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WWF @ Madison Square Garden
February 23, 1987

by Scrooge McSuck

Taped from the World's Most Famous Arena. The road to WrestleMania III continues, with this being the last trip to MSG before the big event. I always look forward to the MSG broadcasts, though that tune will change a bit when we hit the Summer of '87. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are sitting ringside to call the action, unless otherwise noted. The WWF ran shows at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, WI and the Boys Club of Pittsfield, MA. No results available for the Madison card, headlined by a Bunkhouse Battle Royal, while the Boys Club were treated to Billy Jack Haynes and Hercules on top of a card of mostly prelim scrubs (including TOM MAGEE!).

Paul Roma vs. Salvatore Bellomo:

It feels like forever since I got to suffer through a Bellomo match and make fun of him. I don't care if he's a paisano, he's a total geek. The Italian Stallion is rocking a robe that looks like something Sylvester Stallone wore in Rocky III. I have no idea how to describe Bellomo's gear. Lockup and Bellomo flexes to show off his full bodysuit physique. Roma returns the favor and the crowd likes what they see. We get an Italian International, with Roma finishing the sequence with an O'Connor Roll for a two-count. Bellomo works the arm, yanking the hair to maintain control. Heenan vouching for Bellomo is definitely a surprise (and confirms the attempt at running him heel). Roma turns things around, but Bellomo goes to the eyes and busts out a standing dropkick. Bellomo with every heel trick in the book, yanking the hair and tights and complaining at every opportunity. Bellomo screams he's the #1 Italian, and I'm going to have to signal thumbs down on that one. The crowd is starting to grow tired of this match. Roma fires up and sends Bellomo out of the ring following a dropkick. Roma avoids a sucker punch, plants Bellomo with a slam and comes off the second rope with a fist drop. Whip to the ropes and Roma with a diving clothesline. They manage to blow an Irish whip, then a spot in the corner. Bellomo ducks a blind body press and drops an elbow. Whip is reversed and Roma finishes with a powerslam at 12:25. I swear the referee counted four, but maybe he just hit the canvas hard. I'm not rewinding to find out. This was a boring prelim match that managed to fall apart by the end. ¾*

The Islanders vs. Demolition:

It's the MSG debut of Demolition (we're not going to go through Bill Eadie's prior history, just go with it) and they have the early instrumental version of their theme music. I remember watching this one WAY BACK in the day and being unsure of the identity of Smash... NONSENSE. No one with working eyes can confuse Barry Darsow's physique for Randy Colley. Demolition are reluctant in removing their masks. GET THAT HEAT. The camera misses the big reveal. I hope whoever was in charge was fired for that.

Tama and Smash start. Lockup to the ropes and Smash buries a knee to the midsection. Smash gets the better of a shoulder block battle and celebrates, so the Islanders hit him with a double dropkick, then send Ax running following a double-chop. Back inside, Haku fights out of the Demolition corner and Ax gets rocked with a series of headbutts. Whip and the Islanders with a double elbow. They take turns working the leg. Smash manages to tag in, dumps Tama out of the ring, and he gets sent over the guardrail by Ax. Back inside, Smash with a double choke-lift. Every time I see that spot, I want to play WCW Wrestling for NES. Tama teases a comeback, but Ax dumps him to the concrete again. Whip and Ax with an elbow on the chin for a near-fall. Smash drops Tama across the top rope and slaps on a bearhug. Haku with the hot tag, running wild with chops and headbutts. Whip to the ropes and he nails Smash in the face with a dropkick, followed by a Super-Kick. Islanders with a double jumping headbutt and Tama hits a flying body press, but Ax saves. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Smash wipes out Tama with a short clothesline and the Decapitation elbow finishes him at 9:14. Solid and to the point. Islanders with some nice double-team work, Demolition with a solid heat segment, and right to the finish without feeling dull. ***

Koko B. Ware vs. Sika:

They really gave up on that Sika push faster than you can say "Wild Samoans." While Koko isn't quite as low on the pecking order as he would become for the duration of his WWF run, I still feel like Sika has the coin-flip rigged in his favor in a prelim match like this. Koko is still using Morris Day's "The Bird" for his entrance music. Probably holding onto it through the Spring. Lockup and Koko gets sent to the seat of his tights. Sika winds up for an overhand strike and Koko ducks out of danger. Sika controls with chops and a headbutt, followed by the traditional heel arsenal of clawing, scratching and choking. Koko tries fighting back but gets dumped out of the ring for his troubles. Koko crawls under the ring and pops out on the other side, hits Sika with a dropkick, and rolls him up for three at 4:54. THE HELL WAS THAT? Post-match, Sika attacks to get his heat back. I love finishes where no one gets over. This was a 5-minute nothing-burger. ZERO STARS

