Red Rooster

[PPV Recap] ‘WWF SummerSlam 1989: Feel the Heat’ – Hogan/Beefcake vs. Savage/Zeus, Warrior vs. Rude

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DATE: August 28, 1989
VENUE: Meadowlands (East Rutherford, NJ)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

The 2nd annual SummerSlam features a blockbuster of a main event as Zeus leaves the confines of BEING A FICTIONAL CHARACTER IN A MOVIE to team with “Macho Man” Randy Savage against his hated rival Hulk Hogan and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Wrestling rules.

CHAMPIONS
  • WWF CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Brain Busters (“The Enforcer” Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard)
LINEUP
  • The Hart Foundation vs. The Brain Busters (****1/4)
  • Dusty Rhodes vs. The Honky Tonk Man (*1/2)
  • The Red Rooster vs. Mr. Perfect (*1/2)
  • Tito Santana & The Rockers vs. Rick Martel & The Fabulous Rougeaus (***1/2)
  • Rick Rude [c] vs. The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (***3/4)
  • Jim Duggan & Demolition vs. Andre The Giant & The Twin Towers (**)
  • Hercules vs. Greg Valentine (*1/2)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. Ted DiBiase (*1/4)
  • Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage & Zeus (**1/2)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF Royal Rumble 1990’ – Hogan/Warrior Tease, Garvin/Valentine Potato Fest

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DATE: January 21, 1990
VENUE: Orlando Arena (Orlando, FL)
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura

The 1990 Royal Rumble features no championship matches, but some nice early build headed towards WrestleMania VI including an ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN during the Rumble match between the two biggest stars in the WWF.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Colossal Connection (Haku & Andre The Giant)

LINEUP

  • The Bushwhackers vs. The Fabulous Rougeaus (*1/2)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. The Genius (**)
  • SUBMISSION MATCH: Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg Valentine (***1/2)
  • Jim Duggan vs. The Big Boss Man (*3/4)
  • The 1990 Royal Rumble (***1/4)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania V’ – The Mega Powers Explode, Warrior vs. Rude

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Date: April 2, 1989
Venue: Atlantic City Convention Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

At WrestleMania IV The Mega Powers combined. Now one year later at WrestleMania V The Mega Powers EXPLODE as the dastardly Randy Savage defends the WWF Championship against Hulk Hogan. Also on the show ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper returns to host an in-ring Piper’s Pit, Run DMC performs a WrestleMania Rap, and The Ultimate Warrior puts his Intercontinental Championship on the line against ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude. Fingers crossed this one is a lot more interesting.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Rockin’ Robin
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Demolition (Ax & Smash)

LINEUP

  • Hercules vs. Haku (**1/4)
  • The Rockers vs. The Twin Towers (***)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • The Bushwhackers vs. The Fabulous Rougeaus (*1/2)
  • The Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect (**1/2)
  • Handicap Match: Demolition [c] vs. Mr. Fuji & The Powers of Pain for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • Ronnie Garvin vs. Dino Bravo (**)
  • Strike Force vs. The Brain Busters (**1/2)
  • Jake Roberts vs. Andre The Giant (3/4*)
  • The Hart Foundation vs. The Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine (**1/4)
  • The Ultimate Warrior [c] vs. Rick Rude for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown (1/4*)
  • The Red Rooster vs. Bobby Heenan (NR)
  • Randy Savage [c] vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)

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[MSG TV Recap] WWF @ MSG 2.19.90 – Hogan & Beefcake vs. Perfect & Genius, Rhodes vs. Akeem

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Venue: Madison Square Garden (Manhattan, NY)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Hillbilly Jim, & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

Back in the day the WWF used to hold regular house shows at their home arena, Madison Square Garden in New York City, airing locally on the MSG Network (and sometimes nationally thru the old Prime Time Wrestling TV show). I’m a huge mark for these old shows despite their very rocky quality as they tend to feature matches you wouldn’t have been able to see on TV otherwise as well as occasionally a dry run for a future PPV. These will pop up frequently and very much out of order whenever I feel like recapping them. First up is this one from February 19, 1990 on the road to WrestleMania VI as Hulk Hogan teams with Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake to take on Mr. Perfect and his manager (and secretly damn good wrestler) The Genius. Let’s see how it goes.

CHAMPIONS
  • WWF CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Colossal Connection (Haku & Andre The Giant)
LINEUP
  • Tito Santana vs. Buddy Rose (3/4*)
  • Ronnie Garvin vs. Earthquake (*3/4)
  • The Red Rooster vs. Rick Martel (**)
  • Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr. Perfect & The Genius (**1/4)
  • Jim Brunzell vs. Bad News Brown
  • Dusty Rhodes vs. Akeem
  • Jim Duggan & The Rockers vs. Mr. Fuji & The Powers of Pain

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