WWF Superstars of Wrestling 5/19/1990

WWF Superstars of Wrestling 5/19/1990

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/02/wwf-superstars-of-wrestling-5121990.html 

Next week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/02/wwf-superstars-of-wrestling-5261990.html

They are at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. Shockingly, as of February 2024, it's still there though it is supposed to be demolished in October 2024.

Vince says lines from "Home on the Range". Jesse says Mr. Perfect will down Tito for the IC Title and says the skies won't be cloudy all day.

We see side by side video of Tito and Perfect getting ready.

Demolition vs Black Bart and Mark Ming

Bart and Smash lock up. Bart gets some punches and clubs in then Smash lariats Bart. Smash hits double axe hammers to the shoulder then Bart is pounded on by both Demos. They do an inset promo. Smash says they aren't avoiding The Hart Foundation and will give them a title shot if they deserve it. Ax says they'd be striving for the tag titles too if they were them, but says unfortunately, Demolition are #1.

Ax back elbows Bart then clubs on Ming. Jesse said we never see a pretty match when Demolition is involved as Vince said he doesn't expect to see one out of the Demos/Harts. Smash slams Ming and sticks out his tongue, then lariats him. Ming takes the demolition decapitation and is pinned.

It was just a quick squash here with maybe one actual move total besides the finish. Nothing but punching and clubbing here.

WWF Update with Gene Okerlund

Gene said Earthquake had his opponent down last week and said Quake went to butt drop him again. We then see Jim Duggan make the save and nail Quake with the 2x4. Quake runs to safety. Gene said Duggan can also be an intimating force in the WWF. Earthquake and Jimmy Hart do a promo. Quake said Duggan will feel all the quake and he will end his career. Jim Duggan says there's not a man on the earth that he is afraid of. He said he will stand his ground and fight until he conquers.

"The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase vs Jim Powers

Virgil is out there with Ted. Jim wristlocks him then is put in a side headlock. Vince says Boss Man is too much man for Ted. Ted hiptosses Jim and we are told this week's WWF Magazine has an article on Dibiase vs The Boss Man. Ted hits chops in the corner then is hiptossed. Jim dropkicks him twice.

Ted corner back elbows him then powerslams him. Ted puts him in the million dollar dream and puts him to sleep. Ted gets the win.

It was a quick squash. Jim threw some nice dropkicks, was a good face and would probably be a main eventer by today's standards.

Ted puts money in Jim's mouth after. Ted tells Boss Man to take a good hard look at his Million Dollar Title.

WWF Event Center

Sean Mooney hypes up the June 2nd, 1990 show at The Boston Garden. The Ultimate Warrior does a promo. His back is turned to the camera. He said his little warriors ran to the outer edges of this pitiful universe and didn't question him for traveling this path. Warrior says he and Rude see a graveyard filled with memories. Memories of a cheap victory and questions that were answered once before. He said he hopes physically and mentally that Rude will feed his warriors with more than they ever felt. Warrior said Rude will be eaten alive just as he was with the Intercontinental Title.

We see clips of last week's Beefcake vs Bravo Intercontinental Title Tournament match. Mr. Perfect came down and interfered, getting both guys counted out. Beefcake then chased the heels away.

WWF Intercontinental Title Tournament Finals - Mr. Perfect vs Tito Santana

Vince says Tito is the favorite here and Jesse asked what bookie he talked to. Jesse said everyone he talked to said Perfect is the favorite. They lock up and Tito back elbows him. Perfect grabs the hair and is shouldered over. Perfect trips him and Tito hammerlocks him. They trade hammerlocks and Tito back elbows him.

Perfect pokes him then hits a cheapshot. Perfect is hiptossed, armdragged and takes a nice bump out for the dropkick. Tito chops him on the floor then slingshots on him. Jesse said he used be called "The Prince of Tijuana". Vince says he'll have to think about that one as Jesse says he can't go into it here.

Tito armlocks him and Perfect knees him in the gut. Tito shoulders him over twice then is tripped and goes out. Perfect chops him and hits some boots. Perfect rakes him with his boot then foot shoves him. Perfect hits punches then Tito punches back. Tito sunset flips him for 2 then is punched.

Perfect lariats him and Tito's head goes into the top rope. Tito goes out of the ring and pulls Perfect into the post. Tito bangs Perfect's legs off the post and Joey Marella warns him against doing it again. Tito yanks Perfect's leg then wraps it around the rope. Jesse says Tito is breaking every rule there is to break. Tito legsweeps Perfect then Bobby Heenan comes down. Tito gets distracted by Bobby as he goes for the figure four. Perfect cradles him.

Tito hits punches then slams him. Bobby gets on the apron and argues with Tito. Tito goes for him. Tito hits boots on Perfect then Perfect cradles him and wins it. Jesse puts Perfect over for winning with a wrestling move and not breaking the rules once.

The ref has to stop Tito from going after Perfect after.

It was a decent match. Perfect bumped big as always and Tito had decent punches. The crowd was super hot for it and it got enough time without being too long.

Mr. Perfect gets on the mic after. He said not only do we have a perfect Intercontinental Champion but he wants to introduce the perfect manager, Bobby Heenan. Heenan and Perfect then hug and raise the title up together.

Sean Money talks about the 6/2/1990 Boston Garden show. We see a flashback to Wrestlemania VI. Mr. Fuji tries to interfere in match between The Rockers vs The Orient Express. Sato throws salt into Jannetty's eyes and Jannetty falls into the first row. The Orient Express do a promo. Mr. Fuji says they didn't throw salt, it was an illusion. Tanaka agrees and said the Americans were the sneaky ones, not the Japanese this time. Sato said Mr. Fuji had a big smile so they did something good. Mr. Fuji said Jannetty will suffer more next time and pay. Sean says they plan to make sushi out of Michaels and Jannetty.

