Views from the Hawke’s Nest: The Best of Saturday Night’s Main Event – Disc 2

Gene Okerlund is still our host.

 

January 2, 1988
Hulk Hogan(c) vs. King Kong Bundy (w/ Andre the Giant) [WWF Heavyweight Championship]

Hogan cut a promo backstage before the match. Apparently he had some meeting with Ronald Reagan and that inspired him or something.

Hogan dominated early on. Bundy eventually cut him off and then worked him over. Bundy fended off one comeback attempt. Bundy was going after the left arm. Hogan eventually made a comeback. There was a very convoluted setup for a ref bump. Hogan had some momentum as a second ref showed up. The original ref was stretchered out as we went to commercial. We came back, and the match got going again. Bundy got control and worked Hogan over again. Bundy eventually hit a big splash, but Hogan then Hulk Up and made a comeback. He hit the Big Boot almost right away: 1…2…3

Hogan called out Andre after the match. As soon as Hogan looked away, Andre pounced and choked Hogan. The British Bulldogs made the save. Well, they tried. They failed. A whole bunch of babyfaces came out to save Hogan, but Andre resisted. Hacksaw hit Andre with the 2×4. That finally gave Hogan a chance to escape. Andre stood tall with the belt after it was all said and done. Great angle to make Andre look like the biggest threat in the world.

This was a lively match, but the overbooking took away from the match for me. I also never really like when Hogan literally wins within 20 seconds of coming back. The post-match angle was way more interesting than the match itself.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

February 5, 1988
Hulk Hogan(c) vs. Andre the Giant (w/ Ted DiBiase & Virgil) [WWF Heavyweight Championship]
This is actually from The Main Event (it happened on a Friday). I’ve heard this is much better than their Wrestlemania III match (which I like), but I’ve never seen it before.

Hogan tried to attack Andre with the belt right away. He was held back though. Andre was looking cool as a cucumber. Hogan eventually got fed up with waiting and ended up beating the shit out of Virgil and DiBiase. Andre was seemingly stunner by the first shot and looked punch-drunk. Hogan was running through him. Hogan foolishly went to the top rope, and Andre tossed him to the mat. Andre then worked over Hogan. Hogan eventually come back and even took Andre down with a diving lariat. Virgin prevented one legdrop but that distracted the ref. Hogan hit the legdrop for a phantom pinfall. Andre came back headbutts and a butterfly suplex: 1…2…3? Hogan’s shoulder was clearly up before the three count.

Andre was named the new WWF Heavyweight Champion. Hogan was confused and upset. Andre then immediately gave the title to DiBiase. A second Dave Hebner showed up in the ring. Earl Hebner made his debut here, I guess? I can’t remember the details. Hogan desperately tried to figure out who the real Dave Hebner was. The fake Dave Hebner hit his brother. Hogan figured he was on DiBiase’s payroll and went to hit him. Hogan gave him a reckless toss on the floor to DiBiase and Virgil. It looked like no one caught him.

The finish really overshadowed the match itself. Personally, I think the finish really sucks unless it’s reversed. It’s just a very weak way to get a title off your champion.

Match Rating: **1/4

 

March 12, 1988
Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. Ted DiBiase (w/ Andre the Giant & Virgil)

I do not enjoy the matches these two have together. This will be at least the fifth one that I’ve seen.

An immediate Virgil distraction allowed DiBiase to get control right away. He worked over Savage for a bit. Savage made a big comeback. DiBiase regrouped on the floor and got control again. Virgil attacked Savage on the floor and got sent to the back by the ref. DiBiase maintained control through a commercial break. Savage eventually escaped a side headlock and then made a comeback. Ref bump. Andre got involved. Miss Elizabeth ran to the back. I assume she’s getting Hogan? DiBiase continued to distract the referee while Andre attacked Savage some more. This eventually allowed DiBiase to win via countout.

After the match, Hulk Hogan ran down to the ring with a steel chair to protect Savage. The heels hightailed it.

