WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #26 4/23/1990
I'm working on 1990 WWF Superstars of Wrestling and somehow missed this one. Some of the results and angles get mentioned many times after, so it's definitely must see stuff.
The Ultimate Warrior said he met the ultimate challenge at Wrestlemania VI. He said he will not follow in his foot steps and will walk where no man has ever been. He said Heenan and Haku won't stop him from reaching the outer limits and destiny. Bobby Heenan and Haku talk. Heenan said Warrior made history but Haku makes history tonight and becomes WWF champ. He says Warrior will be another lonesome cowboy.
Mr. Perfect said Hogan learned what he knew - Hulk Hogan isn't perfect, but he is. The Genius says Hulk will be taught a lesson. Hulk says Professor Hogan will do a lot of teaching tonight. He said Genius will go to the dunce's corner and Perfect will go to the principal's office. He asks what cha gonna when Professor Hogan knocks some sense into you?
Sean Mooney introduces Mr. Perfect and The Genius. He says they must have high opinions of their abilities with those names. Perfect says he's a perfect athlete and can play all sports perfectly. Sean asks how this relates to Hogan. Perfect says Hogan lost his confidence, ambition and courage. He says he has lost all of his Hulkamaniacs too. Perfect says Hulk will be a perfect loser tonight, his only perfect quality.
Hulk Hogan is interviewed by Sean Mooney. Hulk says if Perfect and Genius believes what they say, they are perfect - perfect fools. He says he's confident that Hulkamania will stand the test of time and believes in eating your vitamins and saying your prayrs. He said anyone can be knocked down a peg or two but it takes a real man to get back up. He says he will be standing taller than ever before at Perfect's expense. He said he and the Hulkamaniac's stick together throug hthick and thin and said to watch this if there are any doubts whatsoever. Gene says he couldn't have said it anymore perfectly.
Hulk Hogan vs Mr. Perfect
hulk gets behind Perfect outside, chopping him down, banging his head off the apron and sending him into the post. Perfect begs off and takes punches. Hulk running clotheslines him and corner lariats him. Hulk hits chops then running elbows him. Hulk running back elbows him and Perfect bumps over the top for it.
Hulk hits Perfect with punches and Genius teases hitting him with his scroll. Hulk goes after him then Perfect hits Hulk with the scroll. We go to break and return. Perfect boots and chops Hulk out there then bangs Hulk off the rails. Jesse accuses Vince of making excuses for Hulk's rule breaking. Perfect snapmares Hulk and pulls his neck forward. Perfect chokes Hulk over the top rope and whips him back.
Perfect elbow drops Hulk then misses. Hulk pumps up and hits punches. Hulk bends over and is kicked then Perfect lariats him. Perfect hits the perfectplex for 2. Hulk then hulks up and hits punches. Hulk hits the big boot and legdrop, Hulk then grabs the win.
I liked it. It was short but action packed here with no real time wasted. Jesse was right on calling out Hulk's rulebreaking. Perfect bumped big like always. The crowd was hot for this and it was the usual Hulk fare with him getting beaten up then hulking up and winning it.
The Genius nails Hulk with his scroll after. Hulk no sells it then knocks him down with a punch. Hulk then throws Genius out in a big bump.
Hulk then does his pose down after.
Rick Martel does an Arrogance commercial after. He says it's a breed apart and only makes good horse hands.
Jesse Ventura interviews Earthquake and Jimmy Hart. Quake says it's Hillbilly Jim's turn and he will feel the tremors. He says he will deliver a 10 on the Richter scale to him. Hart says Jim will squeal like a pig.
Hillbilly Jim is interviewed. He says he knows a lot about pigs and saays he raised a lot of beauties on the farm. He said Quake reminds him of a hog that won the county fair last year. He said he doesn't know a lot about earthquakes but said his grandma read him the Mudlick Gazette. He said there was a guy named Earthquake Muldoon and starts to talk about a girl named Daisy Mae. That doesn't really go anywhere then Gene said the people are more interested in Earthquake. Jim then leaves and says bye to his granny.
Earthquake vs Hillbilly Jim
No intro for Hillbilly Jim here. Quake misses a splash and Jim hits punches. He bangs Quake's head off the buckle then cartwheels. Quake rakes the eye and hits corner spears. Jim headscissors him in the corner and kicks him in the head. Jim claps his ears and hits punches.
