WWF at The Boston Garden
November 1, 1986
by Scrooge McSuck
We're back in Beantown with more action from the World Wrestling Federation. Our march through 1986 is almost complete, as we enter the final months of the year. The version I'm watching for this recap is from the Old School section on Peacock, and it features a disclaimer about being presented in as complete form as possible (whatever was missing must not have been important, the entire card is here and no matches seem cut down). We've got Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes at ringside to call the action, unless otherwise noted. The WWF also ran shows in Winnipeg, Manitoba (headlined by Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff) and Sioux City, IA (with JYD vs. Jake Roberts on top), so expect some thinly spread rosters again.
Billy Jack Haynes vs. "Ace Cowboy" Bob Orton (w/ Jimmy Hart):
We've got some early days of Herb Abrams' UWF alumni in the house! Orton comes out to Piper's music, because we needed TWO heel acts ripping off the popular baby-faces music (see also: Paul Orndorff with Real American). This could go either way, but Orton still means just a little more on the depth chart because of the association with the Roddy Piper storyline. Feeling out process to kick off the match. Whip to the ropes and a shoulder block has Orton feeling the effects of the collision. Orton with a snap arm drag and some playing to the crowd. Haynes with a pair of arm drags of his own, sending Orton sliding out of the ring for a conference with Jimmy. Haynes with an atomic drop, sending Orton crashing shoulder-first into the post. Orton fights out of a hammer-lock, but Haynes comes bouncing off the ropes with a cross body press for a two-count. Orton with another escape while in the ropes. Haynes avoids an elbow drop and goes to the arm again.Orton with an inverted atomic drop. Haynes keeps trying to get his sh*t in, interrupting Orton's offense constantly. Haynes gets dumped and Orton follows to give him a back-breaker. Haynes comes back into the ring with a sunset flip, but Orton remains in control. Orton with a unique reverse back breaker, something I feel like his son busted out (or a variation of it). Whip to the corner and Orton with a big clothesline for a two-count. Atomic drop for two. Haynes fights out of a front chancery, only to run into a big boot. Haynes blocks a slam and drops Orton across the top rope. Whip to the corner and Orton brings up the knees. Haynes blocks a Super-Plex attempt and dives off the ropes with a clothesline. Whip and an elbow, knocking Orton through the ropes. Haynes with a flying forearm drop for a near-fall. They slug it out, with Haynes getting the better of the exchange. Orton gets trapped in the Andre Special, but Jimmy helps free him. Orton with a knee to the midsection, sending Haynes to the floor. Orton follows and gets sent to the post for his effort. Back inside, Orton with a sleeper, but Haynes uses his momentum to throw both out of the ring. Whip is reversed and Orton with a high knee. Haynes with a snap mare and fist drop for two. Suddenly the bell rings at 21:49, and we have a Draw. Well, someone doesn't know how to tell time. Haynes wants 5 more minutes and goes for the Full Nelson, but Orton bails. Started slow, but they turned it up about halfway through and hit the gas (no pun intended) to make up for it. ***
Raymond Rougeau & Leapin' Lanny Poffo (w/ Jacques Rougeau) vs. The Moondogs:
Jacques is on crutches at ringside, missing about two weeks of action. Poffo's poem puts over the Rougeau, with a little French peppered in. This match reminded me that a lot of this card was featured on the Thanksgiving week episode of Prime Time Wrestling. Raymond and Rex start. Long crisscross and Raymond with a monkey-flip. Whip to the ropes and Poffo with a dropkick, followed by a senton. Spot comes in and Poffo surprises him with a head-scissors takedown. He jumps up for a hurricanrana but Rex holds him in place and Spot nails him from the apron to take control. Whip and Spot with a clothesline, followed by a flying forearm for two. Poffo gets sent from corner to corner and Spot takes him over with a suplex for two. Poffo fights out of a chin-lock but is caught off the ropes with a back-breaker. The referee misses a tag, allowing the Moondogs a cheap double-team. Whip and Poffo counters a back body-drop with a knee to the face. Spot blocks another tag attempt, hooking a waist-lock and dragging him to friendly territory. More shenanigans from the Moondogs preventing a tag. Raymond gets the weakest hot tag possible and runs wild on both Moondogs. Whip and a dropkick on Rex gets a two-count. BAAAACK body-drop for another two-count. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Poffo gets dumped, Jacques trips up Spot, and Raymond hits Rex with a cross body press for three at 10:55. Solid match, but the hot tag was flat, killing the excitement for the finish. **½Koko B. Ware vs. Jimmy Jack Funk:
So for the sake of laughing at myself, I dug into our board archives and I did cover the episode of Prime-Time that features a bunch of these matches way back in 2006! To say I am not proud of the work from that period would be an understatement. Koko was introduced on TV and on the losing team of his debut, so we know not to expect much from whatever "push" he might get. Piledriver, a song that didn't exist in 1986, is dubbed over Morris Day's "The Bird." Lockup and Koko goes to work on the arm. Whip to the ropes and Koko sends Funk out of the ring following an arm drag. Funk asks for a test-of-strength and surprisingly doesn't go for a cheap-shot, taking Koko down clean. Koko fights back to his feet and NOW Funk lays in the kick. Koko responds with his own and while still locked up connects with a dropkick! Lots of work on the arm from Koko. He blocks a hip toss and takes Funk over with a back-slide for two. Crisscross and Funk plants Koko with a powerslam for two. Koko gets dumped and Funk looks completely gassed. Back inside, Jimmy Jack with a slam, but he misses a flying fist drop. Koko unloads with left jabs. Funk pops him on the chin with a knee and plants him with a powerslam for two. Koko with a small package, but Funk is on the ropes. Funk grabs his rope and cow bell from the corner and lashes Koko. The referee starts counting like it's a choke until Funk tosses him, FINALLY drawing the Disqualification at 12:03. Funk drags Koko around the ring with the noose around his neck (uh…) but is quickly sent running like a coward. Boring match and a terrible finish. ¾*WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: "Macho Man" Randy Savage (c) (w/ Elizabeth) vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat:
Thank You! The WWF taped Savage and Steamboat's famous angle for Superstars on October 28th, but we're in that era where "IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON TV YET!", so Steamboat keeps working the house show loop until we are closer to the broadcast date (November 22nd, if you're curious). Lockup to the corner and Savage powders. Crisscross and Steamboat with an arm drag, followed by a drop toe hold into the arm bar. Savage sends Steamboat to the corner but misses a charge and finds himself on the canvas again. Steamboat surprises Savage with a cross body press and goes back to the arm bar. Savage forces a break in the ropes and drives a knee into the kidneys. Steamboat blocks the turnbuckle, giving Savage a taste instead, and traps him in the Andre Special. They trade near-falls, with Savage powdering again.Savage digs into the tights and uses whatever imaginary object to cut Steamboat off. Whip to the ropes and Savage with his signature clothesline. Steamboat runs into an elbow and Savage covers with feet on the ropes for a two. Savage comes off the top rope with a double axe-handle for another two-count. Steamboat gets sent to the outside and slammed on the parquet floor. Savage tries bringing him back in with a suplex, but Steamboat lands on top for a two-count. Piledriver is blocked and countered, but Savage again digs into his tights to cut off Steamboat's offense. Savage with a high knee, knocking Steamboat into the ropes. Steamboat avoids the seated splash, sending Savage crashing into the ropes. Whip to the ropes and Steamboat with a big chop for two. Vertical suplex and atomic drop for a pair of near-falls. The Dragon comes off the top with a chop to the head, followed by a running shoulder block for a one-count! Savage side-steps another attempt, sending Steamboat over the top rope. Savage climbs the ropes and dives to the floor, meeting nothing but the floor! Damn, that looked painful. Steamboat rolls back into the ring, and Savage is counted-out at 14:48. After the bell, Steamboat sends the injured Savage into the ring, upset over not winning the title (how dumb are babyfaces?), and covers him in the ring, making his own three-count. Well, to the surprise of nobody, this was a very good match. I don't know if I've ever seen them have a bad one together. ***½
