This occurred in November of 1985 and was the first ever wrestling tournament in the WWF, sort of a pre-King of the Ring tournament. This is also the very first WWF pay-per-view.
I got this from WWE 24/7 so there may be editing; Ricky Steamboat introduces this as the September pick your poll.
From the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura.
Vince McMahon opens the show with Lord Alfred Hayes and show off the brackets in the sixteen-man tournament. We get highlights of Ricky Steamboat drawing Davey Boy Smith as his opponent. Elizabeth draws Ivan Putski for Randy Savage, who isn’t happy with her. Mr. Fuji draws Tito Santana (the IC Champ) for the Magnificent Muraco. Gene Okerlund is with WWF President Jack Tunney who goes over the rules for the tournament; Tunney says you must win your match to advance. Brilliant.
Corporal Kirchner vs. Adrian Adonis (w/Jimmy Hart) first round match: Adrian was not yet adorable and he still has his back hair. Kirchner was Sgt. Slaughter’s replacement when he left the WWF, but no one could replace the Sarge. Gorilla Monsoon mentions Adonis’ teaming with Jesse Ventura, part of the East-West Connection, in the past and winning tag titles, but no mention of former Wrecking Crew partner Dick Murdoch. Adonis has his rather egg shaped physique here as he was rapidly ballooning in weight, which is why they gave him the “Adorable” gimmick, as a punishment. They lock up in the corner and Kirchner comes away with an armdrag. The ring is extra noisy at this show. Kirchner hits another crappy armdrag and then a side headlock, which he wrenches on for a while. Thrilling. Adonis comes back and drops Kirchner with a backdrop suplex to free himself. Adrian takes over with elbows and mares him into a driving elbow; Adonis now applies a chinlock. Kirchner tries a comeback with a suplex but Adonis blocks it and drops him with a DDT for three. The commentators have no idea what to call the finish because Jake Roberts hadn’t debuted yet. 2.5/10 Short match, which will be a problem throughout this tournament (or any wrestling tournament), knowing this, I will grade the matches solely on action during that short time and not downgrade for lack of psychology. This match was okay but had too many chinlocks for three minutes.
Gene Okerlund interviews the victor; Jimmy Hart calls him adorable and then Adrian Adonis says that he knows wrestling and will win the tourney.
Dynamite Kid vs. Nikolai Volkoff first round match: Mr. Volkoff requests you all rinse and respect his singing the Soviet National Anthem… then Dynamite stuns him with a top-rope missile dropkick and pins him in ten seconds! 4/10 Wasn’t much of a match but was a cool moment, which popped the crowd. Higher grade was for the segment versus the match; the in-ring match itself was a 1/10.
Randy Savage cuts one of his fantastic promos and calls the Wrestling Classic the most important thing… “at this particular time”. He’s ready and nervous; but he is going to still win. Elizabeth is excited. Savage calls himself the best wrestler in the world.
Ivan Putski vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/Elizabeth) first round match: This is like the old school (at that time) versus the new school; Putski was a bulky lumbering chinlock machine and Savage was the “new breed”, an athletic highflyer (with entrance music). This was really early in Savage’s WWF career and Jesse Ventura is predicting huge things for him. Savage, as he did in his early days, stalls on the floor (and second ropes) and points a lot. Putski spits right in his face; apparently Savage spat first. He does another classic Macho tactic: repositioning Elizabeth in another part of the ringside area, thus breaking his opponent’s momentum. Stuff like this is missing in today’s WWE; Primo should try that with Rosa Mendes sometime. Savage tries a shoulderblock and Putski doesn’t move and flexes at Savage. They lock up and Putski unloads with some of his seventies offense, ramming him into the buckle a few times. Macho gouges the eye and takes over, briefly, Putski comes back, ramming him face-first into the mat. Putski methodically punches and uppercuts whilst Savage oversells, making this match ten times better than it should be. Ivan overaggressively stamps in the corner until Savage scoops him in the Flair Pin and gets the three. 3.5/10 Ha! Savage got his ass kicked the entire (two minute) match and scooped the legs and pinned him; Jesse gloats over the “smart” victory. I love Macho.
