Tito Santana

‘WWF WRESTLEMANIA 2’ Recap + Review – Hogan vs. Bundy, Dream Team vs. Bulldogs, 3 Venues in 3 Cities

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DATE: April 7, 1986 VENUE 1: Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) VENUE 2: Rosemont Horizon (Rosemont, IL) VENUE 3: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, CA) COMMENTATORS: Various After taking a big gamble with their first WrestleMania the year before, the WWF decided to ride their wave of popularity and one-up what they had done … Read more

[PPV Recap] ‘WWF ROYAL RUMBLE 1991’ – Warrior vs. Slaughter, Virgil Becomes His Own Man, Also a Rumble

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DATE: January 19, 1991
VENUE: Miami Arena (Miami, FL)
COMMENTATORS: Gorilla Monsoon & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

The 1991 Royal Rumble features a WWF Championship match for the first time on its card as The Ultimate Warrior defends against the traitorous Sgt. Slaughter. Also on the show The Big Boss Man slaps meat with The Barbarian, The Mountie makes his WWF PPV debut, and oh right there’s a Royal Rumble match too. How silly of me.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Mr. Perfect
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart)

LINEUP

  • The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (****)
  • Big Boss Man vs. The Barbarian (***1/2)
  • Ultimate Warrior [c] vs. Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
  • Koko B. Ware vs. The Mountie (*)
  • Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs. Ted DiBiase & Virgil (*1/2)
  • THE 1991 ROYAL RUMBLE (***)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF SURVIVOR SERIES 1990’ – A Legacy Begins, an Egg is Hatched

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DATE: November 22, 1990 VENUE: Hartford Civic Center (Hartford, CT) COMMENTATORS: Gorilla Monsoon & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Survivor Series ‘90 features a unique (and sadly one time only) spin on the Survivor Series format as the survivors of each match will go on to a final Survivor Series match to determine the ULTIMATE winner of … Read more

[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 VIII’ – Hogan vs. Sid, Savage vs. Flair, Piper vs. Hart

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Date: April 5, 1992
Venue: The Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, IN)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

WrestleMania VIII features a “double main event” as Ric Flair defends the WWF Championship against Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan takes on Sid Justice in Hogan’s “final match”. Lots of quotations going on here folks. Also on the show Roddy Piper defends the Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart, a newly babyface Undertaker faces off against former friend Jake Roberts, and much more! I don’t think I’ve watched this since the live PPV and I was five back then, so let’s see how it holds up now.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Money Inc. (‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase & IRS)

LINEUP

  • Tito Santana vs. Shawn Michaels (***)
  • The Undertaker vs. Jake Roberts (*¼)
  • Roddy Piper [c] vs. Bret Hart for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (***¾)
  • Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Boss Man, & Virgil vs. The Mountie, Repo Man, & The Nasty Boys (*½)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Randy Savage for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Tatanka vs. Rick Martel (**)
  • Money Inc. [c] vs. The Natural Disasters for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (¾*)
  • Owen Hart vs. Skinner (NR)
  • Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice (DUD)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VII’ – Hogan vs. Slaughter, Warrior vs. Savage

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Date: March 24, 1991
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, CA)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Various

The 7th annual WrestleMania features the FIGHT FOR AMERICA as Hulk Hogan challenges turncoat Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Also on the show The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage meet in a Retirement Match, Jake Roberts takes on Rick Martel in an infamous (for the wrong reasons) Blindfold Match, and also seven hundred other matches. It’s another beefy boi of a card, so strap in.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Sgt. Slaughter
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Mr. Perfect
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Hart Foundation (Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart & Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart)