Salvatore Bellomo vs. Hercules:
Why are we still running Bellomo out there?! Hercules has dropped the "Hernandez" surname, trimmed the beard and cut his hair! I mention that because Monsoon and Hayes talk about it like they haven't seen him like this before, and it's definitely a fresh look. The Boston crowd boos Bellomo for stinking. Lockup and Hercules shoves Bellomo on his rear. Bellomo comes off the ropes with a shoulder block with the same result. Whip to the corner and Bellomo with a dropkick. Hercules blocks a snap mare and rakes the eyes. Monsoon and Hayes seem to be enjoying Bellomo's misfortunes in this match. Bellomo busts out another dropkick and again, Hercules cuts him off. He plants Bellomo with a slam and puts him away with the "horizontal back-breaker" (torture rack) at 3:42. It was short, so that's a plus.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. The Magnificent Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji):
All these years later, I'm still not sure what the full story is on Adrian Adonis. He was written off TV with an injury, but reports at the time said he was let go and quickly brought back because people weren't interested in buying tickets to see Piper vs Muraco or Orton. Muraco has a full beard and it makes him look so much older. He tosses his kilt at Piper, so Piper wraps his kilt around Muraco's head and unloads with right hands. Piper casually pokes his eyes and knocks Muraco over the ropes with a dropkick. Piper follows Muraco to the floor, slamming him face-first into a set of chairs. Back inside, Piper with a running bulldog. Now he's just showing off. The referee does the gimmick where he holds back the arm from throwing a closed fist, giving Muraco a wide-open shot to take control of the action. Monsoon says momentum swung 360 degrees, and you know the answer to that. Piper gets dumped and Fuji hits him with the cane. Piper is sent to the post and he's showing color. We get a slow-motion replay and his right hand is clearly clutching something. THE MAGIC OF TV! Piper fights his way back in the ring, unloading with mounted right hands. Piper chews on Muraco's forehead and now Muraco is wearing the crimson mask. Piper wins a slugfest and takes Muraco over with a suplex for two. Fuji whacks Piper with the cane on the blindside of the referee. The heels have a miscommunication and Piper rolls Muraco up for the three-count at 7:24. Decent, but nothing special, and too short to really tell much of a story. **WWF Women's Tag Team Championship Match:
Leilani Kai & Judy Martin (c) vs. Penny Mitchell & Candice Pardue:
I have a theory that the Women's Tag Titles were introduced/dusted off to add some artificial depth to the live events, now that they are pushing more tours with thinner rosters. We're pre-Glamour Girls, so no matching gear or looks for the Champions. Pardue has less than 20 known matches during her time with WWF, and no known results exist outside the company. Weird. They put over her weightlifting ability and featured her on TNT with it, so there's that! Leilani and Pardue start. Leilani tries to work the legs, but Pardue scrambles free. Martin and Mitchell take turns helping their partners take control of a step-over toe hold until the challengers end up with control. Mitchell traps Kai in a body-scissors and nearly pins herself. The champions continue to carry the action while on defense, doing a lot of bumping and schtick. Pardue rolls through a slingshot attempt (nice counter) and hits a pair of dropkicks. The Champions seem to have things turned around but hit each other with a clothesline.