Vince McMahon goes over the brackets with Lord Alfred Hayes when Nikolai Volkoff barges in and yells at them about the quick loss. Nikolai says in Soviet Russia… whoever laughs last, laughs best; he points to himself with his middle finger, thus flipping off everyone at home.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Davey Boy Smith first round match: This is the first “unique” luck of the draw in the tourney, i.e. both are babyfaces, which was EXTREMELY rare in 1985. Davey’s ability goes by my previously mentioned, hair length scale, the shorter the better; so it’s short and therefore should be a good match. The two of them go through a wristlock counter sequence and then hit the ropes; Ricky tries a hiplock but Davey blocks it, so Steamboat Owen Harts himself free and tries again, which is blocked again, and reversed. Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura debate the “technical matchup” we are seeing as to when the cheating (if any) will start. Smith with a back-to-belly takeover suplex, which nets him a pinfall, but the referee takes thirty-five minutes getting around to count the nearfall; Ricky bridges up to counter into a backslide, for another nearfall. Steamboat runs right into a press-slam… for another snail-like two count, from referee Slowpoke McSlowcount. Davey applies a front chancery and tries to segue into a slam, Ricky blocks, but Smith press-slams him again. Davey Boy tries to wear Steamboat, the quicker of the two, with his strength, which is a sound strategy. Steamboat reverses a suplex and Bulldog suplexes Davey Boy! He tries a splash off the ropes but Smith gets his knees up to block. Davey starts throwing dropkicks and misses the third consecutive and hangs himself in the ropes, injuring himself. The referee waives off the match in favor of the Dragon. Post-match, Ricky the sportsman, immediately checks on Davey and helps him to the back. Gorilla feels that Steamboat did not want to win the match in that fashion, Jessie calls bullshit. 6.5/10 Don’t complain about such a high score for a five minute match; the action that they packed into five minutes was fantastic, if it were a ten to fifteen minute affair, it probably would have scored a legit 8/10 or 8.5/10.
Junk Yard Dog, who was a rather recent addition to the WWF, who is not taking his opponent for granted. JYD wants to lend his support to the local sports team the Chicago… Gene Okerlund saves him and starts talking as the poor JYD got lost in his lines.
Junk Yard Dog vs. Iron Sheik first round match: Sheik is a former WWF Champion and has taken the Jack Swagger world title loss plunge. The Sheik attacks as the bell rings and chokes him with his sarong; he applies a trapezius hold and spits on JYD, who the fans chant for. The Dog begins his comeback and head-butts the Sheik to the ground. He heads to the floor to regroup. Back in the ring, Sheik gets a full nelson but JYD uses the power of ASS to break. Dog hits a clothesline for a nearfall; he misses a falling head-butt and Sheik applies the Camel Clutch. The referee checks the arm twice and the hold just kinda falls apart, as it looked like the Dog wasn’t being very cooperative in the hold, for the Sheik. He roughs up JYD in the corner and the referee involves himself so the Sheik pushes him aside and turns right into a head-butt for three. 1/10 Bleh, that was awful and looked totally out of joint; the thought with JYD was once he got to the WWE, his workrate plummeted, judging by this crap, I find it hard to argue that point.
In the back Gene Okerlund talks to Jimmy Hart and Terry Funk; Funk cuts a promo, making no sense at all, and says he wants to wrestle the soon-to-be WWF Champion Roddy Piper. Funk spits his chewing tobacco into the camera. Classy.
Moondog Spot vs. Terry Funk (w/Jimmy Hart) first round match: Here we have our first heel versus heel match. Terry tries to outsmart Spotty, grabbing the mic and saying he does not want to wrestle him; he suggests they both leave the ring and settle for a draw (thus eliminating each other). He tries to nail him upon their exits and run back to the ring for the countout, but Spot catches him by the ring, Funk backdrops him back into the ring and Funk loses by countout. Post-match, Funk tries to go after Spot and then the referee to no avail. 4.5/10 That was clever; people may think that was stupid, but I found it clever.
In the back Fuji Vice discusses their opponent Tito Santana. Mr. Fuji feels sorry for Tito because the Magnificent Muraco is going to beat him. Muraco cuts a very somber promo about beating the best to become the best.
