wrestling / Video Reviews
UWF Power Pro Wrestling (5.2.1987) Review
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Our cold open is a Ted DiBiase music video set to “Living in America.” Two interesting clips: one of Ted wearing the black tights and boots that became his standard uniform for the next five years. Also, they wrap up with a kayfabe-busting slow motion shot of Ted dropping a lethal elbow on the area of the mat directly next to Michael Hayes’ body and Hayes sells his ass off for it.
-Original airdate May 2, 1987.
-Your host is Jim Ross at the COWTOWN COLISEUM, I will never get over the fact that this is a real building and that they wanted to build a nationally televised company in it.
-Jim has a slew of announcements to start that all point to a new boss in charge:
The UWF Tag Team Title changed hands at the Omni.
We have a new commissioner, John Ayers.
Big Bubba Rogers will be debuting in the UWF.
The commentary table is now at ringside.
CHAVO GUERRERO vs. BOB BRADLEY
-Chavo applies a wristlock and then holds it to put on a clinic of different ways to take down a guy in a wristlock. JR announces that next week’s episode will include a tribute to one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the UWF, Magnum TA. Not that he doesn’t deserve it, but again, everything about this week’s show just screams “takeover.”
-Chavo does the worst backdrop I’ve ever seen and Bradley is lucky to be alive, and Chavo rolls him up for three. I think Bradley may have sandbagged there, but also, Chavo just stood sideways, hoisted Bradley and then just dumped him instead of doing the standard fling, and Bradley almost shattered his neck.
-Sign up for the UWF Training Center today! Enrollment is limited to the next six months or so!
-We recap the Chavo/Gary Young feud. Chavo interferes in a match and causes Gary to lose. The following week, Gary attempts to do likewise to Chavo, but he screws up and Chavo gets the win BECAUSE OF his interference.
STEVE COX vs. GARY YOUNG
-Cox armdrags Young around. Young breaks free from the armbar with a series of forearms. Chavo shows up and Young is distracted by Chavo right up until Young rolls him up for a surprise three-count.
-Eddie Gilbert is the new TV Champion, and he celebrates that he’s done it despite all the attempts by the UWF to hold him down.
HANDICAP MATCH: BIG BUBBA ROGERS vs. MIKE REED & THE GLASSMAN
-Bubba slams Reed down and drops a knee from the top rope. Glassman tries to take out Bubba’s leg, but Bubba throws an enziguiri! And Ray Traylor is HUGE at this point in his career, that was kind of a miracle for a guy his size. Bubba slam finishes in seconds.
-We recap Iceman King Parsons’ heel turn and feud with Savannah Jack that went nowhere.
ICEMAN KING PARSONS vs. BOBBY HOWE
-Howe’s debut. Handsome guy, decent body, seems like he’d be a decent half of a pretty-boy tag team, but there’s no info about him anywhere that I can find. Somebody saw something in him here because they’re letting him shine with an extended sequence where he holds onto a side headlock through all of Parsons’ attempts to escape from it.
-Parsons gets free with a chop and a headbutt. Gourdbuster finishes for the Iceman. After the match, Iceman keeps heating up the feud with Savannah Jack, warning him that he has to pay for the ride, which really doesn’t apply to the reasons for this feud.
BUDDY ROBERTS vs. ANGEL MUHAMMAD (with General Akbar)
-Roberts starts off with some scrappy offense. Angel takes control and misses a knee from the second rope. JR notes that the other Freebirds aren’t in the building for some reason, insinuating that Akbar screwed with their travel arrangements for the card.
-Akbar tries to take a free shot, but Roberts is ready for him and punches him off the apron, but that’s enough distraction for Angel to roll Buddy up for the pin. Not much here.
TV TITLE: EDDIE GILBERT (Champion) vs. SAVANNAH JACK
-The ring announcer is dressed for a wedding. If Eddie gets disqualified, Savannah Jack wins the title. JR says that’s the first time he’s heard that stipulation for this match, and he sounds like he actually means it, he seems irked that he didn’t know.
-Eddie works the arm. Jack works the arm. Eddie misses an elbow so Jack works the arm. It turns into a a matter of fisticuffs. Backdrop by Jack–a correct version, for the record–and a bodypress, but Eddie rolls through and comes out on top to make it a cradle for the three-count, CLEAN! If Eddie pulled the tights, then the camera totally missed it, and that pours some icy water all over Jack’s feud with Parsons.
“Dr. Death” STEVE WILLIAMS vs. THE VIKING
-They don’t get paid by the hour…Stampede finishes in seconds.
