WWE All Star Search #28 - Championship Wrestling (May 1986 part 2)
Hello Turnbucklers! Its edition #28 of our All Star Search and we're moving into the middle of March with two episodes of Championship Wrestling. You know the score, we probably won't have much to say about the matches but let's hope we get some good angle development. In the two episodes we have two relatively important matches. Kirchner vs Sheik is a continuation of the feud going on between the patriot and the evil foreigners and boy do I hope we're coming to the end of it. The Bulldogs vs the big lads is an interesting one because the Bulldogs have their title winning momentum while the big lads are on a downward spiral since Wrestlemania 2. Let's get on with it shall we?
The Card:
George Steele/Junkyard Dog vs Tiger Chung Lee/Mike Angelo
Jimmy Jack Funk/Dory Funk vs Andre Malo/Dan King
The Killer Bees vs Iron Mike Sharpe/Joe Mirto
Randy Savage (IC Champ) vs Serge Jedoin
Corporal Kirchner vs The Iron Sheik
Ted Arcidi/King Tonga vs Dave Barbie/The Gladiator
The Hart Foundation vs Lanny Poffo/Don Driggers
Pedro Morales/Hillbilly Jim vs Moondog Spot/Cyclone Capone
Hercules vs Mike Sexton
Tito Santana/Dan Spivey vs Steve Lombardi/Paul Christy
The British Bulldogs (Tag Team Champs) vs King Kong Bundy/Big John Studd
The Show:
So let's kick off with the 10th May edition of Championship Wrestling. Our commentary team is Vince Mcmahon and Bruno Sammartino who run down the card.
Mike Angelo/Tiger Chung Lee vs Junkyard Dog/George Steele
The Haiti Kid is still with the faces and he's enjoying swinging his chain. Typical hijinks from Steele in this one until he gets caught in heel corner. Mike Angelo is freaking huge but a bite to the chest by Steele still manages to send him reeling. JYD comes in and hits a huge powerslam to Angelo in short order for the win. JYD is obviously stronger than he looks if he can slam Angelo like he did. After the match, there's an awkward stand off between Chung Lee and the faces while Angelo plays dead on the mat. It all comes to nothing and the faces celebrate! Not much to say about that one. Squash Rating: *
Its update time with Lord Al and this week he's looking at Jake Roberts! He asks whether Damien could be a tool used by evil worshippers? I think it's just a gimmick Al. We get a clip of a jobber getting snaked and that's all. No mention of the Steamboat angle once again.
Jimmy Jack Funk/Dory Funk vs Andre Malo/Dan King
Still no sign or mention of Terry Funk so I assume he's definitely left the WWF at this point. Bad timing though as the Funks could've been a good little faction. JJ shows plenty of aggression again but Dory just ups the game in terms of stiffness. Nice underhook suplex by Dory and the win comes with an awesome looking fallaway-powerslam move that I can't think I've seen before. Another case of not much to say except Jimmy Jack continues to impress me. Squash Rating: **
Into the back with Mean Gene who sends us to a Hulk Hogan promo. He rants on Macho Man and puts his hype down to Elizabeth. He puts Macho over quite well before claiming that he'll still win because this is America. Sigh.
The Killer Bees vs Iron Mike Sharpe/Joe Mirto
Always good to see Iron Mike! He always seems to have a sign with him claiming him to be Canada's Greatest Athlete. I can't help but imagine him making it by hand at home before the show! The Bee's are still coming out in their masks but inexplicably take them off for the match. Match is a typical Bee's affair with the head scissors making many an appearance. Bobby Heenan turns up on commentary who says he met with Jack Tunney. He's looking into what action the WWE is going to take over Andre the Giant and his no show from a few weeks previous. Heenan calls Andre a coward and says when he's done with it all, Andre will no longer be a part of WWE. By the way, the Bee's win with a poor looking powerslam on Mirto. Once again the Bee's are solid yet unspectacular and could really do with a featured storyline...that isn't with the Hart Foundation! Squash Rating: **
Into the back with Mean Gene and he's joined with Corporal Kirchner. They mention the Chernobyl explosion and somehow link it to the upcoming match between Kirchner and Nikolai Volkoff. Probably best not to mention a huge disaster that killed many a civilian...but hey, it happened to the enemy so why not.