Tito Santana vs. Magnificent Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji) first round match: Tito is the current Intercontinental Champion; Gorilla Monsoon calls this a main event anywhere in the country. I loved when he said that, a classic Monsoon; although it was funnier when he said it for a Koko B. Ware versus Kato match and Lord Alfred Hayes would agree with him. Jesse Ventura thinks that Tito’s ego got in his way, citing possible injury and title stripping. Muraco takes over quickly with punches and clotheslines; he whiffs on one and Santana comes back with a high crossbody, for two. Muraco goes to the gut and takes over again but Tito comes back with a sunset flip and a backslide; Tito was CLASSIC EIGHTIES offense. Muraco trembles in the corner but Tito gives him no quarter and stomps away. He whips him cross corner and Muraco does a Shawn Michaels flip-sell in the corner. Santana continue with his stomps and an armbar and maintains it for a while, despite hair pulls from Muraco. He finally breaks the hold and slams Tito’s throat across the top rope and takes over. Muraco drops some clotheslines, elbows and knees for some nearfalls. Muraco powerslams him right next to the ropes and the referee counts a three count (and the bell rings); Tito had his foot on the ropes, I think, it was obscured by the camera angle. I think the referee may have seen it because waives the match off (I think), or says it must continue, I have no idea… he neglects to tell the celebrating Muraco and Santana inside cradles him for three. 1.5/10 Match was bad and the ending was really stupid; did they devise this overly elaborate retarded ending to protect Muraco?
Gene Okerlund is with Bobby Heenan; none of his charges are in this tournament. Bobby has his $50,000 with him on the bounty he placed on Paul Orndorff’s head.
“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs. “Cowboy” Bob Orton first round match: Yes, that’s Randy Orton’s father; Bobby Heenan placed a $50,000 bounty on him for turning babyface, for the second or third time, I lost count at this point; although he turned on Hulk Hogan in 1986, so this is probably his first babyface turn. They lock up and Orndorff controls with an armbar, working over the slowly healing forearm of Orton. An atomic drop sends Orton reeling into the corner where he posts his shoulder. Orndorff rams the forearm onto the top of the ringpost and works the arm some more with an arm wringer. He runs the ropes and Orndorff leapfrogs him but runs into a headlock takeover; Paul leg scissors his way free and armdrags back into an armbar. Jesse Ventura complains of a hair pull during the head scissors… I don’t know if that’s physically possible! Orndorff works the cast and drops a knee on it. Wonderful uses a crazy chicken wing move where he places Ace on his stomach, chicken wings his arm around his boot and then drops back onto his back, hyperextending the arm upwards and bending it in a non-conformist way; someone really ought to bring that move back, perhaps Daniel Bryan, who’s finisher would fit directly into that move, plus it’s brutal looking. Jesse keeps talking about the “true” Mr. Wonderful; well, we’d see him in 1986. Orton catches Orndorff with a boot in the corner and takes over with a reverse stungun. Orndorff tries a sunset flip but cannot get Orton over so he CHEATS and grabs the trunks, for two; Ace applies a chinlock and then a head scissors, all the while flexing his fingers, getting the blood flowing. LITTLE THINGS! Orndorff handstands himself over onto Orton to break the hold and then they bridge up into am Orton backslide spot for a nearfall. Usually it’s the guy on top who winds up with the backslide in that spot but Ace, showing off his skill, changed it up and keeps the fans guessing. Orndorff retreats to the corner so Orton tries a flying head scissors (one of his signature moves) but Wonderful moves and Orton’s head scissors meets the top rope. Ouch. Only problem with that spot is that it prematurely ended the earlier match with Davey Boy Smith and Ricky Steamboat but here the match continues on; I guess Orton is TOUGHER! Wonderful kicks the snot out of Ace and floors him with a flying elbow. A punch sends Orton to the floor and the chase is on; the referee pulls Orndorff back so Orton adjusts his cast and waffles Paul on the noggin with it right in front of the referee who promptly disqualifies him. Post-match, Orton, of course thinks he won, and then they battle again and Ace runs away. 7/10 Good match between these two; Orndorff was not too shabby in the ring during his prime in 1985-1987; Orton, however, was a great technician in the ring and could work with anyone, which sometimes can be a curse as everyone will pass you up the ladder because you make them look so good. Bret Hart ran into a similar scenario in 1995 with Diesel.
