd says he’s not afraid of snakes and Bundy says there are no asterisks in the record books, only says whether they won or lost. Okerlund sends it to the actual broadcast team as Roberts decks McGee with a right hand. Roberts goes for the snake in the bag but then delivers a stomach breaker. Roberts smiles as he rams McGee’s face into the ground twice and slithers around. Ladd asks Monsoon about Miguel Perez Sr and Monsoon says his son is wrestling now. Yeah, 10 years later he’d be one of the founding fathers of Los Borriquas. Back to live action, Roberts counters a running roll up but turns around into a dropkick. Roberts runs into a snap suplex and McGee wastes no time with a gut-wrench suplex and a pinfall attempt for 1….2..no. Jake slithers out of the ring as Monsoon and Ladd scoffs. McGee chases him back into the ring where he hiptosses Jake. A kneedrop stuns Jake and a pinfall attempt gets two. Jake begs off but McGee drags him into the center of the ring. McGee stomps Jake in the stomach then takes him down. Monsoon says Jake landed on the external occipital protuberance area as Ladd says “you lost me at the last red light.” McGee misses a knee drop and Jake hits the arm wrench/short arm clothesline combo. Jake goes for a scoop slam but Scott rolls through and goes for another running roll-up. Jake counters and then catches Scott with the D-D-T! Jake taunts the crowd as he makes the cover..1…2….3 and this ones over. Jake immediately goes for the bag where he unleashes the giant python Damien. Ladd asks why they would let Jake bring a snake out to begin with. Alfred marvels at the snake as Fink gets in the ring long enough to announce Jake the winner before skedaddling. Jake sicks Damien on McGee as Monsoon says snakes bite. Yeah, in about 5 years ask Randy Savage how it feels. After a few minutes of torture the crowd starts chanting Hogan as the announcers scoff. In terms of match quality, it was a 4 minute squash so no sense squawking about that. Mainly it was to highlight how devious Jake was to sick a live python on people. It worked tremendously.
Time of match: 4:02

Winner: Jake Roberts by pinfall
Moving right along to the next match
Match 2

Tor Kamata vs Pat Patterson

Commentator: Gorilla Monsoon

The Showdown at Shea on August 9, 1980 was known for the Bruno/Zybysko main event with the Hogan/Andre undercard but this match was apart of it too. We all know who Pat Patterson is, but who the hell is Tor Kamata? He was known as Mr. Moto in the AWA and regional territories where he feuded with Freddie Blassie. His real name is McRonald believe it or not. He was given the name Tor Kamata based off Tomas De Torquemada of the Spanish Inquisition. Guess who gave him that name, Hawaiian promoter Sir Ed Francis, father of New England Patriots tight end Russ who competed in the WRESTLEMANIA 2 battle royal. Three years prior to this match Kamata was used as a heel to get Bob Backlund over, grooming Bob for his feud with Superstar Billy Graham. Kamata attacks Patterson at the bell who Pearl Harbors Patterson as the bell rings. Kamata is in the long black tights and white stripe while Patterson is in the standard black trunks. Monsoon calls him “the big Jap” as Kamata levels Patterson with a dropkick. Try getting away with saying that now. Kamata goes up to the top rope but misses the big splash. Patterson goes up to the top rope and drops a knee. Patterson sheds his ring jacket who stomps away on Tor in the corner. At the time Pat Patterson was 39 and Kamata was 43 years old. Just goes to show age doesn’t make a difference in wrestling sometimes. Patterson whips Kamata in the corner and backdrops him. Monsoon says he went down like yesterday’s garbage. Monsoon brings up Patterson’s heel past as well. Kamata reaches into his tights for the salt and throws it…missing Patterson completely and nailing referee Dick Kroll with it instead. IDIOT! Kroll calls for the bell and this one is over. Patterson rallies with right hands and a scoop slam. Patterson goes for the pinfall and Kroll actually counts a 1 but Kamata kicks out and bails. We go to the replay of Kroll getting nailed and we cut here. Absolutely no idea why this match was included on this tape since Kamata was never a top heel. Maybe Vince was mad at Dick Kroll one day and decided to throw this match into the tape to get back at him for something. Who knows.
Time of match: 2:05

Winner: Pat Patterson by DQ

 

Moving right along to match number three.