Serge Jedoin vs Randy Savage (IC Champ)
Lots of stalling to start by Macho because...it's Macho in 1986. He really doesn't need to do his stalling schtick in these squash matches. Quite an audible Macho chant from a couple of lads in the crowd. Match finishes within a minute via an elbow drop from Macho and he's even nice enough to give another after the bell. Macho is another who needs a featured storyline after feuding with George Steele since forever. He still looks like a star after this one though. Squash Rating: *
Its time for the Flower Shop with Adrian Adonis and Jimmy Hart! He's joined by the Dream Team with Johnny V. They talk about their defeat at Wrestlemania 2 and blame it all on Ozzy Osbourne and two referees. They promise payback for the Bulldogs and that's all we have this week. If only Ozzy had actually done something of note at Wrestlemania and they'd have had a point.
Into the back with Lord Al who shows us clips of Saturday Night's Main Event whereby Jake Roberts absolutely destroyed Ricky Steamboat with his DDT on the concrete. Finally, it's nice to see it mentioned!
The Iron Sheik vs Corporal Kirchner
Well Christ, the pop for Kirchner is inexplicably loud. He even gets some patriotic signage from the crowd! I still can't him but he gets a massive USA chant up and running. He starts with a jumping headbutt and follows with a back body drop. Volkoff distracts from the outside and Sheik takes advantage. He hits a back body drop of his own before he locks on an abdominal stretch. Kirchner counters into a hip toss but misses the follow up elbow drop. Blassie gets involved and the ref does nothing but count before Sheik sends Kirchner flying outside. He scrambles back in the ring and manages a roll up on Sheik for 2. Sheik takes control again with a kick to the face as Vince admits Kirchner's wrestling ain't pretty to watch. Suplex attempt by Sheik is blocked and Kirchner hits a big one of his own. Kirchner picks up Sheik and levels him with a Samoan Drop! He makes the cover but Volkoff runs in for the DQ win for Kirchner. The heels give him boots until the Killer Bee's make the save. This will surely go down as a key moment in the Cold War but for now, it shall all continue. Crap match but the crowd enjoyed it. Match Rating: 1/4*
Into the back with Mean Gene and he's joined by the heels we've just seen give it legs. Freddie Blassie rants on about Kirchner before Volkoff gives it more of the same. I love Volkoff, he's like an old, drunk, Russian grandpa. They leave and are replaced by Macho Man! He has a copy of the WWE Magazine with Hogan on the cover. He says he's going to win the WWE Championship at the upcoming house show. Boston is his town, ohhh yeah!
Onto the 17th May edition of Championship Wrestling and our commentators are once again Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino!
Ted Arcidi/King Tonga vs Dave Barbie/The Gladiator
It's matches like these that make me sad. There is literally no one in this match I'm interested in currently. The Gladiator has been appearing on this blog since the very beginning...so how come no one has yet found out anything about him...including his height and weight? That's just poor admin from the agents in the back. Really nice back suplex by Tonga seems to be the only highpoint in this one before Arcidi gets the win with a bearhug. Complete snorefest. Squash Rating: *
It's update time with Lord Al and this week he's looking at Steamboat and Jake Roberts. Essentially its a full recap of the brutal SNME attack from a few weeks ago. Apparently Steamer is 100% fit and raring for some revenge!
It's the blue and black attack, the Hart Foundation! Lanny has brought some frisbees with him and of course, has a poem. It's awful as expected and the heels have to oversell it. The Harts attack quickly and we get some decent back and forth between Bret and Lanny. It doesn't last long but the Harts look awesome in this with plenty of double team moves. A Hart Attack on Barbie gets the win and it's all elementary from there! I say this every time but the tag division needs some solid programs to match the solid athletes within it. Squash Rating: ***
Into the back with...some guy...who runs down an upcoming house show card. Hulk Hogan comes in wearing his bandana like an eyepatch. He moans about Savage and Liz and even says he doesn't trust Elizabeth. He has a suprise for Savage though...it's called Hulkamania. Crap suprise if you ask me though.
