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Prime Time Wrestling - October 29, 1990

by Scrooge McSuck

- Another episode of Prime Time Wrestling that has fallen on the week of Halloween, so you know what that means... IT’S HALLOWEEN HAVOK!

- Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan are in the Prime Time Studio to give insight on all that we’re about to see. Even though the set is decorated for the festive holiday, neither Monsoon or the Brain are in costume like they had been the previous few years (1988 Gorilla was a Gorilla and Heenan was the Boss Man, and in 1989 Gorilla was "Brother Hate" and Heenan was the Genius). Heenan is living in fear of the Boss Man and explains why he has his track suit on instead of fancy suits, so he can run away as quick as possible.

"The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith vs. The Brooklyn Brawler:

Recycled from Superstars, but with new commentary from Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes. This is Davey Boy’s return match to the WWF, after nearly a 2-year hiatus. This squash match was such a big deal it was featured in an issue of WWF Magazine. Lockup and Bulldog shoves the Brawler to the floor. Whip to the ropes and the Bulldog doesn’t budge on a shoulder tackle. Crisscross and he connects with a dropkick. Delayed vertical suplex. Snap mare into a chin-lock. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were gassed already with his noticeably larger physique. Brawler goes to the eyes and rakes him across the top rope. Bulldog reverses a whip to the corner and takes him over with a monkey flip. Whip to the corner, Bulldog with a clothesline, and the Running Powerslam finishes at 2:21. Decent squash to reintroduce Davey Boy to the WWF audience.

- Gorilla Monsoon suggests that a rubber chicken is an indication of what Bobby Heenan might look like in the near future. Yes, a rubber chicken is used as a prop.

- We move on to the subject of Ted Dibiase beating down Dustin Rhodes on a recent episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes has issued a challenge, but Dibiase (still with Sapphire, hugging a Dibiase Wrestling Buddy) suggests that Dustin Rhodes couldn’t last 10-minutes with him. The match will be seen next week on Prime Time (or on the next episode of Superstars). Note he didn’t say Dustin has to beat him, he just has to last 10-minutes.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Paul Diamond:

From the September 21st card held at Madison Square Garden. I guess I haven’t seen this episode before, because I don’t recall ever watching this match. Diamond is still a few months away from becoming the masked "Kato", but the plan was already in the works at this point. Dustin’s using "Crank it Up" for his entrance music. Lockup to the ropes and a clean break. Diamond goes for an over-head wrist-lock, but Dustin escapes and hooks an arm-bar. Diamond tries to counter, but Dustin hangs on. Whip to the corner, Rhodes avoids a charge and goes back to the arm. Crisscross, Dustin with a dropkick and arm drag as we take a break. We return with Diamond in control with a chin-lock. Rhodes escapes and they botch something horribly. Looks like they were going for a crisscross, with Rhodes ducking under, but Diamond expecting the leap instead. They repeat the spot, and Dustin misses a dropkick. Diamond with a fist to the midsection for two. Dustin escapes a chin-lock but meets the corner on a charge. Diamond with a roll up, but the referee sees his feet on the ropes. Diamond meets the post on another failed charge. Dustin with a clothesline and mounted punches for two. Whip to the ropes, Dustin with a flying clothesline, and the big elbow drop finishes at 7:58 (clipped down from 13:00). ¾* Not much to this one. Adequate work at times, but mostly dull with one awful botch in the middle.

- From the pages of WWF Magazine (and the "Hottest Matches" Coliseum Video), it’s Special Report with Lord Alfred Hayes. BIG NEWS. Due to the disparaging remarks made about the mother of the Big Boss Man, President Jack Tunney suspended Rick Rude indefinitely and all his contractual obligations will be fulfilled by his manager, Bobby Heenan. In reality, Rude was out with an injury, but was promoted for shows he wasn’t going to be appear it. After demanding compensation for using his name and being denied, he walked out on his contract, which wasn’t due to expire for quite some time (it was eventually settled as a non-compete for 1-year).

Koko B. Ware & Battle Kat vs. The Orient Express (w/ Mr. Fuji):