Despite the weak finish, I’d say this was the best match that I’ve seen between DiBiase and Savage. DiBiase’s “numbers game” strategy was logical and engaging. Savage was obviously great here at fighting from underneath and rallying the crowd behind him. This was good fun.

Match Rating: ***

 

October 29, 1988
We saw Andre the Giant cowering from Jake Roberts and the snake. Jake threw the snake on Andre! Andre passed out from fear (presumably). What a great angle.

 

March 12, 1988
Hulk Hogan vs. Harley Race (w/ Bobby Heenan)

Before the match started, Race tried to jump Hogan. It did not work, and Hogan had control by the time the match started. It took two Heenan distractions for Race to get control. Race actually went to splash Hogan through a table, but Hogan avoided. The table did not break fully for Race. He still managed to hit the headbutt in the ring. After kicking out of that, Hogan made a big comeback. Within a couple of moves, Hogan hit the Legdrop of Doom to pick up the win.

Heenan tried to jump Hogan after the match, but it failed. Heenan jumped from the ring to the floor to escape. That leap from Heenan was one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Every heel manager today should be trying to steal that spot.

Despite the predictably weak go-home comeback by Hogan, I found this match to be much more enjoyable than I expected. Race was not moving around too well at this point, but the dynamic between the two was effective enough for this environment.

That is also officially the earliest table bump that I have ever seen. Harley Race, hardcore legend.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

November 26, 1988
Randy Savage(c) (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan) [WWF Heavyweight Championship]
Savage cut a fantastic promo backstage before the match where he discussed his reasoning for wanting to having this title defense.

The match was worked exactly how you would expect. Savage trying to body slam Andre because Hogan was able to do it was just perfect storytelling. Savage’s sporadic comeback spots were timed so well. He managed to get Andre on his knees. Jake Roberts came to the ringside area. Andre was concerned about that. Savage was also concerned that Jake would get him disqualified. Heenan was desperately looking for Jake’s snake under the ring. As Andre and Savage continued to go at it, Heenan finally found the snake. Jake went after Heenan, and that caused Heenan to run into the ring. That got Andre disqualified.

Savage threw Heenan at Andre, and that caused Andre to get tied up in the ropes. He panicked because of the snake. Jake went to put the snake on Andre, but the ref helped Andre escape.

As overall presentation, this was very strong. You had babyface Savage going through his personal that made him foolishly want a match with Andre. You had Andre being the smart heel worker that he was. The antics with Heenan and Jake actually added additional storyline wrinkles to make this even more interesting and entertaining. The finish was cheap, but the package was too entertaining for me to care.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

November 26, 1988
Jim Duggan cut a backstage promo about his flag match on Saturday Night’s Main Event. We then saw highlights of the match.

 

January 7, 1989
Ultimate Warrior(c) vs. The Honky Tonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) [WWF Intercontinental Championship]

It looked like Warrior might squash him again. He crashed into a turnbuckle though at one point, and Honky then used the megaphone to attack Warrior. Honky had control for a bit. Warrior fought back twice, but Honky cut him off each time. His third comeback attempt was successful, and he pinned Honky after a leaping shoulder tackle.

This was short and inoffensive. I like Honky’s shtick from time to time. I could imagine I would have gotten sick of it at the time though. Warrior was Warrior.

Match Rating: **

 

January 7, 1989
We saw “highlights” of the Ron Bass/Brutus Beefcake haircut match.

 

February 3, 1989
The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage) (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. The Twin Towers (Akeem & Big Boss Man) (w/ Slick)

It was all Mega Powers for a while. The Twin Towers actually managed to cut off Hogan though and then worked him over. Hogan managed to escape the beatdown, and Savage made a comeback. Slick hit Savage with his club though, and Savage then got worked over. Holy shit, there was this great spot where Akeem tossed Savage onto Elizabeth on the floor. This got major heat! Hogan checked on both of them, but he mostly focused on Elizabeth. Savage recovered and was not happy about seeing Hogan looking at caring for her. Savage fought back in the ring while Hogan carried Elizabeth to the back. Savage fell victim to the numbers game in the ring. We saw footage of Hogan in tears as Elizabeth was carted around on a stretcher. Hogan was holding onto her hand, as the doctor examined her. “Doc, please save her!!!!” Hogan’s acting here was something else.