Tito Santana vs. "The Natural" Butch Reed (w/ Slick):

After crossing paths several times on Superstars and Wrestling Challenge, I'm actually looking forward to watching a match between them! Hopefully Reed is more motivated here than we've normally seen from his WWF run. Reed wants no part of Santana, hiding in the corner, asking for space. Lockup and Reed complains about a hair-pull. Santana avoids a cheap shot and knocks Reed out of the ring. Back inside, Santana with a pair of dropkicks, sending Reed back to the floor. Reed takes advantage of Santana's aggression and chokes him across the ropes. Santana counters a back body-drop and grabs a front face-lock. Reed turns things around and drops Santana across the top rope. Snap mare and Reed with a fist drop. Santana fights out of a chin-lock, but Reed quickly cuts him off with a knee to the midsection. Santana escapes a seated chin-lock and nails Reed attempting an axe-handle from the second rope. Santana drives the face of Reed into the canvas and unloads with mounted right hands. Reed with a handful of tights to send Tito into the turnbuckle, followed by a short-clothesline. Santana blocks an atomic drop and counters with a Figure-Four. Reed to the ropes for the break. Slick sneaks into the ring to whack Santana, but Koko B. Ware shows up to prevent the assault, and the referee calls for the bell at 12:11. Post-match, Tito and Koko with a double dropkick to clear the ring. The referee rules it a Double DQ. I love when we get a boring match that ends with a weak finish. *

WWF Tag Team Championship Match:
The Hart Foundation (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart & Danny Davis) vs. The Killer Bees:

The Foundation were doing non-title jobs to the Bees (and others) in the weeks following their title victory to run it back in some markets, but we're skipping that step for MSG and jumping right into the title defense. Hart Foundation vs Bees? Might as well get the rubber stamp. Even on a night off, it'll be the second best match we've seen so far. The Bees have their sneakers but not the black stockings, so consider that an improvement on their gear. Brunzell and Neidhart start. We quickly cut from the ring so we can show Jimmy Hart jumping in on commentary. Brunzell works the arm for a bit before Bret tags in. I guess I should mention they're still spelling it "Brett" on the chyron, but I've dropped it months ago. Brunzell blocks a hip toss and takes Bret over with a sunset flip for two. Arm drag takeover and the Bees take turns working the arm. Bret gets caught in the Andre Special and Blair takes a shot at the defenseless Hitman. Neidhart isn't of much help and Blair slingshots Bret into Neidhart, sending them both to the floor. Back inside, the Bees pick up where they left off. Neidhart creates a distraction, trapping Blair in the corner. Bret cuts off a tag attempt, hitting Blair with an inverted atomic drop and dumping him out of the ring.

Blair counters a suplex from the apron with an O Connor Roll for a surprise near-fall. Bret slaps on a front face-lock and again traps Blair in friendly territory. The Foundation takes turns choking him across the ropes and the referee barely makes much effort in getting things under control. Neidhart with a slam and Bret hits the slingshot splash, but Brunzell makes the save. Blair reverses an Irish whip, sending Bret chest-first to the turnbuckle. Neidhart pushes over a slam attempt, but Blair uses the momentum to land on top of Bret for a two-count. Bret grabs another front face-lock, using the tights to prevent a tag. Whip and Bret with a shot from the apron. Blair fights to his corner but the referee misses the tag! Bret gets dumped on his head to escape a seated chin-lock and Brunzell gets the hot tag, running wild with right hands and a BAAAAACK body-drop. Whip to the ropes and the signature Brunzell dropkick connects. The bell accidentally rings as heck breaks loose, Danny Davis sneaks in to cheap shot Brunzell, and Bret covers to retain at 13:53. Not surprising, a solid match, but the finish felt a little too rushed for my tastes. I would have liked to see at least another big spot or two to sell the Hart Foundation being in serious trouble before Davis comes in. ***¼

Outback Jack vs. Barry O:

WOAH! Where did THIS come from?! Outback Jack made his syndication in-ring debut roughly a month earlier (maybe less) and... he's awful. Just awful. Maybe Barry O (the brother of Cowboy Bob) can get something out of him, he's considered a good hand in an era where not a lot of guys were true to the moniker. Outback does not get much of a reaction, maybe it's the terrible entrance music or the fact that no one has a reason to cheer for a Crocodile Dundee knock-off the same way they had no reason to cheer for an Elvis impersonator. Barry wants no part of a handshake then complains about a hair-pull. They take turns missing elbow drops and Barry powders following a slam. Jack brings Barry in via apron slingshot, but gets caught with a thumb to the eyes. Orton with a bunch of stuff that looks very soft and lacks any crispness you would expect from his normal work. Jack reverses a whip to the corner and takes Barry O-ver with a BAAAACK body-drop. Barry with the cut-off, sending Jack face-first into the turnbuckle. Jack ducks a clothesline, hits an atomic drop, and does the boomerang spot (clothesline to the front, clothesline to the back) for the finish at 3:34. It takes effort to be worse than a typical syndication squash match. This was that bad. -*

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan):

We've seen these two mix it up on the house shows before, and as a reminder, there's no storyline reason for it, just felt like something for them to do as we transition Roberts into his role as a top babyface. Monsoon lets us know Roberts is competing against doctors orders, selling a concussion at the hands of the Honkytonk Man. With Heenan at ringside for Bundy, Jimmy Hart jumps in on commentary. Lockup to the ropes and Jake avoids a wild overhand swing. There's a hole in the bag and Damien's head starts peeking through. Roberts buries a shoulder in the midsection and takes the big man off his feet with a right uppercut. Bundy is so cheesed, he pulls down the straps! I don't know what Roberts is smoking, but accepting a test-of-strength seems foolish. Bundy has it easily won, so Roberts throws some kicks to get Bundy to release his grip. Roberts' entire strategy seems to be to frustrate and annoy Bundy, and it's mostly working. Bundy catches Roberts off the ropes with a slam and drops an elbow for a two-count. Whip to the ropes and Bundy with an elbow on the chin. Things slow down, so Heenan wanders over to the announcer's table to get in some trash talk. Roberts goes to the eyes to escape a chin-lock and rocks the big man with a knee lift. Bundy counters the DDT but misses a follow-up elbow drop. A second DDT attempt is blocked and Roberts is sent out of the ring. Bundy jumps out to prevent Roberts from getting Damian, throws him back in the ring... and the referee counts Bundy out at 9:20? Roberts avoids the Avalanche and unleashes Damian, sending Bundy for the hills. Well, that finish was poorly executed. The match was fine until that point, but even the babyface winning got a poor reaction for being so lame. *½

Pedro Morales vs. The Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart):

OH BOY, THIS SHOULD BE WONDERFUL. Slick has joined Gorilla Monsoon on commentary, and he's still mad at Tito Santana and Koko B. Ware. Honky spends a lot of time hiding in the corner, then changes it up and takes a powder. They lockup after several minutes of schtick and Honky gives a clean break! Pedro avoids a sucker punch on the follow-up and sends Honky to the floor following a pair of slams. Back inside, Morales works the arm and Honky ridiculously over-sells an atomic drop. Pedro messes the hair and now Honky has had enough, threatening to take a walk. More comedy and shenanigans from Honky. Morales avoids a charge to the corner and knocks Honky to his favorite place; outside the ring. Pedro won't give Honky more than 10-seconds of offense before cutting him off each time. I get it, you were a big deal in 1975. You shouldn't be taking the entire match at this point. As I type that, Honky throws a sorry looking knee, so now I feel like taking a walk myself. Pedro gets to meet the post, allowing Honky time to show off his dance skills. Pedro brings the fight to the floor and gives Honky introductions to all the surroundings. Honky casually cuts Morales off and takes him over with a suplex for a near-fall. Morales avoids a flying elbow and throws his signature left hands. Morales with the Boston Crab, but Hart hops on the apron for the distraction. Honky sweeps the legs, stacks Morales up, and uses the ropes to secure the three-count at 12:00. About what you would expect, Pedro selfishly taking most of the match, Honky's soft offense, and a sneaky heel victory. *

The Fink runs down the card for WrestleMania III, and notes that tickets for a closed circuit viewing are available, with a start time of 4 pm. It's going to be bigger, better, and badder than ever!

