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WWF @ Phildelphia Spectrum
September 20, 1986

by Scrooge McSuck

Jake Roberts

When we last took a trip to the Philadelphia Spectrum, I didn't have too good of a time, but we're moving along in 1986, and I really don't want to cover just cards from the Boston Garden, so we're giving the Spectrum another try to satisfy my needs for retro content. Dick Graham and Gorilla Monsoon are sitting ringside to call the action, unless otherwise noted. The WWF ran a second show in nearby Hershey, PA with the following results: The Machines def Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy, Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage def George Steele by DQ, The Killer Bees fought Volkoff and Iron Sheik to a Draw, Bob Orton def Tito Santana, The Rougeau Brothers def Rene Goulet & Jimmy Jack Fun, Sika def Tony Garea, THE REBEL Dick Slater def Terry Gibbs, and Cpl. Kirchner def Iron Mike Sharpe. Wow, that looks like complete garbage.

Koko B. Ware vs. Steve Lombardi:

One of the earliest appearances of Koko, fresh off working for Bill Watts' Mid-South/UWF. Yes, he does have Frankie the macaw with him, too. He comes out to Morris Day's "The Bird" and is all in on flapping his arms like a bird. One of the front row fans has a "Go Back to UWF" sign. Wow, you're so cool, man. I bet you get ALL the girls. Lockup to the corner and Koko messes with Lombardi. Koko with a pair of arm drags and a very sloppy effort to pull off a flying head-scissors. Monsoon runs down the usual suspects for the time in the WWF's "Animal Kingdom". Lombardi reverses a whip to the corner and Koko misses a blind body press. Lombardi with a back-breaker for two. Whip and a clothesline for two. Lombardi with a sleeper, no doubt taught to him at the Terry Garvin School of Self-Defense. Koko fights to his feet, only to get jerked back to the canvas. Koko escapes with a jaw-breaker and grabs a sleeper of his own, but Lombardi charges into the corner, dropping Koko face-first onto the turnbuckle to break the hold. Koko starts to no-sell Lombardi's strikes and unloads with right hands of his own. Whip and Koko with a belly-to-belly suplex for two. He signals for the finish and the BIRD-Buster puts Lombardi away at 8:52. Yes, that's what Monsoon called Koko's brain-buster suplex. Perfectly fine prelim action. **

The Tonga Kid & King Tonga vs. The Moondogs:

OK, we've got confusion galore here, as they are listed by the names above, but Monsoon chimes in that they want to be known as Haku (King Tonga) and "Toma" (Tonga Kid). For the sake of my own sanity, I will go with their new names, but I'm also adjusting it to the more familiar "Tama", because it's my recap, and my rules. Also, "The Islanders" has yet to be introduced as their team name. Haku and Spot start. Lockup to the ropes and a clean break. Haku plants Spot with a slam and hip throws Tama across the chest of Spot. Rex with a side headlock and shoulder block. Crisscross and Tama blasts him with a big chop. Haku and Tama take turns working the arm. Rex escapes in the ropes, but Tama ducks a clothesline and hits a cross body press for two. Haku and Spot back in, and more work of the arm from the Tongan representatives. Spot catches Tama off the ropes and connects with a shoulder breaker. Attacking the head doesn't work, so Rex goes to the eyes before tossing Tama through the ropes. Back inside, Spot with a back-breaker for two. Whip and Rex with a clothesline for two. Tama escapes a chin-lock, only to run into an elbow. Tama surprises Spot with a sunset flip, but the Moondogs keep him trapped on their side of the ring. Tama takes a spill and actually catches his ankle across the guardrail that's ridiculously close to the ring. Spot chokes Tama with the tag rope and takes him over with a suplex, but hurts himself in the process. Haku with the hot tag, running wild with chops and a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Whip and a dropkick to the throat of Rex. Haku with a suplex and Tama comes off the top with a splash for three at 11:32. Fine for what it was, but never hit another gear and the finish came off too rushed. **½

Salvatore Bellomo vs. Kamala (w/ Kim-Chee):