 

Match 3

George “The Animal” Steele vs Pedro Morales for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship

Commentator: Vince McMahon

June 30, 1973 in Madison Square Garden saw a different Animal that modern fans know and love. Before Steele became the loveable goofball in the mid 80’s he was a savage heel for many years prior. Here, he takes on the champion. Both are in their standard gear. Morales and Steele trade blows as Steele nails Pedro with a hidden foreign object the ref can’t find. Heenan, Bundy and Studd make fun of Steele in the voiceover saying he’s no longer worth anything since he turned face. Studd “He’s not one of US anymore.” Meanwhile back to 73, Steele stomps away on Morales, send him off and scoop slams him. Steele catches Morales in the throat with the object as the fans scoff. Steele tells the ref he didn’t do anything as he goes to bite the turnbuckle. Meanwhile Morales lands two left handed punches that have the Garden rocking. The camera focuses on the left hand of Steele as Morales backs him around the ring. Morales stuns Steele with an arm drag and Steele retreats to the corner. Morales lands a forearm as we get a TAPE EDIT to Steele dropping Morales with a big punch. The ref once again checks Steele but can’t find anything. George rams Morales into the steel ringpost as screams “yesssss” to the irate crowd. Steele rams him a second time as the ref tries to push Steele away. George rams Morales a third time but the 4th attempt is blocked. Morales rams Steele into the ring post as the crowd goes nuts. Morales rams him into each post and Steele blades. Morales rallies with lefts and rights as flashbulbs go off. Steele begs off and Morales bites the forehead. Morales continues to rally with left hands as the referee checks Steele’s head and calls for the bell. Steele protests but the ref raises Pedro’s arm in victory. George then pulls the foreign object out and waffles Pedro with it. George continues to pound away but Pedro backs Steele away with lefts before he steals the object. Pedro chases Steele to the back as the crowd cheers. Steele runs back out after the announcer gives the news to the crowd but we cut here. As a scientific match, it sucked monkey fuck. In terms of insanity, realism and storytelling, that was awesome. I would have loved to have been in the Garden that night and feel the buzz as Morales tried to counter the “foreign object” of the Animal. Steele was a loveable face, but he was a great, savage heel in his earlier days.
Time of match: 8:16

Winner: Pedro Morales by stoppage (still WWWF champion)

 

Continuing along to match 4
Match 4

“Big Cat” Ernie Ladd vs Andre the Giant

Commentator: Vince McMahon

April 26, 1973 in Madison Square Garden saw the battle of the giants. Ernie Ladd was a legit 6 foot 9 and had played on the 1963 American Football League Champion San Diego Chargers during his football career as a defensive lineman. Then he shattered racial barriers by becoming one of the first black top heels. Most black wrestlers up to that point were loveable fan favorites such as Bearcat Wright, Bobo Brazil and Thunderbolt Patterson…and here comes Ladd as a heel. Andre is in the black trunks and Ernie in the light blue. We’re joined in progress with Andre kicking Ladd around the ring. Andre lands a big punch as Heenan tries to say the taped thumb on Ladd’s hand was 100% legit. Andre hammers away with a big headbutt as Ladd sells it like his head was on fire. Another headbutt drops Ladd into the corner. The ref tells Andre to back off as Ladd reaches for something in his tights. He nails Andre with the big thumb twice, dropping him to the mat. By the way, this was the smaller, leaner 26 year old Andre that could still bump and move around. They’re about equal size here height wise and Andre does have a weight advantage. Andre gets his left arm caught in the top rope and Ernie goes to town with boots. Andre frees himself and Ladd continues t land big right hands including a headlocked punch. Andre then grabs Ernie’s hand and punches him with his own taped thumb. Vince calls it a taste of his own medicine. Andre whips Ernie off and backdrops him. Andre goes for the big splash but Ernie slides out of the way. Ernie bails to the outside and retreats to the back, earning a count-out win for Andre. Vince says Ernie chickened out as the crowd boos Ernie then cheers Andre. That’s one way to keep your heel heat without doing a job. Once again, catch as catch can went out the window but the crowd was still into it with Andre trying to overcome the heel tactics of Ladd. Always great to see both of them, but even better to see the mobile Andre.
Time of match; Joined in progress