Vince McMahon is with Lord Alfred Hayes as they update the brackets and discuss the second round matches, which have been upgraded to fifteen minutes. Terry Funk runs in and rants about getting robbed in his match and spouts off about Hulk Hogan.
Dynamite Kid vs. Adrian Adonis (w/Jimmy Hart) quarter final match: This should be a good one. They lock up and Adrian uses his girth to knock Dynamite over; he comes back with armdrags and Adonis flops to the floor. After reading Bret Hart’s book, Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling (available for purchase by clicking here), I have much less respect for Dynamite (Thomas Billington) as a human being… but not as a WRESTLER (Dynamite Kid). The same holds true for another wrestler, who mimicked Dynamite. Adonis reenters and boots Kid down and then slingshots him into the turnbuckles; he slams Dynamite as Jesse Ventura leaves his announce post to go talk to Randy Savage about his upcoming match with Ricky Steamboat. Adrian hits a nice vertical suplex as Gorilla Monsoon is aghast at Jesse’s departure. Adonis applies a chinlock allowing the live fans to digest Ventura’s departure. Dynamite uses some power to backdrop suplex himself free and tries a falling head-butt but Adonis pulls an Undertaker to avoid. Adonis traps Kid’s knee in between his legs and knee and drops on it a few times to ground Dynamite. Adrian applies a SHARPSHOOTER but Kid makes it under the ropes. Dynamite limps around as Adonis kicks at his leg; he gets a surprise victory roll out of the corner for a CLOSE nearfall. Back to the legwork goes Adrian. He tries a running bulldog but Dynamite shoves him off into the buckles and Adrian posts his shoulder. Kid begins a comeback with some knees and a running Benoit-line (Dynamite used it first but more people will remember Chris Benoit using it). Dynamite drops a second rope knee, which has miraculously recovered, and gets a nearfall. FINALLY I get to see a Dynamite snap-suplex; Jimmy Hart pops up onto the apron so Dynamite goes after him. Adonis tries an O’Connor roll but Kid kicks him off and he collides with Hart (and the megaphone) and Dynamite falls on top for the pinfall to advance. Post-match, Dynamite sells the knee again; Jimmy’s megaphone is broken as well. Adonis throws a three-year-old temper tantrum over the loss. 6/10 Another pretty good encounter as more of the better wrestlers have advanced in the tourney. This guarantees a good match in the next round (although Adonis versus either Savage or Steamboat would be good as well).
Gene Okerlund is with Jesse Ventura and they discuss Randy Savage and discuss three heads are better than one; Ventura has reported Macho of his next opponents’ flaws. They argue over his “unbiased” commentary.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/Elizabeth) quarter final match: This match has some potential… Savage plays with Steamboat, then pulls Liz in front, and “Pearl Harbors” Steamboat (ah, I miss Gorilla Monsoon) when he turns his back. Steamboat comes back, sliding through Savage’s legs, and unloads with chops. Macho retreats to the floor and stalls. Steamboat gets too close to the ropes so Savage pulls him to the floor and they briefly battle and then reenter the ring where the WRESTLING can begin. Savage traps Steamboat in the corner but he utilizes a head scissors and then bops Macho on the head with his foot; Savage moves in again and this time the Dragon scissorses Savage over the top. The battle on the floor commences again; Steamboat hits a long delayed atomic drop. Back in the ring, they run the ropes at a hundred miles an hour; Steamboat fakes him out with a chop on the rope and then nails him with it on the rebound. Savage comes back with a backdrop suplex as Jesse Ventura returns as well. Savage to the top for a double axe but Steamboat catches him with a punch to the gut on the landing. Dragon drops chops so Savage retreats to the apron; Ricky suplexes him back in. Dragon to the top for a crossbody… for two. Steamboat lights him up with CHOPS. Savage retreats to the apron again and reaches into his trunks for something, shielded from the referee. He misses a wild swing at Steamboat with it but catches him with the object when Ricky tries to back suplex him back into the ring. Savage gets the pinfall. 7/10 Good match for seven minutes; they’d have a better match soon. These two have great chemistry; Savage had chemistry with a lot of good wrestlers and some not-so-good ones too, like Hulk Hogan.
