WWF @ Maple Leaf Gardens- July 27, 1986
by Scrooge McSuck
Welcome back to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for another night of exciting WWF action. This card, through the magic of media distribution, was cobbled together from various sources, including Prime Time Wrestling, International TV, and Coliseum Home Video. The order of the matches might not be accurate, but everything is here, and that always matters most of all when revisiting these old house shows.
Scott McGhee vs. Hercules Hernandez:
I would have guessed McGhee was gone by this point, but looks like he hung around until the end of the year, and had infrequent work throughout 1987. Hernandez wasn't involved in anything major as far as storylines, but he had a look and a manager (not present today), so that's always a step in the right direction if you're a heel. I love that Hercules is all in with the gladiator look but is introduced from Tampa, FL. Hercules with a lot of chatter and shoving, and McGhee responds with a pair of dropkicks. Hercules with a scoop and slam so impressive, he demands being declared the winner. McGhee with more dropkicks and an arm drag, sending Hercules to the outside. Back inside, Hercules sends McGhee to the corner and whacks him on the top of the head with a wild clothesline. McGhee fights out of a chin-lock but runs right into another clothesline. Hercules makes a rare trip to the top rope and McGhee throws him down for going outside his comfort zone. McGhee with an inverted atomic drop and snap suplex, followed by a flying knee drop. Whip is reversed, Hercules drives a knee to the midsection, and the "back breaker" (Torture Rack) finishes at 7:59. Solid prelim match, paced well and with minimal resting. **½Sivi Afi vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts is our next scheduled match, but Jake Roberts shows up in his street clothes to announce he will not wrestle in Toronto until he gets Ricky Steamboat in the ring, and in a match with his rules, so Sivi Afi is awarded the match via forfeit. Roberts feigns leaving, then lays into Afi before planting him with a DDT.
The Rougeau Brothers vs. The Moondogs:
These two teams met in Toronto back in March, so hopefully they change up the formula instead of running it back. Nothing much has changed, the Rougeaus are just a mid-tier babyface team and the Moondogs are slotted comfortably in a JTTS role. Raymond and Rex start as Monsoon runs down the history of the Moondogs. Jacques and Raymond take turns working the arm. Raymond with a dropkick and drop toe hold into the arm bar. Spot tags in to try his luck, but the Rougeaus remain in control. Whip is reversed and Jacques with a body press for two. Rex gets chatty with the referee, allowing an illegal switch from the babyfaces. Spot gets to his corner, but the referee doesn't see it, forcing Rex back to the apron. Raymond goes for a monkey-flip, but Rex nails him from the apron to swing momentum in the Moondogs' favor. Spot yanks Jacques over the top rope while the referee is distracted. The referee misses a tag between the Rougeaus. Jacques misses a blind cross body press, allowing Spot to regain control. Rex lays into Jacques with forearms. Whip across the ring and Jacques pops Rex with a forearm of his own. Unfortunately, Jacques backs himself into the wrong corner. Spot with a back breaker and Rex drops an elbow across the exposed midsection. Raymond gets the hot tag, and that means at least one DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Raymond with a body press, taking Rex and himself over the top rope. Jacques surprises Spot with a school boy and that gets three at 11:27. This was fine, but a step-down in quality from the last time they were in Toronto. **Billy Jack Haynes vs. The Iron Sheik:
This one has disaster written all over it. Sheik is still somewhat protected despite being washed, and Haynes is just a guy at this point, so it's either Sheik going over through nefarious means or Haynes by DQ or something. Will either prediction come true? TIME TO FIND OUT. Sheik with a Pearl Harbor job, choking Haynes with his entrance jacket. Haynes quickly turns the tables and clotheslines Sheik with his head gear. Haynes gets the better of an international but Sheik counters a side headlock with a back suplex. Whip and Sheik with a clothesline. OH LOOK AT THAT, HE SPAT ON HIM. Sheik with an abdominal stretch that doesn't impress Monsoon. Haynes counters with a hip throw, but misses an elbow drop. Gut-wrench suplex gets a two-count. Haynes blocks a suplex and counters with a delayed version of his own for two. Whip and a spinning elbow, followed by a short leg-drop for two. Haynes slaps on a Full Nelson, but here's Nikolai Volkoff to draw his attention. Sheik comes from behind to hold Haynes open, but Volkoff boots his own man by accident and Haynes covers for three at 5:25. I got that one completely wrong. This was fine, nothing poor but not something you'll remember an hour later. **½Mike Rotundo & Danny Spivey vs. Hoss & Jimmy Jack Funk:
Imagine how AWESOME this would have been with Barry Windham and Terry Funk involved. Monsoon acknowledges Rotundo and Spivey as "The American Express", but the ring announcer does no such thing. I'm assuming American Express was already a major credit card at this point, so that feels like a hard name to trademark. The Funks get the jump at the bell, but are quickly sent out of the ring to rethink their strategy. Spivey and Hoss start once things settle down. Hoss gives up a lock-up and decides to get into a shoving match with Rotundo. Hoss with a shoulder block, but Rotundo stays on his feet. Whip to the ropes and Rotundo with a shoulder block of his own. Rotundo hits the ropes with a sprint and runs through Hoss again, knocking him out of the ring and onto the announcer's table. The Not-US Express takes turns cranking a headlock. Spivey is backed into the corner and he fights his way out with ease. Jimmy Jack wants a test-of-strength, but I call the spot more of a test-of-patience, am-i-right? (*rimshot*) Jimmy Jack gets the early advantage and resorts to planting a boot to the midsection to maintain control. Sweat is literally raining off Funk's body. Spivey finally counters and the Express take turns working the arm, including some illegal switches with the referee's back turned. Jimmy Jack with a slam, but Rotundo holds on with control of the arm.Hoss back in, backing Rotundo into the corner and laying in with a series of forearms. Whip to the ropes and Rotundo with a cross body press for two. Rotundo with a slam to both Funk's, and they powder again. Back inside, Jimmy Jack nails Rotundo from the apron, finally turning the advantage over to the Cousins Funk. Hoss brings Rotundo in with a suplex for a near-fall. Abdominal stretch, and Jimmy Jack offers a hand for extra leverage. Rotundo fights to his corner and Hoss keeps the referee from seeing the tag. Hoss and Rotundo trade blows, Rotundo grabs a headlock and Hoss counters with a back suplex for two. Double under-hook suplex for two. Rotundo blocks a suplex and counters with his own. Spivey with the hot tag, running wild with left hands and a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Whip and Spivey with a dropkick, followed by a leg drop for two. Heck breaks loose with all four men in the ring. Spivey goes for a bulldog but Jimmy Jack cuts him off with a lariat, allowing Hoss to cover for three at 16:19. Woah, Hoss and JIMMY JACK won a match! It wasn't flashy, but it was a serviceable tag team match with a decent finish. ***
WWF Intercontinental Championship Match:
"Macho Man" Randy Savage (c) (w/ Elizabeth) vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat:
Wow, even if this is bad by their standards, it should still be somewhat entertaining. We're about 3-4 months away from them kicking off their famous rivalry, with Steamboat still feuding with Jake Roberts at the time, while Savage was often working shows opposite the WWF Champion. Savage goes for takedown, but Steamboat outworks him. Savage with a side headlock takeover, countered with a head-scissors. Savage goes for the arm, and Steamboat counters that as well. Whip to the ropes, Steamboat slides between the legs and takes Savage over with a deep arm drag. Steamboat with a scoop slam and back to working the arm. Whip and Steamboat with a shoulder block and cover for another two-count. Savage with a knee to the midsection. Whip is reversed and Savage with a cross body, but Steamboat rolls through for two. Steamboat backs Savage into the corner and takes him over with a victory roll for two. Savage gets his foot on the ropes while in an arm bar and the referee kicks it away. I hate when referees can't be consistent with the basic rules. Even Monsoon calls him out for it. Savage escapes and pops Steamboat with a knee lift. Steamboat blocks the turnbuckle and gives Savage a taste instead. Savage powders and Steamboat follows, with Savage pulling Elizabeth in front as a human shield.