Winner: Andre the Giant by count-out
Moving along to match number five
Match 5

Captain Lou Albano vs Gorilla Monsoon

Commentator: Vince McMahon

What a treat. On the same card as Pedro/Steele from earlier was Captain Lou going one on one with Monsoon himself on June 30, 1973. Lou would turn 40 a month later while Gorilla clocked in at 36. Albano was a little lighter In 1973 as Monsoon looks the same as always. Both are in standard gear as Monsoon doesn’t want to wait for the announcer or referee’s instructions. Albano begs off before he takes his ring jacket off. Big John Studd in the voiceover says we’ll be seeing big, giant jellyrolls. Bundy says they’re broken down, old windbags which is ironic as Studd was older at that time (38) than Monsoon was during this match. Albano is built at 275 pounds, Monsoon 401 pounds. The ref tries to hold Monsoon back as he checks him for objects. The ref checks Albano who caters to the irate crowd. The bell rings and immediately Albano bails. He does this a few times before Monsoon lands some forearms in the corner before Lou counters with an eye gouge. Another one follows before Lou hits a third. A fourth one has Monsoon shambles around as the ref asks Albano what he’s up to. Albano continues to work the eye gouge before landing a boot. Monsoon counters with a slap and an eye gouge of his own. Vince “Turnabout is fair play” Monsoon sends Albano off and drops him with a big chop. Two overhand chops has Albano down. Monsoon then chops Albano over the top rope. Albano runs away and Monsoon gets the count out win. The crowd cheers as the ref raises Monsoon’s hand in victory. We go to the replay where Albano flies over the top and bails. Well that was a waste of time. They were better off showing Albano’s victory over Tony Angelo from THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO. Instead they showed a minute of Albano eye gouging before running away. Sure he was a villain, but he could have been showcased better than that.
Time of match: 1:43

Winner: Gorilla Monsoon by count-out
No nonsense, onto match 6

Match 6

Andre the Giant and Chief Jay Strongbow vs Blackjack Lanza and Stan “The Man” Stasiak

Commentator: Vince McMahon

We’re still in 1973 as this was from November 12, 1973 in Madison Square Garden. Its also the Coliseum Video debuts of the former WWWF Champion Stasiak and one half of the blackjacks, Lanza. Stasiak’s physique wasn’t really that impressive but he was a vicious heel and would be challenging Pedro Morales less than 3 weeks after this match for the heavyweight title. Stasiak was the first to use the heart punch as a finisher. Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan terrorized the territories as big, bruising cowboy heels throughout the 70’s and early 80’s. Stasiak wants no part of Strongbow so he bails to the apron only for Jay to head scissor him into the ring. Stasiak goes to bail but Jay is snap mared in. An arm drag stuns Stasiak and we get a TAPE EDIT. Stasiak is in the long black tights with red strpe, Strongbow is in the multi-colored trunks. Andre has the blue trunks on, Lanza in standard gear. Stasiak sends Strongbow off the ropes and…rakes the eyes. Stan makes the tag to Lanza and we cut here. Well that was worthless….didn’t even get to see the ending. What the hell were they thinking? At least show the ending. What’s the point of showcasing heels if Lanza hadn’t been in the ring yet?
Time of match: Joined in progress

Winners: Unknown
I dread to think what comes next if they refused to show the ending to that one.
Match 7