Gene Okerlund talks to Moondog Spot about his upcoming match with Junk Yard Dog; Spot says nothing and just munches on his bone.
Junk Yard Dog vs. Moondog Spot quarter final match: The battle of the dogs; there is an Undertaker’s Yard joke here somewhere, but I fail to find it. I’m pretty sure Grab Them Cakes is dubbed in here because JYD used Another One Bites the Dust as his entrance theme before The Wrestling Album came out in late 1985. Actually, this event is right around the time the album was released so I may be wrong. Spot attacks at the bell and tries a second-rope splash but JYD moves. The Dog hits some head-butts. For some bizarre reason, perhaps a scheduling error, there is no referee in the ring. How is that even possible? With all of the referees the WWF has. JYD hits the big head-butt and counts his own pinfall. The bell rings and he leaves; Howard Finkel announces him as the winner. 0.5/10 Well that was garbage. JYD counting his own pinfall was monumentally stupid as well. The commentators explain that the “judge at ringside” gave the nod to the timekeeper that this was legit. Whatever. I’m sure if Spot could talk, he’d file a protest.
Back with Bobby Heenan and Gene Okerlund; Bobby continues to scout talent tonight for his stable. Heenan believes that Hulk Hogan is ripe for the picking due to his tenacious championship schedule.
Tito Santana vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff quarter final match: Tito has his quad taped. This is another all babyface match. Jesse Ventura ponders if “Chico” will try to collect the $50,000 bounty. They follow the CODE OF HONOR… fifteen years before that phrase was coined. Santana applies a side headlock as Jesse unloads all of his racist opinions about Mexicans… he should have been the Governor of Arizona. The beginning of the match Santana settles into a side headlock, which dictates long pacing, which means this could be a fifteen time limit draw. Orndorff pops off a few nearfalls while in the headlock. Since wrestling skill did not work, Orndorff tries his power and rises up into a top wristlock. Tito, feeling himself getting overpowered, works a head scissors to bring Mr. Wonderful back down. They battle on the canvas in the head scissors as Jesse talks about the “real” Paul Orndorff, who we will meet in 1986. Orndorff uses the same escape he employed against Bob Orton earlier (with no bridge-up) and gets two. Santana pops up, fists clinched, enthralling Jesse; but they do not come to blows. These mid-eighties babyface matches are so different and unique; they are not even using clinched fists because it is illegal and they are all good sportsmen. Wonderful spins into a hammerlock and works that for a while. It occurs to me that all of the rest holds here are not “match pacing”, but good babyfaces adhering to the rules, and trying to wrestle. The hammerlock continues as Tito is driven into the mat, which goes on for a while. Santana gets to his feet and reverses it so Orndorff heads to the ropes. Ventura insists that Tito is from Tijuana, which cracks me up; it makes me laugh further when Gorilla Monsoon steps in with “he’s from Tocula, Mexico”. He’s actually from Texas but they bill him from Mexico; he now lives in Jersey… where I proudly live (and am from). Suck it, Jersey bashers! Wonderful breaks a standing side headlock via atomic drop. Santana writhes in pain, the referee checks on him; Jesse is surprised that Wonderful isn’t on the attack. BABYFACE! Santana limps around the ring so Orndorff drop-toeholds him into a reverse (and forward) leglock for a while. The commentators speculate referee stoppage may result; Jesse’s earlier prediction of possible injury in the tourney may come to fruition. Tito breaks the hold and hobbles around the ring. They lock up and Santana makes the ropes and Orndorff, the natural heel, breaks the babyface momentum and nails him with a forearm in lieu of the clean break; Tito falls to the floor as Ventura “I told you so’s” Gorilla. They both head to the floor and exchange blows as the “volcano has erupted” to quote Jesse. The referee counts them both out eliminating them both. Post-match, the fights continues, and then realize the match is over and stop brawling. 3.5/10 The match was a different style as mentioned earlier, although they may as well went with the time limit expiration, since the match went on for a long while. It was a long rest hold but that was by babyface god sportsmanship design, so it had its purpose. I kinda enjoyed it but it still would be boring for most.