Jimmy Hart gets on the apron and grabs Jim's horse shoe. Quake then splashes Jim from behind and hits a big elbow drop. Quake hits a big butt drop and pins Jim.
It was a short one here. Jim mostly hit punches. I liked Quake's elbow drop.
Quake hits aftershock butt drops after. Quake then hits elbow drops. They bring the stretcher out for Jim and we cut away.
Jesse Ventura interviews The Hart Foundation. He said they challenged Demolition before they won and the champs are on notice. Jesse calls The Rockers somersalting sissies and Hart says they are tumbling teenieboppers and are no match. Jim says after their hart attack, they can join Demolition in the coronary unit.
The Rockers are interviewed by Mean Gene Okerlund. Gene says they may be outgunned. Shawn said this isn't the OK Corral and they have all the ammunition they need. Marty said they want a shot at the tag titles too and tells the Hart's to be ready for a broken heart. Gene said it seems like The Rockers are preparing for a heart bypass.
The Rockers vs The Hart Foundation
Bret and Marty lock up. Hart hits a great hiptoss. Shawn comes off the top with a crossbody but Hart rolls through it. Hart takes a double boot then a double russian legsweep. Jim then hits a great double lariat. Jim clubs Marty and Marty takes a great bump for his shoulder block.
Marty slides under Jim's legs and drop toe holds him. Shawn hits a nice dropkick on Jim. Jim catches Shawn's crossbody and slams him down. Hart catches a Shawn leapfrog then atomic drops and clotheslines him. Hart hits a stiff boot to the gut. Shawn is hit with a knee on the ropes from the outside.
Shawn does a nice bump off the back body drop and Hart headbutts Shawn in the spine. Hart snapmares and elbow drops him. Shawn is sent hard into the buckles then Jim hits corner spears on Shawn. Jim is irish whipped into a corner spear on Shawn. Shawn sunset flips Hart then Demolition comes down to ringside.
Hart headbutts Shawn and Jim/Marty argue with Demolition. Hart backbreakers Shawn then Bret yells at Demolition. Hart is then dropkiked over the top by Shawn. Demolition help up Hart but he pushes them. We go to break and return.
Hart bangs Shawn's head off the buckles and Jesse complains about the ref letting Demolition stay down there. Hart boots Shawn out of the corner then misses a 2nd rope elbow drop. Marty is tagged in. He hits punches on Hart then jumping back elbows him. Marty powerslams Hart then superkicks him for 2.
Marty sunset flips Hart in the corner then Hart hits a neckbreaker. Jim is slingshotted in and misses Marty. Shawn gets in and boots Jim then Shawn takes a great bump off a flying shoulder. Shawn back elbows Jim for 2 then is caught on a 2nd rope twisting crossbody. Shawn is thrown out and Demolition help him up. Marty gets involved and nails Axe. Marty and Smash fight and all 6 men are in the ring. The ref calls this off calling it a double disqualification.
This ending on a match like this is a wrestling crime against humanity. The first half of this is absolute perfect pro wrestling with everyone hitting everything and selling it to perfect. Legit, it looked like it was on its way to being an all-time classic then the messy finish happened. Such a shame. I have never seen any of these guys look as good as they did on this one and we ended up getting no finish.
Hulk Hogan is interviewed by Mean Gene. He says Quake is a natural disaster but Hulkamania is like a texas tornado. He says anything that gets in its way will be mowed down. Gene asks what if an earthquake is in his future. Hulk says they are survivors and they will crawl out of that dark hole. He says he will prove that the strongest force in the universe is not an earthquake, but Hulkamania. Great promo here.
We see clips from Wrestlemania VI.
Jesse Ventura interviews Haku and Bobby Heenan. Bobby said he thought Texas was only good for saddle sores, illegal aliens and horse flies. He said Texas will be known for Haku winning the title for him. Jesse said Bobby did it before and will do it again. Haku said he will be making history. Bobby says Texas will finally have something to be proud of and said Sam Houston and such will be forgotten when Haku wins tonight. He said remember the alamo sure, but forget The Ultimate Warrior. This was great.