Pardue tries a flying head-scissors, but Martin dumps her on her a$$ and spins her out with a double fistful of hair. Leilani with a modified Northern Lights Suplex for a two-count! Whip to the corner, meeting the boot of Martin. The not-yet-Glamour Girls do a good job cutting off the ring and making quick tags. The crowd doesn't seem too interested, unfortunately. Pardue surprises Martin with a sunset flip, but can't get to her corner. Kai accidentally nails Martin with a chop from the second rope, allowing the ice cold tag. Mitchell hits Martin with a dropkick and takes her over with a BAAAACK body-drop. She drops Kai face-first from a fireman's carry position and jumps on top for a near-fall. Heck breaks loose, Martin plants Mitchell with a POWERBOMB, and Kai covers to retain at 9:39. Screw the crowd, Leilani Kai and Judy Martin were great out there! ***
Scott McGhee vs. Sika (w/ The Wizard):
Yay, more Sika and Curtis Iaukea. At least this should be short. Sika has a beard with just as much salt and pepper as Muraco. Lockup and Sika shoves McGhee into the corner. McGhee fights out of a choke and throws a series of strikes. Sika no-sells the turnbuckle and shrugs off a pair of dropkicks. He catches a body press attempt and plants McGhee with a slam. Whip to the ropes and Sika with an elbow to the chest. Monsoon wants a word from "The Wizard" and there's some nonsense that he is spiritually connected to the late Grand Wizard of the WWF. Yay, screaming Wizard. Thanks, Gorilla. Sika misses an avalanche, and finally a dropkick takes him off his feet. Crisscross and Sika catches McGhee with a Samoan drop to end this at 4:42. This was dull, but thankfully kept short. ½*
WWF Tag Team Championship Match:
The British Bulldogs (c) vs. The Hart Foundation (w/ Jimmy Hart):
Final match on the card, and yeah, this is a strong match to close the show. I've covered this in Part Four of the History of the Tag Team Championship, but we're going to watch it again because it's the Bulldogs and Hart Foundation. Dynamite and Hart start. Lockup and Bret with a knee to the midsection. He backs Dynamite into the corner, but he fights his way out, rattling Bret with a series of headbutts. Davey Boy sends Bret into the corner with an atomic drop. Whip across the ring, Bret avoids a charge and rolls Davey up for a two-count. Neidhart tries his luck now in a battle of the powerhouses. Davey catches Anvil off guard with a dropkick and comes off the ropes with a pair of shoulder blocks. Neidhart catches a third attempt and plants Davey with a slam. Bret in with a slingshot splash for two. He connects with an inverted atomic drop, followed by a back-breaker. He's going through the five moves of doom! Foundation with the combination elbow and back breaker but Dynamite makes the save. Davey gets sent to the outside and slammed on the floor.
Back inside, Neidhart with a snap mare into a chin-lock. Davey fights for his corner while in a front face-lock, but Bret comes in to create a distraction. Davey is sent to their corner and Bret whips Neidhart in with a shoulder block to the midsection. Whip and Davey hooks Bret with a crucifix cradle for two. Bret quickly pops up and hits a pair of leg drops. We tease another hot tag and this time Bret casually drags Davey Boy back with a handful of tights. Double DDT from the Foundation for a near-fall. Davey breaks out of a sleeper and straddles Bret across the top rope. Dynamite FINALLY gets the hot tag, running wild and hitting a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Whip and he hits Bret with his signature clothesline, followed by a snap suplex and headbutt. Dynamite slaps on a sleeper but Neidhart comes off the ropes and not only takes out Dynamite and his own partner, but the referee! Davey gets tossed and Neidhart puts Bret on top of Dynamite but it's only a long two-count. Neidhart with a slam and again he places Bret on top for two. Davey sneaks up on Neidhart and rolls him up for three at 13:00 despite neither man being legal, but the referee was still knocked goofy. After the match, Bret hits Dynamite with a piledriver. Good match, but a little disappointed that Davey Boy did most of the work. ***
Final Thoughts: A pretty good show, considering the quality of the roster at the time. Solid efforts for Savage/Steamboat (of course), Bulldogs/Foundation (also of course), the Women's Tag, the opener with Billy Jerk and Bob Orton, and a couple of other decent matches peppered in. The only bad matches were the prelim stuff, and a couple of them were under 5-minutes, so not nearly bad enough to drag down an otherwise solid card.
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