Six-Man Tag Team; Elimination Match:
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, and The Junkyard Dog vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis, and "The King" Harley Race:

Oh, I've been looking forward to this one since the beginning of the show. This match is available on the Coliseum Video "Best of the WWF Vol. 11" and was definitely a hot option for tape trading with a lineup like this. Fink makes sure to point out this is Piper's last time wrestling at MSG (Spoilers: LOL).

Piper and Adonis tease starting, but Adonis tags out to Savage before they can lock-up. Piper takes a shot at Race on the apron and tags in Steamboat, and now Savage bails. Savage comes in and drives a knee to the midsection. Steamboat cuts him off and Race quickly tags in. The JYD comes in, unloading with headbutts and sending Race out of the ring. JYD continues to dish out the punishment, laying in a flurry of rights and lefts and knocking Race over the top rope. Race with a headbutt to the midsection, followed by a belly-to-belly suplex. Savage with a knee across the chest, but JYD kicks out immediately. Steamboat with a shot from the apron, allowing JYD to recover. Savage gets caught in the corner but is able to escape from suffering too much punishment. Adonis with an angled back suplex on Steamboat and some hawk tuah for Piper. Piper gets the tag and Adonis bails again. Heck breaks loose with all six men going at it in the ring. Savage clears out JYD and Steamboat while Adonis and Race take Piper over with a suplex. Adonis slaps on the Sleeper, but Piper breaks it in the corner and applies a sleeper of his own, with Race making the save. JYD no-sells some elbow strikes from Adonis and they bring the action to the floor. More chaos and the referee counts Junkyard Dog and Adrian Adonis out at the 7:30 mark.

The match resumes with Race laying it in on Piper and whacking him with a clothesline. Piper tries fighting out of a double-team, popping Race in the eyes and knocking Savage into the corner, but Race recovers and drops an elbow to prevent him from getting to his partner. Savage misses a dive, straddling the ropes. Piper takes Race over with a suplex and tags in Steamboat. He runs wild on Race with all the signature chops. Whip and a double-clothesline but the referee is distracted from making a count. Flying chop and Savage makes the save. Steamboat with a small package, but Savage pushes it over and Race holds the tights to secure the three-count at 11:43, leaving Piper by himself.

Piper rushes Race and unloads with right hands. Whip across the ring and Race gets wiped out trying to do his big corner bump. Piper shrugs off Savage's attack and knocks Race over the top rope, landing seated across the ringside chairs. Cute spot. Savage tries whacking Piper with a chair, but he keeps fighting the good fight. Savage with a choke across the top rope, followed by a flying axe-handle for a two-count. This referee is doing a terrible job trying to restore order. Race with a powerslam for a two-count. Piper blocks a gut-wrench suplex and takes Race over his own version, but Savage saves. We get heel miscommunication, allowing Piper to eliminate Race at 15:45, leaving Piper and Savage. The crowd is digging that.

Savage doesn't want to rush into things, playing his usual games, but an effort from Race to distract Piper backfires. Piper knocks the two into each other and takes Savage down with a running bulldog. Piper accepts Savage's hand and bites him. Savage spits at Piper and it sends Piper into meltdown mode (and rightfully so). Savage jumps out of the ring and ambushes Piper attempting to get back in the ring. Whip to the ropes and a sunset flip attempt from Piper doesn't pay off. Savage sends Piper into the ropes again and hits his signature clothesline for a near-fall. Savage with a slam but Piper rolls through with a small package for a two-count. They smack heads on an Irish whip, knocking Savage out of the ring. Piper pretends to play dead in the ring, suckering Savage into making a mistake. The flying elbow drop misses the target and Piper cradles him for three at 20:26 to take home the victory in his final match at the Garden. That was a heck of a lot of fun, though there was some confusion at times with the referee lost in the action and some mistimed spots (at one point Race was covered and the referee just stopped counting because no one broke it up). Big tag matches like this is a great way to feature some heavy hitters without giving away too much, and the elimination rules adds a new layer of interest that would become the gimmick of an entire PPV later the same year. ****

Final Thoughts: It's the usual mixed bag of quality, but with an outstanding (and unique) Main Event, as well as two solid tag team matches underneath, we've already reached the point where I would give the entire show a recommendation. Yeah, the bad stuff was predictably bad (I'm looking at you Outback Jack and Honky vs. Morales, especially), but you're always going to get a few duds to balance out the stuff worth checking out. I'd dare say that while those matches were bad, you didn't see them too often, and sometimes it's fun to see fresh matches regardless of quality.

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