Back inside, Savage is perched on the top turnbuckle and spits at Steamboat before bailing again. I'm impressed that Steamboat has worked the whole match (so far) with his headband on. Savage grabs a side headlock and is caught off the ropes with a hip throw. Steamboat wants Savage to bring it and catches him with another deep arm drag. Double reversal to the corner and Savage sends Steamboat over the top rope. Savage climbs the ropes and comes down on Steamboat with a double axe-handle for a near-fall. He makes another trip to the top and Steamboat nails him on the way down. Steamboat unloads with rights, knocking Savage out of the ring, then over the guardrail. The referee holds Steamboat back from pursuing further, giving Savage a chance to get a free shot, but Steamboat fights it off and sends Savage into the post, busting him open in the process. Back inside, Steamboat comes off the top with a chop to the top of the head for two. Whip and a chop across the chest for two. Savage sends Steamboat into the referee, and we have a TRIPLE-down. Savage with a vertical suplex. The headband FINALLY comes off as Steamboat surprises Savage with a small package for a 2.9999. Savage goes for a snap mare but Steamboat blocks and they battle over a back-slide, with Steamboat taking Savage over for ANOTHER near-fall. Savage digs into his tights for some Memphis Magic. He rakes the eyes of Steamboat, who starts swinging wildly to sell his blindness. Savage charges and Steamboat dumps him over the top rope. Savage picks the ankle and drags Steamboat out, slamming him face-first onto the ringside table. Steamboat fires back as both men sell exhaustion. The referee is counting them both out, but Steamboat manages to beat the count in to pick up the cheap victory at 19:06. I feel like I've recapped this one recently, and sure enough, it was on the Best of the WWF Vol. 9, and yes, it's still an AWESOME match that would have been even better with a more decisive finish. ****
The Junkyard Dog vs. King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan):
We were due for a garbage match, I suppose. Lockup into the corner and JYD gives a clean break. They do it again, and this time Bundy isn't into winning sportsmanship of the year, decking the Dog over the shoulder of the referee. The Dog rolls away from an elbow drop and sends Bundy out of the ring following a series of headbutts. Heenan gets too close for comfort and gets popped with a headbutt as well. Back inside, Bundy with a knee to the midsection. JYD ducks a clothesline and backs Bundy into the corner with another headbutt. Whip to the corner and JYD with a clothesline. He hits the ropes and Heenan trips him up, allowing Bundy to take advantage of the distracted dog. Bundy with a knee across the chest for two. Whip and Bundy with a spinning elbow for another two-count. JYD avoids the Avalanche and hits more headbutts. JYD covers and Heenan breaks it up for the cheap Disqualification at 6:20. Bundy and Heenan have a miscommunication, and JYD has Heenan running like he's in a world class track meet. This was surprisingly not awful, thanks to being kept short. *½Boot Camp Match: Cpl. Kirchner vs. Nikolai Volkoff:
This match was also featured on Coliseum Video's "Best of the WWF Vol. 9", but we'll give it a fresh look since we already gave 20-minutes to Savage and Steamboat. These two feuded forever, trading wins along the way. Volkoff is wearing military fatigues to sell the importance of the gimmick match. The bell rings and Volkoff powders. Kirchner gives chase and Volkoff laughs at his inability to catch his old broken a$$. Kirchner eventually catches up and unloads on Volkoff with right hands, but Volkoff cuts him off with a perfectly legal low blow. Whip across the ring and Volkoff meets the turnbuckle on a failed charge. Kirchner climbs the ropes and misses a flying knee drop. Volkoff traps Kirchner in a tree of woe and gives him an unpleasant shot with a running start. The action spills out of the ring, with Volkoff planting Kirchner on the entrance ramp with slams. Back inside, Volkoff hits his signature spinning kick. Back on the floor, Volkoff smacks the Corporal with a folding chair. I guess Kirchner is busted open from that weak shot from a padded chair. Volkoff removes his belt and starts lashing Kirchner with it. Whip and Volkoff clotheslines him with the belt. Kirchner surprises Volkoff with a sunset flip for two. Kirchner ducks a wild swing and hits an atomic drop. The crowd is in full support of a nut-shot, then even more so for a second. Kirchner unloads with mounted right hands. Whip to the corner and this time it's Kirchner who meets the turnbuckle. Kirchner takes off his boot, smacks Volkoff with it, and covers for three at 11:21. Slow and plodding, but not completely worthless. *½Final Thoughts: Was Toronto known as a work-rate crowd? This is the second time I've covered a Maple Leaf Gardens card from 1986 and once again there seems to be extra effort from most of the talent involved in the show. It shouldn't be a surprise that Steamboat and Savage had the best match, but we can't overlook everything else being solid stuff, including a fine match between U.S. Express 2.0 and The New Funks, as well as fun matches from unexpected places, like Billy Jack vs the Iron Sheik and Hercules vs Scott McGhee. There's something here for everyone, and a fine 90-minutes of old school WWF action.
Sound Off!
Comment about this article on Da' Wrestling Boards!