Saturday Night's Main Event #7 Page 2
Steamboat
is able to get in some token offense, but Roberts goes to the ribs whenever he
gets in trouble. Roberts tries a clothesline, but Steamboat hooks a crucifix for
a three count. After the match Roberts attacks from behind with a knee that
sends Steamboat outside. He rams his back into the post, and throws him in.
Roberts grabs the snake and goes for Steamboat, but suddenly backs off, and
Steamboat and the dragon send Roberts and the snake hightailing it. Excellent
match, ***1/2 to end the feud and take us to break. 2 for 2.
- Mean Gene with Hogan after his post-match shower, and compares every part of the match to a court case as if he's a judge. Oh, Roddy Piper should not come into his courtroom "with tombstones in his eyes." Well that was one of the weirder Hogan interviews.
- Off to a pre-taped feature, as Jesse is outside the arena and greets Slick and the Iron Sheik arriving in a limo. Slick hasn't quite developed his screaming and unique word combinations yet, but he's got more style. With Piper hurt, Pedro Morales takes his place.
As soon as Morales' name is announced by the Fink, Piper shows up with the crutch, and tells Morales to leave and threatens him with the crutch until he leaves.
Sheik attacks, but Piper nails him with the crutch and right hands, but turns his attention to Slick and Sheik rips his shirt and kicks away at the injured leg. Sheik then tries for a suplex, but Piper counters to a small package for a three count with the help of the tights, which Vince seems proud of. 2 of 3.
- Mean Gene with Johnny V, who is convinced it was a conspiracy that cost his team the tag titles at Wrestlemania 2, with the video following, and then a commercial break.
- I happen to have the Canadian television feed of this show on tape, and they play house show ads at every break. A hilarious one features the announcer (Billy Red Lyons) with Jimmy Hart, and Lyons runs down the card so that by the time he's done, the spot is over and Hart, who's jumping up and down the whole time, can't say anything. It's hilarious to see, but I doubt anybody will.
- Back in Cleveland in Piper's locker room and Mean Gene. Piper rambles hysterically, and Gene says he can't believe he risked his career, but did win. "That's why I'm Roddy Piper and you're not."
- Okerlund with the Bulldogs, and Dynamite does all the talking.
- Tag Team Championship (2 of 3 Falls) : British Bulldogs vs. Dream Team (with Johnny V)
Fall1:
Nobody actually says its "European Rules" 2 of 3 falls until the
Bulldogs take control against Valentine, and Jesse reacts accordingly. "We
ain't in Europe." Vince: "Well, we're in Cleveland." Jesse:
"I'll admit it's not the first place I'd be if I was on vacation, but it
still ain't Europe. The only reason I'm here is because they are paying me big
money." While that went on, Valentine worked on Dynamite's knee, but they
both tag out and Smith works on Beefcake. Valentine in, and he manages to get
back control and Beefcake comes back in with token offense. They both tag out
again, and Dynamite with some forearms, but Valentine catches him with an
inverted atomic drop, then a shoulder breaker for two. Beefcake tags in, hits a
couple token moves, and Valentine comes back in. He hooks the figure four, and
Dynamite submits. Jesse: "NEW CHAMPS! Aww, that's right, those stupid
European rules!" Dream Team 1, Bulldogs 0.
- Mean Gene says Adonis has an arm injury of some sort, probably a shoulder
separation, and Jesse and Vince review the replay of Piper's crutch shot on
Adonis, and we take a break.
Fall
2: Valentine and Dynamite start,
and he goes for the figure four again, but DK blocks it. Beefcake in, and Jesse
continues to bitch about the European rules as Valentine tags in and works on
Dynamite's leg more. The heels tag quickly and double team Dynamite more,
getting a few two counts. Valentine goes to the middle rope but misses an elbow,
and hot tag Davey Boy. He cleans house, hits the big vertical suplex, but only
able to get two. Running power slam, but Beefcake runs in. So in an awesome
spot, Smith holds Beefcake in a fireman's carry, tags in Dynamite, who goes up
top, jumps onto Beefcake's back, then hits the diving headbutt for the three
count to even things up. Dream Team 1, Bulldogs 1.
Fall 3: Valentine and Dynamite start again, but Dynamite gets the advantage, even on one leg. The snap suplex that Dynamite executes so well, but he misses a headbutt, and Valentine pounds away. Ventura says he's been informed Adonis received a shattered elbow as the heels double team Dynamite for two. Valentine goes for the figure four, but Dynamite kicks out and Beefcake tags in. Davey Boy gets tagged in and gets a sunset flip on Beefcake. The ref counts three, but Beefcake's arm got up and he signals just two, sending Vince into convulsions. The heels double team some more, and Beefcake gets two. Now all four are in the ring, Dynamite pairs off with Valentine exchanging blows, while Beefcake works on Smith. But he misses a knee, and a fisherman's suplex gets Smith the win. 3 for 4, an excellent match around ***1/2.
- Mean Gene with the Wizard, Kim Chee and Kamala. The Wizard might be remembered better with Kevin Sullivan in 1994 WCW as "Father."
Poffo prances around Kamala early, but Kamala overpowers him in the corner. Forearms dominate Poffo, then a neck hang by Kamala. Poffo manages a few punches, but Poffo gets him down and splashes him for the three. Quick and painless. 3 for 5.
- Overall, this was one of the best Saturday Night's Main Event episodes. 3 for 5, but the two that don't get points, Piper/Sheik and Poffo/Kamala, are short, and Piper's antics make his watchable. If you are going for just a couple of episodes, I'd grab this one, even though it's the second Hogan-Orndorff SNME match that gets remembered. Next time, it's Jesse's town of Hollywood for SNME in November 1986. Highly recommended.