REVIEW: Saturday Night’s Main Event #14: You Can See It Coming

Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling displays for over ten years now and feature reviewed over 5,000 displays. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a brand new evaluate right here on Wrestlingrumors.web. It may well be anything else from trendy WWE to old skool to indies to anything else in between. Note that I fee the usage of letters as an alternative of stars and I don’t fee suits underneath 3 mins as actually, how excellent or dangerous can one thing that quick be?

Saturday Night’s Main Event #14
Date: January 2, 1988
Location: Capital Center, Landover, Maryland
Attendance: 11,000
Commentators: Jesse Ventura, Vince McMahon

It’s a brand new 12 months and Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant is the one tale of observe this present day. We’re getting very just about the rematch and the contract will probably be signed in only some weeks on a loose tv particular referred to as the Royal Rumble. Getting King Kong Bundy out of the best way is little greater than a formality so let’s get to it.

Jake Roberts invitations Sika and Mr. Fuji to a New Year’s birthday party with Damien and Jake himself as visitors.

Greg Valentine guarantees to scramble Koko’s chook brains.

Strike Force goes to strike.

Slick guarantees a Russian revolution.

Heenan, dressed in a neck brace, formally names Andre as Bundy’s supervisor. He begins a Bundy chant as a result of Bundamania is operating wild.

Hogan doesn’t care who he has to move via as a result of Bundamania isn’t going to are living endlessly.

Opening series.

Here’s an excerpt from the intro:

Vince: “Happy New Year!”

Jesse: “Hey don’t you speak for me!”

Vince: “Oh I’m sorry Jesse.”

Jesse: “Happy New Year!”

Hogan is doing Hindu squats however stops to yell at Gene. He’s in a position to swim the inner most sea and climb the best mountain to damage Bundamania and get his arms at the massive.

Slick says his Bolsheviks (Volkoff and fellow Russian Boris Zhukov) are being depressed through Strike Force’s capitalistic propaganda. Soviet chief Mikhail Gorbachev has flown in to speak technique with Slick over the past week.

We get a clip of Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) taking the Tag Team Titles from the Hart Foundation again in November.

Strike Force believes in every different and are in a position to struggle this night.

Tag Team Titles: Strike Force vs. Bolsheviks

Two out of 3 falls once more. Tito slams Boris down to start out ahead of grabbing an armbar. It’s off to Martel vs. Volkoff with Rick getting a quick two off a rollup. Zhukov is available in with some clubbing forearms to Tito’s again however Nikolai has to get a divorce a close to fall off a pass frame. The Russians take over on Tito and chokes away at the apron. Boris slaps on a chinlock for somewhat till Tito crawls over for the new tag to Martel. Things accelerate once more and a snappy Boston crab (the similar transfer that gained Strike Force the titles) makes Boris put up for the primary fall.

Back from a destroy with Boris nonetheless retaining his again and the champs double dropkicking him down. The Boston crab is on once more however Nikolai makes a snappy save. Volkoff’s gorilla press backbreaker will get two on Martel and he drops a large knee for excellent measure. Back up they usually hit heads to provide us a breather. Boris is available in off the tag however shoves Martel into the nook for the actual scorching tag to Tito. Everything breaks down and Slick arms Nikolai the cane, handiest to have him nail Boris through mistake, giving Tito the simple pin.

Rating: D+. The Bolsheviks had been referred to as being nugatory over time and this fit makes that very transparent. They had been simply giant guys that would hit folks exhausting, however there wasn’t a lot but even so that. Granted, that made them best possible goals for a velocity group like Strike Force who may just drive the Russians to make errors and capitalize. It’s now not a terrible fit however the finishing used to be a question of time as an alternative of a query.

Mr. Fuji has a jar of mustard and Sika brings in an enormous roll of bread. They’re making plans on having Damien for dinner.

Jake Roberts isn’t frightened about Damien being anyone’s meal since the DDT will maintain him. He isn’t going to move head to head with Sika both. If you had been going to rob a financial institution, you wouldn’t pass in the course of the entrance door would you? Those little traces like that made Jake the entire extra wonderful.

Sika vs. Jake Roberts

Jake is going after the arm to start out and geese some proper arms. The arm doesn’t appear to be an possibility so the following possibility is a sequence of shoulders to the ribs within the nook. Sika simply takes him down with a shot to the face despite the fact that and Fuji provides in some cane pictures to the ribs. Canes had been highly regarded again within the 80s should you couldn’t inform. A nerve grasp has Jake in bother however he comes again with a sequence of proper arms to the pinnacle. I’m shocked it really works at the Samoan stereotype as that used to be a somewhat secure thought again within the day. A couple of seconds later, Sika misses a fee into the nook and will get rolled up for the pin.

Rating: D. This used to be a lovely nugatory fit however a minimum of Jake in any case gained one thing in this display. Sika is a brilliant option to lose to Jake right here as he used to be in a World Title fit lately, which means the fanatics who watch this display will see him as a somewhat giant deal. The fit used to be not anything particular despite the fact that, particularly given the loss of a DDT.

Post fit Jake crops Fuji with a DDT, now not even transferring the bowler hat in a really perfect bonus. Damien finishes up on Fuji as neatly.

Heenan reiterates that he can’t be at ringside this night however Andre will probably be there, which means the 2 males that experience overwhelmed Hogan will probably be there on the identical time. Okerlund means that Heenan is scared however Andre and Bundy yell at him.

We get a two 2d clip of Hogan throwing Heenan round to injure his neck.

Hogan says he used to be struck through lightning remaining time however he’s talked to President Ronald Reagan and is able to take out Bundamania. He’ll do no matter it takes to get his arms on Andre once more. I’m beautiful positive he coated that within the opening promo montage.