A Prime Time Wrestling Exclusive... kind of. It was also featured on that weekend’s episode of Wrestling Spotlight, taped from Cape Girardeau, MO. Depending on the flip of the coin and a roll of the dice, Battle Kat is either Brady Boone or Bob Bradley. Sean Mooney rips on Battle Kat, so you know that gimmick is dead. Tanaka and BK start. Lots of stalling, primarily from the babyface. Battle Kat with a few light strikes. Whip to the ropes and Tanaka with a shoulder tackle. Crisscross and Battle Kat with a chop. He does a slow-motion handspring elbow and high kick. Tanaka with a leg sweep and chops. Sato casually walks into a hip toss. Koko in to work the arm. He takes a shot at Tanaka and does a cart-wheel. I’d give it a 9.5, not a 10. I don’t know what’s going on, but this match has been ugly from the start. Battle Kat back in with more terrible offense. Sato with a snap mare, but an elbow misses. Koko tags in and immediately gets caught in the wrong corner. Whip to the corner and Koko with mounted punches. They blow a spot and Koko turns it into a Boston crab. Sato breaks it with a kick to the side of the head. Koko with a roll up for two, and the crowd boos since Tanaka never really got his shoulder up. Sato with a slam. Koko connects with a missile dropkick on Tanaka for two. Small package, Sato sneaks in and whacks Koko with the cane, and Tanaka covers for three at 7:44. - ** This looked like amateur hour. Blown spots, light work, lack of chemistry, and needing to cheat to beat Koko B. Ware? This was way worse than I would’ve ever anticipated.

- Bobby Heenan is in the studio, kissing the rear-end of the Big Boss Man by putting on a Boss Man cap, available in the OFFICIAL WWF Merchandise Catalog.

- Sean Mooney is standing by in the Event Center to hype the 4th Annual Survivor Series. The Warriors (Warrior, Von Erich, and LOD) are standing by with words for the Perfect Team (Hennig and Demolition). Order the Survivor Series on Thanksgiving Night, November 22nd, only on Pay-Per-View!

Saba Simba vs. Bob Bradley:

A Prime Time Exclusive taped from Springfield, IL on October 9th. If you thought Battle Kat was a stupid gimmick, take a look at Saba Simba. Tony Atlas came looking for work, destitute, and was gifted this doozy. A man going back to his roots. Unfortunately, Akeem left the company before that epic battle could take place. Mooney says "Saba Simba" translates to "Seven Lions." Whatever you say, I don’t care enough to research it. Simba with a "slow arm drag" (as called by Mooney), followed by a slam. Slow motion reversal to the corner and Bradley misses a charge. Whip to the ropes and Simba with a clothesline, knocking Bradley to the floor. Back inside, Saba Simba with a chin-lock. Whip to the corner and Bradley with a handspring elbow... so that means the Battle Kat we saw earlier was indeed Mr. Bradley. Simba ducks a clothesline and finishes with a Samoan drop at 3:44. Just a squash, but it was really bad.

- "Mean" Gene Okerlund is standing by with the Survivor Series Report. The lineup is official, with all substitutions already announced. The Warriors vs. The Perfect Team, The Hulkamaniacs vs. The Natural Disasters, The Dream Team vs. The Million Dollar Team, The Alliance vs. The Mercenaries, The Vipers vs. The Visionaires, the Grand Survival Finale, and the hatching of the mysterious Survivor Series Egg. All this and (not much) more on Thanksgiving Night!

- Highlights of Hulk Hogan and Tugboat vs. Rhythm and Blues from Saturday Night’s Main Event. Hogan is in complete control of the match, because Tugboat is the least helpful partner in history. It doesn’t take long for Dino Bravo and Earthquake to run in and try to put an end to Hulkamania, but Tugboat remembers that he’s got a pulse, grabs the guitar, and starts whacking away at people with it... and it doesn’t break. Either he’s throwing some of the wussiest blows in the history of guitar shots, or they didn’t bother to gimmick the thing and he didn’t want to kill anyone. I’m going with the former.

- Bobby Heenan: My mom’s a dog compared to the Boss Man’s mother. And there is the line of the night.

- The Brother Love Show with Jake "The Snake" Roberts. "The Model" Rick Martel is also on hand to further the storyline between the two. They mock Roberts, who comes out doing the blind man routine. Martel cheap shots him and gets taken away. Brother Love on the other hand is left there as a sacrificial lamb, and Roberts nails him with a DDT as they show off his special contact lenses to give the illusion of serious eye damage ("that poor man!"). Brother Love’s only worth to the weekly television is the occasional butt-whooping he takes, otherwise, my God was that character one of the most irritating to watch for the better part of three years.

Shane Douglas vs. The Barbarian (w/ Bobby Heenan):

Another Prime Time Exclusive, taped from Cape Girardeau, MO on October 10th. No ring entrances shown. The crowd is chanting "Weasel" with Douglas cheerleading. Lockup into the corner, Douglas avoids a cheap shot, frustrating the Barbarian. Barbarian with choking against the ropes. Douglas with a slide between the legs, clothesline, and dropkick, sending Barbarian to the floor for a breather. Back inside, Barbarian with headbutts to the chest. Douglas avoids a "charge" and mounts him in the corner with rights. He goes for a monkey flip, but the Barbarian blocks. Whip to the ropes, Douglas ducks under a boot, but jumps into a bear-hug. Heenan yells at the timekeeper to ring the bell (insert Montreal joke here). Douglas survives the pain and fights free with ear smacks. Douglas with a dropkick and jabs. Barbarian catches him off the ropes but Douglas pounds him down. Douglas to the top rope and Barbarian ducks under a flying body press. Barbarian makes a trip to the top and finishes with the Flying Clothesline at 5:47. * The most watchable match of the show, and that isn’t intended to be compliment.