Don “The Magnificent” Muraco with Captain Lou Albano vs Special Delivery Jones

Commentator: Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson

Before we get to the Jones match, we’re joined in progress for a quick highlight of Muraco heaving Pedro Morales over the top rope to the outside. Okerlund calls Muraco strange as Bundy, Studd and Heenan praise Don and insult Okerlund. Jones is in the red trunks and Muraco the standard. Jones drops Muraco with a series of arm drags that has Muraco bailing to the outside. Vince says a win over Muraco would make Jones a top contender to the title. Which title Vince? SD Jones hits the sunset flip we see in the 85 Intro before every tape for 1….2…no. SD goes back to the headlock before Muraco counters with a back breaker. Muraco misses a Vader Bomb and SD goes back to the headlock. Patterson praises Jones for his patience. Muraco powers out of the headlock but Jones headbutts Don in the back. A few right hands stun Don and Jones goes back to the headlock takeover. Patterson “Very nice” Vince “The headlock is a defensive type of a hold, not an offensive.” Good call Vince. Muraco gets the upper hand with rights but SD lands left jabs to stun Muraco and a headbutt. Muraco whips SD into the corner where SD goes for the bodypress…only Muraco counters with a powerslam. Muraco hooks the leg and the ref counts the pinfall like in the 85 Opening. Both highlights from this match were used in the montage, nice. Anyway Muraco gets the pinfall victory as Vince says “How about that?” We go back to the instant replay. Good victory by Muraco and its nice to see where the opening montage comes from sometimes.
Time of match: Joined in progress

Winner: Don Muraco by pinfall
We go straight to an episode of TNT where Muraco cuts a promo. Its the same exact one he cut in RICKY THE DRAGON STEAMBOAT except its clipped. Don says there’s no more titles to win and he runs the darkside. Vince says there’s only one way to go, down. Muraco makes fun of Ricky Steamboat saying he likes fat broads (ironic given Bonnie was a looker in her day). Muraco “Put that in your pipe and smoke it brotha”. We go right to the next match after.

Match 8

Ricky Steamboat vs Mr. Fuji

This is the same match from Ricky The Dragon Steamboat only this is just a clip. We’re at the part where Fuji has the nerve hold, Vince calls Fuji a world class wrestler. Steamboat does the fade-then-revive routine. Ricky rakes the eyes and chops Fuji down. Ricky goes upstairs and catches Fuji with the flying crossbody for 1….2..nope, Fuji kicks out. Ricky goes for the big splash but Fuji gets the knees up. Bruno says that’s the first time he’s seen someone kick out of that and Vince says Ricky didn’t hook the leg. Ricky rolls through a back suplex, rolls up Fuji and gets the 1..2….3 to win the match. Steamboat celebrates on the outside as a little girl jumps the guardrail and runs toward Ricky only for her to stop and turn around. Steamboat goes to leave but Don Muraco runs out and hits Ricky in the back with a stool. The stool breaks in half as Fuji runs out and picks up the other half. They continue to beat on Ricky before leaving. Vince calls them dastardly. Now I see why they cut the match short, to show the extracurricular activity by Muraco. What a heel.
Time of match: 4:06

Winner: Ricky Steamboat by pinfall
Next up are “Rowdy” Roddy Piper highlights. Once again we get a clipped showing of Piper’s Pit where he attacks Jimmy Snuka. Then we get the clip of him slapping Alfred Hays across the face on TNT. Then we get a clip of Piper attacking Frankie Williams on Piper’s Pit. Then we get a clip of Piper and Lou Albano exchanging unpleasantries showcased on Albano’s tape. Only this time its extended as Albano flicks Piper on the nose. Piper responds by punching Albano over the couch and calling him a fat piece of garbage. Then we get his exchange with Mr. T that set up Wrestlemania1. All of these highlights are available on his personality profile tape. Then we get some clips of Piper in the ring. Only before that, Bundy tells Okerlund to shut up for calling him a jellyroll. Ha! Studd “Piper is a great friend of ours.”The clips of Piper and Schultz beating up Andre, Piper’s match with Snuka from St. Louis, Piper and Orton against Snuka and Tonga Kid. Once again, every single clip here was from another tape. It would continue with our next match.
Match 9

“Macho Man” Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) vs Tito Santana for the WWF Intercontinental Championship

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Wonderful, it’s the exact same match from WWF GREATEST MATCHES. We’re clipped well into the match where both Savage and Santana are down in the ring. Santana goes for the figure four, but Savage counters it by kicking him off. Randy slides to the ring apron to pull out something from his tights. He swings and misses and Tito goes for a back suplex, however Randy clocks Santana with the object on the way down. Randy crawls over on top of Tito and Davis gets down 1……2….THREE AND WE GOT A NEW CHAMPION. Thinking quickly, Savage tosses the piece of steel to the outside as Davis never saw it. Its official, the Macho Man is your new Intercontinental Champion. Savage limps to the back as Monsoon scoffs at the blatent cheating by the Macho Man, Ventura says it’s brilliant. The camera shows the cold roll of steel Savage clobbered Tito with before going to the replay. Monsoon continues to complain as we cut here. Nice to include Savage on this tape but the constant clipping is getting on my nerves now.