What? No Moondog Rex? Where's our refunds?! The faces come out to Jim's awful country music and I wonder how former WWF champion Pedro Morales feels about that. Hillbilly Jim does a lovely yet crap cartwheel before the match. That is in fact our highlight of the entire match. The win comes for the faces via a Jim Big Boot. Test, eat your heart out. Squash Rating: *
Vince wants to know if there are any non-profit organisations that want to fund raise via WWE. Interesting concept for sure!
Into the back with SOME GUY and he's joined by Corporal Kirchner. In a weird political moment, he compares his feud with Nikolai Volkoff and the recent (at the time) Chernobyl disaster (the second time in recent months WWE have mentioned it on air) but has to add in a claim about it being a huge Russian conspiracy. Promo is unfortunately poor but hey, it's Kirchner. Merica!
Mike Sexton is one of my favourite jobbers...but only because he always dresses like a disco ball. Ernie Ladd makes a quick appearance on commentary and says everybody wants to be a wrestler...I, however, disagree. While all this is going on, Herc is throwing punches like no ones business and even Blassie gets some cheeky shots in. Hercules is not at all smooth in the ring although he's still very aggressive. The win comes for Herc after the torture rack and it was all boring as sin. Squash Rating: *
It's time for the Flower Shop with Adonis and Jimmy Hart. Adonis comes in looking like a sunblushed tomato and its not long before the faggot chants start up...and then repeat. Their guest today is the MACHO MAN and Liz. Adonis appreciates Liz's make up before Randy cuts a promo telling people not to be jealous of him. Adonis goes to give Liz flowers, changes his mind, and gives them Savage instead. Cheeky! Bit of a nothing segment though.
Tito is dropping down the card quite quickly now. He's Spivey's latest tag team partner and surely someone has to gel with him, right? RIGHT? Wrong, match is unspectacular and crowd barely even wake up for Tito. Finish comes with a Spivey bulldog. Vince says we may see more of this team...and that sounds like a threat to me. Squash Rating: *
The Hart Foundation vs Lanny Poffo/Don Driggers
It's the blue and black attack, the Hart Foundation! Lanny has brought some frisbees with him and of course, has a poem. It's awful as expected and the heels have to oversell it. The Harts attack quickly and we get some decent back and forth between Bret and Lanny. It doesn't last long but the Harts look awesome in this with plenty of double team moves. A Hart Attack on Barbie gets the win and it's all elementary from there! I say this every time but the tag division needs some solid programs to match the solid athletes within it. Squash Rating: ***
Into the back with...some guy...who runs down an upcoming house show card. Hulk Hogan comes in wearing his bandana like an eyepatch. He moans about Savage and Liz and even says he doesn't trust Elizabeth. He has a suprise for Savage though...it's called Hulkamania. Crap suprise if you ask me though.
Pedro Morales/Hillbilly Jim vs Moondog Spot/Cyclone Capone
What? No Moondog Rex? Where's our refunds?! The faces come out to Jim's awful country music and I wonder how former WWF champion Pedro Morales feels about that. Hillbilly Jim does a lovely yet crap cartwheel before the match. That is in fact our highlight of the entire match. The win comes for the faces via a Jim Big Boot. Test, eat your heart out. Squash Rating: *
Vince wants to know if there are any non-profit organisations that want to fund raise via WWE. Interesting concept for sure!
Into the back with SOME GUY and he's joined by Corporal Kirchner. In a weird political moment, he compares his feud with Nikolai Volkoff and the recent (at the time) Chernobyl disaster (the second time in recent months WWE have mentioned it on air) but has to add in a claim about it being a huge Russian conspiracy. Promo is unfortunately poor but hey, it's Kirchner. Merica!
Hercules vs Mike Sexton
Mike Sexton is one of my favourite jobbers...but only because he always dresses like a disco ball. Ernie Ladd makes a quick appearance on commentary and says everybody wants to be a wrestler...I, however, disagree. While all this is going on, Herc is throwing punches like no ones business and even Blassie gets some cheeky shots in. Hercules is not at all smooth in the ring although he's still very aggressive. The win comes for Herc after the torture rack and it was all boring as sin. Squash Rating: *
It's time for the Flower Shop with Adonis and Jimmy Hart. Adonis comes in looking like a sunblushed tomato and its not long before the faggot chants start up...and then repeat. Their guest today is the MACHO MAN and Liz. Adonis appreciates Liz's make up before Randy cuts a promo telling people not to be jealous of him. Adonis goes to give Liz flowers, changes his mind, and gives them Savage instead. Cheeky! Bit of a nothing segment though.