Vince McMahon and Alfred Hayes discuss the matches where the Junkyard Dog receives a bye, which is odd since a HEEL usually gets the free pass into the finals. It happened with Ted Dibiase at WrestleMania IV (fill review, click here) and Bam Bam Bigelow at the first (pay-per-view) King of the Ring in 1993. Elsewhere, Hulk Hogan (in his white attire) feels that Roddy Piper is dangerous, brother. Hogan psyched himself up watching the tournament; he promises the world will see Piper’s destruction.
WWF Heavyweight Championship Hulk Hogan vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper: Considering how HOT this feud was, I’m shocked they never main evented a ‘Mania (in a singles WWF title match). Piper has full Scottish bagpipers leading him to the ring. This is an odd place for this match; I figured it would go right before the tourney finals (or right after it). Piper attacks as the referee is taking the belt from Hogan; they battle on the floor until Hulk chucks Piper over the railing. Piper returns to the ring and jabs Hulk’s throat and takes over with punches. EYE POKE! Hogan comes back with a corner clothesline and Piper takes a Flair Flop. Back suplex by the Hulk followed by a bodyslam and a few elbow drops keeps the advantage for Hogan; he punches in the corner until the referee hooks his arm, drawing Gorilla Monsoon’s ire, and Piper seizes the opportunity and punches Hogan down and kicks away. Piper tries a second-rope double axe but Hogan catches him in a bearhug; Piper pokes again to break the hold. Roddy tires a couple of nearfalls and then applies his sleeper hold. Hogan lasts a LONG time in the hold, building fan anticipation, which Hulk was great at. Referee checks the arm and Hogan responds as does the crowd. Hogan gets up, with Piper still hanging onto the hold, and tumbles over the top, taking both of them to the floor. They fight there and Hogan posts Piper. Hogan does a semi-Hulk up on the floor and they head back into the ring with Hogan taking the advantage with a big boot. An atomic drop sets up an Axe Bomber attempt but Piper reverses and sends Hogan into the referee, knocking him out. Piper heads to the floor for a steel chair. Piper wears Hogan out with the chair until Hulk grabs the chair and nails Piper with it; the chair gets accidentally interlocked in Hogan’s arm as he applies a sleeper to Piper. The chair falls to the canvas as the referee wakes up. Suddenly, Bob Orton runs in and nails Hogan with the cast to save Piper a submission loss and the referee disqualifies them. Post-match, Ace and Piper wear Hogan out until Paul Orndorff arrives with a chair to chase the bad guys away. Hogan and Orndorff celebrate flexing for the fans. 5/10 Usual Piper mayhem match; Roddy’s matches seem to be totally unplanned and disjointed, probably by design; his matches NEVER adhere to any formula, which works with Hogan who ALL of his matches are formulaic, at least since 1985.
Gene Okerlund is with Junkyard Dog again who has a bye. Gene tells JYD that Alfred Hayes says he going to make it to the finals. That’s some key analysis by Alfred, considering JYD already is in the finals with the bye! JYD says nothing of note except he’s going to win. Jimmy Hart arrives to taunt at JYD, since he was battling Terry Funk at the time.