Time of match: Clipped for the tape

Winner: Savage by pinfall (New WWF Intercontinental Champion)
Rolling right along, its time for Terry Funk.
Match 9

Aldo Marino vs “Terrible” Terry Funk

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino

This was Funk’s WWF debut match on the June 17, 1985 edition of Championship Wrestling. The referee is the infamous Rita Marie which I’ll get to later. Okerlund says in the voiceover the reason the match is on here is because of the attendant putting Funk’s hat on his head. Bundy says the guy deserved it for ruining the hat. Studd says he could care less about Marino or Mel Phillips and Funk did a good job. Basically what happened was Mel had too much stuff in his hands so he put the hat on his head in order to carry everything. Vince laughs but Funk gets enraged and beats the crap out of Mel. Vince scoffs as Funk throws Marino out of the ring. Funk continues to beat the daylights out of Phillips. Marino tries to help out but Funk sends him out of the ring again. Funk then tosses Phillips out for good as Vince continues to complain. Sammartino “That’s Terry Funk, he’s got some reputation.” The security guards literally carry Mel out of the arena as Funk goes to work on Marino with left hands and chops in the corner. Funk drops Marino and stomps on him as Rita Marie admonishes him. Funk heaves Marino through the ropes to the outside as Funk hits the floor himself and goes to attack a fan. Marino staggers back to the ring where Funk gets whipped to the buckle. Aldo then heaves Funk to the floor. Marino hits a dropkick that sends Funk over the top to the outside. Back inside Funk delivers a back suplex to quell the momentum. Funk kicks the guy in the head and snap suplexes him. Funk goes for the spinning toe hold and applies it. Marino gives it up and Funk is the winner. Funk goes to the outside and yells at the irate crowd and we cut here. Why was Rita Marie infamous? Several years later she went on the Geraldo Rivera show and claimed Vince raped her in a limousine. Why it took her 6 years to come out with it was partially the reason nobody ever thought much of it. Did it happen? Who knows. What DID happen is Funk beat the crap out of Mel Phillips…and it sure was funny.
Time of match: 4:05

Winner: Terry Funk by submission
Can we we keep the momentum going in match ten?
Match 10

Corporal Kirchner vs The Iron Sheik (with Classy Freddie Blassie and Nikolai Volkoff)

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Alfred Hays and Ernie Ladd

After Kirchner dispatched Nikolai Volkoff at Wrestlemania 2, Sheik got the next crack at him on April 22, 1986 at Madison Square Garden. This was on the same card as Roberts vs McGee at the beginning of this tape. Sheik is in the yellow trunks with Kirchner in his standard gear. Kirchner hands his hat and American flag to Mel Phillips and does NOT attack him like Funk did earlier. The Iron Sheik DOES attack Kirchner as he gets to the ring still with his turban and robe on. Sheik whips Kirchner off and clotheslines him. Sheik chokes Kirchner with the head piece as Ladd notices the bell never rang. Sheik sheds the robe, whips Kirchner off and backdrops him as the bell finally rings. Sheik spits on Kirchner and caters to the irate crowd. Shiek gives the crowd the arm and the elbow as Hays says Sheik has no dignity. Monsoon brings up the world and tag title reigns of Sheik as Kirchner leapfrogs him and scoop slams him. Kirchner drops an elbow, drags Sheik to the corner and rams him ballsack first into the ring post, ow. Kirchner punches and headbutts the Sheik. Kirchner delivers a snap suplex then covers for 1…2…nope. A gut wrench suplex is followed by another cover for a nearfall. Kirchner misses a dropkick just as Ladd praises him. Sheik stops away then delivers a gut wrench of his own. The cover only gets a deuce and Kirchner is met with a kick to the head. Sheik goes for the abdominal stretch as Monsoon says he doesn’t have it synched in properly. Kirchner hiptosses Shiek and drops a knee….but misses the elbow drop. Sheik whips the corporal off and he goes for the sunset flip, but only gets a two count. Sheik whips Kirchner off but he gets kicked in the head this time. Sheik begs off but then sends Kirchner to the floor where Volkoff whacks Kirchner with Blassie’s cane. The ref counts to 10 and calls for the bell. Volkoff tosses Kirchner in the ring and they double team Kirchner. Sheik loads up the boot and kicks Kirchner in the chest. Volkoff goes to town with right hands until Kirchner tries to fight back. He goes outside and grabs a chair, which causes The Unamericanz to bail. Nice to see The Unamericanz and Freddie Blassie showcased.
Time of match: 6 minutes