Tito Santana/Dan Spivey vs Steve Lombardi/Paul Christy
Tito is dropping down the card quite quickly now. He's Spivey's latest tag team partner and surely someone has to gel with him, right? RIGHT? Wrong, match is unspectacular and crowd barely even wake up for Tito. Finish comes with a Spivey bulldog. Vince says we may see more of this team...and that sounds like a threat to me. Squash Rating: *
The British Bulldogs (Tag Team Champs) vs King Kong Bundy/Big John Studd
Straight into the main event now and to be fair, this is a biggie for Championship Wrestling. The Bulldogs get a big reception but no entrance. Big heat as per for the heels and one crowd sign alludes to Bundy's 'thigh burn'. Weirdly enough, this is a glorified squash by the heels after some initial Bulldog offense. Cool early spot see's a double dropkick take Studd down from the Bulldogs but from there, its all the heels...and its all slow and boring. Crowd are still really into it but a Studd shove to the referee gets the Bulldogs the DQ win. After the match, there's more dissention between the giant heels and I PRAY we never see a match between them! Match Rating: 1/2*
So as a summary, both shows were pretty sub par. The major focus seems to be on the upcoming house show match between Savage and Hogan which is all good on my part, if not maybe a little too soon for Savage when he has such good momentum. Steamboat and Roberts finally got some emphasis after their huge SNME angle and Roberts is really starting to look twisted, so twisted they're linking him to Satanism it seems. Shame about the very last match between the Bulldogs and the Heenan Family. It's looking like the big lads may be on course for a break up so why squash the tag teams? Perfect opportunity to have cemented the Bulldogs as THE team but low and behold, nada! Will try and finish off the rest of May in the next A.S.S but until then, have a good'n!
Wrestler Scores:
- Mike Angelo +1 (1)
- Tiger Chung Lee +1 (9)
- George Steele +2 (31)
- Junkyard Dog +2 (84)
- Jake Roberts +2 (33)
- Dory Funk Jr +2 (38)
- Jimmy Jack Funk +2 (6)
- Andre Malo +1 (4)
- Dan King +1 (1)
- Hulk Hogan +2 (116)
- B Brian Blair +2 (44)
- Jim Brunzell +2 (36)
- Iron Mike Sharpe +1 (17)
- Joe Mirto +1 (7)
- Corporal Kirchner +4 (43)
- Serge Jedoin +1 (1)
- Randy Savage +4 (91)
- Adrian Adonis +2 (67)
- Brutus Beefcake +1 (50)
- Greg Valentine +1 (77)
- Iron Sheik +3 (61)
- Nikolai Volkoff +1 (56)
- Ted Arcidi +2 (12)
- King Tonga +2 (23)
- The Gladiator +1 (5)
- Dave Barbie +1 (5)
- Ricky Steamboat +1 (91)
- Bret Hart +2 (61)
- Jim Neidhart +2 (52)
- Lanny Poffo +2 (21)
- Don Driggers +1 (5)
- Pedro Morales +2 (13)
- Hillbilly Jim +2 (23)
- Moondog Spot +1 (19)
- Cyclone Capone +1 (2)
- Hercules +2 (20)
- Mike Sexton +1 (3)
- Tito Santana +2 (99)
- Dan Spivey +2 (21)
- Steve Lombardi +1 (6)
- Paul Christie +1 (4)
- Davey Boy Smith +2 (66)
- Dynamite Kid +2 (66)
- Big John Studd +2 (31)
- King Kong Bundy +2 (57)
Top 10:
- Hulk Hogan - 116 Points
- Tito Santana - 99 Points
- Randy Savage - 91 Points
- Ricky Steamboar - 91 Points
- Junkyard Dog - 85 Points
- Greg Valentine - 78 Points
- Roddy Piper - 76 Points
- Paul Orndorff - 73 Points
- Adrian Adonis - 67 Points
- Davey Boy Smith - 66 Points