LINEUP

  • The Rockers vs. Haku & The Barbarian (***½)
  • Kerry Von Erich vs. Dino Bravo (*)
  • Davey Boy Smith vs. The Warlord (**)
  • The Hart Foundation [c] vs. The Nasty Boys for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**½)
  • BLINDFOLD MATCH: Jake Roberts vs. Rick Martel (*¾)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. The Undertaker (*½)
  • RETIREMENT MATCH: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (****¼)
  • Genichiro Tenryu & Koji Kitao vs. Demolition (*)
  • Mr. Perfect [c] vs. The Big Boss Man for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Greg Valentine vs. Earthquake (*)
  • The Legion of Doom vs. Power & Glory (NR)
  • Virgil vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Mountie (NR)
  • Sgt. Slaughter [c] vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (***)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF SummerSlam 1990’ – Hogan vs. Earthquake, Warrior vs. Rude

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Date: August 27, 1990
Venue: The Spectrum (Philadelphia, PA)
Commentators: Vince McMahon & Roddy Piper

WWF returns to one of its most hallowed grounds, the Spectrum in Philly, to present its third annual SummerSlam event, which features the returning Hulk Hogan taking on the man who put him out of action Earthquake as well as The Ultimate Warrior‘s first PPV defense of the WWF Championship, taking on longtime rival Rick Rude in a steel cage.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Mr. Perfect
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Demolition (Ax, Smash, & Crush)

LINEUP

  • The Rockers vs. Power & Glory (**1/2)
  • Mr. Perfect [c] vs. Kerry Von Erich for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Sapphire vs. Queen Sherri (NR)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Warlord (*3/4)
  • 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS: Demolition [c] vs. The Hart Foundation for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Jake Roberts vs. Bad News Brown [w/ Big Boss Man as the Special Guest Referee] (1/2*)
  • Jim Duggan & Nikolai Volkoff vs. The Orient Express (*3/4)
  • Dusty Rhodes vs. Randy Savage (1/4*)
  • Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake (**3/4)
  • STEEL CAGE MATCH: The Ultimate Warrior [c] vs. Rick Rude for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (**)

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[#everyRAWever] ‘WWF Monday Night Raw’ 2.15.93 – Beefcake vs. DiBiase, A Pointless Battle Royal

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Venue: Manhattan Center (Manhattan, NY)
Commentators: Vince McMahon, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, & Rob Bartlett

Monday Night Raw returns from the first of its many preemptions this week, featuring the in-ring return of Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake as he takes on ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase. Also on the show a 16 man battle royal for…no reason really, and The Steiner Brothers rough up another pair of enhancement guys. Let’s go!

Champion Roll-Call

  • WWF Champion: Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart
  • WWF Intercontinental Champion: Shawn Michaels
  • WWF World Tag Team Champions: Money Inc. (‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster)

The Lineup

  • The Steiner Brothers vs. Glen Ruth & Bobby Who (FUN SQUASH)
  • Yokozuna vs. Ross Greenberg (SQUASH)
  • 16-man Battle Royal (**)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. Ted DiBiase (*1/2)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VI’ – The Ultimate Challenge

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Date: April 1, 1990
Venue: The Skydome (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

I have watched WrestleMania VI more than any other show I had on VHS, and I’ve even reviewed it already a couple of times since I began writing about pro wrestling. So why am I doing it again? Nostalgia aside WrestleMania VI is an important show that shifts the WWF from its 80s heyday to the 90s with a stellar main event that is way better than it had any right to be. Also it’s WrestleMania season and I feel like it. Cool? Cool. Let’s gooooo.

CHAMPIONS

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

LINEUP

  • Koko B. Ware vs. Rick Martel (*3/4)
  • The Colossal Connection [c] vs. Demolition for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
  • Hercules vs. Earthquake (**)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr. Perfect (**)
  • Roddy Piper vs. Bad News Brown (DUD)
  • The Hart Foundation vs. The Bolsheviks (NR)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Barbarian (**)
  • MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH: Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire vs. Randy Savage & Sensational Sherri (**1/4)
  • The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (**1/4)
  • Jim Duggan vs. Dino Bravo (*1/4)
  • Ted DiBiase [c] vs. Jake Roberts for the MILLION DOLLAR CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Big Boss Man vs. Akeem (NR)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. Rick Rude (*1/2)
  • CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan [World] vs. The Ultimate Warrior [Intercontinental] for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP & WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (****3/4)

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