After a commercial break, we saw Savage being destroyed by The Twin Towers. Elizabeth woke up in the infirmary, and Hogan finally ran back towards the ring. Savage eventually made his own comeback and then slapped Hogan instead of tagging him. Well, I guess that counts as a tag. Savage started to walk out on the match. He took his belt and went home. The Twin Towers worked Hogan over for a little bit longer before Hogan Hulked Up. Punches. Big boot. Legdrop of Doom: 1…2…3!

The angle here is obviously way more important than the match itself. Unfortunately, the angle feature Hogan a lot more than Savage, and Savage’s self-destruction was easily the most interesting aspect of the Mega Powers breaking up. The match is still solid though thanks to the sound psychology though, and the crowd was obviously though. Call it *** for the whole thing.

Match Rating: ***

After the match, we saw the angle in the infirmary with Savage losing his mind on Hogan while Elizabeth begged him to stop. “Those eyes right there. Those eyes lust Elizabeth.” It’s amazing how many quotes are remembered incorrectly. I’ve always heard that line as, “There is lust in those eyes!” Savage finally turned heel and attacked Hogan. Brutus Beefcake prevented Savage from hitting Hogan with the belt.

 

May 27, 1989

Hulk Hogan(c) vs. Big Boss Man (w/ Slick & Zeus) [Steel Cage match for WWF Heavyweight Championship]

Zeus attacked Hogan before the match and then went to the back.

Boss Man was in complete control to start the match. Hogan came back much faster than I expected. Boss Man prevented him from escaping though. They did the shittiest spinebuster ever. Hogan went to climb, but Hogan did a superplex from the tip of the cage. After teasing a no contest, Boss Man came back back. He used a chain to choke Hogan. Hogan made a comeback and used the chain. Hogan had the match won, but Slick entered the cage. Hogan easily dispatched of his and then handcuffed Boss Man to the ropes. Hogan managed to escape the cage before Slick could unlock Boss Man. Hogan wins.

This was a good time overall. I’ve heard good things about Hogan and Boss Man’s matches. This didn’t quite live up to what I expected, but it was all executed well enough.

Match Rating: ***

 

November 25, 1989
The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard) (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs. The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)

The Rockers picked up the first fall very quickly. Heenan berated the Brain Busters for it. The Brain Busters chased him out of the ring and then got caught with stereo O’Connor Rolls. Heenan walked out on the match.

It looked like the Rockers might win the second fall, too. The Brain Busters managed to Hot Shot Shawn though to pick up the second fall.

Shawn got worked over to start the third fall. After a long beatdown, Marty made the hot tag. Shawn caught Arn with a diving crossbody to give the Rockers the victory.

Tag team formula executed very well from two of the best tag teams from the time period. Pure and simple.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

Special Features

We saw Brother Love interview Hulk Hogan. I did not find this entertaining in the slightest. Brother Love did nothing for me.

 

November 25, 1989
Dusty Rhodes vs. Big Boss Man (w/ Slick)

There’s probably a college thesis to be had based on the idea of a black man managing a white cop to beat up a white, fat, beloved southern male who was infamously thought of in the WWE as “sounding black.” AND Boss Man has a confederate flag patch on his shirt.

Boss Man got control after a bit. Dusty eventually made a comeback, but Boss Man avoided the elbow drop. Slick went to get the club, but he was distracted by talking with Sapphire in the crowd. Dusty caught by a Dusty Schoolboy: 1…2…3

Dusty then danced with Sapphire in the ring.

This match was not good in any way. I’ve seen worse though!

Match Rating: *