Bad News Brown vs Ricki Ataki

Brown bangs Ricki's head off the buckles and headbutts him. Brown back body drops him and rakes his face with his forearm. We are told there's a Jake Roberts vs Bad News article in the WWF Magazine this month. Brown lariats Ricki then hits a ghetto blaster. Brown then steps on his chest and pins him as Vince says Brown is afraid of snakes.

Brown punches Ricki after then throws him out. Jesse says Brown isn't afraid of Ricki.

It was a quick squash here. Brown hit a nice lariat. 

The Brother Love Show

Love said his guest has pushed so many people around in the WWF that they call him Tugboat. Tugboat comes out. Love says he's a big boy and says he can push anyone and anything around that he wants. Tug said he doesn't care if its the Trump Princess, the USS Enterprise or the Love Boat. He said when they come into the harbor its all about the Tugboat. Love says when he pushes big ships in the ocean, they don't push back. He said they push back in the WWF. Hulk Hogan comes out. Love asks him what he's doing out here and gets mad.

Hulk said he has known Tug since he was a kid. He said he was training, saying his prayers and eating his vitamins. He said he brought him to the WWF and said this is what happens when you live by The 3 Demandments of Hulkamania. Hulk said he can be sure Tug has his back on the high seas and pushes him to safety. Hulk said if he got a ship in distress call, he'd be right there by the Tugboat's side. He said no one can break their bond of friendship. Love says he will have Earthquake here next week and asks Hulk if he will be here. Hulk says Hulkamania is the strongest force in the universe and asks what he will do when it's Hulkamania and the Tugboat. They then pose.

It was hard to hear a lot of what was said here due to sound issues. I'm impressed by all of the puns and boat themed language they are getting out of Tugboat. 

The Bolsheviks vs The Rockers

Nikolai Volkoff asks us to respect his singing of the Soviet National Anthem. Nikolai sings and The Rockers music hits. They run out and Vince says they are one of the most exciting tag team combos in the WWF.

Marty takes clubs from Boris in the corner. Boris misses a charge and is rolled up. Marty leapfrogs Boris and Shawn then they double dropkick both opponents. Jesse said The Rockers shine at having 2 in the ring at once. Marty double axe handles Boris' arm off the 2nd rope. Nikolai bangs Marty's head off the buckle and pounds on him.

Nikolai holds Marty and Boris boots Marty. Boris runs into Nikolai on accident then Shawn neckbreakers Boris. Shawn 2nd rope punches Boris for 2. All 4 wrestlers fight in the ring. Shawn leapfrogs Marty off an irish whip and hits Nikolai. Boris takes a double superkick. The Rockers hit a double top rope fist drop and get the win.

It was a quick one here. The Rockers were good and they continued to push the problems with The Bolsheviks as they nailed each other on accident.

The Bolsheviks argue after. They push and punch each other. They choke each other on the mat and Boris goes out. Jesse said Nikolai is a hot head and doesn't blame Boris for going out of the ring.

We go to the beach with Bobby Heenan and Rick Rude. Rude is running the beach. Bobby is happy about his time but Rude says he can beat it. Rude says he can beat Warrior too. Rude said he took Warrior's title and is the only man who beat him. Rude says Warrior knows him and said he will pound his body endlessly. He said he's coming to get him and will take his title. Rude says 5 more miles and keeps running. 

Hercules vs Pez Whatley

Herc is a face here and swings his chain around in the ring. Pez goes out while Herc does it. The bell rings while Pez is out and while Herc has the chain which isn't right.

Pez hits Herc from behind then Herc hits a back elbow. Pez avoids a shot and says "no, no, no" then is lariated over the top to the floor. Herc knees Pez in the gut then kneelifts him. Herc lariats him several times then torture racks him. He doesn't really pull on him but Pez taps anyway.

It was a quick squash. I didn't like the match starting while Herc had a weapon and while Pez was outside. The finish could have been better here as Herc didn't even really apply the move before the tap out. 

We go back to Sean Mooney talking about the 6/2/90 Boston Garden show. Slick says The Warlord is revitalized. We see him rise up in what is his new and more well remembered costume. Slick says it's his new and improved product. He says Tito will be the first to sample The Warlord's power. Warlord says only the strong survive. Sean says Slick got Warlord a new look, but he still has the same nasty reputation for destroying opponents. The Big Boss Man does a promo. Boss says Ted and Virgil made the mistake of a lifetime by sticking their noses in his business. Boss says he doesn't play games and says there isn't a man alive who will mess with him. Boss says he doesn't play games with everyone. He said some men are bigger and have more character than being bought and he says he will hurt him. Mooney says Boss Man will pass sentence on Ted. 

Next week has Hulk and Earthquake on The Brother Love Show, Big Boss Man, Mr. Perfect, Jake Roberts and Rick Martel. Quake and Jimmy Hart talk. Quake says it's always a pleasure to see Brother Love and tells Hulk to make sure he shows up. Hulk said Love is friends with a natural disaster. Hulk said he doesn't fear man, beast or mother nature. Hulk said he will be there next week and hope Earthquake is there so he can show us what the strongest force in the universe is.

Overall thoughts: This was a quick and action packed hour of wrestling. No time was wasted here. Tito/Perfect was okay and the crowd was super heated the whole night. We saw The Bolsheviks officially break up and we saw The Warlord debuting his more famous look. It's wasn't a must see show or anything but I enjoyed it. The Warrior was still basically an afterthought to Hulk Hogan here.