Winner: Iron Sheik by count-out
As we head towards the end, now its time to highlight our three co-hosts. We begin with the Manager of the Year ceremony highlighted in Amazing Managers. I’ll just repost. King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd stand guard outside the ring while Bobby Heenan, Captain Lou and Hillbilly Jim stand next to the trophy with “Mean” Gene Okerlund our MC for the evening. Okerlund says the WWF has received one million votes and thanks the fans but Heenan grabs the mic. Heenan reels off the heel managers and says they all gave up their votes for Heenan to win. Added with Heenan’s votes alone, Heenan gets 519,711 votes. Bobby proclaims himself the manager of the year and grabs the trophy. Hillbilly Jim asks how many votes he has and Okerlund answers he has 316,428 votes. He asks how many Lou has and 314,166 is the total. Jim then gives up his votes to Lou which means…oh yes…CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO has won the 1985 WWF Manager of the Year award. Heenan goes beserk as Jim congratulates Captain. Heenan then nails Albano with the trophy as Okerlund hightails it out of there. Studd and Bundy hit the ring and suddenly Jim is down 2 against 1. Studd tackles Jim and Bundy splashes him again and again like we saw with Andre earlier in the tape. Heenan smashes the trophy. Bundy splashes Jim again but finally Cousin Junior and Uncle Elmer make their appearance. The Heenan family bail to the back as the hillbillies tend to Jim and Albano. Great way to maintain heel heat by Heenan’s crew.

Next is the attack on Andre the Giant by Bundy and Studd also highlighted on Wrestling’s Amazing Managers.
Match 11

Andre the Giant vs “Big” John Studd with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

We’re joined in progress as Studd and Andre are locked up. Studd works over the left arm as Andre grabs the hair and headbutts him. Another headbutt stuns Studd but John counters a backdrop by dropping the giant with a kick to the head. Studd drops two elbows as Heenan hops up on the apron with a pair of scissors. He hands Studd the scissors but Andre grabs Studd’s wrist and bites it. Andre headbutts and chops Studd then kicks Heenan who attempts to retrieve the scissors. Andre punches him out of the ring and grabs the scissors. He grabs Studd, punches him and slams him to the mat. He goes to cut Studd’s hair as Ventura scoffs….but have no fear Jesse for Bundy is here. King Kong Bundy makes his way to the ring and nails Andre just as he’s finished cutting a strand of hair off. Bundy repeatedly nails Andre with forearms as Studd gathers his bearings. Andre tries to fight back but Studd tackles him to the ground, allowing Bundy to land a big splash. Studd continues to hold the legs and Bundy splashes Andre again….and again. The ref tries to get Bundy out of there but to no avail as Heenan whips Bundy who splashes Andree for a 4th time. Cousin Junior, Rick McGraw, The Killer Bees and Lanny hit the ring to save Andre. Studd is irate at Andre cutting a bit of his hair as Bundy and Heenan try to calm him down in the entrance way. Bundy was fast becoming a monster heel and this match is what set up the big Saturday Night’s Main Event showdown between Andre and Hogan teaming against Bundy and Studd.