No Wizard at ringside with Kamala, who just recently returned to the WWF. Monsoon with more confused name games, as Kim-Chee is formerly known as Friday, and Monsoon acknowledges him as such. Bellomo might be the least popular prelim babyface I've ever seen. I'm honestly surprised he was still around at this point, but we also saw Rene Goulet working in Boston earlier in the month, so the WWF is always full of surprises. Bellomo tries to play keep away, including a cartwheel that doesn't impress the Philly faithful. Bellomo hops on Kamala's back with a sleeper, but Kamala crashes into the turnbuckle to shake him off. He no-sells Bellomo's blows and works him over in the corner with the usual arsenal of strikes and choking. Bellomo tries a shoulder block, and that doesn't work. Kamala catches him with a Super Kick, complete with the worst flop I've ever seen to sell that move. Bellomo keeps trying, but Kamala is too strong. No one cares about Bellomo's attempts at being an underdog. He stomps the feet and throws a decent dropkick. Kamala bulldozes him with a shoulder and finishes with a running splash at 4:01 to a decent pop. "Bellomo is considerably thinner right now." ZERO STARS

Hillbilly Jim vs. The Magnificent Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji):

Why do I keep picking these Spectrum cards?! WHY?!?! These matches would lead to Jim and Mr. Fuji working Tuxedo matches around the horn, so we're already annoyed before the opening bell. Jim's entire deal is "he was Hogan's protege and gifted boots by the Hulkster himself", and that's his entire WWF career. The crowd is all over Muraco with chants of "beach bum." Muraco offers a handshake and Jim accepts with a little too much behind it. HE DOESN'T KNOW HIS OWN STRENGTH. Jim stands his ground, shrugging off Muraco's shoulder blocks. Muraco grabs a top wrist-lock but Jim overpowers him again. Muraco with a knee to the midsection and grabs a nerve hold. We're EIGHT MINUTES deep and I've mentioned three spots. Jim fights free, but Muraco knocks him down to the canvas and reapplies the hold. YAWN. Jim escapes and mounts his real comeback. Whip to the corner and Jim with a BAAAAACK body-drop, followed by a big boot. Fuji trips Jim up, allowing Muraco to come from behind with a knee and stack him up (with feet on the ropes) for three at 10:16. Zero effort matches are the greatest. ZERO STARS

"Leaping" Lanny Poffo vs. "King" Harley Race:

We're in Philly, so of course the ring announcer calls Race "King Handsome Harley Race" for more confusing nickname changes somehow bleeding together. Poffo with a quick rhyme predicting victory for himself. Lockup, Poffo grabs a side headlock and comes off the ropes with a shoulder. Race nails him with a clothesline but misses a headbutt. Whip to the corner and Poffo with a BAAAACK body-drop. Poffo with a dropkick, knocking Race out of the ring. I don't think Race is best utilized doing a lot of rope running spots. Back inside, Race begs Poffo off before surprising him with a headbutt to the midsection. Poffo blocks a suplex and counters with his own, but gives control right back after missing an elbow drop. Race with a piledriver but Poffo gets his foot on the ropes to break the count. Race takes too long climbing the ropes, allowing Poffo time to recover and slam him to the canvas. Whip and they smack heads, with the impact knocking Race over the top rope. Poffo brings Race in and cradles him, but they end up in the ropes. Race with another headbutt to the midsection, followed by an elbow drop for two. Swinging neck breaker for two. Poffo with the comeback, planting Race with a slam, but he misses a top rope senton. Race with the fisherman suplex and that's good for three at 8:57. This was... fine. I guess. Race was working a very slow style and seemed disinterested at times, but things would improve when he was working higher on the card. *½

WWF Championship Match:
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (w/ Bobby Heenan):