Dynamite Kid vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/Elizabeth) semi-final match: One unique thing about this tourney is that Howard Finkel announces the people that the wrestlers have defeated to get to where they are in the tournament, during their individual ring announcements. This ought to be a fast paced match. A couple of lock ups that both fail, feeling out period, as they stalemate some more; Savage tries a go-behind but Dynamite keeps sitting out. Macho heads to the floor to yell at the crowd/stall/break Dynamite’s momentum, all three work for him, that’s why Macho rules; his stratagem was great for a realistic kayfabe approach, all the while, getting legit breathers. Back in the ring, they jockey for position on the ropes and roll around against them from a vertical position; this goes on for three-quarters away around the ring before the referee steps between and Savage NAILS Dynamite with a punch between the eyes. Savage takes over and tosses Kid around the ring but he comes back with a head-butt; Savage reverses a whip but Dynamite is so fast that he surprises him with a shoulderblock. Dynamite backdrops him. A crossbody sends them into the ropes and they get a little entangled in the bottom rope. Dynamite fails on a sunset flip and Savage drops on him; he tries another crossbody but Savage ducks and Kid splats. They run the ropes trying to out-speed the other one and both hit clotheslines. Dynamite hits a particularly sick looking sickle version. They both writhe on the mat for a nine count as Macho limps up to the top but Dynamite dropkicks him; Savage overdramatizes the crotching as Dynamite heads to the top for a top-rope superplex. Remember, this is 1985 not 2005 so the commentators act like it’s the biggest move in wrestling history. Dynamite tries to float over but Savage has the wherewithal to cut it off mid-move and cradle him for three. 8.5/10 Match of the tournament there, the finals won’t hold a candle to this one; Savage and Dynamite tried to outdo each other. This may be the only time these two have ever wrestled a one-on-one match to my knowledge. It was short, but it packed a ton of action, including a rarely seen (for 1985) top-ropes superplex and a clever ending with Savage using his ring savvy to get the win.
Vince McMahon gives away a Rolls Royce. In the back Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff rant about wanting Roddy Piper and Bob Orton, brother.
Junk Yard Dog vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage tournament finals: Savage limps to the ring in one of Jesse Ventura’s tie-dye shirts. This is the first time Macho had to wrestle four times in one night. Speaking of wrestling a lot in one night, that was when I first noticed true Savage hate beginning in the WWF, when other tournaments came about and Macho didn’t even get a mention. Savage pulls Liz in front of him to back JYD off before the bell. Macho retreats to the floor where he threatens to toss a chair into the ring. He eventually does and JYD grabs it and pulls a Terry Funk with it, ramming it into his own head, showing off he’s hardcore. Savage stalls and limps about the ringside area and argues with the ringsiders. Savage reenters and gets tossed around by the Dog; he tries a slam but cannot get the JYD up so he reverses it and head-butts his back, an atomic drop follows. JYD applies a bearhug, which makes sense, albeit boring considering Savage’s back post-superplex (in the previous match). Macho goes to the eyes as Gene Okerlund joins for commentary, for some reason. JYD fires back with forearms to the back and continues this for a while with Savage overselling a little, attempting to make the match more entertaining; the Dog drops a few head-butts and chokes Savage with the boot. Macho tries a comeback with a clothesline but it looks like they weren’t on the same page and it looked terrible. Jesse Ventura complains the entire match about JYD’s bye. Macho chucks him to the floor and comes off the top with a double axe handle; Randy heads back to the floor and posts his back. Savage to the top again with another sledge to the floor; he then uses a chair right in front of the referee and doesn’t get disqualified. Macho then chokes the Dog against one of the ring barricades; they’ve been on the floor for quite some time, ah, Savage keeps breaking the count. Finally JYD reenters the ring and gets caught with a punch to the gut coming off the top; the Dog comes back with the all-fours head-butts. A standing head-butt ties Savage in the ropes à la André the Giant. The referee frees Savage, allowing an eye gouge, but then JYD backdrops him, over the top, to the floor. Savage remains there and gets counted out giving the Dog the tournament. Post-match, Okerlund tries to interview the Dog but Jesse runs in and protests his victory professing his love for the Macho Man. 4/10 Big win for the Dog there. Not sure if Macho tweaked his leg in the Dynamite match which hindered his ability here but this match was a bit tedious at times; and since they didn’t want to job the other the silly countout loss was probably created, why not just have the Iron Sheik cheat his way to the finals and have Dog go clean over him? Savage did all of the legwork in that tourney, too.
OVERALL 6.5/10 This show runs the gambit in terms of good and crappy matches; it does suffer from the classic issues with time, but the babyface/babyface and heel/heel matches, it was less predictable than other kayfabe era tournaments. It also features a Hogan/Piper match, which never went off on a major PPV (all that really existed at this point was WrestleMania). This show is a good for Macho Man fans like me, where you get some rare match-ups for him and some others which are much renowned. I’m going on record that Savage should have won it all, but he’d get a good consolation prize, an over a yearlong IC title reign; he’d also fare better in another tournament and that prize was a yearlong WWF title reign.