- Bobby Heenan has a peace offering gift for the Big Boss Man and his mother. A signed photograph of himself, with X’s and O’s. Monsoon tears it up to save them the trouble of doing it themselves. Next week we’ll see The Bushwhackers vs. Rhythm and Blues, Tito Santana vs. The Barbarian, and Dustin Rhodes vs. Ted Dibiase.

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka vs. Haku:

More Exclusive action, taped from Springfield, IL on October 9th. It’s the Battle of Fiji Islands vs. The Island of Tonga. I don’t see Bobby Heenan at ringside for this one. Lockup, Snuka grabs a side headlock. Crisscross sequence and Haku catches him with a slam. Snuka kicks him off mule-style, plants him with a slam of his own, and comes off the ropes with a diving body press for a two count. Haku with a side headlock and shoulder tackle. Another crisscross, Haku slowly "runs" into a chop and rolls to the floor for a breather. Back inside, Snuka with knees to the midsection. Haku reverses a whip to the ropes and sends Snuka over the top rope with a clothesline (also done in slow-motion). Haku brings him back in with a suplex for a near fall. Whip to the ropes and Snuka with a sunset flip attempt, but Haku blocks and nails him with a double chop. Whip to the corner, Snuka with a twisting body press. Haku rolls through, Snuka rolls through the roll through, and that finishes at 5:11. ½* I’d really hate to have attended either shows from October 9th and 10th.

- Special Interview with the "Macho King" Randy Savage and "Sensational" Queen Sherri. Recycled from Wrestling Challenge. Okerlund rubs it in his face that he is not the WWF Champion. Savage is on a mission to get a Championship opportunity against the Ultimate Warrior. He quotes a certain Aretha Franklyn song that involves spelling and promises to be the next WWF Champion. Okerlund accuses Savage of hiding behind the skirt of Sherri.

The Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Kent Carlson:

Recycled from the recent episode of Superstars. The Rockers will team up with Jake Roberts and Jimmy Snuka at Survivor Series to face Rick Martel, The Warlord, and Power & Glory. Someone really loved referring to Michaels in some way as a Superstar of the 90’s (here as the "Tag Team of the 90"s and when he went solo, the Superstar of the 90’s). Rose goes for the legs, but Michaels side-steps him. Michaels catches a boot and connects with an atomic drop. Inset promo from Hercules and Paul Roma. Jannetty with a diving back elbow on Playboy. Carlson gets taken over with a snap mare and Jannetty comes off the ropes with a fist drop. Michaels with a swinging neck breaker, followed by a suplex while "Rose has a sandwich on the floor." Vince McMahon is such a nice fella. Jannetty with a Rocker Dropper. Double Slingshot Suplex to Carlson, Double Super-Kick to Rose, and Michaels drops Jannetty on top of Carlson for three at 2:54. Best match of the night, even though it was a total squash. We see Roddy Piper is calling the action with a sheet over his head in honor of Halloween.

Mr. Perfect (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs. Randy Jackson:

Another squash match recycled from Superstars. Mr. Perfect leads Demolition against the foursome of the Warrior, Texas Tornado, and Legion of Doom. Perfect with a waist-lock and Jackson escapes with an elbow to the side of the head. Demolition, wearing their S&M masks, cut a quick inset promo. Perfect with a single leg pick and sandwiches the knee, driving it down to the canvas. Perfect-Plex finishes at 1:08. Well, that was brisk.

- Bobby Heenan continues to try and suck-up to the Boss Man as we big farewell to another week of Prime Time Wrestling.

Final Thoughts: Might as well have labeled this an unofficial episode of the Bobby Heenan Show. All the studio segments were designed to advance the Heenan/Boss Man storyline, most of them comical, some recycling the same material since there’s only so many ways you can make someone do insincere apologies so he doesn’t get his butt whooped. On top of that, all three of Heenan’s remaining protégés were featured in action this week. The "Exclusive" content was some lackluster choices at best. I don’t know what the schedule was like going in, but all the dark matches taped from Springfield, IL and Cape Girardeau, MO were some of the least inspired efforts I’ve seen in one package. It wasn’t just bad workers stinking up the place, it was everyone and when the bad workers are noticeably not trying, it makes it worse. With recycled footage, we also furthered storylines involving Roberts/Martel, Dibiase/Rhodes, and Warrior/Savage. The matches were terrible, but the studio segments made it watchable.