UWF Power Pro Wrestling (3.28.1987) Review

-Originally aired the day before Wrestlemania III. One version of the story is that Bill Watts was dealing with burnout and falling gates, but still wanted to make a go of it, but the next day, he saw Wrestlemania III and said “Fuck this, I’m out” and decided to sell the company right there. So that makes this show kind of an interesting demarcation point.

-Cold open: highlights of the Tag Team Title match last week, but not the finish because who wants to see that?

-Your hosts are Jim Ross & Eddie Gilbert. JR at least implies that the champions retained, so a little closure.

SAM HOUSTON vs. MIKE BOYETTE
-This is touted as Sam’s debut in the city of Dallas.

-Criss-cross leads to a backdrop and armdrags by Houston. He clears Boyette from the ring and dances, irritating Eddie because he’s not concentrating. So Boyette gets back in there and does one offensive move and Eddie pretty much already declares the match over because he was right. Houston goes for the bulldog, but Boyette just straight-up forgets to DO anything, standing in place while Houston grabs his head and then just crashes on the mat in front of him. Houston gets up, clotheslines him, gets the three-count, and looks annoyed as hell. Ten stars.

-Last week: the wrestling world is SHOCKED when the Angel of Death turns on Michael Hayes. His name is ANGEL OF DEATH, he’s not going to be a babyface.

CHAVO GUERRERO vs. GARY YOUNG
-They criss-cross , leading to armdrags by Young. Well…okay, but still, it’s not the worst idea to watch the other matches on the card. Young goes to a hammerlock, but Chavo flips him off in a slightly more literal sense than usual. Young tries a hiptoss, but Chavo turns it into a backslide for two. Young tries an airplane spin next, but Chavo turns it into a victory roll and gets the surprise three-count. Gary insists it was only a two-count, holding up two fingers angrily, but when Chavo offers him a sportsmanlike handshake, Gary cools down and shakes his hand. Ooooh, foreshadowing. That’s why it’s important to double back and see these episodes that I didn’t have already.

-Bruce Prichard talks to Ted DiBiase, who’s battling the One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title. DiBiase recaps all the screwing-out-of he’s experienced in trying to get the UWF Heavyweight Title, and he’s giving off some “Bret before he turns on America” vibes here, how it’s just all about how everyone is working against him.

TERRY TAYLOR (Tag Team Title co-holder) vs. BUDDY ROBERTS (with Sunshine)
-Winner gets the next shot at the TV Title.

-Buddy armdrags Taylor and stomps the arm. Buddy stays on the arm, barring it while driving his boots into Taylor’s jaw. Buddy keeps working the arm with laser focus. Taylor gets fired up and starts ringing the arm and then applying his own armbar. This is proving to be quite the scientific exhibition.

-Buddy sends Taylor into the ropes and tosses him outside and into the barricade to finally turn up the aggression. Buddy keeps up the beating once Taylor is in the ring. He goes for the bulldog, but Taylor turns it into an atomic drop and immediately follows with a five-arm, but Sunshine yanks Buddy’s body out of the ring before Terry can pin him. Seconds later, we have a bell for the time-limit draw

ROOKIE SENSATION STEVE COX vs. THE RED SHADOW
-Shadow boots and slams Cox. He goes for a backdrop, but Cox turns it into a Russian legsweep and pins Shadow immediately.

ANGEL OF DEATH & WILD BILL IRWIN (with Devastation Inc.) vs. KEN MASSEY & BOBBY PEREZ
-Angel’s coming-out party as an employee of the General. Heels attack the jobbers during the introduction. Big boot to the face by Irwin gets the win.

GENTLEMAN CHRIS ADAMS vs. SUPER NINJA
-We get a very underutilized camera shot to start this match, a close-up of the bell ringing. Gotta say, the visible pack of cigarettes lying next to it cuts into the impact a little.

-Ninja applies a side headlock on Adams. Adams uses headscissors to break, and the superkick finishes quickly. Eddie says that he has a SupersuperSUPERkick that’s better than Adams’ finisher, so maybe we’ll see that at some point.

UWF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: ONE MAN GANG (Champion, with General Akbar) vs. TED DIBIASE
-We have 4:00 remaining in the hour when the bell rings.

-Gang whips DiBiase and hammers him. DiBiase boots him away and comes off the second rope with an elbow. DiBiase keeps up the assault and Gang bumps like a pinball for him, getting hung up across the top rope at one point. DiBiase tries a backdrop at one point but Gang drops a forearm. DiBiase manages to pull off a sunset flip on the Gang, and we roll the credits. Jerks.

4.9

The final score: review Poor

The 411

These bullshit main events are one of the easiest things for fans to see through and they're not doing the company any favors.