Time of match: Joined in progress

Winner: Andre the Giant by DQ
Next we’re shown the highlight of King Kong Bundy’s attack on Hulk Hogan which set up Wrestlemania 2. Hogan was wrestling The Magnificent Muraco when Bobby Heenan accosted Hogan leading to Hogan attacking The Brain. Bundy hit the ring and beat up Hogan, avalanching him a few times in the corner with the aid of Muraco. Bundy even threw the referee to the outside to boot. Muraco drags Hogan to the center of the ring and holds him down as Bundy delivers a big splash. Muraco turns Hogan over and Bundy hits another splash. Bundy spits on Hogan as we cut here. More dastardly tactics which was the point of the tape. Now we head to the final match on the tape….which was previously covered on ANDRE THE GIANT.
Match 12
Andre the Giant and Special Delivery Jones vs “Big” John Studd and Ken Patera (with Bobby Heenan)
Commentators: Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino
Can we get anymore stock footage? I swear 90% of this tape is highlights previously featured on other tapes. Anyway, December 15, 1984 was the date for this infamous moment. Studd in the voiceover praises Patera who’s “not with us at the moment but still in the family” meaning Patera was in jail at the time for real. Okerlund tells Studd he stucks as a barber and Heenan tells him to shut up. Back to the match itself, Andre teams with mid-card jobber Jones to take on the Heenan Family members. Ken’s got the bleach blonde hair and Olympic singlet as Andre wears his Wrestlemania 1 tights (which wasn’t for another 3 ½ months). Jones starts out with former IC champ Patera. Jones leaps over Patera and hooks him arm for the big drag. Andre tags in and wrenches the arm then headbutts it. Jones tags in with an axehandle to the arm before flipping him over. Ken gets his arm free and executes a backbreaker before tagging in Studd. John delivers a series of forearms then floors Jones with a back elbow smash. Studd puts the boots to him then tags in Patera who picks up where Jones left off. Patera continues to slug away but a backdrop attempt earns a kick to the face. Jones hits a headbutt that sends Ken into the face corner where Andre tags in. Patera backdrops Jones over the top to the concrete floor as Andre stalks Ken in the ring. Andre pounds on Ken in the corner then ass bumps him a few times. Patera gets a knee to the back then delivers a forearm to the back of the head. Patera holds Andre for an interfering Studd and they both pound away on the giant. Both men are able to slam Andre together then they both put the boots to him. Studd holds Andre down as Patera scales the second rope for a kneedrop. The ref calls for the bell as Patera and Studd continue to punch and kick at the fallen giant. They trade dropping elbows before Patera holds Andre down for Bobby Heenan to toss a pair of scissors to Studd. Studd proceeds to cut Andre’s trademark afro. The referee makes no attempt to stop the two heels as Patera drops Andre. Studd continues to cut the hair as the fans pelt the ring with garbage. Heenan gets in the ring and kicks Jones out of the ring. Vince says they’re raping Andre of his dignity. Try getting away with saying that now. Heenan, Andre and Patera celebrate with chunks of Andre’s hair as the heels bail to the back. We go to the replay of Patera using his legitimate Olympic strength as Studd cuts the hair. Short match but fun for historical purposes. Andre had a big afro for his entire career but would wrestle the final years with short/medium length hair.

Time of match: 3:44
Winners: Andre the Giant and SD Jones by DQ
The credits roll and this one is history. Before we go, its time for the previews. Monsoon shills BEST OF THE WWF VOLUME 8, MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE AND ELIZABETH and MOST EXPLOSIVE TNT SHOW. As for now, that was an average tape. They had to cram years and years of heels into a 75 minute VHS tape. Nowadays this would be a 2 disc blu-ray with loads of extras, promos and footage. Can’t fault 1986 technology for its time period. The action ranged from decent to hot so no sense squawking about that. The only complaint I have is most of the footage was from previous Coliseum Video tapes so there was barely anything new, but then again, not everyone has all the tapes so they could be seeing this for the first time. As a standalone highlights tape, its worth a look. I give it 4 out of 5 despite the cram job. The next tape after this is BRUNO SAMMARTINO: WRESTLING’S LIVING LEGEND so I’ll see everyone there.