WWF World Title vs. King Kong Bundy vs. Hulk Hogan

Andre is in Bundy’s nook to switch Heenan for this night handiest. Rematch from remaining time the place Hogan misplaced through countout. They get started with the facility showdown and Hogan sends him into the nook. Bundy comes up with the speculation of operating directly at Hogan and SHOUTING VERY LOUDLY, handiest to be despatched into the nook and punched out to the ground for a gathering with the Giant. You would assume a 400+lb monster operating at you may had been sneakier. Back in and a clothesline places Bundy proper again at the out of doors.

We reset once more and Hogan cranks at the arm, which isn’t the most typical factor to look him do. Bundy comes again with an armbar of his personal as this actually isn’t the most efficient trail for those two to take. Hogan fights up once more however eats a again elbow to the jaw, permitting Bundy to move proper again to the arm, entire with a hair pull to take Hogan down. It’s abnormal to look those two having a logical fit stuffed with psychology as those two are energy brawlers as a rule.

Hogan will get all fired up (other from Hulking Up) and slams Bundy, handiest to reinjure the arm. Then, as it is smart on this fit handiest, he tries an elbow drop with the left arm however crashes once more. Both guys get again up and the referee will get beaten between Hogan and Bundy within the nook. Another referee comes out to drag the referee’s frame away as Hogan punches Bundy out to the ground.

We take a destroy with the referee being taken out on a stretcher (Vince: “Just like you used to do in your wrestling days Jesse.”). Bundy takes over with a clothesline and drops a knee for a close to fall. A chop knocks Hogan out to the ground for a fast 5 depend ahead of Bundy slaps on a chinlock. The Avalanche connects within the nook and Hogan is down however bundy selections him up for a 2d Avalanche. Bundy calls for a 5 depend however hits a operating splash for excellent measure, handiest to have Hogan kick out at two. He Hulks Up, whips Bundy chest first into the buckle and drops the leg to retain.

Rating: D+. It picked up close to the top and removed Bundy (he used to be long gone from the corporate virtually in an instant after this), however the fit actually didn’t paintings that neatly. This used to be roughly two suits in a single, with the arm stuff going nowhere after the destroy and a normal Hogan fit beginning up as an alternative. Actually this is smart despite the fact that, as the actual Hogan formulation for earning profits used to be to have a monster constructed up after which Hogan by means of countout or DQ within the first fit, putting in a large rematch a month or so later. It labored for years within the 80s, this sequence incorporated.

Hogan posts however Andre sneaks in from in the back of with some large headbutts. With an EVIL glance on his face, Andre chokes Hogan down very easily. The British Bulldogs pop out however can’t get Andre off Hogan, handiest to be dispatched very easily. The Junkyard Dog, Jake Roberts and Strike Force have the similar good fortune, so right here comes Jim Duggan with the two×4. He blasts Andre within the again with the board (obviously reduce upfront) however it doesn’t destroy. The distraction we could the remainder of the fellows get Hogan out, as Duggan smashes the board onto the apron to in any case destroy it, sending a work flying into the gang.

Jesse talks to Greg Valentine and his new supervisor Jimmy Hart. Valentine hasn’t ever been happier now that he’s clear of the psychological midget Brutus the Barber Beefcake.

Koko B. Ware says he’s a featherweight and says Beefcake has educating him the right way to clip wings.

Greg Valentine vs. Koko B. Ware

Valentine begins speedy through losing Koko throat first around the best rope. The power isn’t precisely top on this one. Some chops have Koko in bother within the nook and a center rope ax care for drops him down once more. The chinlock helps to keep Koko down and Valentine sends him out of doors, most likely out of boredom. Back in and Greg holds Koko’s shoulders to the mat as Brutus Beefcake comes out for a distraction. A backslide and small bundle get two every for Ware because the referee ejects Beefcake.

We take a destroy and are available again with Valentine losing an elbow for 2. Greg unintentionally crotches himself on Koko’s ft however pops again up ahead of Koko does anything else. He takes too lengthy getting up best despite the fact that and will get slammed down, permitting Koko to make a snappy comeback try. A headbutt will get two however Valentine will get in a snappy shot to the leg and the Figure Four is excellent for the submission.

Rating: F+. When you set up to be worse than Danny Davis vs. George Steele, your fit is an absolute crisis. This used to be so dull and felt love it simply stored going. It used to be transparent that they had been simply wrestling to kill time right here and that’s now not the type of factor you ever wish to see, particularly on a large display like this.

Koko takes Valentine out, permitting Beefcake to come back out and reduce a few of Jimmy’s hair.

We recap Andre choking Hogan down previous.

Andre liked choking like that and thinks he must do it once more to get the belt. Heenan guarantees handy Andre the belt on a platter. The Giant chokes Okerlund to rejoice.

Jesse is extremely joyful with this night’s occasions. Gene tells us that Hogan has windpipe harm however he’s respiring on his personal. This makes Ventura even happier as a result of he doesn’t have to hear Hogan communicate anymore.

Vince wraps us up.

Overall Rating: D-. This used to be a large fall from what the displays were doing within the fresh months. Other than Andre choking Hogan, not anything of observe came about right here. Yeah Hogan vs. Andre formally being set is a huge deal, however it’s now not like that used to be a large wonder. Everyone knew it used to be coming in the end, however the query used to be when. It’s a excellent second and wanting about seven guys to make the save used to be a pleasing contact, however it’s the one excellent factor on a humdrum display.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has observed over 50,000 wrestling suits. He has additionally been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 complete displays coated. You can in finding his paintings at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or take a look at his- Amazon creator web page with 30 wrestling books. Get the newest and biggest in skilled wrestling information through signing up for our day by day e mail publication. Just glance underneath for “GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES” to enroll. Thank you for studying!

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