Mean Gene interviews The Ultimate Warrior. Gene mentions a Heenan family member beat him before. Warrior said he doesn't live to the past but the darkness of the future. He said he can't control past events. He said he can only control his present and future destiny's. He said he feels chosen to lead his warriors into the darkness without fear. He said he was chosen to lead the scared banner of the WWF. He said Heenan and Haku face a different Warrior than they did in the past. He said Haku is moments away from being obliterated into his past.
This was your usual wild Warrior promo. 10/10 promo delivery, but it's easy to get lost at what he is saying.
WWF Title - The Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Haku
Haku chops Warrior before the match starts. Warrior hits boots and chops back. Warrior back body drops him. Warrior lariats him against the ropes and Bobby pulls Haku out. Haku gets back in and Warrior shoulders him over. Warrior arm wringers him then spins him. Warrior throws him over the top.
Warrior and Haku go back in and Haku hits chops. Haku's head is banged off the buckles then Haku lariats him. Haku hits more lariats and does a nice jumping kick. Haku rakes the back and headbutts him. Haku backbreakers him for 2. Haku backdrops him and slams him. Haku hits a splash for 2.
Warrior hulks up and hits lariats. Warrior flying shoulders him and hits a big splash for the win.
It was a pretty simple match with Warrior dominating this for most of it until the victory. The announcer's really put over how Heenan beat Warrior before and could do it again here.
We get our 3rd Rick Martel Arrogance commercial here. He says whether it's a forehand or backhand, every shot is a winner. He said women love it. He said one shot with Arrogance and you'll be in the royal box.
Slick and Akeem are interviewed. He says Ted Dibiase's business is his business. He said Ted gave them an offer they can't refuse. He said they will finish the job they started at Wrestlemania and said Boss Man was a fool to not take the money when he had a chance. This was almost the same promo he cut at Mania. Akeem says Boss Man will pay. He says money talks and Boss Man walks.
Jesse calls Mean Gene the illegitimate father of all four ninja turtles.
Mean Gene interviews The Big Boss Man. Gene asks if the dollar is more powerful than the night stick. Boss says justice is blind but not when it comes to payoffs. He said Ted paid off his former manager Slick and it paid off for Akeem. He said you can't buy morality, honest and integrity. He said everything is bigger in Texas, including the beating he is about to give him.
Akeem vs The Big Boss Man
Boss drops him with punches and pulls him off the ropes. Boss throws him then leg lariats him on the ropes. Boss hits more punches and misses a splash. Akeem corner lariats him then hip attacks him in the face. Akeem pounds on him and back elbows him. Akeem splashes him for 2.
Boss Man sits up then Akeem is back body dropped over the top. Boss slingshots him in and bangs his head off the buckles. Boss side walk slams him then Ted Dibiase and Virgil come down and cause a disqualification.
It was short and nothing too special.
Ted and Virgil beat up Boss then double lariat him. They hit stomps and handcuff him to the ropes. They beat him up. Boss grabs the keys to his cuffs and goes after Ted. Boss then chases after them.
We get our 4th Arrogance commercial of the show. He says it's the man's cologne that drives pistons and improves your engine's performance. He said to put the breaks on the mundane and accelerate into the fast lane with Arrogance.
Bobby Heenan is interviewed by Sean Mooney. He said don't concern yourself with his business. He said he and Rick Rude picked up some flaws in The Warrior. He said Rick Rude is going through the most extensive training an athlete has gone through. He says Rude beat him before and will bring the WWF Title back to the Heenan Family.
Mean Gene interviews The Ultimate Warrior. He says Rude can't turn this off or on and says the power of The Warrior is totally out of control. He says he will reopen the wounds from their previous battles. He says no one can control his disease and says it's out of control.
We then get a cartoon wanted poster of Jesse and Vince and see Jesse eating a carrot with a horse.
Overall thoughts: Like all WWF shows at the time, it was action packed with little time wasted. The Rockers vs The Hart Foundation was easily the match of the night and Hulk/Perfect was okay at what it accomplished. They did a good job in telling the story of Warrior/Haku and built up Warrior/Rude right after. They had too many Arrogance commercials here, which would later be seen for months on WWF TV after. Akeem/Boss Man and Hilbilly Jim/Earthquake made sense but weren't real exciting affairs either. I liked the show overall and thought it was well done.
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