A mid-card Championship Match?! You know we're not getting anything close to a decisive finish here. Orndorff's betrayal of Hogan was featured on TV in early August, and they would run all over the country with what is arguably the best drawing program of Hogan's Championship run (yes, more than with Piper, since they didn't work nearly as much as you would expect for obvious reasons). Orndorff comes out to Real American, which I never understood, but whatever. They trade blows out of the gate, with Hogan laying in the right hands, sending Orndorff out of the ring. Orndorff tries a blitz, but Hogan catches it coming. The action spills to the outside, with Orndorff being slammed face-first onto the apron and ring steps. Back inside, Hogan sends Orndorff into the turnbuckle and charges into the corner with a clothesline. Orndorff with a blow to the body and Heenan adds a slap, but Hogan is more irritated than hurt, hits Orndorff with an atomic drop, and chases Heenan around the ring until Orndorff jumps on him with a series of knees across the back of the neck.

Orndorff with a clothesline, sending Hogan over the top rope and crashing into the guardrail. Orndorff keeps Hogan out of the ring, which is a bold strategy if you want to win the title. Hogan finally makes it back inside, with Orndorff further punishing him with forearms across the throat. Orndorff comes off the ropes with a big elbow across the throat, sending Hogan flopping through the ropes. Orndorff gives the referee the business after a near-fall. He pulls Hogan to his feet and lays him out with a clothesline. Gorilla acknowledges that's exactly how it played out when Orndorff stabbed Hogan in the back. Orndorff with a suplex for another near-fall. Hogan starts getting hyped up and nails Orndorff with a high knee, wiping out Joey Marella in the process. Hogan pulls Orndorff to his feet and gives him a clothesline. He signals for the piledriver as the crowd loses it. Heenan hops in the ring to draw Hogan's attention, allowing Orndorff to whack Hogan between the eyes with a pair of brass knuckles. Hogan is bleeding and the referee is still out and unable to count. Orndorff revives Marella and it's time for the Hulk-Up! He shrugs off Orndorff's blows and unloads with right hands. He rips the knuckles from Orndorff and shoves the referee down for the Disqualification at 10:06. Hogan unloads on Orndorff and chokes him out until HERCULES HERNANDEZ tries to interrupt, but Hogan knocks him back and continues attacking Orndorff until Koko, Tama and Haku break things up. Not the worst finish we could have gotten, since it played into Hogan wanting to inflict punishment on Orndorff instead of being an outright cheap finish, and while simplistic in the work done, it was effective and had the crowd eating out of their hands. ***½

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. Hercules Hernandez:

Hey, we're getting a WrestleMania 2 rematch! The Steamboat/Roberts storyline was wrapping up (if not already finished) in most markets, so Steamboat is transitioning to his next big storyline, while Hercules is still just a mid-card heel with no real direction. Lockup, Hercules grabs a side headlock and comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Extended crisscross sequence, Steamboat blocks an atomic drop and goes for a spinning toe hold. Hercules kicks it off, misses a charge into the corner, and after another extended sequence, Steamboat hits a flying body press for two. Whip and Steamboat with a crucifix cradle for two. Hercules fights out of a wrist-lock and lays Steamboat out with a clothesline, but Steamboat pops up with a dropkick and goes back to the arm.

Hercules with another escape, peppering Steamboat with forearms and trapping him in the Andre Special for some wipe open blows. Hercules with a pair of slams and elbow drops for a two-count. Whip and Hercules with a back-breaker but Steamboat is in the ropes for the pin attempt. Hercules cuts off a comeback with another back-breaker. Steamboat gets tossed over the top rope and slammed on the concrete floor. Hercules brings Steamboat back in the ring with a suplex for a near-fall. He makes the slow climb to the rope and meets knees on the way down. Steamboat with a snap mare and chops across the face. Now it's Hercules getting sent to the floor, with Steamboat planting him on the concrete with a slam. Steamboat rolls back into the ring and Hercules is Counted-Out at 13:25?! The fight continues, with Hercules pulling Steamboat over the top rope. They trade blows until Hercules sends Steamboat into the post. He tries to whack the Dragon with a chair, but hits the post and it bounces back and hits himself in the face instead. The count-out was incredibly lame, but a solid match overall. ***

Billy Jack Haynes vs. Tiger Chung Lee:

So much for the hot streak we were on. Haynes is still a mid-card nobody and Tiger Chung Lee is on the level of Steve Lombardi, so the result isn't in doubt, just how much suffering we're in for, depending how long they go. Lockup and Tiger snaps Haynes over with an arm drag. I didn't see that one coming. Haynes returns the favor and hooks the arm. Whip to the ropes and Haynes with a shoulder block, followed by a god awful hip throw and dropkick. Another crisscross and Tiger buries a knee into the midsection. Haynes ducks an elbow, catches a boot, and spins Tiger around, slapping on the Full Nelson for a quick submission at 1:58. It was quick, that's all I could have asked for. Tiger Chung Lee casually leaving with zero F's to give is hilarious too.

Pedro Morales vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts:

What a random pairing. Roberts whips out Damian before the bell, and that is our highspot of the match, no doubt. Roberts is polite enough to put the snake back in the bag at least. Morales lays into Jake with a series of left hands that are straight out of 1974. Morales takes the bag and leaves the ring with it. Morales returns empty-handed and the bell rings, so Jake leaves the ring to find his bag and gets counted out at 0:57. Jake tries to hit Morales with the DDT, but Morales counters that and stands tall like the washed-up relic of a previous generation, unwilling to put anyone over when his team was clearly up. HOLY CRAP. What the hell was this garbage? I usually don't rate matches that are so short, but this was as stupid a finish to a nothing match as you're going to get. -*

Mike Rotundo & Danny Spivey vs. The Hart Foundation:

Final match of the night. Monsoon calls them "The American Express" and they come out to Stars and Stripes Forever. I feel like I point this out every time we get Rotundo and Spivey on the card. No Jimmy Hart at ringside because managers, unless they're involved with the Main Event, are rarely brought to the Spectrum. Rotundo and Hart start. Lockup into the ropes and Bret gives a clean break. Rotundo grabs a side headlock and comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Bret with a hip throw, but he misses an elbow drop. Rotundo misses an elbow of his own and Bret slaps on an arm bar. Rotundo blocks an O'Connor roll and sends Hart into the boot of Spivey. Spivey with a scoop slam and inverted atomic drop, sending the Hitman to the corner to tag in the Rhino. Spivey gets the better of their exchange and the Am-Express take turns working the leg.

Spivey with a GOD AWFUL figure-four leg-lock that Bret thankfully breaks up immediately. Bret clubs Spivey with forearms and staggers the big man with a headbutt. Whip to the ropes and Spivey surprises the Foundation with a double cross body press. Rotundo and Spivey take turns hitting them at the same time with splashes, sending them to the floor humiliated. Back inside, Bret nails Rotundo while running the ropes, finally allowing the Foundation to take control. Back-breaker and flying elbow combination gets a near-fall. Rotundo ends up on the floor and gets a taste of the guardrail. I feel like that spot is overdone on this card. Back inside, Rotundo surprises Hart with a sunset flip but can't get to his corner. Rotundo blocks being dropped across the top rope and takes Bret down with a back suplex. Spivey with the hot tag, running wild with left hands and sends Neidhart crashing into Bret. Neidhart gets thrown into the turnbuckle with a handful of beard hair and Spivey follows with a dropkick. Spivey with a slam and leg drop but Bret makes the save. Spivey charges into the corner with a clothesline but the bulldog is cut off by the Hitman with a well-executed clothesline, and Neidhart ends up on top for the three-count at 11:17. Spivey has such an awkward way of performing almost everything he does, but this was a good match to send the crowd home with, and they seemed to appreciate the Foundation winning. ***

Final Thoughts: Wow, three matches on one Philadelphia card that I found above average? That's got to be a new record. There's still a fair share of stinkers sprinkled throughout (Kamala/Bellomo, Muraco/Hillbilly Jim, and that dog-sh*t with Morales/Roberts), but it's not enough to bring down how entertained I was by Hogan/Orndorff, Steamboat/Hercules and the Am-Express/Foundation (as well as other decent matches filling out the card).

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